Taylor Guitars 214

2005 Taylor 214, Grand Auditorium body, solid spruce top, solid sapelle back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, no electronics, no cutaway, no-brand tuners, dot inlays, black plastic binding. Very basic, but what more do you need? Cost 850???

Started off kind of bright, but as time goes by it's settling in and starting to sound more balanced.
Nice bass end, not too heavy, not boomy, great for recording.
I was amazed by the sustain when I tried this guitar.. I wasn't even looking for a new acoustic but this thing just sang to me, like a lark.. sweet!
I was lucky enough to get a pre 2007 model. After that they started using laminated rosewood for the back and sides. This baby is all solid woods and gets better everyday I play it.

Action was kind of high and still is. Thing is, it's so so so comfortable to play you can afford a higher action on it. I'm not a fan of low actions on acoustics, they lose a lot of their sound when the ations lowered too much.
The neck is beautiful, with a very slight V shape which I love. The finish is gorgeous. It's all satin finish which I adore... satin finished guitars always seem to sound much woodier to me.
The solid spruce top has a beautiful pattern (I think they call it feathering??) and is a pleasure to look at.
Here's where it loses points though: one of the dt inlays came out on a gig. I glued it back in but it had chipped a bit and now sits slightly proud of the fretboard. However, you can't really see it unless you look hard and it doesn't affect playability.
The binding is a kind of ugly black plastic which isn't too fetching really, but no big deal.

One thing about the satin finish is that the top gets scratched very easily. The spruce is pretty soft and so isn't protected too well by the finish. However, you just have to be careful. I mananged to scapre it against a mic whilst recording, leaving a bit of a scratch on it, but the thing is, if you're a working musician, gigging every night, then your guitars gonna get bashed up a bit.. it adds character to it.
Other than that (and the dot inlay falling out) it's a pretty solid guitar.
It's very light.

Taylor have always been friendly when it comes to emailing questions to them. Never had to deal with them about any problems though.

I've been playing the guitar for 20 years. I'm a professional musician, playing manys styles: jazz, soul, funk, blues, folk, rock, country and play with many "names" within these styles of music. I have owned and played many guitars: Gibson, Fender, Guild, Harmony, Taylor, Martin etc.. too many to go into.
This guitar is wonderful, not just for the price, but for twice the price. The sound and feel is the important ting for me and the Taylor 214 has them both... a real pleasure to play and listen to. I've had it a couple of months now and have gigged it alot already and it just gets better and better. Try one out and compare it to more expensive guitars, you might be surprised.

This is a 2006 model, which is the last year Taylor made this guitar with SOLID sapele back and sides( They now use indian rosewood laminate on the 200 series and sapele laminate on the 100 series). Solid sitka spruce top. A Grand Auditorium model, hence the 14 in the model number. Chrome covered tuners, not Taylor branded though. Amazing neck made of Tropical Mahogany, thinner than most acoustic necks, feels like an electric. 25 1/2" inch scale length with a 1 11/16" neck width. Ebony fretboard and bridge. Simple black bridge pins. Simple black binding on the body and neck. Compensated saddle.
20 frets. Nicely arched back and top. Worth much more than the price paid. I give this category a 9 because this model has everything I need and nothing I don't. However they are available with a cutaway and electronics. Came with a very nice and rugged hard shell case.

This guitar sounds amazing. Full and balanced from lows to highs. The Grand Auditorium is not a bass heavy design, but it has plenty of low end for me. Higher mids with lots of overtones and sparkly treble. I have researched Taylor guitars heavily and they are all about helping you find the proper tonewood combination for you. Depending on your playing style and technique this guitar might not sound great in everybody's hands. There website is well worth a visit and you can find soo much info on there. I played this guitar against a 414ce, GS5, GA4 and a 514ce, all of which had different wood combos. The 214 blew them all away, but other players would probably sound amazing on them. The 214 just sounded better in my hands.

