Embracing The Future

As Taylor advances with its V-Class bracing, we talk to designer Andy Powers about what he sees as a work in progress.

- Dave Burrluck

When Taylor launched its V-Class bracing at the start of this year, I shared some of designer Andy Powers’ ‘what if people don’t like it’ reserve. But focusing on the K14ce Builder’s Edition our review didn’t mince words concluding with “V-Class, Builder’s Edition? Get used to those terms. Taylor has just upped the ante. Considerably.” So, if V-Class had fallen flat on its face it would have been rather embarrassing for the both of us. Thankfully, the reaction from players of all styles has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’ve been surprised as to how many people, playing many different styles of music, have adopted this thing. It’s really fascinating,” says Andy, sipping his morning coffee in his home workshop in Carlsbad, California. “For example, a lot of the SoundCloud community have really taken a shine to these guitars because they’re doing so much of their music in a computer format. There’s a guy, Will Yip, based in Philadelphia who produces a lot of SoundCloud artists and he said, ‘I can use every single note on this thing because all of them work.’ They all play in tune, they’re all musical and if every note is musical it means every note will get used. I’ve been seeing a lot of producers and engineers buying these guitars just to have around their studios because they work so well in that environment.”