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There’s no doubt that Taylor Swift is one of the most iconic singer-songwriters of the 21st century. With a slew of albums under her belt, a vast collection of awards to solidify her success and influence, and one of the most successful tours in history, she’s gone from breaking out as a country singer at 17 to firmly cementing herself as a pop artist.
If you’re a gearhead intrigued by the setups of some of the most acclaimed musicians in the world, Swift should be on your list. In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the most iconic Taylor Swift guitars that have stuck with her through the years. There are too many to count, but we’ll look at the most renowned, as well as the amps and effects she uses to shape her sound.
In a hurry?
Here’s a list of the guitars and amps that are the most prominent in Swift’s setup:
Guitars | Taylor Presentation Series PS – 24ce Grand Auditorium |
Taylor Grand Symphony “Living Jewels” Series/ “Koi Guitar” | |
Taylor Swift Baby Taylor TS-BT Travel Acoustic Guitar | |
Taylor GS6 Grand Symphony Acoustic Guitar | |
Taylor T5 PRO | |
1959 Silvertone 604 Acoustic Guitar | |
Taylor GS6 Grand Symphony Acoustic Guitar | |
1959 Silvertone 604 | |
Gibson J-180 | |
Gibson Hummingbird | |
Gibson J-45 | |
Gibson Les Paul Special SL Electric Guitar | |
Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar | |
Amps | Yamaha THR5 Desktop Guitar Combo Amp |
Yamaha THR10II |
When did Taylor Swift start playing guitar?
Taylor Swift received her first guitar in 1997 when she was eight years old. There’s a video of her unwrapping it, but it’s impossible to make out the specs of the guitar. According to Swift, she didn’t play it initially because her fingers were too small.
Cue awesome repairman: Swift’s passion was ignited when a repairman hired by her parents to fix her computer spotted the neglected guitar and offered to teach her a few chords. She was hooked and progressed quickly to a 12-string acoustic.
Taylor Swift’s guitars
Taylor Guitars
1. Taylor Presentation Series PS-24ce Grand Auditorium

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The Taylor Presentation Series PS-24ce Grand Auditorium is one of Taylor Swift’s most iconic and sentimental guitars. Featuring a flamed Koa body, a Florentine cutaway, and an intricate Byzantine inlay on the fingerboard, it’s a stunning custom model.
Swift has used this guitar since 2007; it features on the Red album and appeared on The Eras Tour for multiple performances. The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Electro Acoustic has a similar vibe to Swift’s, sporting a GA body shape.
2. Taylor Grand Symphony “Living Jewels” Series/“Koi Guitar”
The Taylor Grand Symphony “Living Jewels” Series, also known as the “Koi Guitar,” is a beautiful instrument. Crafted by Pete Davies Jr. at the turn of the 21st century, Swift’s model features koi fish along the fretboard and on the body.
It gained prominence during her Speak Now tour in 2011. More recently, it appeared in the “Anti-Hero” music video and joined her Eras Tour lineup after a stint on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Taylor BBTe will give you a similar ‘sprucy’ sound, but unfortunately, the same artistic flare is hard to come by.
3. Taylor Swift Baby Taylor TS-BT Travel Acoustic Guitar
The Taylor Swift Baby Taylor (TSBT) is a travel acoustic guitar released in collaboration with Taylor Guitars in 2009. Swift used the original Baby Taylor extensively during her early career, writing songs in the back of her car.
This signature model reflects those memories with a 3/4-sized Dreadnought body, solid Sitka spruce top, and sapele laminate back and sides. The TS-BT is still widely available, and if you’re a diehard Swifty, this Taylor Swift strap is a must-have accessory to go alongside it!
4. Taylor GS6 Grand Symphony Acoustic Guitar

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The Taylor GS6 Grand Symphony Acoustic Guitar holds a special place in Taylor Swift’s setup.
Known for its warm tone, enhanced by Taylor’s Expression System pickups, it was the original Swarovski crystal-adorned acoustic. It featured in the “Our Song” music video and live performances of Fearless.
You can get the iconic Grand Symphony sound from the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany – albeit without the crystals.
5. Taylor T5 PRO
A 15-year-old Swift can be seen playing a Taylor T5 pro at the 2005 NAMM show. You can get a Taylor T5z Pro on our website for a Swift-style semi-acoustic experience.
As seen in folklore: the long pond studio sessions…
1959 Silvertone 604 Acoustic Guitar
Taylor Swift’s 1959 Silvertone 604 acoustic guitar is charmingly vintage. It has a warm, woody tone, ideal for the reflective mood of her folklore album. It’s seen in her Disney+ concert film, folklore: the long pond studio sessions, where she uses it for tracks like “the 1” and “seven.” The electronic version makes use of Fishman active EQ with a built-in tuner.
For a similar vintage folk experience, the Tanglewood TRU4CEAS is perfect.
Gibson Guitars
1. Gibson J-180

