Taylor Guitars 414-CE

I like the features of the guitar. I wish it didn't draw the batteries down just by being plugged in. Maybe a switch could be incorporated.

The sound is great. It still sounds better unplugged in my opinion.

Playes well. Good action for an accoustic

My experience has not been a pleasant one in this department. About 9 months after purchase the pickups came unglued causing a harsh sound. Like dragging a live mic on the floor. It took 8 weeks to get the guitar back. Now my electronics are dead. No signal. (Yes I've changed the batteries and checked the cord). Hving to use it mic'd because I have obligations to fulfill. so far my experience has been that this is an unreliable instrument. You had better have a backup.

I took it back the first time to the dealer where I purchased it and they sent it back to Taylor for repairs. Like I said it took 8 weeks. they must have a lot of them coming back. I have not sent it back as of yet for the second repair because I have obligations through the end of the month and will use it mic'd. I really need it every week. If I could trade it I would.

I have been playing semi pro for over 30 years. I have a Yari acoustic cutaway. G&L ASAT electric. I like the sound of the Taylor but if this one were stolen I go and buy something else. I play every week and I bought this guitar because it sounded good plugged in. I need a dependable instrument and this isn't it.

The 414 I have comes with solid Spruce top and solid Avankol sides and back. It has a gloss finish on the top and a less polished satin finish on the sides, back and neck. Would I like to have the gloss all around? Sure, but it doesn't make it sound any better so I saved a little $$ with this model. It has the Expression System preamp installed which does away with the ugly plastic control box that used to get slapped into the side of the guitar. This is a great system and very innovative. Kudos to Taylor for starting a revolution in the acoustic pickup world. The sound when plugged into the PA system is unbeatable. I don't use acoustic amps and I started back when you had to mic the flat top and listen to it squeal most of the set. I can't say enough good about this pickup. Didn't even know what it was when I bought the guitar. I loved the sound of the guitar so much when I first played it, that I didn't even plug it in to see what the three little knobs on the side did! I owned a Martin D18 for 35 yrs. and this Taylor's sound made me flashback to the first time I ever played the D18. I suppose that I could wish for a more professional feel from the tuners, but I'm sure Taylor uses what is available in the market and doesn't make their own brand. It came with a custom fit hard shell case that is the best I've seen.

Drop dead gorgeous sound that inspired me from the first note I played. Is it perfect for every type of song? No, but there are certain physical limitations to every object on this big rock and water planet. Is it manufactured in some geeks garage where he toils and sweats on the wood to insure the exact tone that Stratovarius created in his violins? No, I believe that Taylor uses lots of computer controlled machines to get precise tollerance on the parts. Well, whatever dude. It's made in the best country in the world, the USA and I'll put my own sweat on it. I can't argue with success. The tone from the Avankol wood, which I'm told is from Africa, is unique and delicious on highs, lows and in-betweens. To me, it sounds better strummed than finger picked and it comes alive when you turn it loose with strong strokes ala Stephen Stills and David Crosby.

This Taylor 414 came perfectly set up right as it hung from the wall of my local geetar store. Would I change the action? Maybe one or two frog hairs lower, but I'm not gonna obsess over it. Feels good, looks good and the hard shell case keeps it from harm. If you like to spank it all set like Richie Havens at Woodstock, then the pickguard will be too small for you. The satin finish on the sides and back are ok. Actually the sides look cool with the satin. The back I would prefer to have gloss but you are saving money with the less polished satin finish.

I have only owned this guitar for a couple months so I don't know the long term outcome. Taylor gives you good info on how to care for it so that should help keep it purring along.

I have not had to ask for warranty service but I am told that Taylor does a good job and they try to make their customers happy. With the quality of materials and workmanship as high as it is on this guitar, it should be easy for Taylor service people to tell if you have mistreated the axe.

I have been playing guitar for about 40 yrs. I have owned all the name brands and played a D18 for over 30 yrs. As I said earlier, there are physical limitations to everything you can have and hold. That being the law of nature, I would say this Taylor guitar is as close to perfection as any guitar I have every seen or played. I don't know how you could do any better at any price except for maybe side stuff like who made the tuners and having the extra time to put a gloss finish on the whole thing. I recommend this companie's instruments highly now that I own one myself. Take your time though, and play a bunch of different ones until you find the one that feels just right. Happy trails

2006 414 CE Grand Auditroium with 1 3/4" Mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, ebony bridge, solid Sitka top, solid Ovangkol sides and back. Made in the USA. Solid Tuners. Specially designed Expression System. An active low impedence system with volume, bass and treble controls placed through the body with only the knobs showing, no big ugly plastic box and cutout in the body. A neck humbucking pickup is mounted under the fingerboard with 2 microphones attatched to the top. Case included. If you like the brittle sound of peizo saddle pickups then don't get this guitar. When EQ'd properly it gets a pristine studio sound, not harsh. This is a 3 volt system that uses 2 AA batteries conviently replaced externally at the but of the guitar, easy access. Bottom line, this guitar sounds and plays great! The wide neck is perfect for finger style and jazz not for strumming and chording only.

This guitar has the expression system which is low impedence. The supplied cord is TRS to XLR, no DI required to plug into a board. The sound is excellent if you follow the instructions supplied on the DVD that comes with the guitar. It has slight overtone ring on higher strings when played hard, avoid beating on any instrument when amplified. Acoustically it has a perfect sound for my taste. Deep snappy bass and clear articulate highs, never hash, absoulutly no fret buzz.

This guitar is a product of high tech manufacturing. CNC routers do most of the work. The neck is a bolt on which to me was a big turn off at first. Because of CNC absoulte accuracy pieces fit together seamlessly. The neck has a laid up heel and the head is finger jointed much like inexpensive trim you would put around a door facing. It is not old world craftsmanship but it is solid. All of the body woods are solid but look to be AA grade. This is a plain jane looking guitar. I wasn't going for looks but sound. Action was good but I always re-adjust when necessary. I didn't like the minimal finish on the back and sides at first but I am learning to appreciate it. The satin finish on the 1 3/4" neck is fast. The Ebony Fretboard is excellent.

Solid wood guitars need special care to keep humidity levels around 46%. You will need a hygrometer and guitar humidifier to keep it in top shape. Natrural finish should wear longer than high gloss because it will no dent as easy. Tuners look beefy, strap buttons are adequate. No backup required.

Still under free extended warranty.

I have been playing 40+ years. I own many other guitars, Gibson Les Paul Double Cut, Gibson SST, Epiphone Emperor, Yamaha Classical etc..
When I sit and play steel string acoustic it is usually finger style. This guitar was built for finger style players, if you are a strummer beater do not buy this guitar! I went to Guitar Center for about 6 months and played everything they had over and over. No other guitar could come close to the acoustic or electric sound of this guitar. Not Gibson, and I love Gibsons, not Breedlove or Martin. This thing really costs too much for the type of construction but it is made in the USA and I don't mind paying for that.

Made in 2001 with the fishman prefix plus, which is a good pickup, though nowhere near the expression system now supplied with this model. I own three Taylors so I know them pretty well. Solid Ovangkol back and sides and spruce top. I don't really think ovangkol is a good guitar wood. It lacks warmth and is a bit "hard" sounding. The guitar is very comfortable to play, with the cutaway, yada yada. It's a nice small guitar and I think I paid about $1350 for it new. At the time I bought it it would score a 9 for features, but the fishman is outdated now, so I'll give it a 7.

I bought if for my finger picking, and it handles that very well, especially when plugged into a P.A. Not a lot of quack or rubber band sound. However, unplugged the ovangkol is just not a finger picker's cup of tea. Not a lot of resonance. Unplugged it's a 6, plugged into a P.A. it's a 7.

