Taylor Guitars 514-CE

Taylor 514-CE. Made in California. Made in 2007. Solid Western Cedar Top, Solid Tropical (American) Mahogany back & sides. Built-in Taylor Expression pickup system with treble/bass/volume control. Single cutaway. Ivoroid nut & saddle. Bought new, included a DVD.

The sound of this guitar is phenomenal. I give it a 9 only because it suffers a bit from lack of volume, but a big part of that is the wood construct, especially the cedar top. It's definitely a softer guitar. Other than that, the sound quality on this guitar is great - great tone all the way up the fretboard. The expression system works well. It eats batteries, but they do last longer than the previous incarnation of the fishman pickup system (a bandmate had this version and my batteries lasted twice as long). Anyway, the sound is rich and true.

Flawless construction. I could not find a flaw on this guitar anywhere. The bookmatching is so well done, if you didn't know where to look for the joint or know where it was supposed to be you'd have a hell of a time finding it. I give this a 9 only because I'm not particulary fond of Taylor's bridge pin setup - you definitely have to work at it a little bit to get the ball set properly, or you'll be pulling the pin constantly.

I use this guitar live every gig. Does go out of tune slightly depending on the weather and indoor conditions but it goes out in concert, where the whole guitar is still in tune with itself. Gold hardware seems to be holding up pretty well after a year to finger sweat. I would definitely use this guitar without a backup (I do most of the time now). No winter checking, cracking or warping. Not nearly as sensitive to humidity as I thought it might end up being.

Haven't had to deal with Taylor so far but a guy in my band was missing the truss rod plate after misplacing it, and they sent another one free of charge. That's good CS.

Overall I'd give this guitar a 9. It's a little tough hearing yourself without punching the volume up some with an amp/pedal in a band situation; with that cedar top it's just a soft sound, and it doesn't really respond at all to being hammered on. I own a Rickenbacker & an Epiphone archtop as well. My favorite feature of this guitar is the true tone. Least favorite feature is lack of volume. If it were stolen or lost I would definitely buy it again, with the caveat that I'd probably also buy a 612 (spruce top, maple back & sides) for playing live in the band. I tried this guitar against a lot of other guitars, and selected it for purity of tone. It's phenomenal sitting at the house or in an intimate setting. I've been playing for a long time and it's the best guitar I've ever owned.

2002 model. Grand Auditorium with Tropical mahogany back and sides with Western Red Cedar top rosewood binding and headstock overlay with a koa rosette. Gold Grover tuners, Full gloss UV finish. The factory installed Fishman Prefix Blender has been replaced with an L.R. Baggs Element Onboard that uses the same hole and screw holes as the Fishman system.

Fits my playing style as well as anyting I've played. I am a figerstyle player and this guitar is ideal. Great woody tone that has a rich resonant low end and clear trebles. The mid is well balanced. With light PB strings and a Fossilized Walrus Ivory (FWI) saddle and bone bridge this guitar sounds tremendous and playes even etter. A decent strummer but it truely shines when put through it's paces with fingerstyle playing.

Fit and finish are pure Taylor. What else can be said of a gutar that plays as wonderfula as this straight from the factory. I hardly ever adjust anything.

For as long as I've owned this guitar it has no issues that can be noticed. Cosmetic issues such as dings ot withstanding. Vewry solidly built and like anyting else, extremely reliable when handled properly and kumiodified whwn not being used.

Taylor customer service is rated at the best or near best very consistently. I've never had a call into them where they couldn;t answer the question. Servioe is prompt and everything is well taken care of.

Overall, my rating for this guitar is a startling 7 out of 10. A great guitar that plays as great as it sounds. If lost or stolen would I rebuy it? probably so.

2003 514-E purchased used on e-Bay. Mahogany back and sides, cedar top, ebony bridge and fretboard, gold-plated Taylor tuners, koa rosette, Indian rosewood binding on the body and fretboard. When purchased, was in "close-to-new" condition. I was attracted to this model for several reasons: first, when test-driving Taylors, I found myself coming back to this wood combination time and again. I like the crisper, more dry, "stringy" sound and ringing high tones that the mahogany gives, perfectly tempered by the warmness of the cedar top. It doesn't hurt that this combination also looks fabulous--the mahogany is considerably more golden than many stained-finish guitars out there, and the smooth color transition from the cedar to the rosewood binding to the mellow mahogany back and sides is a joy to the eye! The gold tuners complete the look. My other reason for loving this model is that it was a custom-order with the Expressions System but NO cutaway. My impression is, a guitar loses a lot of tone quality when almost half of the treble bout is lost--and I certainly don't spend enough time above the 14th fret to justify a cutaway! Plus, aesthetically, the symmetry of a full body is far better than the look of a cutaway. The gloss finish on this particular instrument is incredible--it looks like it was dipped in glass!

Definitely not a big-sound guitar, but, hey, that's why it has a pickup, right? I am almost exclusively a fingerstyle player with a very light touch, and big, boomy sound is not what I'm after. The guitar is incredibly responsive, and just rings like a bell with no effort from me. Again, the bass side is lighter in weight due to the mahogany, but is greatly balanced for a very lyrical sound--perfect for the music I play (contemporary praise and contemplative music, Celtic/folk/newgrass, a little bit of blues).

Can't speak to how this instrument was set up from the factory, but when she came into my life, the guitar was beautifully set up with a very low action, but no string buzz issues, unless I really dig in a little too heavily. In fact, the neck relief could actually be a bit (maybe .01") higher and still be fantastic. The bridge saddle was badly scored from the treble strings, and there were rust marks on the nut--so my first order of business was to replace these, if only for better looks. Some heavy pick gouges on the pickguard also attest that she was in some brutish hands at some time in the past. I also swapped out the cheap plastic bridgepins for some ebony pins with abalone dots. Overall, the build quality is pure Taylor--absolutely precise, beautifully finished fretwires, no factory flaws anywhere. I can play anywhere on the neck, or use the capo on high frets, and the intonation is absolutely perfect, with the overtones singing like angels. And the gloss finish is like a mirror! I only assign the "9" rating because it was a crime for Taylor to let that guitar go out the factory door with those pathetic plastic bridgepins.

I have no worries about durability. I am mostly a "spare bedroom" player, and even in public venues, I play fingerstyle with a light touch. It's a 2003 model that has held up well in the hands of a more heavy-handed player than myself, so I think I won't be too hard on her!

Seeing as this is a used guitar, I suppose I'm on my own for repairs and maintenance.

I have been "playing" the guitar for over 30 years. My background is primarily classical; I'm an operatic tenor and sing in church, choral, and concert settings. Guitar for me is a way to play a more personal instrument, reflect and meditate, and lower the blood pressure. I am by no means a concert performer, and haven't "gigged" in my life! I do play worship music in church, which is about as adventurous as I will ever be as a performing guitarist. In past years, I've owned some cheap dogs, but have also enjoyed a nice Nippon-Gakki era Yamaha dreadnought and a Martin D18. More recently, I've mostly played classical guitar but have been yearning for a bona fide high-end solid wood steel string guitar--and this one fits the bill. I definitely love the looks and the sound. My one gripe is (and perhaps I just need to adjust to the narrower fretboard relative to a classical guitar) is that the treble E string is very close to the edge of the fretboard and has a tendency to "dive" off the fretboard if I stretch the string a little too much or put a little too much vibrato on. A design flaw? No, I'm just a clumsy player!

