Matthew Sweet Extols the Virtues of Taylor Guitars

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs have teamed up again for another collection of cover songs on 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2,' and are currently on the road together for a small acoustic tour in support of their latest record. Sweet will be checking in with personal photos and anecdotes for his fans as the intimate club run continues this month. In his second entry, Sweet explains why he chooses Taylor guitars, and how, after 36 years, the manufacturer still knows what customer service means.

Taylor makes my day with great customer service and great guitars!

At one of our Sid n Susie shows the other night, I had the pleasure of chatting with country legend Chely Wright. She's about to release her amazing memoir on Random House, but our conversation focused on the great California guitar maker Taylor,
the only major guitar manufacturer still owned and operated by its founders to this day. Opened in 1973, Taylor now boasts an incredibly diverse group of well-known musicians choosing their guitars as their mainstay acoustics. In the last week alone, I've seen them in the hands of my friend Susanna Hoffs, Hall & Oates, and Taylor Swift, who has her own new signature model.

After a series of acoustic guitar mishaps this fall, I finally picked up a lovely vintage Taylor Dreadnaught 12-string I felt was up to the task. All I needed was a pickup put in, and I would be good to go! Management called Taylor and set it up.

Needless to say, I was most horrified to learn that my 12-string arrived at Taylor wth a broken headstock -- totally snapped off. My blood ran so cold at the news that I could barely hear what was being said. "Dont worry," said a cheerful and reassuring voice, and I was informed that not only would they make a brand new neck for my damaged baby, but would also provide me with a loaner guitar, allowing me to check out their amazing expression system pickup design. The 654ce model they sent to me to use on our current tour plays and sounds like a dream. I don't think I could ever give it back -- yes, they know the danger as I have communicated it to them quite sweetly, or should I say desperately!

Chely's eyes lit up on hearing my story and she couldn't hold it in, "OMG is it Bob Borbonus!?"

Yes, it was in fact the wonderful head of Taylor artist relations, Bob Borbonus, and I informed her that he was celebrating his 10-year anniversary in the job that very day.

"He saved my life so many times!" said Chely. "What a great guy!" Thanks Bob, for saving my life, too! You have proved once again that customer service lives!

So that's my story, folks. Check out a Taylor guitar near you, these are very fine guitars that sound fantastic!