With the Taylor 814ce V-Class acoustic guitar, the U.S. manufacturer from San Diego in California presents the flagship of its all-solid Grand Concert models, which offers not only diverse sound characteristics, but also extremely pleasant playing comfort. Equipped with a V-Class bracing, which allows the Sitka spruce top to vibrate in two dimensions, the guitar has a fast response and clean intonation across the entire tonal spectrum. Further highlights are the radius-style rosewood armrest, the Taylor Expression System 2 pickup system and the smoked nickel tuners, so that the instrument is perfectly equipped for every situation and the player gets his money's worth. The package includes a brown Taylor deluxe hardshell case.
For a maximum sound experience, the manufacturer uses the wood of the Californian Sitka spruce for the top construction, which produces both defined midrange and fine treble frequencies. Supported by a cleverly designed V-Class bracing, the top is set into a two-dimensional vibration with every strike, which means that every note can unfold quickly and sustainably in all registers. This phenomenon is further enhanced by a paper-thin finish and a light construction, making the instrument suitable for fingerstyle, or light strumming. Bordered by a maple binding with a rosewood edge trim, the evenly grained top wood is perfectly highlighted and contrasts tastefully with the other materials of the body. Matching the fine inlays and the high-quality single-ring soundhole rosette, the top is equipped with a generous rosewood pickguard that gives the instrument an individual touch.
To enrich the sound with lush bass frequencies and the necessary volume, the back and sides are made of a coarsely grained rosewood. The fine tropical wood also ensures a fast response and allows the individual notes to resonate long in the overtones. The opened back is separated by a maple backstripe, which discreetly emphasises the symmetry of the grain. Delicate maple bindings separate the back of the 814ce from the rounded sides and provide a subtle visual contrast to the dark rosewood. The thin varnish also plays a crucial role in the back and sides, as it allows for perfect sound development even with the lightest touches. In this way, the medium-sized Grand Auditorium design turns out to be a true all-rounder that can be used in many areas and is still comfortable to hold.
For a particularly accommodating playability of the Taylor 814ce, the manufacturer relies on a flat neck construction made of mahogany with an ebony fingerboard that, in combination with a nut width of 44,5 mm, provides a perfect and clean grip in all 20 frets. Made of black GraphTech TUSQ, the nut is perfectly adapted to the compensated bridge inlay made of Micarta, so that the 814ce, supported by the V-Class bracing, intonates perfectly over the entire scale length of 648 mm. The characteristic headstock is equipped with slot-head tuners, which on the one hand guarantee precise tuning of the 6 steel strings and on the other hand perfectly match the elaborate Element fretboard inlays and round off the instrument's value. The guitar is completed with an original Expression System-2, which also amplifies the acoustic sound and reproduces it in a very natural way.
Electro-acoustic acoustic guitar
Grand auditorium shape with cutaway
Full solid construction with armrest
Sitka spruce top with maple binding and rosewood edge trim
Flared rosewood body with maple backstripe
V-Class bracing and Gloss 4.5 finish
Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and element abalone inlays
44,5 mm wide nut made of black GraphTech TUSQ
Micarta compensated bridge inlay
Taylor Expression System 2
Smoked nickel tuners
Case included