2009 Guitar Guide

Why do we play guitar? We each have our own answer, but it comes down to

some sense of well-being we get from vibrating strings and wood. Maybe it’s to relax

and relieve tension. To connect with others. To find out who we are. To earn a living. The

question may be philosophical, but it’s not a bad place to start as we ponder which type

of guitar to play.

If there’s a simple piece of advice we can give you, it’s this: Buy the best guitar you

can afford. By “best” we mean a guitar that’s easy to play, has proper intonation, and

sounds great. We’ve got you covered there. Beyond that, look for one that’s compatible

with the kind of sound you’re looking for. In our previous features on shapes and woods,

we shared some basic guidelines to help you understand what factors give each Taylor

model a unique personality. (See our newly re-designed shapes and woods features at

taylorguitars.com.) If you remember that shapes have sounds, that woods have unique

tonal flavors, and that you have your own personal way of playing and hearing those

shapes and woods, you’ll be primed to find the right guitar — one that will be your

faithful muse.

As part of our Guitar Guide, we include some “test-driving” tips to help you properly

audition a guitar, plus the complete specifications for all models. And if you ever have

any questions along the way, feel free to call our newly established Inside Sales and

Customer Relations representative, Ben Benavente (1-888-2TAYLOR). Think of him as

your Taylor guitar concierge. He’ll answer all your guitar questions and help you locate

a particular model at a dealership if you’re on the hunt. Now promise not to slack on

that New Year’s resolution to play more guitar this year.

From acoustics to electrics, we have a Taylor

for every type of player. Our 2009 Guitar Guide

leads you on a scenic tour of our product line.

Chefs like to eat; guitar makers like to play. We rounded up Bob Taylor and a few of his

boys from the product development team for a photo shoot at Bob’s house to celebrate

the pleasures of jamming with friends. Everyone was invited to bring one of their favorite

Taylors. From left: VP of Marketing Brian Swerdfeger with a GC8 prototype that currently

lives in his office; VP of Quality Assurance, Customer Service & Repair David Hosler

with a T5C2; Bob’s longtime design partner Larry Breedlove with a GA5; and the man

himself, picking on an 810ce. Get these guys together and it usually doesn’t take long

to coax a smile — and a song — out of them. Photo by Bil Zelman

Back/Sides: Choice of master-grade Madagascar Rosewood, Cocobolo, Walnut, Maple, Macassar Ebony, Hawaiian Koa or Brazilian Rosewood (limited availability)

Top: Choice of premium Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, Engelmann Spruce, Sinker Redwood (limited availability), Adirondack Spruce, Walnut, Hawaiian Koa

Fretboard Inlay: Green Heart Abalone “Byzantine” (other options available)

Binding: Ivoroid withGreen Heart Abalone

Rosette: Green Heart Abalone

Additional Premium Appointments: Bone nut/saddle, abalone peghead and bridge inlays

Optional Venetian/Florentine cutaway and ES pickup

Models: PSDN, PSGA, PSGC,PSGS, PSJM, PSGA-12,PSGS-12, PSJM-12

With each tonewood we use, the best of the best represents a slim fraction of

what exists in the world. One set in a thousand might be too much to promise.

But this master-grade wood always finds its way into the Presentation Series.

We hand off these rare natural materials to our very finest guitar makers, who

pour their hearts into each guitar, using their advanced skills sometimes to

infuse a guitar with exquisite appointments, and other times to abide by the

simple idea that less is more. It all depends on how you want yours made.

Either way, the Presentation Series is your guitar dream brought to life.

The presentation SerieS

Back/Sides: Hawaiian Koa

Top: Abalone-trimmed Sitka Spruce or Hawaiian Koa

Fretboard Inlay: Abalone Koa Series

Binding: Curly Maple

Rosette: Abalone

Additional Premium Appointments: Maple-bound rosette

His name is Russ Lewark, but his online friends know him as

Koaguitarman. Russ’s first koa love was an all-koa K20c. He found

the wood’s tone to be the ideal acoustic voice for him. “I play a lot

of ragtime, jug band, folk-rock — a little bit of a lot of different

genres,” he says. “Koa will take the softer folk fingerstyle and

the strong fingerpicking of ragtime and jug band. It also comes

through when softly flatpicked or even with bluegrass-style picking.

It’s my tonewood of choice.” Russ currently owns 14 koa Taylors.

Photo by Bil Zelman

Models: K10ce, K12ce, K14ce,K16ce, K20ce, K22ce,K24ce, K26ce, K54ce,K56ce, K64ce, K65ce,K66ce

Ask any Hawaiian koa lover — the tropical hardwood speaks in a special

way that no other wood can. We treat it with reverence ourselves. Visually,

its harmony of color, grain and figure immediately invites us in. Tonally, it

rewards the player over time, as its initially bright voice opens up to reveal

a mellowing sweetness in the midrange. Despite the cost and limited

availability of this cherished Hawaiian native, we remain deeply committed

to koa. We buy the best logs we can and build guitars that we hope will

inspire a lifetime of playing — because the more you play one, the deeper

you’ll fall in love.

The koa SerieS

indian rosewood is an enduring classic that’s loved

by traditional flatpickers and modern fingerstyle players alike.

For Bob Taylor, the personal connection hearkens back to the

first guitar he ever made. Its appeal is as broad as its sonic

range, which yields deep lows, sparkling highs and controlled

midrange overtones, all of which together give players impressive

articulation. Rosewood’s variety of visual colors — including

mocha browns, rich purples and fiery reds — have inspired us

to give it a distinctive personality in each of three series.

Our 900 Series showcases our most beautiful grade, featuring

tight, straight grain, a range of colors, and premium appointments

that together embody vintage elegance for the modern world.

