Taylor Guitars

Taylor Guitars were introduced into the American acoustic guitar market at possibly the worst time in terms of profitability. In the late 1970's Martin guitars were the standard as well as the goliath of the day, and the entire acoustic guitar scene was heading south, quickly being replaced by flashy, wild, exciting electric guitars. The Co-founders of Taylor Guitars faced a meager existence, managing to survive on receipts but not profit, struggling with unknown concepts such as running a business successfully. It seemed that Taylor Guitars was doomed to fail, to be relegated to the pool of all unsuccessful businesses. In fact, the exact opposite happened.

What Happened

Many saw Taylor Guitars as a breath of fresh air, even in the stagnating acoustic market of the Seventies. If a guitarist wanted a viable alternative to a Martin guitar, either in terms of affordability or customization, the Taylor Guitar company was there to fill the need. In this way they managed to survive, despite a few mishaps that nearly ended things before they had begun.

Young and inexperienced at running a business, they mistakenly thought that if they made more guitars they would make more money. They hired more craftsman, purchased more materials, and ended up with a workshop full of unsold guitars. When they finally realized it wasn't working, they fired nearly everyone and slowed production down. At this point they were able to survive, if barely.

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