Innovation and Tradition: Taylor Guitars at NAMM 2026 Walking into the Taylor booth at NAMM 2026 felt like stepping into a sonic candy store. Jim Kirlin's words, not mine—but he's right.
Walking into the Taylor booth at NAMM 2026 felt like stepping into a sonic candy store. Jim Kirlin's words, not mine—but he's right.
I sat down with Jim to talk about what Taylor is bringing to the table this year, and it comes down to two distinct directions: the Next Generation Grand Auditorium series and the Gold Label Collection. Modern innovation on one side, vintage inspiration on the other.
The Next Gen guitars build on Taylor's flagship Grand Auditorium—that versatile middle-size body that works for everything from fingerpicking to strumming. But they've added three significant upgrades.
First is the Action Control Neck. It's a patented design with a long tenon joint that enhances resonance and tonal transfer between neck and body. More importantly, it lets players adjust string height in seconds through the sound hole. Climate changes, different venues, personal preference—you can dial it in on the fly. That's the kind of player-centric thinking that removes obstacles from the playing experience.
Second is Scalloped V-Class Bracing. Andy Powers introduced V-Class back in 2018, and this evolution adds warmth and low end while maintaining that clear, balanced Taylor articulation. You get more of everything without losing what makes a Taylor sound like a Taylor.
Third is the new Claria Pickup system. It's discreet—sound hole mounted with volume, mid contour, and tone controls. The goal was simplicity. Plug in, play, express yourself. No fussing with complicated setups depending on the venue. Just reliable amplified sound wherever you are.
Then there's the Gold Label Collection—a completely different approach.
These are non-cutaway guitars with traditional styling inspired by instruments from the 1930s and 40s. Andy Powers designed them to broaden Taylor's tonal palette and reach players who've never been drawn to the brand before.
The new square shoulder dreadnought caught my attention. Deeper body dimensions than a traditional Taylor dread, with serious lung capacity inside. You strum those chords and feel the low end push back. Fan V-Class Bracing gives it projection and response that traditional dreadnought fans will appreciate.
There's also round shoulder dreadnoughts and super auditoriums—the latter based on the Grand Auditorium but with all the curves pushed out for more air mass. Many feature torrified tops that give them an aged, played-in character right out of the case.
The headstock shape is different. The logo styling is older. It's Taylor paying respect to tradition while still building with modern precision.
What struck me most was how intentional both directions are. Taylor isn't abandoning their modern sound—they're expanding what's possible. Next Gen for players who want cutting-edge innovation. Gold Label for players who want vintage warmth and resonance.
Two paths. Same commitment to removing obstacles and inspiring players.
That's 50 years of guitar making at work.
Sean Martin interviews Jim Kirlin from Taylor Guitars at NAMM 2026 for ITSPmagazine.
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Jim Kirlin
Editorial Director at Taylor Guitars
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At NAMM 2026, Sean Martin spoke with Jim Kirlin from Taylor Guitars about the company's latest innovations—the Next Generation Grand Auditorium series and the Gold Label Collection.
The Next Gen guitars feature three key advancements. First, the patented Action Control Neck with a long tenon joint that enhances resonance and allows players to adjust string height in seconds through the sound hole—adapting to climate changes, venue conditions, or personal playing style. Second, Scalloped V-Class Bracing, an evolution of Andy Powers' 2018 design that adds warmth, low end, and pitch accuracy across the fretboard. Third, the new Claria Pickup system—a discreet, sound hole-mounted preamp with volume, mid contour, and tone controls for reliable amplified sound in any environment.
The Gold Label Collection takes a different direction—traditionally styled non-cutaway guitars inspired by 1930s and 40s designs. New additions include a square shoulder dreadnought with deeper body dimensions for projection and low end response, plus round shoulder dreadnoughts and super auditoriums. Many feature torrified tops for an aged, played-in character. Chief designer Andy Powers created the collection to broaden Taylor's tonal palette and attract players drawn to vintage-style instruments.
Sean Martin:
"Surrounded by so many guitars. I feel like I'm in heaven."
"I like to call it playable art that makes art too."
Jim Kirlin:
"It's like a sonic candy store."
"Innovation has always been kind of part of the DNA of the company."
"It really takes the obstacles out of the way of playing."
"It's a Taylor for people who maybe haven't normally been drawn to Taylor."