Taylor Next Generation 814ce Sitka Spruce / Indian Rosewood

Next Gen 814ce Sitka Spruce / Indian Rosewood | Taylor | Musicmaker Dublin

There are acoustic guitars that do one thing exceptionally well, and then there are guitars that seem determined to make every musical idea sound its absolute best. The Taylor Next Generation 814ce Sitka Spruce / Indian Rosewood belongs firmly in the second category. Rich, articulate, beautifully balanced and remarkably responsive, this is a premium American-made acoustic-electric that combines Taylor's celebrated craftsmanship with a fresh approach to acoustic tone.

The 814ce has long been one of the defining instruments in Taylor's 800 Series, and this Next Generation model takes that reputation into exciting new territory. Built around the familiar Grand Auditorium body shape, it offers the versatility that has made Taylor acoustics favourites among professional performers, recording musicians and serious enthusiasts. But beneath that elegant exterior lies a carefully considered evolution of the guitar's acoustic design.

At the heart of the instrument is a solid Sitka spruce top, a tonewood renowned for its exceptional combination of clarity, projection and dynamic headroom. Spruce responds beautifully to a light touch, allowing delicate fingerpicked passages to emerge with precision and sparkle. Push a little harder and the soundboard opens up with impressive authority, delivering the volume and energy needed for confident strumming and powerful acoustic arrangements.

The solid Indian rosewood back and sides bring richness and depth to that articulate spruce voice. Rosewood has a wonderful ability to produce a broad, harmonically complex sound, with deep, resonant bass frequencies and beautifully detailed trebles. Together, these tonewoods create a tonal landscape that feels expansive without losing focus.

There's a satisfying weight to the lower register, a clear and expressive midrange, and a shimmering quality to the higher notes that makes melodies sing. Complex chords remain beautifully separated, while single-note passages have the sustain and harmonic colour that make a truly exceptional acoustic guitar so rewarding to play.

The Grand Auditorium body is a major part of that versatility. Taylor's signature shape offers a wonderfully comfortable playing experience while producing a balanced acoustic response across a broad range of styles. It has enough presence for rhythmic accompaniment, yet retains the sensitivity and detail that fingerstyle players demand.

Singer-songwriters will appreciate how naturally the 814ce supports a vocal performance, while instrumentalists will enjoy its ability to communicate subtle changes in touch and phrasing. It's equally convincing playing delicate open tunings, intricate fingerstyle arrangements or full-bodied strummed chords.

The Next Generation design introduces further refinements to the guitar's internal architecture, focusing on how the soundboard moves, resonates and responds to the player. The result is an acoustic voice that feels exceptionally connected, with notes developing naturally and a sense of sustain that encourages you to let every phrase breathe.

That responsiveness is particularly noticeable when moving between playing dynamics. Gentle passages retain their warmth and definition, while stronger attacks produce additional projection without sacrificing balance. There's a maturity to the sound that makes the guitar feel composed even when the music becomes demanding.

The Venetian cutaway provides convenient access to the upper fingerboard, making it easier to explore lead passages, extended chord shapes and melodic arrangements. Its graceful shape also contributes to the guitar's unmistakable Taylor silhouette.

Playability is another area where the 814ce excels. Taylor's carefully engineered neck construction provides a comfortable, consistent feel, allowing the fretting hand to move naturally around the fingerboard. Paired with a premium ebony playing surface, the guitar offers the sort of smooth, precise response that makes long performances and recording sessions a genuine pleasure.

Visually, the 814ce strikes a beautiful balance between luxury and restraint. The natural beauty of the spruce top contrasts with the deep, richly figured Indian rosewood back and sides, while the refined binding, decorative inlays and carefully finished appointments reflect the craftsmanship of Taylor's premium acoustic range.

It's a guitar that rewards a closer look. The details are elegant rather than excessive, allowing the quality of the materials and the precision of the construction to speak for themselves.

For professional musicians, a guitar of this calibre also needs to perform confidently beyond the acoustic environment. The Next Generation 814ce incorporates Taylor's latest approach to amplified acoustic sound, designed to preserve the warmth, articulation and dynamic sensitivity of the instrument when connected to a PA system or recording setup.

