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.

N/A

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.

Solid wood grand auditorium with no cutaway or electronics. The case fits like a glove and is very high quality.

This is the best sounding acoustic I've ever played. It has a very balanced tone and gets loud. The sound is inspiring in a way that no Gibson or Martin I've played has ever been able to match. Both fingerpicking and flat picking sound great with this guitar. The whole Taylor line sounds great, but honestly there isn't much difference between a 214 and the much more expensive Taylors, unless you want to impress people with how much money you can blow on a guitar. And in my opinion you can forget about a Martin or Gibson. People buy those guitars for the name, not the sound, because Taylor totally dominates where it counts.

Great action. Precise workmanship. No complaints.

I played as many guitars as I could before I bought this. This guitar's sound is inspiring in a way no other manufacturer matches. I plan on installing some electronics in the near future, which will bring the grand total I paid to under $1000. If you're into sound and playability, as opposed to look-how-much-I-paid, I think the Taylor 214 is the best new acoustic you could buy.

2004 MODEL 214, NO ELECTRONICS, GRAND AUDITORIUM BODY STYLE, NO FRILLS BUT GREAT LOOKING INSTRUMENT

TAYLOR BRIGHT SOUND BUT THERE IS A RICHNESS TO THE SOUND
VERY TOUCH SENSITIVE AND DYNAMIC. I HAVE NEVER PLAYED A GUITAR THAT SOUNDED QUITE LIKE IT. THE MORE EXPENSIVE TAYLORS HAVE A DIFFERENT SOUND BUT I LIKE THE FEEL OF THIS GUITAR (YOU CAN FEEL EVERY NOTE PLAYED THRU THE GUITAR TO YOUR BODY) VERY INSPIRATIONAL SONG WRITING GUITAR,ONCE YOU PICK IT UP YOU JUST CAN'T SEEM TO PUT IT DOWN.
I INSTALLED A "SWEETSPOT" UNDER THE SADDLE BRIDGE PICKUP AND I GET A GREAT TONE OUT OF IT THRU A TRAYNOR WR40 TUBE AMP,I GET A FAIR AMOUNT
FEEDBACK THOUGH AND I HAVE ORDERED A LR BAGGS PARA DI THAT SHOULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

ACTION WAS PERFECT ON THE ONE I PURCHASED FROM GUITAR CENTER BUT I HAVE PLAYED OTHERS THAT THE ACTION NEEDED ADJUSTING.
THE BUILD QUALITY IS EXELLENT. THE FINISH IS ALL SATIN AND IS BEAUTIFUL IN IT OWN WAY

SHOULD LAST A LONG TIME AND SOUND EVEN BETTER WITH AGE

NEVER DEALT WITH THE COMPANY

PLAYING FOR 25 YEARS
OTHER EQUIPMENT,PRS CE 22, TAKAMINE LTD EDITION,AMERICAN DELUXE STRAT, IBANEZ ARTCORE, G&L SC3, TRAYNOR WR40
THIS GUITAR GETS INTO YOUR SOUL WHEN YOU PLAY IT, IT GETS THOSE CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING AND IT IS VERY EASY TO PLAY.
SO JUST GO OUT AND BUY ONE

2003, made in El Cajon, CA.
No pickup. See other reviews for features.

Incredible. I believe the cheap Taylors sound and play as well as the pricey ones. So you pay for little cosmetic flourishes, basically.
The sparkle of the highs, and the clean solid roar of the bass impressed me. This was the best sounding 214 in the store. I tested it side by side with the 110 mic/undersaddle modle I gat a week ago, and there was no contest. This is truly a better sounding guitar! The definistion of the bass notes is spectauclar. Perhaps it's the bracing and solod back and sides that do it. The narrow-waisted body style seems to aid articulation. Great guitar!

POOR ACTION: It was set way high. Even the dealer said so when he tried it. Both 214's in the store were like that. I took it home and clamped a file to my work bench and after marking it carefully, took it down about 1/16 inch. Better! Tricky job; you need to angle it to ensure the Ivorex has a slight slant on it.

