Taylor 814ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Natural with V-Class Bracing and Radiused Armrest Reviews

Beautiful guitar, sounds amazing, especially on my acoustic amp.
A special thanks to my sales engineer Alberto Rosado for helping make this happen.

Patrick Lantz at Sweetwater set up this sale. As always, he did a great job. Seems weird to buy an expensive instrument online, but Sweetwater has closeup pictures of every guitar in stock. I had it delivered to a Fedex pickup, so I knew it would be safe, and I could get it at my leisure.
The guitar is a precision instrument. Every millimeter seems flawless. The action, the intonation, the tuning are excellent. The sound is even and full. The armrest is a nice finish feature. This is a guitar to love.

It's a joy to fingerpick on this guitar. The neck is super comfortable and I like the feel of the radiused armrest.

I bought my new acoustic electric guitar Taylor 814ce online almost two weeks ago. The process seems straight-forward. Buying is easy as well. I applied for the Sweetwater credit card at the same time which give me enough to get this beautiful guitar, otherwise, I plan to pay it in cash if I'm not able to get a card. Multiple emails keeps coming and assurance has been given that my new guitar will come in a week after I order it. I got this guitar nicely package few days ago with no scratch . . . totally new and beautiful . . . sound is superb with the price I paid. No regrets at all.

Customers Service are great with an update most of the time. Delivery with tracking information is a good thing . . . pretty much accurate, but most of the all - the product is really good. I just make an adjustment with the tuning and no complain to anything.

I have Gibson Acoustic Songwriter DLX EC Studio right now that produce a very nice sound and this is the first time I bought a Taylor brand. As playing guitar is one of my hobby during my break at work, this new buddy will be my new friend as well in the next few years. I'm not sure if there is a Sweetwater store here in Los Angeles, CA. That is fine with me. I can also go to Guitar Center sometimes if I wanted to. Well, I have a very good experience getting my music stuff at Sweetwater. Kudos to Sweetwater Staff ! Peace :)

Wow is the best way to start this review. I have ordered guitars from Sweetwater in the past and normally I'm a bit leary of not hearing them first hand myself and testing the playability is a concern, however the Sweetwater team knows what they are doing and will strive to do right be the customer. PRS, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul and Line 6 Shuriken are a few of the guitars I have bought from them in the past. I had an issue with the Shuriken and it was immediately replaced. I had a shipping problem where the Les Paul got lost, they sent me another new one in short order. I had them Plek the PRS and it turned out great. NOW to the Taylor 814ce. I had high expectations as I used to own an older 814bce and the notes all sounded like they were dipped in fairy dust and fresh honey. Just wonderful to play. When I got this one the action was a little high for me. There are typically three actions on an acoustic depending on how you play and strum. I play with lilght strumming and picking notes, so I needed the action set lower to be happy. I talked to my Sweetwater Sales Engineer Adan Vaughn who got me in touch with the guitar techs who set the guitars up before they go out the door. I was given several options be opted to return the guitar at their cost, have the action lowered and shipped back to me. It took about two weeks with the work load they had, but the wait was well worth it. I pulled it out of the case sat down and reveled in the sweetness of those beautifully sustained notes from this instrument. Very happy just doesn't cover it. What a guitar and more, what a great team at Sweetwater. They will continue to be my go to for great musical equipment. I highly recommend this guitar and even more so highly recommend you buy it from Sweetwater. Thanks!
Steven Glenn of Jasper Alabama.

I recently bought a Taylor 814ce from Sweetwater. The Sweetwater high resolution photos of their guitars make it possible to look closely at the grain on the top. The grain of the guitar I purchased had very straight grain and had silk (medullary rays)/cross grain throughout the upper and lower bout. The top in my guitar provides a sparkling response, with clear highs, warm lows and a slightly scooped midrange. The V-Class bracing inside the guitar projects loud volume (when you dig into it) and longer sustain then the old cross bracing designs. I've actually counted out 16 beats of volume from the strings while the sound decays to an inaudible level and this is on a brand-new guitar.

