Taylor Guitars 314

'06 Taylor 314 Grand Auditorium. No cutaway; no pickups.
Solid loss sitka spruce UV cured polyester gloss finished top with lots of silk (crossgrain, from very vertical grain) on this particular bookmatched top.
Satin finished solid African mahogany (sapele) body. Dark wood binding with white/black trim.
Bound head w "Taylor" sealed chrome tuners; unbound ebony fretboard with 20 medium frets; 1.75" wide tusc nut. Tropic American mahogany neck: C-shape.
NT bolt-neck design for easy resets if ever needed.
Ebony bridge with compensated for wound G tusc saddle.

Nice arched hardshell snug fitting Taylor case with 5 latches.

Great all around spruce/mahogany flat-top bright and spanky sound for flatpicking. Full bodied sound for fingerpicking.
I use regular Fender heavy flat picks for a variety of styles from chord-melody Jazz to whamming away rhythm work.
This 314 is articulate and clear, with good (though not overpowering like a Jumbo or Dreadnought) bass response. Nicely balanced for lush chords and melody work.
I use bare fingers for fingerpicking various styles from Travis-picking to Latin and arpeggios, plus chord-melody.
For fingerstyle it is warm and balanced, with a nice rich and complex tone, even with light Exiler Nano strings.
The bass response gets richer with John Pearse light Phos Brz.

The highest frets require paying attention to your pressure, otherwise they lose a bit of sustain and tone, way high on the fretboard extension. Just a technique adjustment evens it out.

I don't think you can get better fit and crisper lines than Taylor.
The intonation is spot on, except for the Bass E string with Elixer Nanos, which is slightly flat at the 12th fret, relative to the 12th harmonic. Not a big deal to me. Who cares on an acoustic?
The intonation generally is better than many guitars I've had. Surprizingly good in fact.
The only reason I mention the low E intonation is not because it's a problem, but because it's the only string (slightest bit) out at the 12th fret!
That's exceptional in a flat-top acoustic guitar.

The NT neck joint design is a great thing, IMHO.
Most flat-top guitars will need a neck reset, sooner or later.
If you're not the original owner with a warranty and a receipt, it can be very expensive.
Taylor has solved that headache with their bolted design, which still manages to preserve the tone, power, and sustain, in the sound.

I won't ever again buy a traditional dove-tailed neck joint flat-top guitar, used!

I bought it used.
I expect nothing from Taylor with this guitar, as I am not the original owner.

Taylor does allow a one time warranty transfer on Limited Edition models.
This guitar is not a Limited Edition: just an off the rack (used) 314.

Original owners get a Lifetime warranty for the usual material flaws and workmanship issue. Pretty standard among reputable brands.

I've shied away from flat-top acoustics for a long time after I bought a beat and abused (used) 1976 Martin D-18 that needed a neck reset within a year after I traded for it.
Since I was not the original owner I had no recourse to Martin, and could not afford to pay for it out of pocket. I took a bath on it when I traded it off.
Sometime later -after a few archtop and many electric bolt-neck guitars- I tried a Tacoma Roadking (it has a bolt-on, and therefore able to be shimmed, neck joint). But was not happy with the sound.

I tried a couple Larrivee flat-tops (new), and they were alright, but eventually I just drifted away from owning any acoustic guitars for quite a few years.

After many electric guitars I eventually got a Taylor T5 (acoustic/electric hybrid), and was impressed by the building concepts they used on it. So I tried out a few Taylor acoustics in a store and was favorably impressed with their sound and playability.

I couldn't afford a solid wood model so was looking at the 200 series, when this particular 314 became available at a price I could swing.
I love its sound and playability, looks, size, and woods.
I would have preferred gloss finish on the body too, but am happy it has the gloss top at least.

THis baby is the most incridible thing, i ever played.....i'm not sure what year it was made in....but it has 1 3/4 neck, with a venetian cutaway, that has the prefix fishman pickups on it, 16th inch body width, 20inch body lenght, 41 inchs overall lenght, the neck is made out of tropical American Mahogany, and headstocks overlay is indian rosewood, and chrome taylor tuners, truss rode ajustable, and a finish with a satin with gloss top. And may come with the case, but my didn't come with the case, for a cheaper price.

