Looking for used Taylor Guitars in the UK?
How about the Top 10 Guitar Shops listed – for the search term: Taylor Guitars UK – in the main search engines – Google, Yahoo, and Bing? That seems a good place to start…
So what are you looking for? Baby Taylor? Entry level 110? Top of the range production model eg 814ce or 914ce? Or custom built collectors model like a K-series Koa?
Whichever it is, chances are you won’t have much choice at many of the UK guitar stockists. But some do offer more than others, so where are the best places to look? Of course factors like service level, and price are as important as availability. More so, probably, since if you are prepared to wait for a guitar of Taylor quality, most of the dealers will place an order for you.
In this site we’re trying to give you some useful guidance about the suppliers of Taylor guitars in the UK. We’re assuming you’ve pretty well chose Taylor because of their reputation or sound, and mainly want help to short-circuit the final selection process…so…
Below, I’ve surveyed the Top10 sites on each of Google, Yahoo, and Bing. These included my favourite UK guitar shop, and I found the best places to buy either:
- a high-end used Taylor guitar, with proper set up and maintenance support available, or
- at the lowest price available in the UK today
Want to know my findings?
Top 10 Search Engine Listings from UK pages for “Taylor Guitars UK”
Updated: 11 Feb 2010
Google reported 718,000 listings on 11 Feb 2010 (up from 91,800 on 15/12/07), and apart from TaylorGuitars.com at number 1, the Top 10 of these were:
2. (up from 5) www.sheehans.com (Yahoo #2; Bing #1)
Based in Leicester, Sheehan’s shop offer’s a wide range of quality musical instruments and gear. They’ve done the best job I’ve come across in summarising the Taylor range, explaining the differences between the various series, and body types, and deservedly have moved up the Top 10 rankings. And they offer the Taylor range from Baby Taylor right through the 900 series, with a lovely 914ce priced at 3199 pounds UK. Although, looking at some of the products still listed, I have to ask if the website is up to date? (For example a standard 2010 914ce model has a Sitka spruce top, no longer Engelmann)
3. (down from 1) GuitarGuitar.co.uk/ (Bing #8)
GuitarGuitar Ltd have shops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle. They offer pretty much the full Taylor range, but not a 900 Series model in sight (except an early used 914).
4. (down from 3) SoundsLive.co.uk (Yahoo #9; Bing #5)
Dean Street, Newcastle – claims to be “The UK’s no.1 Online Music Store”. Currently advertising Taylor’s range in stock from Baby through 800 series, plus a few specials.
5. RoseMorris.com (up from 7 as ProAudioStore.co.uk/ (Yahoo #1; Bing #4)
This is Rose Morris in Denmark Street, London. Well-known store…hard to use website! Offering a reasonable selection of Taylors from Baby to 700 series. No indication of stock position.
6. Guitar.co.uk (new Top 10 entry)
This is Merchant City Music’s website
7. (down from 4) VintageGuitar.co.uk/ (Yahoo #3, LiveSearch #4)
Bridewell Alley, Norwich. Now here’s a top quality guitar shop previously offering a superb range of high-end brands, including Taylor. However, they seem to stock few Taylors at present – just advertising a few used models. They’ve a sale on right now, so might be worth a visit.
8. Koolblogs.com (New Top 10 entry)
(The site your visiting right now! Looks like we took Ebay’s place! – no doubt it depends on what’s on offer at Ebay…)
9. Guitar-Village.co.uk (new Top 10 entry) (Bing #1)
Crammed into a quaint little house in one of Farnham’s main streets, (Hampshire) this is probably the gem of UK’s guitar shops! Visit if you can, for the “Boss gone mad sale”… Offers Taylor range from Baby to 800 series, with stock availability indicated.
(I no longer live in the area, so haven’t visited for a while. I wonder, do they still run the “Boss Gone Mad” sales?)
10. (down from 7) MartinTaylor.com
A superb jazz guitarist, but not a supplier of Taylor guitars. Look him up on YouTube or MySpace. Fantastic jazz guitar videos!
11. Youtube.com (new Top 10 entry)
The wonders of Google! This is a (foreign language!) listing for the video “United Breaks Guitars” (see the full fascinating video story here)
Fancy getting a 914ce for less than Thomann’s price* for a 814ce? Just click the link above…
*In our original Top 10, Thomann generally offered lowest online pricing. This is no longer the case today.
(sorry, our above offer is closed due to successful sales)
Top 10 Listings on Yahoo and Bing (was Live Search)Updated: 11 Feb 2010
From 3,120,000 listings (up from 929,000 in December 2007) reported by Yahoo, here are the Top 10 entries not already listed by Google above:
4. RichToneMusic.co.uk (new entry)
Sheffield-based mail order company who allow visits by appointment. Advertising right across the Taylor range, even a new 914ce in stock as I write, at under £3000!
5. Calibex.co.uk (new entry)
Not a guitar store, but a price comparison website covering computers and electronics…Looks like a Thomann affiliate.
6. Squidoo.com (new entry)
A “lens” about used Taylor Guitars in UK. Helpful information, but may be out of date?
8. Mansons.co.uk (new entry)
Exeter-based guitar shop and repair workshop. Carry a wide range of quality guitars, with more Taylors than any other brand. From Baby to 800, and a Koa. Clearly show stock status. Prices look a little higher than most…
Bing (was MSN Live Search)
Updated: 11 Feb 2010
From 4,610,00 entries, Bing lists these sites , not already listed by Google above.
6. OasisMusicalInstruments.ltd.uk (new entry)
Two shops based in Ringwood, selling new and used guitars. Currently advertising Taylor 100 to 700 Series and some custom models. Stock status unclear.
7. Guitars.co.uk (new entry)
Forum for guitar shops and dealers.
8. Retrosonic.co.uk (new entry)
No physical address, so I’m guessing its only on-line. Advertising a Taylor 30th Aniversary Koa since April 2009. Nothing to indicate if its in stock.
10. ABCsounds.co.uk (new entry)
Mail order website, advertising Baby Taylor, 100 and 200 series, but nothing in stock.