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The Gibson J-180 became part of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour setup, offering a dazzling update to her earlier crystal-covered Taylor GS6 from the Fearless era. Swift and her parents decorated this new guitar with over 5,000 Swarovski crystals, reviving the signature sparkle that defined her previous performances.
Swift also sports more subtle and sophisticated versions of the J-180. In her performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert, Swift uses one that’s finished in black. There are plenty of Epiphone J-180 models available, in three of the colours used by Swift too!
2. Gibson Hummingbird
Amongst all these heavily customised guitars that Taylor Swift uses, there’s one that you can get your hands on quite easily – the Gibson Hummingbird.
The Hummingbird uses LR Baggs VTC pickups like the J-180. You can find an Epiphone version of this guitar with the same Cherry Sunburst finish.
3. Gibson J-45
The Gibson J-45 has appeared in Swift’s renditions of “All Too Well”, where she used a stunning cherry-finished J-45. On The Eras Tour, Swift showcased custom versions, including a deep red and a black sparkle finish, both without pickguards.
Electrics
1. Gibson Les Paul Special SL Electric Guitar

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Taylor Swift’s Gibson Les Paul Special SL Electric Guitar is one of the most recognisable in her collection. It has featured prominently in her Fearless, Speak Now, and Red tours – and it’s certainly a striking instrument on stage.
With P-90 pickups, the guitar delivers warm, vintage tones with a hint of grit. Swift’s model is highly customised, featuring a sparkling, beaded finish.
The closest you can get to Swift’s Special is with the Gibson Les Paul Special in Vintage Cherry.
2. Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar
The Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar shows Swift’s incredible range, with custom Bare Knuckle pickups that make this guitar the perfect tool to explore a vast variety of sounds and genres.
You’ll see the Jag featured in her performance of “Wildest Dreams” at the Grammy Museum and in a rock-tinged rendition of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. Better still, you can find the Marr guitar on our website if you want to replicate the more aggressive sound heard in this performance.
Taylor Swift’s amps
1. Yamaha THR5 Desktop Guitar Combo Amp
Swift’s Yamaha THR5 Desktop Guitar Combo Amp is her go-to for quiet practice or solo songwriting sessions.
It’s great for accommodating Swift’s varied style – anything from country and folk to harder pop/rock-orientated style.
2. Yamaha THR10II
The Yamaha THR10II amp was used by Swift during the writing of folklore, as we can see in folklore: the long pond studio sessions.
This compact amp paired with her Silvertone guitar played a subtle yet essential role in crafting the album’s folksy sound.
Taylor Swift’s effects
Throughout her varied discography, Swift uses a variety of effects.
For example, in The Tortured Poets Department, she uses an array of synth sounds, creating the synth-pop vibe of the whole album. If you want to capture a similar sound on your guitar, the Boss SY-1 guitar/bass synthesiser pedal gives you 121 synth voices to get that modern Swift sound.
Another effect used by Swift on songs like “Mirrorball” is reverb. The Gamechanger LIGHT pedal replicates the ethereal, ambient sound heard on this track. You can have tonnes of fun with this pedal, it really captures the nostalgic feel of the folklore album, all while using a real spring for an authentic spring reverb sound.

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FAQs
Which guitars does Taylor Swift use?
Taylor Swift is known for her use of steel-string acoustic guitars. Her most used guitar brands include:
- Taylor Guitars – Swift has used these guitars since the beginning of her career
- Gibson – using models such as the Hummingbird, J-180, and J-45
How many guitars does Taylor Swift own?
Taylor Swift owns over 100 different guitars. Some of the main guitars she uses are heavily customised and incredibly rare. Honourable mentions include the Gibson J-180, which is often in a finish matching Swift’s outfit on stage and the Taylor 24ce Grand Auditorium, which is often left on display for the audience.
How old was Taylor Swift when she got a guitar?
Taylor Swift can be seen opening her first guitar on Christmas day of 1997 when she was eight years old. However, Swift didn’t fully embrace learning guitar until she was 12 years old when she began attending lessons.
Final thoughts
Taylor Swift continues to be one of the most influential artists of the 21st century, creating a myriad of critically acclaimed albums that span everything from country and pop to more sombre folk. Whether you’re a Swifty or not, there’s no denying that her guitars are pretty cool.
If you’re super passionate about gear and guitars, hopefully, this article has given you a good overview of some of the most iconic instruments in the industry. And sound aside, they also look pretty striking!
If seeing Taylor Swift’s guitar collection has motivated you to pick up an acoustic guitar, our picks of the best acoustics are a great place to start. Or, if you’re an avid Swifty, check out how to set up your own Long Pond-inspired studio! To read about other influential female artists, here are 48 female music icons that have shaped the industry.
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