No finsish flaws. Satin UV baked finish looks fine. Neck is flat as can be. Great tuners. Chrome.

No pickups this model; previous review of an 214-LDR model had complaint about a very poor undersaddle sound, real garbage.
My preference runs to the K & K Pure Western, or FantaStick blend to be installed. Don't know yet; I have a Rare Earth mag I may put in, simp[ly because feedback is such a problem in sma;;er venues where you are right next to the amp (Fender AcoustaSonic Jr.).
Baggs has a new one out that has controller inside soundhole. I may try that.
I really bought this for full sound in the room, and amping it is a minor concern. I think a clamp-on mic bracket may be best to preserve its realist tone.

I will play this in gigs. Included hard shell case whould stabilize humidity and protect it in transit. Everything seems solid, and the frets are smooth.
I really wanted one of these a long time. It will do until I can get a luthier-made unique guitar, like Goodall Jumbo or Michelletti Osprey, next time I have a spare 4 to 7 thousand to splurge!

Always excellent.

This is fine for fingerstyle, hybrid picking, folk, blues, jass and acoustic pop and rock.
I love the ease of playing, its response to nuances, and the gutsy tone. It shimmers like crystal and roars like King Kong. The sweet ring of it is captivating. It compares favorably with the Martin D-35 and yet doesn't break your bank account.
I also love the satin finish since you don't need to polish it all the time like a glossy guiatr.
I wil use this for composing, jamming and performing. This marks my 40th year playing guitar, and I fianlly have great guitars.

2003 taylor 214 Cali, Sapele back and sides, sitka spruce solid top

This guitar is great for fingerstyle and mild strumming.
Very bright tone but warm to the sustaing
Very Full and RICh

Action is low for awesome fingerstyle plucking, flat picking or shredding

Very Reliable guitar, and can withstand variable amounts of plucking pressure without buzzing

Havent had to ask for support. The dealers loved the guitar, but i got it first.. haha

14 years of playing experience. I own a taylor 814 ce and a takmine c 132s. Ibanez GA , Sammick Bass, Applause acoustic guitar,

All solid wood (huge plus), satin finish, decent hard shell case,etc... most others have listed this stuff. No cutaway or on board electronics - which in my opinion is a plus. I hate the barndoor hole that guitars with on board pre amps have and I like the look and feel of guitars without cutaways - Taylor should offer more guitars without cutaways and electronics.

The guitar sounds very nice. Its a Taylor so it has a little more emphasis on the treble end of the guitar. Very even when finger picking and sounds good strumming but the sound kind of flatens out when you strum too hard on it - but its a grand aditorium this is what one should expect. I compared this with other taylors specifically the 314 since this is a cost cutting version of that guitar. The sound is pretty close but the 314 seems to have a bit fuller sound (a little more bass), but in my opinion its not worth the extra $400 or $500 more for a 314 or 314ce, but if I could get a 314 in good shape used I might opt for that instead of the 214 partially due to the added bass.

The guitar was set up perfectly for my taste right from the store. I did not notice any finish flaws or excessive glue globs inside of the guitar. Many people are not fans of the satin/matte finsih but I actually like it, the only downside is the finish is fairly delicate any little bump or ding will surely show up on the guitar, but on a mid priced acoustic I am not going to get too crazy about that kind of thing - I kind of like a guitar to look like it has been played quite a bit, not trashed but broken in. When compared to the 314 you can feel the grain of the wood in the neck a lot more and you can kind of tell that the wood selection for the higher priced taylors is a bit more extensive. I feel that the particual guitar that I purchased has a nice flame on the backs and sides and that the top is a good piece of wood, but I have seen a few 214s that have less than desirable wood, so I would definatly suggest checking a few out before settling on one guitar.

I already mentioned the finsih. One other thing that I thought might become a problem was the location of the second strap button, which is on the side wood near the neck joint. There is a small piece of wood reinforcing the button so I don't believe that this will become a problem as long as I don't lean on the guitar while its on a strap. I also contacted taylor about that and they said that there shouldn't be a problem with that but if a crack or something like that aprears it is still covered under warrenty. I would do small shows with this guitar without a backup but anything thats kind of big I always bring along a backup, but thats mostly in case of string breakage.

