Electro acoustic guitar with cutaway, armrest and including case
Grand auditorium guitar
Solid construction with armrest
Adirondack spruce top in high-gloss black finish
Rosewood body in natural high-gloss finish
V-Class bracing
Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and abalone element inlays
44.5 mm wide nut and 648 mm scale length
Ebony bridge with Micarta saddle
Taylor Expression System 2
Machine heads in Antique gold
Case included
The Taylor Builder's Edition 814ce Blacktop at a glance
With the Builder's Edition 814ce Blacktop, the US manufacturer from San Diego in California presents the flagship of its all-solid Grand Auditorium models, which, in addition to its versatile sound characteristics, impresses with its extremely accommodating playability. Equipped with the patented Taylor V-Class bracing, which favors a two-dimensional vibration behavior of the Adirondack spruce top, the acoustic guitarAcoustic guitar: An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked, its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, resonating through the air in the body, and producing sound from the sound hole. The original, general term for this stringed instrument is guitar, and the retronym 'acoustic guitar' distinguishes it from an electric guitar, which relies on electronic amplification. In standard tuning, the guitar's six strings are tuned (low to high) E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4. The guitar likely originated in Spain in the early 16th century, deriving from the guitarra latina. has an almost attack and a clean intonation on the entire sound spectrum. Further highlights are the comfortable armrest and the Taylor Expression System 2 pickup system , so that the instrument is perfectly equipped for every situation and the player gets his money's worth. The scope of delivery includes a Taylor deluxe hardshell case.
Perfectly equipped with numerous specifications for a clean sound and comfortable playability
A spruce top in an elegant black finish with a rosewood pickguard.
Sitka spruce and V-Class bracing
For a maximum sound experience, the manufacturer uses Adirondackspruce wood for the top construction, which produces both defined mid-range and fine treble frequencies. Supported by the innovative V-Class bracing, the top is set into a two-dimensional vibration with every strike, which means that every note can develop quickly and sustainably in all registers. This phenomenon is further enhanced by a wafer-thin finish and lightweight construction, making the 814ce Blacktop suitable for fingerstyle and expressive strumming. Bordered by a single-ply binding, the elegant black high-gloss finish is perfectly accentuated and contrasts tastefully with the other materials of the body. Matched to the fine element inlays and the high-quality abalone single-ring soundhole rosette, the top is equipped with a generous rosewood pickguard that gives the instrument an individual touch.
Rosewood for powerful bass frequencies.
Rosewood for additional saturation
To enrich the sound with rich bass frequencies and the necessary volume, the back and sides are made from rough-grained rosewood. The fine tropical wood also provides an almost attack and allows the individual notes to fade out for a long time in the overtones. Delicate single-ply bindings separate the back of the Taylor 814ce Blacktop from the rounded sides and provide a subtle visual contrast to the dark rosewood. The thin lacquer also plays a key role in the back and sides, as it allows the sound to develop perfectly even with the lightest of touches. The medium-sized Grand Auditorium design thus turns out to be a true all-rounder that can be used in many areas and is still comfortable to hold.
The cutaway provides access to the high registers.
An incomparable playing comfort
For a particularly accommodating playability, Taylor relies on a flat neck construction made of mahogany with an ebony fingerboard. ebony fingerboardwhich, in combination with a nut width of 44.5 mm, can be gripped perfectly and cleanly in all 20 frets. Made from black GraphTech TUSQ, the nut is perfectly matched to the Micartabridge inlay so that the 814ce Blacktop intonates perfectly over the entire 648 mmscale length. The characteristic headstock is fitted with tuners in Antique gold, which guarantee precise tuning and also harmonize perfectly with the fine element fretboard inlays. The guitar is completed by the in-house Expression System 2, which also amplifies the acoustic sound in a very natural way.
The Taylor ES-2 is an absolute innovation.
Expression System 2
With the Expression System 2, Taylor presents a pickup design that truly revolutionizes the amplification of acoustic guitars. Three piezo elements pick up the signals from each pair of strings directly and thus transmit a completely unadulterated sound. Three controls allow the volume, bass and treble to be individually adjusted and optimally adapted to the ambient conditions and personal preferences. The knobs are discreetly mounted on the frame in the form of inconspicuous buttons and are therefore almost invisible.
Taylor - The epitome of the finest quality
As one of the largest guitar manufacturers, Taylor is a true authority in the production of first-class instruments. Professional production by trained specialists results in the finest products for life, whose value is always maintained - or even increases! This is due in equal part to the exquisite tonewoods, which do not warp due to long storage and selected quality and are therefore hard to beat in terms of high quality. Only spruce, mahogany, cedar or Koa of proven quality are used for the tops. Careful production in combination with the best materials does not only apply to guitars. Guitar bags and all accessories are also of first-class quality. Finally, a conscientious final inspection does not allow even the smallest defects to slip through and ensures absolutely flawless guitars before dispatch.
As if that were not enough, Taylor also attaches great importance to acting in an environmentally conscious manner.
Ebony & Koa: Sustainability at Taylor Guitars
Uncontrolled deforestation and overexploitation lead to massively endangered wood species that can no longer regenerate due to the high rate of extraction. These include ebony and koa in particular, whose dwindling stocks and the resulting ecological problems have prompted a rethink at Taylor Guitars.
Sustainable ebony cultivation in Cameroon
As ebony is particularly finger-friendly due to its hard, supple texture, it has long been the preferred choice for the production of fingerboards. Its attractive appearance is also extremely popular for bridges, headstock overlays, bridge Pins and Bindings. However, the high demand and the flourishing black market outstripped stocks, so that ebony ended up on the Red List of endangered species in 1994. In addition, only the deep black heartwood, which makes up only a fraction of the tree, was used, resulting in a disproportionately large amount of waste in production. To protect the forests, Taylor has been working with the Crelicam Wood Mill in Yaoundé, Cameroon, since 2011 to promote controlled consumption by processing waste products. Thus, Taylor guitars not only contain black ebony elements, but also the different coloured, more clearly grained parts of the tree. This complete recycling is an effective method of preserving the stocks and successfully counteracts their dramatic decline and the associated negative ecological effects.
"We need to use the ebony that the forest gives us" - Bob Taylor
In the video: Taylor Guitars - "The State of ebony"
Siglo Tonewoods Project
The koa acacia population has also suffered heavy losses over the last 20 years. Unsustainable forestry and overexploitation have led to a decline that can only be halted through proactive action and reforestation. This is why Taylor Guitars, together with Pacific Rim Tonewoods, founded the Siglo Tonewoods project, which aims to rebuild the Hawaiian jungle. This is a large cultivation area for koa acacia and other species, which enables the use of koa wood on a controlled scale.
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