Taylor Guitars 414-CE

This is a 2003 414ce L2 ltd (indian rosewood). it features the expression system. I originally picked up the ovangkol 414ce but talked the music store into finding me the limited rosewood version for a lil more cash, it was well worth it even though the sounds are very similiar

the sound on this thing is amazing. the first time i played a taylor i wasnt too impressed with the sound. i was like, woah, this sounds really clean but it has no personality. well that was about 4 years ago and here i am with a taylor of my own. yeah, it still has the clean sound but it also has the personality to go with it. i guess i really didnt know what i was looking for back then as ive been playing for about 9 years now (what was i thinking back then?). anyways, if there is a taylor dealer near your area i highly recommend you go and try a few taylors out on your own. they are amazing and i will own mine for a lifetime!!!

the action and fit are perfection. the finish is sumblime. there are no fancy spancy inlays, this guitar is a play jane. but its a taylor plain jane which says alot. very beautifuly guitar. sometimes i just open up the case and stare at the guitar.

this guitar seems like its ready for the long haul. its well crafted and seems to be well put together. ive yet to experience the electronics on this badboy but im sure the warrarnty will cover everything.

ive called taylor actually a few times since ive purchased the guitar (about a month.) and i have to say the customer support is incredible. they actually have real people who answer your calls. not some automated system or mail inquiry that takes days to get a hold of someone. you can talk to someone right away. my question was about my warranty and about humidity and they answered both my questions in a very timely question. EXCELLENT SERVICE.

Ive been playing guitar for close to 10 years now and decided it was so much apart of my life that i needed a quality instrument to take me to the next level. taylor was my choice and im not at all dissapointed with that decision. the guitar sounds incredible and will easily last a lifetime.

Brand new 414CE with the Fishman blender. I applaud taylor for including cases with their instrumnets (even if the cost is built int the price of the guitar). I can't imagine what additional features I would want on an acoustic.

I have been wanting a Taylor for years; the acoustic sound I like is tight bass with ringing clear highs, and just a little bit of punch in the middle. Which seems to match up with Taylors, in general. I am still figuring out which settings I like best on the "blender", but I have played this giutar through an acoustic guitar amp and a PA with a full band and been satisfied. Only thing I could want is a bigger sound (like a jumbo) - but my wife got me this one!

Perfect out of the box (and it did come to me shipped from the factory, unopened by the music store).

I know I will be able to depend on this guitar but I do always carry a spare. In 20+ years of playing I have only needed spares due to broken strings (which stopped happening about 10 years ago - either strings got better or I finally got my guitars set up properly).

No experience - but their web site is pretty useful.

I have been playing guitar for 25 years with LOT of stage and studio time in those years. My guitars: Taylor 414CE, late 70s Ibanez Artist, mid 70s Ibanez Tele, Fender '72 Tele Thinline (MIJ reissue), Gibson Chet Atkins SST, Gibson Spirit, Yamaha Bass, Suzuki classical, Ibanez AW100ce. Amps: SWR california Blonde (for the acoustics) and a Fender Vibro-King custom shop amp.

If this guitar dissapeared, I might replace it with a jumbo.

Only gripe is that Taylor's don't drop much in price over the years (great if you already own one), so it is hard to pick up one for a price that most folks can afford. I do consider these guitars to be expensive, but since I prefer them to all the other expensive guitars (martin, Guild, etc..), I guess they are a good value.

cutaway auditorium, spruce top, ovangkul back/sides, factory pickup system.

extremely good projection of sound, full mids-highs with good bass response for body size. Amplified has ablility to produce very faithfull acoustic tones.

I looked at several 414's and narrowed my selection down to 2 guitars,both top notch sonically speaking, went with my particular guitar based on very pleasing grain pattern on sides/back. set up-great (not sure about string choice as yet), fit&finish were absolutely perfect-not one flaw from top of headstock to jack/endpin!

i am very easy on my instruments. primarily finger pick, so hopefully finish will hold up well. With quality of materials, and construction/finishing i feel that treated with the love and appreciation one should bestow to any fine instrument, this one will last infinately longer than it's new owner.

