Ever wonder how one of the world’s most beloved guitar brands, Taylor Guitars, come to life? From hand selecting the best tonewoods to stringing the perfectly tuned strings, the process of creating an instrument of this caliber is truly a sight to behold.
In this article, we’ll uncover the entire process of how Taylor Guitars are made, from start to finish.
From learning about the history of the brand, to exploring the wood selection process, and all the way through to when the strings are added, you’ll get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship that goes into each and every guitar.
Table of Contents
Short Answer
Taylor Guitars are handmade in El Cajon, California.
The process begins with selecting the right wood for the guitar body and neck.
The wood is then shaped and finished using specialized CNC machines.
The guitar is then assembled, fitted with electronics, and polished before being inspected and shipped.
The history of Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars has been crafting award-winning acoustic and electric guitars since 1974.
The company was founded by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, two guitar enthusiasts who wanted to create instruments with superior sound quality and playability.
Since then, the company has become renowned for its commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.
Their guitars are handmade with attention to detail and precision, and they use a variety of woods chosen for their tonal characteristics.
Taylor Guitars is well-known for its use of solid wood for its instruments, and the company sources its wood from sustainable forests.
The woods used for their guitars are carefully chosen for their tonal characteristics, and then undergo numerous processes such as drying and jointing before they are ready for assembly.
The next step is to shape the body and neck of the guitar, and then the neck is attached to the body before the frets are installed.
Finally, the pickups and electronics are installed and the guitar is strung with Taylor strings.
Taylor guitars have become renowned for their sound, playability, and craftsmanship, and their guitars are used by some of the world’s most famous and respected musicians.
The company has also won dozens of awards, including Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Acoustic Guitar of the Year” award in 2004 and the NAMM TEC Award for “Best Acoustic Guitar Amplification” in 2005.
Taylor Guitars continues to be a leader in the guitar industry, and their commitment to quality and innovation has made them one of the most respected guitar manufacturers in the world.
As Bob Taylor himself said, Our mission is to make the best guitars in the world.
The wood selection process
When it comes to crafting the perfect guitar, the wood selection process is one of the most important steps.
Taylor Guitars takes great care in selecting the woods used for their instruments, and each piece of wood is chosen for its specific tonal characteristics.
The woods they use include Sitka Spruce, Mahogany, Rosewood, Ebony, and more.
Each piece of wood is thoroughly inspected for quality and consistency before being used to craft a Taylor guitar.
Once the wood has been chosen, it undergoes a number of processes to prepare it for use.
The wood is dried to the perfect humidity level, joints are cut and glued together, and the wood is shaped to the desired dimensions.
This process is done with precision and attention to detail to ensure that each piece of wood used to craft a Taylor guitar is of the highest quality.
After the wood is ready, the neck is attached to the body of the guitar and the frets are installed.
The pickups and electronics are then installed and the guitar is strung with Taylor strings.
Finally, the guitar is given a final setup and is ready to be played and enjoyed.
Drying and jointing processes
Taylor Guitars takes pride in its attention to detail and precision when it comes to the production of each of their guitars.
This is especially evident in the selection and preparation of the woods used in their guitars.
Every piece of wood must be carefully chosen for its tonal characteristics.
After selection, the wood undergoes a number of processes to ensure that it is ready for assembly.
One of the most important of these processes is drying and jointing.
To ensure that the wood is ready for assembly, it must be dried to a certain moisture content.
This helps to prevent warping and cracking down the line.
Various pieces of the guitar, such as the neck, body, and sides, are dried separately to different moisture content levels depending on their use.
After the wood is dried, it must be jointed.
Jointing involves cutting the wood into the correct shapes and sizes for the guitar.
This is done using specialized machines that are designed to accurately cut the wood to the correct measurements.
The wood is then sanded and shaped to ensure that it is smooth and ready for assembly.
After these processes are complete, the wood is ready for assembly.
Construction of the body and neck
The construction of a Taylor Guitar starts with the selection of the perfect woods.
Taylor sources their woods from all over the world, ensuring they have the best tonal characteristics.
They use a variety of woods, such as mahogany, rosewood, and maple.
Each type of wood has a unique tonal characteristic that contributes to the overall sound of the guitar.
Once the wood has been selected, it is subjected to a process of drying and jointing.
This is done to ensure the wood is free of any imperfections and is ready for assembly.
The neck of the guitar is then attached to the body and the frets are installed.
Taylor uses a unique process of heating the fretboard to ensure the frets are properly seated and won’t move.