THis guitar is one of the best sounding and it fits the price too. with a very bright sound like most taylor does, this one has that soothy sound to my ears. Unlike martins, the sound is not isolated, and not too tight. the shape of this guitar makes it easyier to fit the sound that it produces. I play with a band at chruch, on stage....and it's one of the best instruments up there, with contemperary christian, and praising the Lord hasn't been better, with this guitar in hand, you will turn heads with it.....or at least atract people's eyes. ANd when i'm at home i use an amp, with is a small amp, made by fender, and i don't even have to touch the settings on the amp....i just fix the ones built in to the guitar and it will fit my ears.

THis guitar, when i first got it, the strings were hitting on the frets alittle, but with the adjustable neck i can just solve that problem. But one hard part is keeping up with the climate changes....and humitity around MN, is very dry somtimes. But It's not really hard. Other than that i didn't have much problem with this guitar.

THis guitar can sit up stage for like hours and withstand the hot lights that are shining right at it....though it isn't good to expose it to hot lights too long. I would say this guitar can last you a life time, it all depends how you take care of it. ANd the finish of this guitar looks like one of those guitar where it was plated gold. I would rely on this guitar for years, until i get my new one.

I never had problems yet, and had never talked or had contact with the company yet. and i hope i would never will call them to ask for repairs, but we'll see. The store that sold this guitar to me was all that helpful...i had to go online and found out what i should do...they seem that all they wanted was the money. But i guess it's just the person who sold me it.

My whole life i would never think of trying to afford one guitar such as this one....but i'm only 15, and i've been playing for only for years. And i've bought this guitar jsut after new years, and the first time i walked in and saw that 314ce taylor sold for $999.99, i jsut had to have it...i bargin and got it down to $789. without the hardshell case(which i already have a hardshell case) and was satisfy with the price i paid for this guitar.

Made in El Cajon, California, the Taylor 314 has a solid sitka spruce top (gloss finish), with solid sapele back and sides (satin finish). The neck is mahogany, with an ebony fretboard. Grover tuners. The strap buttons are solidly mounted, however, the rear one is oversized, and is difficult to hook to the strap (I had to cut my strap slot larger) this, of course, is very minor. The 314 has an "Auditorium" style body, that is, it has a narrower waist, a style well-suited for flat-picking techiniques. The case is also made by Taylor, perfectly fit, and bullet proof! It did not come with a humidifier, however, so I purchased one by Planet Waves.

I play varying styles from Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, and Rock, and this guitar covers the ground when an acoustic sound is needed. When I went out to purchase an acoustic, I went through the managerie at the store. I played Martins, Tacomas, Gibsons, and Taylors. Of these four brands, the Taylors had the brightest, clearest, and most distinctive sound. That was the main reason I purchased the 314. The intonation of the guitar is outstanding. It has terrific projection, and these carries even into the upper registers. There is nothing I don't like about the sound of this guitar.

The action from the factory was very good, however, it was a little lower than I normally like, so, I made a slight relief adjustment to the neck and now it's perfect (for me, that is.)
The fit is very good. The neck joint is fitted very well, there is no glue visible anywhere on mine. It is really bookmatched: mine has a very small and faint knot in the spruce top that is mirrored on the oposite side. The color and dimension of all the woods used are beautiful. However, if you want something flashy, the 314 is not it. It has a very basic rosette and binding, and a plain headstock. No frills here. Personally, I like that in an acoustic.
The finish is great. The gloss top is very tough, but be careful of the satin back and sides. I imagine that they can scratch easily. I try not to wear big belt buckles when I play, to avoid scratches.

When I first handled the guitar, it just felt tough. The Martin Auditorium style seemed a little "frail" to me. I don't play gigs or anything like that, so I can't say whether or not it could handle it. My opinion is that it would. My brother comes over, he's a heavy strummer, and it takes his beatings well.
The hardware is sturdy, and the top finish can take punishment. As I mentioned before, the satin back and sides should be handled a little more gently. The pickguard takes the brunt of punishment anyway, so there's little chance of damaging the top.
The stap buttons are quite sturdy, but I would prefer a smaller one at the bottom of the guitar.
I depend on this guitar. It stays in tune (even after my brother's assault) and is always faithful.
If I played gigs, I don't think that the 314 would let me down.