Perfect set-up from factory. Low action, plays more like an electric but has a full acoustic sound. All Taylors ship with Elixir Strings, mine had 12-53. They sound amazing, I've tried other popular string brands but will always use the Elixirs, they just fit these guitars really well. Perfectly bookmatched top and back. The finish is a very thin varnish that really helps the wood project more. A look inside the sound hole revealed great construction. No extra glue on the bracing or anything. Taylor takes great care in building every guitar they make. My only complaint was a blemish in the pickguard, some of the reddish color was missing leaving only the top visible. Don't really care though as it has no affect on the sound. And that way I know it's mine. Give it a 9 only because of the pickgaurd. Everything else was perfect.

I'm sure this guitar would have no problems if it was played out. I never will because I'm a bass player and have no need to use it live, plus it's my baby, so it's cased and humidified when not being played.
All the hardware is solid. I can tune it up for some open tunings and tune it down low and it holds its tuning and intonation remarkably. As this guitar ages it sounds better and better, however the finish is really thin and I have worn it off in some spots. It also developed a small crack in the back (my fault though, I didn't humidify it properly when I first bought it, this is not Taylors fault)after properly humidifying it, it sealed the crack on it's own, I still have to get it repaired but the carck is not getting any bigger. Doesn't bother me though because this guitar is with me for life. Rock solid (other than my stupidity)

I've dealt with Taylor for a few things. Info on how to get the crack fixed and emails for general information. They are incredibly helpful and will get back to you in a very short period of time. Their website is packed with info and videos to give you a great experience with the company.

I've been playing for 14 years, guitar and bass, and have owned many guitars, basses and amps. I've owned Fenders, Ovations, Takamines and Epiphones. I bought this guitar a little over a year ago. It took me 13 years to find the guitar for me. Like i said, I compared it to other Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons costing thousands more and the 214 blew them all away. If it was stolen I would definitely buy another one, if I could find a 2006 model with the solid back and sides. Other wise I would pony up the extra money and buy a GA3 as it has the same tonewoods as the 214.

2008 model, comes with Taylor case and comprehensive documentation. Other features have been described by other reviewers.

I play acoustic finger style guitar in a variety of styles, and the articulation and detail of every note is superb right across the chromatic spectrum. It's very well suited to this style of playing, but I was astounded to find it was a great strummer as well, especially when playing a percussive, damped, almost flamenco style. It's quite a bright sound, more so with the Elixir nanoweb than the polyweb, but it will mellow with age and already has started to settle in nicely.

Flawless finish and craftmanship apart from the saddle. Having owned the instrument for 5 months now, I'm about to return to the guitar tech as I'm getting a bit of 'sitar' buzz on the B string, especially when fretted on the 3rd fret. This issue seems to come and go, so I suspect it may be my technique; I've been playing for over 40 years, but have recently started again after a long gap. It's very comfortable and easy to play.

This will (probably) be used for home playing and recording, but it seems robust and resilient.

The Taylor website and documentation are helpful and interesting, but I've had no cause to contact them.

I'm really knocked out by this guitar, it's everything I could hope for, even with the haunted saddle problem. I'd definitely have another if it was lost or stolen, especially as it stands level with my friend's Martin which cost twice the price.

This guitar has a solid Sitka Spruce top and laminate Sapale back and sides. The body type is a grand auditorium, not a bass heavy model with more focus on the the mids and highs. Tuners are standard Taylor tuners, not branded however. The neck feels like an electric, it bolts on back you can't see anything on the outside, it's under the neck joint. It has a rosewood fingerboard. Comes with well made hardshell case, moulded to the guitar. A nice touch that Taylor added was info sheets and truss rod adjustment, humidity control and info on the Taylor Expression System Pickup, which this guitar does not come with. For this option you would have to buy a 214E or 214ce. This is a straight-up acoustic with no fancy inlays or binding. I give it a 9 only because the tuners aren't branded.

