Guitar Lessons: A Lifes Journey Turning Passion into Business

Bob Taylor knows what it takes to make a great guitar. He also knows what it takes to make 500 great guitars every single day. It takes perseverance, hard work, a willingness to learn, and dedication to your life′s passion. Guitar Lessons delivers a story of having what it takes—not just to succeed eventually—but most importantly, to survive those grueling early years. Nearly every successful company came from meager beginnings, and Taylor Guitars is no exception. In 1974, Bob Taylor and his partner, Kurt Listug, then just a couple of kids, embarked on a journey to own their own guitar company. They instantly found themselves tempest–tossed, bailing water out of a leak–prone workshop, constantly struggling to make a buck, and tackling ever more complex problems. Taylor shares each epiphany, each nugget of wisdom that encouraged him to overcome the obstacles, shaped his knowledge of manufacturing, and helped him transform his passion into a lucrative business. Today, Taylor Guitars is one of the world′s most successful and highly regarded acoustic and electric guitar manufacturers. This is the story of how it all came to be.

Chapter 1 Life’s Little Lessons. Chapter 2 My Very First Guitar. Chapter 3 Inspiration. Chapter 4 The American Dream. Chapter 5 On Our Own. Chapter 6 Early Successes and Early Failures. Chapter 7 Sweat Equity. Chapter 8 More Bad News. Chapter 9 On the Move. Chapter 10 Making Your Case. Chapter 11 We’re All in this Together. Chapter 12 Embracing Technology. Chapter 13 Finding our Place. Chapter 14 Gaining Traction. Chapter 15 Building a Brand. Chapter 16 Innovation. Chapter 17 Artists and Such. Chapter 18 The Luck of the Third Owner. Chapter 19 In Ten Years We’ll Be Glad We Did.

BOB TAYLOR is the cofounder and President of Taylor Guitars, one of the world′s premier manufacturers of acoustic and electric guitars. Considered a visionary among guitar builders, Taylor has pioneered advancements in both guitar design and process, and developed many of the innovations used across the industry in acoustic and electric guitar production today. Based in California, the company employs over 500 people and builds nearly 500 guitars each day.