There is Cocobolo & There is Cocobolo

[Guitarsan]

Pre finishing. Curious how a coco top sounds, never saw that before!

[Edward]

Definitely a big Wow!

One gripe on an otherwise and obviously stunning top: why he tree inlay?  To me it detracts fro the stunning figuring and finish.  It's the owner's choice so I'm sure he's jazzed, though

Edward

[timfitz63]

... Curious how a coco top sounds...

From what I'm told -- and based on my somewhat limited experience with the T5 -- the top contributes very little to the tone of the guitar, including acoustically; it effectively becomes decorative.

[ctkarslake]

It's about time this wood made it to the front of a guitar.  Just too beautiful to hide around back!  I imagine Taylor has experimented with doing just that on an acoustic, don't you?

[Guitarsan]

It's about time this wood made it to the front of a guitar.  Just too beautiful to hide around back!  I imagine Taylor has experimented with doing just that on an acoustic, don't you?

I kind of doubt it. Probably the only reason Taylor allowed it is what Timfitz says above.

[michaelw]

the T5 has an active top
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93553

spruce, maple, koa, ovangkol. mahogany, tulip poplar, walnut, macassar ebony
rosewood, redwood & sassafras (& most likely others) have been used as T5 tops -
whether one hears a difference in tone or not is up to the individual pllayer, imho

[thomasabowden]

Beautiful, mysterious ...

[Psi]

Cocobolo is truly beautiful, just a shame they won't be made forever as it looks like Taylor have stopped purchasing it  .......

"I'm sad to say, however, that this is almost certainly the last of these guitars we'll be able to sell. Because drug cartels have infiltrated the trade in Mexican Cocobolo, Bob Taylor is not buying any more of it. I applaud his decision, but it does mean that there is effectively no more Cocobolo to be had from Taylor. If you've been on the fence about this guitar in the past, this is your last chance to jump on it." From  http://shorelinemusic.com/collections/taylor-guitars/products/taylor-custom-gc-adirondack-cocobolo-2015

[timfitz63]

Cocobolo is truly beautiful, just a shame they won't be made forever as it looks like Taylor have stopped purchasing it  .......

"I'm sad to say, however, that this is almost certainly the last of these guitars we'll be able to sell. Because drug cartels have infiltrated the trade in Mexican Cocobolo, Bob Taylor is not buying any more of it. I applaud his decision, but it does mean that there is effectively no more Cocobolo to be had from Taylor. If you've been on the fence about this guitar in the past, this is your last chance to jump on it." From  http://shorelinemusic.com/collections/taylor-guitars/products/taylor-custom-gc-adirondack-cocobolo-2015

Well, that's sad to hear.  I'd heard some while back through a dealer that, after their current supply runs out, Taylor would not be producing any more guitars in Brazilian Rosewood either.

Perhaps another reason why Taylor is turning to Maple as a mainstay tonewood...?

[Guitarsan]

Cocobolo is truly beautiful, just a shame they won't be made forever as it looks like Taylor have stopped purchasing it  .......

"I'm sad to say, however, that this is almost certainly the last of these guitars we'll be able to sell. Because drug cartels have infiltrated the trade in Mexican Cocobolo, Bob Taylor is not buying any more of it. I applaud his decision, but it does mean that there is effectively no more Cocobolo to be had from Taylor. If you've been on the fence about this guitar in the past, this is your last chance to jump on it." From  http://shorelinemusic.com/collections/taylor-guitars/products/taylor-custom-gc-adirondack-cocobolo-2015

Well, that's sad to hear.  I'd heard some while back through a dealer that, after their current supply runs out, Taylor would not be producing any more guitars in Brazilian Rosewood either.

Perhaps another reason why Taylor is turning to Maple as a mainstay tonewood...?

Well Bob has referred to guitarists pursuit of "unobtanium" tone woods as a reason to turning to Maple, a wood he has more control over on our own turf. Did you catch his main supplier has started to grow maple for guitar use? It'll be several decades to see if it "works" as intended.

[Jimmer]

Psi.. thanks for posting that link... what a beautiful guitar. I'd like to jump on that and hide it away. Although i'd just have to play it every day wile hidden.

[Guitarsan]

Cocobolo is truly beautiful, just a shame they won't be made forever as it looks like Taylor have stopped purchasing it  .......

"I'm sad to say, however, that this is almost certainly the last of these guitars we'll be able to sell. Because drug cartels have infiltrated the trade in Mexican Cocobolo, Bob Taylor is not buying any more of it. I applaud his decision, but it does mean that there is effectively no more Cocobolo to be had from Taylor. If you've been on the fence about this guitar in the past, this is your last chance to jump on it."
From  http://shorelinemusic.com/collections/taylor-guitars/products/taylor-custom-gc-adirondack-cocobolo-2015

I bought my GC Custom Cocobolo from John at Shoreline music. After he built the first BTO GC Cocobolo and it was so successful, he ordered "fraternal twins" and I bought one of them. Call them #2 and #3; so the one linked above is #4, the last.

Here are the twins (slightly different tops) are together, mine on the left:



Sad to know that one linked above may indeed be the last one of these ever. But thrilled I own one of them. It's my favorite, because it sounds better than it looks.

I just listened to the video (with headphones, you can't tell anything with laptop or tablet speakers) of the one for sale and wow, underwhelmed haha. The tuning is off and the playing for the most part just didn't show off the guitar. Not sure what happened there. If you want to get a better sense of what it should sound like, here's John playing mine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=34&v=XxkCa4SAm0s

[doctorinthehouse]

stunning

[timfitz63]

A few days ago I heard, through an authorized Taylor dealer, that the Presentation Series models are no longer available from the factory; I presume this is related to the reports that Taylor is not restocking Cocobolo.  I had surmised Taylor had a cache of Cocobolo that would last for a while longer; but given this report, that may not have been the case...

I don't know if this news means that Taylor is also discontinuing the Presentation Series, or if they will be using a different wood for the back/sides.  I can't really imagine what other wood would be suitable for the line, though, if they've stopped stocking both Brazilian Rosewood and Cocobolo...

It may also be why some of the aesthetics of the new 900 Series resemble the Presentation Series:  the Ebony binding; armrest/bevel; Paua rosette and trim on the top; and a standard headstock inlay may have all been 'inherited' from the Presentation Series...?  The two series may have been merged...?

[michaelw]

i took the factory tour about 6 weeks ago & there was braz & coco still available, but
i imagine there's some truth behind what's been said, in that 'they have what they have' -
i wouldn't expect the PS to disappear, as other woods can be used (macassar ebony for example),
even though the current 900s have some of the features of the PS, but with AP bracing & 3.5 finish

i had a couple of coco guitars in the past & there may be one more finding
its way into the stable the future, but it will be likely be a pre-Powers design

ymmv