Bob Taylor realized his life-long dream of creating a high-end custom shop by selecting a handful of his most skilled craftsmen to build less than 400 guitars per year and christening it R. Taylor. You've never seen such a happy group of guys, working in their own little workshop down the street from Taylor's huge factory.
To start with, they can select tonewoods from Bob's secret stash of over thirty years of serious collecting. The brilliant original design of the Style 1 is truly inspired, with a totally new shape for the body, bridge, and headstock. It has the same ultra-smooth Gotoh tuners usually found on guitars costing over ten thousand dollars. At no extra charge, you have a choice of two bracing patterns (modified-X or hybrid asymmetrical-X), either a flat top or a 65' radius, three neck profiles (RT standard, slim-carve, and a vintage modified-V), either a 25 1/2" or 24-7/8" scale length, and three nut widths. A bone nut and saddle is standard. And they come with a plush Ameritage hard case embossed with the R. Taylor logo that you won't believe.
The list price for basic models made out of Rosewood, Mahogany, or flamed/quilted Maple with either a Sitka or Western Red Cedar top is $4480 and we sell them for $4032. Exotic woods available for an additional cost include Master Grade Koa, Cocobolo, Madagascar Rosewood, Striped Ebony, Flame Walnut, Brazilian Rosewood, Englemann Spruce, Adirondack Spruce, Swiss Alpine Moon Spruce, and Redwood.
We don't impress easily but these guys have really done it this time. The sound is outrageously good. R. Taylor has attained our gold standard for the new-school sound created by progressive guitar makers who keep reaching higher and higher degrees of perfection.
*Update 1/16/08: R. Taylor has just introduced a 12-string version of the Style 1 along with the Style 2 featuring a short-scale neck and 15" lower bout with either a slotted or non-slotted peghead. The Style 2 comes with light gauge Elixir Nano Phosphor Bronze strings and the Style 1 is strung with mediums.
Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.
Just In! New! R. Taylor Style 2: Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, and all the ships at sea! This R.Taylor Style 2 with a non-slotted peghead is made of some of the most beautifully figured Koa you will ever encounter. That's right, the top, back & sides are all highly-figured, highly desirable Koa wood. And it has stunning Cocobolo binding. The sound is bright and lively and as beautiful as the appearance. Another "to die for" guitar from the little R. Taylor division of Taylor Guitars. Green abalone rosette, Ebony peghead veneer, and antique gold Gotoh Super 510 tuners. With hard case. You're just going to have to CALL. Stock#NGB27403 PHOTO
Just In! Used R. Taylor Style 1 Maple/Englemann Spruce Short Scale: (EXC+) This is a rare special order guitar with a 1-7/8" nut width and short scale for total ease of playing. Especially for classical players used to a much wider neck or anyone else who needs more space for their fingers. Stunning flame Maple body with Ebony binding for maximum contrast with a pristine Englemann Spruce top, Ebony peghead veneer, Green abalone rosette, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. It sounds bold and clear with super note separation and looks like a million dollars. You'd never know it was played because it's in such perfect condition. With hard case. BuffaloBros. price: $4200. Stock#UGB23764. Photo
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce: Adirondack braces don't cost that much more but they seem to make a noticable difference in improved tonal response. This rosewood beauty also features Cocobolo binding on the body, fingerboard, peghead and soundhole, which is a first for R. Taylor or any of our other high-end makers. It's very similar to Bloodwood in color. The sound is supreme with a powerful Adirondack spruce top driving the Rosewood body with delicious lows and seductive mids and highs. This guitar will make you want to play more and makes everything you do play sound better. It comes with medium strings that feel like lights due to the perfect action. And it has the new-neck technology so adjusting the action is quick and easy and you never shave your saddle to make up for a rising neck angle. It's the best of modern technology and the new-school classical steel-string sound. Ebony peghead veneer, green abalone rosette, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $5780. BuffaloBros. price: $5200. Stock# NGB26365. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce: Adirondack and Adirondack, what could be better? This Rosewood beauty with Flame Koa binding and a Rosewood backstrap has both an Adirondack top and Adirondack bracing for maximum response. The sound is bold and balanced with complex overtones and crystal clarity more like a classical guitar than a folk instrument. The playability is built-in with the most advanced neck technology in the world for easy neck-angle adjustments so you can always have perfect action without shaving down your saddle--as it should be. R. Taylors come with medium strings that feel like lights because their action is so perfect. Green abalone rosette and antique Gold Gotoh Super 510 tuners are the perfect finishing touches. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $6030. BuffaloBros. price: $5427. Stock# NGB26388. photo
