Taylor 14ce Torrified Spruce / Sapele

14ce Torrefied Spruce / Sapele | Taylor | Musicmaker Dublin

Here's a rather lovely proposition: a full-sized Taylor Grand Auditorium, a solid torrefied spruce top, genuine ebony fingerboard and gig-ready electronics, all wrapped up in a refreshingly understated acoustic guitar. The Taylor 14ce is proof that you don't need extravagant appointments or an eye-watering price tag to get your hands on that unmistakable Taylor playing experience.

This is a guitar that puts the important stuff first. Great tone. Comfortable playability. Proper musical versatility. And just enough clever engineering beneath the surface to make you wonder how Taylor managed to squeeze so much into such an accessible instrument.

The real star of the show is the solid torrefied spruce top. Torrefaction is a controlled heat-treatment process that changes the wood's moisture content and physical properties, helping give a new soundboard some of the tonal characteristics associated with an older, well-played guitar. You still get spruce's familiar clarity, sparkle and dynamic response, but with an extra helping of warmth and sweetness.

The result is a guitar with a wonderfully inviting acoustic voice. Light fingerpicking brings out delicate, articulate notes, while a more enthusiastic strum reveals plenty of projection and body. There's a nice sense of balance across the strings, too, so your bass notes don't overwhelm the melody and your trebles have room to sing.

Paired with the spruce top are layered African sapele back and sides. Sapele is known for its balanced tonal character, with a strong midrange presence that works beautifully in an all-round acoustic guitar. The layered construction also brings practical durability, making the 14ce a sensible companion for regular rehearsals, travel and everyday playing.

Then there's the body shape. Taylor's Grand Auditorium has become something of a modern acoustic classic, sitting in that sweet spot between the punch of a dreadnought and the more intimate feel of a smaller-bodied guitar. It's comfortable on the knee, responsive to different playing techniques and wonderfully adaptable.

Fingerstyle? Absolutely. Big open chords? No bother. Singer-songwriter accompaniment, folk, pop, acoustic rock, worship music, a little blues on a rainy Dublin afternoon? The 14ce is more than happy to get involved.

Inside the body, Taylor's innovative cantilevered V-Class-inspired voicing architecture helps enhance the guitar's sustain, projection and low-frequency response. It's a thoughtful piece of acoustic engineering that gives this affordable Grand Auditorium an impressively mature voice.

But the 14ce isn't just about what you hear. It's also about how it feels.

The hard rock maple neck features Taylor's comfortable Standard Carve profile and a streamlined, heelless design that makes the guitar particularly inviting to play. Combined with a genuine West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard, it delivers the smooth, precise fretting experience that has made Taylor guitars so popular with players of all levels.

There's a Venetian cutaway, too, giving your fretting hand easier access to the upper register. It's a welcome feature for melodic fills, lead passages and those moments when the song suddenly calls for something a little more adventurous than another open G chord.

Visually, Taylor has kept things beautifully simple. The natural matte finish lets the timber do the talking, while small faux-pearl dot inlays, a discreet single-ring rosette and chrome tuning machines give the guitar a clean, purposeful appearance. No unnecessary sparkle. No decorative gymnastics. Just a handsome acoustic that looks like it knows exactly what it's doing.

And when it's time to plug in, the Fishman acoustic pickup system is ready to take over. With conveniently positioned soundhole controls for volume and tone, you can connect to an acoustic amplifier or PA system without interrupting the guitar's elegant, uncluttered appearance. It's ideal for open mic nights, rehearsals, small gigs and recording setups where a dependable amplified acoustic signal comes in handy.

A Taylor gig bag is included, making it easier to keep your new guitar protected between sessions and on the move.

The Taylor 14ce Torrefied Spruce / Sapele is an excellent choice for guitarists stepping up to their first Taylor, experienced players looking for a dependable everyday electro-acoustic, or anyone who appreciates a guitar that feels good, sounds musical and doesn't make a fuss about it.

It's the sort of instrument that encourages you to play for another ten minutes. Then another twenty. Then suddenly it's half one in the morning and you've written the beginnings of three songs.

We've all been there.

Features

• Solid Torrefied Spruce Top: Heat-treated soundboard delivers spruce's familiar clarity and projection with added warmth and a more mature tonal character.

• Grand Auditorium Body: Taylor's versatile flagship shape offers a comfortable balance of acoustic volume, tonal definition and playing comfort.

• Layered African Sapele Back and Sides: Durable construction with a balanced midrange character that complements the responsive spruce top.

• Cantilevered Voicing Architecture: Taylor's innovative internal bracing approach helps support sustain, projection and low-end response.

• Venetian Cutaway: Smooth, rounded cutaway provides easier access to the upper frets for melodic playing and lead passages.

• Hard Rock Maple Neck: Comfortable Standard Carve profile with Taylor's streamlined heelless design.

• West African Crelicam Ebony Fingerboard: Genuine ebony playing surface offers a smooth feel and crisp note articulation.

• Fishman Acoustic Electronics: Built-in pickup system provides a convenient way to amplify the guitar for rehearsals and live performances.

• Soundhole-Mounted Controls: Discreet volume and tone adjustments preserve the guitar's clean exterior.

• Natural Matte Finish: Understated appearance showcases the wood grain and gives the instrument a relaxed, contemporary character.

• Faux-Pearl Dot Inlays: Simple 4mm position markers keep the fingerboard looking clean and traditional.

• Ebony Bridge: West African Crelicam ebony bridge complements the fingerboard and provides a solid foundation for string vibration.

• D'Addario XS Coated Strings: Factory-fitted light-gauge phosphor bronze strings offer a comfortable feel and extended string life.

• Taylor Gig Bag Included: Practical protection for travelling to lessons, rehearsals and performances.

• Outstanding All-Round Versatility: Equally suited to fingerstyle, rhythmic strumming, songwriting and amplified acoustic performance.

Specifications

• Brand: Taylor Guitars

• Model: 14ce

• Instrument Type: Six-String Electro-Acoustic Guitar

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

• Cutaway: Venetian

• Colour: Natural

• Top Material: Solid Torrefied Spruce

• Back Material: Layered African Sapele

• Side Material: Layered African Sapele

• Bracing: Taylor Cantilevered Voicing Architecture

• Top Finish: Matte

• Back and Sides Finish: Matte

• Neck Material: Hard Rock Maple

• Neck Profile: Standard Carve

• Neck Finish: Matte

• Fingerboard Material: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Fingerboard Inlays: Faux-Pearl 4mm Dots

• Scale Length: 25.5" (647.7mm)

• Nut Width: 1 11/16" (42.9mm)

• Nut Material: White NuBone

• Saddle Material: White Micarta

• Bridge Material: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Rosette: Black Single Ring

• Headstock Veneer: Copafera

• Tuning Machines: Die-Cast Chrome

• Bridge Pins: Black ABS Plastic

• Number of Strings: 6

• Factory Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.053)

• Electronics: Fishman Acoustic Pickup and Preamp System

• Electronics Controls: Soundhole-Mounted Volume and Tone

• Playing Orientation: Right-Handed

• Included Case: Taylor Gig Bag