Well, it is a Taylor, and they are very carefully made guitars. The action is very good, perfect for finger picking, the finish is very good and the Ovangkol is a very pretty wood to look at, especially if you get a piece with unusual markings, which I got. The Taylor nut: always a problem as they are sharp at the edges and you need to file them down. I don't know why they haven't noticed this. But it's easy to do with a good nail file. Takes about 30 seconds to take the sharp edge off. The fretboard, after three years, began to very slightly crack along the 17th fret, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. I rarely get up there anyway, but it shouldn't happen to a good guitar. The pickguard is... it lightly lifts at one spot. But it is a very well made guitar despite these minor flaws.

I abuse this thing, but not to excess, and it is holding up very well. Everything is still solid, though it is time for a really good set up and some of the frets are wearing. The Fishman pickup still works very well. Taylors are reliable and durable products. Period.

Never dealt with them, and because of all the warnings about humidity which come with the guitar, I've been afraid to call them about the slight crack in the fretboard, lest they blame me.

Been playing on and off for over twenty years. Also own an 855ce (12 string) and the jumbo 815ce both with the expression system and they are just fantastic guitars. Also own a Yamaha LL500 which is an absolutely amazing guitar. Other lesser guitars which need no comment. I would not buy this guitar again, don't like the ovangkol, but with the expression system it might be worth it. Better going into the 500 series. But, hey, don't get me wrong, this is still a very good guitar. It is, however, limited to fingerpicking only. Not enough power for any significant strumming. There are more versatile guitars out there.

Build quality is th ebest in the business.

Bourght it from Guitar Mania and they have always been very helpful. I have to give a mention to the 2 guys there Chris Farley and Jon Rabbets. Guitar Mania is about the only shop I've ever come across who know how to listen to customers and take a real interest in my needs. Superb customer support.

The guitar is fantastic and after trying out a Gibson and a Martin it was no comparison to the Taylor. The build quality is simply the best. Now I'm saving up for a PRS to match which I will also get from Guitar Mania

This is a 2003 special edition Grand Auditorium with cutaway and Expression System. According to Taylor customer service, only 441 were made (I called and asked). It has sitka spruce top with solid rosewood sides and back (which is a beautiful three piece). Gloss top with satin back and sides and the ES. For all intents and purposes it is an 814ce without the fancy trim (same tonewoods but no trim upgrades). Plain white fiber body and fretboard binding and soundhole rosette. Pearl dots for fret markers. Mahogany neck with ebony fretboard, rosewood headstock overlay , and chrome Taylor tuners. The spruce and rosewood may not be the AAA grade of the 814ce but the tonal quality is the same.

I love the woods but the satin finish is something I need to have grow on me (figuratively speaking of course).

For the model, this one offers much more in features than the stock 414ce of that year. They didn't make the ES standard in their 300 and higher models until 2004. The upgraded wood is wonderful (Standard 414ce is Ovangkol back and sides). This is definately an upgraded model. Alot of features for the money even for the standard model.

Wonderful tonal sound. All the Grand Auditorium models went through a complete re-voicing in recent years. The signature Taylor tone is remendeous and consistent throughout all their Grand Auditoriums. It's a matter of a difference in tonewoods. Like I mentioned, this is just a stripped dopwn version of the 814ce. Tone and playability are identical.

This is a tremendous fingerstyle and medium strumming workhorse. If you want to strum like your killing rats then get a dread. But in Open G and DADGAD I fall in love all over again with it each time. Through my Ultrasound AG50DS2, it just sounds great.

I also have a 514ce (Cedar and Mahogany) and there is such a difference between the two, each has it's own tonal beauty and fingerprint. It's like the difference between children. You love both equally because they each are special in their own way and for their own reasons.

The rosewood adds a deeper and fuller sound. The sitka adds enough crispness and punch to bring out the highs. Very well balanced. Like I mentioned, a nice difference from my 514ce but no more or less beautiful.

I give it an 8 opnly because I find that the ES can be a little too "hot". What I mean is that it can act as a microphone and pick up every little brush against it. I attribute this perhaps to the satin finish which is obviously not as smooth as the gloss on my 514ce and seems to accentuate any incidental contact with the guitar. I've played ES guitars with gloss finishes and have not experienced the incidental noises near as much. Like I said, It may just be the nature of the satin finish and also a matter of personal preference.

Set up is typical Taylor. Low action and pert-near perfect. The NT neck design is fantastic. The ES is great, but as I mentioned, it can be a little "hot". I've found that a good preamp or DI box can soften it nicely.

Woods were beautiful. Not the AAA of the higher 814ce or 914ce but very beautiful. Slight bearclaw on the top is actually a nice plus. Back and sides are beautiful.

No flaws that I can see. Excellent attention to detail. Quality control is top notch. I'm still undecided on the satin finish. It's nice in it's own way with absolutely no flaws. This is the first satin finished guitar I've ever owned. The 9 is simply based on my undecided opinion of the finish.

This is a workhorse guitar. Well built, and should be typical Taylor durability. I gig with my 514ce constantly at church and local coffee houses and have had absolutlely no issues. I expect no less from my 414ce.

I have two Taylors and gig with both of them. I use a back up only because things happen such as batteries dying and strings breaking (I broke a string during the middle of a set and didn't have time to restring so I switched guitars).

It's extremely rock solid and dependable but common sense would rarely let me gig without a backup.

Taylor customer support is superb and they answer every question. Taylor obviously believes that satisfied customers buy more guitars rather than replace them. Lots of people like me own more than one.

I've been playing for over 30 years and played everything from Martins to Ovations to Takamines. Taylors fit my playing style the best. If lost or stolen, I'd definately replace it with another Taylor. I'm just not sure I'd stay with the satin finish. This finish is beautiful but just not the same. It's something I'll need to let grow on me and is only a matter of personal preference.

This is a 2002 Taylor 414ce with ovangkul back and sides and sitka spruce top. Not too many fancy features on this guitar, but then again it a lower end Taylor. Included is the Fishman matrix pickup.

Classic Taylor "treble" sound and intonation. Not as deep as a Collings or Martin, but perfect for my taste.

Playability is quite awesome. Action is low enough as to allow comfort when playing but not low enough for buzzing to occur.

Has this guitar for approximately 3 years now and the guitar is in mint condition. This is an "in house" for my pleasure and is never used for gigs. However, I'm sure this guitar would handle well in a gig environment.

Customer service is top notch. No complaints here.

I've been playing for about 5 years now and this guitar was my first high end guitar. I've recently orderd a custom black Taylor 614c with Florentine cutaway, but my 414ce will surely not lose any playing time.

This guitar is a Taylor 414ce-L7. Built in 2004, it is part of the limited run with solid rosewood back and sides. None of the "fu-fu" appointments. It is a working man's guitar; however, it is also a beautiful instrument. Expression System. Grand Auditorium body.

Classic Taylor sound. Not as much emphasis on the lower registers as a Martin. I think that Taylor has a very distinct intonation.

Plays like butter. Set-up well from the factory. A lot of bearclaw in the spruce top.

Seem's very solid.

N/A

I've been playing for over 30 years. I tried a large variety of guitars and found the Taylor to be the best guitar for the money and my needs. The expression system sounds very acceptable recorded direct since my home studio is not the quietest. The intonation and harmonic structure of this instrument suits my tastes well. This is a guitar that sits in a rock mix very well.

