Taylor Factory Tour Part 4 of 4 - Final Assembly

Exclusive multi-part tour of the Taylor Guitar Factory with Bob Taylor.

[@stephen3073]

I build high-end custom acoustic guitars, brand name Edwinson... And I have a deep and profound respect and admiration for Bob Taylor. He's a brilliant innovator, building great production (and custom shop) guitars; He has revolutionized the engineering and manufacturing of guitars more than anyone else, ever. Bob is also a very conscientious, decent guy who cares deeply about the stewardship of woods and other resources so we'll have plenty to draw from in the future. Taylor is a great company, and Bob is a great guy.

[@uspsdaveable]

I walked into Guitar Center a few years ago and played a Martin and a Taylor, back and forth for a very long time, I walked out with my Taylor 414 , it’s by far my favorite guitar of all the ones I own. Would I like to have a Martin too..... yes. One can never have to many guitars.

[@axeman2638]

I've played a few Taylors and have been impressed by both their playability and sound but after seeing and hearing this guy I'm sold. My next acoustic will be a Taylor, so many clever innovations so well hidden in a traditional look. This is the sort of craftsmanship and manufacturing efficiency that made America great once, so good to see it's still practiced in some places. So which model?

[@49ProRatStreet]

I recently purchased a 326CE and absolutely love it. I'd not watched these videos prior to the purchase but wish I had. As a retired 43 year aerospace engineer, of many aspects I have imense respect for the detailed approach taken by Taylor. Great job Taylor team! My only issue is that my guitar didn't have any owner booklet which I'd hoped would have highlighted the units features and provided guidance on humidity and care. I'll possibly contact them but feel it should have been with the guitar at the time of purchase. Rock on....

[@giuseppe-accordéon]

thank you for these wonderful vids I've ordered my 314 ceN recently, and I'm eager to receive it ..Conscientious company is the right way to go Thanks for taking the time to show us your principals Mr. Taylor

[@josecorisco1]

This is a great series of videos, and I find really amazing that such a prominent guitar constructer is showing us all how it goes inside is business. Amazing craft. Great guitars. Can't wait till I get my hands on a sweet little GS Mini (for a start).

[@cfoltz97]

Wow my first acoustic was and still is a Martin. This video changed my view of Taylor guitars completely. Bob is brilliant! I love how they innovate and try to make things better instead of doing it the way it's always been done. People have different views about machine built guitars, I say you get a quality product that works every time. I played a Taylor 810 through a PA system last week and was blown away. Everything he said about the strumming volume was spot on. I love my Martin sound played acoustic, but Taylor will be my next stage guitar for sure.

[@EzyoMusic]

I love all these Taylor innovations. I want that all koa guitar... it's so beautiful!

[@crashintonickdm]

its hard to imagine me going with anything other than taylor in the future. i love watching this tour. bob knows his stuff. a true american inovator.

[@dxcman1]

I love my Taylor and after watching these and the innovations I don't know if I want to own anything else. Very impressive.

[@ChadLewis]

Bob Taylor just seems like a really likable guy. Smart, straight forward approach, environmentally conscious, cares about his employees, loves his work. Oh yeah, and he just happens to make amazing guitars. I love my 310ce. Thank you Taylor Guitars!

[@ElliotComposer]

Absolutely Beautiful and Inspiring!!!

[@DwightMS1]

Very impressive explanation of your vast experience and expertise.

[@VisualparanormalChannel]

I like the sound of both Taylor and Martin guitars. They are each unique in tone. Depending on the body shape and wood used on either a Taylor or Martin they will have their own characteristics .

[@TRIPLET987]

the exactness an perfect calculations in the taylor company is just the craziest thing ive ever seen with guitar building..or any wood working..i went to the factory and it was just amazing..i now have much more respect for tailor just for their outstanding use of physics and art..in one product..just perfect

[@songsfromspringcreekave821]

For a few years I have been wanting a special guitar for my collection. I had thought for quite some time that the Martin 000-42 would be the one. When I was working out of town in Texas, there was a guitar expo happening in Dallas where thousands of models were on display, it was a guitar Meca to say the least. I played darn near every top of the line model I could get my hands on from Martin to Gibson, Collings and several smaller makers. Nothing sounded and played like the Taylors I played. I walked away with a beautiful 914ce. Yes, it was expensive but quite competitive with top of the line production models from the other makers. I still want that OOO-42 someday, but I'll be hard pressed to find something that outdoes my 914. It is a dream to play!

