We use Ken Smith Pro Formula polish out on the line and in our repair department. Aside from the fact that Ken Smith is easier to use than Turtle Wax, and can be applied to both satin and glossy finishes, it smells a lot better. More than likely, you'll find Ken Smith Pro Formula Guitar Polish at your local Taylor dealer; if not, the company's number is: 215-453-8887 or 800-347-6484. Still, we think it's possible that the smell that has you in its spell is the glue from the case. For more information on cleaning and polishing your Taylor, see the FAQs page in the REFERENCE section of this website.

I recently purchased a 314ce, and I noticed that the third string from the top vibrates a little "weird", unlike the other strings. I replaced the strings, but the problem still exists.
— Oliver Nicholas, Via the Internet

First, make sure that you're using the proper gauge of string; Grand Auditoriums, like your 314ce, leave the factory with light-gauge strings (.012-.053). Then, adjust the truss rod that runs through the neck of the guitar (you should have gotten a Taylor "Tech-Sheet" with the guitar that shows you exactly how to do this; if you didn't, go to the "Tech-Sheets" page of this website's REFERENCE section). If the truss rod is properly adjusted and the string still vibrates "weirdly", perhaps you are witnessing some of the "drying" effects of low humidity. Other possible effects of drying include "buzzing" strings, protruding fret ends, wood cracking, and top-sinking, but for the most part these are easily remedied (again, see the "Tech-Sheets" page for specific solutions). If the problem you describe persists, call our service department at 619-258-6957 or 800-943-6782.

Which Taylors does Jewel use on her tours?
— Phil Medbery, Via the Internet

Jewel's first Taylor (before she was famous) was a 912c. Since then, she's purchased an 814ce, a 420-PF, a 612ce, a custom 915, and a 512. But she owns other guitars, as well, including at least one electric that we know if, and there's no way to predict which one(s) she'll take on the road.

Generally, I am very happy with my guitar, but I'm having a problem with my bridge. Recently, I've been breaking A, D, and G strings at the bridge every time I play. At first, I thought it was a fluke, but after a dozen quick-changes I realized that the bridge is wearing down underneath those strings. I took it to a guitar repair shop up the street (not an authorized Taylor repair shop — I'm going to take it to one of those today), and the fellow sanded the bridge and said he was surprised that it was a synthetic material and not bone. He said that his 514, which he bought in 1996, has a bone bridge, and he advised me to go to a dealer ASAP to get them to set me up with one.

Well, I didn't have time to get to the nearest dealer before my gig last night, and sure enough, even with his sanding job, I snapped both an A and a G. I'm using .13s and have a pretty hard flatpicking attack (so I snap .12s), but in all my years of playing, I'd never snapped an A before last week.

I'm just a little upset that I spent so much money (I'm not a rich guy — that 414 was a significant part of my budget) on a guitar that's such a great instrument in most respects, only to find out that it has a lousy bridge. I'm guessing that y'all switched from bone (if that was your earlier standard) to cut costs, but still I feel a little cheated. I want to feel better about Taylor as a consumer, and I'm sure that others with this problem will want the same. Can you resolve this for me?
— Hayden Childs, Via the Internet

Let's correct some misinformation. Our bridges have been made of Tusq, a synthetic material, since 1993. Many other companies use this simulated bone/ivory material, as well. Before that, we used another synthetic material, Micarta, for many years; we switched to Tusq because we believe it has better tone-conducting properties. We have not used bone since the mid '70s, when we made very few guitars. Whoever claimed that his Taylor came with bone is wrong, unless he bought it 20-some years ago.

Nevertheless, we're sorry to hear that you've been having a problem with string breakage; even though you admit that you have a heavy attack, you shouldn't be experiencing that problem. Please call our service department and we'll address this with you to your satisfaction, as part of your warranty coverage.

Would you make me a Leo Kottke Signature Model with a cedar top?
— J. Cash, Via the Internet

The LKSM could be customized, but that would turn it into a Jumbo Custom, rather than an LKSM model, which has very specific, non-optional features designed specifically for that model. As for a cedar top, we wouldn't recommend that for a 12-string; cedar is much softer and likely would not handle all of that extra string tension. It also probably wouldn't sound very good; the LKSM sounds pretty bright even with the Sitka spruce top. Leo tunes down to C# and uses heavy-gauge strings, so the bracing is different as well — geared more toward that "grand piano"-type of sound. You could do a Jumbo six-string with a cedar top, or you could substitute an Engelmann spruce top instead of the cedar on the 12-string and get much the same warmth and clarity (we find that Engelmann tends to have more "glassy, bell-like tones").

