• Shop the Store
  • Best Sellers
  • eBooks
  • Books
  • Plans

  • Videos
  • Tools & Workshops
  • SketchUp

  • Finishing
  • Turning
  • Joinery
• Books
• Plans
• Videos
• Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Give a gift

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Issue
  • Online Extras

  • Magazine Index
  • Contact Us
• Subscribe
• Renew

• Blogs
• Knots
• Gallery

The Editors Mailbox

UPDATE: Book Giveaway: Guitar Lessons by Bob Taylor

Betsy Engel, contributor

1 user recommends

Photo: Courtesy of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Add Comment
Print

Guitar Lessons: A Life’s Journey Turning Passion into Business by Bob Taylor
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011.
$24.95; 288 pp.

Guitar Lessons is written by Bob Taylor, cofounder and president of Taylor Guitars, and is more than an autobiography. It also is a book about business. As Taylor writes about forming and growing his business, he shares a lot of the challenges he faced along the way and provides insights that makes the journey more personal and inspiring. He shares how he overcame these challenges and made his passion for guitar making into a lucrative business. Taylor describes Guitar Lessons as a “book of business lessons learned through experience and told in story form.” I think this book will appeal to woodworkers, guitar players, and business owners.

Lucky Rmb3 is the winner. His comment was chosen at random.

Be sure to keep checking back for more giveaways. Next up: Making Country Furniture

Add Comment Print

Table boldly goes where no woodworker has gone before

Back to List

Designing around the lumber you have

Comments (47)

Rmb3 writes: Bob Taylor realized he wanted to make guitars at a very early age.  He had built 3 guitars and one banjo while in high school.  In 1974, at the age of 20, he and 2 others bought the guitar shop they had been working in for $10,000 and started their own company.  Today Taylor Guitars is one of the most successful and respected makers of guitars in the world with over 400 employees and $377 million dollars in sales .  "Guitar Lessons" is both an autobiography and a business book.  It is a fascinating look at a company that started with 3 employees and a clear vision, but little to no business experience. If you are interested in an inside look at the making of high quality guitars, or more interested in how a dedicated craftsman can start and grow a successful business, "Guitar Lessons" is a good read. 
Posted: 5:46 pm on February 15th

BBessette writes: It started playing guitar while in high school.
I played in a country music group, progress to
rock group while in college and then picked up a classical guitar while serving in the Navy when the ship that I was on stopped in Barcelona Spain. I happened across a shop called the Fabrica De Barcelona where number of craftsmen hand crafted guitars. I purchased one of those instruments
and can say without a doubt that the finest guitars are made by the hands of true craftsmen like Bob Taylor.

I have been woodworking as a hobby building furniture and toys for the past 40 years and just two years ago I again came across an individual building guitars, violins and mandolins in his modest home workshop using native woods that grew in his Northern Vermont locality.

Reinspired by the craftman in Vermont I believe the book "Guitar Lessons" would provide the insight
I need two craft my own guitar,which would be the highlight of my woodworking experience.


Posted: 10:42 am on January 29th

Sailtom writes: Music's always been a thing.
I help kids play, I help kids sing.
To teach by day a wonderous art
has been a gift I bring my heart.

The craft with wood's a newer friend
I'm learning skills that never end
Though novice I may be with wood
I hope to have it do some good

Around our house and at my schools
the projects call out, get your tools
build cabinets, tables, music things
to show the joy that crafting brings

To build by hand's a thing of skill
I keep on trying, hope I will
Have crafted words please take a look
I'd really like to win this book.

Tom Richardson
Posted: 11:26 pm on January 28th

O'B writes: It would be nice to win the book 'Guitar Lessons' and be bestowed with a healthy dose of osmosis at the same time.
Posted: 10:06 pm on January 28th

TGrenga100 writes: Don't just string me along..... Select my comment for winninght Guitar book!
Posted: 10:06 pm on January 28th

TGrenga100 writes: Don't just string me along..... Select my comment for winninght Guitar book!
Posted: 10:06 pm on January 28th

WouldWorker writes: Always wanted to build a guitar; please count me in.
Posted: 4:07 pm on January 28th

Redguy writes: Please entry me into this contest-thanks!
Posted: 2:41 pm on January 28th

ronaldg685 writes: Sign me up, I want to build a guitar!
Posted: 1:50 pm on January 28th

JamTown writes: Along with myself, I think my daughter would likely enjoy reading it since she is pursuing an associates degree in business.
Posted: 12:19 pm on January 28th

mctoons_nm writes: Making a guitar would be a fun project. Wining a free book on guitar making would make it that much more enjoyable. Thanks for the opportunity.
Posted: 11:03 am on January 28th

juggerwubba writes: I would LOVE to have this book. My husband plays guitar, and I am a beginning woodworker. I will probably never make a guitar, but that is exactly why I would want to own a book about it!
Posted: 10:44 am on January 28th

