Taylor 816ce Builder's Edition Acoustic-electric Guitar - Natural Reviews

When Taylor Introduced V-Class Bracing in 2018, I was highly intrigued. Then in March of 2020 they introduced THIS. I have always been content with low-budget guitars (not that I really had a choice) but in January of 2022 I found myself with an unexpected guitar budget...

I bought the 816ce Builders Edition and I will never look back. The playability, the tone, the presence of this beauty are everything I have ever wanted in an acoustic. I love how the notes bloom over time and how the guitar seems to breath. It's very dynamic and excels with fingerpicking and strumming, basically anything you can throw at it. The Grand Symphony body size/shape has it all; clear brightness, well-defined mids and plenty of warmth. In a word, balance. And that was as a new guitar!: as it has opened up (I play it every chance I get) I have continuously been amazed at the tone, over and over again. And of course, being a Taylor, it plays like butter. Action is spot-on and the neck feels fabulous.

The fit and finish are impeccable. With the silent satin finish and the build quality, it could almost be mistaken for a moulded formica guitar... Strange compliment, I know.

For some, the sound port looks too weird or they say they can't hear that it makes any difference to the tone. I beg to differ. Some say the player can feel/hear it and some say only the listener can hear it. I definitely hear the difference as the player. What isn't always mentioned is RECORDING. This records beautifully and mic-ing the sound port presents a gorgeous and easy option for a really clear, balanced tone.

The playing experience is so good, I'm not going to ding it for the ES2 system (which I'm not impressed with). I have addressed the ES2's tonal shortcomings through the use of IR's and an inexpensive IR loader when playing live.

The Taylor 816ce Builders Edition is the guitar I never knew I needed.

Well balanced, love the shorter scale for easier playability. Enjoy the power of the Lutz top and the added projection of the sound hole port. This guitar checks all my boxes. I wish they would've made the western floral pattern case for this guitar like the 717e builder's edition.

I know what you're thinking: every guitar I buy is the last one, when I'm telling my wife about it. At my age, it may actually be true this time, so I studied many possibilities before I invested. I could not be happier! The 816ce Builder's Edition is a beautiful guitar, to be sure, but its beauty is more than skin deep. The tone is superb, and the Grand Concert size coupled with the players port gives the guitar the extra punch I wanted. Should you buy this guitar? I can't say. But it is a fantastic guitar that is definitely worthy of consideration! For the record: I also have to include a very positive comment on Paul Allen and the rest of the Sweetwater team. Their care and attention to detail are far beyond the norm; they have a customer for life in me!

Awesome sound and playability

Received my Taylor 816ce yesterday and am absolutely loving it! This guitar is a thing of beauty and has such a lush tone. It makes you want to pick it up and play. I thought the guitar I had was amazing. Had no idea how much better an acoustic guitar could be. Many thanks to Jon Krempel for answering all my questions. Sweetwater continues to provide me with the best quality and set up instruments I have ever played. Grateful for their example and inspired to deliver this kind of service in what I do.

In short, the best acoustic guitar available. Try it and see for yourself. Crisp with a ton of low end, play it loud or soft it sounds equally amazing.

Andy Powers on the video said this guitar is the "Opera Singer" of the line. Very true. Amped you hear every touch. Well worth the $$$.
Best acoustic I've ever played in 54 years of playing. Nice low action. Ty Heiman my stellar, patient, flexible SW partner. Where does SW find these guys?
SW does for Music what Four Seasons does for hospitality.

My first Taylor and what a gem it IS!!
Something about that second hole — sound resonates so beautifully. . . almost seems amplified.
(BTW, I just installed Tonewood Amp too, a way-cool accessory that I recommend SW carry.)

The beauty of the wood on the fretboard, back and other is a true work of art. Really like the beveled edge on the sides too — makes it very comfortable to hold.

While you're at it, pick up a spider capo as well (or 2).
Too much fun!!

I've had many guitars over the years and was looking for something that would replace a Taylor 615 that I had for many years but was damaged beyond repair. I tried going to the Gibson line, I tried going down In the Taylor line and also A Guild. I saw the 816 and it was intriguing. The body style is very sleek and it just has a great look. Given that I have 30 days to try it out, I took the plunge. I am not sorry. This is the best guitar I have ever owned or played. It feels solid, it plays easily and the tone is incredible across the entire spectrum. When you strum a chord, you hear every note. When you finger pick, there is just the right amount of sustain on each note. This is, for me, a dream guitar that I hope to have the pleasure of playing for years to come. When you purchase your guitar, get a humidifier. It is so important to the life and the playability of your guitar (experience taught me that the hard way).

