Taylor 814CE Grand Auditorium Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

California born and bred Taylor guitars are something of a newcomer to the guitar world. In their 35 years of existence (a relatively short amount of time, considering the Methuselaic lifespan of most of their competitors) Taylor has established themselves as one of the preeminent names in acoustic guitar design, and more recently have made their presence felt in the electric guitar market as well. The Taylor 814CE, an acoustic-electric powerhouse, combines their years of experience and expertise with the finest woods and construction techniques available to create an instrument worthy of literally any stage or studio.

A Feature Set to Fill the Auditorium
Taylor guitars are known for their outstanding clarity, projection, construction, and careful selection of tone woods, and the 814CE delivers on all fronts. It might not even need to be said, but this guitar is all solid wood from top to bottom. With Indian Rosewood back and sides, a Sitka Spruce top, tropical American Mahogany neck, and an Ebony fretboard and bridge, this Taylor is capable of complex, harmonically rich, yet ultimately accessible tones no matter what your flavor of acoustic music.

This guitar is designed with what is known as the Grand Auditorium body shape. Similar to that of a Dreadnought, the Grand Auditorium combines the brilliance inherent to the Dreadnought with a slightly narrower waist, adding a sheen and treble contour perfect for the fingerpickers out there, yet alternately capable of medium-to-high-intensity strumming. The Venetian cutaway allows unfettered access to each of the 20 frets for all of the lead players out there, and the combination of high-stability Taylor tuners with Tusq nut and saddle means you will sound in tune and stay in tune, all the time.

To call this guitar a looker would be an extreme understatement. The natural wood is tastefully finished in a lustrous gloss for both a high-sheen knockout look and extreme durability to combat every guitarists' nightmare-- cold-checking, or "crazing" as it is sometimes known (a series of fine cracks in the finish caused by extreme temperature fluctuation). A soundhole adorned by an Abalone rosette, bound body, and Pearl 800 Series fretboard inlays are but the icing on an already tasty cake. Finally, Taylor saw fit to string up this guitar with Elixir Nanowebs and include a deluxe Taylor Hardshell case for everlasting tonal clarity and protection.

Expressive Expression
Designed in partnership with the incomparable Rupert Neve (known best for his epochal Neve recording consoles and preamps), the 814CE's on board electronics/pickup, referred to as the Expression System (or Taylor ES for short), capture your guitar's nuance and touch unlike anything else on the market. Use it to color your tone for pleasing acoustic warmth, or simply to accurately reproduce your instruments tone, albeit much louder. You won't believe what you're hearing--in the best way possible.

Loyal Legions of Legendary Licksmen
It's interesting to note that even though Taylor does not pay artists to endorse and use their instruments, a veritable legion of guitarists both young and old have taken up the Taylor banner. Artists include Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Bryan Adams, Hall & Oates, Jewel, Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Mike Keneally, and Paul Westerberg, just to name a few.

Perennially one of the most popular models, the exquisite 814ce brings together the unmistakeable tone of rosewood, classic Taylor styling, and the versatility of a Grand Auditorium body, plus adds a cutaway and Expression System electronics to complete the perfect picking package.

Grand Size
The Grand Auditorium size combines the width and depth of a Dreadnought with a narrower waist. Its sleek design yields a strong treble zing across the tonal spectrum and sharpens the definition of individual notes. The Grand Auditorium is a strong fingerpicking guitar that also adapts well to medium strumming.

Express Yourself
Designed to faithfully reproduce your guitar's native tone, the Expression System utilizes patented dynamic sensors to capture top and string vibration like never before. Created in partnership with renowned audio pioneer, Mr. Rupert Neve, the Taylor ES is seamlessly integrated into the design of the guitar from the ground up. Onboard tone controls provide added flavor, or set flat for an uncolored, exceptionally clean amplified sound.

A Great Finish
The finish used to create this guitar's lustrous gloss top, back, and sides was developed at Taylor for maximum durability and resistance to cold-checking. This ultra violet-cured finish is also more environmentally friendly than traditional lacquer finishes.

Technical Info

Type/Shape: 6-String Grand Auditorium

Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood

Top: Sitka Spruce

Soundhole Rosette: Abalone

Neck: Tropical American Mahogany

Fretboard: Ebony

Fretboard Inlay: Pearl 800 Series

Headstock Overlay: Indian Rosewood

Binding: White Plastic

Bridge: Ebony

Nut & Saddle: Tusq

Tuning Machines: Gold-plated Taylor Tuners with Ebonoid Buttons

Strings: Elixir Light Gauge Strings with Nanoweb Coating

Scale Length: 25-1/2 in.

Truss Rod: Adjustable

Neck Width at Nut: 1-3/4 in.

Number of Frets: 20

Bracing: Scalloped, X-Brace

Finish: Gloss

Cutaway: Venetian

Electronics: Taylor Expression System

Body Width: 16 in.

Body Depth: 4-5/8 in.

Body Length: 20 in.

Overall Length: 41 in.

Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell

A fingerpicker's dream guitar! Cutaway Grand Auditorium shape with a solid Sitka spruce top. Indian rosewood back and sides for a perfect balance of warmth and individual note definition. The Expression System makes it sound great plugged-in, too. Abalone rosette; intricate pearl inlays on the bound fretboard. Includes case.