This guitar was bought new in 2003 from an online store in the US.
On board Expression system works well.
Ebony fingerboard and bridge with Indian mahogany body.
Dot inlays on neck.
The instrument looks absolutely beautiful with a lovely deep red glow from the body wood.

When strummed lightly or fingerpicked the sound is very bright. But quality starts to deteriorate when played harder. I use it through the PA and sosunds nice and responds well to the expression eq system. The low end leaves much to be desired and does not give a rounded sound as a Martin or a Gibson for example. Playing the high single notes higher up the neck around 12th fret lacks depth and sounds very tinny

The guitar was very poorly set up when delivered. The strings were unusually high from the fingerboard. I had read a great deal about Taylors before purchase and was led to believe that the playing action was legendary. Unfortunately on my model this was not the case. It was also marred by terrible buzzing on most of the lower and higher notes along the top and bottom of the neck. I have speny hundreds of GBP on correcting this and is still not what it should be. It is not an "easy" instrument to play

Unable to deal with shop as it is in US

Very disappointed with this+??1800 GBP instrument

I have a 2004 514 CE with the Expression System electronics. All solid wood guitar- Western Red Cedar top, Tropical American (read Honduras) Mahogany back, sides, and neck, Ebony bridge and fretboard, Rosewood binding on the body, with a tasteful Koa rosette. Gold Taylor tuning machines. The look of this particular guitar is pleasing because the body and neck are both made from Mahogany, unlike others in the Taylor lineup. It's a small thing but I noticed it.

As others have said, this is not a booming guitar, but pundits should keep in mind that Dave Matthews, who has an aggressive, percussive style, plays the Taylor x14 body style (he owns a 714 which has a Cedar top) and if it's good enough for him, well then... I wanted a high-end guitar that was versatile, and I've found that's true with my 514. You can strum pretty hard and it keeps up, yet slower, more careful playing is simply wonderful. The 514's slimmer waist gives it more treble zing; however, this is one of the mellowest wood combinations around, with the Cedar taking some of the harsh brightness off the typical Taylor tone. Chords build and ring out on this guitar, almost like a church bell. Individual notes just sing. It really does sound that good.

Everything about this guitar is very high quality. I even took a flashlight to it a few days ago and inspected the inside of the body-no glue goop or buildup. I even saw the Serial # marked on the lower bout in pencil from the factory! As other reviews have noted, Taylor uses CNC machining to make its guitars, and this allows for great consistency across the models. Everything is glued/screwed down tight. My only complaint is that sometimes when I change strings one of the tuners does not turn as smoothly as the others, but this is a secondary issue. On a high note, you can see some coloration in the Ebony fretboard, which simply gives the guitar more character. Plus the action is just terrific from the factory- it's almost like playing an electric. The 514 has to be among the easiest acoustics to play, period.

I think this guitar will last as long as you properly care for it. That means investing in a Dampit and a Planet Waves Hygrometer and properly humidifying it during the cold winter months. Take care of it, and it will reward you with years of great playability.
Given that many practicing musicians make the 514 CE their go-to guitar, I'm sure it does just fine for gigging. As for myself, it has never left my home. I think the guitar has plenty of heft, but hey, it's not a Guild or anything.

I've never had to bother Taylor with anything so I can't say much. Others have responded that their customer support is great, so take it for what it's worth. Given that I bought it used, I'm pretty sure the unfilled Warranty Card is useless, but one can only hope.

I've been playing for about six years, mostly as a release from stress and such. I'm not that good but I have good tastes so I spent many, many months carefully researching what kind of guitar to get; my wife impressed on me that this would be the only one, a "keeper". I wanted a guitar that was made in the US, solid wood, easy to play, and versatile. I've found all that and more in the 514 CE. The guitars I've owned include Yamaha, Fender, and Tacoma before the journey ended with my 514CE. I simply love it and would replace it in a heartbeat; the honey-colored Cedar top is just beautiful and it looks like no other Taylor in the series, save the 714CE. I played many Martins, Gibsons, and Taylors at my local GC before I decided on the the 514CE. It's so easy to play and it sounds wonderful.

Just bought my 514 C E yesterday. paid $2099 Canadian - western red cedar soundboard with tropical American mahogany b/s. I am so in love with this guitar that I'd like to buy the company, but I now have no money !!!! I plan to do some serious busking this summer in order to pay my 514 CE off!! My guitar looks so good that maybe tomorrow I will start playing it. I just sit and look at my new guitar all night long. It is so warm and mellow. I finger pick and this guitar does all the work. I am very impressed. I would recommend this guitar to anyone that is a serious player. 9 1/2 outtta 10

My style is in the genre of Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young. I absolutley love the sound production and the quality is outstanding. I would describe the sound as warm, seductive and very, very mellow. I love the combination of the cedar/mahogany, I think this combo is the reason for the superb quality of sound.

Not sure, but I plan to find out in the near future

I have played guitar for over 30 years now and I have hasd many makes/models of guitars, i.e. Epiphone, Fender. Yamaki, Ovation, Yamaha,Martin, Art Lutherie (Canadian luthier/handmade), and now Taylor.

This is the best guitar for christian music

I play this through a SWR California Blonde.
This thing sounds so amazing.
If you want a warm sounding guitar that can pick and strum perfectly, this is the guitar that you want.

I have the 2000 with the diamond inlays and abalone rosette with mother of pearl taylor inlays along with an extra little truss rod cover with a dove on it.

This is a beautifully bookmatched guitar! PERFECT!

this is a great live guitar. I play it at church every tuesday, wednesday, and friday. Strap buttons are the greatest, they hold the strap great.

The company customer would have to be one of the best in all of universe. I accidentally dropped my guitar one and cracked the top and they fixed it without a hitch for only 100 bucks. and then I requested them send my guitar back along with a new case and they forgot to send me the case and sent the guitar to a wrong address, which was redirected back to my house again. They gave me the taylor case for FREE. they have the best customer service in the world. Take it to their factory and they will buff out your guitar and clean it and tune it into perfection for free!

SUPERB.

Mine was built in November of 2002. Solid cedar top with solid tropical mahagony back and sides. Koa rosette and rosewood bindings. Simply a beautiful guitar. excellent finish and detail.

The Fishman Stereo Blender pickup has been replace with an LR Baggs element active with onbaord controls. It is a perfect retrofit design that drops right into the original Fishman hole. The tone and sound of the Baggs setup is far superior to the Fishman system (though the Fishman blender is excellent. I'd recommend the change (unless you want to spend the nearly $500 to retrofit the Expression system to it). I may opt for the Expression retorfit later, but for now, I love the tone and warmth with the Baggs setup I have.

Grover tuners are solid and keep tune wonderfully.

