INSIDE THE WORLD OF TAYLOR GUITARS / VOLUME 70 winter 2012 The 2012 Taylor Line Koa’s Fresh Island Vibe Vintage 700s New-Look Nylons Mahogany Mini & Specialty Models Builder’s Reserve Tenor Ukuleles ES Acoustic Amp 2 www.taylorguitars.com 3 Letters Volume 70 Winter 2012 Find us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/taylorguitars Recently, I was slated to play a country me rediscover something that I never over several frets. After a severe case did. Your guy sat with my son and went song in an upcoming concert (on an should have put aside. Thank you. of tendonitis on the ulnar (pinky) side, through your range, explaining and East-West Music Series). I was able to Frank Pinto a cast for two months, and physical demonstrating the differences. Now [my acquire a Big Baby in order to prepare Columbus, NJ therapy, the Mini was the answer! son] is completely sold on the Taylor Cover Feature for the concert. That was four weeks Scott Swerdlin 614 and is looking for an evening job to On the Cover ago, and now I almost can’t imagine Oceanside, NY get the money for it. Your guy made him Bob Taylor (K24ce) and playing anything else. I thought it would feel like a star, and I wanted to thank A Fitting Experience 10 The 2012 Guitar Guide Andy Powers (714ce) be an OK knock-around guitar, some- I’d like to thank you for your Find you and him. Here’s looking forward to Inspired new designs infuse this year’s Taylor lineup with fresh looks and sounds. thing to get me back in shape. I have Your Fit event at Jim’s Music in Tustin, Music Appreciation our being able to buy the guitar. The Koa Series revisits its Hawaiian roots, our nylon-strings move in with our to say that I am completely and utterly California, and compliment your man Just a little info about me and what Martyn and Tristan Watson steel-strings, and a GS Mini is joined by a mahogany-top sibling. blown away by the quality, the play- Billy [Gill], who was working the event. my Taylor 414ce has meant to me. ability, and the beautiful sound of this I came after work with a firm commit- In December 2009 I was diagnosed instrument. ment not to buy a guitar but just to see with testicular cancer that had spread The Right One All Along Coming from a bluegrass back- what was available and new. I was fully through my body. Throughout multiple Last week I packed up my Taylor 12 Behind the Line Bob Taylor and Andy Powers talk about the creative evolution of Taylor’s latest ground, I have always been partial to content with my Taylor 555 12-string, surgeries (including removal of a lung GSRC [rosewood/cedar] acoustic Martin guitars. I think this makes the but after playing well over a dozen and lode, abdominal lymph nodes and other and took it to my favorite guitar store guitar designs. Powers Surge impression made by the Big Baby even a half excellent instruments, including body parts!) and multiple chemotherapy in Nashville, Tennessee: World Music. About six years ago I was incred- more profound. The shimmer in the the amazing 8-string baritone, Billy sessions, playing my 414ce was a I laid the alligator case on the coun- ibly fortunate to be the tour manager upper register rivals the best guitars I handed me a GC7 and I fell in love. constant source of peace and relax- ter and told the manager I wanted to 16 Builder’s Reserve for the band Various and Sundry. The have ever heard. This was where my plan failed me. My ation. I also spent hours listening to the trade it in. Everybody played it, and I We celebrate the return of our small-batch limited editions with two groundbreaking band was made up of Sean and Sara The Big Baby is not just a great wife, whom I had brought along as the three Sounds of Wood&Steel CDs. could tell they were impressed with the delights: a tenor ukulele and an acoustic amp, each paired with matching guitar. Watkins (Nickel Creek), Glen Phillips inexpensive guitar. It is a great guitar non-emotional, sensible one, said, “That Nearly two years later I am a survivor cedar/rosewood combination. I told (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Benmont period. I don’t know how you accom- one sounds amazing. I think you need and nearly cancer-free! My family, faith, him it had taken me a year to decide to Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreak- plished this remarkable feat of design that guitar.” Oops! James at Jim’s Music friends and my Taylor have given me bring it in. Someone mentioned that the 18 A Culture of Innovation ers), Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett) and Grant and construction artistry, but it is seri- made us a great deal, and I became the a great appreciation of my new life. I Taylor Road Show was coming through Bob Taylor’s forward-thinking approach to making guitars has Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo). Every ously impressive. It has not only made satisfied owner of two Taylor guitars. I now enjoy playing every week at a folk that night. I decided to put my Taylor made the playing experience more enjoyable in many ways. night Sara would come out and sing me a happier musician, but given me don’t know of anywhere else other than jam in Plano, Texas. Thanks for all the back in the case and see if anything the most beautiful song (“Different the best introduction to the Taylor guitar your showroom that I could have played good things you do at Taylor. I am really at the Road Show “spoke” to me. This The 2012 Drum” by the Stone Poneys) on pos- sound and feel. Bravo! that many guitars and been able to find proud to be an owner! was my first time, and it was great to 20 Find Your Fit Taylor Line sibly the most stunning ukulele I have Dr. Gerard Yun my fit. Greg Miller see that there were other people who We can help you clear a path to the right guitar. Conductor, Composer, ever heard or seen. When we played a Mark Klopfenstein Garland, TX were interested in how different woods All about Taylor shapes and woods, plus test-driving show near San Diego, Sara asked me Global Music Specialist Garden Grove, CA affected guitar tone. Then I learned how tips and a guide to our acoustic model names. 22 Acoustic/Electric Models to come to the dressing room so she the shape of the guitar can be thought could introduce me to someone. That Old Reliable of as the shape of an equalizer and 40 200/100 Series someone was the builder of her gor- Happy Return Contemporary Classical I am a Board Certified Music how that affects the sound. I was in geous ukulele — Andy Powers. Since I can truly say that your guitar I currently go to school for music Therapist and work with children on the heaven. Then they started playing each 44 Non-cutaway that time, I have kept track of Andy’s made a profound change in my life. I performance with a concentration in autism spectrum from ages 18 months guitar through the stage mic. A descrip- career, running into him at NAMM purchased a GS5e a little less than a classical guitar. Though I play a tra- to 10 years old. I wanted to thank you tion of the wood was given, then some 46 Specialty Models shows and other concerts. All I can say year ago after a two-year search for the ditional Spanish classical for school, for my reliable Big Baby and let you playing, and then a new guitar was to you is this: You have hired a genius. perfect guitar. I was a lead singer in nothing bothered me more than playing all know that this guitar is a TOUGH played almost immediately. It was like 48 GS Mini A kind and quiet genius. I have been a a popular college band 30 years ago out using a mic to amplify, ruining such cookie! And still sounds fantastic! It a wine tasting for guitars! I listened touring guitar tech and tour manager and started to write songs after gradu- beautiful tone with feedback and poor- get beats up, played way too rough, intently to each one and guess what? 50 Baby/Big Baby for 30-plus years and have had the ating. I got a job, life happened, and quality equipment. The search was on. knocked over, has its tuning pegs My favorite wood combo was the cedar incredible honor of meeting some of the I put songwriting aside for a long After playing many classicals, I was not turned, is taken in and out of the case and rosewood. My favorite guitar type 52 Build to Order great luthiers and innovators of our day. time. A little over a year ago I went to impressed with the built-in pickups they more than five times a day, every day, was the GS body. I walked out realizing Andy Powers is at the top of that list. I a songwriter’s workshop, and it got me offered. Before giving up I went to the along with numerous other things and I already had the perfect guitar for me. 54 Standard Model Options am eagerly waiting to see what the new motivated.