Taylor 614CE Grand Auditorium Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

Feature:
No accessories included.

Quality:
Beautifully made. Natural finish with maple sides and back are gorgeous. Binding and inlays are very well done. Would be a 10 but for the problem described below.

Value:
Once you figure discounts that most dealers provide, it is well worth the money.

Desirability:
This is a fine looking guitar. People always ask questions about it.

Sound:
I use this guitar for performing. It has a beautiful warm, natural sound, thanks in part to the Expression Pickup System. Not as bright sounding as Takamine or Ovation guitars. The Expression system allows lots of flexibility with sound contours. Traditional piezo pickups sound harsh the harder you play. Not so with this pickup. Neck is superb. Stays in tune. It may not quite sound as rich as a Martin but it's close.

Support:
I have found the company to be somewhat arrogant. When I first got the guitar I called the consumer line (as they suggest if you have a comment) just to suggest that they look at the strap nut on the back of the guitar. It is integrated with the battery compartment for the pickup system. It is very "narrow" with little space for clearance of a strap of traditional thickness. Could have a tendency to slip off. Company rep acted like I was an idiot for even questioning something like this. After all the guitar is made and engineered by Taylor. A couple months after getting the guitar and during a sound check with my band, the pickup system was causing enough noise and gain that I had to use another guitar. When I took it back to the dealer they called the factory and were for the first time informed that some of the first Expression Systems had defective circuitry. The dealer was unhappy with Taylor for not informing them and I was as well because if put me in a real bind not to mention I'm ready to play a big gig with my new $3000 guitar and can't use it. Guitar was shipped back to Taylor and they replaced the circuit free of charge but when I wrote to the company about why they wouldn't tell customers and dealers about this, they just blew me off and I never heard from them.

Feature:
the electronics in this guitar are excelent and nothing short of perfect. you can change tone at your fingure tips with the greatest of ease.

Sound:
the best sound and qualaty you could ever ask for out of your guitar. there is not a single thing that I would change. to me it is absolutely perfect.