I called taylor about a few things and they returned my call in about 1 hour. The people at Taylor seem very nice even though I haven't had to have any warrenty work done I trust this company.

This is a great mid priced guitar and after adding a K & K pure western pickup this is a great gigging guitar when accompanied by a lr baggs para di. I did not want to spend $1000 on a guitar that I would be gigging with and riding on trains in chicago with, I'm glad I didn't because I feel that I get the sound I want for a price that lets me not be afraid to really use my guitar. If I bought the Taylor 314 or comparable guitar, I feel I would have spent too much money and been afraid to take the guitar out of the house or let anyone else touch the guitar, let alone play it. If I were to do it all over again I would have liked to have tried out a Larrieve 3 series but when I bought the guitar I wasn't familiar with them, but I am still happy with the guitar I bought. If I were going to be buying an end all acoustic guitar that wouldn;t leave my house I think I would get a Gibson, probabily a j45, but even if I did that I think I would still need a guitar like this taylor for recording and gigging - the somewhat simple and treble rich tone of this tayor lends itself very nicely to recording acoustic rock music, better so than many high priced drednaughts and jumbos. If you want to hear recordings of this guitar in action you can go to www.halfmassive.com I used this guitar as my main acoustic on the album "Time to figure things out", you can download some songs. So I think you can get a decent idea of how this guitar sounds when recorded.

I have a 2003 Taylor 214 I bought at Guitar Center. It struck a balance between the 110 and 310 in price(more bang for the buck). It is a solid wood grand auditorium with satin finish. I love the body style and am happy with the finsh. While the tuners are not what you would get with the higher price models, they get the job done. The 214 stays tuned. The only quibble I had was that Guitar Center did not have a Taylor case to go with the guitar. The sales associate brought down a Taylor case which looked like it had been dragged around the parking lot. I refused to take it and settled for a nice SKB case. Would have perferred a Taylor case however.

It has a rich sound though not as bassey as some Martins I've owned. Sometimes get some buzzing on the high E string though that may be from my lack of experiance playing as opposed to the guitar. Sounds better than any other guitar I've ever heard in this price range.

I liked the setup, the low action made for ease of play. I could see no flaws in the wood or finish. It is top notch all the way.

This guitar could withstand live play, a day at the beach, a campfire sing, or anything else you would need it for. It is very sturdy, as I have accidently bumped it a few times with no ill effects. It needs no backup.

Made a few calls to Taylor and they were glad to answear any questions I had.

I have been playing a little over a year. In my quest to find the best guitar to learn on I went though a Sigma HD-28,Martin D-15, Martin DX before I settled on the Taylor 214. I could'nt be happier. It is a high quality, low priced guitar that satisfies. If something happened to it, I would get another. I do wish that Guitar Center had not lost the case that was supposed to go with it. That's something THEY need to work on.

My Taylor 214 was made in 2004. No pickup. Solid top. Others have described the woods and scale.

The sound of this guitar is really really great. Taylor guitars have a particular sound that I just love. Nothing about it sounds dead like gibson and martin acoustics. It's especially great when you use your acoustic for a lot of lead like I do (play a lot of flamenco and indian style music). I do have a couple of problems with the sound however. The low E string is very strange. It doesn't ring the way you want it to sometimes. It's very stacatto (sic) and punchy, and can sometimes be annoying depending on what you're playing. Also, although the action is the best you'll get on a steel string, it can be difficult to make fretted notes towards the head of the guitar ("lower" on the neck) ring properly.

The action was very low on the guitar, when I got home with it, I noticed this intolerable buzzing from fretted notes on the 3rd and 4th strings. I noticed the string was vibrating and hitting the frets, so I adjusted the truss rod some. It improved dramatically, but still buzzes if I hit the strings too hard. I really don't want to raise the action anymore, so it's something of a compromise.