The NT neck design is a wonderful innovation and it shows in playability

I play acoustic fingerstyle and folk music, and contemporary Christian. It is a dream to play. Full rich lows and perfectly balanced mids and highs. A real players guitar.

I play thru an Ultrasound AG50DS2 amp. At church I go thru the amp then into the PA. Simply beautiful sound. I get many flattering comments from people. The sound guys at our church love to hear it over the system.

Fingerstyle playing is alternate tunings is where this guitar really shines. The harmonics are bell like andf pure.

Action is near perfect from the factory (as are all Taylors). Woods are beautiful and matched perfectly. The UV finish is near bulletproof.

I can see no identifiable flaws on the guitar at all.

Extremely reliable and durable at this point. Holds tune wonderfully. I use it at church and coffee house gigs. I have a Takamine EAN45C that I bring as back up but truely never need it. I only use it when I am in a hurry to retune and need a second guitar for that. Otherwise, I'd use my 514ce without a backup easily.

Taylor customer support is excellent. I've never needed repair or warranty work of any type, but any time I've called with set up questions or advice, they are personable and won't let you go until you have it your issues resolved. They treat their customers like royalty.

I've been playing guitar on and off for nearly 30 years. I've owned Martins, Ovations, and other less notable brands. My Taylor is by far the best guitar I've owned. I's replace it in a heart beat. The Cedar/Mahogany combination is in my opinion the best combo. Taylors are probably the best value for the money. Plays and sounds easily as good as guitars 2-3 time the price.

There are other similar qulaity guitars (McIlroy, Bereedlove) but the Taylor reputation is impeccable.

Professional players of all genres play Taylors and for a reason. Phil Keaggy uses a 514ce on his Acoustic Sketches II album on the track "Cajun Pass". I'd be happy just to play his mistakes.

1999 model made in California.
Cedar top, which makes it unusual, mahogany back and sides, Fishman Prefix blender, ebony fretboard, subtle MOP inlay work around the soundhole and on the odd frets. Came with excellent case.

This is a wonderful utility guitar for the studio due to its versatility and overall quality of tone. Because of its small size, however, it does not have a huge bottom end like a dreadnought. This means that I've never been fully satisfied with this guitar for hard strummed folk music.

However, for more intimate sounding songs involving softer strumming and fingerpicking, this guitar is a dream. It has a bright, warm tone that records wonderfully with a decent condenser mic. I really like the tone that results from the cedar top as opposed to the more traditional spruce tops. It give the whole guitar a unique character.

The strings that come with the guitar are Elixers which seem to have a lot of strong opponents in the guitar playing community. I agree that they are a bit dull compared to other strings, but my sweat eats through normal bronze strings annoyingly quickly, and Elixers stand up to the abuse quite well. Also, the bright nature of the guitar's tone compensates for the strings, in my opinion.

The onboard blender is fine, particularly when plugged into a PA and given a touch of reverb. The Fishman unit allows you to blend the piezo pickup with the built-in microphone to provide a good compromise between the two sounds. I find that they piezo sounds a bit too harsh for my taste on recordings although in a live situation it helps the guitar cut through the mix.

Recording with this guitar demands a decent microhpone, even though it can be plugged directly into the board. I find that the tone on this guitar, when recorded directly, is far too thin to stand up when mixed with other instruments. By itself, you wouldn't notice as much, but as soon as you put an electric solo or a bass guitar into the pot, the sound of the Taylor gets lost. With a condenser mic, however, this problem is solved and the full tone of the guitar can be heard in spades.

Flawless in *almost* every way. Quality control at the Taylor factory seems to be a high priority. The action on this instrument is remarkably low, yet there is no buzz on the frets making it a nice guitar for solo work as well as strumming and fingerpicking chords. The tuning pegs are solid Grovers, and I love the ebony bridge. The ebony fretboard is great for tone and feel, but I do have a slight flaw at the third fret where the wood is pockmarked. It is a small blemish and does not affect the tone.

The lacquer is very thin, which helps the guitar resonate strongly. The drawback is that it is quite delicate and scratches easily. If you're clumsy, you'll have some scars on this guitar in no time. Unfortunately, I'm definitely in this category.

Very lightweight in its construction, so I wouldn't knock it around much. The hardware is solid, however, and I don't see the tuners or bridge breaking down any time soon. Very dependable, but if you drop it or sit on it, it'll be toast.

If you're obsessed with hand-made guitars, you probably won't be interested in Taylors. The company makes no secret that they use CNC technology to manufacture parts to exact specifications. The mystique of human craftmanship is traded for consistency. As far as I'm concerned, its a fair trade. The guitars are consistent and, most importantly, they are consistently wonderful. Every Taylor I've ever played has had the same great sound. Of course, there is plenty of human craftmanship to go along with the CNC precision, but its a happy marriage as far as I'm concerned.

You see a lot of artists playing these things in live situations, which seems to make some people distrust the brand. Personally, I think its because they're reliable and sound great. Their tone compares favorably to Martins, particularly when you're using direct amplification or recording. I have a hard time imagining a more desireable "utility" guitar for the recording studio than the Taylor 514 CE.

After playing a Martin D-35 with a bridge pickup for 10 years, Fret and fingerboard wear (and the need for a 2nd gtr while my D-35 was in the shop) had me guitar shopping. I finally settled on the Taylor 514CE with a spruce top and the new expression pick-up system (more on thst later). The Grover tuners with gold plate are of course wonderfull. I'm not thrilled with the look of the finger joint between the neck and headstock although it is undoubtedly stronger. It came with a first clas hardshell case with thick padding and a nice snug fit.

This guitar is plays great for my finger picking style. It can't take hard strumming like my Martin but I haven't tried putting medium gauge strings yet. It has a nice round sound accousticly, and the pickups can be run ballanced or unballanced. Through a system, the unballanced output has a full, warm and loud sound without feedback. the pickup system uses 2 AA batteries that are easily replaced. I would highly reccomend it to friends.

It felt played and looked great (exept for the finger joint)right out of the case!

After playing it about 2 weeks, the pickup system started humming, buzzing, and then quit. The company took it right back and repaired it (at no cost) and I had it back in 3 weeks. A moonth later it went out again! Again, Taylor sook it back and this time replaced the whole preamp and re installed the pickups. Needless to say, I'm still taking my Martin to any gig!

The service has been very accomadating throughout this and I do have confidence thet they will do what's needed to correct this electronics problem.

If Taylor can work out the bugs in their electronics, this would be a wonderfull guitar for any serious player.

Just look at the Fishman stereo blender and you'll realize the kinds of tones you can pump out of the mic/pickup/both!

Great, strong sounding guitar. I own the cedar top 514ce, and it sounds awesome. Cedars are for more fingerpicking guitar playing though, so if you're a rhythm only player, go for the spruce. I do recommend getting a bone-bridge, wow, how much it "livens" up the sound!!!

Ok, well I have to say this guitar didn't really need anything adjusted as far as the action and how it fit. The finish was nicely done too.

