To honor Bob’s 30th anniversary building guitars under the Taylor name, a limited number of premium XXX-BE guitars were built. We’ve got number 126 of 150 here, an exquisite Grand Concert in Brazilian Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce that’s topped off with commemorative inlays across the fretboard extension and a slotted headstock on a 14-fret neck. Since 2004, this Taylor has been well-cared for with hardly a mark on her mirror-sheen body.

We were delighted to find an added layer of definition and sustain in the bass register which paired well with the smooth and crisp top end. Since it’s such an excellent fingerstyle guitar, we put it through its paces in a few open tunings, and found Taylor’s trademark playability to shine through in each. The body and rosette are trimmed out in dark Abalone, and the neck has a neck with a crushed velvet-like feel that remains smooth to the touch even after our hands warmed up, as can happen with a glossy neck.

It’s a wonder this Taylor XXX-BE has been so well preserved, and we’re proud to offer it in such fine condition.

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Pull out all the stops, and then pull out some more, and you’ll get Taylor’s primo line of Builder’s Edition instruments. This 2018 K14ce is like new, but wide open under the hood. Koa back and sides pair up with Sitka Spruce on top in a satin finish that feels like velvet to the touch. At the lower bout they’ve added a Ryan-style arm bevel, and the Venetian Cutaway has been reengineered with a smooth contour to the neck heel and a beveled top edge for effortless upper fretboard work for the left hand. The Expression System 2 is plug-n-play perfection, warm and faithfully acoustic at a touch. The Grand Auditorium body boasts a generous 16 inch lower bout for added projection and power. We’re happy to report that this K14ce Builder’s Edition has a lot of gears, and responds beautifully to both a light attack and a more aggressive hand.

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Lovely inlay, lovely story, lovely tone: we’ve stumbled across a powerhouse Taylor Cujo-10 that’s itching to be played. Built from the 400-year-old Black Walnut tree which appeared in Steven King’s American Horror classic, Cujo, this is number 51 of 125 such guitars built by Taylor, here in their Dreadnought shape with Sitka Spruce on top and Tortoloid bindings. Sprawling along the fretboard you’ll find hallmark motifs from King’s tale, from MOP bats to the eponymous dog at the neck joint. This 1997 Taylor Cujo-10 has been very well cared for, and is in superb condition. Add to that Taylor’s trademark crisp sound and easy playability, and you’ve got a special piece on your hands.

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By now Bob Taylor’s company has provided excellent guitars to generations of players since its inauspicious start in 1974, and in 1995 the Taylor team gave us this superb GABE with Brazilian Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce. They probably broke the mold with this one (but lucky for us, Taylor Guitars has quite a number of molds)–all the balance and focus of the Grand Auditorium shape, plus all the depth and smoothness from Brazilian and Engelmann, make this an instrument without compromise.

The bottom end is crisp and focused, and complements the middle and upper registers with excellent balance. With Taylor’s customary slinky setup and low action, this guitar is hungry for whatever type of tune you throw its way, from snappy Blues riffs and leads to DADGAD fingerstyle arrangements. And as far as appearances go, this GABE also takes home the award for most sharply dressed: the Abalone inlay across the headstock, fretboard, rosette, and bridge is flawlessly executed and exudes calm elegance. Its former owner was meticulous in his caretaking: although this Taylor is over 20 years old, it shines as cleanly (and without scratches) as a newborn babe.