The result is a guitar built for serious musical use. From intimate solo performances to demanding studio sessions and larger stages, the 814ce offers the clarity, control and expressive range needed to communicate every detail of a performance.

At Musicmaker Dublin, we're always drawn to instruments that combine exceptional craftsmanship with genuine musical versatility. The Taylor Next Generation 814ce is a wonderful example. It has the sophistication expected from a premium American acoustic, but more importantly, it has the warmth, responsiveness and personality that make you want to keep playing.

This is an instrument for musicians who notice the little things: the way a note blooms after the initial attack, the subtle shimmer of an open chord, the depth of a gently picked bass note and the effortless transition from a whisper to a roar.

Features

• Next Generation 800 Series Design: Taylor's flagship Grand Auditorium combines premium tonewoods with the latest innovations in acoustic performance and playability.

• Solid Sitka Spruce Top: Delivers outstanding clarity, projection and dynamic range for fingerstyle playing and powerful strumming.

• Solid Indian Rosewood Back and Sides: Produce rich harmonic overtones, deep bass, articulate trebles and a beautifully expansive acoustic voice.

• Scalloped V-Class Bracing: Updated bracing architecture enhances warmth, bass response, open-string resonance, volume and sustain while maintaining excellent pitch accuracy.

• Action Control Neck: Innovative long-tenon neck joint improves tonal transfer and allows precise string-height adjustments without traditional neck shims.

• Grand Auditorium Body: Versatile, comfortable body shape with a balanced response suited to a wide variety of musical styles.

• Venetian Cutaway: Elegant cutaway provides easy access to the upper fingerboard.

• Indian Rosewood Radius Armrest: Smoothly rounded armrest improves playing comfort while adding a luxurious visual detail.

• Neo-Tropical Mahogany Neck: Taylor's familiar Standard Carve profile offers comfortable, responsive playability.

• West African Crelicam Ebony Fingerboard: Premium ebony playing surface with elegant mother-of-pearl Element inlays.

• Claria Acoustic Pickup System: Taylor's next-generation undersaddle pickup and preamp deliver natural, versatile amplified acoustic sound.

• Soundhole-Mounted Controls: Volume, Mid-Contour and Tone controls provide intuitive adjustment without disrupting the guitar's elegant appearance.

• Premium Decorative Appointments: Rock maple binding, Indian rosewood pickguard and mother-of-pearl detailing complement the natural timber.

• Smoked Nickel Taylor Tuners: Precision tuning machines with a sophisticated dark metallic finish.

• Full-Body Gloss Finish: Beautifully polished finish showcases the natural spruce and rosewood grain.

• Deluxe Taylor Hard Shell Case: Premium brown case included for protection during transport and storage.

Specifications

• Brand: Taylor Guitars

• Model: Next Generation 814ce

• Series: 800 Series

• Instrument Type: Premium Steel-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Country of Manufacture: USA

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

• Cutaway: Venetian

• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce

• Back and Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood

• Back Configuration: Two-Piece, No Wedge

• Bracing: Scalloped V-Class Bracing with Relief Rout

• Neck Material: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Taylor Action Control Neck

• Neck Profile: Standard Carve

• Fingerboard: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Fingerboard Binding: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Headstock Veneer: West African Crelicam Ebony

• Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)

• Nut Width: 1-3/4" (44.45mm)

• Nut Material: Black TUSQ

• Saddle Material: Micarta

• Fingerboard Inlays: Mother-of-Pearl Element

• Headstock Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Element

• Rosette: Single Ring with Bound Soundhole

• Body Binding: Rock Maple

• Armrest: Radius Indian Rosewood

• Pickguard: Indian Rosewood

• Bridge Pins: West African Ebony with Green Abalone Dots

• Tuning Machines: Taylor Smoked Nickel with Smoked Nickel Buttons

• Electronics: Taylor Claria Acoustic Pickup System

• Pickup Type: Undersaddle Piezo

• Electronics Controls: Volume, Mid-Contour and Tone

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

• Number of Strings: 6

• Body Finish: Gloss 4.5

• Neck Finish: Satin

• Headstock Finish: Gloss

• Colour: Natural

• Orientation: Right-Handed

• Included Case: Brown Taylor Deluxe Hard Shell Case