Finish is very good actually. My brother dropped the guitar accidentally and there's not a mark on it at all. Still in mint condition. Strap buttons are really great, you don't need strap locks or anything. Strings also do not break easy, I would definitely gig without a backup. Side note: Although I'm not rating it, the expensive Taylor case is actually pretty fragile.

haven't dealt with taylor.

I've been playing 10 years. I own a Gibson ES-335, a Fender Strat, and a Takamine classical. This guitar is the most easily playable acoustic I've ever played. If it were stolen or lost I'd buy another because it really is a fantastic deal. I compared it to every acoustic I could find. The only one that came close was the Gibson L-130, which is another guitar that really prides itself on playability. However, that guitar is more expensive, and I didn't even like it as much as my 214.

2004 model, grand auditorium size acoustic with solid woods throughout (spruce top, sapele back/sides). Satin finish, 1.68 inch nut. Big gotoh style tuners. End strap pin and one on the top side near the heel of the neck. Comes with a nice Taylor hardshell case.

An excellent, lively tone that sounds very hi-fi and modern. Bright, chimey sound with tight bass. A friend of mine describes the bass as throaty-sounding (in a good way). Harmonically rich and bell like. Great for fingerstyle or strumming, but like a lot of Taylors, if you start bashing out chords like Captain Caveman it will start to sound more like a cymbal than a guitar. So go easy! Sounds great live or recorded.

Fantastic, A+!! Flawless in all regards. No complaints. It's got an understated look of quality about it - it's lovely! Low action and easy playing neck unmatched in this price range. It makes me feel more adventurous when I'm playing because it's so easy to play!

This guitar seems like it will last a good long while, although it feels light and delicate. I am definitely cautious with it!

I've been playing for 15 yrs +. For 700 bucks plus tax, I got a great playing, great sounding, solid wood guitar that looks great too. I'm very happy with it!

2003 Taylor 214. I originally bought a Garrison G40, had it for one night and returned it. I found the sounds dead even after replacing the strings on it with new ones, and the neck didn't suit my style of playing (gripping) it. Anyway, i went back to the music store and thought that the Seagull S6+ suited me better, until i tried a bunch of other lines and played Taylors. When i got to the 214, i just couldn't put it down. The sound truly stood out, had a great "feel" and projection to the sound, and the shape of the neck was good. I wasn't looking to spend more money, but in the end, after trying out more brands, i couldn't walk out thinking i found a guitar i truly liked, that i think should last a lifetime. I had to cough up and buy the 214, and have been very pleased with it. (It's only been a weekend but i love it!)

Sitka Spruce top, sapele sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, i love the sound and feel of the Elixir light strings on it. Lovely shape and flawless satin finish which i prefer over gloss.

Just the guitar i wanted before i knew that's the one i wanted! :-)

Great bass, great projection, clear and bright highs and separation. I was set on getting a Seagull S6 until i played the Taylor 214. In this case, i paid more and got plenty back. It's louder, more sensitive, clearer, has deeper bass than the Garrison G40 i had for one night, or S6 spruce Seagull i had wanted. Well worth the dough i spent on it.

Flawless. I love the satin finish as it makes me "feel" the wood.

Only had it a weekend but i baby all my guitars. No doubt this one should last a lifetime, quality wood and parts from what i can see.

Dont' know yet. So far no issues.

Own a Seagull S12 12 string
1991 Takamine CP132S classic
1992 PRS CE24 electric
other stuff not worth mentioning

214 L3 solid wood with Expression blue pickup system.

As mentioned by Taylor on their webpage, this guitar is great for fingerstyle and does ok with medium strumming. Punchy deep bass and well balanced sound. The pickup is a Taylor expression blue which is a version of their acclaimed expression system but with two sensors instead of three and without the volume and tone controls. This \ downgraded pickup system was a rare blunder on Taylor's behalf, I think they know this by now. It is hissssy at moderate volume levels and is worthless for recording or live performance. Taylor replaced the system with the tried and true Fishman matrix. Which really shines and is dead quite.

Sweet for fingerstyle and handles light strumming well. Don't expect to thrash out with this guitar. Flawless after pickup changed out.