[@user-eb6gq2ud3r]

So amazing!! i want to go there

[@ngbahai]

when I read his book, I said to myself "Man, I have to own one of his guitar" And now after watched this clip, I want it more than ever. What a great job you've done out there for guitar enthusiasm, Bob. Thank you,

[@123456qw6]

I have a 314ce and it's by far the best guitar I've ever played

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Taylor Guitars are Perfect in every way , I wish i was a masterclass player

[@FrenchGermanBrothers]

I love the way bob is telling about his guitars..

[@kaskas55]

Amazing vids! thanks for posting...

[@rippleand]

Enjoyed thankyou.

[@Nativesonbarber]

the difference IMO between taylor and martin is that martin has people who are masters of their craft building instruments by hand. not saying that taylor guitars are junk, but when i hold a martin i feel the effort that went into making a beautiful instrument. not a cookie cutter processed object made by robots. martin is like fine wine while taylor is box wine. martins have more of a complexity to their sound while taylor sound like a sample playing through your sound hole.

[@sethadam4266]

Great video, very informative.

[@rzh3443]

As Mr. Taylor says many folks have "opinions" about machining guitars versus "hand built". Many of the boutique manufacturers ( even the smaller ones) are using CNC routers for cutting the body and the neck and many are using bolt on necks. Even Gibson and Martin use CNC routers for their dovetail joint carving and rough necks.Taking the inconsistency out of the manufacturing process is a natural evolution of industrial innovation. The real soul of the instrument itself is in the wood chosen ( body , top , fingerboard), body shape and bracing adjustments ( spacing and carving) . Less important, but factors, are the upgrades to bone nuts and saddles , bridge pins, tuning machines. If you want a "one off" or some special inlays , etc, the Taylors and many other professional grade guitars are not for you ;but ,for the vast majority of players these guitars are a great , even exceptional, value ( see how many pros use them !).

[@charlesbranch4120]

Thank you to Bob Taylor, Ken Lustig, and Andy Powers for continuing to produce great instruments, and engaging with people to promote sustainable forestry to maintain the supply of tonewoods into the future. See the Taylor Guitars web site for information on The Ebony Project. Many thanks from a former US Forest Service fish biologist of habitat surveys in northern SE Alaska and central Idaho. It's not possible to hug an old growth Sitka spruce, they're too big for that! I have seen 4-foot diameter alder 200 feet high, clear and straight, beautiful! Hoping to learn with an Academy 12e...

[@joq702]

The neck assembly explained has convinced me that Taylor guitars are really outstanding. Mechanically it made so much sense in comparison to the hidden more permanent world of a dovetail with a truss rod. Just too finicky when compared to the Taylor neck system. The fret board adjustability is a big plus to me for comfort playability.

[@Andy-jg1ve]

THANK U

[@joebryant8500]

I'm sold. I never realised that Bob Taylor was the Leo Fender of the acoustic guitar world. I'm not a big acoustic player (I collect Fender electrics) but I do have a Martin LX1E. I'm going to trade it for a GS Mini E-Koa.

[@back2thefutre]

I like that Mr. Bob did this and not some tour guide.

[@JgHaverty]

I enjoy this. These guys arent claiming "HAND MADE", "WE HAVE THE BEST TONE EVAR!", crap comments that a lot of other companies love to spit off. He's very pragmatic, and I like his engineering look at making guitars as well.

[@randyscott9034]

Amazing ! I own a114 very it’s at the bottom of there line and it’s made in Mexico but it’s still a very decent guitar I would love to own a 814 ce

[@Bflatest]

ok if I glue my sensor back in do I need to make sure it is pointing a certain way?

[@zerobertoballestra]

The frankness of Bob Taylor is amazing. I was already a fan of a "Taylor", but now ... decided. Dreadnought Tayor has to be for me!

[@MrGibsonj200]

i have a 1994 615 jumbo, i love it

[@Bflatest]

one of my sensors came off and the wires pulled off the soldering. Its ES1 system. 2006 814ce I am going to try to solder the red, white and black tiny wires back on. But I am not sure how to glue the sensor back on top. any glue??

[@itlsofficial]

Genius!

[@lauriedepaurie]

The whole Taylor vs. Martin thing is apples and oranges. I like handbuilt guitars because they are not perfect and consistant. Put two identical Martin's side by side and they respond in a completly different way. I could imagine a lot of people like the consistancy Taylor offers. And to be completely honest, the Expression System is the best amplification system for an acoustic.

[@CameronForrester]

had my heart set on a GS mini for several months. Having a limited budget and craving a Taylor beyond belief. Then I did research and realized, why sacrifice body size and the full-bodied sound of a standard body size? Granted the mini has full sound for it's body size, I picked up a used 114ce for around $500 after keeping my eye out in Guitar Center's used section online and talking them down. I will never look back. What a beautiful guitar at such a cheap price. Should be more expensive.