Our maple-bound 800 Series has progressed from its no-frills

Dreadnought roots into a more contemporary look that’s stylish

but not too pretty to be played hard. Our 700 Series goes

for an earthier, dressed-down feel, featuring thicker ribbons

of rosewood grain and simple inlay work. Paired with either

an Engelmann spruce or cedar top, it responds with vintage

warmth. The best thing about rosewood might be that it offers

something for everyone.

Back/Sides: Indian Rosewood

Top: Sitka Spruce

Fretboard Inlay: Pearl

Binding: Ivoroid

Rosette: Abalone

Sunburst Options: Tobacco (top only)

Additional Premium Appointments: Gotoh tuners, bonenut/saddle, pegheadand bridge inlays

Models: 910ce, 912ce, 914ce, 916ce

The 900 SerieS


Top: Sitka Spruce

Fretboard Inlay: Pearl

Binding: Curly Maple

Rosette: Abalone


Models: 810ce, 812ce, 814ce, 815ce, 816ce, 854ce, 855ce, 856ce

The 800 SerieS


Top: Engelmann Spruce(710ce, 712ce),Western Red Cedar (714ce, 716ce)

Fretboard Inlay: Pearl Dots

Binding: Indian Rosewood

Rosette: Abalone


Models: 710ce, 712ce,714ce, 716ce

The 700 SerieS

The Expression System® Pickup

Traditional under-saddle,

piezo-style acoustic pickups that

had been used for years never

really managed to capture the

natural, full tone of an acoustic

guitar, let alone the nuances of

the player. Instead, the ampli-

fied tone was often thin, brittle

and distorted, or “quacky.” The

condenser mics that were often

mounted inside the soundhole

and used to round out the sound

were highly prone to feedback.

Beyond that, the EQ controls of

an onboard preamp essentially

provided little more than artificial

coloring of a fundamentally

flawed pickup tone.

The Taylor Expression System

was developed at Taylor with

input from pro audio icon Mr.

Rupert Neve. It combines three

magnetic sensors — two body

sensors affixed to the underside

of the top and one neck pickup

imbedded beneath the fretboard

extension — with a studio-quality

preamp. The ES uses the guitar’s

soundboard to create a network

of magnetic, surface-sensing mi-

crophones. The preamp cleanly

boosts the signal and eliminates

noise. When the controls are set

flat, the pure tone of the guitar is

not colored in any way. The end

result is that the natural tone of

the guitar and the nuances of the

player are captured in a trans-

parent way, and the pickup is

highly feedback-resistant. Three

soft-touch roller controls on the

upper shoulder offer plenty of

real frequency control without

physically intruding on the visual

beauty of the guitar.

TAYLO R I N N OVATI O N

our wood experts are always on

the hunt for figured maple, and they

never fail to come through. And as if

a set of quilted or tiger-stripe maple

wasn’t already transfixing enough,

maple’s blonde complexion plays host

to a fiesta of vibrant color finishes that

create a hypnotic, 3-D effect. We ex-

periment with colors until we get them

right, and offer a range of options,

including sunburst and edgeburst

treatments, with crisp white binding

to detail each body shape. Looks

aside, maple’s bright, focused tone is

a loyal friend of recording engineers

and front-of-house sound mixers alike.

Whether you want a small or a big

voice, on its own or with a band, our

600 Series guitars ensure that your

Taylor will be seen and heard clearly.

The 600 SerieS

Back/Sides: Big Leaf Maple

Top: Sitka Spruce

Fretboard Inlay: Pearl “Leaf” Pattern

Binding: White

Rosette: Abalone

Colors/Bursts: Aged Toner, Amber, Black, Blue, Blue Burst, Cherry Black Sunburst, Cherry Sunburst (or optional top only), Green, Honey Sunburst, Natural, Orange, Purple, Ruby Red, Ruby Red Burst, Tobacco Sunburst (or optional top only), Transparent Black

Models: 610ce, 612ce, 614ce, 615ce, 616ce, 654ce, 655ce, 656ce

our mahogany guitars

really let your fingers sing.

And it doesn’t get much

sweeter than a mahogany/

cedar combination. Our

514ce remains one of our

most popular models, and

the newer, bolder-voiced

516ce is a six-string

revelation for its blend

of power and clarity.

Roots-rockers, blues

players, singer-songwriters,

fingerstylists, DADGAD

lovers, simple strummers —

you name it — respond

viscerally to the organic

tonal quality of mahogany.

With their meaty midrange

overtones, our 500 Series

guitars are loaded with

songwriting inspiration.

Tangy licks, melodic, ringing

chords, great dynamic

range — they’re all there.

Back/Sides: Tropical Mahogany

Top: Engelmann Spruce (510ce, 512ce),Western Red Cedar (514ce, 516ce)



Rosette: Abalone

Models: 510ce, 512ce, 514ce, 516ce

The 500 SerieS

Playing for Keeps:How to Find the Right Guitar

A systematic approach to sampling different guitars will make

your search easier. We recommend that you be consistent in

the way you play each guitar you test-drive — this will allow the

tonal nuances created by different shapes, woods and other

construction variables to come through more clearly. Your

checklist can include as many considerations as you want, but

here are a few essentials to consider: ergonomics, playability,

intonation and tonal compatibility with what you’re trying to do.

know what kind of tone you want. Factor in your playing

technique, which includes how light or aggressive your attack is.

Do you plan to strum, flatpick, fingerpick or some combination

of them all? If you’re a beginner and aren’t sure, consider a guitar

that offers a lot of tonal versatility, like a GA. Will you be playing

solo or with a group? Do you like a guitar with a lot of acoustic

bloom or do you want to keep the overtones under control?