This is a 2003 414 ltd L-5 with an added on fully body gloss...so it's practically an L-2 lol. It's solid indian rosewood with a solid spruce top. It uses the Expression system witch is unique to Taylor guitars only.Chrome tuners, mother of pearl dot inlays. It's a players guitar, no extra abalones shells or other jewlery crap. Which is good

It's great, the x14 is good for finger picking and medium strumming. All taylors have a bright sound. It focuses on the highs and mids. If you want lows get a martin or maton. but the best thing is...this guitar sounds just as good as a 800 series which is almost 1500 dollars more. The difference? 800 series use AAA or AA indian wood. that's purely cosmeticaly. There are no tonal qualities differences...you can actually ask any Taylor clinician that and they will agree...I had mine verified by chris proctor. I don't give it a 10 because on songs that require thick heavy bass...taylors just can't compete.

taylor action is very good. Plays like an electric some might say. My spruce top is alright fairly even grains but too many bearclaws. The rosewood is book matched on each of it's 2 piece sides...very nice looking. The only flaw the guitar has is that...nope doesn't have any!!

Lol I actually chipped off a weeny part of the binding because I had a zipper on my resting leg where I put the guitar on but no big deal. It's built tough, the bracing is very good and will out last me. Overall very reliable. I don't give it a 10 beacause relibility and durability depend on the user mostly...

CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS BEST IN THE INDUSRTY.

My gear includes:
Takamine S-35
Epiphone SG-300 Gothic finish
Taylor 307GB
Taylor 414RCE
If this guitar was stolen...I wouldn't buy another taylor...I'm actually thinking about a morgan guitar they are pretty good. TAylor has been cheapening their lines a lot recently. Taking off possdle cases, Groover Tuners, and now the neck binding on the 400 series...bad taylor...For more information about taylors you can e-mail me. I've sold several taylor to many folks and they seemed satisfied at the time.

2004 Brand New Taylor 414ce, 20 frets, with the Ovangkol wood. Expression electronics are unbelievable. Beautiful back and sides on this guitar, chrome taylor tuners. Comes with the standard taylor hardshell case, a $300 case and the taylor 1/4 inch to xlr chord which is a $40 value in itself.
I do wish they had more decoration on the guitar itself, sounds great, and looks beautiful, but i would have been happy to spend a little more for some abalone inlays and more intricate fret inlays

Taylor continues to blow the competition away, the bright, crisp sound is amazing on this guitar. Plays like no other, expression pickups keeps that pure acoustic tone no matter how loud you turn it up. For any guitar player playing pop, rocks, funk, this is the guitar for you.

action is unbelievable. only taylor come make an acoustic play this sweet, only problems encountered is the button holding the battery in was damaged and taylor is sending me a replacement part free of charge.

the best, if you buy any Taylor 400 series and up, don't plan on needing a new guitar for a very long time. I plan to be playing this guitar for decades.

If you have ever dealt with Taylor you know they not only make a great product but stand by that product. Great technical support, warranty is for two years

I have been playing for three years now, and buying the Taylor 414ce was a dream come true, a guitar strong and sturdy enough to go anywhere, reliable enough for any gig. I have played a lot of guitars, Martins, Taylors, and the 414ce sounds like the best of the best.

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.

Made in 2002. Gloss spruce top with satin finished ovenkol sides and back. Comes with a nice arch-top hard shell case. On the plus side, the fingerboard and bridge are ebony (Martins in this price range usually have plastic fingerboards and bridges). On the negative side, the neck looks like it was spliced together from scraps on the shop floor. The heel is glued to the back of the neck, and there is another splice just below the headstock. There are plenty of less-expensive guitars that have necks made from one nice piece of wood; I don?t know why Taylor uses the jig-saw puzzle approach.

The sound is articulate without being sterile. I considered saving a couple of hundred bucks by buying a 314-CE, but the 414-CE sounds sweeter without any loss of clarity. This guitar is great for finger picking, but it also works surprisingly well for strumming (as long as you don?t strum too hard). This guitar is still very new?I expect it to get even better.

I?m not excited about the plugged-in sound, but I can live with it. I play electric bass in an otherwise all-acoustic band. I play guitar with the band on a few songs, and I like to sit in with others and occasionally play an open stage. I wanted something that doesn?t require any set-up. If I played guitar exclusively, I?d probably get a guitar without any factory electronics, install a good sounding pick-up (like a McIntyre Feather or Baggs I-Beam) and use an outboard pre-amp. Plugging in an acoustic is always a compromise, and I opted to compromise the sound a bit in order to get convenience and quick set-up.

I was at the store when this guitar was unboxed. I was the first (and still only) person outside of El Cajon to play it. The factory set-up was superb, and it arrived almost perfectly in tune (how?d they do that?). I usually have to make some adjustments from even a good set-up to suit my tastes, but I think I?ll just leave this one as it is (at least for now).

It?s new, but I see no reason to worry.

Other than sending in my warranty registration, I?ve not attempted to contact Taylor. The warranty has no time limit for the original owner.

I?ve been playing guitar for more than 30 years. I?ve played electric more than acoustic, but I've owned a few acoustic guitars over the years (including Lowden, Larrivee, Martin, Guild, Alvarez, and others). The Taylor 414CE is certainly not the best acoustic I?ve ever owned, but it suits my current needs very nicely. If it were ever lost or stolen, I?d get something else. I want to own many different guitars in my lifetime, and since I can?t afford to own them all at once, I?ll have to settle for a few at a time.

(forgot to mention) i tried several 414ce's at various retailers, one of them was noticably worse than the others, so if possible - do try several of the same model as i think there definitely can be variation for the better and worse in the same model - perhaps it was just the way it was kept, humidity, level of play (by potential buyers), string age, subbtle wood differences, etc.

my 414ce was made 10/10/02 - i had to chose between it and the 414ce-ltd -which uses imbuia wood (a s. american hard walnut apparently).

the ltd had a slightly more muted warm bassy tone compared to the standard ovankgol's treblier brighter tone which i favored. both were offered at the same price, apparently taylor sells them to retailers this was - so if a ltd you're interested in is more than the standard, you might look for a better shop. (this may only apply for lower ltds like the 414 where finishes are similar to standard (only guessing)?

i was torn between the two only because i thought there may be some reason to have a ltd model over a standard, but in the end my ear chose the standard - i hope i haven't lost anything because of my choice... apparently ltds have higher resale value but this wasn't a factor for me as i plan to keep the guitar.

i tried several models and makes, but this one seemed the best for the money, my budget was in the 1500 usd range.
the model listed in the store at 1679 but sold for 1468 - all before uncles mike & george got theirs (taxes).

beautiful, bright, articulate

a bit like an electric, nice guitar, smells good

i would have liked mother of perl, abalone, etc. to the plain circles, but hey - those monsters cost at least 1000 more and might not sound as nice. i think a high gloss finish as seen starting on the 500 models would have been nice... for the money spent on this model...

seems durable but i'll be careful with a guitar this expensive, humidifier, case, etc.

i hear good things, seems like a responsive company. limited lifetime warrenty, (whatever that means).

i'm just a hobby/closet guitar player singer recording musician, i have had an alvarez which i really liked, an ovation which i didn't like so well, a remakebly trashy ibanez acoustic bought new 10 yrs ago for 149.00, and still plays even though it's been abused (never cased, strings are probably 3 years old, a few big dings/holes here and there)! and a bunch of electrics. haven't tried the fishman electronics in the 414ce, but i assume they will be adequate.