The dealer i purchased from is old friend and primary source for most of my guitars. The fact that he is a taylor fanatic is good enough for me. If there were problems with luthier, or customers experienced problems-they would simply not be hanging in his shop-period.

i have been playing for 40 years and have been in music retail off and on over the years. As a result i have been able to sample a wide range of guitars (some WAY out of my own $ range). I had heard,read many accounts of Taylor guitars and now I can add my 2 cents to the mix. Yes, they are all that I heard they would be and more. I don't believe i have ever played an acoustic that delivered more true value
than the Taylors.

2003 Taylor 414-CE made in El Cajon, California. This is the normal 414-CE with ovangkol back and sides, and not a LTD model. Solid bookmatched gloss sitka spruce top with solid ovangkol satin-finished back and sides. Equipped with Fishman stereo blender pickup and EQ. 25.5" scale and ebony fretboard and bridge. At this price and quality, I'll give it a "10".

The sound is incredible. Rich. Full. The sound of ovangkol is very similar to rosewood, and the bass is just as nice. As the guitar has aged, the sound has continued to improve. To me, it sounds as nice as a east indian rosewood guitar (and I own a 914-CE L1 to compare it to!) I wish there was a rating higher than "10". . . :-)

Perfect setup, right out of the box. No runs, no drips, no errors.

Very dependable. Have played it out without a backup (Not in a honkey tonk or rough bar, mind you). I expect this guitar to outlive me, and in 40 or 50 years, a neck reset will only take 5 minutes thanks to the NT neck.

Never have dealt with Taylor customer service, but their reputation is the best in the business.

This guitar is top-notch. I would buy another in a heartbeat if I needed to. It compares very well to my Taylor 914-CE L1 LTD and Martin D-1. Not a fancy guitar, but a very professional instrument in a conservative package. Now if Taylor would only make all of the 300 series and up with full gloss finish. . .

Mine is a 2002 414CE, purchased in January of 2002. Solid Sitka Spruce top, solid ovangkol back and sides. At that time, the Fishman Blender was not standard on this model, so I upgraded to it, since it was the best pickup system Taylor offered at the time. Definitely worth the money. Had to wait a couple weeks as the store had to order is that way from the factory...worth the wait. Top has gloss finish, back and sides are satin finish Comes with Taylor Hardcase, which is a nice case, though I've had a little trouble with the handle, the connector piece on one side tends to bend and come partly loose, but it's not a big problem.

The guitar sounds great. A friend of mine who has a pretty picky ear noted that he was impressed that it sounded as good as it did for a new guitar, very full with good bass response.. That means it should only get better with age. I usually play un-amplified at home, and it sounds best that way. But it also sounds good through an amplifier. I've used it through an Ampeg Reverberocket that I used to own, as well as my new Mesa F-50. Never tried it through an acoustic amp.

The factory set-up was great, no need to tamper with it, great action. Back is well bookmatched. My only complaint is that one fret on the high e-string was a bit high, and would mute the string if fretted just below it. Easily fixed with a file, but a little inconvenient nonetheless. Also, the intonation on the b-string is not quite where it should be, so I'm a little disappointed in that, but it wasn't worth the 2-hour trip back to the dealer, or the postage to mail it, to get it fixed. I usually don't notice it.

Built very solidly. I have gigged several times with it without a backup and will continue to do so. I have no qualms here.

Haven't corresponded with them here, so have nothing to base a judgement on.