Very well made guitar, fragile as most fine acoustic intruments are.

Taylor's has an impeccable reputation for support and backing their products. Use the 1 800 line and they'll call you in a couple of days.

Wanted a cosy smaller bodied for fingerstyle. It fits the bill. Fell in love with it's tone which is as good as the high dollar ones. Been playing 27 years. Also have a Larivee which is a super sweet dreadnaught plus various pro level electrics.

soo3 Taylor 214-L3 electronics installed at factory. Hardshell case included. See other reviews for features.

Fantastic acoustic sound, comfortable neck, great balnce when holdin it and playing.

Flawless except for---one of the crappiest piezo pickups I have ever heard. On a great sounding guitar like this, it is truly an isult to it's high standards it posesses. I took it back! In the store, I thought the amp I tested it on was crappy...but no. It's the pickup.
I bought their cheaper 110 model and stuck a K & K Big Shot on the bridge plate and had glorious sound, and went on a gig.
THIS WHOLE REVIEW IS A HEADS UP TO TAYLOR: Great guitars, crappy pickups!

End of review.

This is your "bare-bones," no-frills entry-level Taylor Grand Auditorium. The body is solid sapele (a variety of mahogony) with a solid sitka spruce top. Total of 20 frets on an 1-11/16" ebony fingerboard with ebony bridge (with Tusq saddle and Micarta nut). Satin finish, chrome non-Taylor tuners and what appears to be a decal rosette. Chrome strap buttons appear solid enough but for the time being, I'm sitting on a stool, just learning my way around this instrument. My rating is a reflection of the entry-level nature of this instrument - there's nothing wrong with it as it doesn't claim to be a "Cadillac," but rather a simple, solid "Chevy."

In a word: "superb." I'm comparing this to a Martin SPD-16W dreadnought I've had for a year. While my Martin is far from "top-of-the-line" it too sounds great. But for just a little more than half the price of the Martin, the Taylor is it's equal for sustain, clarity, and balance. While not inclined to be too generous with my praise, I was simply astounded how good this guitar sounds.

Factory setup for Taylors is generally very good given the latitude they have with their bolt-on necks. Another advantage is that their necks are a little slimmer than what I'm used to making simple cording and various finger positioning pretty easy. I definately am able to play a little quicker on the Taylor than I am the Martin. I bought this because as a "newbie," it's easier for me to hold in a sitting position than my "D" is. The finish is satin which by definition makes it not an eye-catcher, and the rosette is clearly applied since I can feel it's raised surface in some spots around the sound hole. But it's clean as a whistle on the inside with no visible globs of glue or gaps anywhere. Little (very little) "dings and dents" in the wood reflect the use of less than their best materials, but so what - it's a "bottom of the price list" product. This box is living proof that the perfect finish of my Martin is not what makes it sound so good - all imperfections are cosmetic.

I bought it with the intention of using it as a beater and that I will with confidence. I'm truly conflicted that such an inexpensive instrument with some cosmetic flaws can sound so good. Just goes to show you that "pretty" is only on the outside. Gloss finish would be nice, but would undoubtably raise the price, defeating the whole notion of an "entry-level" box.

Who knows? But I'm fast becoming a believer in the bolt-on (or at least a mortise and tenon) neck joint. The prospect of having to return my instrument to the manufacturer to have a dovetail shimmed in order to correct a misalignment (versus 10 minutes with an experienced luthier with an allen wrench)is too daunting. The Taylor website is full of great information for those of us just beginning to seriously approach the guitar.

Only been playing seriously for a year, but am making progress. If you can get over the fact that it's not going to win any prizes for its finish you'd be very satisfied. If you consider it on a "cost/performance" basis alone, it's a keeper - no question that I'd go right back out and buy another one.

This 214 was made in 2003 in El Cajon, CA. This model has the solide sapele back and sides, and a sold Sitka Spruce top. It has the wood fiber rosette, Mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, bridge, and headstock overlay. The inlays are pearloid dots, black fiber binding, macarta/Tusq nut and saddle. It has Enclosed Die Caste Chrome plated tuning machines and Elixir Light Gauge Acoustic Strings. The scale length is 25 1/2", 1 11/16" neck width at nut, 20 frets, scalloped X-bracing, satin finish, 16" body width, 20" body length, 4 5/8" body depth, 41" overall, and best of all a Taylor Hardshell case.

