A Do-It-All Grand Auditorium That Actually Does It All
There's a guitar that lives on the couch for casual strumming, travels to the open mic night, sits in on a recording session, and still holds its own plugged into a PA at a gig — and it doesn't require a different instrument each time. That's exactly what the Taylor 114ce is built for. With a Venetian cutaway Grand Auditorium body, a solid Sitka spruce top, layered walnut back and sides, and Taylor's onboard Expression System 2 electronics, this guitar covers a wide range of musical situations without breaking a sweat.
The walnut-and-spruce combination is worth paying attention to. Walnut delivers a focused midrange with a bit of natural warmth and brightness on the top end, while solid Sitka spruce up front gives the 114ce plenty of clarity and projection. Whether you're fingerpicking through a slow melody or driving through a rhythm part, the tones balance out nicely — nothing muddy, nothing harsh.
This is a guitar that suits players at many different points in their journey. If you're buying your first serious acoustic-electric, it delivers Taylor-quality playability and plugged-in performance right out of the box. If you're an experienced player looking for a dependable, giggable second guitar, it punches well above its price class.
The Body: Grand Auditorium Shape and Solid Sitka Spruce Top
Taylor's Grand Auditorium body shape is one of their most versatile designs — it borrows the width and depth of a dreadnought but features a narrower waist, giving it a sleeker silhouette and a more defined high-end response that helps individual notes stand out even in a full-band mix. The Venetian cutaway on the 114ce extends that versatility further, opening up the upper fretboard so you can reach all 20 frets comfortably.
The solid Sitka spruce top is the tonal engine here. Sitka spruce is one of the most trusted acoustic guitar tonewoods for a reason — it's responsive across a wide dynamic range, meaning it sounds good whether you're playing softly or digging in hard. Taylor pairs it with their Forward Shifted bracing pattern, which is designed to boost volume, sustain, and low-end presence for a fuller-sounding result than you might expect from a guitar in this range.
The layered walnut back and sides complete the picture tonally. "Layered" means the wood is laminate construction — and that's actually a meaningful benefit here, because layered walnut is more stable across changes in temperature and humidity than solid wood back and sides. For a guitar that's likely to travel and see real-world use, that durability matters.
Playability: The Taylor Neck and 1-11/16" Nut Width
Taylor necks have a well-earned reputation for feeling immediately comfortable, and the 114ce is no exception. The slender Taylor neck profile makes fretting feel relaxed rather than effortful, and the 25-1/2" scale length gives the strings enough tension to stay responsive and in tune. The 1-11/16" nut width is slightly narrower than what you'd find on a classical guitar, which makes barre chords and chord transitions easier on the hands — a genuine advantage if you're putting in long practice sessions.
The ebony fretboard and bridge are a detail worth noting. Ebony is a dense, smooth hardwood that provides a very slick playing surface and holds up well over time. The 20-fret ebony fingerboard features Italian acrylic dot inlays, and the guitar sports a clean, understated look overall — black binding, black pickguard, and a three-ring rosette. The TUSQ nut and Micarta saddle keep the guitar playing in tune and buzzing-free.
Electronics: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2)
The "e" in 114ce refers to Taylor's Expression System 2, and it's one of the more thoughtfully designed pickup systems in this price range. Three individually calibrated piezo-electric sensors are positioned behind the saddle — rather than under it — which allows them to capture the guitar's acoustic energy more naturally. The result is an amplified tone that actually sounds like your guitar rather than a generic approximation of it.
Taylor pairs those sensors with their custom-designed "professional audio"-grade preamp, with onboard bass, mid, and treble controls to help you dial in your sound for different environments. On stage through a PA, into an acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software — the ES2 handles all of it with consistency and clarity. No feeding back at moderate stage volumes, no excessive boominess when you turn it up.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Grand Auditorium with Venetian cutaway
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Top: Solid Sitka spruce with Forward Shifted bracing pattern
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Back & Sides: Layered walnut — stable and durable across climate changes
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Scale Length: 25-1/2" with 1-11/16" nut width for comfortable fretting
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Fretboard & Bridge: Genuine ebony with Italian acrylic dot inlays
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Nut & Saddle: TUSQ nut and Micarta saddle
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Electronics: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) with three behind-the-saddle sensors and custom preamp
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Controls: Onboard bass, mid, and treble EQ
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Tuners: Chrome (100/200)
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Finish: Matte Natural
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: 114ce
SKU: 114CE
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