[@angelcastellanosmartinez2412]

Is it posible to buy a guitar direct from factory?

[@stevetottosy1477]

same process on the MIM models?

[@GameLevelEditor]

Sounds like Doyle's playing in the background. Good video Bob's really an informative guy. I've played a G8 before its great. However I find the prices a tad high considering they are flying off the production line with most of it automation. eg I find it hard to justify that the higher end taylors are thousands more difference in price when cocobolo back and sides sell around $180 while generic mahogany sells around $80 while abalone shell ornaments and other ornaments a few dollars.

[@jggfgfeshhgg6470]

I like the knob aesthetics.

[@77guitarts22]

As it looks like the NT neck is a good idea, why is not Taylor including a set of shims that you could possibly need in the next few years... At least for the guitars shipping outside US?

[@1BalBal1]

Does the music in the background have a name?

[@andhikade]

what is the backsound song?

[@strummingnerd]

Very good guitars, I own two !!!!!!!

[@patrickclark3337]

The solid bodies are nice but I think they should have the same classic headstock shape and size as the acoustics do. They might look like a Gibson from a distance but it would look a lot better than the one that they use currently.

[@IamtheActionman]

Caulking?

[@yetanotherjohn]

Anyone bothering to argue about the dovetail joints' effect on the tone of the instrument had better be playing something handmade, with an Engleman Spruce top, finished with french polish. No one else on the planet could tell the difference between a dovetail and Taylor joint.

[@joq702]

That point I would agree. I just like the improved access to reset the neck if necessary, when necessary. I think it is an improvement engineering wise without destroying the look.

[@Fourchette22]

I want one!!!! T.T

[@arthurogle7581]

I actually owned a Taylor. But since I'm involved in bluegrass, details of internal pickups is machts nicht to me. Just stand in front of a mic. Altho Taylor doesn't used a dovetail neck design I can see the feature of their design of neck attachment. Necks that can be repl in minutes I'm told. Bravo Taylor!!!

[@Skankhair333]

Of course.

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

Bob Taylor seems like a nice dude who loves what he does. He makes beautiful, playable guitars. I just cannot vibe with one. No matter what Taylor model I try, there’s something about the sound and feel of it that I dislike. I don’t mean feel as in playable; A guitar either has the mojo or it does not, and I can’t find that mojo when I play a Taylor. Of course, it’s a guitar, so it’s not like I can’t play one, I just prefer not to. 🐰🎸🎶✌️

[@salkdjfasldkfjsdlk]

Wisdom: "There's really one neck angle that's great on a guitar. Every other angle is wrong"

[@stumpmed]

That guy on @20:00 .. We all want him to be with us when we go to a guitar store !

[@diev9709]

Well now I'm gonna go play my Hog Taylor Yup.

[@lauriedepaurie]

And the 'nothing compares to a Martin' is ridiculous, I've played Rozawoods, Collings, BSG's, Santa Cruz's, Lakewoods etc. that beg to differ (apples vs apples). Not to mention other designs like Lowden, McIllroy etc. (throwing in a pear) I've played only 1 Martin that can't be compared, but it had a pricetag of 25.000-30.000 USD. Just go to a music store, grab a lot of guitars from the walls and listen. I went to a store for a solid Martin, came home with a Blueridge BR-73....

[@StringPegs]

Go maton !

[@DustinLaffertyTV]

And now they have abandoned it. I thought the ES1 sounded terrible. I do like the ES2 better though.

[@garydmercer]

So I went to Taylor to look at buying a 12 string Taylor 254ced Acoustic/Electric Guitar and it says the country of origin is Mexico? Seriously? I watched all four of these videos and thought all Taylor guitars are made in the USA. WRONG!!

[@bcc1955]

Well, one thing annoying to me is that all Taylor guitars are sold with invasive holes drilled in them, plastic knobs hanging out prominently, and other changes to install technology destined to be obsolete. True one can special order a Taylor guitar without electronics but then buyers do not get to see select the completed guitars. You must commit to whatever is delivered :-( Taylor has decided to push this on their customers, which is verified by the dearth of used Taylor guitars without electronics on the market, relative to other brands.

[@superflea72]

so?

[@TeKaMOTO]

The robots cost a shitload of money and they have to pay the workers too. But I get your point. They are expensive.

[@DataTypeX]

How do you change a neck .04 of 1 degree - with a chisel? You can't do that. OUCH!! I "know" what that was in reference to. :) These are some high precision made guitars. No doubt about that.