I've been playing for about 18 years. I own a couple of electric guitars (Fender Strat and Charvel Surfcaster) and a Mesa Boogie F-50 amp as well as a Yamaha DG Stomp digital pre-amp. Before this I had Takamine for a few months, and for 12 years before that I owned a Sigma SDR-28 (and an Alvarez for a year or so). This guitar totally outclasses any of those, but then they were all lower priced guitars. I love the body shape, the woods, the tone, the playability (works well for both fingerstyle and pick playing, of which I do both) and am quite satisfied with the electronics, though am intrigued by Taylor's new pickup system, but I wouldn't install it on this guitar. If this guitar was lost or stolen, I would very likely replace it with another Taylor. If I had the cash, I would probably get one of the higher models, but if not I would very likely go with the 414CE again.

i just picked this guitar up yesterday, after trying it for a week or so i decided it was for me. it's a 2003 with the new pickup system init the only one under 500 series that does, for now. in case you don't know the new system has three or four pickups taylor gives a special cable for the guitar through a pa you can get the sound in stereo very sweet.

i was looking to add an acoustic/electric to my rig. this guitar fits wonderfully. i use an akai headrush and various other pedals as well through a zoom mrs 1200 for more effects and recording. sometimes i put it through a hot rod fender deluxe, although i hear you should never put an acoustic through tube amps, a very bad feedback issue.
the sound is great. what i love is the action it feels like an electric gives a unique sound for acoustic.

love the action no question the best action for acoustic.

seems sturdy i've heard if you want a guitar to beat on don't go with taylor there a nice gig sort of instrument. a good guitar to beat on it a gibson..

i e-mailed the registration to taylor yesterday and got the confermation today... as far as i know great service

i've played for eight years. i own a strat a prs custom 24. tons of pedals a korg triton, and on and on. i'd buy it again if the pups were made in the 400's if not i'd go with 600 series. i had heard taylor has the best action and pick up system in the business. sooo true.. i wish it had a hot chocolet maker.

Purchased this 2003 414ce ltd. about a month ago. With a Sitka spruce top (Book matched) and Indian rosewood sides and back with a a gloss finish, beautiful guitar. It is loaded with the new "Expressionist" pickup system. The road case is also well built and am very pleased.

While out shopping for a mothers day gift! I happened on a music store I hadn't been too for a while, walking into the store I noticed a room full of acoustic guitars, and ended up spending about two hours playing, Taylors, Gibsons, Martins etc. When I picked up the 414ce, that was the guitar. The sound just jumped off the instrument,remember this is with the Ovanklol back and sides and Fishman pickup system, which sounded great. I haven't plugged my new guitar into a good acoustic amp. I have run it through a Roland jazz chorus 120 and a home studio setup running through a pair of Alesis monitor one mk2's and the guitar the sounded good. This guitar has a great presence, good low end and a shimmering high end. Can't wait to run it through a good acoustic amp.

I was a little put out by the finger jointed headstock, but to be honest you have to hold it in the right light to see it, the fit is perfect. The finish is flawless and the playability is superb. The action from the factory is a bit to high for my taste, but that will be an easy fix with the bolt on neck, what a great idea! As I said earlier the book matched Sitka top and Indian rosewood sides and back is stellar.

I bought this guitar to play, not as an investment. I will cry abit when it receives its first few dings and bumps, but this guitar will be with me to the end of my days. It's a great players guitar.

Hope I don't need it.

I have been playing guitar for over thirty years, I own a Fender strat, a Carvin AE-185, an Ovation custom legend and Gibson rd artist and an old Washburn acoustic. If this guitar was lost,(I doubt it) or stolen I would replace it in a heart beat!

Just got this beauty today. Made in 2003 in Southern Cal. Solid everywhere with a beautiful burly flame back in ovangkol. Fishman Blender system. Pretty much everything else has been amptly covered here previously.

This is what sold the guitar. I was determined to be open minded and was looking at some of the Martins. It may have been the sorry quality strings they came with but they all sounded dead to me. But when I picked up this guitar and played it for about twenty seconds I knew it was the one. I had tried other Taylors but as I've heard so many times "This one rang like a bell" The sound just leaped out. I'm still experimenting with the electronics as I just got it but they show some promise. It sounds so good acoustically it may take a while for me to learn how to adjust the electronics for amped sound.

