Ebony’s Wild Side 600 Series Spring LTDs Granadillo 400s All-Koa Grand Orchestra First Edition K28e NAMM Highlights Progress in Cameroon BTO Gallery 2 www.taylorguitars.com 3 Letters Volume 75 Spring 2013 Find us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: @taylorguitars got together and I had no instrument Taylor. That guitar transformed her combination [Ed. Note: blackwood/ and the strings were ancient. It was to play unless I wanted to bring my interest in playing guitar. She played cedar], and scratch-and-dent price is almost like the scene in The Wizard of keyboard and PA so all could hear it! it non-stop for about five years [until] what brought me back. Compared to Oz where the Tin Man whispers, “Oil Features I felt envious of the others who could she needed a larger guitar. A young this guitar’s wide spectrum of rich, full can,” except the 410 was whispering, carry their instrument on their backs, teacher at our church purchased the tone, the [other brand] sounds weak “Water...please, water…” open the case, and begin to play. So, Baby Taylor, then promptly gave it and thin. Other than performing as I brought it to my guitar guy, who 6 Target Practice about 1-1/2 years ago I purchased a away to a young student who couldn’t the solo guitar, I normally play upper humidified it, did a set-up, and removed Shawn Persinger helps you fine-tune your musical goals and streamline GS Mini to learn to play guitar. Within afford an instrument. position chords — mostly 4- or 3-string a buzz. I was thrilled to discover that your progress. three months, two more members I’ve since had the good fortune to melody chords (so as not to duplicate this guitar had not only come back of our guild came to a meeting with acquire a number of beautiful Taylors, the rhythm guitar) combined with 1- or to life, but it had beautiful tone and a new GS Mini! Before long, a third but I do wonder about the young child 2-string leads and solos using a pick intonation — and somehow has even 8 Koa First Edition Grand Orchestra member showed up with a GS Mini. who received the gift of a Taylor from and finger and/or just pick style — and improved over the past 2-1/2 years You don’t need to surf to catch a big wave on a koa board. The tone of our Like me, one of the members is learn- his teacher. I hope he took that won- this guitar is perfectly suited for my that I’ve owned it. I record with it, and all-koa K28e rolls in smooth and delivers a long, sweet ride. ing to play guitar, and it’s her first derful gift and made guitar playing a style of playing. All open chords and it has this wonderful, clear voice unlike guitar. The others added a Mini to their lifelong passion. Mandy now plays a harmonics are equally impressive, too. any other. I will likely never sell this On the Cover GO-Getter collection. 314ce, and my favorite is a custom And yes, you can play ’60s surf lead guitar; it just gets better with age as it A few weeks ago, I bought another The members in our group who maple GS, but we’ll always remember guitar on this Taylor (even though it approaches 20. I have since bought a Taylor guitar, the simply superb 918e lack a Mini now want us to pass that it started with the guitar we called doesn’t have a whammy bar). GS Mini. Thanks, Taylor! 16 The 2013 Grand Orchestra First Edition, number around the guitars! Although I am still Baby. Jeff Scarborough Edward Monette 53 of 100, from my local music store, a rookie player, I love the size and that Andy Wachtel Manhattan Spring Limiteds Randee’s Music Center, in Rockford, the size does not compromise the Wild-hued ebony and bell-toned Illinois. Yesterday a package arrived sound at all. I played nearly 50 guitars Smooth Service granadillo freshen Taylor’s acoustic from Taylor containing the certificate, when I decided that I wanted my own. My 30th anniversary XXX-MC had Fine Artistry palette for spring. book and special strap, which goes This one sounds so beautiful and fits Choir Director binding problems, which no one in I have been a proud owner of a exclusively with this model. Thank you me just right. As a songwriter, I have I just purchased my first Taylor Alabama wanted to deal with, given 110 since college. I had been want- for making, marketing and following found that I am inspired differently acoustic, and I could not be more Taylor’s special [finish]. Time to call ing to upgrade for a couple of years, through with such a great U.S.-made with a guitar than with a piano; it lends impressed. I thought it was a great the factory. and finally purchased the 814ce. I am guitar. The tone, volume, clarity and another layer to creating music. guitar while I was trying it out, but Ryan answered, and I don’t think blown away by the beauty, playability response from all six strings are amaz- Thanks, Taylor, from me and the after I got home and really sat down I’ve ever been treated so well. He and sound. This is hands-down the ing. I am an older guy in his 70s and rest of the Sandhills/Cape Fear Song- with it I realized I had a gem! I have walked me through the repair process, finest instrument I have ever held and have played a lot of different makes writers Guild! been playing [other brands] for years, seemed happy to help, and was clear is rivaled by none. I will be a Taylor and models since I first started back Kerstin Hanson and this Taylor has given me 100 per- as glass. So I sent the guitar off. I customer until the day I die. I just Cover photo: Sapwood- rich ebony creates 12 Profile: Bob Zink in 1956. I bought a 914ce in 2007, cent more confidence in my playing. I got another call (Chris, I think). Same wanted to pass along my gratitude to He joined Taylor when it was a shop and became a department of one. a dramatic presence which I have been very happy with, but was describing the sound to a friend thing. He told me the guitar was in the everyone at Taylor for the attention to Nearly 30 years later, our longtime purchasing manager leaves behind on a 616ce-LTD this 918e is even better. Factory Friends of mine, and all I could say was that shop and described what they’d do. detail and artistry that is now sitting in a legacy of strong supplier relationships. Dave Copnall Being relatively new owners of Tay- it sounds like there is a choir singing He didn’t have to do that, but he did. my living room. lor guitars, my brother and I took your inside. I have heard Rico Estrada from A week later, another call. The guitar Ethan Renfro factory tour today. This was absolutely [the band] Ease Up absolutely kill his was ready. Once again, extraordinary fantastic to see the workings and Taylor many times, so I had to see service! Then the guitar arrived — fixed, 20 Taylor at NAMM Going the Extra the pride in building your products. what it was all about! You truly make polished, new strings in the right Correction: In last issue’s Guitar The Grand Orchestra had its coming-out party, and some talented friends Mile Kilometer Everybody was friendly, the guide, amazing instruments, and you have a gauge. Wow. You have some wonder- Guide, the Grand Orchestra’s body turned our exhibition space into a music hall. I have been a very happy owner of of course, was quite knowledgeable, new customer for life! Thanks, guys. I ful people working for you. Thanks. depth was listed as 4-13/16 inches. 20 22 a 614ce for many years and recently and even the workers who were being look forward to coming out to the shop John Mayfield While that measurement correctly 22 Custom Tayloring the next time I am in San Diego! relates to the tail end of the body, sent it back to your service centre in interrupted by the tour were friendly Our Build to Order wall at NAMM was decked out in its trade show finest. Amsterdam for an ES upgrade fol- and showed no annoyance from being Rob Edge our official body depth dimension lowing some problems I had with the disturbed. Yes, I’m sure they’re used Aging Gracefully measures to the body’s deepest point, older ES system that was originally to the daily tours, but even so, very In September of 2010, I won a which is 5 inches. 27 Creative Compass installed. I just got it back yesterday friendly. I know of no other factory that Surf Lines 1995 410 in an eBay auction. The gui- Taylor luthier Andy Powers kicks off his new column, The Craft, by relating his and wanted to say thanks for such would open their doors so widely to I am a 66-year-old professional tar appeared to be in good condition, guitar-making yearnings to the essence of musical sounds. an excellent job with this work. Laure the public. Well done and thanks.