Since I acquired my first Taylor in 1997, I have continued to experiment with different premium guitar brands. The other brands have come and gone while I continued to acquire Taylors. Yesterday, my last "other brand" guitar was placed on consignment at Martin Music, Memphis TN. It was a beautiful Larrivee OM10K with Jean Larrivee's reserve koa. However, it had to go so I could pick up the guitar now listed first in my signature. This 17 year old beauty doesn't have a scratch on it from the original owner.
For those who are not familiar with the history, Taylor first introduced the grand auditorium (IMO, Taylor's most iconic guitar shape) in 1994 on its 20th anniversary as a limited edition. In 1995, Taylor continued to offer limited editions of the new shape in sets of 100 of different wood combinations. The sitka/koa guitar pictured below is #62 of 100 of this series. Its 17-year-old sound is big, bold and so-o-o-o sweet! And its looks are special. This is the first time, Taylor used what we now know as the koa series inlay. The binding is rosewood with blue purfling, and the soundhole is also bound in rosewood. The abalone is very rainbowish green heart. The koa looks almost edible like good caramel should! I love the wide-diameter rosette and "smiley" bridge that typified the mid nineties Taylors. And the pink poodle case is in near-mint condition as well! Here are some photos:
I'm psyched!!!
