Taylor 814ce Acoustic Guitar

The Taylor Acoustic guitars are the very best around without paying five times the price. I compared many different guitars but the moment I picked this one up it was a noticeable step above the rest. Now it is my constant companion and has given me many years of joy. Read on and I will break down the different aspects of the Taylor 814ce. If you are looking to buy one yourself this may answer some questions you have!

In my rundown of my Taylor Solid Body Electric guitar I mention the similarities in the neck profile. As they are very similar, swapping between the two feels great. Do you swap between different guitars? If you are (and especially on stage) then having guitars that compliment each-other is very worth considering.

Finally a less talked about technology in the taylor guitar necks. How they are built not to warp. Have you looked down a guitar’s neck to see it is perfect until the 14th fret at which point it suddenly angles? Well the way in which these guitars are built is meant to prevent this from happening. You can read Taylor’s own article and get all the info on how their necks are made to avoid this. This makes them more resilient and helps them last for many years longer.

The main selling point with most Taylor acoustic guitars is their quality of sound. This can be looked at from two angles: their acoustic sound without amplification, and the sound out of the speakers.

It is important to remember when buying a guitar that it is designed and built with a purpose in mind. You would not look for a sports car with a focus on off road or luggage space. In the same way guitars tent to be built to focus on an amplified or acoustic sound.

The main difference you will see here is guitars that are meant to be played unplugged will generally need to make a louder and fuller sound on their own. The drawback is this can lead to some issues with feedback when plugged in as a result.

To me this guitar is definitely at its best when amplified and is amazing in large performances. But when not plugged the sound is a little less inspiring, though still not in the least disappointing. In my case a good sound when amplified is key as this is essential for recordings and performances. Whatever your preference it is a good question to keep in mind when looking to buy.

This brings me to the pickup systems used by Taylor. You cannot hope for a better amplified sound through these electronics! It carries all the tones and range of sound without getting the tinny and thin sound of most acoustic pickups. This means you have the quality of sound you would expect from a professional studio mic the moment you plug in. Combined with the build for minimum feedback means is it the leading acoustic guitar for performances. From small venues to stadiums this guitar’s pickups are flawless.

The system has to sensors. One under the neck just above the soundhole, the other on the lower bout. They both pick-up vibrations from the soundboard wood which is what gives the full sound. They are a breakthrough in tone as well as minimising feedback letting you turn up the volume with less worry!

Now Taylor has upgraded to the Expression System 2 which you can read details about straight from them. This system works slightly differently but the crux of the sound and quality is similar.

This photo is from an awesome gig in London. It was a small venue to test out the set but ended up being the most memorable.

This guitar has a neutral and slick look that combines both traditional aspects of acoustic guitars with a modern simplicity. So it does not really matter what image and branding you or your group has, this guitar will fit.

The controls are as tidy as you can get and fretboard inlays show off the quality without being overstated.

If I had to pick some things that I would like to see or that can be improved on this guitar it would be the cable/battery unit.

Firstly at the battery is a very tight fit a few brands or batteries do not fit in the battery housing. A few millimetres bigger and some foam to stop rattle would easily solve this. This other issue is that as the strap connects around the input this cannot be changed out for a strap lock to make it more secure on stage. Though these points do not take away from the quality or sound of the guitar some easy design changes here would make a big difference.

So there you have it! A stunning guitar that is a joy to both play and tour with! I would generally recommend Taylor guitars as their quality and sound are without doubt exceptional. Want to hear about my Taylor Solid Body Electric? Find out how it compares with another detailed look