I play fingerstyle blues, ragtime music and I'm working on flat picking blue grass tunes. The neck is comfortable and quick to move around on. I love the comfort of the Arm Rest that allows for long fun practice sessions. I also like the maple binding on the edge of the back and sides, it is so pretty. The guitar comes with Taylor's ES-2 preamp and pickup which is handy when you need to plug into an amp. The hard-shell case fits the guitar snugly, so your new pride and joy doesn't move around inside the case.

I wanted a guitar with a Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides. This wood type matches my Martin M38 that I purchased in 1993. After 29 years of playing the M38 it has all of attributes of seasoned Martin guitar. Bright highs, a punchy base tone and good sustain. My brand new 814ce has the same attributes but with a longer sustain.

The Grand Auditorium size is perfect for me and is comparable to my M38. I had Sweetwater ship my new 814ce guitar to the local Walgreens to avoid potential theft by porch pirates. When I picked up the guitar it was double boxed, with 814ce in the hard-shell case. The hard shell case was in the original Taylor shipping box and lastly the Taylor box was in the Sweetwater box. Needless to say, the guitar arrived in perfect condition. There was not a fingerprint, ding or scratch anywhere to be found.

I recommend Sweetwater to anyone interested in purchasing a new guitar. Your Sales Engineer can answer all your questions. Kris Eckman, my sales engineer has always been great to work for all my purchases and questions. I also recommend you consider purchasing a new Taylor Guitar. There are a variety of models, prices, and wood types to choose from. Taylor provides a lifetime guarantee with each of their guitars. My new Taylor 814ce is a wonderful instrument. It has beautiful fit and finish, great tone, perfect playability and set up. After the first month of ownership my 814ce has a great start of becoming a lifetime guitar for me, I love it.

Brad, from Colorado

Been playing acoustics for 47 years. Decided to treat myself to this one, nicest guitar I've ever had the joy of playing. My D-35 is warmer and less aggressive. This 814 is bold, articulate, and highly resonant. The pickup system is surprisingly transparent. Not 10x better than a budget guitar, but very satisfying if you can afford it.

This is the best instrument I own. How much do I like it? I will be out of town for just a week and lament having to leave it behind. The up side, I have left it with my guitar mentor and he his ecstatic. Projection is amazing. Tone woods ring wonderfully. Arm Rest makes it comfortable to play for hours. Cant wait to get back to it.
Hats off to my sales engineer, Even Neiman for sharing his expertise and taking a painfully long time with me to be sure I got the guitar of my dreams. I have purchased two amps, and this is the third guitar I have purchased from Sweetwater. Never a problem that was not resolved immediately to my complete satisfaction. Instruments arrive quickly, safely, and packed superbly. I have said it before... I will only buy from Sweetwater.

This guitar is truly awesome. It is strikingly beautiful, incredibly comfortable and the playability is amazing. By far the best guitar I have ever played!!!
Thanks Sweetwater….

I have had my Taylor 814CE since August 2014. It came from one of the first few runs of the new V bracing change that is still used today, 7-8 years later. I was considering a Martin of about the same spec/price but James Masterson talked me into the Taylor. Not because he thought Taylor was a better guitar necessarily, they both are the finest quality guitars. He said the Taylor was the best for me at the time and for way I would use it. He has since sold me Martins as well. He seems to always know the right answers about my equipments need better than I do in the end. He was right about the 814CE. A lot of guitar for a fair price. It is a great stage guitar. It will cut through a pretty thick mix unplugged. Projection is "get out of the way" great. Plugged in you have to back down the volume with others. The expression pre amp is hot and has a linear effect on the amplifier volume. It is a wonderful finger picking instrument fit for any genre. The notes spark off the strings with a sustain you don't often find. Leads are easily put out there over the mix with pointed clarity with little, if no, volume adjustment. One of the Taylor characteristics is brightness of tone as opposed to Martin which offer a darker but very rich tone. The only thing I won't do with this guitar is acoustic only busking. I don't have a strong loud voice and it drowns me out light strumming.

Obviously, Taylor makes an excellent guitar. This one is beyond excellent. My previous Taylor was big leaf maple, I prefer Rosewood. And this one does not disappoint. Phenomenal tones, smooth playability, in tune right out of the box. Sweetwater is my go to store.