Wixom writes: I would like to have this book! Sign me up.
Posted: 10:32 am on January 28th

mcfofky writes: I have been woodworking for over 40 years. Musical instruments have always intrigued me. Looking forward to reading this book.
Posted: 10:13 am on January 28th

BillyUP writes: I would like to finish a Dulcimer, and then move to Guitar building. Be nice to play it some with this book.
Posted: 8:55 am on January 28th

DrKDox writes: Great guitars.
Posted: 7:59 am on January 28th

dastick writes: no clever comment,just win this book
Posted: 7:18 am on January 28th

thoworth writes: Rock on.
Posted: 8:59 pm on January 25th

Ian81 writes: Sounds great!
Posted: 10:50 pm on January 24th

Koa_Rosewood writes: Bob Taylor absolutely makes the most beautiful guitars, both in sound and looks. He has a passionate love for beautiful woods and the sounds which they can create.
I have attended two Taylor guitar roadshows and have played some of his rare, one off models and I can tell you, the sound you can create with a $20,000.00 guitar is quite awesome! The sweet and pungent smell of the woods from the rare guitars is primordial!
I wish he would have a "guitar camp" where he would have classes in guitar making, and where the students would have the opportunity to design and build their own guitars.
I would be the first to sign up for the class!!!!!
I know that he has had thirty years to work out the design problems and that it would be so fulfilling to learn from him.
Please enter me in the drawing for the Bob Taylor book, "Guitar Lessons". I am inspired by Bob Taylor, Luthier extraordinaire and savvy businessman.
Posted: 5:12 pm on January 24th

kingdom writes: I am a professional woodworker and I'm also a amateur bluegrass guitar player. I've been a fan a Taylor guitars for many years and I'm currently saving up for one right now. I think Mr. Taylor is a true American success story.
Posted: 10:00 pm on January 23rd

Jamul writes: Taylor's are #1
Posted: 6:30 pm on January 23rd

jaydsavage writes: I won't complain about a free book ;)
Posted: 5:44 pm on January 23rd

Red_F writes: comment

Posted: 4:18 pm on January 23rd

C_Russell writes: I'm interested.
Posted: 4:05 pm on January 23rd

jdm92562 writes: Count me in
Posted: 11:47 am on January 23rd

tlpmap writes: Nice addition to my library.
Posted: 10:08 am on January 23rd

tedb writes: Pick me! Pick me!
Posted: 9:33 am on January 23rd

bobandsally writes: I would love a copy.
Posted: 8:38 am on January 23rd

japple62 writes: Would love to try a guitar build, lots of specialized tools however
Posted: 8:30 am on January 23rd

wkief writes: I would love to learn how to build a guitar and play it!

Posted: 12:36 am on January 23rd

casaheil writes: I'd love to win this book. I always wanted to build a guitar to wed my passion for music and woodworking.
Thanks,
--- Steve
Posted: 12:32 am on January 23rd

sherlock04 writes: I could use a guitar lesson!
Posted: 12:06 am on January 23rd

wolf335599 writes: A guitar builder's book or a guitar player's book????
Posted: 11:45 pm on January 22nd

mbcmd writes: I've got a good feeling about this contest!
Posted: 11:26 pm on January 22nd

IndyMac writes: Sounds interesting. Count me in!
Posted: 11:26 pm on January 22nd

the_wild_lucy writes: Please add me in to your contest.

Posted: 9:49 pm on January 22nd

sadie170 writes: This book would be helpful insight for my business
Posted: 8:56 pm on January 22nd

q2parrot writes: I have two of Bob Taylor's finest!
Posted: 8:02 pm on January 22nd

Rmb3 writes: I cannot wait to read his book. There was a time when only Martin guitars would be considered by professional musicians in need of a commercially available instrument. Bob Taylor produces the only guitars on the market that are considered equal or superior to Martin's.
Posted: 7:12 pm on January 22nd

PurdueDan writes: As an owner of a small woodworking business this would be a facsinating and helpful read.
Posted: 6:31 pm on January 22nd

charlton writes: Ooo...now this is definitely a book I'd like to have/read.
Posted: 4:50 pm on January 22nd

picciuto writes: Me and my 8 guitars cannot wait to get this book!
Posted: 4:48 pm on January 22nd

Circuit Rider writes: This would be great. I have been playing for 30 years and repaired other stringed instruments during that whole time. I have been thinking about building one. This would help. Thanks
Posted: 3:42 pm on January 22nd

tsangell writes: Sounds like a plan.
Posted: 2:35 pm on January 22nd

GlenRoseBud writes: I'm planning to build my own guitar soon. Sure would be nice to be able to play it.
Posted: 1:18 pm on January 22nd

carlwspencer writes: Also read "The Wheel & I -- John Crean: Driving Fleetwood Enterprises to the Top" if you can find a copy. It was privately published in 2000 and is a book about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps in a very hands-on way, literally by understanding the nuts and bolts of your products and business, and by close association with your customers.
Posted: 1:15 pm on January 22nd

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.