R. Taylor Offers Exclusive Product Line For Acoustic Guitar Aficionados

Quilted mahogany (Click for a close-up)

R. Taylor is a new "boutique" division of Taylor Guitars, with its own exclusive product line and distribution channels. Five veteran luthiers under the expert supervision of innovative master luthier, Bob Taylor, build R. Taylor guitars, which appeal to aficionados who appreciate the extra handwork and attention to detail in their construction, and the variety of rare tonewood options that R. Taylor offers.

One such wood is "quilted" or "tortoise shell" mahogany. R. Taylor's stash of this extremely rare, highly figured wood came from a famous tree in Honduras' Chicibul jungle. The tree, which was over 100 feet in height and 10 feet in diameter at the base, was felled in 1965, but toppled backwards into a ravine. Even after being cut in half, the log couldn't be pulled out, so it lay untouched for 18 years, until intrepid loggers cut it into quarters with chainsaws and went to incredible lengths — dragging, trucking, and floating the pieces for over 170 miles to an ancient steam-powered sawmill for processing.

R. Taylor has built four guitars with this stunning wood; there are nine remaining sets.

Other equally impressive woods comprise R. Taylor's supply: Adirondack spruce, Engelmann spruce, Swiss Alpine Moon spruce, Master Grade Hawaiian koa, Brazilian rosewood, Madagascar rosewood, figured Claro walnut, Mexican cocobolo, and rare, old-growth redwood (limited supply).

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The astounding range of premium woods to choose from is only one aspect of how an R. Taylor customer might actualize their ideal acoustic guitar. "We're willing to discuss anything with a customer and help guide the process so that a guitar will work for them, on both aesthetic and tonal levels," says Bob Taylor. "Experimentation and innovation are what we do, and the possibilities are endless. Two different top geometries and two bracing patterns are available that can be blended with wood combinations, for different kinds of tone. Three neck shapes, four nut widths, two different scale lengths, exotic wood bindings, special inlays and electronics — all of these features and more are open to customer input."

Striped African ebony back and sides with shocking bloodwood binding on a redwood top (R. Taylor #114-2006, shipped to Fazio's Frets and Friends, in Manchester, MO); red-orange-and-black-figured Mexican cocobolo back and sides, matching cocobolo peghead overlay, brilliant flame maple binding (R. Taylor #174-2006, shipped to Buffalo Brothers in Carlsbad, CA); flamey Big Leaf maple back and sides, dusky Indian rosewood binding (R. Taylor #137-2006, shipped to Fat Sound Guitars, Carey, NC) — these are some examples of the far-ranging imagination applied to guitar building in the R. Taylor shop.

Each R. Taylor guitar has green heart abalone rosette and top inlays, gold Gotoh tuners, and comes in a Custom Ameritage case with embroidered R. Taylor logo.

For more information, visit their web site at www.taylorguitars.com.