I had never owned a solid-wood acoustic before, and I was concerned about humidity levels (despite Taylor's guide pamphlets that came with the guitar.) So, I wrote a letter to Taylor. Four days later, I received a phone call from a representative, who was very helpful and friendly, who, after talking for about forty minutes (long distance - CA to NJ) invited me to call back anytime with any other questions. The fact that they were very responsive to my query, shows to me that they stand by their product.
Since the guitar comes with a Lifetime warranty, I imagine I'll be calling them sometime, if I ever need help.

I have been playing guitar for over 25 years, in many different genres. I am a proud American, and like to buy American made, whenever possible. I also own a Hamer "Newport," a Parker "Fly" (both American made), and an Epiphone "Scroll." I play the Taylor and the Hamer the most. Both outstanding guitars.
I was very careful in my decision when I was shopping for an acoustic, and I do not regret buying the Taylor 314. It is a tremendous value with tremendous tone. The Martins I played had a deep sound, the Gibsons were kind of dull, the Tacomas were too bassy. The 314 was the perfect balance. I don't have a single favorite feature. My purchase hinged on a combination of playability, sound, and durability. I think that the 314 captures all these as well as an acoustic possibly can.
If I ever lost this guitar, after 100 days of mourning, I'd buy another one just like it, even if higher end models became cheaper.
I think that nothing compares to solid-wood sound. But I think that Taylor (and other solid wood guitar companies) would do well to supply each guitar with an in-case hygrometer and humidifier. Some people would not buy (or may not know to buy) these essential preventive maintenance items.

Overall, the Taylor 314 is an outstanding guitar, well worth the money.

this is a 2002 314 made in El Cajon Ca.
it is a twenty fret solid sitka top no electronics.
it has sapele sides and back solid wood through out. Ebony fretboard and ebony bridge with ebony bridge pins. It is a Grand Auditorium model. It has Grover tuners. It came with a nicely padded case that fits the guitar very well. It is a tight fit to say the least. This guitar has no room to bump around in this case. It is the most sturdy and form fitting case I have ever seen. and overall I give this guitar and its accesories a ten because I love it all.

I play instrumental originals that work in spanish and jazz mixed with classical. I would say ecclectic is the way to describe what I do. This guitar works very well for me this way. I like this guitar because it promotes playing. It is very easy to hear the chords I play from one to the next. They double up on each other and I hear things that I have never heard before in other guitars. There are harmonics to be had everywhere. ghosts.
It is a brighter sounding guitar. And I guess (from what Ive read in other reviews) this is attributed to the ebony. The strings are nanoweb so they will sound zippier than polyweb elixirs. I like the sound alot.

The neck on this guitar is straight! its wonderfully straight. The heel fits into the body pocket perfectly. I could see just a bit of white line (soft seal) along the heel next to the body, but it wasnt even worth mentioning. I have a keen eye on this thing alot. Its easy on the eyes! The top is bookmatched well. The grain is super tight in the middle where the strings stretch over and eventually the grain widens out. I like to think that it is an incarnation of the way a soundwave looks as it decays. This is just on my guitar though so Im going from what I got. I saw only a couple spots of glue between the saw ridges on the kerfing and none of it touched the back's wood at all. Fantastic workmanship! I opted for the 314 because the 214 had a narrower neck. I dont have huge hands at all and this guitar works well. My fingers have room to wiggle around when I need to fake a chord in there. Great action. Up until I played this guitar I used custom light elixirs, but the lights work good, and they are the gauge recommended so I will stick with them and get stronger.

this guitar will withstand live playing. I just played a gig at the local coffee house and I didnt forsee any problems. I guess I dont understand the question. If you humidify your guitar as you should your guitar will last for as long as you own it. Just take aim at the humidity for the first three years you own your guitar and the problems down the line will not exsist. The hardware is grover and grover makes gnarly tuners. We all know this. The finish is satin on back and sides and neck and gloss on top. The finish will work out just fine. I have not dinged it yet (thank god) but I think the gloss top will take it on the chin and do its job. Crap happens. The strap buttons are good. the one on the body block is black aluminum. If I would have a complaint it would be that the one used on the heelblock should have been black not silver. Im not going to rish losing wood in the skrew hole to change it though. Im not an anus about that stuff anyway so who really gives. Form and function and down with fashion. serves its purpose.
I can depend on this guitar cus I and it are closely related. I play it and it gives back everything I put into it and more. It has very complex tones and sounds that make me go in different directions. gigging without a backup is no prob. I have and will cus this baby is all I got!