I was killing a rainy Saturday playing guitars in a shop with a friend. We're grownups, probably with more pressing things to do, but anyway... I kept finding myself picking up this one particular Taylor. I fingerpick, and my Alvarez Yairi dreadnought suddenly started sounding muddy to me. I showed up the next day with the that guitar (to test, then trade), as well as an old banjo, a Japanese Strat and an amp (to trade). That and some cash got me the guitar. I had to have it. It looks OK overall, but I don't thing the ovongkol looks that good. The action and sound were what got me. My wife actually agreed that it sounded great when I got it home, and she normally doesn't have much to say about music.

Wow. What a guitar for fingerpicking. It doesn't have the overpowering boom of a dreadnought, and the highs are clear without being brittle. The mids are balanced. I play just for fun, and maybe once a week I run it through a little Acoustasonic at about the same level as the guitar and with some chorus, to give it this sort of twelve-string sound.

The action is outstanding. It's low enough to get significant buzz if you strum too hard, but that's a fair trade. The top has a line, bearclaw I guess, straight across the top and not quite matched across the halves. It's distinctive.

I've had only had it for six months, but except for fret wear and a couple of scuffs on the case, it's as new. Very, very well built.

I had one of the adhesive clips holding the pickup wire come loose inside the guitar, and called and left a message asking where to put it back. They called me back, then expressed mailed out some new clips the next day.

I started playing guitar four years ago. I wanted a playable acoustic, and this is it. I really didn't want the monster Martin sound, and the corresponding high action. This is almost as easy to play as the 59 Strat that I kindly store for a friend (even light acoustic strings are heavy compared to those), and way more musical sounding. I also really like the shape, for playing sitting down. There's enough of a waist on the guitar, compared to a dreadnought, that it really doesn't move around.

A great guitar, perfect action, tones of tone, (holds up very well, to a d28)Buitifull woods, what more do you need, and what a price! I have vintage gibsons, newer martins, and a santa cruz tony rice. The 414ce is a beter playing and sometimes sounding guitar all together. And I would like to give MR. Taylor a hand (golf clap) for getting ride of the 14 fret hump, with his new NT neck. What a guitar.

It is perfect for fingerstyle. You can get a dead on Leo Kottke vibe going here. Does not work as well for blugrass, as lets say a Martin, But if you lighting up your pick attack, it will work. Rich full bass, and great sustain and midrange. The other day in a lesson, I was teaching a guy to play eruption on this this guitar. How many acustics can you do that with. The action is super low, with no buzzing. And the notes are nice and thick.

Lazer cut, action and fit is perfect.

Have only owned this guitar for about 7months. And this is my first of many Taylors (i am sold). But judging from there record I am sure it will last a lifetime.

I called them to ask them some questions about the new NT neck, and they sent me a free video, How cool is that.

I have been playing, teaching, and performing, for over 18 years. I play all stlyes, from rock, folk, blugrass, funk, what ever the gig calls for. I believe this is the one guitar I would take to all those gigs. Unless there was a Banjo player there, You would need a Drednaught too get over a banjo. The bracing is too light on the Taylor, but this guitar was not built to be a "banjo killer". I would sell my new shoes, if it were ever ripped off.

easily obtainable

I compared several models: Taylor 310ce, 410ce, 414ce, Larrivee DV05e, and the DV09e. i narrowed it down to the 414ce and the two larrivees. well, the dv09e i was looking at was sold the day after i first saw it, but i played on it for atleast an hour. here's the comparison:
Taylor 414ce: i love the lighter bracing on this. the most responsive guitar, fingerpicked notes fly off (probably due to the light bracing). excellent separation of notes, balance, and clarity. the ovankol adds top end brilliance and clarity over the mahogonay of the dv05e, but the guitar was easily overdriven with medium to heavy strumming. electronics didn't include an internal mic.
410ce: the bracing on this is much heavier, which seemed to inhibit the transparency and clarity when fingerpicked. This had much better top-end sheen than the 310ce, though the 310ce already sounds wonderful, the 410ce was just more complex and well-rounded. it performed best when strummed or flatpicked, giving good separation of notes, heartier bass than the 414ce. it feels like it would take a while for this guitar to open up, but once that happens, it would sound as good as the best of them.
Larrivee dv05e: also a lightly built guitar, the bass was full and punchy- i love that. the mahogany is overall more mellow when fingerpicked. strummed, it gave less separation of notes but better overall projection and sweetness to the tone. i would have preferred a little more brilliance on the top end, while retaining that punchy bass. both were very balanced guitars, and a fine pleasure to play. a very difficult choice for me.
My ideal guitar was probably a $3k Martin D41, but it was out of my range. the other Martins in this price range really lacked clarity, i felt they were much too muddy and of poorer workmanship than either Larrivee or Taylor.
I wanted to pick up the dv09e, and am kicking myself for not. it was basically the dv05e with rosewood back and sides, had a nice thumping low end, bright and clear top end. i'm still on the lookout!
overall the 414ce is great for fingerpickers, with occasional light of medium strumming.

The Taylors were truly wonderful- completely flawless, excellent factory set action, and the neck joint technology is state of the art. the nut scale is wider than the larrivee, good for fingerpicking but more difficult for barring and chording. the larrivee suffers from consistently high action, and the detail in workmanship is excellent but not quite at the level of taylor. taylors get a 10, larrivee gets an 8 for their action problems.

the warrantee is amazing, the case is a tank. what else could you ask for?

no idea

I play mainly fiddle, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin(in that order). The Larrivee was the best guitar for my needs in the store. I just hope that over time the top opens up, and adds a little brilliance and presence to the sound. The 414ce is better suited to fingerstyle, or to a light strummer- overall, an excellent guitar for its niche. also great for the price- i tried the 614ce and 814ce, and each had their own sound, but neither was noticable 'better' than the 414ce. the 410ce was too heavily braced, it felt like you had to force a good sound out of it. i envied taylor's excellent warrantee and case, but Larrivee's got the bang for the buck. shop around, try every guitar you see, and snatch up a larrivee if you find one because they are pretty hard to comeby on the east coast.

I just recently bought this guitar and as most will know it has a sitka spruce top, ovenkol back ans sides, ebony board and bridge and Grover tuners. The Neck is Mahogany with a rosewood laminate cover on the headstock. This all looks beautiful when put together. I have to say I don't like to finger jointed "New Technology" headstock but the wood is perfectly matched and this is just a minor niggle really.

I am only a guitar hobyist not a stage performer and this is the first high-end guitar that I have ever purchased. (My other acoustic is an old Yamaha FG 420le) The sound of the 414CE simply blew me away in the shop. It was so much better than any other make in the store in my view. (other than a Gibson Hummingbird that cost nearly twice as much and this wasn't better but just about as good)

Rich base, clear mids and crystal top-end notes abound from this guitar, it simply sings and the intonation is perfect. Chords played high up the fret board remain perfectly in tune and every note can be clearly separated.

I went into the shop to buy a much much cheaper guitar but, as Taylor's advertising suggests, when you hear one, you want one. For me this is a guitar for life and will hold its value in years to come, particulalry as the woods mature to give an even better sound.

Finally, I also tried the electronics in the shop through an accustic amp and speaker set-up. Wow! is all I can say.

The action on this guitar was already good but as I like very low action I asked the shop to change it for me. I now have a superb action and not a buzz in sight.

The finish is superb and the aesthetics of the guitar are excellent. It's my ideal view of what a cutaway guitar should look like in terms of style. The woods however, make this guitar beautiful to look at also. The ovenkol back and sides are really heavily grained and the neck, binding and joints are all top notch. My only niggle as I said earlier is with the finger joint at the headstock but this is not visible from the front anyway.

I've not had it for long so I can't really comment on this too much. The guitar however does feel solid and providing it's looked after humiidty wise, it should provide a lifetime of good service.

