Taylor Guitars’ collaboration with International House of Music (IHOMI)

Combining craftsmanship and tradition to create the Taylor 150CE BAJO QUINTO. This partnership aimed to bring together the legacy of Taylor’s innovative guitar-making techniques with IHOMI’s deep roots in Mexican music culture.

The 150CE was designed with Mexican music traditions in mind, specifically the requinto and other traditional stringed instruments. The Bajo Quinto that takes inspiration from the "Bajo Quinto" tuning used in traditional Mexican music, incorporating elements that make it well-suited to the rich, vibrant sounds of this genre. It features a distinctive sound that is louder and more resonant, offering musicians a unique voice in the music they create.

The launch event celebrated the fusion of cultural heritage and modern design, emphasizing how Taylor's high-quality craftsmanship could help bring traditional Mexican sounds into the spotlight on a global stage.

Tonewoods & Construction

The top of the Taylor 150ce is crafted from torrefied Sitka spruce, a specially heat-treated version of the most popular soundboard wood in acoustic guitars. Torrefaction (or “roasting”) removes excess moisture and organic compounds, essentially aging the wood in a controlled environment. This process enhances the tonal qualities by improving resonance, response, and sustain—giving the bajo quinto a broken-in, vintage warmth from day one. The result is a top that feels more open and lively, with greater dynamic range and quicker tonal bloom, making it ideal for the shimmer and complexity of 10-string chords.. These materials are carefully chosen for their tonal qualities, ensuring a balanced sound with rich overtones and deep bass that suits traditional Mexican music styles.

For the back and sides, Taylor uses layered sapele, a tonewood that shares visual and tonal similarities with mahogany. While it’s not solid wood, the layered construction offers several benefits: it’s durable, resistant to climate changes, and helps keep the guitar affordable without sacrificing tonal quality. Tonally, sapele contributes midrange warmth and balance, complementing the brightness of the spruce top. This balance is especially important on a Bajo Quinto, where clarity across the spectrum is essential to prevent muddiness in strumming or arpeggios.

Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge

The fingerboard and bridge are made from West African Crelicam ebony, a tonewood known for its smooth feel, long-lasting durability, and elegant dark appearance. Sourced responsibly through Taylor’s own sustainable forestry initiative in Cameroon, this ebony ensures that the guitar’s playing surface is both beautiful and ethically crafted. Ebony’s density gives it a snappy response and smooth articulation, which helps sharpen the note definition—especially valuable on a wide 10-string neck where finger clarity is essential.