I have been playing for around eleven years. I own a les paul junior special and a La Patrie classical. I play through a fender deville 410.
If this guitar were stolen I would understand why. Its a perfectly priced beautifully made guitar. It would be coveted. I would not buy another one though. I would buy a less expensive Taylor 110 and feel lucky for have owned a 314. Then I would feel like crap for months.
I played a 414 a 110 Taylor a martin D-16 and a 214 Taylor in preparation to buy this guitar. I really only played them to satiate my conscience. I was going to buy the 314 all along because I researched its craftmanship and read tons of reviews. Do yourself a favour and send away for the free video from Taylor. You will see what is put into those guitars and maybe come away thinking Bob Taylor is the Edison of guitar builders. I think so. I guess I just love Taylor guitars a little too much. They are modern marvels and since they are basically modular and so precisely built by the Taylor robots its hard to reason why anything else less dependable and similar sounding at best, would be desired. I am a Taylor head. OK. sorry, but i found what I was after.

Sapele back and sides, no electronics from taylor, added a K&K Pure system.....Grover Tuners, (great!!) Top made of engelmann...I think.
I always get them and sitka mixed up.
No fancy stuff on this guitar....just the good sound.

I play strumming and some fingerpicking stuff....Goo goo dolls, Dave Matthews, et al. I give it a 9 only to be realistic.....this things got bassy tones, while keeping that Taylor clarity. not bassy like my 810, but it IS smaller guitar.
Remember tho, gutiars vary, even ones made the exact same on the same day.
play a few, see what you like.

Action is great, needs a neck reset, but that's kinda like a car alignment....just needs to be done once every few years.
top is fairly well book matched, beautiful for a 300 series taylor.
these things are PERFECT from the factory. no ifs, ands, or buts.

I've played live many times with this....GREAT sound. for a smaller
body style, this tihng moves some air.
the finish is durable, as are the strap buttons.
I have, and will continue to gig with out a back up.....
CARRY EXTRA STRINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and a string winder and get good at using them.

I'm going to have the neck reset......not sure on costs,
it's not a defect or anything like that.
Taylor is known for it's lifetime warranty.....they've fixed my 810
twice with GREAT results. none better

I've been palying for 4 years and I own a Les Paul 75 deluxe, a nashville deluxe tele, a taylor 810, and this 314. soon will own a Mesa Boogie. I HAVE owned and 815ce, and I like this 314 MUCH better.
just more responsive, and over plays better.
if it were stolen/smashed, I'd cry, kill the guy who did it, sell my car and buy another one.:)

As other entries have already described, this is a solid wood grand auditorium style guitar with a spruce top and mahogony back and sides. It has a gloss top finish and satin finish on the back and sides. It has Grover tuners and came with a hardshell case. I personally don't like the idea of having a hole drilled in the side of a beautiful solid wood guitar and as such, opted not to get the onboard electronic model (314CE). I had an active saddle pickup installed a 1/2-year after purchasing the guitar.

I typically play blues and fingerstyle music and this guitar is very suited for both. I've found the guitar to be extremely flexible in playing different music styles. It sounds great strumming and even better fingerpicking. This guitar accentuates individual notes beautifully ringing them out in bright, bell-like tones. The only partially negative comment would be that the bass response is not that of my roommate's Martin D-15. Rest assured, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this Taylor's bass, it just isn't quite as rich as the Martin (a typical distinction). I would say overall the sound of this guitar is amazing, and even more so considering I only paid $800.

Although guitar was setup fine from the factory, I had a local shop grind the nut a bit when my pickup was installed. This particular guitar has numerous "bear claws" in the grain but I think makes it look all the better and unique. Although somewhat "plain" with respect to appointments , this guitar defines elegant simplicity. In typical Taylor fashion, playability on this thing is second to none. Oh and another thing, if you keep the guitar in its case (as one should), you'll enjoy the added benefit of olfactory sensation in addition to great sound. The guitar smells great!

