The ProjectEBONY A bold plan to preserve ebony’s future takes root in Cameroon NEW V-CLASS GUITARS 500 – 800 DLX Series V-CLASS REVIEWS Jade Bird & TEST-DRIVING TIPS Cary Morin 2 www.taylorguitars.com Letters social Drop us a line. circles Email us: [email protected] coil to humbucker sounds, and aug- and the people that built it for doing so. mented by the depth of the sound, I was Thanks also to Bob and Kurt for provid- Join the Taylor community hooked. I started playing it more regu- ing them an atmosphere in which they Facebook: @taylorguitars larly than my other guitars. I noticed that could be that creative. Taylor guitars, but one of my favorites the T3 is available with a Bigsby vibrato David Jellema Instagram: @taylorguitars is the Holden Village GS Mini. Just to tailpiece, and consulted the crew at The Montgomery, NY Twitter: @taylorguitars own such a gorgeous, great-sounding Repair Zone (also in San Diego). Fred, Youtube: taylorguitars instrument with another unique story is the owner, said that the Bigsby unit well worth the investment. Thank you all could be installed with some internal That Rosewood Sparkle Google+: taylorguitars for your continued work not only in the bracing. Now I have a T5z with a Bigsby I am so impressed with my new Music Aficionado: taylorguitars creation of new instruments, but in actu- that provides me with endless hours of 414ce-R. Spruce/rosewood has always ally caring and sharing ways that help us enjoyable playing! been my favorite wood combination, and to understand how we can help make Ken Westbrook this guitar embodies everything I love these limited resources last for future about the pairing of these two woods. generations. To describe the sound I hear and feel, I David G The “It” Factor would have to say the notes just sparkle I’ve been playing guitar for close to when I am fingerpicking. The overtones 40 years, primarily electric, and because are truly unbelievable. I feel so lucky and Guitar Therapy of that I have settled for budget-level fortunate to have found this guitar. About seven years ago, I got to the acoustics for my unplugged needs. Arnold Vasquez A Class All Its Own point in my career whereby I could buy Lately I’ve been getting more interested I’m not long on fan letters, but I got a my “dream guitar,” a Taylor custom koa in acoustic playing (it must go along chance to play the V-Class Presentation K24. It was love at first sight and love at with getting older) and listed several Heirloom in the Making Series PS14ce and the Builder’s Edition first sound. I’m not good, but I loved to guitars for sale to make room for one In over 50 years of playing the guitar, K14ce at the Chicago Music Exchange play it. Later on, I had to make my way good acoustic guitar. I have never bought one without trying it last night. I arrived as a skeptic and left through recovery from a skydiving acci- I didn’t even go into Alto Music in first. However, when I read the philoso- convinced that this design is a major dent that resulted in my arm being torn Middletown, New York, that day to buy phy behind the new Academy [Series], step forward in guitar design and per- apart and torn off. Twenty-six surgeries a guitar, but I found myself wandering I was struck by how well it fit with my formance. I would encourage anyone later, I kinda have an arm. into the acoustic room, where Garth ideas on fitness for purpose. Back then test-driving a Taylor V-Class guitar to get I look back at my recovery (the past showed me several nice guitars in my (July 2017), only the steel-string models into the practice room, away from ampli- four years) and now understand how intended price range. All of them were were available in the UK. I tested one for fication and extraneous noise, and run a important that guitar was/is in my recov- fine guitars, but they didn’t have “it,” so style, but the model I really wanted was few scales. You will not be disappointed. ery...not just physically, but emotionally he suggested I try a couple Taylors. the 12e-N to allow amplification without I am also very happy about Taylor’s too. I wasn’t ever really good (now I Now, most Taylors are not even my having to strike the strings any harder. plan to distribute this advancement have an excuse), but I am here — remotely in my price range, but I was Based on the reviews, I placed an throughout a greater selection of the I made it to the helicopter, in which I curious, as I had never played one order for one — untested. In October Taylor line. When production hits my died but was brought back — I have an before. Garth gave me a 326ce and a the 12e-N arrived, and I love it. You can budget, I will own one. arm, and I can play, and for that I’ll be 414ce to try. Both were spectacular play music on almost any guitar, but on Thanks to Andy Powers and his eternally grateful. instruments but still did not move me this guitar I can make music. As I forget magic. My love for that Taylor koa sound to consider breaking my budget. Then the tunes of my youth, I can extemporize Tom Honn and the beautiful guitars you guys make he handed me a Spring 2017 Limited and invent new sound patterns on this Chicago played a role in my recovery. There’s Edition 314ce, the one with the spruce guitar, to be forgotten almost immedi- sometimes more to what you guys make top and blackwood sides and back. I ately, but re-invented the next time I pick than meets the ear. strummed a simple E chord to check it up. The sound balance across the Ebony for the Future Andy Wirth the tuning, and suddenly it happened… strings and through the length of the I want to say how impressed I am lights were shining, angels were singing, fingerboard is superb, allowing me to with the Ebony Project [taylorguitars. and lions lay down with lambs. waltz up and down the strings wherever com/ebonyproject] and all that Taylor It is not often that a guitar will speak my fingers take me. Even the “wrong Guitars is doing. I work for a California T5z Mod to someone like that, and I had never notes” sound good as links between utility that has won awards for forest I play guitar about five days a week, experienced it myself until that moment. passages of invention. Paired with a management and have seen how cycling through my electric guitar col- I knew it was way beyond my budget, simple amplifier, the sound is amazing difficult it is to manage a forest and lection. A few years ago, I was looking but I also knew there was no way I was and still true to the original guitar. My programs related to forestry. I have only for a lightweight, thin acoustic guitar to going to walk out without it, and, thanks guitar-playing son has long said that the watched a few Ebony Project videos, practice on, and came across the Taylor to 12 months of interest-free financing, only guitar he wants to inherit is my old but I am already touched by the efforts T5z. Since I live in San Diego, I went to I didn’t have to. Kimbara classical (1969), but I think that all those at Taylor are doing to provide the Taylor factory, played the T5z, and Since then, not a day goes by that he will be after this one now. an impeccable instrument with sustain- then took the tour (which is fascinating). I don’t take that guitar out of its case Chris Willoughby ability in mind. I look forward to reading I bought a T5z Pro and started practic- and experience that same glorious Eye, Suffolk, UK the details and watching all the videos ing on it unplugged. It has an impressive feeling of being 100 percent connected and learning more about just one of resonance for a thin acoustic guitar. But to an instrument. I don’t know if Andy the important hardwoods that are used one day I plugged it into my amp and Powers was aware that he created an for musical instruments. Your efforts was blown away by the distinct tones instrument that could have that effect make me a proud owner of several of the pickups! From acoustic to single on a player, but he did, and I thank him Contents WOOD&STEEL | VOLUME 91 | SUMMER 2018 Features Columns 6 From Skeptic to Believer 4 Kurt’s Corner Shawn Persinger already loves his Taylors, so he doubted Marching to the beat of our own drum – our V-Class bracing would move the needle. Here’s what or strum – is key to our ongoing evolution he discovered. as a guitar company. 8 How to Hit the Road 5 BobSpeak Well-traveled Canadian troubadour Melanie Dekker shares If your truck breaks down in Cameroon, tips on planning a tour as an independent artist. Taylor’s ace fabricator, Wayne Brinkley, is definitely the guy to call, as Bob 12 A Class of Their Own details in a photo essay. Our V-Class guitars have made a fantastic first impression.