Taylor AB-2 Acoustic Bass Imbuia, 2000 ❌SOLD❌

Here we have a Taylor AB-2 Acoustic Bass, designed by Steve Klein and Bob Taylor with a single cutaway, Manzer Wedge style Imbuia body. The Wedge reduces the body depth on the bass side from six inches to 4.375 inches, and this has two primary effects. First, it’s easier and less fatiguing for the player’s arm. Second, the wedge has the effect of increasing the sonic output towards the player.

Linda Manzer  introduced the wedge feature on the 1984, 42-string ‘Pikasso’  guitar for Pat Metheney, and subsequently described it in a 1989 presentation to the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans.

The Taylor AB-2 was one of four variants of this design – AB-1 to AB-4 – introduced in 1996 and built until 2003. This was the result of a collaboration between noted California luthier Steve Klein and Bob Taylor.

The primary differences between the four models was wood selection and decoration. The AB-2 uses Imbuia (Ocotea porosa), also known as ‘Brazilian Walnut’ for the body, Spruce for the body bracing but laminate Maple for the sound-well, visible through the large sound hole located on the cutaway. The fingerboards are Ebony, and the Mahogany neck uses a very interesting scarf joint at the headstock. Not visible in the photos is rather large access panel on the lower treble side near the tail block. This panel is necessary to allow service access to the inside of the bass. The position of the sound hole does help with servicing!

The AB-1 also used Imbuia but had a Sitka Spruce top, the AB-3 a Sitka top with Maple back and sides, and the AB-4 used Maple for the top, sides and back.

The Taylor AB-2 was designed to provide better string to string separation and to deliver lots of bass ‘thump’.

You’ll notice an inlay at the body end of the fingerboard – that’s Steve Klein’s stylized signature.

This is a Taylor instrument, and like most other Taylors comes with factory-installed electronics and for this bass, Taylor chose a Fishman ABGP-2 pickup and preamp set.

This Taylor AB-2is sold with its original Taylor gig bag.