Cedar Up Top, Mahogany Everywhere Else — and a Grand Auditorium That Does It All
There's a reason the cedar-and-mahogany 514ce has been one of Taylor's most beloved pairings for decades. Cedar responds to a light touch in a way spruce doesn't — it blooms rather than projects, breathes rather than punches — and paired with mahogany's dry, woody midrange, the result is a guitar that rewards fingerstyle players and thoughtful strummers in equal measure. The 2026 Next Generation 514ce takes that beloved formula and brings it forward with a full suite of modern Taylor upgrades.
The Grand Auditorium body shape sits right in the sweet spot of Taylor's lineup — wider than a concert, a bit tighter in the waist than a dreadnought, and very much at home in a wide range of playing contexts. Add a Venetian cutaway for upper-fret access and Claria electronics for stage-ready amplified tone, and you have an acoustic-electric that is genuinely ready for wherever you take it.
Whether you play fingerstyle folk, singer-songwriter sets, or you're just looking for a refined, responsive guitar to grow into, the Next Generation 514ce covers a lot of ground without asking you to compromise.
Western Red Cedar Top with Scalloped V-Class Bracing
Western Red cedar runs warm and intimate right from the first note. It compresses naturally at lower playing volumes and opens up beautifully as you dig in — a characteristic players often find ideal for fingerpicking and lighter strumming styles. Mahogany back and sides paired with this cedar top serve up a focused midrange response with warm, rounded character and remarkable soft-touch sensitivity.
Inside, Taylor's scalloped V-Class bracing enhances volume, sustain, and open-string expressiveness, combining with an Action Control Neck that generates a touch of additional low-end presence while also offering easy, quick string height adjustments. The scalloped profile of the bracing is a Next Generation refinement specifically designed to open up the low-end response compared to earlier V-Class implementations — you get the signature balance and intonation accuracy of V-Class with a warmer, fuller bottom end.
The Action Control neck joint system is a practical bonus: rather than a traditional dovetail, it uses a bolt-adjust mechanism that lets a tech dial in your neck angle with precision. Setup adjustments that used to require a shop visit can now be handled quickly and accurately.
Neo-Tropical Mahogany Neck and West African Crelicam Ebony Fretboard
The neck is Neo-Tropical Mahogany with a West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard. Ebony is one of the denser, smoother fretboard materials available — it plays fast and stays smooth over time. Crelicam ebony, sourced responsibly from Cameroon, is Taylor's preferred sustainable ebony and is used across their premium guitar lines.
Visual details include a natural full-body gloss finish, Meridian fretboard inlays in Italian acrylic, a green abalone rosette, and a faux-tortoiseshell pickguard. The Meridian inlays are understated and elegant — a clean look that doesn't compete with the guitar's natural wood character.
Claria Electronics for Amplified Performance
The 514ce includes Claria electronics for dependable live sound in any venue. The Claria system is Taylor's under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls — Taylor's Claria under-saddle pickup system provides plug-and-play performance with handy soundhole-mounted Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls. That mid-contour control is particularly useful for live situations, letting you carve out feedback-prone frequencies quickly without reaching for a separate EQ pedal.
The Claria system is a step forward from Taylor's long-running ES2, designed to preserve the acoustic character of the guitar when amplified. Players who gig regularly will appreciate how natural it sounds through a PA or acoustic amp.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Grand Auditorium with Venetian cutaway — Taylor's all-purpose flagship shape
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Top Wood: Western Red Cedar — warm, responsive, and touch-sensitive
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Back & Sides: Neo-Tropical Mahogany — focused midrange with dry, woody character
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Bracing: Scalloped V-Class — enhanced low-end, volume, sustain, and intonation vs. standard V-Class
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Neck: Neo-Tropical Mahogany with Action Control neck joint for precise setup adjustment
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Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony — dense, smooth, and sustainably sourced
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Electronics: Claria under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls
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Finish: Natural full-body gloss
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Appointments: Meridian fretboard inlays in Italian acrylic, green abalone rosette, faux-tortoiseshell pickguard
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Series: Next Generation 500 Series — 2026 revision
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: Next Generation 514ce
SKU: A505002118400110000
Condition: New
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