I've used this guitar quite a bit since I got it in December of 2002...I've taken it to beaches, concert venues, private leisure playing...it does it all so well. The finish is great, just don't drop the guitar or else it won't look good (duh).

I haven't actually dealt with the company as of yet, but I've heard good things, maybe someday I'll give them a ring just for kicks.

I've been playing for over 4 years and have learned so much about guitar equipment and how it all works in that time. Honestly, this guitar is professional quality. Of course, if you really want to, go ahead and spend an extra $300+ to get a 614ce...doesn't matter much to me. The more you spend, the more unrealistically incredible the guitars sound. But this is definitely not the bottom-of-the-line professional grade...this is a great buy. I recommend it.

I've owned some other acoustic guitars, this beats the heck out of them, and I don't even play my electric guitar as much cause I love playing my 514ce so much. But this is a more serious guitar player's piece of equipment, so don't buy this if you're just gonna diddle-daddle around with it and never actually use it for anything useful.

Mine is a 2000 model, with the NT neck joint, but pre- "expression system" electronics. This is a cedar top model, it also comes with a spruce top. Features have been well covered by other reviewers.

I have a Fender acoustasonic amp, but still play it mostly "unplugged". Amplified, it is the best I've heard -simply unbeatable. Unplugged, to my ear, it lacks bass response and is a bit too bright. Sounds better finger style than flat picked. Also, is not real loud (unplugged). I use a capo a lot, and if you capo above the 4th fret, the sound just dies, once again unplugged.

Had some buzzing, which adjusted out pretty easy. Action, fit & finish were impeccable -typical Taylor quality. Seems to be highly susceptible to humidity changes, however. Performance changes noticeably with the weather. Fishman Prefix system works great.
Beautiful guitar.

Look at how many pros are using these nowadays. It's a trooper.
Taylor stuff is tuff.

An excellent company -perhaps the best customer service in the business.

I've been playing 35 yrs. Have owned Martins, Gibsons, Yamahas, etc., plus tons of electrics. This is probably the best acoustic I've owned, but there are others out there as good. The stuff coming out of Asia these days is phenomenal value for the money. Companies like Taylor will only survive if their cheap stuff sells. If this guitar was stolen & I got the money it was worth, I would probably replace it with 2 or 3 Asian guitars, so I could have different tunings all set up. Playing is what it's all about. I'm too old to worry about impressing people with what I own. I'm more into impressing myself with what I can play.

Ceder Top, grand auditorium style cutaway, electric/acoustic guitar w/ Fishman prefix stereo blender electronics. All solid wood, ceder top, mahogany back and sides, rosewood neck, grover tuners, the whole deal people.. case included. natural finish...

This guitar looks amazing.

I'm a singer/songwriter and a I play mostly hard-strummed percussive style guitar along with some quieter stuff mixed in there.
It has very rich and full sound. There is a thing with most Taylors that make then have a more dominant high end, but the Ceder instead of the spruce top on the 514ce helps balance that out. So you get a nice full and rich sound. However, as with most taylors, it does not have a very deep deep base sound like you'll find on a Martin, it's a very well balanced sound, but if you are looking for tons of low end punch, I wouldn't get a Taylor. But overall, a beautiful sounding guitar that will just knock your socks off. This is a grand auditorium body style that has a little bit shallower body than a regular dreadnought, but when you are playing this guitar it sounds like you are playing a jumbo, this thing just fills a room like magic. Plugged in, the electronics are great, the stereo blender allows you to switch between the regular piezo pickup and a little mic that is placed in the guitar. So plugged in you get one of the best acoustic sounds there is without paying a grand for a fancy processor or preamp, sure that would make it sound even better, but it's really not needed with this guitar. I have been gigging regularly with this thing for about a year and it has never let me down once.

This factory set up on this thing was perfect for me, the playability of all taylors I have played has just been perfect. I'd say the playability and feel of this guitar is what makes it really stand out from other high-end guitars. I play it for hours with very little fatigue.

Like I said above, I've been gigging regulary with this guitar for a year now and it's been great. However, I play the thing really hard and after a year I have began to notice a slight slight wear in the finish on the little piece of wood around the soundhole directly above the pick guard. Also, since I bang on the guitar occasionaly for percussion sounds (bad I know, but sounds cool), the wire holding the mic in the guitar in place has come loose so if you shake the guitar you hear a clicking sound of the wire on the wood. No big deal and easy enough to fix, just don't bang on your guitar that much....

I would use this guitar without a back-up HOWEVER, the Elixer strings that came with this thing just kept breaking on me with my hard playing. Then I called the Taylor customer support and they said dump the Elixers and go with D'Addario or DR or a stronger string. Funny part about that is that Taylor endorses Elixers. Keep in mind though, I play VERY HARD. If you are just strumming normally or figerpicking, Elixers are fine. It wasn't until the gigs when things get intense that I popped the strings. After I changed the strings out I stil had some problems popping strings, but not nearly as much. Now I just sand down the bridge a little every time I switch out the strings and I don't have many problems at all.

OH ONE ANOTHER THING. The handle on the case broke off, what a pain I'll tell ya. The Taylor cases are great, but I really don't know how the handle broke off, I mean, the thing is make of steel. But freaky things happen I guess....

Taylor was great about the string thing (see above), they even sent me replacement bridges at no cost in case the bridge was the problem. Very cool of them indeed. Taylor customer support rocks. such a cool company.

I've been playing for about 5 1/2 years. I own a Fender Acoustic also which is cool, but not even close to this guitar.

I would get another if it was stolen, I love this thing.

I have no real issues with this guitar, it is nearly perfect for me. The only slight issue I have is that I wish it had a TINY more bass kick to it, but just a slight amount, the sound is nearly perfect.

When looking for a new guitar I played EVERYTHING I mean everything. Martins, Larivee's, Gibsons, vintage gibson's and Martins, Guilds, the whole gammat. The only guitars I have played that I think feel and sound better than this one are special custom made ones that cost like three times as much and that I would be afraid to even take out of the case. This guitar is high-end, but you can still wail on it and it will respond. Ohh it will respond my friends..

Also, just a note, I've recorded with this thing in the studio and with the proper micing placement, it sounds amazing. The studio I was at had tons of compressors and stuff to make the guitar sound better, but we didn't use any of them, it came out that good just tracked clean.

For live use, it's also great, although Taylor just came out with their new amplication system that supposedely blows everything away, so I wish it had that, but a year and half ago when I bought this thing, I didn't know they would come out with that so oh well.


An all-around great guitar!

Mine is a 2003 514ce with solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back, sides and neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Koa rosette, Indian Rosewood natural binding. Small MOP marker dot inlays and on bridge pins. Faux tortoiseshell pickguard. Best of all it has the new Expression System electronics. Gloss back and sides and satin neck. Gold Grover tuners. Looks lovely. Taylor hard shell case (poplar with binding and very snug fit black plush inside).