The shop where I purchased this guitaer was very helpful and were in no way pushing to sell the guitar. They knew that I had jumped in price range by a goodly amount and they just left me to play with the guitar until I was ready to buy. I wrote to Taylor by email on another issue and they put me in touch with the ditributor in the UK by return. Other than this I have had no need to contact Taylor about the guitar.

I've owned a guitar for many years but really only as an ornament stuck in a corner of the room. I've never sought to play commercially although I have been a professional drummer in my past. (I hope that this confession does not mean my reveiw will be ignored ... I've heard all the drummer jokes!)

I would buy another Taylor without hesitation (Cash permitting of course) Owning this guitar has given me a new enthusiasm to learn to play better. It's a guitar you want to pick up and play it's just begging for it! When you do pick it up, the quality of the sound makes you want to carry on.

As mentioned, I did compare it with other guitars in the shop but as many have said in other reviews, pound for pound, this was the best sounding guitar for the money by a long way.

Not much to add for the features. This guitar was made in August of 2001 and I purchased it in December 2001. I played many high end Acoustics (Martin, Lowden, Ovation, etc) in my search for the perfect guitar. Solid spruce top and beautiful Ovangkel sides and back. No two 400 series look alike. A very unique and gorgous sounding wood. The Fishman prefix plus electronics sound wonderful, are tweakable and the easy battery access is great. The Grand Auditorium style is smaller than a dreadnaught and the cutaway makes it easier to play up on the frets. Very nice Ebony fretboard and bridge. The top is a gloss finish and the sides and back are satin. Very good Chrome Grover tuners which keep this baby in tune. The case is the new Mexican made (black fur) and I understand it is not as good as the original Taylor cases. The latches are smaller and not as well made. I had to bring back my first case after a week because one of the five latches didn't fasten any more. Great service from the store and Taylor. No questions asked. Case fits like a glove.

This is a big sounding guitar even when it is unplugged. I was expecting less from a guitar smaller than a dreadnaught. The sound is very bright and balanced. The electronics are fantastic and sound great thru my POD and straight thru the PA. This guitar sounded as good as Taylors costing twice as much. I play this guitar in our worship team every week and it really shines. It cuts thru the mix competing with drums, another guitar, bass, 2 synths and 6 singers.

The action was pretty good. I live in a region that is dry in the winter so it does need a little adjustment. There are no visable flaws. The 400 series has just enough "perks" to make it a beautiful guitar. It has white binding around the soundhole, along the neck and outside of the guitar. Higher up models have fancier appointments. Gold tuners would have been the only change I would have liked.

This guitar has been a workhorse so far for me. Everything seems well built. Just keep it in the case when you are not using it to keep it from the ravages of humidity. It is solid wood, so keep it properly humidified. I use a soundhole humidifier when in the case and also have installed a hygrometer in the case to measure humidity. I use this without a backup. The end strap pin is a little large for the typical strap, so I had to cut my strap hole larger to fit. Of course Taylor sells straps that fit perfectly.

As I mentioned, I exchanged my case. Talked to Taylor and the store. Top notch all around. Got a free video from their website. I placed an order for a tshirt over their Christmas shutdown. I emailed them a few days after they returned and asked for an update on my order. They CALLED me back from halfway across they country. Wow! This from a company that is not new, but has been around for 25+ years.

I have been playing for over twenty years. This is by far the best acoustic I have owned. I also have an Ovation acoustic 10th Anniversary model, Ovation Custom balledeer A/E., Epiphone Les Paul Standard (w/mods), Inca Silver American Standard Strat, Peavey Classic 30 tube amp, Line 6 POD 2.0. I would buy another in a heartbeat if it were stolen or lost. Best value for Taylor guitars in my opinion. Only thing I wished it had were gold tuners.

Ebony fb,mahogany neck (one pc),sitka spruce top,solid ovanghol back&sides,Fishman prefix,Grover tuners,cutaway.Everything you might ever need.

I am very impressed with the sound of this guitar.I hate dreadnuts for their middy sound and I have always played Jumbos cause they really match my playing sound and my aggresive strumming.But this smaller auditorium sounds perfect despite the cutaway a feature that normally degrades a guitars tone.Very loud and warm sounding with an extremely balanced sound.Sounds good plugged in to.

This is were Taylod really shines.I've never played an accoustic guitar with a lower action in my whole life.I mean this guitar came with lower action than my ELECTRIC guitars.Despite the extremely low action there are absolutely no fret buzzes even under very intense strumming.The guitar is PERFECTLY made,I don't think that you can find a guitar with absolutely no flows in this price range,only a Taylor. This gets an 11

If you don't step on it it will last for a life time,the bolt on neck makes neck resets a breeze,nice road case protects the instrument in transit.

Never dealt with them,their website and complimentary catalog rule!

This is a very versatile and killer sounding acoustic guitar.It is an expensive instrument but much better made than most Gibsons and Martins out there.Taylor guitars have won me.

I bought a 2001 Taylor 414-CE last weekend. It has a 24-fret mahogany neck with rosewood headstock laminate, grover tuners, sitka spruce top, ovangole sides and back. The body is solid wood (no laminates). Fretboard and bridge are ebony. In the Taylor line, the XX4 designation signifies a grand auditorium body (XX0 is dreadnaught, XX2 a grand concert, XX5 is jumbo). The ovangole wood has a strange olive color and mottled appearance that did not appeal to me at first, but it is growing on me.

Taylor separates their lineup into the lower-end "satins" - the 300 and 400 series, and the higher-end "glossies" - 500 through 900 series. The satins use Fishman Prefix on-board electronics. From the one electric workout I've had the sound and controls are entirely satisfactory.

From 2000 forward, the neck is three precision-cut pieces glued together. The headstock and neck are joined with fingerjoints. While the fabricated nature was alarming to me at first, this is the finest neck and fingerboard I have ever worked with, bar none. The neck is straight and true from the nut to the 24th fret, with uniform action. The Grand Auditoriums and and Grand Concerts are strung with light gauge strings (Elixers from the factory).

I went shopping for a Martin, and was prepared to spend perhaps twice as much as I spent on the 414-CE. I played various Takamine, Martin, and Taylor models, and fell in love with the sound of this particular instrument. The mid- to high-range is clear and bell-like. It is a beatiful full tone every bit as pleasing as a well-played gut string classical instrument. I play a mix of finger-picking and strummed styles, and the instrument sounds good either way. The guitar resonates in such a way that feels alive in your hands. The bass projects less than a dreadnaught body, but is entirely satisfactory. I am a keyboard player first, and typically play rhythm (leaving lead to the truly gifted). This instrument insists that I play lead. I can't get enough of the warm, clear mid to high range sound.

The guitar was set up perfectly as I tried it as the store. The action is uniform from bottom to top. I am sincerely enjoying playing lead in the first four frets, and above the 20th fret, something I avoided with the Ibenez I have been playing for 20 years. Fit and finish are excellent. The guitar is plain - no frills, a look I appreciate. I am getting used to the look of ovangole wood.

Too early to tell about durability. The endpin cable input, which doubles as the strap button, unscrews really easily, which is a concern. It is also larger than a normal button, so the buttonhole on the strap is not a good fit. I noticed that Taylor sells straps matched to the endpin - I intend to order one soon. Must comment on the case. 2001 models come with a hardwood custom fit case manufactured by Taylor. The case is heavy, but seems indestructable, even compared to an SKG. The interior is lined with a soft fur, and the fit is tight.

