Who should Taylor do a signature model for next?

[zyx345]

O.A.R. singer Marc Roberge

[Gutch]

Many of the little girls that follow her now play guitars (mainly because of her) and many of those little girls have parents that have a good amount of $$$$.  Pretty easy equation in my book.

-Dave

Really?

Most of the people I know who have "$$$$" have it because they don't do silly things like buying their little girls $5,000.00 guitars.

And, make no mistake, that's in the ballpark of what an all Koa Taylor Swift GS or Jumbo would cost...

Perhaps not, but I do know more than a few guys with $$$$ who have no problem buying $5,000 little girls...   

[jrporter]

How about a Mick Jagger 4-series guitar for us baby boomers on fixed incomes???

[michaelw]

I always thought it'd be cool if James Taylor played a Taylor.

Maybe Jewel? Doesn't she play Taylor exclusively? And Katy Perry too.

Back in the day when Taylor had an extensive "Artists Who Play Taylor" list -- none of them really endorsers, but performing and recording artists who had purchased a Taylor at some point -- I'm pretty sure James Taylor was on it. He's seen almost exclusively with his Olsens these days, but I'm almost positive he's owned or still owns a Taylor.

I want to say Jewel already had a signature model at one point. I could be wrong though.

you're right
James Taylor was on it - baby Taylor is listed
http://taylorguitars.us/artists/awp/recording.html

Jewel did have a signature model
http://taylorguitars.us/Guitars/Archive/Older/jksm.html
it was close to the 314 $ point, had satinwood back & sides, yellowheart rosette/inlays,
faux 'tortoise' binding & fishman matrix UST ... imho, the highest value per $ SM

i've seen a pic of a couple of JKSMs that had venetian cutaways & one had an ab rosette also

the current 700 series is very much in the aesthetic vein of the guitar made for Sonia Leigh
see page 7
http://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/ws_fall_2011.pdf

i wonder if a gloss solid tasmanian blackwood top 214ce with tas blackwood laminate
back & sides would sell well, as a 'TDX' LTD model, but it'd likely be 4x + the $ of the TSBT

[ataylor]

I guess the beauty of the BTO program is that we can all have our own signature model, right? I'm still trying to figure out if I can afford mine.

[michaelw]

these might be pretty cool, i think

signature models
Leo Kottke               LKSM/6 redesigned, revoiced 555/515c
Wayne Johnson       T3 & T5 custom-voiced pick ups

artist models
Zac Brown               714ce-N 27" scale, 13 fret, ES-N with body sensor/UST
Sonia Leigh              514ce sitka, adi CV, vintage cherryburst
Christina Perri         614ce engelmann, adi CV
John Rzeznik           815ce or 816ce, adi CV
Tommy Shaw            810e adi CV, macassar ebony

[flaggerphil]

"Who should Taylor do a signature model for next?"

Me.

 

[roadbiker]

I think that they should do a signature model for me. I will naturally have input to the design and use it proudly and publicly at every opportunity, showing off the brand. Oh, I forgot... that's the BTO program :-)

Jim

[CJAZ]

Many of the little girls that follow her now play guitars (mainly because of her) and many of those little girls have parents that have a good amount of $$$$.  Pretty easy equation in my book.

-Dave

Really?

Most of the people I know who have "$$$$" have it because they don't do silly things like buying their little girls $5,000.00 guitars.

And, make no mistake, that's in the ballpark of what an all Koa Taylor Swift GS or Jumbo would cost...

There is a reason that the Taylor Swift model is a baby/big baby (whatever).  It's not a real guitar and she probably could not hold a jumbo.

How about going with pure celeb status and having a (Sarcasm Alert) Kim Kardashian or Lagy Gaga model? 

[michaelw]

Many of the little girls that follow her now play guitars (mainly because of her) and many of those little girls have parents that have a good amount of $$$$.  Pretty easy equation in my book.

-Dave

Really?

Most of the people I know who have "$$$$" have it because they don't do silly things like buying their little girls $5,000.00 guitars.

And, make no mistake, that's in the ballpark of what an all Koa Taylor Swift GS or Jumbo would cost...