I bought the 816 after making several attempts at finding a guitar with a balanced sound, not too much high end and not a baritone. The 816 is just a perfectly balanced guitar. You can hear every note, every tone is crisp and the feel and playability is incredible. I've owned many guitars in my life, this may be the last one. There's no reason to have a different guitar, unless you're on stage and use a lot of different tunings. I have always been a Taylor lover, this guitar just cements that love for their product. It arrived perfectly set-up and ready to play. Get a humidifier, take care of your guitar, whatever it is.

This guitar is extremely lively. Between the Lutz Spruce top, V-Class bracing, and extra sound port the top really moves on this guitar. Volume is very good with crisp clean highs and balanced midrange and bass response. It takes a little getting used to, but give it a week or so and you will not want to go back. I didn't care for the tone of the phosphor-bronze strings. PB is supposed to be a mellow sounding string but I found them harsh and brassy so switched to 80/20 Elixir nanoweb light strings and got the tone I want. V-class bracing really works giving the guitar excellent intonation and it plays in tune all the way up the neck. Sustain is unbelievable on this guitar, you almost have to be a little careful with your attack or it might get away from you. Having a short scale and light gauge strings makes it very friendly for someone used to playing electric guitars with fast low action. ES-2 electronics provide an accurate reproduction of the guitars tone - I found with my particular acoustic amp I needed to roll off the guitar's treble control quite a bit. I felt the guitar is just so much livelier than others that amplified I needed to reign it in a little. Another great innovative guitar from Taylor that really works!!

I bought this guitar, the Taylor 816ce Builders Edition, after selling my 717e Grand Pacific, which just didn't have the bass, volume, or balance I was looking for.
So, when the 816ce became available, I took a chance on it, and I will never look back or have need for another guitar. This 816ce, with it's shorter scale length and light gauge strings, is a dream to play. It has lots of volume but sounds amazing even when lightly strummed.
I don't know if it's the new sound port cut-away, or just a perfect combination of everything in the Builder's Edition, but every note rings out clear, including a strong bass, while maintaining a beautiful blend together. It's hard to explain...it just works. And personally I think it's one of the best looking Taylors available.
I'm principally a strummer, and this guitar is perfect. As usual in my experience, Sweetwater and their sales engineers are the best to deal with, even amidst the Corona Virus panic. Highly recommended!

I own this builders model. I live in Nashville and this compliments my Gruhn Martin 0000 which costs the same new. Wihtout a doubt the extra soundhole is a gamechanger in the industry. I can see this as the future of tone.

First, make no mistake, Garrhett Kidd and Sweetwater were stellar from the guitar search to the bone nut and saddle addition to the return. The loss of one star is a gift for the guitar was a huge disappointment in quality, fit and finish, and playability. I had the action set to medium action with no buzz. I left the guitar in box after arrival for 24 hours to adjust. The next two days were spent playing the instrument. From the 9th fret and up, large E and A strings were buzzing. The action was too high and stiff. In order to drop string level and achieve good action, the problem would have increased. The problem is the neck. Tweaking the relief may help but….this guitar is brand new. I have not had Taylor for 20 years for my 814ce had neck problems as well. Second, the binding on the bottom of the guitar was left short and did not butt up to the neck. The binding around the heal cap had a gap and the cut was not even close. The ebony 2nd 45 degree sound port has a white something on it, fingerprint, smudge, who knows what it is. Third, this guitar is ultra thin and echoes any sound made upon it. When I fingerpick, I rest my pinky on the pick-guard. Not on this guitar for it thumps everytime my pinky moves. Any bump on this guitar comes through the instrument. The ebony fretboard is so that hammer on's are guilty as well of transmitting through the instrument. I have had serious guitars for most of my life. I currently play a Martin 000 cutaway Performing Artist, a Guild F512, an Ovation Legend with cutaway, a 1988 Gibson LP Custom, a 2022 Gibson AAA LP Standard, a Gibson 2010 61' Custom Shop LP, and to to replace this Taylor, a Martin D28 E Modern Custom on backorder. I know guitars well and have owned and played some of the best out there but I never bought a more expensive disappointment than this Taylor.
Thank you Sweetwater for accepting my return and refunding me most of my investment back. If this review was for the 816ce BE only, I would be hard-pressed to give Taylor no more than two stars. The 4 stars awarded are only for Sweetwaters' servicing of both front end through completion of this transaction.
The Good, this Taylor does indeed have wonderful tone, the secondary sound port adds the symphonic sound as advertised. The Lutz Spruce top is very active and coupled with the rosewood sides and bottom, projects a huge sound. This 816ce BE is articulate and clear. The sound is well balanced. The harmonics and overtones are incredible.
I feel that this guitar is so finicky that it is all but unusable for me. This complete review is only acoustic. The electronics were never tested…what would of been the point.