I have been playing guitar for 22 years. My primary instrument is piano/keyboard. I am a demanding player with a good ear. I love this instrument and intend to use it for the duration of my musicianship. You will be hard-pressed to find a better instrument, even among the finer Taylors and Martins. The precision-machined neck is a joy to play on. It inspires my to improve my technique and do more lead playing.

My 414 was made in 2000...no millenium bug in this thing. this is my first solid top acoustic. there is a definite difference in sound, every time i pick it up i just fall in love all over again...particularly if i have been playing my old ibanez acoustic just before. this comes with a Fishman Prefix pickup system that is 9v battery powered. a much better pickup than my ibanez/fishman but there is a price difference too. all the control in a pickup preamp that i could ask for on stage. it has a satin finish top and i forget what kind of wood for the sides. the tuners have a very positive action with being too responsive. the neck fit my hand so nicely. i have what i would describe as a large palm and normal fingers so having a reasonable, but not thick neck is important to me.

i'm told that it is designed with fingerpickers in mind. unfortunately i am not a fingerpicker. i play rather aggressively with a .71mm pick and play everything from rockin' country to worship music to alternative and latin style rythym. i use it with my Carvin SX-200 amps and a Digitech RP-12 processor. even without the preamp (RP-12) i can get some great clean tone from my taylor thru the amp. i much prefer using the RP-12 as it provides a noise gate and compressor to control sound a little better. the guitar has a very even tone....very well balanced across the frequency spectrum. i played it on a gig for a high school graduation chapel in the first week that i bought it and got compliments on the sound from a couple of the other musicians...whom i had never played with, and the soundman who was apparently overwhelmed by how easy a time he had with the guitar over the house system and how sweet the sound was. I love this thing!!

don't know who really set it up but at the aforementioned gig i had to play two songs over and over again non-stop for about 40 minutes or more...could never have done this on my ibanez...and my hand did not hurt badly after (it did hurt tho...i don't practice enough). the top is bookmatched? i didn't know that...just kidding. the craftmanship is excellent in all ways. i actually scratched the finish on this thing within a week of buying it. i still don't have scratches on my ibanez. murphy is working overtime on me i guess.
the only thing i really don't like is the jack for the guitar cable. the strap goes over this jack but the jack seems to loosen and it worries me that it could come out without me noticing...saw a guy drop his guitar once that way, very costly to fix.

the guitar is excellent live although i baby it because it's the most expensive thing i own. the finish still looks great with regular polishing and wiping it down. again, i don't like the one strap button. i do depend on it and don't use a backup guitar.

have not talked to anyone at the company.

not gonna inventory my gear here. i use carvin amps, ibanez, yamaha, and now taylor guitars. digitech, alesis, tascam and roland gear.
if i lost it or it were stolen i would go buy an 814 or at least a 714 in a heartbeat, or maybe even sooner. i would go without food once a day and walk to work to save up for it. i compare it to everything else i play. i had intended to buy a tacoma and had sworn never to buy a taylor because of the snob appeal...same thing with martin and takamine but i got desparate and ended up trying out the 314 and then the 414. wish i had another so that i would not have to change tunings on stage.

I've had my 414KCE for a couple of years. She was made in El Cajon, California. I'm not sure that this model is still available. Anyhow, we've got all solid wood construction, spruce top, Hawaiian Koa body (AWESOME!), mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, and bridge, and I think the headstock overlay is rosewood. Not really fancy, but I hate fancy. I really dig the satin finish. It doesn't show finger prints, and gives her a clearer sound. Fishman electronics, very nice. My favorite feature, though, is the bridge. The strings load through holes in the bottom of the bridge, (I think a lot of Ovations are like this), so, there are no pins. I hate pins! They pop out, and make palm mutes messy and painful. I LOVE MY BRIDGE!!!!! By the way, I've been told that Taylor doesn't make this bridge anymore. Oh, well, I've got mine. The bridge alone gives her a ten for features.

Could I give her an 11 on this? She has a grand auditorium body, and this wonderful tone. She can do anything! She's naturally very bold, clear, aggressive, and LOUD, but it's not too hard to back off a little bit and maybe switch to a different pick and get a nice, fairly mellow sound. She's very nicely balanced.....Did I mention LOUD? I love her sound. The bass is huge, the treble is very clear, but not too thin, and the mids are just as nice. I took it over to a friend who plays a Gibson acoustic that cost at least twice as much as my Taylor. He was very upset. Ha, ha.

The action was a little high from the factory, but I got that fixed, and she's perfect! The strings are a little bit farther apart than most guitars, and I love that. It makes chords so much easier. Playing her is just effortless. The neck is perfect. I mentioned the finish earlier. I love it!

This guitar has been treated gently, but has been used a lot. I've been playing her for a couple of years now, and she's just as perfect as she was the day I brought her home. Everything is very solid and durable. I gig with her without a backup at least twice a week. (Well, they're not really gigs, they're more like worship services, but every bit as trying as a gig - for her and for me.)

Haven't needed to worry about it.

I've been playing for about 5 years, and I've made a point of playing every guitar I can get my hands on, from cheapies to several thousand dollar Martins, Guilds, Gibsons (Yuck!), Larrivees, Seagulls, Taylors, you name it. This is my dream guitar. I was about to buy another Taylor for about $2,000.00 more than this one when they guy I buy all my guitars from pointed her out to me. If she was stolen or trashed, I would probably quit playing or kill myself - (Like I said, I don't think she can be replaced.) I see myself playing this guitar for a long, long time.

US-made Grand Auditorium with cutaway , solid wood (Spruce top, Ovangkol - african rosewood tone-like) back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and bridge, Grover tuners, Fishman pre-fix preamp and under saddle piezo pickup.

Acoustic sound is awesome, deep yet sparkly, with long sustain. Mine is new and (I am told) should "open up" even more after some time. Amplified sound is good, far better than other brands I have experienced (Yamaha APX series - pretty good if you're budget conscious ! - Takamine, Simon and Patrick, Godin). Contour & Frequency controls work great to reduce feedback, although the guitar sounded best with all settings flat (but that would depend on the PA system you're using). It still doesn't beat good studio miking, but for stage use it is more than acceptable.

Never ever in my 20 years of playing have I played a guitar so well set up straight out of the box (my dealer received it that very same day and unpacked it in front of me, was willing to set it up and adjust it to my liking, but that was totally unnecessary). Action is brilliant, neck plays like a dream if you like the shape (I ordered mine after having played a regular 414 without cutaway). This guitar has been finished with love, fits in its case (SKB molded) like a hand in a glove and looks fantastic (I personally prefer no frills guitars without fancy inlays)

Taylor go a long way to make you take good care of their guitars (to a scary extent sometimes, but their guitars are not more prone to defaults than other brands, they simply explain the risks of dryness or humidity very clearly. I learned a lot from the info that came with the guitar and the website is a wealth of info in itself). My only concerns was finding a strap that would fit the end pin (where the jack is inserted), which is quite large and requires some strap customizing. The guitar is pretty light in weight and I don't see this as a big problem.

N/A - Taylor seem determined to please their customers from what I've read, but I haven't had to deal with them. One small remark : I live in Belgium, and I noticed that the Taylor warranty applies only to US customers, the local importer has to take care of the warranty in your non-US country : better have a good relation with your dealer (and he better have a good relation with the importer). The website follows the same trend : quarterly issue of "Wood & steel" not available to all countries, free video only for US and Canada... All this has nothing to do with the quality of the guitar, but I wonder...

This guitar feels better, sounds better and plays better than any other I've played in a long, long time. I am especially pleased with the fact that this is a guitar I ordered and did not try out beforehand as my dealer didn't have that exact model in stock. Several magazine reviews and posts like these helped me refine my choice. A great guitar, my main one for years to come.