I am the proud owner of a Baby Taylor guitar. I originally purchased the guitar with the intention of using it on day trips and also carrying it onto airplanes. I purchased a hardshell case for my "Baby" and soon found that I had to keep it really "wet", compared to my other guitars. I live in Colorado, where it is very dry, but I never experienced the problem with humidity that I did with the Baby Taylor. I feel this is a small price to pay for such a wonderful sounding guitar in a small package.

However, I was not allowed to carry my Baby onto the airplane the last time I flew. I recently bought a well-made Taylor gig bag, and I hope I can carry that onto the plane. I realize that you are not responsible for FAA regulations, but I am increasingly frustrated with the way they treat guitars. Should the Baby Taylor be allowed as a "carry on," on domestic flights? Love the guitars you make.
— J.J. Jerome, Via the Internet

We're glad that you're happy with the sound of the Baby. As for humidifying, you'll find that all guitars are somewhat different from one to the next, but you also happen to live where the RH is naturally quite dry, indeed. It's likely that, if you keep the guitar properly humidified over the next couple years, it will eventually settle down a bit and not move around so much. Again, they're all a little different; some move around a lot, while others hardly move at all. But we're really glad you're paying close attention to this stuff; your guitar will love you for it, and it will sound much better with the proper amount of moisture.

As for the airlines, about the only thing we can tell you is, for some reason, the airlines don't see the hardshell case the same way they see the gig bag. The hardshell case is about two inches longer, and it does have a slightly harder exterior, but it's also somewhat flexible and might not survive the baggage hold. For some reason, the airlines ignore that fact and try to make you check it. Because the gig bag has no such apparent outer shell and is two inches shorter, it's permissible as carry-on baggage.

Our advice: if they ever try to make you check the hardshell case, don't do it! Instead, go with the gig bag every time, and you should have no problems. It's incredibly frustrating to us; we feel as though we've done our job, in that we built a guitar that sounds good, is accurately intonated, very playable, and fits in the overhead compartment. But the airlines have their own way of doing things, and in this case, at least, it isn't in the paying customer's best interests.

I am having trouble getting a good, strong sound when I play my 514ce, equipped with the Fishman Onboard Blender, through an amp. I get a lot of high-end and feedback when I try to use the mic pickup, even a little. Nothing I have tried seems to work. The amp I am using is a Fender Princeton 112 Plus. Please help!
— Steve Waite, Via the Internet

The Fishman Prefix/Onboard Blender incorporates a microphone on the inside of the body, along with a bridge saddle transducer, and allows you to blend the two signals for a more "natural" sound. We inspect all of the electronics before we send them out, but they can sound a bit different depending on the system/amplifier, and might need to be adjusted accordingly.

It sounds to us like the problem might be that the microphone volume is set too high. The microphone is located on the underside of the Blender unit that's mounted on the side of the guitar. Simply flip the unit over in its cavity and you should see a small blue set-screw; this is the trim screw for the microphone volume, and can be adjusted independent of the rest of the system. Set the "Blend" slider to its center position, then adjust the mic volume with the set-screw until the pickup and mic volumes are at equal levels. If this does not alleviate the problem, give our service department a call at 619-258-6957 or 800-943-6782, and they'll be happy to help.

I purchased a Taylor 655ce 12-string last summer, and I'm curious as to how to restore the shine and luster to the tuning machines. Not long after I started working with the instrument, the gold Grovers got finger-printed and dull in appearance. My question is, how should I clean them, and with what? Can you recommend a cleaner and/or technique?
— Scott A. Lanza, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Via the Internet

You're in Wisconsin and you bought the guitar in the summertime, which might have been part of the initial dulling problem; gold plating seems to wear more rapidly in humid areas. The best remedy is to buff them with either a dry rag, or one with a little guitar polish on it. Generally, we don't recommend using "brass cleaner" or anything like that. In cases where the tuners really look bad, brass polish can be useful. Otherwise, it can be overkill, and can leave your "gold" tuners looking more like chrome/brass.