Will this be an all-purpose axe or serve a specialized role?

Find your comfort zone. Consider how the size and shape of

the guitar physically feel against your body — how the neck fits in

your hands and how your strumming arm feels draped over the

lower bout. If you’ll be playing it while standing up, try it that way.

and…action! Is the action low enough that you can form clean-

sounding chords without having to clamp down hard? Also, try

playing a moveable chord shape up the neck toward the body to

see how the action feels there, and to check the intonation.

Play a progression of simple chords. For each guitar you sample,

play the same series of chords in the same order, with the same

pick, and with the same attack.

Try different dynamic levels. Play harder and softer on each

guitar to assess the scope of the guitar’s dynamic range.

Try at least three different types of picks (medium, heavy,

plastic, tortex etc.). A certain type of guitar might match up better

with a thicker or thinner pick.

Bring a guitar buddy with you. Have him or her play while you

listen to gain a sonic perspective from the other side of the guitar.

But don’t rely on your buddy’s opinion. He or she will sound

different from you. Use your own hands and ears.

Consider bringing a handheld recorder to capture and evaluate

the tonal distinctions.

Sample a variety of shapes and woods. You never know — you

might naturally be drawn to the aesthetic appeal of a certain guitar

shape or wood, but actually sound better playing a different model.

Taylor web developer and accomplished singer-songwriter

Cindy Santini with a 514ce at Lestat’s Coffee House in

San Diego, a popular local venue, where she’s performed.

We don’t think your guitar should compromise your music. That said, we fully understand

that you may be budget-minded. Our ovangkol 400 Series and sapele 300 Series serve up high-end,

performance-ready guitars at our best price for an all-solid-wood guitar. Our 400/300 Series

models are the choice of plenty of gigging performers, worship musicians, beginners and

discerning others who crave the simple pleasures of a killer guitar: playability, balanced tone

Back/Sides: Ovangkol

Top: Sitka Spruce

Finish: Satin with Gloss Top

Fretboard Inlay: Large Pearl Dots

Binding: White

Rosette: 3-Ring

Models: 410ce, 412ce, 414ce, 454ce, 455ce

The 400 SerieS

and a quality pickup that conveys the nuances of your playing. Maybe this is your first foray into a

solid-wood Taylor experience, and you want to bolster your chops before you step up. Or maybe

you just love the way ovangkol or sapele responds to your hands. As woods they might not be

household names, but pick up one of these guitars and you’ll be impressed by how good it makes

you sound.

Back/Sides: Sapele

Top: Sitka Spruce

Finish: Satin with Gloss Top

Fretboard Inlay: Large Pearl Dots

Binding: Black

Rosette: 3-Ring

Models: 310ce, 312ce, 314ce, 315ce, 354ce, 355ce

The 300 SerieS

Just because we make

high-end guitars doesn’t

mean we don’t believe in

affordable ones. And we

don’t think you have to

sacrifice great tone and

playability when you’re

looking for extra value.

Our rosewood laminate

200 Series and sapele

laminate 100 Series guitars

are the real deal, crafted

to deliver the complete

Taylor experience, and,

with laminate back and

sides, are extra resilient.

Both series offer optional

cutaways and stage-ready

electronics in the form of

our great-sounding ES-T®

transducer pickup. You can

feel good in knowing that

when you buy a Taylor at

any level, you get precision

craftsmanship, great tone,

and our same high standard

of customer service.

For some young adults, getting a driver’s license is a rite of

passage. For others, getting their first Taylor is. The 100 and 200

Series are perfect for young players who are ready to take things

to the next level. With the easiest playability and best intonation

in the industry, family porch jams never sounded so good. Here,

14-year Taylor veteran Ben Benavente (left), currently our Inside

Sales & Customer Relations rep, looks on as his son Mason finds

a groove. Watch out, Dad — you’re about to get upstaged.

Photo by Bil Zelman

Back/Sides: Rosewood Laminate

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce

Fretboard Inlay: Pearloid Dots

Binding: White

Rosette: 3-Ring

Models: 210, 210e, 210ce,214, 214e, 214ce

Back/Sides: Sapele Laminate



Binding: Black

Rosette: 3-Ring

Models: 110, 110e, 110ce,114, 114e, 114ce

The 100 SerieS

The 200 SerieS

the same hallmarks of quality that define Taylor acoustic/electric

steel-strings were applied to our Nylon Series to give players a smooth

passage to a nylon-string’s tonal flavors without having to adjust to a

wide-neck classical guitar. Comfort and playability, clear, balanced tone, a

cutaway for access to the upper register, and electronics for easy gigging

make for an inviting and unique nylon experience that feels familiar to our

steel-string customers. A choice of two body shapes and three different

wood pairings offers a rich variety of tonal nuances to suit every type of

player. If you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, take one for a spin.

ns32ce/ ns34ce Back & Sides/Top: Sapele/Sitka Spruce

Binding: Black

Peghead Veneer: Indian Rosewood

The nYLon SerieS ns72ce/ns74ceBack & Sides/Top: Indian Rosewood/Cedar


Peghead Veneer: Indian Rosewood

ns62ce/ns64ceBack & Sides/Top:Big Leaf Maple/Engelmann Spruce


Peghead Veneer/Bridge: Cocobolo

“After years of concerts with inconsistent and problematic live

acoustic nylon-string sound, my Taylor NS74ce has solved all

my problems. With its onboard electronics dialed in, I rarely

have to touch anything, knowing that it will be consistent from

venue to venue. It’s now stress-free, ‘plug-n-play,’ every time.