I've had the 816ce for about 3 months and the 414ce about 18 years. I recorded both guitars with a Protools HD I/O, Native system with a C/24 board and enough outboard equipment to almost bankrupt me. I've recorded several albums and played various venues with the 414ce. I've spent many hours recording both guitars with a Neumann U87, KM84, AKG 414XLS, Cascade Fathead2 and Warm Audio U87 clone through a Focusrite ISA110 which was a reissue (sold in the 1980s) of the Neve boards back in the 1960s. It's the most true sounding pre that I've ever heard. Then through a Teletronix LA2A compressor set to limit at a GR setting of 30. Just enough limiting to catch the peak transients. I recorded two tracks, one direct and one miked. The direct went through a UA LA610 HiZ slightly compressed at a Peak Reduction setting of 2.5. Hands down the 18 year old 414ce is the better sounding guitar for recording. Live un-amplified the 816ce projects better with the extra sound hole and is a little easier to finger pick. Both guitars have new D'Addario 80/20 Bronze .012-.056 strings. When I'm playing the guitars the 816ce sounds more full tone and is louder. Listening back to the A/B recordings the 414ce is the better sounding guitar. I may not have figured out how to best mic the 816ce with the extra sound hole. The new Taylor Expression2 (I think they call it) is very sensitive to treble and string squeak and squeal, so much so that I have to turn the treble all the way down. I could EQ the 816ce and make it shine with a UA1176ln but I don't have to do much to the 414ce. It's in my opinion almost the perfect acoustic guitar. I have a 1970 Martin D28 which I played for years until it got too dark sounding to record. That's when I bought the Taylor and fell in love with Taylor guitars. This is my second review of the Taylor Builders addition 414ce. I guess the honeymoon is over. Both guitars are always within hands reach and I play both all the time. I love playing both of them but I only record with the 414ce. I don't have the video recording equipment or software or else I'd post the A/B session. Eventually I will then I'll post the session. I'll keep comparing them and loving both.

The Pros -
The 816ce Builders Edition is a beautiful guitar. It is easier to play than my 414ce, which really surprised me. I have an unusual picking style, which is very aggressive. I never realized how much I had to fight the guitar to get all that goes on in my picking style to be heard until I played the 816ce. I don't have to fight it at all. Everything comes through without any effort. Maybe it's the wear on the frets that makes the 414ce not as easy to play. Don't get me wrong the 414ce is a great guitar and very easy to play. It's my go to daily driver even over my Martin D28. It's just that the 816ce compared to the 414ce is so easy to play, it's effortless. Maybe it's the extra sound hole that enables me to put less effort in to picking. Lifting off the strings with my left hand to create a hammering effect takes much less effort.

The Cons -
There is a bit of fret buzz on the lower strings when I pick or strum hard. A set of medium weight strings might take car of that. The new electronics are not good. I'm going to see if I can get the older electronics used on my older 414ce installed on the 816ce. The new system makes all the unwanted sounds stand out like string scratching from sliding chords. It's so bad that I consider the electric part of the acoustic-electric to be unusable. That is a huge issue which Taylor is going to have to rectify. I'm going to talk to my sales rep and see about either fixing or replacing the electronics or maybe even returning the guitar. No I can't return it cuz it is too good. There has to be a way to fix or replace the electronics. I can't believe that Taylor went with the new system over the old, which was very good.