Bob Taylor (luthier)

Bob Taylor is an American luthier who has pioneered or helped develop many of the newer technological innovations used in acoustic guitar production today. His Taylor acoustic guitars are very popular among professional musicians, and are used by Doyle Dykes, Leo Kottke, Dan Crary, Jason Mraz, Prince, Dave Matthews, Matthew Bellamy, Taylor Swift, and Jeff Cook (of the country band Alabama), among others.

Bob built his first guitar, a 12 string dreadnought, his junior year in high school. He was so pleased with the results that he built two more guitars during his senior year. After graduating high school, he went to work at American Dream guitars in San Diego, in September 1973.

While working at American Dream guitars, Bob refined his biggest contribution to the acoustic guitar — the bolt-on neck. His first bolt-on neck was a conversion (from a dovetail neck joint) of a Guild G-37. Now, all Taylor guitars use bolt-on necks, which allow much easier repair of neck-joint-related problems.

After several years, Bob Taylor and two friends from American Dream bought the company from the former owner, Sam Radding. They named it Westland Music Company; eventually to become Taylor Guitars.

Taylor Guitars has since developed a guitar finish that uses ultraviolet lamps to dry in a few hours (versus weeks for traditional nitrocellulose lacquer finishes), and also was the first guitar company to use CNC wood routers in the construction of acoustic guitars.