Sound engineers love it, as well!”

— Wayne Johnson, three-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist

Neck Width: 1 7/8 Inches

Rosette: Mexican Cypress

Strings: D’Addario Pro-Arté® Extra Hard Tension

Electronics: Fishman™ Prefix Pro® (NS32ce/34ce), Fishman™ Prefix Pro® Blend (NS72ce/NS74ce, NS62ce/NS64ce)

Tuners: Ping Classical Gold with Ivoroid Buttons

part of an acoustic guitar’s appeal is its portability. Wherever you might

be headed, the compact Baby Taylor makes the perfect musical companion.

Its debut over a decade ago set a new benchmark for players on the go,

giving them a legitimate musical instrument that’s resilient and can truly

carry a tune, all the way up the neck. It’s also perfectly kid-friendly. If you

want a bigger sound that’s still super-portable and affordable, the Big Baby

is simply a killer guitar. It’s the kind of guitar you can leave around the house

or the office, or have on-hand on those days when you’re supposed to be at

the office. Don’t be surprised if it secretly becomes your go-to guitar.

Wood&Steel editor Jim Kirlin, clearly hard at work with

a Baby Taylor on Coronado Beach in San Diego, as the

iconic Hotel del Coronado reflects another inspiring

sunset. It’s a tough job, but he does it all for you.

The BaBY taYLor

BabySize/Shape: 3/4-scale Dreadnought (22 3/4-inch scale length)


Top: Solid Sitka Spruce or Mahogany


Rosette: Laser-etched

Big BabySize/Shape: 15/16-scaleDreadnought




Rosette: Laser-etched

Because each taylor

body shape yields a

distinctive sound, we

designed a line of pure

acoustic Taylors around

our shapes, allowing us

to use different wood

pairings to distill down to

the pure essence of tone.

Initially inspired by the bold

voice of our newest shape,

the Grand Symphony (GS),

we now offer more than

30 Acoustic models in four

shapes: the GS, the versa-

tile Grand Auditorium (GA),

the traditional Dreadnought

(DN), and our small-body

Grand Concert (GC). All

of our Acoustic models are

unified by the same clean,

understated appointments

that keep the emphasis on

shapes and woods. All are

designed as non-cutaways

and come without pick-

guards (available as an

option). For live perfor-

mance, the optional Taylor

Expression System®

captures that essential

acoustic sound you’ve

been hearing unplugged,

and shares it with the

world. And its stealthy

design aesthetic will never

compromise the true

acoustic look you crave.

The aCoUstiC Line

Standard Appointments

Fretboard Inlay:Abalone Dots (5 Series & up) Pearl Dots (3 & 4 Series)

Binding: Ivoroid (5 Series & up)Cream (3 & 4 Series)

Rosette: Abalone (5 Series & up) 3-ring (3 & 4 Series)

Tone Profile: The body contours help control overtones, yet both the

volume and bass response are impressive. Together, the shorter scale

length and slotted peghead (on gloss models) yield a warm, slightly

woodier sound. Great for fingerstylists and other players who prefer the

comfort of a small-body guitar.

Models: GC-K, GC8, GC7, GC6, GC5, GC4, GC3 (GC8 shown)

Tone Profile: Deeper, thicker and louder across the tonal spectrum,

without sacrificing clarity or responsiveness. The most robust tone of the

Taylor shapes, and ideal for hearty strumming or flatpicking. Full, round

bass, meaty midrange, and strong trebles.

Models: GS-K, GS8, GS8-12, GS7,GS6, GS6-12, GS5, GS5-12(GS6 shown)

grand sYmphonY

grand ConCert

Tone Profile: Our most traditional body style blends a potent, vintage

acoustic sound with Taylor’s trademark tonal consistency. Great for

strummers and flatpickers who like to really drive the top.

Models: DN-K, 910 Legacy,* 810 Legacy,** DN8, DN5, DN4, DN3 (DN5 shown)

*Features “Cindy” fretboard inlay and abalone-edged top**Features 800 Series fretboard inlay and white binding

Tone Profile: Taylor’s original signature body shape defines tonal balance,

clarity, and overall versatility that modern, multifaceted players appreciate.

Perfect for players who enjoy a mix of strumming, picking and fingerstyle.

Offers a great blend of character and articulation that fit into a mix.

Models: GA-K, GA-K-12, GA8, GA8-12, GA7, GA6,GA6-12, GA5, GA4, GA4-12, GA3, GA3-12 (GA4-12 shown)

grand aUditoriUm

dreadnoUght

Body: Sapele Hollowbody

Top: Sitka Spruce, Maple, Koa, Macassar Ebony, Cocobolo, Walnut

Color Options: Natural, Red, Blue, Black (translucent black optional)with Edgeburst

Sunburst Options: Tobacco, Honey, Cherry

Scale Length: 24 7/8 Inches

Fretboard Inlay: T5 “Artist” (Custom),Micro Dots (Standard)

Binding: Multi-layer White withBlack Pinstripes

Nut/saddle: Bone

Models: T5-C5, T5C5-12, T5-C4, T5C4-12, T5-C3, T5C3-12,T5-C2, T5C2-12, T5-C1,T5C1-12, T5-C, T5C-12,T5-S, T5S-12, T5-S1, T5S1-12

three years since its breakthrough launch, our award-winning

electric/acoustic T5 has clearly come into its own. A full-range performance

guitar, the hollowbody hybrid boasts proprietary humbuckers and an

Expression System®-inspired body sensor, allowing players to switch

between amplified acoustic and electric tones — or blend them together

with an A/B/Both box — in a way that no other guitar can. Its unmatched

versatility has spawned its own category in the guitar world and inspired

artists of virtually every genre by giving them a multifaceted tool that

enhances what they can do in the studio or on stage.

t5

40

the newest addition to our electric line, the T3 embodies our passion for expanding the range of tones

available to the electric player. Inspired by both the T5 and the SolidBody, we’ve taken the classic semi-hollow-

body sound and applied our signature Taylor design touches, blending our high-fidelity Style 2 pickup with a

unique coil-splitting application to give players killer humbucker and single coil sounds in one guitar. Our push-

pull tone knob brings two modes of tone control that include a fresh voice: a warm, fat, mellow vintage tone.

