So you’ve been to your local guitar shops, you’ve played every guitar on the wall, you’ve browsed all the websites, and still, nothing has felt quite…right. You know the feeling—when you pick up a guitar and everything seems to click into place from the very first strum, and you know you’ve found your perfect fit.
The trouble is, guitars are so personal, so subjective. Even within one brand or even a single model, guitars can feel different, and it can be tough to find the one that elicits that feeling of knowing this is the one—especially if you’re an experienced player and you know what you like.
We get it. Sometimes, the guitar you can see, feel and hear in your head just doesn’t exist already.
That’s where Taylor’s custom guitar program comes in. Here’s how it works.
How do I order a custom guitar from Taylor?
All Taylor custom guitar orders are currently processed through authorized Taylor dealers, so to get started, visit or call your favorite local shop and talk to a sales rep about building a custom guitar. They’ll be able to provide you with a list of customizable features (keep reading for a rundown of those options) and will help you pick out every element of your new guitar. Having the expertise of a trained salesperson will ensure your guitar comes out looking and sounding exactly how you imagine.
What custom options are available for my guitar?
Our custom guitar program allows you to select from a range of choices for almost every element of the guitar. Here are the features you can currently customize for acoustic guitars. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and certain features, such as tonewoods that aren’t featured in our standard guitar line, may not be available for your custom guitar at all times. Check with your sales rep to ensure the materials you want are available at the time of your order. It’s also important to note that our custom program does have some limitations; for example, at this time, we can’t build guitars with wood sets that you provide, and we are not able to create custom inlays outside the options we have available (sorry—we can’t put your name on your fretboard in green abalone).
- Body shape: One of the most important factors in determining how your custom guitar will sound and feel, body shape options include our versatile Grand Auditorium, the compact Grand Concert, our Grand Pacific round-shoulder dreadnought and the jumbo-esque Grand Orchestra.
- Body woods: Back and side woods add seasoning and character to your guitar’s tone. You can choose from a wide range of tonewoods, including classic options like Indian rosewood, mahogany, Hawaiian koa and Big Leaf maple as well as less common woods like Honduran rosewood, red ironbark, blackheart sassafras, cocobolo, Tasmanian myrtle, figured blackwood and walnut.
- Top woods: The wood you choose for the soundboard will go a long way in defining the guitar’s sound. Top wood options include spruce varieties (Sitka, Lutz, Adirondack, Engelmann, bearclaw), Hawaiian koa, Western Red cedar, mahogany, walnut and Shamel ash. For spruce varieties, you can also opt for torrefaction, our special roasting process that adds a touch of the aged-in sweetness and warmth you’d expect from an older, more played-in guitar.
- Neck wood: Choose from maple, mahogany and figured mahogany.
- Fretboard wood: Options for your fingerboard wood include the West African ebony used on our standard models, as well as highly variegated, marbled ebony. Other options, such as Honduran rosewood, may also be available.
- Appointments: Once you’ve selected the foundational elements of your custom guitar, you can choose from a huge array of details to complete the package and make your guitar truly one of a kind. Customizable appointments include inlays (fretboard/peghead/bridge), finishes, rosettes, armrests, tuning machines, pickguards, binding, edge trim, purfling and strap pins. For finishes specifically, you can choose from various gloss, satin and matte options as well as a range of color treatments.
What configurations are available for Taylor custom guitars?
Currently, we offer custom guitars based on the models built at our headquarters factory in El Cajon, California, which means that builds based on the GS Mini, Baby Taylor and Big Baby are not possible at this time. You can select any of the following configurations:
- 6-string steel-string
- 12-string
- Nylon-string
- 12-fret
- Baritone (6- or 8-string)
If you’re hoping to build a custom electric guitar, we have good news: Our T5z hybrid hollowbody electric guitar is also available for customization. The T5z features two humbuckers and an acoustic body sensor, all controlled by five-way switching that lets you swap through an array of distinctive tones on the fly. T5z electric guitars typically feature a lightweight Shamel ash body, but you can select from top wood options such as maple, Hawaiian koa and others as well as a variety of aesthetic appointments.
How long does it take to build a custom guitar?
Build times usually range from 60 to 90 days from the date of your order. Note that your custom guitar may take longer to build if it features materials or options only available on a limited basis.
I could use some inspiration to help me get started. Where can I view custom guitars that Taylor has built in the past?
Head to our customs site to explore photos and specifications of past custom builds, including the collection of guitars crafted for our annual Catch Customs event at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Take a look through the gallery below for photos of a few of our favorites.
Happy customizing!