Seems to be very solidly constructed and although I don't gig per se, I would say it could easily withstand live playing.

Haven't had a need to contract Taylor but have heard good things from those who have.

I've been playing for 6 years and also own an American Standard Strat. I should have bought this guitar WAY before I did as it is one of those guitars that makes you want to play all the time. If it were lost I would definitely get another Taylor and probably the same model (incredible value at under $1K!) I tried numerous guitar makes and models prior to buying this one and came to the rapid conclusion that there are no other guitars available at this price that have this sound and quality. Not only is it reasonably priced, it sounds IMHO just as good as most of the $2K+ guitars. The ONLY element of the guitar I wish were different is the bass. If the bass were a bit richer and deeper, well then it'd be a perfect world and we all know it ain't that.

After 12 years of being out of the market, I sold two electrics and went looking at new and used acoustic guitars in the $600-800 range trying to find one that sounded great and would also maintain good resale value. Unfortunately I found out how much crap some of the big name companies put out in that price range (including Martin and Guild), and most of the used stuff just wasn?t in good enough condition to get me interested. So I shifted to looking for mostly all-solid-wood designs in the ?under $1000? class. The 314 materials are as good as any in that range, with the added feature of an ebony fretboard where many guitars in this class use rosewood. Nothing fancy here ? just dot inlays, plain headstock and average soundhole cosmetics - but this is a first rate guitar. For looks, I like the grand auditorium body style and the mix of a natural top, black fretboard, and sapele sides.

I would not bother to write this if there wasn?t something exceptional about the 314. There is a great new guitar store in the Pittsburgh area with an isolated acoustic guitar room. I must have tried two dozen models in there from $599 to $2499 ? Martins, Tacomas, Taylors, Gibsons, and Larrivees. Most were dreadnoughts with maybe 3-4 in other body styles. I was hoping to stay around $800 but I was willing to go a little higher for a substantial sound improvement. Anyway, after an hour or so I was agonizing over the choice between a Tacoma DM-18 or a somewhat more expensive Taylor 310. Both are all-solid-wood construction, both very nice, and both under $1000. Then at the end of the night I picked up the Taylor 314 and it played itself. The neck and action were perfect, the sound was perfectly balanced, and lines were coming out easily that I was inconsistent with on some of the other models. This is one of those rare guitars that you can hardly improve on at twice the price. When I picked up a new Martin HD-35 earlier, I could tell it was in another league both in terms of feel and sound. But if the HD-35 is a 10 in sound, the Taylor 314 has to be a 9.85. The rest of the expensive guitar wannabes in the low-mid price range are 9 to 9.5 at best. So I tested the thing for 3 evenings and went $70 over the high end of my budget, but I?m damn happy I did.

Again, the 314 is not in the same league as an HD-35, but it has fabulous action and construction, and outstanding finish for its price class. It would be a disservice to rate it a 9. Taylor also provides very clear instructions for changing the action.

The only issue of any kind is that the sound of the 314 (to my ear anyway) is more noticeably affected than most others if you?re stuck playing it when it?s substantially out of tune. The second night I tested it there were 4-5 other customers in there playing guitars tuned to all sorts of different pitches, and I just couldn?t hear well enough to get the 314 where I wanted it. The guitar seemed so average that night that I went back to choosing between the DM-18 and the 310 (which were also out of tune I?m sure). But on the third night I was there alone, and once the 314 was tuned up it started playing itself again and the other guitars went by the wayside. If you never get caught in situations where you?re having trouble tuning, then at least take this as fair warning - you might mistake this gem as being pretty average if you just pull it off the rack and strum a few chords without bothering to get it properly tuned up. As far as durability goes, I can only tell you that it feels more substantial than say, a Martin 000-16GT or the Tacoma DM-18, and the resulting sound seems more stable and richer.

I am used to leaving email or voicemail questions with customer service reps and either never getting an answer back or getting one back about 2 days later. Taylor is very quick to respond and the reps are both knowledgeable and personable. I don?t think you?ll ever get someone on the line there with an attitude, or anyone who doesn?t really know their stuff.

