Wonderful Sinker Cypress-topped One-off
Taylor's NAMM 2026 unveiling of its most impressive custom creations did not disappoint, as evidenced by the gorgeous 2026 Catch Custom #21 C14ce, available at Sweetwater. Taking the form of Taylor's fan-favorite V-Class-braced Grand Auditorium body style with a Venetian cutaway, this limited-edition C14ce employs a rare, musically unique personality. Its sinker top of old-growth cypress matched in impressive sonic disposition by East Indian rosewood back and sides presents a warm, shimmery, overtone-rich, and dynamically versatile instrument that'll sound incredible anywhere you play it. Fine Hawaiian koa accents emerge with elegance across the binding and the headstock inlay, as well as with ebony for the tuning buttons and with paua inside the rosette. A satin-finished neotropical mahogany neck shaped to Taylor's Standard Carve and topped in Crelicam ebony only further enhances the marvelous playing feel of this instrument. Lastly, for players who need to plug in, you'll find no better translator of this instrument's incredible natural tone and response than under-saddle LR Baggs Element VTC electronics. Catch #21 while you still can!
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Catch Custom: premier dealer-exclusive Taylor creations
On the eve of the 2015 NAMM Show, Taylor organized a pre-show presentation of its most inspired and unique creations at “The Catch” restaurant in Anaheim, California. These heirloom-grade instruments were strictly offered to Taylor’s most trusted dealers, with models crafted in ultra-limited quantities to preserve their exclusive appeal. The event quickly evolved into an annual NAMM tradition, outgrowing the original venue but retaining the Catch Custom title in honor of the event that started it all. Crafted from luxurious tonewoods and fit with Taylor’s most adventurous finishes, these guitars are truly as advertised — they represent the 6-string catch of a lifetime!
Unique pairing of sinker cypress and East Indian rosewood
With a pedigree that extends back to stray old-growth trees logged and lodged in the silt beds of rivers over many decades, the story of this solid sinker cypress top is just as intriguing as its tonal qualities. Cypress itself offers fantastic natural clarity and response; factor in its submerged sonic disposition, and you'll note an infusion of rich overtones and a unique melodic texture. It's complemented by East Indian rosewood back and sides, creating a sonic summation that warms up in the low end and presents enviable dynamic versatility for fingerstyle players and strummers alike.
Fashioned into Taylor's most popular and versatile single-cut Grand Auditorium body shape, the 2026 Catch Custom #21 C14ce supplies superior and comfortable all-purpose playability backed musically by low-end fullness, excellent midrange presence, and sparkling treble overtop. Internally, Taylor's proprietary V-Class bracing ensures robust projection, pure intonation, and divine sustain to showcase every tonal element of this Catch Custom with studio-grade delivery.
Voiced with the LR Baggs VTC system
LR Baggs VTC electronics capture the kind of amplified acoustic tone you’d expect from a world-class audio engineer working overtime. At the core of the VTC system lies an LR Baggs Element pickup with Tone and Volume controls — a unique build that tracks the guitar top’s vibrations instead of string attack. VTC technology saturates amplified tone with extra harmonic content and analog warmth that’s natural sounding yet noticeably better than a standard acoustic pickup. Additional dynamic automatic EQ handles problematic frequencies as they arise, with touch-sensitive compression that works with your playing for a more authentic amplified tone that’s tough to beat.
Taylor 2026 Catch Custom #21 C14ce Features:
- Extremely limited release from Taylor's exclusive 2026 Catch Custom collection
- The single-cut Grand Auditorium is Taylor’s most popular and versatile body shape, with superb presence across all frequencies
- Proprietary V-Class bracing enhances sustain, natural intonation, and air movement for robust projection
- Sinker cypress top provides a unique tonal texture rich in overtones and excellent for nuanced fingerstyle playing
- East Indian rosewood back and sides bring out superb low-end warmth and a versatile dynamic range
- Standard Carve, satin-finished neotropical mahogany neck with smooth West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard
- Gorgeous koa accents on double binding, Element inlays, headstock logo, koa/paua Split Diamond rosette, and tuners
- Under-saddle LR Baggs Element VTC electronics provide plug-and-play acoustic-electric performance
- An excellent pick for the professional performer, Taylor collector, and premium tone connoisseur
- Carefully crafted by hand in El Cajon, CA