I used to have a Takamine small body Koa guitar which I liked. I have to say nothing prepared me for the difference. The sound is mellow and warm with plenty of top end and bass. Each note is well articulated and it responds to your touch, loud or soft, fingers or pick. It's the nicest I've heard and I tried a few Taylors, Martins, Santa Cruz to compare before buying. The ES system is excellent. Dead simple volume treble and bass. No significant feedback and a very "acoustic" sound when amplified.

Usual Taylor quality. Plays like a dream especially with the ebony fretboard. The top and back were perfectly bookmatched. The controls for the ES are very unobtrusive. Easy to change battery compartment. No battery indicator though.

I've not had it long but it will outlast me.

Not had any personal experience.

I've been playing some 15 years; I love guitars. I have 2 PRS's, a Gibson 2003 Les Paul Standard, and an Amalio Burguet classical. I would be very very sad if it were stolen. I'd have to get another (assuming they all sound like this!). They're not cheap but my experience of guitar purchases has been you always get what you pay for. If you want the best you have to pay for it!

Taylor 514CE, made in March, 2002. Cedar top, Mahogany back/sides, Koa/Rosewood trim. Gloss finish. Straight stock model with Fishman Blender pickup, gold Grover tuners, etc. An incredible sound that called me back after playing countless guitars the day I bought it!

This is an incredible sounding guitar, working well acoustically for strumming (even somewhat aggressive strumming) and sounding amazing when fingerpicked. The pickup is, by far, the best sounding acoustic pickup I've ever heard, truly worth the extra paid to move up to this model from a 300 or 400 series Taylor.

Guitar was set up very well, but with a high 10th fret, so I'm still dealing with some fret buzz. The guitar was also very dry when I purchased it, but the addition of a guitar humidifier has fixed that problem. It plays like a dream!

So far, this guitar seems very solid. I've actually had far less problems with this guitar so far than I'd had with my previous working guitar, an Ovation Elite.

I've only had to call Taylor once, and they were very understanding and helpful with the problem I was having (see fret buzz above).

Many refer to this Taylor as the "Swiss Army Knife" of Taylors, doing all things well, and I have to agree with them. I've gotten more comments and compliments on the sound of this guitar, both acoustically and amplified, than any other other guitar I've ever owned...worth every penny paid for it!!!

This is a 2002 Taylor 514ce. Solid cedar top, mahogany sides and back, with the fishman blender mic and pickup. Neck is also mahoghany. The finish is matte on the neck and glossy on the rest of the body. The guitar just shines. Gold gorver tuners 18:1. Came with the "monkey butt" case, which is a beautiful snug fit and the large latches.

I was looking for a Taylor x14, since I like the Grand Auditorium flexibility of finger style and flatpicking. I already have a Takamine N20 (Jumbo) for total flatpicking, so this is great. The sound is very bright, with a great blend of highs and lows.

Action is great and fast and is the reason I bought this guitar. I played several x14s (K14ce and 914ce) but this one just played so easily. I just put new strings on and there is a slight buzz on the 7th fret on the D string, but I think it comes from the string not being properly seated at the saddle (working on that tonight). The finish is, as others have stated, understated and elegant. I love the mahogany back and sides.

The day I bought it, I had a 3 hour "gig" at a church event. This guitar stood up and did its thing. The sound rang out against the other 2 guitars in our impromptu sing along/jam. And, as with all Taylors, quality is extremely high, so I believe this guitar will last for a long time.

I have no info on this, but from what I have read, Taylor's customer service is always top of the line.

I have been playing for over 30 years, and I have owned and played Gibsons, Martins, and Takamines. This guitar is clearly the best I have ever owned. I researched which guitar I wanted for about a year, so I got what I expected, no surprises. I would buy another Taylor in an instant, if I had the dough. Initially, I was reluctant to get the "e" (electronics), but I am glad I did. I will be using the 5514ce amplified soon, so it worked out for me.

Grand-auditorium sized acoustic guitar. Mahagony back/sides, western cedar top, all solid woods. Fishman matrix pickup. Includes Taylor handmade case.

Great sound. The wood combinations give a lot of warmth, not as deep as rosewood, but a very mellow sound. The cedar top adds to the sweetness. Played electrically, there is a deep resonant bass, but easily controlled with the onboard EQ of the Fishman pickups. The piezo under-saddle pickup is smooth and natural sounding. The internal mic makes for great percussive sounds, but is a little hard to handle, due to feedback. The midsized grand audituroum body is very comfortable for stage performances, and the wider neck featured on all of Taylor's smaller guitars is great for intricate finger work. This is an excellent fingerpicking guitar. Under heavy flatpicking the sound breaks up a bit, and it isn't really suited for heavy rhythm chord playing.

Like all Taylors, it plays beautifully. The saddle had been cut down by the original owner, causing slight string buzz. I replaced the saddle, tightened the truss rod, and it plays like a dream.

Surprisingly, there is a minor flaw, a discoloration on the edge of the top that almost looks like somebody spilled a drop of bleach. Unusual for Taylor. But, it isn't highly visible. Other than that, the top is perfect, the mahagony is beautifully colored and bookmatched, and the attractive diamond inlays in the neck set it apart from lower priced guitars.

This is my 4th full-sized Taylor. They've all held up beautifully in performance conditions, and I plan to be playing weddings and coffee houses with this guitar well into this century. My Taylors are so dependable I never bother with backup guitars anymore.

A minor annoyance is the fat strap peg that makes it hard to seat a strap. You can enlarge the straphole with a razor blade, or you can pay $$$ for a Taylor strap.

Taylor customer support is par excellent. They'll spend any amount of time on the phone with you, ship you tech bulletins, etc. They provide the best support I've ever had from any make - period.

For fingerpickers looking for a great overall acoustic, this is a good bet. I've played since 1965 and have tried just about everything. After many years owning and playing numerous acoustics, I've settled on Taylor as the best overall value to suit my needs. You won't find rich tones and top notch finish and appearance in Japanese-built guitars. And as good as Martins are, you can't get a Martin of this wood quality and trim level at this price.

Other current equipment: Taylor 614CE, Baby Taylor, Godin nylon-str, Godin elec-acoustic prototype 12-string, Fender Big Apple Strat, Guild Starfire III, Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Hot Rod DeVille amp, Line 6 Flextone amp, Trace TA100R acoustic amp.

This guitar is a 2000 Taylor 514ce, of course made in the US of A. It is all solid wood; Western Red Cedar Top, Tropical American Mahagony back/sides...top and back bookmatched, very beautiful.
It comes equip with a Fishman Onboard Blender(piezo and mic) which is great! You can get this guitar to sound anyway you want it to plugged in.
The body is grand auditorium style, which is a perfect compromise between dread and concert...great for both fingerstyle and strumming!
Tuners are Gold Grovers
Neck is Mahogany
Great action on this one! Plays like a good electric

Since I play a lot of fingerstyle jazz/blues, and play contemp. Christian music, this guitar is perfect! It has a nice mellow woody sound with excellent intonation. It is fairly easy to overdrive the cedar top, so if you are a heavy strummer look elsewhere. This is a very intimate guitar that deserves a light touch, It doesn't take much to get a sound out of it. The tone of this guitar will steal ur heart!

