Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

The Lounge => The Lounge => Topic started by: jalbert on December 11, 2011, 12:48:45 AM

Title: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: jalbert on December 11, 2011, 12:48:45 AM
I am curious: did anyone else go to the Taylor Family & Friends sale today? (I know Brian Swerdfeger did because I saw him there.)

This is my third F&F sale and in my opinion it was the best. Out of respect for Taylor and for its dealers I'm not going to mention any specific prices but I will say they were compelling. I came home with two NOS guitars: an R. Taylor Style 2 with cedar over mahogany, and a SolidBody Classic with 3 single coil pickups and a  tremolo (think Strat). I was also able to play some guitars I've never tried before, like the GT6 and GT8. There was something for everyone, including those who play left-handed. I almost thought about learning how to play left-handed because of some of those guitars!
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: michaelw on December 11, 2011, 01:14:19 AM
i was going to ask you about that :)

if i knew you were going, i would have asked to see if
there might have been any 'Bob's guitar shack T-shirts'
left from Fall 2008 ... it could have been possible, maybe ;)

sounds like you will have a merry christmas this year :D

any chance on seeing pics of your latest acquisitions
 
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: not darth on December 11, 2011, 01:29:16 AM
Yes!!!!
(http://www.atvforum.dk/forum/uploads/550/ThisThreadIsWorthlessWithoutPictures.jpg)

Inquiring minds want to know!
:)
-K
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: jalbert on December 11, 2011, 01:41:54 AM
This is going to sound like a dumb excuse, but I haven't figured out how to resize/upload pictures yet. I'm in the process of switching over to Mac; everything I've done up to this point is in Picasa on Windows. So I guess I could re-upload the pictures over to my Windows box and then up to Picasa for everyone to see, but in the meantime just imagine a gorgeous cedar top with green heart abalone over some nice orange-ish cedar, and a transparent gray finish over alder and a white pearloid pick guard with three single coil pickups and a whammy bar. No, not all on the same guitar.
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Edward on December 11, 2011, 02:10:25 AM
Hey Jalbert,

Man I wish I knew who you were ...what ya looked like.  I was there.  Heck, we were likely bumping elbows and trading floorspace around the RT area!!

So I am beside myself as I now have to consider what to sell in the herd.  I walked out with two maples!!  An RT style 2 (always wanted a GC sized bod guit!) with "Bob's Birthday quilt" back and sides, engelmann top, coco binding and soundhole ring, and green-heart abalone rosette, and flamed maple neck ....um, riduculously gorgeous for the eyes!  And the tone is amazingly deep and rich, yes maple and GC body, you heard me, deep bass and rich tone!  Not what one immediately thinks comes to mind, but the maple, engel, and RT build makes this an amazing guitar in a diminutive package!

Then I got a NOS 2008 DN-ce Custom, almost like a twin to the RT: quilted back and sides (highly quilted, not as much as the RT, but seemingly "Limited" or "BTO" quality quilt that is full across the entire surface; very even and consistent.  Also a seemingly (by the look of it) higher-grade sitka top, abalone body binding like the 900s (!!) along with either cocobolo or rw body/fretboard binding (rich, deep brown as a striking contrast to the light maple and sitka), same soundhole ring and greenheart ablalone rosette matching the body abalone, ebony headstock, gotoh 510s, bone nut/saddle, flower fretboard inlays (like the 600s), and ES. Whoever spec'd this thing out sure missed out by not ending up buying it.   Yikes ...almost like a 900-series dred in maple!!  This along with the RT look likefraternal twins :D :D :D

Oh yeah, obviously stunning, the both of them.  But the tone on both are likewise stunning.  The dred is rich and, again, has all those things one likes about maple, but "even more" and very "full," if that makes any sense.  I'd be willing to bet anyone who finds maple thin sounding would be quite surprised by these two, particularly the little RT.

Too late to post pics, but that will come.  And be on the lookout, all, for my "For Sale" listings ...I'm gonna have to recoup here bigtime, three, maybe four guits (anyone here also play electric :) ) will be coming at ya  (hehehe, not that I'm complaining, mind you!!!)
 
Edward


Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Cindy on December 11, 2011, 10:27:00 AM
Edward, what does Bob's Birthday Quilt mean? Is it a specific type of quilted maple? Sounds interesting, and I'm truly happy you were able to get the maple/engelmann combo!  8)
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: DennisG on December 11, 2011, 11:51:50 AM
This is going to sound like a dumb excuse, but I haven't figured out how to resize/upload pictures yet. I'm in the process of switching over to Mac; everything I've done up to this point is in Picasa on Windows. So I guess I could re-upload the pictures over to my Windows box and then up to Picasa for everyone to see, but in the meantime just imagine a gorgeous cedar top with green heart abalone over some nice orange-ish cedar, and a transparent gray finish over alder and a white pearloid pick guard with three single coil pickups and a whammy bar. No, not all on the same guitar.

James,

It's pretty easy to upload photos using this forum software.  Just click on the "Attachments and Other Options" link, then navigate to your photo.  That's all there is to it.
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: jalbert on December 11, 2011, 11:56:07 AM
It's pretty easy to upload photos using this forum software.  Just click on the "Attachments and Other Options" link, then navigate to your photo.  That's all there is to it.