The sound on this guitar was even better than the Big Baby I bought. it has a lot deeper lows and even more bright highs. It has the Grand Auditorium Body style so it produces more sound. No matter what style of music you play this guitar is perfect.

The Action is low and plays wonderful. The finish is satin which is fine with me. It would be cool to see a glossy finish, but not necessary. There were no flaws and actually the back of the guitar the sapele has a cool white streak going down the center. Makes it even more exotic to me.

This guitar is more heavy made than the Big Baby I own. This has bracing on both back and front and will last for a long time. All strap buttons are solid. This guitar can be depended on and wouldn't need a backup if gigging.

Taylors Customer support is always helpful. I have called them many times to inquire about different things. I give them and A++++

I have been playing for 14 years. I own a Yamaha C-40 classical, Ovation Elite Standard Balladeer, Fender FM-63S Mandolin, and a Taylor Big Baby. I love this guitar and will never stray from the Taylor line as long as they keep up the good work. I love the fact it's made in the USA. If it was stolen I would have to get another. The only thing I added was Taylor Ebony Bridge Pins with Abalone Dots. I also ordered a custom Inlayed Truss Rod cover from some guy in Argentina, but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm thinking of calling Taylor and seeing if I can get Ebony Tuning Machines for it and my Big Baby.

This is a comparing test between low budget Martin and Taylor guitars.

I have to admit, I took great interest in comparing the low priced Taylor Guitars to their Martin cousins, in fact the Taylor 110 and 214 to the Martin DM and D15. I had some more expensive Martins and Taylors around for overall comparison, and here is what I came up with:
First let me tell you that Martins are definetly much louder with a boomier bass and a much clearer tone. A DM or D15 should be played loud. It's voice is authoritative, with lots of sustain. The all mahogany body sounds way darker than the spruce top of the DM, which adds a lot of sparkle.
The Taylor 110 or 214 on the other hand are very quick responding guitars with a worn, broken in feeling. They are both not as loud as a Martin, but they do not need to be played loud, they sound good at low levels. They are much more balanced and "silverly" in tone, they tend to sound compressed in a nice way when played hard (wheras the Martin has that much headroom and reacts to dynaimics individually). They are much better to handle but the Martins are manufactured better, the Taylors feel grainy in no negative way.
I myself do like both the Martin and the Taylor sound. Note: More expensive Martins are not neccesserily better sounding ones (even the "cheap ones" carry that warm, boomy Martin trademark sound), more expensive Taylors on the other hand are defintely better sounding that their low budget cousins. I came out of this test of mine with both the Martin D15 and the Taylor 214 - they are the affordable best of both worlds in my opionion.
Another hint: I had two of each guitar (two D15, two 214, etc.), the Martins of one kind sound very much the same, the Taylors quite different, so try some if your store has more than one!

see above

The Taylor 214 is a basic Grand Auditorium style acoustic guitar. The construction for my Taylor 214 was begun on August 14, 2003. Made in El Cajon, CA, about 20 miles from where I grew up in San Diego. I think the other reviews have the features covered, and you can always go to www.taylorguitars.com for the details, so I won't bore you with repetition. It comes with a really nice hard shell case which fits like a glove, and is designed to regulate temperature and humidity to help protect the guitar. Also it has a really cool looking tortoise pickguard. Not the most feature-laden guitar, but I wasn't looking for features I was looking for SOUND.

This guitar resonates with my harmonic frequencies. It's got the perfect balance of sparkle and low-end, and has very nice projection. This guitar just sounds beautiful. I am a lifelong guitar student and primarily play rock music, although as I age I find myself dabbling in other styles such as folk and country. I picked up the 214, and after a bit of comparison it became clear that this was the guitar for me. I think this guitar will fit in well with the type of music I play, which is quite eclectic. I am interested in improving as a guitar player, and I think it will help in that area as well. It's very playable.

