Mahogany 12 Fret BTO On The Way

[Tammany Tiger]

After over two years of research, rumination and false starts, I am finally scratching the small(er) guitar itch with a 12 fret BTO.

On Friday I ordered the following build:

-Twelve Fret GC, non-cutaway.
-No electronics.
-Mahogany back and sides.
-Mahogany top.
-All over Mahogany edgeburst.
-Bone saddle and nut.
-Three piece back with Ebony mini-wedge.
-Ebony binding.
-Off white purfling.
-Ebony single ring rosette.
-Ebony bound sound hole.
-Ebony slot head overlay.
-Blank finger board.
-All black ebony bridge pins.
-No end or strap pin.

This guitar is my third BTO build with Guitar Rodeo. As usual, Jim was easy and fun to work with. He is a tremendous resource with many insights into the BTO process. He really joins in the fun of putting one of these guitars together on paper.   

Watch this space.

[MRMTAYGA]

Congratulations!! That is going to be one fine guitar to look at and play. I'm sure you'll love it.

[Go Navy]

Nice going, Tammany!  It's easy to see that you put a lot of thought into this guitar.  You went for a simple but elegant look which I'm sure will be outstanding.  The mahogany tone will be wonderful, too.

You're allowed two glasses of wine tonight!

[bigb]

3rd BTO, wow that's awesome, congrats!
Sounds like it will be a beauty in tone and looks.
Do they not have end pins you like or do you just not use them?

[Tammany Tiger]

Do they not have end pins you like or do you just not use them?

Both actually.

The standard Taylor end pin is so big that you need to enlarge the end of any guitar strap except those made by Taylor (at least that has been the case on my acoustic/electrics). I want the flexibility to put on a smaller pin if I decide that I need one. If so, it will be an ivory colored pin to match the tuning buttons and bridge.

Most likely I will go without. This is a sit on the couch guitar. I always play seated any way and rarely play out. We'll see how things go before drilling any unnecessary holes.

[Tammany Tiger]

Congratulations!! That is going to be one fine guitar to look at and play. I'm sure you'll love it.

Thanks for the nice comment.

Absolutely as a matter of coincidence, I opened the latest Wood & Steel this weekend after ordering the guitar and saw that an all mahogany edgeburst 12 fret GC with black binding is shown as an example of a BTO. The same picture is on the Taylor website BTO page (below). At least Taylor must think that this is a good idea!

[Gary0319]

That sounds really yummy.....

My All Mahogany BTO GC is really a steller player. Not a 12 fretter so I'll be wanting to "hear" how you like it when it comes in.

What's the estimated build time on this one?

Gary

[Tammany Tiger]

That sounds really yummy.....

My All Mahogany BTO GC is really a steller player. Not a 12 fretter so I'll be wanting to "hear" how you like it when it comes in.

What's the estimated build time on this one?

Gary

Eight to ten weeks.

I flirted with an all mahogany 14 fret GC last year but never did anything about it before it was too late and the guitar went home with some else. Later, when I played a twelve fret, I knew that it was what I wanted.

I owned a stellar 512ce Limited several years ago and foolishly let it get away. Jim has never let me hear the last of that one. He opined today though that this one will be a better guitar because of the 12 fret design, advances in bracing, and the relief rout. The appointments and finish on this one are also an improvement.

[not darth]

Very very cool!
I would really like to see pictures when it comes in!  I like your choices of appointments, less blingy, more woody.
 
-K

[ataylor]

Can't wait to see how this guitar turns out.

[Satsuki]

Beautiful guitar!

[Taylor814]

Sounds like a great guitar. I also have a mahogany 12 fret, and I tried for the more woody, less bling approach as well with rosewood binding, rosette and backstrap. After I received the guitar I wondered if ebony wouldn't have been a better choice due to the greater contrast, so I'll be eager to see pictures when you get it. A mahogany 12-fret is a fun guitar to play, especially fingerstyle blues. The tone is very mellow and extremely balanced. Hope you enjoy it.

[michaelw]

hi taylor814,
good to see you here
WELCOME !thanks for sharing pics of your BTO 12 fret M with us -
i really like the figuring on the top, the unstained neck backstrap, tuners, buttons & rosette ... very nice
i was wondering if those are replacement buttons on the tuners (waverlys ) & if the rosette is
interlocking (pieces cut on a curved 'angle') or, if it has 'straight-cut' pieces (similar to abalone)

that's a great looking guitar & i'll bet the tone matches its looks
enjoy the place & please make yourself comfortable

[Tammany Tiger]

Sounds like a great guitar. I also have a mahogany 12 fret, and I tried for the more woody, less bling approach as well with rosewood binding, rosette and backstrap. After I received the guitar I wondered if ebony wouldn't have been a better choice due to the greater contrast, so I'll be eager to see pictures when you get it. A mahogany 12-fret is a fun guitar to play, especially fingerstyle blues. The tone is very mellow and extremely balanced. Hope you enjoy it.

That's a fantastic looking guitar and I am sure that it sounds great. The rosette is terrific.

I really toyed with the idea of rosewood binding and probably would have gone that way except for wanting that edgeburst finish. The black accents just seem to go better with the burst.

Like Michael, I am also interested in knowing whether those tuning buttons are after market. I actually started a thread on the subject here: http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=1004.msg8094#msg8094

Thanks for sharing pictures of that great guitar.

[Taylor814]

Thanks for the comments. The tuners are Waverly Snakewood tuners from Stew-Mac. They fit perfectly in the Taylor slothead with the same screw holes. They look fantastic, but be aware that they are 16:1 ratio vs. 18:1 on the Taylor's. I originally put them on my 2008 Fall Limited, but decided they looked better on the mahogany BTO instead.

 
(http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_slotted_peghead_tuners/Waverly_Slotted_Peghead_Guitar_Tuners/Waverly_Guitar_Tuners_with_Snakewood_Knobs,_for_Slotted_Pegheads.html)