I use it mainly for playing at home when I feel like picking up a guitar. I'm a bass player so more of my focus is on that. The guitar is full and rich sounding with plenty of overtones. As I said before, it's not to bass heavy but there is more than enough thump to get you through. Everyone that plays this guitar is blown away by the sound. You won't find a better guitar in this price range...PERIOD....I tested it out next to Martins, Fenders, Gibsons, and other Taylors costing thousands more and there was no comparison.

The neck was set up perfectly from factory. Intonation is spot on and tuning stability is never an issue. It was shipped with Elixir 12-53 strings and I've opted to stick with them cause I love the sound they provide. They work well with this guitar. The pickguard has a flaw in it, some of the color is missing, but that's OK because I know it's mine and it's tone overcomes a minor flaw like that. Other than that everything was perfect.

As with all acoustic guitars, especially Taylors, don't even think of leaving the store without a guitar humidifier and hygrometer to measure the humidity. Visit Taylor's website to see why. Due to low humidity the guitar developed a crack on the back. This naturally freaked me out, but I bought a humidifier and within 2 days the carack sealed itself and isn't growing anymore. This is not to say it's unreliable...just take care of it and it will reward you nicely. The finish is a very light satin finish on the back and sides and a light gloss on top. Beautifully
grained wood make the guitar look great. I wouldn't use it live because I don't play guitar live and I don't want to break it...this thing is like a child to me.

When informed about the crack, my dealer gave me quite the run around so I called Taylor myself and they answered all my questions in minutes. Great company to deal with.

Amazing....I can't say enough good things about this guitar. As a result I have become an unofficial Taylor rep and recommend them to everybody I know...they are making so many breakthroughs in guitar design and build quality. I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next. Check out their website.. taylorguitars.com....the videos are really cool and informative.

USA built Grand Auditorium body style body with transparent solid spruce top and (new for the 2007 model) laminated rosewood back and sides. 3 piece mahogany neck with rosewoood fretboard. No electrics (hence no "E" on the model number) but does come with the standard Taylor hard case. Not much embellishment apart from a little around the sound hole and neck dots. Nice tortoise-shell pick-guard. Difficult to rate this as I know the money has gone into the construction.

Body shape heightens the trebles and helps separate them from the bass. Plenty of volume when strummed - with the typical Taylor bright sound.
Picking also sounds balanced with plenty of clarity from both bass and treble notes. The sustain is good for a guitar of this class.
Overall a good balance for strumming and picking.

Good action - I cannot fault the set-up of this guitar.
Build quality is very good - however, I have noticed some very minor cosmetic "errors" ("faults" is too a strong word!). For example on the x-bracing just inside sound hole had a small piece of splintered wood on it. Also a very small amount of lacquer had wandered onto the neck from the top during finishing. As I have already commented this is a 214 not a 914!
The solid lacquered top looks great but is not bookmatched.

It's a Taylor, albeit a budget one and because of that and its obvious quality in the flesh I expect it to go the distance.

Its a Taylor....

Entry level end of the Taylor range but still a USA-built Taylor all the same. An excellent no-frills quality guitar bought for my travels away at sea - I wanted a quality guitar without the worry of carrying around an expensive piece of equipment. After 2 weeks it still surprises me how good this guitar everytime I pick it up!! There maybe better guitars around for the money but I think you would spend alot of time looking for them.

Not a lot of fluff on the 214. Mine is a 2007 model, and it doesn't have the solide Sapele back, it has Rosewood Laminate. My 5 rating here absolutely does not mean its inferior, only that is is basic.

Sound is fantastic. Typical Taylor with full mids and highs. I put an LR Baggs M1 active on it, and holy cow does this guitar sound great plugged in. Unplugged, mids and highs out do the bass, plugged in, bass out does the mids and highs. (turn the bass down and its perfect!!!) I have a 94 Martin OM21 and an SWOMGT. Each have different pickups. Both guitars were far more expensive, and I really like my Taylor best of all 3. Definitely plays -faster- than the Martins.

I had the shop set up the 214 for fingerstyle/blues, and put on some Elixer Extra Lights. Action is perfect, not quite like an electric guitar, but darn close! Finish is flawless, laminate rosewood is very pretty to look at. Has a satin finish. Top is very nice too, solid Spruce. Playability is a 10!