We’ve also paired a Bigsby tailpiece with a metal roller bridge, giving players a high-performance vibrato bar

without the pitch issues. And if vibrato bars aren’t your thing, go with the stop tailpiece. Either way, we love the

look and sound of this guitar, and think you will, too.

t3

Body: Sapele Semi-hollowbody

Top: Quilted Maple


Fretboard Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Dots

Binding: Multi-layer White withBlack Pinstripes

Tailpiece: Bigsby Vibrato or Stoptail with Roller Bridge

Models: T3, T3/B

We celebrate the taylor

SolidBody’s first birthday proudly,

having made a potent impact on

the electric guitar world in 2008.

Loaded with all-original design

ideas, the SolidBody re-imagined

what a great electric guitar could

be, in a completely fresh way.

Proprietary humbuckers fused

power with a vintage, high-fidelity

sound. An innovative aluminum

bridge design marked an advance

in lock-down intonation. Sleek

ergonomic touches added a new

level of comfort to the electric

playing experience. A noiseless

single coil solved an age-old prob-

lem. And our new modular pickups

gave players not only the flexibility

to choose between High-Gain and

High-Definition electric flavors, but

to switch out the pickups with in-

credible ease. We’re in the electric

world for the long haul and hope

you join us.

The soLidBodY

Pickups

Style 1 Humbuckers (Classic, Custom)Style 2 Humbuckers (Standard)Style 3 Noiseless Single Coil(Classic SC)

Also available as after-market HD (High Definition) and HG (High Gain) pickups through TaylorWare

Classic

Body: Swamp Ash

Neck: Maple



Colors: Translucent White, Translucent Red, Black, Natural

Standard

Body: Sapele

Top: Tamo Ash

Neck: Sapele



Colors: Aged Cherry Sunburst or Natural with Shaded Edge

Custom

Body: Sapele or Mahogany

Top: Walnut or Hawaiian Koa

Neck: Sapele or Mahogany


Fretboard Inlay: Progressive Diamonds(Walnut top) or Koa Series

Colors: Shaded Edge

Models: Classic, Classic SC, Standard, Custom Koa, Custom Walnut

Opposite page: Classic Single Coil in Trans WhiteAbove (L-R): Standard in Natural, Standard in AgedCherry, Custom Walnut, Custom Koa

What defines true signature artists is that they do the defining.

Our Signature Series evolved out of the personal relationships

that Bob Taylor developed with two of the world’s most expressive

guitarists — Doyle Dykes and Leo Kottke — both of whom discovered

renewed musical inspiration in Taylor guitars. As stylistic trailblazers

with a clear musical vision, each had his own ideas about the type

of Taylor that would help them articulate their signature tone. If only

it were that easy for the rest of us.

The signatUre Ser ieS ddsmDoyle Dykes Signature Model

“The DDSM is the perfect guitar for me as a performing fingerstyle guitarist. The distance between the strings at the bridge is slightly wider; each string has its own voice because of the hexaphonic pickups; the shallower 16-inch body is comfortable to hold and really adds to feedback control. The short-scale neck makes playing much easier and even adds sweetness to the tone. But the number one reason I love the DDSM is that I can walk out on stage with an orchestra or a band or even just by myself and not have to think about anything else but playing the guitar.” — Doyle Dykes

Back/Sides: Big Leaf Maple

Top: Sitka Spruce

Colors: Black, Translucent Black, Natural, Orange, Brown Sugar

Fretboard Inlay: Offset Pearl “Chet”-style Markers

Peghead Inlay: Pearl / Abalone Rose

Binding: Ivoroid with Abalone-edged Top

Rosette: Abalone

Electronics: Expression System or L.R. Baggs DDSM Hex

Scale length: 24 7/8 Inches

Does a cutaway diminish the tonal output of a guitar?

Conventional wisdom

would suggest that it

would, since a cutaway

does remove real estate

from the soundboard and

slightly diminish the overall

air volume in the cavity of

the guitar. But in reality,

the tonal difference is

negligible, because the

soundboard area in the

upper bout where a cutaway

would be located doesn’t

move much anyway. In

fact, the relief rout that we

cut on the underside of

our guitar tops to enhance

movement doesn’t extend

into that region. Tonal

output is affected more by

the degree of tapering in

the “waist” of a guitar body

than by the cutaway.

Does a slotted headstock affect tone?

Yes, the reduced mass

does slightly affect the

tone, but the biggest

difference is the increased

string angle over the nut.

The tighter tension on the

nut makes the notes more

staccato — they pop out a

bit brighter and decay a

bit more quickly, making

the individual notes sound

more distinct.

TAYLO R FAQs

in the late ’80s, a taylor mahogany 555 would lure Leo Kottke back to the 12-string after years of hand problems.

Of course, in classic Leo fashion, he christened it by using a pocket knife to whittle down the braces. When Bob Taylor

later got wind of Leo’s tinkering, he gave him a call, and the two hit it off.