If you can spend about $1000 (even if it?s a bit of a stretch) then you should absolutely try this guitar. And unless for some reason your ear demands the boomier or twangy-er sounds that some other guitars will give you, you should buy the Taylor 314. It is perfectly balanced and it blows the doors off some big name instruments in the $1200 to $1800 price class. If it didn?t have a tag on it I wouldn?t have believed it was in the same price range as the competitive Martins, Larrivees, and Tacomas ? in any body shape. For some reason that I can?t explain, even Taylor?s own 310 and 510 can?t touch it. CHECK IT OUT!

2000 model year; NT Neck design; sapelle back and sides; solid spruce top. This is a simple Grand Auditorium, no electronics, although I added a Fishman Rare Earth p/u (which sounds so natural you cannot even tell its amplified). There is nothing fancy about this guitar, it is basic, but extremely high quality basic. I would rate it a 10 but it does not have any fancy gizmos and that seems to be the relevant criteria in this rating category. But rest assured, This is a top-notch guitar

This is the main reason I am writing this review-- to help to DISPEL the rumor that this model is somehow an inferior "entry level" Taylor. THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL GUITAR-- THIS INSTRUMENT CREATES WONDERFUL MUSIC. I play mostly fingerstyle: some blues, folk, acoustic rock. I also own other Taylors: 814BCE, 614CE, 510 and a K22 (as well as a Takamine, and of course the electrics--Gibson Les Paul and ES 335). Yes, they all have their own unique sounds. But the reason I'm sold on Taylor is that the ALL sound wonderful, even though they all sound different. The 314 is no exception. It is incredibly balanced with a full rich tone all the way from bass to highest notes. And even though I've only been playing it for about 4 months, the sound board is already beginning to open up (or is it my imagination??) This has become my workhorse guitar...the one I leave out full time and pick up when I have a couple of spare moments, or when I'm working out some new songs, etc. And it sounds just as good as all my other Taylors, just different--it has its own unique voice. And you cannot beat the price/value.

The guitar is flawless. I did adjust the truss rod a bit to lower the action, but I do that with every guitar I buy...I do not consider that a flaw in the factory setup, just a personal preference. The neck action is quick and effortless, as Taylor is known for. The only minor critique is that one of the tiny screws holding the truss rod cover had been stripped (actually the screw wasn't stripped, the hole in the wood just lost its threads).

Feels well made and solid. Haven't broken it yet and it is, as I mentioned, my workhorse.

Taylor seems to have a reputation for being responsive. Every time I have called customer service, they have taken their time and actually engaged in a conversation, rather than simply succinctly answering a question. They bend over backwards to supply information. More than once I have called with a serial number of a used guitar I was thinking of buying, and they would look it up and give me all the details (including who the last registered owner was).

This is one heck of a guitar for less than $900. I've been plucking guitars for over 20 years now, and as mentioned above, I own several, so I can compare them pretty well. There is nothing cheap about this guitar or the sounds it produces both amplified and unamplified. It is a (relatively) inexpensive guitar. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

This guitar is of January, 1999 vintage, and, as such, will certainly require some time to break in, and I intend to enjoy, no, make that relish, each and every minute. This is a solid wood American-made guitar with no frills or factory supplied electronics. A compensated-bridge(saddle) and very nice stock, Grover tuners together with a very functional neck help make this an excellent players guitar. i.e. stays in tune and holds pitch at all fretted positions. A Taylor-made (pun intended) case accompanied this purchase to its new home

I looked off and on for several years for an acoustic guitar to fill a certain niche. I wanted a guitar that would record well whether flat picking, chording, flamenco style, finger picking, or doing slide work. Unfortunately, I was trying to force a Dreadnought guitar into this niche. A very good friend suggested I try the Grand Auditorium size, and sure enough, there it was. The volume response of this guitar is fairly independent of string and fret location, and responds uniformly to plucking pressure. Moving from open chord positions to barred fret positions is relatively painless from a note volume standpoint. I use a Neuman U-87 for slide work, and a Rode NT-2 for all other styles. In general, a tube pre-amp and compressor/limiter/noise gate preceed the board. This guitar records beatifully, and accepts digital enhancements readily via channel inserts or stereo effect loops.