[@tommyd688]

Bob was speaking the facts. There just are some things that are actually improvements over the old ways..

[@jggfgfeshhgg6470]

"we invented how they work" ?

[@Im-sure]

If you've never owned or played one of these you won't get it...

[@Im-sure]

just pick one up and strum

[@moleman1961]

Mike Broyles I did that! Played a single Am on one and that seduced me!

[@yetanotherjohn]

I've always felt that their soundboards are too heavy, I always want to plane one down or re-voice the braces, but then... even Martins sound flat as cardboard these days...

[@martijnvandenakker803]

Jack Gamboa EVEN Martins...? Taylors surpass Martins...

[@yetanotherjohn]

Bah! Old Martins cost ten to twenty grand because the lush, shimmering voice of an old Martin is magnificent and unique.

[@tom474e]

Maybe the bolt on neck is why Taylors dont sound as good as the Martins that have a dovetail neck joint

[@songsfromspringcreekave821]

Of course the sound is a personal taste thing, so your opinion on that is completely valid. But to me, nothing I have ever played sounded better than my 914ce. But again, it's a personal thing and Martin makes a great acoustic.

[@iy76tvb7b7]

im not a taylor fan but who said martins sound good ?

[@johncspine2787]

All subjective. Bob explained why this neck method is justified. I had the guitar shop guys play all the guitars, a Taylor 314 ce blew away a 6000$ one and all the others. Why “diss” Taylor? Competition between great makers only benefit consumers..My 314 has extremely even tone, huge sound, beautiful sound..it’s certainly “better” than I as a player deserve, I won’t probably ever outgrow it, but I’m not going to diss Martin, why should I?

[@markwilkinson508]

Really beautiful instruments. If I had one I'd hang it on the wall and never play it

[@songsfromspringcreekave821]

I bought a 914ce recently, paid nearly $5K for it. I thought it would be a "once in a while" guitar that would spend more time on display in my guitar case than in my hands where it could get damaged. I can't leave it alone! I play it more than any of my other guitars. It inspires you to want to play more. I have a couple of very small dings from playing it near the sound hole (from hitting my nails on it), but that's just how it goes when play a guitar a bunch. they are made to be played (just like my vintage Guild ;-), so that's what I'm gonna do. If you are a player, go check one out. Even the entry level models sound and play awesome.

[@uspsdaveable]

Mark Wilkinson , trust me you’d play it, love mine

[@JgHaverty]

cell phone at :28 hahaha

[@paulmay7777]

+1 on that. Maton make some of the best sounding guitars I've heard. So do Taylor. Not keen on Martins to be honest, always was really underwhelmed by them. Just my opinion.

[@superflea72]

switch the words Martin and Maton around in that comment, and that's my take. Matons don't even come close to measuring up.

[@7or6]

except i wasn't bragging about making two hundred a week like it was an impressive thing. I bought my own car in cash, and every dollar i have i earned. Thousands of which are going to pay for my college. I think i have a pretty good understanding of "real money"

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

"i am certainly under no uncertain delusion that I can start my own guitar construction company and build guitars for sale." "i will certainly not not use this knowledge that I did not obtain off the internet to build the atomic bomb of guitars. i promise." 🙈🙉🙊🐒🐵

[@Turboy65]

I'd take a Manzer over anything else...if I could afford one.

[@superflea72]

well, you say that it works for Tommy Emmanuel....who cares? what works for one guy doesn't necessarily mean that it works for everyone else.

[@7or6]

what kind of a question is that?

[@crispee1978]

i realise its only my opinion, and im sure there are taylor owners out there who are more than happy and wouldnt swap for anything. however, as much as i respect some of his innovations from a technological standpoint, i think that by automating almost every aspect of the guitar making process he has inadvertantly destroyed the soul of the guitars hes made. a guitar should have character, idiosyncracies, for want of a better word, it should have its own personality. i think by making a guitar in this fashion he has sort of turned the whole process into a numbers exercise. i realise that the other big boys of guitar making, martin, gibson, fender et al have all turned on to CNC in one way or another, none of them has to the same extent as taylor. for instance martin and gibson still fit the dovetail necks by using hand chisels. this way every guitar is different, no matter how slightly. taylors guitars, although ive no doubt they use the finest raw materials, are to some extent a sort of "guitar by numbers" process. like i say its only my opinion but il take a martin, collings or gibson acoustic anyday over a taylor.