1999 US-made Taylor 414ce Grand Auditorium body shape with cutaway and onboard Fishman preamp and under-saddle piezo pickup. Gloss finished Sitka spruce top and ovangkol sides and back. Mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and bridge. All solid woods. White plastic binding. Grover tuners. The 400 series is on the lower-end of the Taylor hierarchy, so it sprouts no frills such as exotic woods, fancy rosette, artsy inlays, etc.

The sound is well-balance and has a nice high-end tinge. It does not shrill as many lower-priced instruments do. Thanks to the body shape and solid ovangkol, which has similar acoustic properties as rosewood, the bass projects well, and helps give the trebles a soothing, mellow touch. Stellar for strumming, fingerpicking and leads.

Factory set-up was excellent. The action is low, which makes chording and leads relatively easy. However, the neck width and girth don't really gel with my small hands or personal preference. I think the neck is too "phat." Unfortunately, only the Taylor x10 models have the narrow neck, and some x14's, such as the 714, have slimmer girth. The girth is my only complaint about this axe, but a major one that shall determine my longevity with this specific model. I also have a Taylor 410, and I really savor its slender neck.

This guitar is sturdy enough to gig sans backup. In fact, most Taylors are very reliable. The end pin strap button is a noteworthy concern. I usually use plastic strap locks, but the shallowness of the button prevents such usage. It seems such shallowness doesn't offer much security for the strap. Hence, I used electric tape to close the strap's gap, which makes strap removal cumbersome. I wish Fishman had an LR Baggs style endpin.

I've never had pressing problems about which to contact Taylor. Their web site has a contact section, but I don't fathom what their response time is. However, the well-maintained web site also has some useful information, e.g., an FAQ, which answered some of my questions, detail instrument specs, tips, etc. http://www.taylorguitars.com.

The neck girth really bothers me. Taylor claims to have thin necks, but apparently not on every model. I used to think Martins have "phat", tapered necks, but now some Martin necks are similar to Taylor. Being that guitar is my secondary instrument (bass first), then I might just accept the 414ce as is. However, if anything ever happened to it, I'd eye the 714ce and look at some Martins.

This guitar is a 1998 model. Solid sitka spruce top, solid Ovangkol (African hardwood comparable to rosewood) back and sides, spruce bracing, bolt-on (as with all Taylors) mahogany neck with truss rod, twenty low-profile, thin frets, ebony fingerboard and ebony pin-style bridge. The 414 series is Taylor's "auditorium" body, length, width and depth same as their dreadnoughts, but with narrower waist. "CE" designation means cutaway electric. The cutaway is "Venetian" style, very smooth looking and attractive. This is one of Taylor's lower-end models (one step above 300 series), but as far as I can tell, the only thing "low-end" about this guitar is in the "gingerbread" stuff that has nothing to do with sound and playability, i.e., very simple dot-neck (mother of pearl dots), plain white plastic binding with simple black pinstripe accent, simple inlaid white and black plastic stripe soundhole rosette, no backstripe where bookmatched halves of back are joined, chrome individual closed Grover tuners, inlaid white plastic brand logo on peghead, peghead faced with rosewood veneer, no binding. Very simple, but elegantly so. The Ovangkol wood is lovely, very distinctive color and grain, and the spruce top is somewhat mottled, giving it a very subtle flame appearance, very lovely. The bridge saddle and nut are of a hard white material called "tusq" (whatever that is) and the bridge saddle is extremely well compensated for accurate intonation all the way up the neck.
The 414 CE comes wired with a Fishman Prefix system, i.e., Fishman piezo strip under the saddle and 9-v battery-powered preamp installed on the upper bout. Clever "flip-up" battery access, just release a latch and the whole preamp flips up on a hinge to allow easy access to the battery. Preamp has volume knob, bass and treble sliders, and contour and frequency-select sliders. The contour and frequency select sliders work together; contour is mid-range boost/cut, frequency selects the frequency center of the mid boost/cut. These controls are useful for identifying and eliminating feedback frequencies as well as compensating for alot of other inadequacies, such as playing through an electric guitar amp instead of an acoustic guitar amp or the PA.
My rating relates only to the electronics. With regard to just the features of the acoustic guitar, hey, its an acoustic guitar -- it has everything it needs. Note fact that its all solid-wood construction automatically places it in the higher end of acoustics.

First, a qualifier. I'm primarily an electric player, and therefore by no means a connossieur (please forgive spelling) of acoustics. I wanted something better than my old Ovation Balladeer, which never did excite me enough to play it for long periods of time. I wanted primarily a beautiful-sounding couch guitar which I might pull out on occasion for selected cover tunes in my band. I did do some investigating, shopping and comparing before selecting this model. I quickly learned that the best sounds come from all-solid wood guitars (which is all Taylor does, except for the "Baby Taylor" travel guitar).
I was after versatility. The auditorium body is Taylor's answer to that. It's big enough to give volume and projection for strumming accompaniment. However, the narrower waist reduces the boomy bass response you get with a dreadnought, and gives you a brighter, snappier, treble response suitable for fingerpicking.
I compared this guitar to the Martin D-1 series, Larivee, Takamine, as well as the higher-end Taylors with the same body. Here's what sold me. First my comment above about this being a "low-end" Taylor relates ONLY to cosmetics. Acoustically, it sounds and plays just as good as the higher end Taylors, taking into account the subjective choices you might make, like a cedar top, maple, walnut or Koa back, etc. There is no compromise in anything but the cosmetics and level of sophistication in the electronics. Second, this model made other models in the same price range, in comparison, sound like shoeboxes with strings. Well, maybe that's not fair, but to my ears the Taylor beat all the price competitors in sound. You know when you pick up a good acoustic and hit a note or chord and the notes just seem to leap out of the guitar? That's what happens on this guitar. It's so responsive, its almost like the darn thing is, well, electric. It's lively and resonant. Chords are well balanced, you can hear every note clearly, and the tone is very rich, sweet and woody, without any metallic tinniness, without any muddiness, without any discernible hump in any particular frequency. The treble strings chime to no end. The bass strings are full and rich without being boomy. Volume is not as much as you get with a dreadnought, but still very adequate and won't be eclipsed if you're playing along with someone else playing a dreadnought. Fingerpicked notes just sound beautiful, no other way to describe.
Even though this is a "low end" Taylor, it has top-end sound. You might select a different model because you subjectively want a DIFFERENT sound, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better sound among guitars with the same features.
I don't yet have much experience using the electronics. The Fishman Prefix system is not the best Taylor offers, move up in price and you'll get the Fishman "blender" system, which combines a piezo saddle pickup with an internally mounted microphone, with controls to blend the two signals together. You have to accept that a piezo pickup only emulates the whole acoustic sound because it only senses vibrations in the top, you don't get the full effect of the body resonance. However, from the little bit of noodling around I've done, seems this Prefix system would be completely adequate for performing, tone controls are very responsive and effective. You'd probably still want to mic the guitar for recording.

Setup right from the factory -- best I saw while I was shopping. Taylor touts its intonation, action and necks as comparable to electric guitars, and there's some truth to this, allowing for the fact that you're not going to get micro-adjustable intonation and shredding action on an acoustic guitar with a fixed wooden bridge strung with 12s or 13s. The action is very comfortable and fast, by acoustic standards, without any excessive buzz (which you will of course get if you really attack the strings hard). Your hand does not get tired fretting six-string chords because the action is that good. Recognizing the limitations of fixed bridges and the tuning compensation you always have to make with non-Feiten-system guitars, this guitar plays in tune very well, all the way up the neck.
The fretwork is without flaws. The glossy top finish is without flaws anywhere, including where the fretboard and bridge are glued on. The plastic binding meets the wood without any discernible bumps or ridges. I did find one SMALL dust speck in the satin finish on the back. The interior is clean, without splinters, burrs or glue blobs; there was a little sawdust laying in there.

