KEN TAYLor and his signature Acoustic Basses
Ken Taylor was born in the early 1950s in London to Jamaican parents. By the age of 14, he began his musical career, playing in studios and on stage for well-known artists, like John Mayall, Jelly Bread and Jimmy Cliff. Over his career he espanded his impressive reportoire with musicians such as Brian May of Queen, the boss Bruce Springsteen, Robert Palmer, B.B. King, Keb' Mo', Joe Bonamassa, and Rio Reiser, to name just a few. These early experiences strengthened his musical talent and passion for the bass.
He moved to Germany in the late 70s. Here he is especially known for his longstanding collaboration with Peter Maffay. Since 1993, he has been a core member of the Peter Maffay Band, taking part in all live and studio sessions. Peter Maffay has sold over 40 million records and brought in over 700,000 attendees on a single tour, with up to 120,000 at individual concerts.
What counts for him is having fun and passion while playing. However he has worked with countless top musicians and has been in the business for decades, he doesn’t focus on self-promotion or to put himself in the spotlight. For him, it’s not about clicks or followers—his love for music always comes first.
For 14 years - from day one - all money from the royalties of his Ortega signature acoustic basses Ken gives to charity. The amount is rounded up by Ortega. Projects like “Ein Herz für Kinder,” a water well in Tanzania or “Doctors Without Borders” already received over 25,000 euros. His music, instruments, and charity work make him a well-respected and honored musician.
lightweight design with a powerful sound
The new Ken Taylor signature basses come in different types: the Short Scale Bass “Walker,” a medium 4-string, and a long scale 5-string bass. These models give musicians a choice of great sound and unique design.
People usually think an acoustic bass needs a large, deep body for a full sound. However, we surprised Ken with a design of a Thinline acoustic bass. Ken was impressed by how easy it was to play and the rich, full tone the thinner body produced. The modern 'reversed headstock' is a special touch that hints at the Neue Deutsche Welle era, where Ken Taylor played an important and essential part.