[@JKater-ct5cf]

I respect what you're saying because I own a "made-by-one-man-using-chisels" one off acoustic (the Bénéteau in my profile pic), a top end mid 90's Larrivée and now a 2012 800 series Nylon string Taylor. All three outstanding guitars. But I have to disagree with you that the ingeneering of the Taylors is a drawback. If you're producing lots of guitars with even motivated workers, technology and the best tools makes the customers clear winners at least when it Comes to the neck and ist adjustment. While not as "romantic" as my Bénéteau, my taylor 814ce N is as precisely made at half the cost. And I don't trust Gibson to make a an accurate dovetail joint every time...

[@johncspine2787]

Hand crafted is a beautiful art, but without this type of manufacturing, with someone who really cares, and now with Andy Powers, most people couldn’t afford a well made, great sounding instrument. Taylor and Martin etc aren’t preventing craftsmen..they are making them available and affordable.

[@tom20152]

"destroyed the soul of the guitars", are you serious?

[@roost24]

Do you really laugh out loud?

[@williamcastleberry7338]

I have two flattops one a Epiphone and the other is a MK 72 Gibson. Had both of them for over 30 years. I would like to try a Taylor but they are way over a poor mans price range. I bought my Gibson in a pawn shop many many years ago. The Epip, was bought about two years prior to the Gibson. I got both of them at a bargain. I live on a limited income because of DDD and DJD so I will never be able to afford a Taylor, a Martin or another Gibson. I have come to the realization that I will never have one and I'm happy playing what I have.

[@williamcastleberry7338]

I agree with you. But as I said I'm on a fixed income now. And just barely getting by (all Dr's bills and med's ) nothing left for luxury items even if they are priced very low. You know the old saying Too much month at the end of the money. Well I can relate real well LOL

[@billyjohnie]

Gv me 1.

[@yamnehroncero4238]

Yeah, now I know why Taylor guitars are so expensive. Quality has a price

[@bjtimestar5362]

IT S NOT THE BEST SOUNDING GUITAR AND IT S WAY WAY OVER PRICED.........................................

[@7or6]

And if a Maton is the instrument of choice for easily one of the greatest musicians alive and they have reasoning behind it, then how could some random person on the internet that doesn't influence anyone have a credible opinion when chances are, they cant afford the guitar they speak against?

[@bamboosa]

@Musician's Friend - of course there are "poor" people on planet Earth who yearn for stringed instruments, of course we at Taylor have heard of these "poor folk" and we at Taylor firmly believe that losers without bucks don't deserve stringed instruments.

[@spartacus1988]

Now I've seen how they build the Taylor I understand that is not worth the dollars they ask ... is a guitar made by robots and there is art in all this, they should look and read Quelch book Stradivarius or other makers as it is making guitars, a guitar in Italy handmade at a lower price ... at this point is a better guitar Chinese, you can only fool the Americans but not to countries that have a history of art ... disappointment !!! I'm not sure but I hope that works differently martin

[@jhnfalls]

you cant be precise with a chise.l I guess you machines cant be precise with a neck pocket!Hence the need for different shims for every guitar.

[@joebryant8500]

You don't understand the tolerances involved. His point is that it is easier to match the neck and the guitar his way. They can get closer to perfection.

[@jhnfalls]

No it’s just away to mass produce machine made guitars

[@joebryant8500]

​@@jhnfalls Exactly his point. Less work, less time, less money, better results. Traditional luthiers have to spend more time and effort to get as close as they can get, then use the truss rod to fine tune after they've fixed the neck in place. Taylor's way means you can get near perfection before fixing the neck and without needing to go near the truss rod.

[@jhnfalls]

Wow.You must own a Taylor.I sure didn’t mean for you to get your panties in a bunch! Lol Btw I had a Taylor 414ce it sounded ok until I played a Martin! Bye bye Taylor-the only guitar I know, that you need nuts and bolts to hold it together! Seriously they are decent guitars but they can’t hold a candle to a standard Martin. Now take a deep breath and relax.Stay safe and practice during these times.

[@joebryant8500]

@@jhnfalls Never owned a Taylor in my life. I own a Martin.

[@jackleyton5504]

I very much love my Taylor guitar but i hate the expression system. its just awful sounding,

[@northtrader]

Agree 100%. The expression system is not a pleasant amplified tone. I owned a pre-expression Taylor 814CE and have been a 'sound guy' for a couple decades. I always sigh and frown when a musician with an expression system Taylor shows up for a gig. Bob doesn't mention the 'sensor' is oil filled and prone to failure by leaking the fluid that the sensor coil is floating in. I share your distaste of the expression system.

[@spartacus1988]

robot equals guitars all the same characterless' !!!

[@bmw798465]

@JoLaDuGa no shut Taylor is better lol