This Taylor BBT-Big-Baby is an amazing option to consider if you are looking for an acoustic guitar that doesn’t sacrifice quality.
It features a non-cutaway body with a top made of solid sitka spruce, back and sides made of layered walnut, satin varnish body finish, a hard rock maple neck with a adjustable truss rod, and chrome hardware plating.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
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In this review post, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby acoustic guitar and examine its features, sound, and playability.
Some guitar features have a bigger impact on the sound and playability than others; we’ll help you identify which ones those are.
Table of Contents
Summary
Here’s a brief overview of how the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby performs across different key points.
Just so you are aware, the score and rating we give are based on our own personal opinion and could be different from yours or other guitarists.
Hardware
All of the metal and plastic parts that make up a guitar are called hardware.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
The phrase “hardware” is commonly associated with electric guitars, however, it may also refer to certain parts of an acoustic guitar.
When selecting a guitar based on its hardware, ensure that it is of excellent quality and will be able to endure regular usage.
Plastic saddles on the bridge, for example, are common on lower-quality guitars, which can degrade the instrument’s tone and intonation while also making it more difficult to tune.
Also, ensure sure the metal pieces aren’t prone to rusting or tarnishing, and that they appear solid, durable, and can’t be readily damaged.
Good hardware is required for a good-sounding and playable guitar, and there are a few things a manufacturer can do to make it ideal for us.
Let’s have a look at it more closely!
– Tuning Machines
On this Taylor BBT-Big-Baby, the tuning machines are simple but effective, they’re die cast, made of chrome, and have a closed gear design.
- Material: Chrome
- Design: Closed gear
One of the most significant aspects of any guitar’s hardware is the tuning machines (or “tuners”).
They’re in charge of keeping the strings tight and firm so they can vibrate properly and produce the right pitch.
Low-quality tuning machines can cause your guitar to quickly fall out of tune and be difficult to tune.
They can also make changing the strings more difficult, as well as making the guitar more difficult to play in general.
Must Remember:
Good tuning machines are composed of strong, long-lasting materials and operate with precision and smoothness.
You should search for materials that are less susceptible to rust, such as nickel-plated steel or stainless steel.
These materials are also less prone to tarnish, ensuring that your guitar maintains its appearance for a longer period of time.
– Pickguard
The Taylor BBT-Big-Baby guitar has a red pickguard with a tortoise shell design.
- Color: Red
- Design: Tortoise shell
The pickguard is a little piece of plastic or metal positioned near the strings on the body of the guitar.
Its aim is to keep the pick from scratching the guitar’s finish while you’re playing.
Most pickguards are made of either plastic or metal, and nowadays maybe even carbon fiber, and there are a few different designs that you’ll come across.
A good pickguard needs to be made of a tough material that can handle being used often.
It also needs to be big enough and in the right spot to actually protect the guitar body from being scratched by the player’s pick.
As for appearance, a pickguard should also look good with the rest of the guitar.
It shouldn’t be too noticeable, but it shouldn’t also be so small or low-quality that it looks out of place.
– Strap Buttons
Both strap buttons on the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby are constructed of chrome and appear to be fairly strong.
- Material: Chrome
- Position: Bottom and side top
- Design: Classic
Strap buttons are those little metal buttons installed on the guitar’s body that are used to secure a strap to the instrument.
Two strap buttons, one on each side of the body, are very standard on most guitars.
Metal strap buttons should be durable and strong so they don’t come free over time.
Even though for most people, whether the strap buttons are good or not won’t be a deal-breaker for them, it’s still something to keep in mind.
Body
The bridge, neck, and strings are all connected to the guitar’s body.
This is where you’ll also find a hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound can reverberate from within the instrument.
Most guitars have a wooden body, although others have carbon fiber, metal, or even plastic bodies (less usual).
– Wood
If you’re seeking for a specific tone, the type of wood chosen for the body might impact the sound of the guitar.
When it comes to the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby, it has a solid sitka spruce top with a layered walnut back and layered walnut sides.
– Finish
The final layer of protection for the guitar body’s wood is the body finish.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it has a satin varnish finish.
It’s what gives the guitar its brilliance and shine, but also protects the wood from scratches, dents, and other damages.
There are a variety of finishes to choose from, including:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is never an important factor on its overall sound.
It can, however, affect the instrument’s appearance and feel.
Some individuals like a specific color guitar because it complements their personal style.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Taylor BBT-Big-Baby has a standard pin bridge with black-colored plastic pins and a saddle made of micarta.
