The 814ce is one of Taylor's flagship models, and it offers a refined blend of craftsmanship, tone, and player-focused design. Combining the versatile Grand Auditorium body with fine tonewoods, this model is known for a well-balanced, expressive sound. The Dlx version features upscale appointments, such as Maple binding, a Rosewood pickguard, and intricate mother-of-pearl inlays that add sophistication and class.
This 814ce Dlx was made in 2017, so it precedes the more recent V-Class architecture. Instead, it features Taylor’s older advanced Performance Bracing design, which is more akin to the traditional X-bracing of classic American-made flattops. In the Grand Auditorium body side, the result is a nice dynamic range with good response and sustain. Built with a solid Sitka spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides, its voice is rich, and articulate with nice balance and note separation. Equally at home for fingerstyle as it is for a pick or heavy strumming, this 2017 814ce Dlx won't disappoint—a beautifully expressive and versatile playing experience, regardless of your playing style.
This 2017 Taylor 814ce Dlx show some minor play wear, and there are a few small scuffs on the top near the edge of the pickguard (see photos). The setup is very low and inviting, and the original Gotoh 510 tuning machines keep everything honest and in line. The 25-1/2" scale and 1-3/4" nut provide familiar dimensions, while Taylor’s neck design and smooth fretwork make the guitar easy to play up and down the fingerboard. With Taylor's ES2 electronics under the hood, this 814ce Dlx is ready for the stage or the studio. It includes its original hardshell case, which has one broken case latch.
A well-rounded acoustic with enough refinement for serious fingerstyle work but plenty of punch for strumming, this 2017 Taylor 814ce Dlx is a versatile easy player with a lot to offer. The Grand Auditorium is a particularly useful body shape for a player who wants one guitar to cover a lot of ground, and the cutaway gives you unfettered access to explore. The pre-V-Class bracing lends a slightly different response than later examples, with a familiar Taylor balance between a clear, immediate attack and a full, resonant body.