News: Taylor Guitars

EL CAJON, Calif. - October 5, 2011 - Adding a fresh page to an annual tradition, Taylor Guitars has released its collection of 2011 Fall Limited Edition guitars. This year's offerings present a bounty of beautiful tonewoods, featuring rich cocobolo, premium-grade koa, and time-honored Indian rosewood, along with a bevy of fresh inlay designs and value-added upgrades.

Anchoring the Fall LTDs are cocobolo and koa, two exceptional tonewoods with signature acoustic voices. Usually reserved for Taylor's exclusive Presentation Series or Build to Order menu, cocobolo is paired with Sitka spruce tops on two models: the GA-LTD and the GS-LTD. Additional cocobolo touches include top edge trim, and a backstrap, offset by creamy maple binding. Gorgeous AA-grade koa distinguishes a quartet of all-koa limiteds, which feature a shaded edgeburst around the body and neck, and bound with rich rosewood. The koa LTDs are offered as the GA-LTD, GS-LTD or in a pair of 12-Fret GA and GC models, and with an option of an optional Engelmann spruce top. Both the koa and cocobolo LTDs feature Taylor's premium CV bracing for sweet, responsive tone and a Venetian cutaway.

Inspired by the visual aesthetics of the cocobolo and koa they selected, Bob Taylor and senior luthiers Larry Breedlove and Andy Powers embraced a wood-rich appointment scheme, incorporating laser-cut cocobolo, koa, and boxwood into new rosette and fretboard inlay designs.The cocobolo LTDs feature a rosette of cocobolo and contrasting boxwood in an S-curve design, and a new Split Diamond fretboard inlay in boxwood. The koa LTDs also boast detailed appointments that include a rosette motif similar to the cocobolo series, but with a wood pairing of koa and boxwood. The same woods are used for Taylor's intricate Engraved Twist fretboard inlay, a fresh take on a well-loved design.

Not be outdone, players who crave rosewood's classic tone and are looking for exceptional value will be drawn to the 400 Series and Nylon Series Limiteds. The 400 Series LTDs feature Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top, with bonus appointments that include a Small Diamond fretboard inlay and gold tuners. Four models are available: a 410ce-LTD, 412ce-LTD, 414ce-LTD or 416ce-LTD. In a twist, Taylor's rosewood laminate NS24 receives a top swap to feature solid cedar, which adds extra warmth to nylon's evocative tone. The guitars are offered either as an NS24ce or a non-cutaway NS24e.

The cocobolo, koa and rosewood 400 Series limiteds come equipped with Taylor Expression System® electronics and in a hardshell case, while the nylon-string  limiteds come in a hardshell bag with Taylor's ES-N® pickup. To learn more about the 2011 Fall Limiteds or to find an Authorized Taylor dealer near you, please visit www.taylorguitars.com.

On par with many of fall's familiar traditions, Taylor Guitars is readying one of its own - the release of its anticipated Fall Limited Edition models.

This year's Limiteds embody the extraordinary on several fronts: premium  tonewoods led by figured mahogany and koa; new designs that include a deep-body  Dreadnought and 12-fret Grand Auditorium; and fresh inlay concepts such as the "Twist," "Pipeline," and a laser-engraved Victorian motif. Taylor's electric line also yields a seasonal ode with an all-mahogany SolidBody Classic and T3/B that celebrate a vintage era.

The GS Mahogany-LTD showcases a limited reserve (75 sets) of beautifully flamed mahogany that was harvested from hurricane blowdown. The guitar incorporates striking ebony accents in the form of a back mini-wedge, binding, backstrap and an ultra-premium beveled armrest. The armrest's elegant contouring softens the edge where the top meets the sides on the bass side of the lower bout, and blends comfort, functionality and aesthetic appeal. Unique appointments include an abstract "Twist" inlay design from Taylor's Larry  Breedlove, which spirals and wraps between the 7th and 12th frets. Another premium touch on the Sitka spruce top is Adirondack spruce bracing, whose extra elasticity pairs with Taylor's proprietary CV bracing pattern to add sweetness and warmth to the guitar's tones.