Perfectly bookmatched top and back...action was good, a little bit of buzz around the 5th fret...but any good luthier can set it up just right! There were a few flaws in the fretboard near the inlays, but you really have to look close to see the very small holes. More likely a natural flaw in the wood. but for that I'll take a point away.

The guitar was made with the NT neck technology and if you watch the tape Taylor puts out, you know that Taylors are built to last. The finish on the top will last, it is very thick, but I do plan on putting some holes in the top from playing b/c Cedar is such a soft wood. That's lookin a good 10 -15 years down the line though. I feel perfectly confident in gigging this ax without a backup!

Taylor's customer support is 2nd to none! If you electronics stop working, they'll send you new ones....finish flaws? New guitar. They work for YOU!

I've been playing about 4 years and this is the best sounding acoustic I've ever played. I did a 7 month search for the right acoustic and I looked thru everything I could afford...Taylor, Martin, Laviree, Seagull, Tacoma..etc. This guitar was it! If it were stolen I would go into a deep depression and after recovery go out and buy another one. The only thing I think I would change about this guitar is I would probably custom a abalone border on the top of the guitar, haha....that costs about $1000 bucks extra though.

my submission is similar to most here. but let me add that it is true with the 514 ce's...they just sing. i played many many guitars prior to the purchase of this one. i was actually considering an OLSON but of course $5000 is a bit steep...this particular one (and i played a few that weren't as 'praise-worthy') would certainly hold its own even against an olson...and i only paid $1700 for it. this sounds a bit cliche, but unlike my many other guitars, this one still inspires me when i pick it up.

the only problem i have/had is the prefix started a wonderful little 60-cycle hum...thanks to the blender, i can nix it, but i lose some of my low end when i do so. BUT WAIT! SEE BELOW TO SEE TAYLORS RESPONSE ABOUT THE PICKUP PROBLEM

i called taylor warranty. talked to some guy who immediately found the portland, or. based warranty repair person. he just said, call this guy and arrange the repair time, and i will pick the new electronics in the mail today. he didnt even ask if i had isolated the problem or anything. i didnt have to have the tech verify a problem. the tech called last night and its just awaiting my schedule to throw the new one in. in a word BRAVO!

This is a 1999 Taylor, manufactured in California. It has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, rosewood fretboard, mother-of-pearl snowflake inlays, gold Grover tuners, and a Fishman Prefix blender. The body is grand auditorium size, so its not as big and boomy as a dreadnought. This model has a Venetian cutaway, allowing easy access to higher frets. The guitar came with an incredible hardcase that fits the body like a glove.

This was my first "professional" quality accoustic guitar, and the sound knocked me off my feet almost from the first note. I found that cheaper accoustics will produce sound, but it almost has to fight its way out of the instrument. Everything seems muffled, even when amplified. The Taylor was completely different. With this instrument, the body truly shaped the vibration of the strings and resonated wonderfully. You can feel the vibrations traveling through the neck so that it feels like the body of the guitar is singing. It just feels alive in your hands, and that's where the money is spent. This guitar sounds so wonderful that it is a joy to play, even after several years of ownership. I simply can't take the tone of this guitar for granted--it always gives me a thrill.

The size of the body means that this guitar is very bright when picked. Although it doesn't lack in a bottom end, it has a great sparkle to it. The onboard mixer allows for a considerable amount of tweaking when amplified, but this guitar sounds wonderful without any help. It's best suited for fingerpicking/flatpicking, but it strums just fine as well. In fact, most of my recordings with this one are strummed rhythms. At first, I was afraid that the smaller body would make this guitar tinny, but now I'm convinced that it actually makes it sound better. I don't like an boomy guitar sound, so this suits my style perfectly.

When I plug this guitar in, I usually do so directly into my Roland VS840 home studio workshop. I guess I'm really not a amplifying it much, but this does allow the Fishman blender to do its job. The tone that I get on these recordings is simply wonderful. At a 50/50 mix of mic and pickup, I am totally satisfied with the tone. The blender doesn't dominate the sound at all--instead, it simply helps translate the incredible tone to an electric signal.

When amplified, I only have a Mesa Rect-O-Verb 50 to use. This, obviously, is not a dedicated accoustic amp. Still, it sounds great. I still have problems with uncontrolled feedback, but that's a position/setting problem rather than a problem with the guitar.

I have no dislikes about the tone of this guitar.

The look of the 514CE is best described as understated. The finish on the mahogany neck is matte, without a glossy look found on many other expensive guitars. The headstock is also matte with a lovely, inlaid Taylor insignia. The gold tuners are probably the fanciest part of the guitar. The inlay around the sound hole is very simple, with a teardrop pickguard. The bridge has the trademark Taylor design and is made from ebony.

The finish on this guitar is lovely but rather delicate. No matter what you do, there will be some scratches on its surface if you play it a lot. I was stupid enough to bump against the open drawer of a filing cabinet and put an ugly scratch on the top that gouged through the finish (which is thin) and into the wood below. I was sick about this, but the sound was not affected. I guess I'll have to tell myself that it gives the guitar character...and it says that its owner is stupid. ;)

This guitar isn't flashy, but its elegant. Sort of like a BMW sedan...it just oozes quality.

The action on this instrument is remarkable. It is low...really low. It plays just like an electric, and bending strings is a dream. It plays fast, has no fret buzz, and the intonation is perfect. This is why Taylor spends so much money on their machining process. It's hard to believe that the thing wasn't 100% handmade.

The body is so light that its a little scary to play it outside of the house. I get nervous whenever I take it out of its case in public. Thankfully, the guitar is tougher than its weight would indicate. I've been playing this guitar for several years, every day, and nothing is falling apart. The tuners are lovely (they're Grovers after all) and rock steady. I haven't seen any wear from strumming, but I tend to hit the pickguard when I play...isn't that what its there for?

Never tried, but I hear that they're cool.

I've been playing for about ten years. I own a Les Paul, Fender Strat, along with some other stuff. If this guitar were loss, I'd cry. My favorite feature is the tone, tone, and more tone. It sounds like a dream and is worth every penny...and that's a shitload of pennies.

I compared this guitar to every high-end accoustic on the block. Nothing held a candle except Martin, which compared very favorably. The Martin did not have any onboard electronics, however, and I was not as happy with the feel of the neck. It was splitting hairs, of course, but I'm glad I purchased the Taylor. There is no substitute for "studio" accoustic playing.

Taylor lives up to its legend. They make incredible instruments and *never* sacrifice tone for looks. In order to get fancy inlays, you have to spend nearly 5,000 smackers on a Taylor. Sound comes first, and they deliver the goods.

Cedar-topped, mahogany body w/cutaway, on board Fishman Prefix. See other reviews or visit Taylor's (excellent) website for details. Comes with superb Taylor plywood case. I found the early (i.e., 1980's) Taylor cases to be very disappointing considering the quality of the instruments they protected. It's been a long while since I purchased a new Taylor so I can't say when they started shipping instruments in this particular case design, but I can say you'll have to move way up to something like a Calton to do better. I don't care where they manufacture them, I just like the results! Taylor's now come strung w/Elixers which is probably a good move considering most acoustics hang around the store for a while and get played by many grubby hands, but I don't like to trade the brilliance of fresh conventional bronze-wound strings for the extra life. Elixers are cool, but just not for me.

