Tao Guitars T-Bucket “Autobahn”

Custom Boutique Hand-Made Electric Guitar

Featured in the NAMM Show Boutique Guitar Showcase

The philosophy behind Tao Guitars can pretty much be summed up in one sentence, “It is better to work ten days on an article than producing ten articles a day.” All Tao instruments are completely handmade from scratch, one by one, by John and Serge in their Brussels workshop. Each project is a unique creation and every instrument has his own character, specifications, cosmetic details and personalized name with a hidden meaning to suit its particular style and finish.

The idea behind Tao Guitars’ T-Bucket model was to create a design that was both rooted in tradition and grounded in the present day – A Telecaster for the 21^st Century. Drawing inspiration from a mix of cutting edge styling and old world craftsmanship, the T-Bucket is an homage to Leo Fender who was always moving forward in order to make his electric guitars more comfortable for the working musician while finding new and innovative solutions to old problems. The T-Bucket also incorporates some “Gibson” pedigree into the mix (such as a 24.75” scale length and custom humbucking pickups) in order to broaden the tonal palette and satisfy fans with a wider range in musical styles. Consequently, lively and articulated tones from sparkling clean spank to cranked rocking overdrive are easily achievable.

As enthusiasts of vintage and contemporary automotive design, John and Serge often draw inspiration from cars (especially hot rods), and for the T-Bucket project they found the “neo vintage” trend applicable in what they were trying to accomplish. In the same way that the Volkswagen Beetle or the Ford GT were reworked for a new generation, preserving unmistakable visuals while taking them to a dynamic new level, the T-Bucket expands on classic design elements while improving ergonomics and playing comfort to create a more balanced instrument.

Of course there is nothing new about guitar models inspired by classic automobiles, but it’s the way in which Tao focuses on the fine details to create an overall elegance, so that every creation becomes a functional piece of art, that truly sets their work apart. Uniquely crafted hardware such as switch tips, pickup covers, knobs and even all the finely detailed electronics components (which are often polished and a work of art in and of themselves) are additional trademark qualities of Tao Guitars.

All Tao Guitars are hand crafted using the finest materials available. Necks use a quartersawn grain pattern for strength, stability and tone as well as a special asymmetrical profile with rolled edges for maximum comfort. Proprietary double-action truss rods with spoke-wheel adjustment accessible from the end of the fingerboard are custom fabricated to spec from premium grade titanium for sound and weight purposes. The rod is flanked by a pair of carbon bars running from the 9th fret to the end of the fretboard in order to keep things stick straight for the lowest possible action. Another unique trait of Tao guitars is their use of a medium jumbo fret wire from the 1^st to the 12^th fret and then a switch to narrower wire from the 12^th fret onward. This is not something visually obvious and of course all the frets are leveled and crowned to perfection so you don’t “feel” the change either, but the narrower frets do give the perception of additional finger space between higher frets.

The name "Autobahn" was chosen for this T-Bucket because of the classic Porsche color "Schiefergraü" in which it’s painted, the “concrete look” of the pickguard material, and the Kraftwerk song "Autobahn" that was playing on the radio during the guitar’s final assembly. This particular T-Bucket “Autobahn” was also displayed in the Boutique Guitar Showcase booth at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California which contributes an extra layer of provenance to its future collectability.

Features and Specs of the T-Bucket Autobahn by Tao Guitars

• Lightweight One Piece Swamp Ash Body
• Bosnian Dinaric Alpine Maple Neck
• Quartersawn with Flame Figure
• Hand Selected Indian Rosewood Fingerboard
• Asymmetrical Profile with Rolled Fingerboard Edges
• 24.75” Scale Length
• 12” Radius
• Custom Benedetti Pickups (proprietary "T-bone rag" set w/grey bobbin finish)
• Vintage-style CTS Pots (hand-polished)
• 0,033 NOS Russian paper in oil capacitor
• Gold contact 3-way Toggle Switch
• Chrome Hardware
• Gotoh Vintage Tuners
• Wilkinson Short Plate Bridge
• Compensated Brass Saddles
• Custom Brushed Finish & Lined Knobs
• Proprietary "Bullet" String Trees
• Aluminum Engraved Neck Plate
• Custom Made Truss Rod Tool
• Thin Skin Porsche "Schieffer Grau" Matte Finish Lacquer (body)
• Grey Wolf Color & Wax (neck)
• SKB Waterproof Flight Case Included
• 7.0 lbs