A Bold Statement That Backs It Up
Some guitars blend into the background. The Taylor 224ce Plus Special Edition in Trans Red is not one of them. That transparent red finish — gloss all the way across the body and down the neck — turns heads before you play a single note. But here's the thing: it's not just a pretty face. This is a genuinely capable acoustic-electric that earns its keep every time you plug in or play unplugged.
Part of Taylor's 200 Series, the 224ce Plus Special Edition brings together a solid neo-tropical mahogany top with layered sapele back and sides in Taylor's versatile Grand Auditorium body. The result is a warm, focused voice with strong midrange presence and a natural compression that smooths out your attack — whether you're strumming through a set or laying down a detailed fingerstyle part.
This one's particularly well-suited for players who want a guitar that can pull double duty: something that sounds and plays great acoustically but is also genuinely ready for the stage or studio when you need to plug in.
A Top That Sets the Tone
The solid neo-tropical mahogany top is the tonal heart of this guitar. Mahogany is a hardwood known for its focused, warm character — it emphasizes the midrange and fundamental note in a way that sits beautifully in a mix and feels especially natural for recording. Players often find that mahogany tops have a touch of natural compression baked in, which helps even out an aggressive pick attack without losing detail at lower volumes.
Taylor's cantilevered V-Class bracing system works underneath that top to maximize volume and sustain while maintaining the harmonic agreement between notes across the fretboard. This means chords ring out cleanly and notes stay in tune with each other all the way up the neck — something that's easy to take for granted until you've played a guitar that doesn't do it well.
Grand Auditorium Shape With a Venetian Cutaway
The Grand Auditorium is Taylor's most versatile body shape, and for good reason. It's wide enough to produce a full, authoritative acoustic sound, but the narrower waist keeps it comfortable against your body for long sessions. Add the Venetian cutaway and upper-fret access opens up in a big way — if you like to solo or use the full range of the neck, this body style makes that easy.
The layered sapele back and sides complement the mahogany top with warmth and depth while offering the added stability that laminate construction brings — fewer worries about humidity swings on the road. The neck is a slim satin-finished neo-tropical mahogany with Taylor's Standard Carve profile, a 25.5" scale length, and a 1-11/16" nut width. The West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard feels fast and precise underhand.
Taylor Expression System 2 Electronics
Taylor's ES2 pickup is positioned behind the saddle and uses three individually calibrated piezo sensors to capture the guitar's acoustic voice as it resonates through the bridge. The result is a plugged-in tone that stays true to the guitar's natural character — warm and midrange-forward, just like it sounds in the room. Onboard controls include volume, active bass, and treble adjustments, plus a phase switch to help manage feedback in live situations.
Visually, the guitar's aesthetic is rounded out with small Diamond fretboard inlays in Italian acrylic, a single-ring Italian acrylic rosette, black binding with black and white purfling, satin black tuning machines, and a matching black pickguard — all playing into that bold, cohesive trans red look.
Product Features:
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Body: Grand Auditorium with Venetian cutaway
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Top: Solid neo-tropical mahogany with cantilevered V-Class bracing
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Back & Sides: Layered sapele
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Neck: Neo-tropical mahogany, satin finish, Standard Carve profile
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Fingerboard: West African Crelicam ebony
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Scale Length: 25.5" | Nut Width: 1-11/16"
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Electronics: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) with volume, active bass, treble, and phase switch
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Finish: Trans Red gloss on body and neck
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Binding: Black with black and white purfling
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Appointments: Small Diamond Italian acrylic fretboard inlays, single-ring Italian acrylic rosette, satin black tuning machines, black pickguard
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: 224ce Plus Special Edition, Trans Red
SKU: 224CE PLUS SPECIAL EDITION TRANS RED
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.