The last step in the construction process is the installation of the pickups and electronics.
This is a precise and delicate process, as the pickups must be connected correctly to ensure the guitar’s optimal sound.
Once the pickups and electronics have been installed, the guitar is strung with Taylor strings and the guitar is ready to be enjoyed.
Installing the frets
Installing frets on a guitar is an important step in the process of making Taylor guitars.
Frets are the metal wires that run along the neck of the guitar and create the spaces for the strings to be played.
They are responsible for the intonation and the tone of the instrument, so it is essential that they are properly installed.
Installing frets on a Taylor guitar begins with cutting the fret slots into the neck.
The slots are cut to the exact size of the frets and they are carefully spaced out so that the strings can be held at the right tension.
After the fret slots are cut, the frets are then inserted into the slots and secured in place.
The frets are then hammered into the slots with a fretting hammer until they are level with the neck of the guitar.
Once the frets are in place, they need to be leveled and crowned.
Leveling is the process of making sure that the frets are even with each other and that none of them protrude above the rest.
This can be done using a special fret leveling file.
After the frets are leveled, they must be crowned, which is the process of rounding off the edges of the frets to make them more comfortable to play.
Finally, the frets are polished and buffed to give them a smooth surface.
This step is especially important for Taylor guitars, as the polished frets help to give the instrument a bright, crisp tone.
Installing frets is one of the most important steps in the process of making a Taylor guitar.
It requires a great deal of skill and precision, and it can make a huge difference in the sound of the instrument.
With the right tools and techniques, a guitar can be given a unique and beautiful tone that will make it stand out from the rest.
Adding the pickups and electronics
When it comes to adding the pickups and electronics to a Taylor guitar, the process is just as meticulous and exacting as the rest of the steps in the instruments construction.
The pickups and electronics are the components that give the guitar its sound and feel, so its important to get it right.
Taylor guitars use a variety of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and combinations of both.
These pickups are then carefully wired to the electronics, such as the volume and tone pots, switches, and jacks.
The pickups and electronics are all connected to the guitars control cavity, located on the back of the instrument.
This cavity houses all the wiring and components, and it is sealed shut to protect the internal components from dirt and moisture.
The pickups and electronics are then carefully tested to ensure that they are working properly and that the sound of the guitar is balanced and consistent.
Once this process is complete, the pickups and electronics are ready for installation.
The pickups and electronics are then mounted on the guitar and wired to the control cavity.
The guitar strings are then installed, and the instrument is strung up and tuned.
Finally, the guitar is ready to be played and enjoyed.
Stringing the guitar
The final step of the Taylor Guitars making process is stringing the guitar.
The strings used on Taylor guitars are made from high-quality materials like nickel-plated steel and phosphor bronze.
These strings provide a bright, clear sound that captures the intricate details of the guitar’s tone.
Depending on the type of guitar, the strings will either be wound or unwound.
Wound strings have a smooth, polished feel and sound, while unwound strings have a rougher, more traditional sound.
Once the strings are in place, the bridge and nut are adjusted to ensure the strings are correctly set up and the guitar is ready to be played.
Before the strings are put on, the guitar must be properly tuned.
This process is done by adjusting the tuning machines, bridge, and nut until the strings are in tune with each other.
Proper tuning helps to ensure that the guitar sounds great and is comfortable to play.
Once the strings are in tune, the bridge saddle is adjusted to the desired height to set the intonation.
Intonation is the relationship between the strings and the fretboard, and it helps to ensure that the strings are in tune all the way up and down the fretboard.
After the intonation is set, the strings are then ready to be strung.
Stringing a guitar requires precision and skill.
The strings must be wound and tightened correctly in order to ensure the guitar’s intonation and playability are correct.
The strings should be wound around the tuning machines in a counterclockwise direction and then tightened until the string is snug.
Once the strings are tightened, the guitar is ready to be played.
Taylor Guitars takes great pride in the quality of their strings, and they are constantly testing and refining their strings to ensure they provide the best sound and playability possible.
As a result, Taylor guitars sound great right out of the box and are ready to be enjoyed by guitarists of all skill levels.
Final Thoughts
Taylor Guitars have been crafting award-winning instruments since 1974, and the process of creating each guitar is a labor of love.
Every component is carefully sourced and assembled with the utmost care so that each guitar produces the best possible sound.
From the selection of the wood to the final setup, each step in the process is designed to create a unique and superior sounding instrument.
For anyone looking for an instrument that combines beauty, precision, and quality, Taylor Guitars is the perfect choice.