Bob Taylor began building and selling his own guitars with his partners in 1974. And now, less than 50 years later, Taylor is a staple in the guitar industry with more than 1,200 employees. At The Fellowship of Acoustics, we simply love Taylor because without a doubt it is one of the most innovative guitar brands around. Taylor was on of the first to use computer controlled machines like the CNC, developing the bolt on neck and a much, much more, leaving an irreplacable mark on the guitar building world as we know it today. So we were very excited to visit to the source of all that beauty: the Taylor Guitar Factory in El Cajon
At the Taylor Factory, Fellows Tom, Maarten and Maico see with their own eyes that Taylor manages like no other to create something very clever and beautiful with both people and machines. Or as Bob Taylor puts it: "We've got 60 machines at Taylor, but 1,200 employees." And that is not the only great thing about Taylor, because the company is now 'company owned'. In the Netherlands this is not a very well known way of organising a business yet, but in the United States you see it more often. It simply means that not just some lucky few, but all employees are shareholders in the company. And this involvement clearly shows in El Cajon. From the warm welcome by Dylan and Nicole, to the often self-made tools the luthiers work with: there is something magical in the air here.
Taylor was one of the first to adress the issue of sustainable guitar production and the (re)planting of endangered tonewood species. These include the ebony project in Africa, Koa in Hawaii and closer to home: Urban Ash. A tonewood that grows abundantly in the United States, but was hardly ever used by luthiers. Until Taylor started experimenting with it and it turned out to be great: abundantly available, easy to process, looks and sounds great. Even if there is still a nail in it!
But there was more. Much more! Of course we left Dedemsvaart with a wishlist for some special "Made to Order" guitars from Taylor. And who better to ask to put those together than Andy Powers! The man not only has the coolest name, like: ever! He is also Chief Designer and President of Taylor Guitars. A pioneer, great guitarist and very nice guy who added some very interesting extras to our wish list.
We hope to welcome some very exclusive Taylor guitars in our magical guitar villa in Dedemsvaart soon, but if you want to know more about Taylor first hand, then follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Fellows Tom, Maarten and Maico will keep you updated daily on their adventures in the US and on these chanels you will always be the first to find info from our Fellows about new, vintage and second hand guitars and gear!