Titanic Tone, Warriors in Wood.
Welcome to the battle of the century. In one corner: the radiant, refined Taylor 724ce, carved from Hawaii’s sacred Koa and glowing like a mahogany deity. In the other: the mighty Taylor 815e Legacy, a thunderous cannon forged from Sitka Spruce and Indian Rosewood, born for open-air arenas and rich tradition.
They’re both gorgeous. They’re both elite. But which one deserves to be cradled in your arms? Let’s ring the bell and find out.
The 815e Legacy
Round 1: Design & Aesthetics
Taylor 724ce Koa – Gloss Natural
She walks into the room and everything stops. Koa doesn’t whisper; it shimmers. Each piece is unique—flamed, figured, and full of fire. With a Grand Auditorium shape and a sleek Venetian cutaway, this guitar looks like it was carved by ancient forest gods, then dipped in honey.
This one’s a tank in a tuxedo. Big, bold, and unapologetically classic. The Sitka spruce top glows with a soft golden hue while Indian Rosewood wraps around the back like fine chocolate marbled with espresso. No cutaway. No fuss. Just jumbo curves and timeless charm.
Who wins?
- If you want to drop jaws: 724ce.
- If you want to command reverence: 815e.
The 724ce Koa
Round 2: Build & Materials
724ce - Built entirely from Hawaiian Koa with a neo-tropical mahogany neck and West African ebony fingerboard. This wood combo doesn’t just look divine—it resonates with clarity and warmth that matures over time. Throw in V-Class bracing and you’ve got balance, projection, and sustain for days.
815e - This is the traditional powerhouse build: Sitka Spruce top with Indian Rosewood back and sides. It’s a combo that’s been wrecking hearts and melting microphones for decades. Deep lows, crisp highs, and a scooped midrange that leaves room for vocals. Classic X-bracing keeps it honest and vintage.
Who wins?
For modern innovation: 724ce.
For tried-and-true tonewood glory: 815e.
Beautiful Rosewood Body on the 815e
Round 3: Tonal Characteristics
724ce - Bright, articulate, and midrange-forward, with a snap in the attack and a smooth sweetness in the tail. Play it soft and it sings like a siren. Dig in and it cuts through a mix like a scalpel wrapped in velvet. And the kicker? It gets warmer with age. This guitar’s tone literally grows with you.
815e - Boom. This is your orchestra in a box. Thunderous low end, sparkling trebles, and a depth of tone that’s almost cinematic. The jumbo body means air—lots of it—and with it comes volume, richness, and presence. Strummers, rejoice: this thing roars when you let it off the leash.
Who wins?
For nuanced expression and dynamic control: 724ce.
For sheer sonic power and lush stereo spread: 815e.
Stunning Koa grain on the 724ce
Round 4: Playability & Comfort
724ce - The Grand Auditorium is Taylor’s secret sauce—comfortable for hours, versatile for any style. Whether you’re seated at home or standing on stage, the shape just melts into your body. The Venetian cutaway gives effortless access to the high frets, and the satin neck? Smooth as butter on a hot griddle.
815e - Jumbo = huge tone and... well, jumbo presence. If you’re smaller-framed, it might feel like cuddling a cello. But for big-bodied players or those chasing projection and punch, it’s a dream. No cutaway here, so you won’t be shredding up past the 15th fret unless you're feeling bold.
Who wins?
For comfort, versatility, and extended range: 724ce.
For strumming with your whole soul: 815e.
Round 5: Hardware & Electronics
724ce - Outfitted with Taylor’s own Expression System 2, this guitar doesn’t just sound good unplugged—it sings into a PA. You get crisp highs, tight mids, and a sense of space that’s downright studio-grade.
815e - Taylor went rogue with the LR Baggs Element VTC on this one, offering a more earthy, organic sound. It’s lush, it’s warm, and it does a fantastic job of capturing the guitar’s jumbo-bodied thunder. Built-in volume and tone controls are intuitive and bulletproof.
Who wins?
Expression System for sparkle and clarity: 724ce.
Element VTC for warmth and raw honesty: 815e.
Final Verdict: Choose Your Champion
So, who takes the crown? Truth is, they both do—but in very different kingdoms.
Get the Taylor 724ce Koa if:
- You want tone that evolves and improves
- You love a midrange-forward, expressive sound
- You live for detail, beauty, and feel
Get the Taylor 815e Legacy if:
- You crave tradition and tonal depth
- You strum hard, play loud, and fill space
- You want an heirloom instrument that can out-sing a band
Either way, you’re not just buying a guitar. You’re making a statement. You’re choosing legacy. You’re choosing tone. And at the end of the day, only one thing matters: does it make you want to play for hours?
Come try them both at Musicmaker Dublin. Feel the difference. Hear the battle. Pick your winner.
Bonus Round: Tonewood Breakdown – Koa vs Spruce/Rosewood
When it comes to high-end acoustic guitars, the choice of tonewoods is everything. It’s not just about looks—it’s about feel, response, ageing, and the stories these woods tell through your hands.
Hawaiian Koa (Taylor 724ce)
- Sound Profile: Koa is the shapeshifter of tonewoods. Bright and chimey when new, it gradually warms into a lush, balanced voice over time. Expect a crisp top-end with a sweet midrange that gets more complex as the guitar ages—like fine whiskey learning to behave.
- Feel: Responsive and snappy. Fingerstyle players love it. Strummers? Give it some time—it’ll open up and love you back.
- Visual Vibe: It’s the peacock of the tonewood world. Flamed, striped, golden, fiery—every piece is unique. Even when it’s not plugged in, it still turns heads.
- Spiritual Mood: Surf songwriters. Late-night journalers. Anyone who wants a guitar that becomes theirs over time.
Sitka Spruce / Indian Rosewood (Taylor 815e Legacy)
- Sound Profile: This combo is the old-school classic. Spruce provides the brightness, the shimmer, the zing. Rosewood fills in the low-end thunder and adds dark, complex overtones like a cathedral echoing back at you. Together? Big, bold, and articulate.
- Feel: Wide dynamic range—whisper or wail, it responds. Loves a heavy pick hand but doesn’t punish nuance either.
- Visual Vibe: More refined than flashy. The spruce top glows like candlelight; the rosewood back is rich, chocolatey, with elegant grain lines that say, “I don’t need to show off—I’m already legendary.”
- Spiritual Mood: Road-seasoned songwriters. Americana lifers. Church players, wedding giggers, and festival stompers. This is for players who want their guitar to fill the room and the mix.
Still Torn?
There’s only one cure: come in, sit down, and let your hands and ears decide. Musicmaker Dublin has both of these beasts ready for you to test drive. Close your eyes. Strum a G chord. You’ll know.
And if you walk out with both? No judgement. We’ve seen it happen. Often.
