Taylor 314 CE

Every guitar has a story, and I love this one the most because it opened up many new relationships for me.

Soon after moving to England, I was given some money to buy a new guitar. I travelled to Birmingham and bought the best acoustic I could afford with the cash - a Yamaha CPX. I had my sights set on a Taylor, but that was way out of my price range.

Fast forward 5 years, and a guy called Larry Randolph was at our church doing a prophetic conference. He was brilliantly funny and had a powerful message. We started talking about music, he said that he used to be a guitarist but that arthritis had hindered his playing and now his guitar was just hanging on his wall. I asked what guitar it was - a Taylor! I think I mumbled out "Man, I'd love a Taylor."

In the evening meeting that night, mid-way through his message, Larry stopped preached and pointed at me and said "Hey you, worship guy, God told me to give you my Taylor. I said if God would remind me during the message then I would do it - and He just reminded me! Brian Johnson used to use that Taylor, and I'm giving it to you prophetically because God is going to upgrade you - spiritually and musically! But here's the deal, you need to give me your guitar in exchange so that I still have something to hang on my wall to remind me that I used to play!"

What a night!

4 weeks later the Taylor arrived from the states and I was the happiest man ever. It wasn't just an amazing tone, but a whole new sound which inspired new songs.

Brian Johnson and his wife Jenn were advertised as leading worship at a youth conference at Bath City Church. I loved his worship leading style and sound as well as his song writing, and now I had an excuse to go and meet him! We travelled down to Bath and arrived early to hear a sound check (I always do - you get to learn so much by watching). I went up on the stage when they were done and introduced myself as "the guy who has Larry's Taylor which you used to play"!

Up until then I still hadn't fulfilled my side of the deal. I looked at posting the Yamaha over to Larry but it was so expensive. I told Brian about it, he suggested that if it cost that much, why don't I fly over with the guitar to Redding and hang out with them, Larry was often at Bethel and could pick it up from there. The crazy thing is that it cost the same amount to fly myself to the states as it would've to post the guitar. Needless to say I was in Redding in a month. A gift opens a way!