Satin finish if the only thing I might worry about on the rosewood laminate. (or Sapele)

TBD

If you are thinking of a 214, don't hesitate, just grab it. Have it set up for your style of playing, and you will love this guitar. I paid 635 with shipping for this guitar. Unbelievable value. As I said, I added an M1 Active to it, and COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!

Only thing this guitar needs are individual volume and tone controls. If it had them, definitely a 10 here. After all, how many features do you really need on a guitar aside from these?

Unmatched. Only able to compare this tone to older 'broken-in" Gibsons in my opinion.

Great!

As long as you're not a guitar smasher freak on stage, how durable does a guitar really need to be? If you take care of your guitar, your guitar will take care of you.

Unknown.

You WILL NOT find a guitar of this quality, let alone at the price. Unless you happen to find an old Gibson for $700 or $800.

Taylor 214 L3 Limited to 300 (ES Blue)
Peavey Wolfgang
Takimine
Fender Re-issue Strat (80's Japan)
Ibanez Artcore
Carvin Bolt-T
Robin Medley
Old 70's Gretch

Type/Shape: 6-String Grand Auditorium
Back & Sides: Sapele
Top: Sitka Spruce
Soundhole Rosette: Wood Fiber
Neck: Tropical American Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Fretboard Inlay: Pearloid Dots
Headstock Overlay: Ebony
Binding: Black Plastic
Bridge: Ebony
Nut & Saddle: Tusq
Tuning Machines: Enclosed, Die-Cast Chrome Plated
Strings: Elixir?? Light Gauge Strings with NANOWEB?? Coating
Scale Length: 25 1/2 Inches
Truss Rod: Adjustable
Neck Width at Nut: 1 11/16 Inches
Number of Frets: 20
Bracing: Scalloped, X-Brace
Finish: Varnish
Cutaway: None
Electronics: None
Body Width: 16 Inches
Body Depth: 4 5/8 Inches
Body Length: 20 Inches
Overall Length: 41 Inches
Case: Taylor Hardshell

I think this guitar sounds absolutely fantastic, leastways when it has a new set of strings on it! I've got a pretty used set on it now, and it still sounds good, but gotta change them soon.

I play mostly rhythm in a range of genres from pop to folk to country to blues to rock. I find this guitar is great for it.

The sound is just lovely, rich, bright, perhaps a little too much treble coming through, but only slightly.

When I use a capo, I find I nearly kill the bass, it just doesn't get the sound I'd like, but I've experienced this with several acoustics, and even a few electrics, so.

Action on the Taylor 214 was perfect. Couldn't have been better.
I have to say the over all finish when I bought this was superb.

I don't play for anyone, just myself (and the unfortunates I live with!), but it receives a bit of rough around the house, because I rarely put it back in it's hardcase, so, it gets the odd knock here and there.

A friend of mine let her electric bass fall on it, and though worried for a moment, turned out it had no more than a little indentation on the body, so, tough enough (I still hate seeing that there, it's small, but I know it's there!!)

Never had to have anything done with it.

I've been playing this guitar since December 2005. It has opened up a whole new world of sound to me, the guitar I had previously was a poor one, this Taylor 214 encouraged me to play more, it just made simple things sound so much better.

I wish I'd paid the extra few hundred for a semi-acoustic model, but that's no fault of this guitar.

If it were lost or stolen, .. I'd cry.. And if I could get the money together, would definitely consider buying this model again.

I compared it to a Martin, can't remember the model, but of similar price range, and went back to the Taylor, went back to try the Martin, then the Taylor again.. eventually chose this one, because I just thought the sound was better.

I wish the body was a darker colour, like the Martin I'd tried, but I'm still very happy with this guitar. I love it.

Solid wood - top/sides/bottom - Spruce top. VERY nice neck, thin and fast. Action was setup from the factory perfectly for me, a finger picker mostly. The Taylor site says the X14 body style is a "strong fingerpicking body style" and they weren't lying either. It sounds just great. An 8 on features not because it is a bad or poor guitar but because it is very plain.

