The 314ce, Evolved
The Taylor 314ce has been one of the most-reached-for acoustic-electrics in the lineup for years — the kind of guitar that goes to every gig, records well in the home studio, and still sounds great at an unplugged Sunday morning sit-around. The Next Generation version keeps everything that made the original great and adds three meaningful upgrades: Scalloped V-Class bracing for deeper low-end resonance, the new Action Control Neck for on-the-fly string height adjustment, and Taylor's Claria pickup system for a more natural plugged-in tone.
At its heart, this is still a Grand Auditorium 314ce — solid Sitka spruce top, solid sapele back and sides, a comfortable Standard Carve mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard. What's changed is the engineering underneath that makes it play and sound even better than you'd expect at this price point.
If you've been looking for one guitar that handles fingerstyle, strumming, live performance, and recording without compromise, this is a serious candidate worth your time.
Scalloped V-Class Bracing: More Warmth, Same Balance
Taylor's V-Class bracing architecture already earned a strong reputation for improving sustain, pitch accuracy, and volume evenness. The Next Generation version adds a scalloped profile to that bracing, which unlocks more low-end warmth and a richer, more resonant open-string bloom — without sacrificing the clarity and pitch focus V-Class is known for.
The solid Sitka spruce top contributes dynamic range and responsiveness, while the solid sapele back and sides bring a punchy midrange character with enough top-end presence to stay articulate. The combination is well-balanced across all register — chords spread out evenly, single notes have good sustain, and the whole instrument sits naturally in a mix whether you're playing solo or alongside other instruments.
Action Control Neck: Your Setup, Your Way
Taylor's Action Control Neck brings a long-tenon joint to the 314ce for the first time, which tightens the neck-to-body connection and contributes to the improved low-end resonance. But the headline feature is what the new design lets you do with string height: using a simple tool through the soundhole, you can make precise micro-adjustments to the action without removing the neck or even the strings.
If you move between lighter fingerpicking and heavier strumming, or if you play in different climates where wood movement shifts your setup, that kind of on-the-fly adjustability is genuinely useful — not just a novelty. The neck itself uses a Standard Carve profile with a satin finish, which feels smooth and fast without any sticky gloss buildup during longer sessions.
Claria Electronics: Plug In With Confidence
The Taylor Claria System is an under-saddle piezo pickup designed specifically to avoid the brittle, nasal quality that traditional piezo designs can produce. It was developed with input from touring artists and live sound engineers, and the result is a more natural, acoustic-leaning amplified tone that's easier to dial in on a variety of PA systems and amp setups.
Controls are mounted at the soundhole — Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour — so you can make quick adjustments between songs without hunting for side-mounted controls. Whether you're plugging into a house PA at a festival stage or a small amp at a café gig, the Claria system gives you a consistent, workable starting point without extensive EQing at the board.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Grand Auditorium with Venetian cutaway, gloss finish
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Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
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Back & Sides: Solid Sapele
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Bracing: Scalloped V-Class with Relief Rout for enhanced low-end warmth and sustain
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Neck: Neo-Tropical Mahogany, Standard Carve profile, satin finish, with Action Control long-tenon joint for on-the-fly action adjustment
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Fingerboard: West African Crelicam Ebony, 25.5" scale length, 1-3/4" nut width
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Electronics: Taylor Claria System under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls
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Appointments: Weathervane faux pearl inlays, firestripe pickguard, black binding with black and white purfling, Taylor nickel tuners
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Finish: Natural, full gloss body, satin neck
- Made in USA
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: Next Generation 314ce
SKU: A308002118400030093
Condition: New
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