Taylor started 'playing guitar' at age 3 with a little toy acoustic that was probably better suited as a bongo than a stringed instrument. The addition of scare-quotes around 'playing guitar' is because this was, for the better part of a decade, just noise-making before it became music. Taylor considers the real start of their guitar journey to have been at age 12, when they received a Starcaster Strat for Christmas, generously given by their parents. The gift also involved lessons from the wonderful Austin Pettit (Rest in Peace) for about six months. After that period, Taylor ventured on their own and found themself quickly drawn towards playing classic rock as many novice guitarists tend to do. This interest soon evolved into metal, then to metalcore and hardcore throughout high school. Eventually, Taylor ended up in a cover band playing at school events and birthday parties, where they were compensated with cake and soda.
As time went by, Taylor's musical interests broadened into a little bit of everything. From Mongolian Throat Chants to early African Electronica creations by Francis Bebe, indie acoustic, A$AP FERG, and everything in-between, their playing diversified and deepened. These days, Taylor plays primarily for personal satisfaction and the joy it brings their beloved girlfriend. They sometimes share clips of their music on social media for friends. Taylor particularly enjoys experimenting with sound effects and the unique challenge of trying to convert feelings into sound. From what they have discovered, this mostly manifests as indie folk and ambient/post rock.
Taylor’s guitars:
Hagstrom HJ-200
1980 Yamaha SA-2000
Fender CME Exclusive Classic Player Jazzmaster
Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH
Fender Classic Player Jaguar
Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar HH
Fender Road Worn Tele partscaster (CME exclusive Road Worn tele body routed for a Deluxe pickguard and wiring, Fender Classic Player Strat neck, Seymour Duncan JB&59 pickups with vintage Tele Deluxe wiring)
Reverend Gil Parris Signature (the non-strat offset version)
Squier Classic Vibe Tele partscaster (Classic Vibe body, Fender Brad Paisley Tele neck, mixed electronics)
Gretsch Electromatic Pro Jet
Epiphone ES-339 P90 Pro
Gretsch Electromatic Pro Jet Goldtop
Fender CD-60SCE
Fender dreadnought acoustic
Yamaha CG122MSH classical
1954 Harmony Stella parlour acoustic
Aria Sinsonido travel guitar
Starcaster Strat by Fender (1st guitar)
Epiphone SG-300 (2nd guitar)
Peavey Millenium BXP bass
Taylor’s amps and pedals:
Ernie Ball VP
TC Electronic Polytune 2
Walrus Warhorn/Ages Dual OD
DigiTech HardWire RV-7 Reverb (the GOAT)
Boss SY-1 Synthesizer
TC Infinite Sampler/Sustainer
Boss DD-3 Delay
Hermida Audio/LovePedal EPH-3 Tape Echo
Sentimental Bob Tacana Tremolo
Empress Reverb
TC Electronic Ditto Looper
Yamaha THR5 (serves as interface for recording or playing with headphones)
Vox AC4TV (for light bedroom playing)
Peavey Delta Blues 115 (the big guy, for when I want to feel the music)
What was your first guitar and do you still have it?
What I would consider my first *real* guitar was a Starcaster Strat by Fender. It was not a particularly great guitar, but I played the snot out of it and loved every second of learning this new extension of myself. I eventually tore it apart and modded/"relic'd" it and added my own logo, to my eventually more mature self's dismay. These days it sits in a case in the storage closet, serving more as a momento than a tool, but still as loved as ever.
What’s your favorite guitar right now and why?
As any guitarist knows, picking a favorite guitar is tough. It's like having to pick a favorite child. That said, it would be between my Gretsch Electromatic Jet which I have lightly modified to be a perfect daily driver, or my most recent beater partscaster Tele build which consists of a Classic Vibe 60's body, Fender Brad Paisley neck (which is a GD baseball bat, the way it oughta be!), and a hodgepodge of Fender and off-brand parts.
What’s your newest purchase?
My most recent purchase was a Hagstrom HJ200 semi-hollow with non working electronics that I traded for a Supro Black Holiday. I always like to have a guitar to tinker with, and that one was a great candidate. I think it will stay stock, maybe with the exception of new pots to increase the tonal range. But as it is with all projects, we'll see what actually happens when I start tearing into it.
How often do you play?
I play a few times a week, which is much less than I would like to. It's hard to find time to really be able to fall into making music, between long hours at work, family, and events. I could make a million excuses, but really I just have to set aside time to create. I've found usually takes me around an hour of focused playing before I start really getting into it and the creative juices flow. I've recently deleted my social media, which seems to be helping get my mind in the right gear for creating instead of consuming as well, so hopefully this helps me get back into the swing of things.
What’s the music you are creating, what is the mission behind it?
I hope to have an instrumental album out in the near future. No real concrete plans are in place at the moment, so far it's been a lot of compiling old riffs and trying to expand on them to make it a cohesive story.
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