My style incorporates fingerpicking and flat picking and if I could have only one (acoustic) guitar this would be it. I love cedar tops because of their open sound and articulation, and also prefer the brighter sound of mahogany. This guitar responds beautifully to a slightly more gentle touch but can be made bluesy/edgy by digging in. I don't consider it a great strumming guitar, but it's a pickers dream. My first few scratch recordings indicate that it should mic up nicely too. If you're expecting the traditional mellow spruce/rosewood sound look elsewhere. If you want something with clarity and balance that will cut through the mix you'll probably like the 514ce. The Fishman Electronics work well, but I don't play much "electric acoustic" and am not overly qualified to compare this setup to others. I will say that the mic sounds very good at low volumes, and the piezo pickup sounds, unfortunately, like a piezo pickup. That's not knocking Taylor or Fishman, that's just par for the course.

No surprises here. Fit and finish are near flawless - a Taylor trademark. I'm not loyal to any single brand, but I must say that it's apparent that Taylor has taken great pain to refine it's manufacturing process to a point where they can crank out extraordinary (for the price) and totally consistant guitars. I wouldn't consider purchasing something like a Martin sight unseen and unplayed, but it would be a very low risk with a Taylor. To nitpick, the bridge isn't perfect. It has one little dent and a couple tiny chips around a couple of peg holes. You have to look very closely though. The setup was great out of the box, and I loved the fretwork; beautifully crowned medium frets polished to perfection. Intonation is world class and makes me glad I had no choice but to get the cutaway. It's plenty accurate to play all the way up the board. IMO Taylors are an electric guitar player's dream acoustic. Except for the heavier strings, it's easy to forget you're playing an acoustic. And part of the beauty of this guitar is easier string bending on the shortened scale. (Didn't I hear someone say "Blues"?)

It's as durable as a quality acoustic can/should be. The finish seems much harder than most. It's totally resisted a few accidental jabs from a (steel) thumb pick. Also, Taylor claims that their current finish (and I forget what it's called) is immune to finish checking. Taylor's new three piece neck construction and radical neck-to-body joint is a great example of their forward thinking. At first I freaked when I saw the fingered joint between the neck and headstock, but in thinking about it, it makes good sense structurally and ecologically. The new shim-adjustable neck/body joint is awesome and is further proof that innovation is common at Taylor. I love these people because they don't rest on their laurels. Instead they keep on building a better mousetrap!

I own several Taylors and have dealt with various personnel over the past 15 years. They're all knowledgeable, helpful, and extremely responsive. Most companies talk alot about quality and customer service but don't really give much support, but a call to Taylor produces action. Another great company that puts a ton of effort into support is Mackie. Other manufacturers should learn from these guys.

I've been playing at the semi-pro level for over thirty years and own over a dozen guitars, electrics and acoustics. I know music and I know manufacturing, and I swear by Taylor Guitars. I have and will continue to buy others, but I think Taylor is a cut above in many ways and gives far more bang for the buck than other high-end, mass- produced guitars. Should I ever get wind that Taylor has any intentions of going public or selling, I'll run out and scoop-up as many of their guitars as I can find before anyone has an opportunity to ruin a very good thing. The only other guitar I considered before buying this one was a Martin 000-28. Over three months and many road trips I played half a dozen of them, but came back to Taylor. Consistancy, tone, superior playability, innovative design, superb support, fair price. I wish all decisions were so easy.

Purchased in Denmark Street, London.
Made in USA. Solid Cedar top with Mahogony back and sides.
Fishman Blender Pick up system that works really well.
3 way eq with Volume, Notch and Frequency controls to reduce feedback problems.
Cutaway body for easy access to higher frets.
Gold plated Grover tuners.
Superb Taylor case that should protect this Guitar very well.

I play mostly flatpick stuff and this Guitar sounds absolutely stunning! Obviously doesn't have vast volume when not plugged in but is more than adequate and I played the Guitar unplugged in the store many many times and knew that I was in love long before plugging in. When I did eventually plug in I just fell deeper in love!
I either play the Guitar unplugged or DI into my HD Recorder and I (and everyone who visits)love the angelic sound of this instrument.
The low end booms and the high end is crystal clear and everythoing in between is equally as stunning! It is so rich.

The set up was perfect straight out of the Store.
The tag on the Guitar in the Store said simply "Pick me Up" and when I did I knew why they put that tag there. The action was quite (low) and superb. It was so playable I could not believe it! It aapeared to increase my speed without me making any more effort, wonderful!
I could not and have not found any faults with the build or the finish and I have had it for three weeks now.

Everything looks solid. I haven't played out with it yet but that will come soon and I am very confident about the build of this Guitar.

Only time will tell but it feels solid enough. Strap buttons are superb.

I would depend on this Guitar and I would play a gig without back-up.

Limited Lifetime warrenty.

I really wouldn't know about customer support. I haven't had to use it.

I have been playing for 7 Years. I have a Tanglewood Odissey acoustic (lower end Ovation copy) and an Epi Riviera and a LP Custom (3 Pick-up) is on its way.

However, it will have to work hard and be top notch to replace this as my number 1 Guitar. (Although I do favour Acoustic over Electric for sound and style).

I played lots of High End Guitars including various Martins (Vintage and New), and Gibson Acoustics, but nothing got near this Taylor.

If it were lost or stolen I would buy another instantly! (In spite of the cost).

I love everything about this Guitar, especially the Playability and the Sound.

Unless it is stolen this Guitar will be with me for life. Even my wife (who usually ignores my playing because she hears so much of it) stopped in her tracks and said "wow! that sounds good". This is the highest compliment I can give this Guitar!

2000 USA. You know the story. Fishman Onboard Blender. Solid Cedar Top, Mahogany back and sides.

This is a great guitar if you play plugged in especially with electrics and loud stage volume. The notch filter is great and the ability to blend from full line out to full inlet mic is amazing when you switch from loud electric to acoustic set with piano and cello. Also bought a climate case (mandolin music in NY-incredible place and service) which has provided useful in traveling and taking care of this great guitar. Came with Taylor's delux case, wonderful hard case, you can kill someone with it and not affect the guitar inside one bit.

Great sound plugged in or not. Play through crate acoustic but mostly through countryman DI straight to board for that authentic acoustic sound. Sound is clean and quiet, no humbars or pics ever. Has a bright beautiful sound, great tones when finger picked. There are tons of ways to tweak the EQ especially with the mic and pickup blendage. The only complaint is that it is not as boomy as some other guitars if you are not plugged in, but that's not what this guitar was made for.

Action is great, adjustable truss rod is great plus (Vintage Martins never had that and that is why they sound just a tad bit off sometimes). the intonation is perfect. There were no flaws of any kind. Have had NO problems with the Fishman electronics.