The Taylor 214 is impeccably constructed. I could not find a single flaw. I am not an expert, however, and I tend to become intoxicated each time I take a whiff of the soundhole. Heavenly. The setup is nearly perfect, although the action is a wee bit high for my taste. There is not a single iota of fret buzz at any point on the fretboard. I am considering taking it down to Mike Lull's, putting the next lighter set of Elixer NanoWebs on there, and seeing if they can't drop the action a little. But before I do that I want to play it a bit longer to see how I feel. I think this guitar is set up as close to factory spec as you can get, and I don't know if I want to tamper with it.

This guitar feels light to me, and I feel a bit overprotective because it's the nicest acoustic I've ever had. That being said, it seems to be reasonably durable. I'd feel comfortable playing live, and there doesn't seem to be much that could go wrong. The strap buttons are on there pretty good. Only time will tell if the finish will hold up, but I plan to take very good care of this guitar.

My only dealings with Taylor thus far have been registering my guitar and purchasing a leather strap from their Web site. I haven't spoken with anyone yet, and hopefully will not have to. They include a good amount of literature on the subject of guitar care, and I get the impression that they stand behind what they sell. Their Web site is top notch, and they have a huge FAQ section. I called customer service and left a message this morning because I'd like to get their opinion about changing string gauges and lowering the action. I can't really honestly rate this section yet, because I think that requires speaking to an actual human. I do have to say, their Web site is among the best I've seen. So they get a 10 for that part.

Addendum - A Taylor rep just phoned me back within an hour of leaving my message. He answered all my questions, and seemed
genuinely interested in helping me to understand the issues I was concerned about. Doesn't get much better than that!

This is an amazing guitar. I've been playing for over 25 years, and this is the first high-quality acoustic I've owned. If it were stolen I would definitely buy another one. I will definitely stick with Taylor guitars in the future. The things I love the most are the sound and the playability. Also, it smells good too. I had originally come into Guitar Center looking for a mid-range Epiphone, or low-end Martin. But as I went around the wall playing guitars in my price range, I became frustrated. The Martins in that range sounded dull and muddy, and the plastic fretboards and laminate bodies really put me off. The Epis were out of stock. The Fenders sounded just like what I am currently playing, competent but uninspiring. The Ovation was nice, but too high tech. The Gibsons were gorgeous, but wayyy out of my price range. The Taylor 214 struck the perfect balance for me, and the hardshell case sealed the deal.

The Taylor 214 ( newest addition to the taylor line ) was first built in 2003 to be out in July, 2003. The full-scale Grand Auditorium body has a solid sitka spruce top, large pearloid fingerboard dot inlays, and comes standard with a hardshell case. Additional features like black fiber binding, an inlaid white fiber soundhole rosette, tuners are sealed, the neck wood is mahogany 1 11/16 inch at nut, Satin finsh throughout, Hardcase and truss tool comes with guitar, and No pickups on this guitar. Made in California, U.S.A

The Sound of this Guitar is Truly Remarkable, The Grand Auditorium Body and the Sapelle Woods gives this guitar a full rich deep tones on the basses and distinct clear high's the resonance of the 214 is just beautiful.

The Taylor 214 is one of the best guitars I have ever played it has good action playing hard or soft with or without a pick. My Dealer must have set it up that way. It is nearly flawless in the construction!

The 214 Should be able to play with live performaces with no problem it is of course a Taylor. The Strap buttons are very secure, the finish is only a Satin finish but has a good pick guard, I Would Recomend the Taylor 214 to any skilled Artist that apreciates a well built Guitar.

Taylor has a Great Custormer Relations Team, I had a Baby Taylor Mahogany we had purchased for may grandson. We had a problem with the truss adjustment rod, it had to be sent back and they gave me back the guitar in perfect working order.