As close to perfect as I could ever hope for.

Don't know yet. It seems reasonably solid built for what it is; a fine musical instrument deserving of reasonably careful handling.

Don't know yet. I hope they are as good as everybody says they are.

I've been playing for 28 years. I own a Seagull S6 CW Flame Maple, Samick electric acoustic, Schecter C1+ , 51 Gibson flattop, Ibanez bass, Yamaha Pacifica and loads of recording gear and peripherals. If lost or stolen I'd certainly want another but might have to wait a while....It's not everyday I can buy something like this. I love everything. The only thing I would like to see added to this package is an onboard tuner such as Takamine uses.

My Taylor 414CE was made 08/02 according to it's S/N. I bought it new 9/11/02 so I've had it 6 months now and gig with it about twice a week. Std. materials & electronics for a Taylor 414CE. The back & side wood is really beautiful compared to others I've seen. HUGE deep golden grain w/ moderate flames. The spruce top wood is nice but not as perfect as the sides & back. I can't see a flaw in the finish. I think Taylor is picky on the wood it selects for making instruments. I believe this instument is made from all solid wood. The workmanship is excellent.

The neck and body bindings are nice and plain, nothing fancy. I think this guitar's lack of features is a good thing in that it keeps the price down. So I give it a low rating for features. If you want features (pretty inlays, jewlry, gold etc.) this model does not come standard with it.

Great tuners (grovers?). Good electronics which are easy to use and shape tone well. The hardshell case is as good as any I've ever owned.

Acoustically (not plugged in) my Taylor 414CE is great for mids & highs as it rings like a bell and sustains forever. It is one of those great instruments or amps (for electric guitar) that inspire you to play beyond yourself. The bass response is a little weak for my taste as compared to my lower end (and older) Martin DM dreadnoght. But these are the same reasons I like it. The Taylor 414CE has a different voice than the Martin. The Taylor 414CE is also MUCH quieter and is to be stummed more softly than a dreadnought. I look forward to see how & if age will mellow this instument just a bit.

The electronics are great sounding and easy to use to shape the tone. The notch filter can be used when needed to "dial out" feedback. Although using the notch filter also shapes the overall tone somewhat. It is no suprize the guitar sounds different plugged in than acoustic. Either way the 414CE has a nice, unique, distiguished voice.

Overall I really love the bell like chime and harmonic overtones. Also the lower volume output (acoustically) matches my quiet singing voice. So I find the 414CE very comfortable to play completely unplugged. But it can be quite frustrating playing unplugged with un-disciplined musicians who have louder dreadnoughts & don't know about dynamics. The 414CE is that much quieter than my Martin and will get drowned out. I have had no issues with courtious musicians but watch out for "jam night"!

The workmanship of my Taylor 414CE is excellent with the exception that the bridge was hand filed crooked (not flat or square). The action, intonation & playability was great right out of the box!!! But when plugged in the high E string was extremely weak due to the bad underside of the bridge. Taylor offered to fix it but the drive to the good guitar shop was 2 hrs. away. So they sent me two new bridge pieces (in case I screwed one up). I CNC machined the bridge to match the original w/o the non-flattness conditions. All is well now. I was annoyed that the bridge sanding guy screwed up. Someone must have pestered him at just the wrong moment.

The Taylor 414CE guitar contruction is relatively light. I assume this must be true of all fine quality acoustic guitars. My 414CE is sensitve to humidity. Effected most is the playabiliy. Even though I always store the Taylor in the case, some significant buzzing occured this wintery dry season. Unless you live in a bio-bubble you will need to store the Taylor in it's case with a humidifier (Mid-West winter). It's no big deal and is easily managable. But my Martin is the guitar that gets left out on the stand in my front living room and goes camping etc. The Martin suffered from lack of humidity this winter too but it was neglected.

I gig only w/ the 414CE and never have a backup. If humidity is maintained properly it always functions well is a very dependable instrument. The Taylors just require TLC.