The 800 Series Limiteds are distinguished by modified body designs such as the 810e-LTD, a non-cutaway, deep-body Dreadnought that yields a deeper, more robust tone, and the 814ce-LTD,  a 12-fret Grand Auditorium that offers an extra-rich voice. Also exclusive to this year's Limiteds, the 816ce-LTD sports a Florentine cutaway, while the 812ce-LTD incorporates a slotted peghead (normally offered on Taylor's GC8 model). All 800  Series LTDs feature the classic pairing of Indian rosewood back and sides with a Sitka spruce top, along with Taylor's CV bracing. Appointments include white binding, a design touch from years past, and the new Engraved Victorian inlay, which is laser-cut and etched from mother-of-pearl.

Fans of Hawaiian koa will appreciate the 500 Series Limiteds: 512ce-LTD, 514ce-LTD, 516ce-LTD), which boast exotic koa backs and sides and a new Pipeline fretboard inlay. Inspired by the shores of Hawaii, the Pipeline depicts  a circular wave fret marker design. The models also include a 3-ring koa fishbone rosette and Indian rosewood binding. Each of the 500 Series Limiteds is topped with Sitka spruce.

Two all-mahogany electric models also join the Fall LTDs: the SolidBody Classic SB-X-LTD  and the T3/B-LTD.
On the SolidBody Classic, the neck and body were milled from the same mahogany boards to create a perfect visual match. Both models include a traditional mahogany stain and vintage alnico humbuckers. For the Classic, the humbuckers are set against a  parchment pickguard, while parchment binding outlines the T3/B-LTD. A Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and brilliant chrome hardware adorn the T3 for a ready-to-rock look that screams electric, vintage and cool.

Each of the Fall Limiteds comes with Taylor's popular Expression System® pickup and a hardshell case, at the following suggested retail prices: GS Mahogany-LTD,  $7,498; 816ce-LTD, $4,058; 814ce-LTD, $4,058; 812ce-LTD, $3,898; 810ce-LTD, $3,648; 516ce-LTD, $3,998; 514ce-LTD, $3,998; 512ce-LTD, $3,898; 510ce-LTD, $3,798; T3/B-LTD, $3,298; and the SB-X-LTD, $2,298. The Limiteds are now available at domestic Taylor dealers.

For additional details about the Fall Limiteds, please visit: http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/limiteds/Fall2010

The GS Mini™ is the next generation in the company's line of ultra-portable and playable guitars.

Featuring a scaled-down version of Taylor's popular Grand Symphony body shape, the GS Mini boasts a bold voice and impressive tonal depth that belie its compact size, and comes ready to amplify with new, Taylor-designed pickup accessories, making it the "play anywhere" guitar for life on the go.

The GS Mini is the latest brainchild of Taylor's product development team. After  15 years of success with the company's iconic travel guitar, the Baby Taylor®, Bob Taylor wanted to "up the ante." "I know there are a lot of people like me who wanted a little bit larger guitar and a way larger sound, plus the ability to amplify it," Bob shares. The product development team set out to design a guitar that was small, portable, lightweight and affordable, with all of Taylor's signature tone. The company applied its latest design ideas and developed new tooling to produce  the scaled-down size, which features a scale length of 23½ inches and a deeper body depth than the Baby Taylor. Compared to the Baby, the Mini is clearly a larger guitar, especially in the lower bout, yet the differential doesn't seem huge until you strum it. "In terms of its ability to put out sound, it's twice what a Baby is," Bob says. "And it's not just the volume but the depth and richness of the tone. It sounds like a full-size guitar, except that it's ultra-portable." Bob can attest to Mini's mobility and performance from personal experience: He took one with him on a recent USO tour to Iraq with the Zac Brown Band. "It was my constant companion. It was easy to take along, and nice to have when I wanted it.