I had been playing off and on for several years. But for the last year I have had the Guitar Bug real bad. I purchased a baby taylor for my grandson he is 7 years old, my wife showed an interest so I took her to the music store to possibly purchase a Big Baby Taylor, But was shown a 110 and then the 214 that just arrived that day. My wife and I was astounded by the way it sounded and amazed by the feel and touch. My wife was the first one to own a taylor 214 in Wichita,Ks. and Now I'm The 3rd. We looked at a lot of other guitars before purchasing our Taylors but they just out performed the Fender, Takamine, Jasmine, Ibanez, and Several Others, Taylor was not just a Whim!! Its JUST a truly Great Guitar!

This is a new 214 grand auditorium, made in August 2003. 6 string, solid sitka top, sapele sides and back, 1-11/16?mahogany neck, with ebony fingerboard and bridge, black binding, wood rosette, die cast tuners, micarta nut, tusq saddle, 25-1/2 scale length, satin finish and comes with Taylor hard shell case. I?ve been told it is basically a 314 body mated(bolted) to a 110 neck. I chose this over the 110 because between dealers it was only around a couple hundred to upgrade, it came with a case and it is a grand auditorium, which I prefer over dreadnaughts,

I love the way this Taylor sounds. This one has only about 5 hours of playing on it now and it?s hard to put down. The crisp highs and boomy lows are well suited for my ragamuffin playing style. I like the way it projects as well, a full-bodied sound which is quite tayloresque. I do mostly flat-picking, strumming and some finger picking; I like the resonance it puts out on your leg & gut, when you clamp down on it. The strings (coated elixir?s) are a different matter though, they?re fast, they feel greasy and I keep wiping my fingers on my shirt, but they sound good.

I could be nit picky here, I bought it sight unseen, but right out of the box, I was jammin?, the setup is great, for me, kinda medium-low action, and the neck is nice for doing some bends and hammers. The top is as good as my old 510?s, which seems to be a bonus. But just below where the fretwire meets the fingerboard, there are some teeny-weeny gaps in the neck top (about 1 millimeter) a neck binding would solve that and of course jack up the price. They have tapered the fret wire ?stabs? so you don?t cut yourself; which is correct. Filling the pin sized gaps with wood putty would probably cause problems down the road, so it is perfectly fine with me. Besides a minute speck of glue on the back from the body binding, which my fingernail removed in 2.2 seconds, I?m a very pleased puppy.

I don?t know much about using a Taylor for live playing but I would say after several catastrophic failures with other acoustics, usually my fault (broken strings, battery died), I?d feel very safe gigging with this guitar, without a backup. I bought this guitar for a ?couch? guitar, so I never planned on gigging with it, now I ?m thinking different, and will probably get a ?big baby? for the couch and use this one for gigs. I?m pretty confident.

In the past, back in ?97 I ordered a 714,from a local Ohio dealer;(not my current dealer) the cedar top had a faint stain ?winespot? on the top about the size of a pack of cigarettes. I wrote Taylor and got a response, saying it was normal aging, but if I was dissatisfied with it I could send it back to them for an evaluation, to avoid shipping hassles, I sold it shortly after. With my DR & 510 I have had no problems whatsoever. The DR still sounds great, and the 510 recently did a head on collision with a trucker from Wilkes-Barre, PA. A buddy of mine, who needed a good guitar. Keep on truckin? Lil? 510. I have too many dreadnaughts.

I?ve been playing for about 20 years now and this would be my fourth Taylor I?ve owned, I did my research and found what I wanted, a grand auditorium that I could play and not worry about scuffing it up. I own a ton of gear and acoustic wise, I went on an acoustic buying spree in the past years, where I bought the closeout acoustics and acoustic/electrics from internet dealers, for around $250 and after a while they were being donated to hospice and drug rehab clinics cause they sucked. I?ve waited patiently for this guitar to be made, and had considered others but my patience paid off. If it was pooched and I was still playing I would definitely replace it. It is the sequential Taylor guitar; they started the Grand auditorium way back when; and now they?ve moved here. This could be the guitar that Johnny opens on X-mas and/or the wife gets because she scuffed your 914, and it won?t set you back because they hold their value. This is my opinion, and we know what opinions are like, besides the nose on your face. Try one out.