Swift’s new guitar launch counters recent knock-off models claimed to be owned or signed by the world’s biggest pop artist
(Image credit: Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
A Taylor Swift signature guitar has been a long time coming. However, in true T-Swift fashion, the global star has subverted expectations by launching a custom Epiphone acoustic guitar on her official merchandise store – and they're already sold out.
The model she chose? An Epiphone DR-100, equipped with finishes that nod to her various albums – or Eras – representing Fearless (Taylor's Version), Speak Now (Taylor's Version), Red (Taylor's Version), 1989 (Taylor's Version), Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department.
The 25.5" scale budget guitar features a mahogany body, back, and sides, with a spruce top. It has the same exact specs as Epiphone's standard DR-100 – coming fitted with a rosewood fingerboard with pearloid inlays, a SlimTaper neck shape for enhanced playability, and Epiphone Premium Tuners. Each guitar also comes with a unique serial number printed on the back of the headstock.
The regular DR-100, it should be noted, is an entry-level Epiphone acoustic, available online for $169. Swift's own custom designs clock in at $399, but their limited availability could lead to an increased value over time.
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(Image credit: Taylor Swift)
(Image credit: Taylor Swift)
(Image credit: Taylor Swift)
As noted in Guitar World’s interview with Gibson’s Vice President of Product, Mat Koehler, “Taylor favors a fairly unique Gibson model – a J-180 acoustic with a long scale length.” However, her choice to go for an Epiphone DR-100 – a more budget-friendly model – makes these Eras guitars more accessible to fans.
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
