FRANKFURT – April 11, 2013 – Celebrating the rich musical heritage of mahogany, Taylor Guitars is pleased to expand its popular mahogany 500 Series with several new all-mahogany models. Offered in all five Taylor body shapes, the models are making their debut as part of a special First Edition offering at the Musikmesse trade show in Frankfurt, Germany.

Mahogany has been prized by instrument makers for decades for its beauty and tonal strength, offering players a meaty midrange character with a strong emphasis on the fundamental frequencies, especially with the inclusion of a mahogany top. “It’s a strong, direct sound,” says Taylor master builder Andy Powers. “Mahogany acts as a natural compressor, so once a note has been played and the frequency set in motion, you hear the pure note without complex overtones.”  With its dry, crisp projection, mahogany lends itself to a variety of playing applications. “It works well in a live setting, amplified, on a recorded track with other guitar parts,” Andy elaborates. “Musically, mahogany offers a lot of versatility. Whether it’s someone who is playing with other musicians or a solo fingerstyle player, it will amplify well and make an amazing stage guitar.”

The new all-mahogany guitars will be released in a limited run of First Edition models in each of Taylor’s body shapes: the Dreadnought (520), Grand Concert (522), Grand Concert 12-Fret (522-TF), Grand Auditorium (524), Grand Symphony (526) and Grand Orchestra (528). Each guitar features special appointments, including ivoroid binding, a black pickguard, and a new “Century” inlay, which incorporates a retro-inspired progressive fretboard pattern and headstock detail. Each guitar will be available with optional Expression System^® electronics and/or with a cutaway and available at Authorized Taylor Dealers.

To experience the new 500 Series First Editions while at Musikmesse, please visit the Taylor Guitars stand in Hall 3.1 E80 & E83.