Customer support was great! They offered to do whatever to fix my guitar and were open to me fixing it myself as long as I didn't tell them about it. Once I decided not to tell them I was going to fix it myself, they sent me all the parts, technical papers and gave me tips on tools to use to check the parts that I wasn't going to fix.

I've been playing 32 years, steady in bands for 25 years. I have & have owned tons of Gibsons, Fenders & have a lot of vintage gear. Typically I don't buy new.

This is only the 5th acoustic guitar I've owned over the years. I have a cheap old used Martin DM that, for the money, I like a whole lot. It is the baseline that I compare the Taylor to. I guess I should review it too. The Taylor 414CE is a nice acoustic for me. I play & gig with it all the time. I'm glad I bought it but I would look around at other higher-end Taylors, Martins, etc. if it were stolen. Not to say I wouldn't buy another 414CE but I think my ear has improved since buying my 1st high-end acoustic (the Taylor 414CE). I would say it's an excellent "1st high-end acoustic guitar".

This one's a 414CE-LTD, 2002. Body's of Imbuia, with a sitka spruce top. Fav thing i like about Taylors is their fretboard. While strummers may favour a smaller width, the 1 3/4" is a fingerpicker's dream. Being a 400 series guitar, it's a simple no-frills kind of instrument. You don't get the fancy inlays and extras found on higher models but u still end up with a beautiful guitar that still looks great cosmetically. I decided to wait for a while before reviewing it so that my opinions would be more objective.

Imbuia in my opinion is a very light wood, and one of the reasons why i was drawn to the 2002 414ltd is because i found the wood extremely resonant. A light touch on the higher registers of the guitar stirs up a soft resonance in the other strings, almost as though the guitar is alive. I was particuarly impressed with the high end. The treble is clear and defined, and seems to jump out at you from the spruce top. And with this Taylor (i'm not sure how many others), the sound gets sweeter and clearer higher up the neck. It's a joy to know that u can capo across the 9th fret and your guitar still sounds as sweet as it did on the lower frets, not choked as many others do.

Now on to the things i dont like about it. After spending much time with the guitar, i realise that the guitar fell quite short of my expectations. I found the bass warm but slightly soft and muted. As an accompaniment, the guitar would serve well to cut through the mix and enhance it, but as a solo instrument, i found the "muted" bass inadequate to balance the trebles and mids, especially when plugged in. While i do realise that the strings (Nanos) contribute to the bright sound, i know that the Imbuia does not have the deep bass tone that one can get from Rosewood guitars. This lack of the fullness of the sound left me feeling a unsatisfied during a fingerpicking solo i performed.

The Fishman matrix performs well, providing a full and thick sound. However, for those who are considering getting a 300 or 400 taylor, i urge you to plough a bit harder, save a bit more, and get the 500 and above ones. The attack on the acoustic matrix sounds slightly artificial, enough for me to be displeased. Something that can be neutralised by mixing in a mike to add a bit of "wood" to the sound. Nevertheless, the matrix pickup is very well balanced, and the preamp controls are great.

Having said all this, i find the 414ltd a truly unique instrument with regards to tone. It has its own special voicing, which to me, is unmistakable. In some sense, it has a very "modern" tone, but not the woody vintage tone that i was actually after.

Action is great. Small bearclaws on the spruce top, not perfectly bookmatched but still looking good. The general setup was great. Fullstop.

One irritating lil thing is that the end strap pin comes loose rather easily, and i have to screw it back tightly after that. Quite a solidly built guitar, it seems to be able to take some rough usage. Not that i would let that happen.

One of the biggest mistakes of this purchase was that, after collecting my 414ce-ltd, i sat down a while and played with a 714ce. Darnit. I realised that I was actually after the rosewood sound. And that the 414ce-ltd was actually a bit bright for my taste. Till i save up enough cash to get the cedar-rosewood combo, I will make do with this one. Perhaps changing my strings from light nanos to light-medium polys to balance the brightness.