Taylor 214ce Rosewood Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar

96
GEARANK

96 out of 100. Incorporating 500+ ratings and reviews.

Street Price: 

$1,099
Taylor 214ce Rosewood Grand Auditorium

Gearank High Notes

Taylor 214ce: Highest Rated Acoustic-Electric Guitar from $750 to $1000 - 2022.08

Gearank Recommended

Cons

  • A bit too crispy / trebly
  • Bass is somewhat lacking

Pros

  • Clear and articulate mids and highs
  • Transparent and natural sound when amplified
  • Superb build quality
  • Good acoustic projection

Taylor is well-reputed for premium quality instruments. And the 214ce Rosewood showcases what the company is all about. It combines high build quality with a clear and trebly tone.

It features a solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood for the back and sides, all of which form its Grand Auditorium body profile. This shape is based on the classic dreadnought but with a narrower waist and a sleek Venetian cutaway.

This configuration gives it a distinct overall appearance. And it produces good acoustic projection with Taylor's trademark "zing." This familiar zing has highly articulate mid and treble frequencies. Personally, I'm not a fan of trebly tone, mostly because it usually impacts bass negatively. But if you are into crisp, bright acoustic tones, then this is a perfect fit.

Note: There is a Layered Koa body version of this guitar, go here to see our ratings for it: Taylor 214ce-K 2019 Model.

This Taylor guitar comes equipped with the Taylor Expression System 2. It utilizes piezo crystals positioned alongside the saddle instead of pressed under. This results in a transparent and natural-sounding amplified tone. It allows Taylor acoustics to still sound like themselves when plugged in. For Taylor guitars, electronics are not just an afterthought. Rather the pickup system is tweaked to perfectly fit their brand of tone.

Everything about the 214ce screams quality, from wood quality to neck setup to string action and aesthetic details. And this is the reason why you won't read many complaints about the premium price tags of Taylor guitars.

While not cheap, the 214ce is accessible enough to be an entryway into the world of high-end acoustic guitars.

Specifications

  • Body Shape: Grand Auditorium
  • Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
  • Body: Rosewood
  • Finish: Satin Natural
  • Bridge: Ebony
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Neck Profile: Not Specified
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Radius: 15"
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.6875"
  • Electronics: Taylor ES-2 (Active - requires a 9V battery)

Rating Source Highlight

Website Source *Rating Value
YouTube Acoustic Letter 98/100
*Displayed values are prior to the Gearank Algorithm's adjustments it makes when evaluating the source.