To add to the guitar's "pick up and perform" appeal, Taylor also wanted to offer  an acoustic pickup for the Mini, but one that could be purchased after-market and easily installed by anyone. Designed exclusively for the Mini, the ES-Go(TM) is a proprietary magnetic soundhole pickup inspired by Taylor's award-winning Expression System®. Part of the ES-Go's design simplicity is that each Mini is pre-fitted for easy installation of the pickup, and can be plugged in with the guitar's discrete, snap-in interior clip. Another accessory that was designed to make it easy to plug in and play is the Taylor V-Cable(TM): a quarter-inch cable with a built-in master volume control. Because the Mini was designed without tone or volume knobs, The V-Cable gives players a volume control where it plugs into the guitar, putting volume control at every player's fingertips any time they plug in. "It's brilliant and simple," shares Bob. "It allows anyone with a guitar but no volume knob to add volume control. You can find it in the dark, you can turn your cable off to unplug noiselessly, and you can use it on any guitar you have."

The GS Mini features a solid Sitka top, a back and sides of sapele laminate, an ebony fretboard and bridge, and a tortoise shell pickguard. The Mini comes ready  to go anywhere in a specially engineered Taylor GS Mini Hardbag and will be available at domestic Taylor dealers starting in late July at a suggested MSRP of $678. The ES-Go and V-Cable will also be available in late July through Taylor's online merchandise and accessories store, TaylorWare. Players can also purchase the Taylor V-Cable through RapcoHorizon, the manufacturer of the V-Cable.

To experience the GS Mini while at Summer NAMM, please visit the Taylor Guitars showcase located on the main floor in room 105.

For additional news from Taylor Guitars, please visit http://www.taylorguitars.com/news

Taylor Guitars is proud to debut an inspiring new acoustic voice, the 12-Fret

(http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/specialty/12-fret/)

As one of several new Specialty guitars in the company's 2010 lineup. Named for

the point where the neck meets the guitar's body, the 12-Fret revives an acoustic

design concept from yesteryear, refining it with signature Taylor craftsmanship

to deliver a sweet, warm, vintage sound with a surprisingly robust voice.

The 12-Fret was inspired by Taylor's 35th anniversary in late 2009, when the company

built a series of commemorative guitars in ultra-limited quantities, including a

12-fret Grand Concert model. The guitar's unique sound instantly captivated Bob

Taylor and other players, prompting the design of a rosewood/spruce 12-fret model

for the 2010 line. "I've fallen in love with it," raves Bob. "It's that pure and

wonderful. What gets me is its tone coupled with its large voice, all in a small,

lightweight package."

The appealing tonal properties are the result of Taylor's advanced design engineering.
As the neck meets the body at the 12th fret instead of the 14th, the altered geometry
of the neck, body and bridge in relation to each other creates a sweet spot of sound
- deep and warm on the low end, with crisp, articulate trebles and an impressive
  overall volume. The "modern vintage" tone gives the 12-Fret the voice of an aged
guitar right out of the case.

The Grand Concert body features a back and sides of beautiful Indian rosewood and
is complemented by a creamy Sitka spruce top, and a cutaway that allows access to
the upper register. Premium appointments include Ivoroid binding, an abalone rosette
with an Ivoroid-bound soundhole, and abalone-dotted ebony bridge pins. The mahogany
neck features a 24 7/8-inch scale length topped with a slotted peghead and crowned
with Indian rosewood. On the inside, the guitar's voicing is enhanced by a special
12-Fret bracing pattern and Taylor's Expression System® pickup to naturally amplify
the guitar's rich tonal nuances.

The 12-Fret guitar joins the Baritone 8- and 6-String models, announced earlier
this year, as part of the company's series of Specialty guitars. The new guitar
will be offered at a suggested retail price of $3,898 and will be available at both
domestic and international dealers in late spring.

For additional information about the 12-Fret, please visit: http://www.taylorguitars.com/news