Each one of these components plays an important role in how the guitar sounds and feels.
For instance, the bridge is in charge of transmitting string vibrations to the guitar’s body.
The saddle is what the strings sit on, and it’s usually made of plastic or bone.
On the other hand, the pins, are what keep the strings in place.
There are also several kinds of bridges, each with its own set of pro’s and cons.
There are three primary types of bridges on acoustic guitars:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
Pin bridges are the most common type of bridge, and they’re also the easiest to replace.
They are, however, more difficult to intonate, which means getting the strings in the proper place.
Pinless bridges are less common, although they are easy to intonate as well.
They also have the benefit of not requiring any pins, which can be difficult to track and are very easy to lose.
Finally, classical guitar bridges are only found on classical guitars.
They are fairly similar in design to most other bridges, but the key distinction is that they have no pins and instead consist of a saddle and a wooden block with a hole for each string.
This hole is used to tie the string down, giving the guitar a much cleaner appearance.
Now, the type of saddle you use is also crucial; plastic saddles are the least expensive and quickest to find, but they do not last as long as bone saddles.
Bone saddles are more expensive, but they’re also way more durable.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they’re also the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable.
Neck
When it comes to the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby, its neck is made of hard rock maple and has a Standard Big Baby Profile shape with an adjustable truss rod.
The neck is the thin, long piece of the guitar that runs from the body to the headstock and is usually constructed of wood.
Because different woods have distinct qualities that influence how the vibrations created by the strings behave, the type of wood chosen for the neck can alter the guitar’s playability and sound.
The most common type of neck is the bolt-on neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the body of the guitar.
Another popular style of guitar neck is the set-neck, which is glued to the body.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are all crucial components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the part of the guitar’s neck where your fingers make contact and press against the strings.
It is often made of wood, although it can also be made of carbon fiber, plastic, or metal.
As for the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby, it has a fretboard made of ebony with pearloid dots inlays:
Even though this has always been a big debate, it is generally agreed that the type of wood that’s used for the fretboard can slightly affect the sound of the guitar.
For example, maple is a popular choice for electric guitars because it gives the instrument a bright, sharp cutting tone.
Rosewood is another popular choice, and it is frequently used on acoustic guitars because it produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars designed to have a very clean, clear tone.
There are several types of fretboards available, each with its own set of pros and cons.
The sort of fretboard you pick is ultimately up to you and what you want in a guitar; the tone will not be dramatically different, but the feel will be.
Brand Info
Taylor is a top American guitar brand that has been around since 1974.
They’re known for their high-quality acoustic guitars and have won numerous awards over the years.
Also, they make electric guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments, and they’re a popular choice among both beginner and experienced players.
The company offers a wide range of different models to suit every budget and playing style.
In terms of quality, Taylor Guitars are some of the best in the business and they use only the finest materials and craftsmanship to produce their instruments.
One of the things that set Taylor apart from other guitar brands is their attention to detail.
Every aspect of their guitars is carefully considered and designed to create the best possible playing experience.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Taylor BBT-Big-Baby:
– General
| Brand | Taylor |
| Model | BBT-Big-Baby |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Size | Full Size |
| Colors | Natural |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Die Cast |
| Electro-acoustic | No |
| Built-in Tuner | Not applicable |
– Body
| Body Style | 15/16-scale Dreadnought |
| Cutaway | No |
| Solid Top | Yes |
| Top Material | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Back Material | Layered Walnut |
| Sides Material | Layered Walnut |
| Finish Type | Satin Varnish |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Pickguard Design | Tortoise shell |
| Strap Buttons | Yes |
| Strap Buttons Position | Bottom and side top |
| Strap Buttons Design | Classic |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Hard Rock Maple |
| Neck Shape | Standard Big Baby Profile |
| Scale Length | 25.5″ |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Ebony |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Design | Standard pin bridge |
| Pin Color | Black |
| Pin Material | Plastic |
| Bridge Material | Ebony |
| Saddle Material | Micarta |
| Nut Material | Nubone |
| Nut Width | 1.6875″ |
Please note that some brands might change the type of materials that they use on their guitars.
This can be because of new regulations and laws that come and go throughout the years.
If you see a mistake in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
You can reach out to us via our email: [email protected]
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
There are a lot of great guitars out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one sometimes.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
More than 10 years of experience playing and writing about guitars! When not writing, I can be found strumming away some Johnny Cash tunes. Favorite all time guitar is the Gibson Les Paul. #TeamGibson