“One of the things that sold me on the idea of working with Bob and trying this 12-string was that Bob is the first

person I’d run into who can talk as long as I can about guitars,” Leo would later say. “I wanted less wood than is common

for a 12-string. I also wanted it built to be tuned down, instead of up to pitch… I think the real virtue of the 12-string is that

it can just explode out of the bottom. So that’s what we aimed for.”

LksmLeo Kottke Signature Model LKSM, LKSM-6

Back/Sides: Tropical Mahogany

Top: Sitka Spruce


Rosette: 3-Ring

Tuning Pitch: C-sharp

The NT Neck

Straight, stable necks are

the goal of every guitar builder,

but maintaining stability when a

guitar is exposed to changes in

humidity has long been a chal-

lenge. With traditional neck as-

sembly methods, a substantial

change in humidity could cause

a guitar top to swell or shrink,

leading to a hump at the 14th

fret, where the neck comes to-

gether with the body. Intonation

problems would often follow.

With Taylor’s patented NT

neck design, the neck is milled

so that it extends past the 14th

fret (where the heel butts up

against the body), supporting

the fretboard to the last fret.

A computer mill is used to

rout precision pockets in the

guitar body to house the neck

extension. As a result, the neck

fits cleanly into the body, inde-

pendent of the soundboard. To

ensure dead-on accuracy with

the setting of the neck angle,

precisely milled spacers are

placed into the body pockets to

micro-adjust the neck angle’s

accuracy to .001 inch. Such

consistent accuracy delivers

exceptional playability and spot-

on intonation all the way up the

neck. No other guitar neck is as

stable as a Taylor.

TAYLO R I N N OVATI O N

DDSMBlack

LKSM

DDSMBrown Sugar

DDSMOrange

DDSMNatural

46

Models and specifications are subject to change without notice.

20

09

sp

eci

fica

tio

ns ga gs gC dn Jm BaBY Big BaBY t3 t5 sB

ga gs gC dn Jm BaBY Big BaBY t3 t5 sB

41” 41” 40 1/2” 41” 42” 33 3/4” 40 1/4” 41 3/16” 40 3/4” 38”

41” 41” • • 43” • • • 403/4” •

20” 20” 19 1/2” 20” 21” 15 3/4” 19 1/2” 20” 20” 17 2/5”

16” 16 1/4” 15” 16” 17” 12 1/2” 15” 16” 16” 13 13/20”

4 5/8”* 4 5/8” 4 3/8” 4 5/8” 4 5/8” 3 3/8” 4” 2 1/3” 2 2/5” 1 3/4”

251/2” 251/2” 251/2” 251/2” 251/2” 223/4” 251/2” • • •

247/8” 247/8” 247/8” 247/8”” 247/8” • • 247/8” 247/8” 247/8”

20 20 20 20 20 19 20 21 21 22

1 3/4” 1 3/4” 1 3/4” 1 3/4” 1 3/4” 1 11/16” 1 11/16” 1 11/16” 1 11/16” 1 11/16”

17/8” 17/8” • • 17/8” • • • 111/16” •

acoustic

GC, GA, Baby, Big Baby, & All 12-string Models: elixir® NANOWeB® Light Gauge (.012-.053) GS, DN & JM: elixir® NANOWeB® Medium Gauge (.013-.056) Nylon Series: D’Addario Pro-Arté® extra hard Tension

overall Length

6-string

12-string

Body Length

Body Width

Body depth

scale Length

standard

short

Frets

neck Width

6-string

12-string

strings / gauge electric

T3, SolidBody: elixir® NANOWeB® electric Light Gauge (.010-.046)T5: elixir® NANOWeB® electric Medium Gauge (.011-.049)T5 12-string: elixir® NANOWeB® electric Light Gauge

*DDSM body

depth is 4 1/8”

PSGA

PSGA-12

K14ce

K24ce

K54ce

K64ce

914ce

814ce

854ce

714ce

614ce

654ce

514ce

414ce

454ce

314ce

354ce

214

214e

214ce

114

114e

114ce

GA-K

GA-K-12

GA8

GA8-12

GA7

GA6

GA6-12

GA5

GA4

GA4-12

GA3

GA3-12

NS74ce

NS64ce

NS34ce

DDSM

PSJM

PSJM-12

K65ce

LKSM

LKSM-6

815ce

855ce

615ce

655ce

455ce

315ce

355ce

BT1

BT2

BBT T3

T3/B

T5-S

T5S-12

T5-S1

T5S1-12

T5-C

T5C-12

T5-C1

T5C1-12

T5-C2

T5C2-12

T5-C3

T5C3-12

T5-C4

T5C4-12

T5-C5

T5C5-12

SB Classic

SB Classic SC

SB Standard

SB Custom Koa

SB Custom Walnut

PSGC

K12ce

K22ce

912ce

812ce

712ce

612ce

512ce

412ce

312ce

GC-K

GC8

GC7

GC6

GC5

GC4

GC3

NS72ce

NS62ce

NS32ce

PSDN

K10ce

K20ce

910ce

810ce

710ce

610ce

510ce

410ce

310ce

210

210e

210ce

110

110e

110ce

DN-K

910 Legacy

DN8

810 Legacy

DN5

DN4

DN3

PSGS

PSGS-12

K16ce

K26ce

K56ce

K66ce

916ce

816ce

856ce

716ce

616ce

656ce

516ce

GS-K

GS8

GS8-12

GS7

GS6

GS5

GS5-12

Models and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Dimensions by Shape

Models by Shape

47

Back / sides

top

neck

soundhole rosette

Fretboard

Fretboard inlay

top inlay

headstock overlay

Binding

Bridge

Bridge pins

nut / saddle

tuning machines / Buttons

truss rod Cover

Back / side Finish

top Finish

neck Finish

electronics

pickguard

Case

models

presentation

Choice of: Brazilian rosewood, Madagascar rosewood,hawaiian Koa, Cocobolo and other master-grade woods