When I auditioned this guitar, the factory and/or in-house luthier set-up was pretty good. After a few practice sessions, I noticed, however, that the high E-string was misbehaving. I had it checked out, and this string had settled in at an elevation 1/16th of an inch lower than the adjacent B-string. This was especially irritating during slide play. Currently, there is a teeny little shim under the saddle while i await my new saddle. Gotta have that bone-on-wood sound.

This is the most moisture sensitive instrument I have ever encountered. I have never been a huge fan of sticking a wet tube inside of my guitars, but I am certainly obliging this one with a damp-it.

I have not dealt with the manufacturer, nor do I think it likely that I ever will. I believe an acoustic guitar to be a very personal instrument, and as such, if the people at the point of purchase are not willing to work with you, a different retailer should be in your future.

I have been playing for 35 years, 32 of that professionally (well, at least for money). Please do not be fooled by those who would try to have you believe that the Taylor 314 is an entry level guitar. It is indeed one of the less expensive Taylors, yet it has a unique and wonderful sound quality together with physical qualities which help make this guitar as top-of the-line as any guitar you'll encounter. I have an ever expanding assortment of electric and acoustic instruments, including: mandolin, banjo, dobro, strat, ES-347,etc., as well as recording and performance gear This Taylor 314 is a most welcome addition. Music is a very big part of my life, and this Taylor makes music.

1998 Grand Auditorium Acoustic made in the U.S. of A. Solid sitka spruce top, solid sapele mahogany sides and back, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, ebony bridge, pearl dot inlays, black binding. All wood is bookmatched and quarter-sawn (I kid you not). 20 frets, grover tuners. Fairly wide but thin neck. No cutaway or electronics on this model (that would be a 314CE). Comes with a very snug, nice Taylor case. And all for $800 -- incredible.

This is about the cheapest guitar you can get made with solid woods and solid woods means great sound. The Grand Auditorium size means its a versatile guitar, but slightly favors picking over strumming: the notes ring out clearly and perfectly --not too shrill -- when finger-picked; the low-end is a bit lacking when strummed, as could be expected with the body size. It's also a bit quiet. However, it's an easy compromise if you don't want to buy a concert and a dreadnought. I've had the guitar only three months, so I'm not sure how age will affect the sound. This model was easily the best-sounding in the price range (under $1000) that I played (Larrivee, Martin -- in fact Martins in this price range use laminates). Everyone who hears the guitar immediately loves the sound. It's very warm.

The book-matching was excellent. Facing the guitar, the right side is slightly darker than the left and you can see the change in shade through the middle of the guitar. I could detect absolutely no flaws in the guitar except that it was (I believe mistakenly) stamped 314CE when it is in fact only a 314 (no cutaway). I had seen Taylors in catalogs or on tv and thought they were ugly, but in person the woods are beautiful and the lack of decor in this price range was no consideration for me. I'm not much of a decoration type. Again, everyone who sees the guitar thinks it's gorgeous. The guitar is very playable with a friendly neck (although a bit wide), an ebony fretboard and comfortable shape.

I think you should opt for the electronic version if you want to play live. I don't play live and I think all acoustics suffer from inserting electronics. The grover tuners seem fine. This size guitar is fairly quiet.

I've had no dealings, but the paperwork that came with the guitar was far better than any other company I've ever seen. It was actually helpful. It is under warranty but right now I can't remember how long.

I own a fairly new Fender American Standard Stratocaster, a 1980 Gibson Les Paul Custom, and an Epiphone acoustic. I wanted to upgrade my acoustic and I shopped around for a long time. In my price range, it boiled down to Larrivee and Taylor if I wanted solid wood. The Larrivees were more ornate but didn't sound as good to my ear. Plus, the Larrivees seemed to have strange reviews on this website. The Taylors have a no-frills look but a great sound. I defy anyone to find a better value in acoustic guitars. I will have a hard time not buying another Taylor when I buy my next acoustic (I want a 12-string jumbo -- Taylor makes several and they're all great). In fact, it's too bad the Taylor models all look so much alike or I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.