Taylor Guitars 305-LT Baby Liberty Tree

The guitar was built in 2002. I bought it new in March 2003. The Baby Liberty's defining features are the beautifully figured Tulip Poplar (laminated) back and sides from the Annapolis Liberty Tree, and the patriotic rosette inlay. The poplar on my guitar runs the gamut from vanilla to gold to brown to black ... and back again! I had the choice between two 305-LT's at Picker's Supply, and chose mine for the dark black streaks and contrasting colors on the back. The bright, natural maple neck really makes the back of the guitar visually interesting! Also, the jet-black ebony of the bridge and fretboard are terrific and further highlighted by the eboy-and-gold tuning keys. The top is solid Sitka Spruce and has a satin finish, like the rest of the guitar. I bought it originally for the patriotic novelty and as an investment piece ... but have ended up playing it at least weekly! It's really a great little package and fun to play.

The sound is surprisingly rich for a little guitar. Of course, I'm a fan of the Taylor Babies and this model is certainly the king of the line! (Plus, you just can't beat playing a little slice of American history; it's fun to tell admirers the whole story about how Taylor obtained the Liberty Tree wood.) Anyway, I keep fresh, light gauge Elixir strings on it, which really help in the tone department. It doesn't have the volume or the tone of a full sized Taylor (obviously), but you will be surprised by how good it does sound. By the way, I only fingerpick the Liberty Baby because it has no pick guard. The last thing you want to do is even light scratch that beautiful top and flag/pennant rosette.

I had to have the guitar re-set up after purchase; it had been in the showroom for several weeks--getting so much handling that the strings were worn out--and was due for some attention again. After set up (neck and intonation adjustments; lowered action) it was just fine. Again, I attribute the need of set up not to any problem at the Taylor factory, but to much handling in the show room. My only fit/finish complaint about anything on this guitar is that it comes with black plastic bridge pegs, which look kinda cheap. Of course, it is easy enough to obtain ebony ones, but I think it should have come with them in the first place. The metal parts are all gold tone, which gives the little guitar a rich look.

With satin finish, small size and quality of materials and workmanship, I expect this guitar will last a long time. It has that rugged, simple construction and has held up well to environmental changes thus far. I do keep a humidifier inside the sound hole, just in case. The sides/back may be laminated, but the rest of the guitar is solid wood and needs humidity control.

I've not dealt with the company, other than to register my guitar, which was easy enough to do.

Well, I have to give Baby Liberty a 10 overall, even if the individual categories don't add up that way. You buy this guitar for its novelty value, but it surprises you in how nicely it looks and plays. I would highly recommend obtaining one, if you can. I'm not sure exactly how many were made, but Taylor has indicated that the production run was around 400. To have a commemorative (and playable) piece of the last Liberty Tree ... well, I consider this guitar to be a great value and has become one of my prized possessions.

This guitar is a 2002 limited edition made of laminated timber for the back and sides from the Anapolis Liberty Tree. This side and back timber is highly figured -(the back particularly is booked matched before laminating and is very highly figured.....much more so than the cocobolo on another guitar I have which I used to think of as very figured timber. The colours run from chocolate to grey to vanilla...very very pretty.
The guitar is the same in basic construction as a standard Taylor Baby - I have a 4 year old Baby and this new one features the new NT neck and some other revised construction features (eg it has a bead of timber - not kurfing - but serving the same purpose - between the sides and back, presumably to add some strenght in this area. The top is solid Sitka spruce (and a very nicely silked piece it is tooo). The neck is maple and of standard Baby Taylor construction, but it has a laminated ebony headstock overlay (rather than the plastic style laminate on the standard Baby) and this headstock has the Taylor Logo and the word "Liberty" in ornate script inlaid in the headstock in light timber...and beautifully done it is too.

The guitar ius fitted with gold Grover tuners with ebony buttons rather than the notmal no name chrome on standard Babys and is better balanced as a result.
The finish remains Baby Taylor standard satin.

The guitar has a beautiful inlay on the top around the sound hole consisting of a timber rosette with thirteen white starts inlaid (to represent the original 13 colonies) plus a battle flag also inlaid in timber...this inlay work is absolutely exquisite and just shows what laser technology is capable of delivering.

This guitar sounds much richer right out of the bag than my other Baby. My other Baby has had some work done in fitting fosilised bone nut and saddle as well as more elegant focilised bridge pins..all to help the sound and the look - which seems to have achieved..but this just seems to have a richer t=one....given it is basicallly the same guitar the sound has tobe down to either the effect of the various design changes and or the differing timber or maybe both.

This is an very nice little acoustic guitar that copes with strumming of gentle finger style equally well..it is not so effective if you really climb into it ..but keep its purpose in perspective.

I 'd like to give it 15 out of 10...superbly made, lovely timbers, beautiful inlay work...but seriously black plastic bridge pins on a guitar of this sort where everything else is so well done.....very cheap and nasty.

Given the nature of this guitar it will never see a gig.....this one of the few truly limited editions anybody makes...the wood once used is gone...like the brazilian but with more historical significance. It not like the factory decided well we'll only make 200 or whatever..then if they change their minds they can make some more...or if the signature artist in question runs into hard times and needs further income just releas another "limited edition" - this is it and ther aint no more. The guita is built to what inmy limited expereince are Taylors usual high standards on most fronts (execpetions above as noted)

The warranty is lifetime in the US and Canada..and presumably F- all elsewhere...but given in the 4 years I have had my other Baby it has been to the US 3 times to Asia about 10 and god knows where else and has stood up to all thats been thrown at it I can't see that this one would be any diffferent assuming you want to meet such treatment out to yours!!!

I have never had to deal with Taylor directly but their agents in Australia has always been very helpful and unfailingly courteous.

I have been playing about thirty years....I have another BAby Taylor a MArtin 00-16 DBR, a locally made OM size 6 string and a Heritage Les PAul. I had always wanted a "sexier" Baby than the Standard TAylor offering and was on the cusp of ordering a Koa Baby when the LT was announced...just had to have it!! I love the inlays and the whole historical ethos behind the project of using the Liberty Tree wood ina way that would enable the spirit that was behind it to live on.....particularly in these current turbulent times.

If it were stolen I imagine it would be very difficult to replace...but I would certainly try...I would have liked a real (ie full size) Liberty guitar but as they are the price of a new mid range C Class Mercedes here in Oz that did seem just a touch excessive!

I am very very pleased with my Baby LT and think Bob Taylor ought to be heartily congratulated for having the vision and the tenacity to getting this project to fruition.