Taylor 114ce

Type/Shape - 6-String Grand Auditorium
Back & Sides - Sapele Laminate
Top - Sitka Spruce
Soundhole Rosette - Plastic
Neck - Tropical American Mahogany
Fretboard - Indian Rosewood
Fretboard Inlay - Large Pearl Dots
Headstock Overlay - Indian Rosewood
Binding - Black Plastic
Bridge - Indian Rosewood
Nut & Saddle - Tusq
Tuning Machines - Enclosed, Die-Cast Chrome Plated
Truss Rod - Adjustable
Neck Width at Nut - 1 11/16 Inches
Number of Frets - 20
Fretboard Radius - 15 Inches
Bracing - Standard II (Forward Shifted Pattern W/Relief Rout)
Finish - Varnish
Color - Natural
Cutaway - Venetian

UTILIZATION

I took my cousin guitar shopping for his first acoustic the other day. He had a grand to spend. Wanted something good because he already knows how to play and asked me to help him pick out his first "real acoustic."

I noticed the 114ce was tagged at about $900. Immediately I also noticed how nice it felt. In fact, I own a few very nice Taylors and was surprised how similar this "low end" model felt. To be honest if I closed my eyes, I probably wouldn't be able to feel the difference. Sure, woods being used are different. But this 114 has the same construction and electronics system as an 814ce for goodness sake. That's pretty funny to me. Yes I am aware that the lower end ones have a different laminate finish. And that's all fair and good.

Anyway this thing plays great, and that was the primary reason we picked it over the other guitars in this price range. It feels incredible for a cheaper guitar.

SOUNDS

I won't lie. It is a bit brighter and more harsh than say, a 514ce model. However I will say that I put it up against a 314 model and I actually felt the 114 was better sounding and my cousin agreed. This is just the reality of acoustics. Some sound better than others and you have to use your ears regardless of the tag price. The 114 is not the sweetest GA shape in terms of sound. It can be a little rough around the tonal edges at time. But it sounded better than the 2 grand Gibsons we played.

OVERALL OPINION

I think we got it out the door for 8 hundred plus tax and such. Pretty ridiculous deal if you ask me. Needed some minor truss adjustment. Nothing serious. Actually it's a great guitar in terms of build. Every bit as good as my favorite taylor, which is a 526 ltd. This guitar is a value all its own. I can't figure out how Taylor can afford to make something like this for well under a grand. Props to them.

(Originally written by jetlag/translated from Audiofanzine FR)

Hello everybody. I'm surprised to be the first to write a review about this Taylor 114CE! What a responsibility! As usual, this is only my personal opinion. It's my first impression and I will update it in a few months.

It's a Taylor 114 CE (venetian grand auditorium with cutaway) made in Mexico. It has 20 frets, a sitka top and laminated sapele back and sides. Mahogany neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Chrome machine heads. Natural and satin finish.
Great Taylor ES-T preamp with three controls (vol/low/high). Provided with an elegant and well-made gig bag. I think it will get dirty really fast since it's light beige.
The packaging is good and contains lots of protection for the guitar. For the price, I do regret the lack of a hard case, even a low-budget one couldn't cost more then the included soft gig bag!
The guitar is very light and the top shows tiny wood imperfections which enhance the woody character without detracting from the overall aesthetics. The finish is perfect. I observed every inch of the guitar without finding the smallest imperfection.
The action and overtones of the guitar were perfectly adjusted.
So it's a serious product in the low-budget price range!
I give it 8/10 because it has no hard case.

UTILIZATION

- Is the neck comfortable? Yes but I have many guitars so I can easily adapt myself to different necks. This one is rather slim and pleasant. The fret work is good and the hand slides without a problem.
- Is the access to the upper frets easy? The cutaway makes it easy but it's still an electro-acoustic guitar, meaning you'll play more ballads than wild distortion solos, so it's not really that important.
- Is the instrument ergonomic (body shape, weight...)?
Yes the overall ergonomics are good. The guitar is very light and the neck is pleasant but I haven't played it standing. The body shaping is comfortable and it honors the Taylor legend...

SOUNDS

- Do they fit your music style?
Pop, rock, power ballads, finger picking, folk... Yes, I bought it for that reason. I can't actually say that it's a blues guitar (perhaps later in the review update...)

- Which amp(s) or effect(s) do you use it with?
I plug it directly into the desk with a slight reverb effect! It sounds great!

- What kind of sounds do you get and which settings do you use ("crystal-clear", "fat", ...)?
Now we are getting serious: The powerful preamp provides a clear sound with well-balanced mids and a slightly weak low-end which you might need to boost with the knobs. The highs are ok.
The preamp has an impressive power compared to other guitars. It really makes a difference.

- Which sounds do you prefer / hate? Generally the guitar gives me the sound I expected for my music but I'm not sure if that would be the case for blues.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you been using it?
One week, that is about 5-6 actual playing hours!

- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
+++ Preamp sound / --- no hard case

- Did you try any other models before buying it?
I tested over 10 guitars in this price range from Yamaha, Takamine, Ibanez, Breedlove and Seagull.
- How would you rate its value for money?
The difference between this guitar and slightly cheaper ones is INCREDIBLE! I can imagine the sound of the high-class 600 Series!
It's without a doubt the main advantage of this guitar.

- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
At the present time, yes!

The taylor, does have built in Mexico!


The microphone is a taylor blues is (I think).
It's not complqius rglages levels, volume / bass / treble.

UTILIZATION

the handle is enjoyable trs, it is fine, soft, smooth, round one of taylor!

It is very well imbalances, they lean too much of a cot or the other really well!
yes, it was pretty simple!

Yes, both in pure sound, or plug in an amp, the sound is gnial!

SOUNDS

Yes, it is well suited to my style of play, they fit great, the bottleneck, blues, folk has at picking!
I get to have a soft, fat, and lens!
I'm on a peavey keyboard 3!

No!

OVERALL OPINION

I use a little depusi prs 4 months!
I ssayquelques ibanez, and a takamine, taient low, zero, not comfortable handle, a sound not that great!
I love everything about this guitar, its sleek look, its sound, in short, everything!
No!

Everything has been said before so I'll avoid reinventing the wheel

UTILIZATION

The handle is it nice?
The answer is in 3 letters: YES. The handle for electro is incredible, fine, soft to the touch, glide really well. It almost seems to play an electric.

Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)?
Again: Yes. This is only my opinion but I find the perfect level of grip and weight distribution. It does not look to one side or the other. It was well in hand.

Access to acute (last string) Is it easy?
Access is fairly easy even if it is not necessarily what are asked primarily to an acoustic.

Do you get a good sound easy? ...
The sound is amazing very clear, crystalline, love. It is quite far from its round and warm but not what I wanted.

SOUNDS

Are they suitable for your style of music?
Pop, Rock mainly

What kind of sound you get and with what settings ("crystalline", "fat ",....)?
As mentioned above very crisp and clear without needing to tweak the amp or guitar. The small downside is the lack of markings on the knobs. It's really to nitpick.

With what (s) amplifier (s) or effect (s) do you play?
Amp or so mostly without an Axe-FX and Atomic FR

OVERALL OPINION

I've had almost a year without having tried many models (about 3 or 4): Martin, Yamaha and Seagull.
I really chose Taylor (for the price already be honest) for the sharpness and the handle that really sellotape.

As stated in the previous opinion is incredible to think that it is an entry-level and I really want to try a more upscale model for comparison.