Frequently described as Taylor’s flagship acoustic-electric, the abalone-adorned, spruce and rosewood 814ce has actually ended up being a contemporary classic, the supreme example of a grand auditorium cutaway for lots of guitar players. Surprisingly, it just recently got the Builder’s Edition treatment that master luthier Andy Powers has actually used to designs like the 324ce and 816ce recently.
That’s not the genuine surprise about the brand-new 814ce Builder’s EditionRather, what may capture some Taylor lovers off guard is that the guitar’s top is made not of the traditional 2 pieces, however 4– the very first time that the business has actually done this with spruce– a good relocation provided decreasing tonewood products.
I auditioned the Builder’s Edition and discovered the develop quality and products to be first-class, the playability exceptional from the very first fret to the 20th, and the sound compact in the low end, abundant in the mids, and smooth and velvety– instead of Taylor’s common intense and coppery– in the treble voice.
The Design and Build
Powers’ approach for the soundboard building is a type of doubled book-match– 4 pieces, instead of the single split set, sliced from the exact same piece of Adirondack spruce and accompanied timeless matching to keep the wood’s distinct I-beam grain. It’s worth keeping in mind that Adirondack spruce (aka red spruce), utilized in numerous classic steel-string guitars, is valued for its tightness and headroom, however Taylor and other big makers much more frequently construct with the Sitka range that is a lot easier to source nowadays.
The 814ce Builder’s Edition has other significant brand-new functions, consisting of a diagonal Venetian cutaway (echoing the armrest’s shape), antique gold Gotoh 510 tuning devices, and a tastefully subtle Kona edgeburst surface on the back and sides– all of that make for a striking variation on the timeless design. These are the sort of upgrades that, while including approximately $500 to the routine 814ce’s $4,000 price tag, are frequently seen on store instruments in the five-figure variety. Not remarkably originating from Taylor, the brand-new style is thoroughly understood. With its completely dressed worries; spot-on neck relief; outstanding action with no obvious buzzing; and tight, smooth joints and edges in every part of the instrument, the construct quality on the evaluation design is just unimpeachable.
Feel and Sonics
The neck sculpt on the 814ce Builder’s Edition is strikingly playable, with a completely light satin surface for smooth fretting-hand cruising. The 1-3/4– inch Tusq nut supports a string spacing broad enough for larger hands, and a really comfy 15-inch