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Rosewood Cutaway/Bearclaw Adirondack: Just look at the Bearclaw Adirondack Spruce on this top--it's way over the top! Remember, around 80% of a guitar's sound comes out of the top so that's by far the most important piece of the puzzle. This guitar is bold and beautiful with Bloodwood binding on the body, fingerboard, peghead and even around the soundhole that sets off the lustrous green abalone rosette. The antique gold Gotoh tuners are super smooth and efficient. With a flat top and modified-X bracing, it's tuned for maximum sensitivity. The optional Adirondack bracing gives it more power. And the slim carve neck just makes it that much easier to play fast on this formula race car. This is one of the nicest R. Taylors we've gotten in so far and was hand picked by us with help from John Dimmagio, R. Taylor's ultra-sharp product manager, and was also highly recommended by Tim Luranc, R. Taylor's head luthier. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $6680. BuffaloBros. price: $6012. Stock# NGB26101. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Koa/Adirondack cutaway: Here's the ultimate AA Koa with a powerhouse Adirondack Spruce top for maximum projection and brilliance. Ebony binding and peghead veneer, modified-X bracing, 65' radius top, Green abalone rosette, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $6750. BuffaloBros. price: $6075. Stock# NGB22554. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Rosewood/Sitka Spruce/Sunburst: One of the only sunburst top R. Taylors we've ever had in stock with a spray that rivals the best in the business. Also one of the few with Ivoroid binding to complete the traditional look. And it sounds so sweet yet has plenty of punch with Rosewood back and sides and a hard-driving Sitka Spruce top. Premium Green abalone rosette and antique gold Gotoh tuners finish off this new-school masterpiece. Modified-X bracing and 65' top radius. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $4900. BuffaloBros. price: $4410. Stock# NGB22988. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce: Want a passive Expression system already built-in? Here you go, all ready to play out solo or with your friends. No battery necessary. Having Mahogany back and sides with a clear fundamental and not a lot of harmonic overtones makes this instrument great for recording as well as being a fine stage guitar. Rosewood binding, modified-X bracing, 65' top radius, premium Green Abalone rosette, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $5100. BuffaloBros. price: $4590. Stock# NGB24691. photo
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Quilted Sapele/Sitka Spruce: Ever seen quilted Sapele? We mean really, really figured Sapele? Neither have we until now. This African hardwood wonder is amazing just to look at it. And the sound is crystalline and pure, like the finest Mahogany blended with a taste of Rosewood. It's the ideal tonal coloration as complex as its figure. It has Ebony binding for an elegant accent, premium Green Abalone rosette, modified-X bracing, 65' top radius, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. All at a ridiculously low price for a guitar this ultimate. LIST: $4500. BuffaloBros. price: $4050. Stock# NGB24939. photo
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce: This big, bold instrument sounds sweet and warm due to its Mahogany back and sides yet the Adirondack Spruce top creates penetrating projection for a great sonic combination. Mahogany is underrrated in general, and you'll be amazed what R. Taylor does with this extremely stable exotic hardwood that is on the endangered list so it may not always be so plentiful. Or available. Stock up now before the shortage hits! Rosewood binding, premium Green Abalone rosette, asymmetical-X bracing, flat top, and antique gold Gotoh Super 510 tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $4900. BuffaloBros. price: $4410. Stock# NGB24518*. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Rosewood/Red Cedar Cutaway: Here's the perfect combination for an affordable Rosewood guitar with a rich sounding Red Cedar top and a soft cutaway for reaching high up the neck. Let's hear all you lead players say YEAH! Plays like an electric guitar, sounds like a symphony. Ebony binding on body, fingerboard and peghead with Ebony peghead veneer, premium Green Abalone rosette, 65' radius top, modified-X bracing, and antique gold Gotoh tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $4950. BuffaloBros. price: $4455. Stock# NGB22727*. PHOTO
New! R. Taylor Style 1 Walnut/Sitka Spruce: Figured Walnut is a joy to behold and a pleasure to the ear with a tonality that combines the best of Rosewood and Mahogany. It has the harmonic richness and brilliance of Rosewood with the precise note separation and clarity of Mahogany. You have to hear it to believe it. We rarely get figured Walnut guitars in stock and this is one of the best we've ever heard from any maker. Ebony binding, asymmetrical-X bracing, 65' top radius, premium Green Abalone, Ebony peghead veneer, and antique gold Gold tuners. With embossed Ameritage hard case. LIST: $5020. BuffaloBros. price: $4520. Stock# NGB24693. photo
Please note: All instruments that have stock numbers followed by an asterisk (*) are in stock at our San Diego store. Please call Tom @ (619) 280-9035 for further information.