I have had a Martin D-16 RGT, Martin 00-15, Tacoma DM-16, Taylor 410, and some electrics with quality aftermarket pickups, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Strat, Gibson 335 and others. This is my favorite. The sound is extremely expressive for finger work. Good bass, great sustain, clear/crisp mids and highs. I was thinking of putting somekind of PU in it since I have a Fender Acoustasonic amp but I don't think the sound could be any better FOR ME. It is not a bluegrass guitar but for what it is intended for, it is just perfect. Granted sound is very subjective but, again for me, its a clear 10 out of 10.

Very nice workmanship. Setup was perfect. Low action but no buzzing. Good intonation. No flaws in the wood or construction that I can see. Very nice, sturdy case with 5 latches as opposed to 3 on most Martin cases although the Martin cases are good too. Stays in tune OK. Locking tuners. A VERY clean looking guitar. Nothing fancy but very light in weight and the top has a satin finish and is extremely responsive to vibrations of the strings. I have never seen or heard anything like this in a guitar, admitting that I am not an expert. 10 is for the perfect guitar I have not heard yet, but this gets a 9 in my book.

I don't gig but it seems a bit light for a careless musician. I treat all my guitars with care and this seems to be built with quality hardware and materials so I think I will be able to pass it on to my children assuming they respect a fine instrument.

I never have dealt with Taylor before. Have heard they are good to work with. Hope I never have to. It is a common enough guitar that any quality luthier should be able to handle the problems.

I have played for a few years when I was a teen, and now that I am 50+ I have played again for about 5 years along with learning some piano. I used to build stereo speakers (some really nice ones by the way) and I know good sound I think. I am not a "golden ear" but I think I can be objective. I like this guitar LOTS. I know everyone has a special guitar but I have traded away all my previous acoustics as I gained more experience and guitar "wisdom" not because they were bad guitars but none ever captured me with its sound like this one. I have tried more expensive guitars and "better" Taylors and Martins but of all the guitars I have had and have right now, this would be the last one to go. My FIRST choice - acoustic or electric - for the music I love and the sound I love. FOR ME , again, the perfect 10. VERY nice job Robert Taylor and all the people who put this thing together. Just right.

I tried out 2 brand new 2004 214 Taylor GA's. All solid wood, solid spruce top, very tight grain, solid sapele sides and back with a nice ebony fretboard. Lacquered satin finish(be careful), both guitars were not set up and the salesman kept running them back and forth playing with the neck adjustments, he made a pretty bad mark on one of them in his hurry. He should heve left that for later. Let the guitar tech set them up ,one was way too high ,the other one was about right. Nice chrome tuners. Liked the smaller body style of the Grand Auditorium, still as thick as a dreadnaught though. Typical nice thin Taylor neck. Hard shell case included. Very nice fretwork.

Sound was very good on both of them, not as loud and more compressed than a Dread, but when in tune, very nice(had to wait a while till all of the guitar experts got out of the room showing off their chops on the cheapo's. Rich, bright sound. One very bad problem on both guitars that the Salesman had no answer for. When you fretted the treble E it sounded muted or almost like a fret buzz. I thought it maybe could be fixed in a set up, he said it was the way I was playing, picked up a 110 and there was no problem.

String action needed fine tuning on both guitars. Spruce tops were fine grained and beautiful. The only flaw was the problem with the buzzing treble E string that the salesman could not explain. Beautiful instrument.

Solid appearing guitar. You need to be very careful with finish, marks easy as demonstrated by salesman. I don't think I would take it out, too fragile of a finish, if it got knocked over it would mess the top up. One of the 214's had a couple of small bearclaws on the finish.

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I have been playing for 25 years, owned and played many acoustics, this would rate with the best I've had, a Martin D-16GT. I looked at a couple of low end Martin's in the store(road and 1 series) Their spruce tops did not even compare with the 214. After this was set up right, I would miss it if someone took it.