What does it take to reimagine one of the most iconic acoustic guitar designs in the world while staying true to what made it great? Taylor Guitars answers that question with a suite of Next Generation innovations and a Gold Label Collection that reaches back to the golden age of acoustic sound.
Jim Kirlin, Editorial Director at Taylor Guitars and Editor of Wood&Steel, joins Sean Martin at NAMM 2026 to walk through the company's latest innovations, from a reimagined Grand Auditorium to a brand-new collection rooted in tradition. The conversation takes place on the Taylor Guitars show floor, surrounded by the very instruments being discussed.
At the heart of this year's introductions is what Taylor is calling its Next Generation guitars, a suite of three interconnected innovations built around the flagship Grand Auditorium body. Kirlin explains how the new Action Control Neck, a patented design with a long-tenon neck joint, enhances both resonance and playability, giving players the ability to adjust string height in seconds through the sound hole. It is a tool designed for real-world musicians who move between venues and climates and need their instrument to adapt with them.
The second innovation is a scalloped V-Class bracing system, the latest evolution of the bracing architecture that Chief Guitar Designer Andy Powers introduced in 2018. This new variation adds warmth and low-end depth while preserving the clarity and balance that define the Taylor sound. The third piece is the Claria pickup, a simplified onboard system with sound-hole-mounted preamp controls for volume, mid contour, and tone. Kirlin describes it as a more plug-and-play approach for players who want a natural amplified sound without the complexity of dialing in previous systems.
The conversation then moves across the booth to the Gold Label Collection, a line of non-cutaway, traditionally voiced guitars designed by Andy Powers. Inspired by instruments from the 1930s and 1940s, these guitars feature torrefied tops, a vintage-influenced headstock design, and body styles including a new square-shoulder dreadnought, a round-shoulder dreadnought, and a Super Auditorium. Kirlin positions the collection as a way for Taylor to broaden its tonal palette and reach players who gravitate toward warmer, more vintage sounds.
What emerges is a picture of a company that treats innovation not as disruption but as service to the musician, removing obstacles and expanding possibilities one design at a time.
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/
Jim Kirlin, Editorial Director at Taylor Guitars and Editor of Wood&Steel | On the Web: https://woodandsteel.taylorguitars.com/authors/jim-kirlin/
Taylor Guitars | https://www.taylorguitars.com/
Wood&Steel Magazine | https://woodandsteel.taylorguitars.com/
The NAMM Show 2026 is taking place from January 20-24, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center - Southern California -- Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/the-namm-show-2026-namm-music-conference-music-technology-event-coverage-anaheim-california
Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/
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