I purchased my first Taylor almost 20 years ago and it is still gives me great satisfaction every time I play it. While I do love my 410ce (and will continue to), I was looking for a grand auditorium shape by Taylor. I considered the 400 series at first, but I really wanted to spoil myself with the 800 series. My long time Sweetwater Sales associate Anthony Giraldi delivered once again and got me a stunning 814ce. I gave it two days to acclimate and finally played it. The amazing tone and sustain that this guitar generates is stunning. The playability is perfect right out of the case. It is a gorgeous instrument and I look forward to all the music I am going to make with it for years to come…

After much debate and weeks of comparisons, I finally purchased the guitar that kept impressing me. This is not a beginner guitar, as it's not easy on the wallet. But at 54 I figured I deserved an exceptional acoustic, and I couldn't be happier with the choice. First off, I've always been on the Taylor side as opposed to Martin. Not that there aren't incredible Martin guitars out there, but personal taste, subjectivity, etc. just had me liking Taylor more. After giving it 24 hours to acclimate (hardest thing ever) and tuning it up, it sounded full and beautiful. The intonation and sustain of this guitar is like nothing I've played before, and the radius armrest makes it so comfortable to play. Add to that the craftsmanship and attention to detail, and I have a guitar I'll be keeping for the long journey. Thanks to Nick Nevins for helping with the process, Sweetwater customer service is outstanding!

This guitar does it all and more. Purchased a Martin previously and returned it. Was more of a strumming guitar. Having owned a 714 previously, I had high expectations. Awesome for finger picking , lead or strumming. Matched with my 2 mesa s and super pedal board , nothing comes close. Buy this guitar. 10. Yup.

I was looking for a new acoustic guitar to replace a Martin I mistakenly sold a few years back. The new Martin's I tried just didn't cut it and so I focused on Taylor Guitars. I tried the 314ce and 414ce and although there were very nice they were not what I was looking for. I did some research and focused on the 814ce but was not able to find a place locally who stocked it so I bought it from Sweetwater. When I received it the quality was immediately apparent - it is a thing of beauty! Since I got it I have barely been able to put it down! The bottom end it very full and deep, the highs are silky smooth, and the dynamic range is awesome. And, my playing has gotten markedly better after playing it for less than a week!
This is my third Taylor (T5 C2 Custom Koa & 354ce 12-string) and the 814ce has totally exceeded my expectations. It is the last acoustic guitar I will ever need to buy and I will have it for the rest of my life! Matt and Sweetwater have been great through the entire process - thanks, I couldn't be happier.

I wanted an acoustic to last a lifetime, with ease of play (ailing hands) and beautiful sound as key criteria. My 814ce arrived in a beautiful case within a box within a box in perfect condition. I let it acclimate to the house for a couple hours and took it out, all ready to tune... but its tuning was perfect even after shipping! The rounded body edge is very comfortable for my strumming arm, and the neck / fretting is exactly as hoped - easy to fret; zero buzzing; crystal clear with every strum / pick. And it looks absolutely gorgeous too. Many thanks to Matt Emick for his superb help (as always)!

This is the best guitar I have ever owned. Most people wouldn't trust the idea of spending thousands of dollars on a guitar they have never held and played. I would agree with them if my experience with Ryan and the Sweetwater process wasn't a world class experience. I couldn't be more trusting of Sweetwater's ethical business model and customer service.

I have a Taylor 814ce built in 2011 and it still plays like a gem, but then I decided to get a second with the new rolled sound board and all I can say is another outstanding insturment! My 2011 has been played and is beginning to show some wear. Hence the new 814ce. What I do love about the 2021 version is the way it plays when I am strapped in. I was not sure if the rolled top would make a difference, but it does. No slash line across my right arm after hours of playing. The sound will mature, but still is outstanding. And the playability can not be beat.

Recently purchased my 814CE. As usual phenomenal service and fast shipping from sweetwater and my rep Mike Blair.

The construction on this guitar is amazing and the finish is hard as a rock. Doesn't scratch easily like the nitro finishes on others.

The sound is great for the shape, and it stays in tune. Will say there's some minor fret buzz, but other than that I love it!

This Taylor has turned out to be a nice compliment, tonally, to the Martin and Gibson acoustics I use. Thanks To Clint for walking me through options.