A.J has a R. Taylor Style 1 (2007) with redwood top, indian rosewood back and sides and a venetian cutaway. The Style One is the same size as the Taylor Grand Symphony, but with several significant structural differences. It has a 16 inch lower bought and is built with a modified X brace, 65’ radius to the top and a 25 1/2” scale length. It is fitted with the standard Taylor Expression System pickup which was fitted after purchase.
The headstock is fitted with a Taylor bone nut, brushed gold Gotoh 510 tuners and black ebony look buttons which lower weight. There is a wave compensated bone saddle, plus ebony pins with abalone dots at the bridge.
Unlike standard Taylor's the R.Taylor has solid kerfing which results in extremely rigid sides allowing the top to be made thinner and braced lighter. Done by hand the result is more volume and better tone.
R.Taylor was a completely separate company from Taylor guitars. Their guitars took about three times as long to make due to extensive individual voicing and handwork.Unfortunately they turned out to be in competition with Taylor's Build To Order and custom guitar programs and they ceased production at the end of 2011. R.Taylor only made about 200 guitars a year for six years. This is in contrast to the two Taylor factories which turn out about 400 guitars per day.