Yes, presuming your file isn't over the size limit. That's what I'm up against. (Those pesky 18MP DSLRs!) I'll try to post something by the end of today.
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: LindaLoo on December 11, 2011, 12:41:38 PM
There was something for everyone, including those who play left-handed. I almost thought about learning how to play left-handed because of some of those guitars!
Ooooh!!! My ears pricked up when I read this. *starts hyperventilating*

Can you provide any details Jailbert?  :D
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: michaelw on December 11, 2011, 12:57:50 PM
Edward, what does Bob's Birthday Quilt mean? Is it a specific type of quilted maple? Sounds interesting, and I'm truly happy you were able to get the maple/engelmann combo!  8)
im not Edward, but i did stay at a holiday inn express once ;)

about 12 or so seconds in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulG-P3PGYE0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulG-P3PGYE0&feature=related)

another term i've also heard used is 'disneywood' -
ziricote, cocobolo, koa, macassar ebony, etc, that is
so highly 3 dimensionally figured, it looks 'animated'

it sounds like the 'maple club' is growing by leaps & bounds -
may need to have a picture thread here before too much longer  ::)

congrats on the new axes J & E :D
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: davwir on December 11, 2011, 11:50:07 PM
The event was excellent in so many ways.. I made the drive down from LA, and it was so worth it.

-I got to meet some forum members, like jalbert.. Love talking about this stuff, with all of you awesome folks!
-There were definately great deals and guitars everywhere..
-A new R Taylor Style 1 followed me home! (I just posted some pix in the "Show us Pics of your Taylor" thread
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Edward on December 12, 2011, 01:00:03 AM
Man, I have no doubt that we were all in the line together as I saw those RT cases as we wound our way to the register!  I think we're gonna have to all share our score :)

BTW, great gig, to be sure!  But on a side note, I found it notable that there seemed to be far more lefty guits there than last time, or anywhere I've ever seen for that matter!  Lots of 12-ers too!   And some very sweet LTDs that were outrageously discounted.  It was a great time to be shopping ...or at least to try some on for size. :)

And great meeting Brian there, as well!  Also got Bob to sign the back of my RT's headstock ...what can I say, I love what they do!  What a bunch of great folks ...huge  kudos to the whole Taylor crew!!!
 
Ed
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Cindy on December 12, 2011, 09:05:00 AM
I am soooo envious of those who were fortunate enough to attend! So about how many guitars would you say they had up for sale?
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: jalbert on December 12, 2011, 10:26:35 AM
Hard to say, but I'd estimate between 150 and 200. Not all of them sold--in fact I recognized some from the previous sale in 2009. It was a good mix of their product line. About the only thing I don't remember seeing was a 12-fret model, but admittedly I wasn't near the front of the line. The employees get first dibs on the list the day before, so perhaps some truly interesting guitars had already been sold before the door even opened.

But definite kudos to Taylor for arranging for an espresso cart and a taco stand to be there. It was sorely tempting to have some street tacos beforehand! So I made sure to get some afterwards. For those who don't know what street tacos are, well, sorry. Come out and visit!
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: davwir on December 12, 2011, 11:51:44 AM
I think there was maybe 200 displayed out on stands at least... But it seemed they were refreshing sone of the stock and putting more out after they would sell for a while, so its hard to know what was actually available for the day...
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Iplay2 on December 12, 2011, 12:02:33 PM
But definite kudos to Taylor for arranging for an espresso cart and a taco stand to be there. It was sorely tempting to have some street tacos beforehand! So I made sure to get some afterwards. For those who don't know what street tacos are, well, sorry. Come out and visit!

Another example of why Taylor is a great company.

I would love to make it out to one of the F&F sales some day, if nothing more than to be there.  It would just involve explaining to my wife why I was flying to California to look at a guitar.
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: Edward on December 12, 2011, 01:14:04 PM
Not only the guitars on the stands, but the RTs were out on only about 8-10 stands, but as they got purchased (or flew off the stands, rather), those were replenished by guys behind the counter ...and in constant fashion.  I'd say within 20-30 minutes from opening, most of the RTs were gone, with only a few left when I checked out that area an hour later.  Also rows of electrics with an amp at the ready.

Then there were the 1xx, 2xx , Baby, and BigBaby: these were all still boxed ready to go ...no display here (unless you asked to open one and they were more than happy to oblige).  There were at least a pallete (that I saw, more perhaps?) of each of these models.  These were likewise flying out the door as lots of folks at the checkout line had such boxed guitars.

And then all the cool Taylor ware: shirts (lots of great shirts), jackets, gigbags...  Whatever straps were there (saw only a few as evidence by folks who had em in their hands) evaporated quickly.  I dig the Byzantine, which another guy just reached for before me ...oh well. :)

BTW, I hope none of what I'm say is verboten (or incorrect) ...if so, please delete or correct (Brian :) ).

And all of which was so remarkably organized despite the huge volume of folks.  Not to mention everyone I bumped elbows with (yeah, it was crowded, you were rubbing elbows and precariously stepping aside folks literally with a guitar in each hand in between pricey guitars sitting on mere stands) were all super nice, gracious, and patient (no one got pepper-sprayed here ...lol!!!).  For anyone not buying a guitar, I think it was still a great morning just to see what's available and demo them first hand.  No where would you see such variety and high-end guits, as well as some of the rare stuff like LTDs and some prototypes, all under one roof.  It was the ultimate "petting zoo."
 :D  :D  :D

Edward
Title: Re: Friends & Family Sale?
Post by: cotten on December 12, 2011, 02:05:41 PM
I'm glad so many got to attend. I really think Taylor needs to open another facility in the Atlanta area. They have friends and family there, too!   ;D

cotten