Taylor is a big proponent of proper attention to humidity. I don't know if its because they use more fragile wood, or if they just perceive a need to educate folks because there's so many horror stories about split tops on good acoustics. I cracked the top on my Ovation by leaving it out of the case for two weeks in the winter, dry furnace air in my house. Bottom line, if you own a good solid-wood acoustic, you've got to commit to taking special care or else you may be in for a heart-breaking split in your top.
Taylor claims they make their guitars in a climate controlled environment with humidity regulated at 47 percent, which is a median level. If the humidity falls significantly below 47 for extended periods, guitar WILL dry out and wood will shrink, top and back flatten out. First thing to go will be the top, too much shrinkage and CRACK! If the humidity goes significantly above 47 for extended periods, guitar WILL absorb moisture and wood will swell, top and back bulge out. This can result in failure of glue joints.
By appearance this Taylor is of top-notch construction, but I'm going to heed Taylor's warnings. I bought a small battery-powered hygrometer and put it in the case, and I have a sound-hole humidifier that I am trying to get in the habit of faithfully checking and replenishing.
This kind of attention would not be necessary with a guitar made of laminates. That's the compromise you make for the sweetest sound.

No experience with manufacturer.

I am very pleased with this purchase. I would buy another if it were lost or stolen.

This guitar was made in 1997 in the US at Taylor's San Diego, CA factory.
It is an acoustic Grand Auditorium cutaway shape with a spruce top and mahogany sides, back and neck. It has a satin finish on the top, sides and back, (now made with a gloss top only), and has an ebony fretboard and bridge. It has nice black and white binding, and is well constructed with no visible flaws. Although this is a bolt-on, (as are all Taylors), it has a perfect neck/body connection. This is a beautiful guitar with highly defined mahogany grain patterns. Although this is one of the "lower" models, it is still a great guitar, just no fancy frills and the lower of the two electronics options. It uses the Fishman Prefix system for the electronics.
The bridge is designed with a string pass through, (like the Ovation Custom Balladeer I have). I prefer this to the peg approach, but I noticed that virtually all high end guitars have pegs including the latest Taylors. If there is a technical reason for this I'm interested, but I don't notice a lack of sustain or anything and it's a lot easier to change strings with a simple pass through.
It came with a Taylor hardshell case.
Overall the features are high quality, just what you would expect from a Taylor.

I am very happy with the acoustic sound of this guitar. I play original acoustic jazz / fusion / rock, and it fits my style well. I have no problem translating most of my electric style to this guitar. I'm not mainly a fingerpicker, but when I do need to do it, it sounds great.
I compared the sound and playability to about ten different acoustics on the day I purchased it including, a Taylor model 710, various high end Martins, Larrivee, and Gibson guitars, and this is the one I chose to go home with. It has a very rich acoustic tone, bright, with a tight bottom end. Even though it is a cutaway, it projects well for pure acoustic playing. Compared to the other guitars, it seemed to sparkle a bit more with fuller harmonics.
Electrically this guitar is very good, not great. I don't believe there is a piezo based system that gives a great acoustic tone. I have had success combining the electric sound with a miked sound, especially when I run the electric through an ART MP-1 pre-amp before going direct into my PA or recording system. I also have tried running through my Digitech RP-7, with a custom designed patch using compressor, chorus, and reverb with good sounding results.
I don't want to give a bad impression of the electonics, but guitar straight to PA on any this or most guitars is really not a reproduction of the acoustic sound of the guitar.
I also noticed that the output of the preamp was weaker than some of the other acoustics I or my friends have. Not really a problem once I started using the ART pre-amp.
On some of the higher end models they have the internal mic w/ blender. In my music store trials this seems to work better, but there are still difficulties reproducing the really exceptional acoustic sound of these guitars. Miking is the only way to go... but a hassle in a live setting.

I liked the set up of the guitar when I first purchased it. It played easily with the low action Taylor is known for. Flat pickers will really like this action as it approximates an electric in feel.
However, I decided to bring it to the factory to see if the low output I was getting from the pre-amp required repair. I live in the area, and I was very pleased that they were willing to evaluate my problem right away, asking me to come by once they realized I was local. After waiting a few minutes for them to check out the pre-amp, the service manager came back and said that it was within factory specs. Then I was offered a bridge height adjustment and setup to "factory spec" for free. I said ok, and in about 20 minutes I got back my guitar. Once I played it, I realized that they had improved the playability of my guitar considerably. YEAH!
Because of this, I would advise anyone who buys a Taylor to have it evaluated by an authorized repair person after purchase to be sure it is set up to factory spec. It may greatly improve your guitar.
After I originally purchased the guitar I noticed that one of the screws for the truss rod cover was missing. Maybe this was done by the dealer, but since they don't have a setup shop this seems unlikely. So more advice: Look carefully at your new guitar BEFORE you take it home. Anyway, the guys at the Taylor factory replaced the missing screw without me asking.
I give this category an 8 for apparently not being factory spec when I purchased it, and for the missing screw. (Although the set up was clearly acceptable when I got it).
Everything else about the guitar was fine and I've had no problems with quality in the year since I bought it.

This guitar is well constructed and I do not hesitate to take it out live and play it with normal care taken to avoid damage.
All the hardware is high quality and the case protects the guitar adequately for everything except maybe airline baggage storage. ( I would never agree to put this guitar in the belly of a plane at the mercy of the baggage gorillas).
I haven't had a satin finished guitar before and while I love the more wood like open grain feel, I wonder about its ability to withstand moisture, smoke, sweat etc. So far this has not been a problem, but I won't know for years how this will hold up.
The neck strap button seems to hold the strap well, but I have some concern about the combination jack / strap button in the bottom of the guitar. It has a wide grooved strap button that holds the strap and you have to trim your strap's hole to make it fit. This means it is a hassle to easily change straps, and I wonder if it holds the strap on as well as it could. Because it has to serve two functions, I'm not sure if there is a better way, but for someone who has straplocks on virtually every other guitar I have, I feel this is a weakness for this or any other similarly setup guitar. I will never feel totally comfortable taking my hands off this guitar on stage. So far my fears have not resulted in any problems, the strap has stayed on ok.
I ALWAYS have a backup guitar when I play out.

Taylor heavily promotes the satisfaction of their customers with their product and they dazzled me with their willingness to address my concerns with my guitar and by offering a free setup that made ny guitar great. I know most people won't be able to go to their factory, but I would expect if you need their help or have problems with your guitar they will be happy to help you out.

I really love this guitar. I've been playing for over 20 years and have owned several acoustic guitars, (Ovation, Yamaha, Takamine, Epiphone), and this one is the best I've ever owned. It was reasonably priced, (for a Taylor), and yet I don't feel like I gave up a lot by buying a lower end model.
If it were stolen, I would probably take the leap to the 614ce, which has maple sides and back, and the blender electronics... it sounds cool but costs about twice what my guitar did.
There's no question the Taylor sound is found in this model. I am a convert and for the money I haven't found anything to match this. Tone. Playability. Great construction. Beautiful wood. What's not to like?
Individual guitars vary greatly but whenever I have the chance to compare a group of Taylors with other quality guitars, there's usually one that stands out. For me, it's almost always a Taylor.