Taylor

Taylor

Taylor is synonymous with acoustic guitars because it has been producing them since 1947. The company invests in innovative manufacturing techniques that result in the signature Taylor guitars that are known across the industry for their simplicity and quality sound. Taylor guitars come in several series that are tailored for players of different skills and preferences from the beginner to the professional artist.

The type of strings used on a guitar is one of the critical elements to playing. Guitar sounds come from the vibration of the strings when a guitarist strikes them; therefore, string quality will determine how well an instrument plays. Most steel-string guitars made by Taylor come with Elixir strings. These have evolved to the Elixir ultra-thins with NANOWEB coating. Taylor then switched from the 80/20 bronze strings to the phosphor bronze in 2014.

A big part of guitar construction is selecting the right wood to use for the body. Taylor builds its guitar series from a variety of woods that not only shape how a guitar feels but also help define the look of the instrument. Some of these woods are:

• Hawaiian Koa: This dense tropical hardwood gives an acoustic guitar a warm mid-range overtone with a bright sound. The brightness slightly resembles that of maple as the guitar starts out.
• African Ebony: Taylor focuses the use of this hardwood on the bridges and fret boards. A few guitars have it on the sets and backs. It features a rich tone that remains consistent across the spectrum. Taylor uses it for its Limited Edition guitar series.
• Maple: This is the wood used when looking to achieve that bright sound in an acoustic guitar. Taylor Guitars has, however, re-voiced its maple body wood to add warmth and complexity to the sound without damaging its clarity.
• Tropical Mahogany: Known to produce chunky tones, mahogany is more mid-range than most body woods. The thickness of the billet dictates what tone this wood generates.
• Indian Rosewood: A dense, oily hardwood that produces a tonal range of bright to deep. Its mid-range is less than that of mahogany, but it makes up for it in versatility. Taylor uses it for its 700, 800, and 900 models of acoustic and electric guitars.

One feature that is consistent on all Taylor instruments is the patented neck design. In 1999, Bob Taylor came up with a guitar neck style that would provide extra stability. Taylor Guitars has been using this design since 2001. The difference is that it is made with a continuous piece of wood that provides support to the 19th fret as opposed to the 14th as in conventional styles. Taylor also uses spacers that make it possible to custom fit the neck on each guitar.