Choose from a varietyof premium woods

Tropical Mahogany

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Green heart AbaloneByzantine/other options

Green heart Abalonew/neck extension

ebony

ivoroid w/Green heart Abalone

ebonyw/Abalone inlay

ebony w/Green heart Abalone Dots

Bone

Gotoh

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

Optional expression System®

None

Taylor Deluxe hardshell (Brown)

PSDN, PSGA, PSGC, PSGS, PSJM, PSGA-12, PSGS-12, PSJM-12

koa series

hawaiian Koa

Sitka Spruce orhawaiian Koa

Tropical Mahogany

Single ringAbalone

ebony

AbaloneKoa Series

Abalone

ebony

Curly Maple

ebony

ebony w/Abalone Dots

Tusq

Taylor Gold

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

None


K10ce, K12ce, K14ce, K16ce, K20ce, K22ce, K24ce, K26ce, K54ce, K64ce, K65ce, K56ce, K66ce

acoustic koa

hawaiian Koa

Sitka Spruce orhawaiian Koa

Tropical Mahogany

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Abalone Dots

Abalone

ebony

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

None


GA-K, GA-K-12GC-K, GS-KDN-K

900 series

indian rosewood

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl 900 Series

Abalone

ebony w/ Pearl inlay

ivoroid

ebony w/ Pearl inlay


Bone

Gotoh

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expexpression System®

None


910ce, 910 Legacy912ce, 914ce, 916ce

800 series

indian rosewood

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl800 Series

None

indianrosewood

Curly Maple

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold

indianrosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

Tortoise


810ce, 812ce, 814ce, 815ce, 816ce, 854ce, 855ce, 856ce

700 series

indian rosewood

engelmann Spruce / Western red Cedar

Tropical Mahogany

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

indian rosewood

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold

indianrosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

Tortoise


710ce, 712ce, 714ce, 716ce

600 series

Big Leaf Maple

Sitka Spruce

hard rock Maple

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl 600 Series “Leaf”

None

ebony

White

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Gloss

expression System®

Tortoise (Amber)None (colors/bursts)


610ce, 612ce, 614ce, 615ce, 616ce, 654ce, 655ce, 656ce

acoustic 8

indian rosewood

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Abalone Dots

None

indianrosewood

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold or Taylor Slot head (GC)

indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin


None


GA8, GC8, GS8, DN8, 810 LegacyGA8-12, GS8-12

acoustic 7

indian rosewood

Western red Cedar

Tropical Mahogany

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Abalone Dots

None

indianrosewood

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq


indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin


None


GA7, GC7, GS7

acoustic 6

Big Leaf Maple

Sitka Spruce

hard rock Maple

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Abalone Dots

None

indianrosewood

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq


indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Gloss


None


GA6, GC6, GS6, GA6-12

ga gs gC dn Jm BaBY Big BaBY t3 t5 sB

Standard Features

48

Back / sides

top

neck

soundhole rosette

Fretboard

Fretboard inlay

top inlay

headstock overlay

Binding

Bridge

Bridge pins

nut / saddle


truss rod Cover

Back / side Finish

top Finish

neck Finish

electronics

pickguard

Case

models

ddsm

Big Leaf Maple

Sitka Spruce

hard rock Maple

Single ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl DDSM

Abalone

ebony w/ Pearl /Abalone rose inlay

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Gold

ebony

Gloss

Gloss

Gloss

expression System®

or Baggs / DDSM®

None


DDSM colors: NaturalBlack (opaque)Black (translucent)OrangeBrown Sugar

Lksm

Tropical Mahogany

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ring

ebony

None

None

indianrosewood

indian rosewood

ebony

ebony

Tusq

Taylor Gold

indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

None

None


LKSMLKSM-6

nylon series

indian rosewood(NS72ce, NS74ce)Big Leaf Maple(NS62ce, NS64ce)Sapele (NS32ce, NS34ce)

Western red Cedar (70s) engelmann Spruce (60s) Sitka Spruce (30s)

Tropical Mahogany

Mexican Cyprus & MyrtleGeometric Pattern

ebony

None

None

indian rosewood (30s, 70s)Cocobolo (60s)

indian rosewood (60s, 70s)Black (30s)

ebony (30s, 70s)Cocobolo (60s)

None

Tusq

Ping Classical Gold w/ivoroid Buttons

None (32, 62, 72)indian rosewood (34, 74)Cocobolo (64)

Gloss (60s, 70s)Satin (30s)

Gloss

Satin

Fishman™ Prefix Pro® (30s) Prefix Pro®Blend (60s, 70s)

None

Taylor hardshell Black (30s)Deluxe Brown (60s, 70s)

NS32ce, NS34ce NS62ce, NS64ceNS72ce, NS74ce

acoustic 5

Tropical Mahogany

Sitka Spruce (DN) / Western red Cedar

Tropical Mahogany

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Abalone Dots

None

indianrosewood

ivoroid

ebony


Tusq


indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

Optionalexpression System®

None


GA5, GC5, GS5, DN5, GS5-12

acoustic 4

Ovangkol

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ring

ebony

Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

Cream

ebony

ebony

Tusq

Taylor Chrome

indian rosewood

Satin

Gloss

Satin


None

Taylor hardshell (Black)

