Taylor Guitars was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. What started as the American dream, (quite literally) turned into a booming business as they began to design and produce their own style of guitars. At the young ages of 19 and 21, Taylor and Listug shared passion for guitar-making developed the company into what many refer to now as “the leading global manufacturer of premium acoustic guitars”. The city of El Cajon in San Diego is the home of this exquisite factory and is where we will be (virtually) taking you right now!
BEHIND THE SCENES
First things first, acclimating the wood to its desired temperature is crucial when it comes to the crafting and carving of Taylor Guitars. Thanks to San Diego’s humidity, the wood is often kept outside to dry and grow accustomed to its desired condition. Once completed, the wood is then transferred to a controlled temperature room within the factory. A guitar shape’s fundamental sound really helps in bringing a certain essence to the guitar. These unique acoustic properties of body woods present a wide range of tones available for every preference. Aside from sound, wood brings a variation in visual appeal and showcases characteristics that differentiate a guitar. With Taylor, each instrument is truly a one of a kind! Exotic woods like African Ebony, Hawaiian Koa, Urban Ash, Macassar Ebony are just a few of the many featured woods available for one to choose from.When it comes to the construction of the guitar, the company relies heavily on both manual and mechanical labour. Thanks to the advancements made within the guitar-making industry, more time is spent fine-tuning and perfecting details that can only be done with human hands. Within the factory, there are many machines that were built specifically by Bob Taylor himself to help ease the process of building each guitar. The images showcase special machinery used to hold the glue as it dries, bending, polishing & more!
THE LOVE BEHIND THE LABOUR
Aside from the functionality of the factory, it’s highly important to note that the workers are what made this tour worthwhile. Despite the safety precautions requiring everyone to wear a mask, there was a sense of genuine excitement for visitors. Almost every employee encountered mentioned their love for the company and the 15 plus years they’ve spent at Taylor Guitars. Their employees exemplify a genuine passion and drive for what they do. January 11th, 2021 was a monumental day as Taylor announced the transfer of ownership making them a 100% company-owned business.
PRIORITIZING SUSTAINABILITY
Alongside being a world-class manufacturer of guitars, Taylor takes a strong stance in being an advocate for sustainability. In a recent campaign known as The Ebony Project, Taylor brings their users on a short multi-video documentary revealing their efforts to build a more environmentally sustainable model for sourcing ebony in Cameroon. Given that Ebony is a wood you can find on every Taylor guitar, the company wants to ensure that the greatest efforts are put in place to support their replanting programs. In a continued effort to strike change, Bob Taylor presents some advice in a recent interview speaking on The Ebony Project:
“Be a conscientious, aware player, even on the day that you buy your own guitar, where you have a chance to put your money where your ideals are. Accept change if you see a maker trying to make those changes for the betterment of the environment. Meanwhile, Taylor will always try to do 99 percent of that work for you, so you don’t have to settle for less.” - Bob Taylor (2019)
From the sourcing of their wood to the recycling of scraps — all materials are used and repurposed for different projects. Whether it be for something simple like mulch or a new up-and-coming kitchen supply brand, we know that Taylor has the best intentions in mind when it comes to the manufacturing of their guitars. Overall, we would like to extend a huge thank you to Taylor Guitars for allowing us to tour their wonderful factory. Although they have suspended tours of their El Cajon factory to the public, they have resumed guitar production and look forward to welcoming guests at some point in the near future!
Taylor Guitars was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. What started as the American dream, (quite literally) turned into a booming business as they began to design and produce their own style of guitars. At the young ages of 19 and 21, Taylor and Listug shared passion for guitar-making developed the company into what many refer to now as “the leading global manufacturer of premium acoustic guitars”. The city of El Cajon in San Diego is the home of this exquisite factory and is where we will be (virtually) taking you right now!
