Taylor 214ce Acoustic Guitar Review 2023

The Taylor 200 series is just packed full of value! This is why guitar players have fallen in love with it, especially with the modest pricing. The design, build techniques, and tone of the 214ce are that of a premium acoustic guitar.

The 214ce is one of Taylor’s most popular and best-selling guitars. This is because of its wonderful sound, playability, and construction. My first impression of playing the guitar was excellent, and I couldn’t put it down. I was immediately impressed with the level of comfort and tone that I found upon the first strum.

Features

Let’s take a look at some key features of the Taylor 214ce Acoustic guitar.

• Sitka spruce wood top.
• Back and sides are layered Koa.
• Sapele wood neck.
• African ebony wood finger board.
• Grand auditorium body with cutaway.
• 25.5 inch scale with 20 frets.
• Electronics included.

Who Is The 214ce For?

This is a workhorse of an acoustic guitar and can fit many roles. We found that it’s a very well-rounded tone. With an enhanced brightness, perfect for finger pickers. But it doesn’t stop here.

This acoustic can be used for most music styles and is suggested for musicians who play:

• Country.
• Folk.
• Rock.
• Indie.

But it’s worth trying it for your project. The built-in electronics can also provide a wider range of sounds. This makes this one versatile acoustic guitar.

It’s a well-made acoustic built for studio, stage, and home use. You can rest assured that it can handle what you can throw at it. If you are a beginner, student, or even a pro player, this guitar has a great tone and is quite beautiful!

Body Construction

The body is Taylor’s own Grand Auditorium design and is brilliant. From immense sound to incredible comfort, this acoustic can fill many roles. Consequently, this shape provides a powerful lower register and a very large mid-range. The Sitka spruce top provides a very sparkling top end that is not piercing but just right!

The Venetian cutaway is standard on all CE models and makes it easier to get farther up the neck with ease! Though, the tonal properties of layered wood are not as complex as solid. But this method allows for a durable, attractive acoustic at a more inviting price. Which is why we find layered Koa back and sides.

Layered woods also handle humidity fluctuations. Depending on your climate and whether the acoustic travels with you, this can be an added benefit. The body is finished in a beautiful gloss. We can also find white binding, to make this one good-looking acoustic guitar!

The Taylor 214ce also comes in 3 different colors and finishes:

• Natural.
• Black.
• Sunburst.

So if you are not quite a fan of the natural finish, there are other options that might better fit your look.

Neck and Headstock

For the neck, we find a patented Taylor design made from Sapele wood. This is a common design found on many Taylor guitars to help with intonation and stability. This robust design assists in keeping the acoustic tuned for long periods of time.

But it also provides an incredibly comfortable neck. It’s a great experience for the player. The neck is a 25.5″ scale and features an African ebony fingerboard with a 1.7-inch wide nut. I found the neck to be easy to play and is slim in profile.

There are 20 frets on the board and some standard dot inlays to help find the right notes.

Hardware

Taylor did not hold back when adding hardware to this guitar! While the tuners are more or less generic, they feel great and are smooth when operating. Taylor has also loaded their ES2 pickup system into the guitar. It captures the natural sound wonderfully.

This, behind the saddle pickup design, are sensors that make contact with the bridge. In addition to this, we also find phase and volume control. We can really fine-tune the sound for optimal performance. The controls felt of good quality and have a good range of change.

Some other honorable mentions are the Tusq nut and Micarta saddle. These are materials found in lower-priced acoustic guitars, but offer great performance. It isn’t quite bone, but not far off either! When it comes to the tone they produce, it’s very hard to tell them apart.

Sound Performance

Now that we know a bit about the guitar and its build, let’s touch on the Taylor 214ce sound! I mean, that’s why you are here, right?

This acoustic is a brighter-sounding guitar, which is a result of a spruce top. This is perfect for fingerpicking and is no wonder it’s chosen for the task. I found the guitar to have a good amount of low-end response and had a pretty balanced sound overall.

The sound was everything we like in an acoustic and presented well in the room. The volume was on point, and it also had a decent amount of sustain, which was nice. These traits are a result of good bracing inside the body. In this case, Taylor has the center of the X bracing closer to the sound hole, which lets the lower bout flex more.

Taylor’s included electronic pickup system is very natural sounding. It’s probably one of the best available today. Their philosophy was to catch the natural sound of the acoustic, and they did that well!

Players who are just getting started will be well-equipped for many years! This is a great guitar to learn on thanks to the sound and ease to play.

Playability

Well, what can we say, it’s a Taylor! The action on this guitar is great, which makes it almost fluid-like to play. The Venetian cutaway is also a super nice addition. The ebony fingerboard just feels wonderful! The neck profile is also very comfortable and should fit most hand sizes well.

The body shape is very comfortable which is nice and the sound jumps off of the guitar. You can feel the guitar resonate in your lap. This enhances the experience, making it quite enjoyable.

Taylor At The NAMM Show

This was one busy guitar at the NAMM show! Being played almost all the time. We were able to grab this picture quickly between our chance to play it and the next attendee! If you have ever been to NAMM, you know that the Taylor booth is always packed!

Final Thoughts

While the Taylor 214ce acoustic is on the higher end of the price point, it’s an amazing value! The build and design of this guitar are hard to beat! The experience of a well-known brand really shines on this guitar, and once you play it, you will see what I mean. It’s very hard to put down this guitar, as the sound and feel are simply amazing.

Beginners and experienced players who own this guitar agree that it’s something special. I, too, agree that it’s one of those guitars that every player should have in their arsenal.

You just cannot go wrong here! And so I rate this guitar as a 9 out of 10 in this price category!

Similar Guitars To Consider

Yamaha A3M

The Yamaha A3M is another excellent option that has a great, big and bold sound. It’s also well-balanced and loud. It has a great classic look to it and a rigid construction. The one thing that sticks out here is that it also comes with electronics. This makes it a very versatile acoustic guitar!

Martin GPC-X2E

Martin also makes some amazing acoustic guitars and is pretty much a household name. The GPC-X2E is an excellent alternative that produces a darker yet balanced sound. It also comes with great-sounding electronics. Martin guitars are made to last forever and judging by how this one feels, I can believe it!