There is a reason that the Taylor Swift model is a baby/big baby (whatever).  It's not a real guitar and she probably could not hold a jumbo.

How about going with pure celeb status and having a (Sarcasm Alert) Kim Kardashian or Lagy Gaga model?

i'm going to have to respectfully disagree on this one, as personally i feel the BT & BBT models are 'real' guitars

albeit 3/4 & 15/16 size ones, they have solid tops, sapele necks, ebony fretboards & bridges, diecast tuners,
Graph Tech nut & saddle & Elixir NanoWebs - i have 3 of the earlier BTs, my sister has a BT-2 & my dad has a BBT

Taylor installed a fishman prefix pro in that BBT & i played it at my aunt's memorial service & it sounded fine (to me) -
the only reason i didn't 'pull the trigger' on the last BBT i played is because i'd just picked up a GS Mini

there is a member here that picked up a TSBT for her grand daughter & they're learning to play together, which is great
to me, if a guitar can be used to make music & it's enjoyable for one to play it, then it's a 'real' guitar

i don't know ... perhaps Taylor Swift can hold a jumbo
http://www.waleg.com/celebrities/images/taylor-swift-guitar.jpg
http://www.disneydreaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Taylor-Swift-Guitar-Auction.jpg

ymmv

[Iplay2]

I am not really a fan of the signature models, which I think is surprising because I was so excited about the Dave Matthews SM.  Then when I saw the DMSM, heard Dave talking about it and how much the little things meant to him and what they represented, I no longer wanted one.  It was too personal to Dave Matthews.  In a fan sense, I would be more interested in a late 90's 914c.

[Steve]

Wayne Johnson       T3 & T5 custom-voiced pick ups

I've never seen anyone do what Wayne does with a T5...

John Rzeznik           815ce or 816ce, adi CV

John's partial to 900's...

Tommy Shaw            810e adi CV, macassar ebony[/font][/size][/color]

Tommy pretty much plays Maple Taylors, either 655ce or 656ce.

Rosewood or Macassar? That is SO not Tommy...

[Iplay2]

Tommy Shaw            810e adi CV, macassar ebony[/font][/size][/color]

Tommy pretty much plays Maple Taylors, either 655ce or 656ce.

Rosewood or Macassar? That is SO not Tommy...

Actually, check out the Spring 2011 Wood and Steel, page 12.  Taylor built Tommy a pair of short scale Dreads with Adi tops, CV bracing, and Madagascar RW. 
He had them made for his bluegrass project "The Great Divide".

[michaelw]

since the DMSM is based on a 914ce & it's been mentioned that John Rzeznick plays
800/900s (shown with a 815ce here & listed as playing an 814ce), although the pics
are of a 2010/earlier 9XXce ... i wonder which guitars Michelle was playing that day 
http://www.taylorguitars.com/blog/artists/goo-goos-hit-san-diego

macassar could  be slight more 'economical' than madagascar &
an adi CV braced sitka top would be a nice 'touch', i think ...

it's just a 'what-if' 'wish-list' here

[Go Navy]

I am not really a fan of the signature models, which I think is surprising because I was so excited about the Dave Matthews SM.  Then when I saw the DMSM, heard Dave talking about it and how much the little things meant to him and what they represented, I no longer wanted one.  It was too personal to Dave Matthews.  In a fan sense, I would be more interested in a late 90's 914c.

I'm of the same opinion.  My answer to this thread is "nobody". I think companies that build expensive, complex things need to be careful about a proliferation of models/versions.  It can complicate sales and production and eat into profits, and confuse customers.  With the roll out of the 2012 standard line up, it sort of looked like Taylor was trying to rationalize their offerings somewhat. While the changes to the 700 series disappointed me (and I don't mean to hijack this thread), it's ok because I went with an 800 series.

I'm sure artist endorsements do sell some guitars, but is it because someone wants to look or sound like that artist?  I don't know for sure, but that's not possible.  Instruments are so deeply personal, to most of us, that it is all about how one feels and sounds in YOUR hands, and you and I will no doubt pick out different guitars if we were put in a roomful of them and allowed to walk out with one each.