Details
This American Dream maple Jumbo was built in 1974 in Lemon Grove, California. For those of you who know their Taylor history, you’ll recognize the name as the company where Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug got their start in the guitar business. This guitar was built by Bob Mossay (more on that later) and it is in good structural and well used cosmetic condition. There is a repaired top seam separation and there are numerous nicks, dings and scuffs that attest to a life lived on bandstands. This guitar was recently refretted, so it plays almost like a new guitar. The finish is lightly crazed, giving it a nice patina. This is a sweet sounding guitar with a clear, balanced bass to treble response.
A few years ago, Taylor introduced the American Dream series, which was named in honor of the guitar company where Bob Taylor met Kurt Listug. The American Dream was founded by San Radding in 1970 in Lemon Grove, California and along with building guitars, he sold wood, fretwire, tuning machines and other guitar parts. It quickly became the hub for the San Diego area luthier scene and builders like Greg Deering, Tim Luranc, James Goodall, Kim Breedlove and Larry Breedlove either worked there or stopped by regularly to hang out. In 1974 Radding decided to move on and he sold the business to Taylor, Listug and their friend Steve Schemmer. (Schemmer sold his share of the company a few years later.)
The American Dream worked in an unusual way. Basically, each luthier built a guitar from start to finish using Radding’s designs and then they split the profits. This particular maple Jumbo is dated August 12, 1974 and it was built by Bob Mossay, who later opened his own music store. When Taylor and Listug started Taylor Guitars in October 1974, they started off using Radding’s templates, but they quickly came up with their own ideas for doing things. Still, you can see the beginnings of the Taylor headstock silhouette on this guitar and they did continue to use the striking moustache bridge for a few more years. (The bridge was designed by San Diego artist David Randle.)
Specs
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Back sides
Maple
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Binding
White
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Bracing
X-Bracing
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Bridge
Ebony
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Electronics
Yes
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Fingerboard
Ebony
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Finish
Gloss
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Frets to body
14
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Neck material
Maple
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Nut width
1 3/4"
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Scale length
25 1/2"
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Top material
Spruce
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Tuners
Schaller
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Year
1974
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Case type
Hardshell
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Serial number
AUG121974
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SKU
AMEMAPLEJUMBO-AUG121974
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UPC
141790
