BABY GETS AROUND
 I am a performing musician and teacher, as well as general manager of Picker's Supply, a Taylor dealer in Fredericksburg, VA. I am
also the author of Melodic Fingerstyle Guitar, which is published by Bill Edwards Music.
My wife and partner, Laurie Rose Griffith, and I are avid travelers, and have spent a bit of time in Southeast and Central Asia.
I always take my Baby Taylor to keep my chops up, as well as ingratiating myself to any indigenous players I encounter. So far, my
Baby Taylor has been played in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), India and Nepal. And, oh
yes - the U.S.! I think China and Africa will have to put up with my playing before it's all over!
 I have enclosed a few pictures that may amuse you, plus a little poster that graces the travel guitar display in our shop. By the
way, my performing and recording guitar is a 612c, and Laurie's is a GA-RS limited edition. Keep up the good work.
Peter Mealy
Fredericksburg
14 KARAT GRAND CONCERT
I purchased a Taylor Grand Concert 612ce about 10 years ago, and have loved every minute of the experience. Although
I was actively gigging with a country band for about six of those years, the Taylor never left my house. It was just
too terrific to risk taking to a club.
At that time, my real-world job was as a jeweler, so I produced a 14 karat, three-dimensional Grand Concert pendant.
I am attaching a photo. Thank you for such a wonderful guitar and for all the great issues of Wood&Steel. P.S.
Anytime you would like to trade a real guitar for my gold one just let me know.
Capt. Bill Nichols
Via the Internet
CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER
Last Christmas, my wife and children gave me my sixth Taylor, a black beauty 612-C. Gary Niemchick of R.I.T. Music
Central [in Grand Rapids, Michigan], who's my longtime buddy and the best guitar doctor around, helped them in surprising me.
 Proof of my love for your guitars is my seventh Taylor, a
Baby Taylor, purchased at my other favorite music store,
Rainbow Music [also in Grand Rapids], so we would have two of them for a road trip to St. Louis. Owners John Gelderloos and Pete Bardolph are
responsible for turning me on to Taylors. I bought an 810 and a Steven Curtis Chapman Baby Taylor [a 1997 limited edition
that was part of a promotion] from them, and have never looked back.
Rainbow has brought Doyle Dykes here twice, and they actually call to personally invite me to the workshops. I attend them with my daughter
Jessica, and Doyle goes out of his way to make her feel very special. Your choice of Doyle to endorse your guitars makes me feel that much more
pride in owning a Taylor. His guitar playing pales next to his personality and his Christian values. (Wow, what a statement that is!)
Taylor guitars could not have chosen a better dealership in West Michigan or a better ambassador than Doyle Dykes. A few years ago, in my
quest for special Taylors, [Taylor repair and service manager] Terry Myers directed me to his old stomping grounds at Huber-Breese, where
I bought my koa 712 and my Brazilian 710. It was a three-hour drive from Grand Rapids,
so I invited my mom to come along.
As I was trying out the two guitars, my mom asked the salesman if he had any really special guitars, and he showed her the GA-BE
[1995 LTD Brazilian rosewood/Engelmann]. She negotiated with Paul as only she can, and when I went to the counter to ring up my two new
"babies", she said, "we'll take this one, too." Of course, I was floored. She said, "Happy Birthday. This makes up for all the years I
didn't get you anything." Needless to say, I now invite her every time I go to the music store!
Walt Gutowski Jr.
Via the Internet
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