NAMM is fun. Really, really fun. It's where the manufacturers
pull out the stops, lift the governors off their engines, spin their
fancy tires and try to woo your socks off. Well, this year, there came that special moment when we'd played her, fell instantly in love and knew we just had to have her...
So, without further adieu...
May we please introduce to you...
Our new love...
Our Brazilian beauty...
Our lovely, big bottomed girl...
Taylor PS18.
(can you hear the angels singing yet?)
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| Taylor PS18... |
It's hard not to gush about this guitar. It really is that special. So special, in fact, that we did everything we could to make sure that we got this one. Not one yet to be made.....but the one we fell in love with.
Gushing aside, we're sure you'd like some details:
Brazilian
Rosewood has a long and storied history and is, by almost every
measure, the "holy grail" of tonewoods. When it's used on a guitar of
this stature, it takes on an almost mythical quality. It's difficult to
acquire and it's not inexpensive. But it's Brazilian Rosewood, and that matters.
This year, Taylor Guitars introduced their new body style, the Grand Orchestra (designated X18). The idea behind it was to reinvent the Jumbo. In doing so, they actually introduced a guitar which is closer to the Taylor Grand Symphony size than the old Jumbo. Pairing this new body style with this old growth Brazilian Rosewood and a European Spruce top has resulted in an amazing sounding guitar.
Let's just say that the PS18 is an extraordinary guitar in every respect, and definitely falls into the "investment instrument" category. The craftsmanship is exactly what you would expect from Taylor. It's simply impeccable.
For the uninitiated, "PS" stands for "Presentation Series", and represents the pinnacle of the luthier's craft. It's not only an incredible sounding guitar, but the workmanship which goes into the elaborate inlay work is unparalleled:
Let's talk about aesthetics. We think the one word which best describes the PS18 is "spectacular".
Paua shell adorns practically every surface of the guitar; the top, back and sides are all trimmed, as are the neck, bridge and peghead. The Nouveau Paua inlay, standard on the Presentation Series, is along the fretboard. This is one beautiful instrument.
The PS18 also features the Laskin armrest, developed by Canadian luthier Grit Laskin. The Paua trimmed Ebony armrest is perfectly executed and offers the player a level of comfort that allows you to play for hours on end without feeling the typical arm fatigue.The guitar also features a Brazilian Rosewood backstrap and antique gold Gotoh 510 tuners.
This year, Taylor Guitars introduced their new body style, the Grand Orchestra (designated X18). The idea behind it was to reinvent the Jumbo. In doing so, they actually introduced a guitar which is closer to the Taylor Grand Symphony size than the old Jumbo. Pairing this new body style with this old growth Brazilian Rosewood and a European Spruce top has resulted in an amazing sounding guitar.
Let's just say that the PS18 is an extraordinary guitar in every respect, and definitely falls into the "investment instrument" category. The craftsmanship is exactly what you would expect from Taylor. It's simply impeccable.
For the uninitiated, "PS" stands for "Presentation Series", and represents the pinnacle of the luthier's craft. It's not only an incredible sounding guitar, but the workmanship which goes into the elaborate inlay work is unparalleled:
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| The exquisite detail of the Paua shell inlay... |
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| The top, back and sides of the PS18 are trimmed in Paua shell... |
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| The ebony armrest on the PS18, trimmed in Paua shell... |
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| The ornate peghead of the PS18, complete with Gotoh 510 tuners... |
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| The inlaid bridge of the PS18... |
Let's talk about aesthetics. We think the one word which best describes the PS18 is "spectacular".
Paua shell adorns practically every surface of the guitar; the top, back and sides are all trimmed, as are the neck, bridge and peghead. The Nouveau Paua inlay, standard on the Presentation Series, is along the fretboard. This is one beautiful instrument.
The PS18 also features the Laskin armrest, developed by Canadian luthier Grit Laskin. The Paua trimmed Ebony armrest is perfectly executed and offers the player a level of comfort that allows you to play for hours on end without feeling the typical arm fatigue.The guitar also features a Brazilian Rosewood backstrap and antique gold Gotoh 510 tuners.
Of course, how a guitar looks is only one part of the equation and, it could be argued, not the most important part. Above everything else, the sound of a guitar needs to reach out and smack you around a little bit. Well, the PS18 just isn't that subtle. The PS18 lulls you into submission and mesmerizes you with its beauty right before it reaches out with a gut-punch that knocks the wind out of you.
Brazilian Rosewood enjoys the reputation it does for good reason. In the case of this guitar, it produces a low frequency response that's warm and round, and which seems to take days to decay. There's a quality to the overtones which can only be described as piano-like. The high-end, while subdued when compared to woods like Maple or Koa, has a glass-like quality which almost shimmers when strummed.
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| The stunning, milk chocolate brown of Brazilian Rosewood makes for a visually striking instrument... |
As if the beautiful inlays and remarkable woods weren't enough, there's a level of scarcity with this instrument that's rarely found from a large builder like Taylor Guitars. Only 13 of these guitars are being made for the entire North American market. This example is the first of the Brazilian Rosewood PS18's, and one of only two which have been built thus far.
If you'd like more information about this exquisite guitar, call or visit Carrie. Our phone number is 503-228-8437, and our address is 2502 NE Broadway in Portland.
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