GA4, GC4, DN4, GA4-12

acoustic 3

Sapele

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ring

ebony

Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

Cream

ebony

ebony

Tusq

Taylor Chrome

indian rosewood

Satin

Gloss

Satin


None


GA3, GC3, DN3, GA3-12

500 series

Tropical Mahogany

engelmann Spruce /Western red Cedar

Tropical Mahogany

3-ringAbalone

ebony

Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

indian rosewood

ebony


Tusq

Taylor Chrome Taylor Gold (514ce, 516ce)

indian rosewood

Gloss

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

Tortoise


510ce, 512ce, 514ce, 516ce

400 series

Ovangkol

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ring

ebony

Large Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

White

ebony

ebony

Tusq

Taylor Chrome

indian rosewood

Satin

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

Tortoise


410ce, 412ce, 414ce, 454ce, 455ce

300 series

Sapele

Sitka Spruce

Tropical Mahogany

3-ring

ebony

Large Pearl Dots

None

indianrosewood

Black

ebony

ebony

Tusq

Taylor Chrome

indian rosewood

Satin

Gloss

Satin

expression System®

Tortoise


310ce, 312ce, 314ce, 315ce, 354ce, 355ce

Standard Features

49

200 / 100 series

200 Series: rosewood Laminate

100 Series: Sapele Laminate

Solid Sitka Spruce

Sapele

3-ring

ebony

Pearloid Dots

None

indian rosewood

White (200s)Black (100s)

ebony

Black

Tusq

Chrome

rosewood

Varnish (100s)Satin (200s)



Taylor eS-T®

(e and Ce models)

Tortoise

Gig Bag (100 Series)Black (200 Series)

110, 110e, 110ce114, 114e, 114ce210, 210e, 210ce, 214, 214e, 214ce

Baby taylor

Sapele Laminate

BT1, BBT: Sitka SpruceBT2: Tropical Mahogany

Sapele

Laser etched

ebony

Pearloid Dots

None

Lexan

None

ebony

Black

Tusq

Chrome

None

Varnish

Varnish

Varnish

None

Tortoise (BBT)

Gig Bag

BT1 (Sitka)BT2 (Tropical Mahogany)BBT (Big Baby)

Body

top

neck

Fretboard

Fretboard inlay

headstock overlay

Fretboard Binding

Bridge

nut


Back / side Finish

top Finish

neck Finish

electronics

pickguard

Case

Color / Burst options

models

solidBody

Swamp Ash (Classic)Sapele (Standard, Custom Walnut)Tropical Mahogany (Custom Koa)

Tamo Ash (Standard)Walnut (Custom Walnut)Koa (Custom Koa)

Sapele (Standard, Custom Walnut)Tropical Mahogany (Custom Koa)Maple (Classic)

ebony (Standard, Custom)indian rosewood (Classic)

Pearl Dots(Classic, Standard)Pearl Progressive Diamonds(Custom Walnut)Koa Series (Custom Koa)

ebony

None (Classic)Black (Standard, Custom)

Taylor hardtail Aluminum, fully adjustable

Bone

Taylor Chrome

Satin (Classic Natural, Standard Natural) Gloss (All other models)

Satin (Classic Natural, Standard Natural) Gloss (All other models)

Satin (All Classics, Standard Natural) Gloss (All other models)

Taylor Style 1 (3/4 size) humbuckers (Classic, Custom); Taylor Style 2 (full) humbuckers (Standard); Taylor Style 3 Single Coils (Classic SC)

White Pearloid (Classic Trans White/red)Black Pearloid (Classic Black)Tortoise Shell (Classic Natural)None (Standard / Custom)

Deluxe hardshell

Classic: Translucent White, Translucent red, Black, Natural; Standard: Aged Cherry Sunburst, Natural w/ Shaded edge; Custom: Shaded edge

Classic, Standard, Custom Walnut, Custom Koa

t5

Sapele

Sitka Spruce (T5-S, T5-C); Figured Maple (T5-S1, T5-C1); Koa (T5-C2); Cocobolo (T5-C3); Walnut (T5-C4); Macassar ebony (T5-C5)

Tropical Mahogany

ebony

Pearl Dots (T5-S, T5-S1)Pearl T5 “Artist” (T5-C, T5-C1, T5-C2, T5-C3, T5-C4, T5-C5)

ebony

White

ebony

Bone

Taylor Chrome (T5-S, T5-S1 and blue bursts)Taylor Gold (T5-C, T5-C1, T5-C2, T5-C3, T5-C4, T5-C5)

Gloss

Gloss

Gloss

T5 electronics w/ Five-Way Switch

None

Taylor T5 hardshell (Black)

Natural, red, Blue, Black (Translucent Black Optional) w/ edgeburst; Sunburst Options: Tobacco, honey, Cherry

T5-S, T5S-12, T5-S1, T5S1-12, T5-C, T5C-12, T5-C1, T5C1-12, T5-C2, T5C2-12T5-C3, T5C3-12, T5-C4, T5C4-12, T5-C5, T5C5-12

t3

Sapele

Quilted Maple

Sapele

ebony

Pearl Dots

ebony

White

Chrome roller-style w/Stop Tail(T3) or Bigsby Vibrato (T3/B)

Tusq with Teflon®

Taylor Chrome

Gloss

Gloss

Gloss

T3 electronics w/Coil-splittingCapability

None

Taylor T3 hardshell

Natural or red w/ edgeburst; Sunburst Options: Tobacco, honey

T3, T3/B

Back / sides

top

neck

soundhole rosette

Fretboard

Fretboard inlay

top inlay

headstock overlay

Binding

Bridge

Bridge pins

nut / saddle


truss rod Cover

Back / side Finish

top Finish

neck Finish

electronics

pickguard

Case

models

Standard Features The Electric Line / Standard Features

Documents

2009 Guitar Guide