Guitar does well in day to day use, the hardships of riding in a trailor or trunk. If you gig and play hard, you will get scratches, go cry me a river. this does not affect the quality of sound that it produces. strap buttons are solid, had to find a strap that would fit however so if you're particular about what strap you have, A. you're an idiot and B. you might have to search a bit. the only reason i have a back up is for string breakage only. this guitar will NOT flame out on you if you are kind to it.

Are there better people on earth than the good folks at taylor? I called to request some additional info about their company (Just for fun on one of those "sick days") and talked with a lady there for about 10 minutes and 4 days later received all kinds of good stuff in the mail.

Been playing for 7 years. As a profession for 3. This guitar is a keeper. I will buy other guitars (Taylors) probably the Koa (did you see hootie playing this beautiful guitar) and drop a fishman in it too when I have 10 grand just hanging around. For now it's the only acoustic I need or want.

The best thing is it's natural excellent sound. You can have great electronics but if it's not pushing pure acoustic sound you will still have a crappy sound (tak anyone?). With the fishman in it you have great electronics pushing GREAT sound. And on top of all that you have a beautiful guitar not too ornately designed and a wonderful company behind it.

Beautiful American made Grand Auditorium size soild mahogany sides and back with solid cedar top. Abalone soundhole rosette, gold grover tuners, ebony fretboard and saddle. Venetian cutaway for easy access to the upper reaches of the perfectly attenuated neck. I ordered mine special with the Fishman matrix instead of the blender so as not to have some hideous knobs hanging out of the rich tonewood. 1 11/16 wide neck makes for fast and accurate finger placement. Visually stunning as well as excellent playability. Came with deluxe hard shell case. Wow what a case. softer than my kitty!

This guitar is perfectly suited to my style (fingerstyle) and I played many brands and many other taylors but kept coming back to the 514c. A rich full bright sound if your strings are relatively new. Otherwise, the cedar top makes it sound like a vintage guitar. This guitar is so accurate that you can produce perfect harmonics anywhere on this neck and have them ring loud and clear. I have the sound of this fine instument ingrained in my soul. No other guitar has done that to me.

Action was a little high from the factory but the tech at the store I purchased it from fixed me right up free of charge. Now it plays like the wind! Perfectly bookmatched top, sides and back. Top drawer throughout.

My only problem with this instrument is the leather strap taylor makes doesn't go on the jack easily and comes off even easier. I have almost dropped this nearly perfect instrument several times due to this. other than that I feel no heasitation to play to my limits, which the guitar is more than capable of handling.

Excellent. What a great group of people at Taylor. Too bad they are building a case factory in Mexico. What next, limiteds being built by Indonesia? Don't go Nike on us guys... I wouldn't want to have to buy a purely american instrument from another luthier. That would be the only reason I wouldn't buy a Taylor again---if they move operations out of the States. And I bet Taylors won't cost a thin dime less with mexican cases. Whatcha gunna do with all them pesos, Bob?

I have been playing fingerstyle guitar for 25+ years. I also own a Taylor JKSM that is a truely amazing instument. If either one was lost or stolen I would buy another the same day, then track down the thief, lock him in a room and play Britney Spears songs until his death by vomiting. There is nothing I don't love about my Taylors. My favorite feature is when you just pick it up, hit that first note and hear the voice of angels singing back to you! I compared this to some very high end guitars- Santa Cruz, Collings, Breedlove, Larivee, That M company and the 514c was the one for me. The only thing I wish it had was one of those cool new inlays Taylor does on the backs.

Acoustic cutaway body, mahagony body & neck, cedar top, gold plated tuners, Fishman blender with piezo and mic pickups. Action is fast with absolutely no buzz. The Fishman blender really works well, I've played this guitar through several amps (Fender Champ 12, Velocette 1x10 Combo, Park G10R, Crate GFX15) and it sounds great with all amps I've tried, although I prefer the Velocette for its clean Class A sound.

I played this guitar several times at the store prior to taking the big leap. There were several other makes and Taylor models there. I seemed to always migrate back to this particular guitar. It sounds wonderful, bright clear highs, deep rich lows and everything in between. I play several styles (wannabe finger style, flat pick, folk, etc.) and this guitar sounds fantastic for the styles I aspire to. Playing through an amplifier is almost a religious experience. I recently attended a finger pick workshop put on by Pat Kirkley (finger style champion), who was playing a Taylor 514 and I now know what this guitar can sound!

Setup was aboslutely perfect, right off the shelf. Finish was perfect. The action is fast, the neck is comfortable and takes a cappo well. I did replace the standard strings with Elixir light gauge strings shortly after purchase, and I'm never going back to any other strings. I have learned that Taylor now delivers their product with these strings. This is a good move. I visited several stores who stock Taylors. Some of the Taylor guitars there had some really 'dead' strings, and these Taylors souded quite dead as a result. Not too good for sales. The longer lifetime of the Elixirs would better represent the tonal quality of any quitar, especially those receiving public abuse in guitar stores.

I don't play in public, so I suppose I don't really know how well this guitar would stand up to the day-to-day abuse of playing gigs. I guess it would. This is a solid guitar.... Outside of my home and autos, this instrument is the most expensive item I own, so I probably wouldn't subject it to any undue abuse to test the reliability. I was initially somewhat concerned when reading the owners manual, Taylor went into great depth and detail about the effects of excessive dry/wet environments etc. The owners manual showed some really dreadful pictures of their product when exposed to long periods of excessive extremes of humidity/lack of humidity. In retrospect, this information was great, Taylor products are high quality instruments, and by taking the time and effort to educate their customers is only going to ensure a long life. I live in NC, where the summers are quite humid and winters are reasonably mild. I did purchase a humidifier to insert into the sound hole while stored (BTW, it is always in the case when I'm not actually playing it) I have never played it outside and never plan to, so hopefully I won't suffer any dreadful effects of long term wet/dry storage. Along this line, the supplied case is a work of art, the case fits the guitar perfectly, has numerous latches, and the lid seal looks very tight and robust. Storing the guitar in its case should shield the guitar from environmental swings well (all but heating from direct exposure to sun light).

I haven't dealt with the company in regards to this 514CE, but I did contact Taylor about one of their locally sponsored workshops. Not only did Taylor (Amy) contact me immediately with a response, they contacted the professional musician conducting the workshop (Pat Kirkley, a fantastic finger style guitarist), and he contacted me as well! Wow! I almost felt like I was one of their co-workers. This is quite a different response (i.e., no response) than I've received from other manufacturers (e.g., Ibanez, Trace Elliot).

I've been playing for more than three decades, over the years, I've owned many guitars (Fender, Alverez, Guild, Ibanez, JB Player, Peavy, no name pawn shop brands, home made guitars). I sampled many other brands (Martin, Tacoma, Yamaha, Fender acoustic, Gibson acoustic, Ovation, etc.) prior to deciding on this Taylor. No other guitar 'spoke to me' like this Taylor. Many of the brands I tried sounded good, but this guitar was made for me, and I don't think I will ever master guitar playing to the point where any possible limitations of the 514 will hamper my growth.