The Guitar That Defined Taylor's Golden Era — Back in Your Hands
There's a version of the Taylor 914ce that serious players have been quietly missing for years. It's the one with Indian rosewood and Engelmann spruce — a combination that was the backbone of Taylor's revered 900 Series for a long stretch of the brand's history. That guitar helped establish what a premium acoustic-electric could be: warm, sparkly, complex, and genuinely beautiful to look at. The Legacy 914ce brings it back, with the same classic recipe and a few welcome modern touches that make it even easier to play.
This is a Grand Auditorium with a Venetian cutaway, which means you get all that tonal versatility the GA body shape is known for — punchy enough for strumming, nuanced enough for fingerpicking — along with easy access up the neck when inspiration takes you past the 12th fret. Whether you're recording, playing a room, or just working through ideas at home, the 914ce's shape handles it all without asking you to compromise.
It's also a guitar with real history behind it. The Legacy 914ce is part of Taylor's Legacy Collection, a family of guitars honoring Bob Taylor's original builds and key moments in the company's story. This model pays tribute to the exact configuration that defined the 900 Series for much of the '80s and '90s — right down to the iconic Cindy inlays, named for Bob Taylor's wife.
Tonewoods That Work Together the Right Way
The solid Engelmann spruce top is notably different from the more common Sitka — it tends to be more responsive and warmer, particularly under lighter touch, which makes it a good match for players who favor dynamics over sheer volume. Pair that with solid Indian rosewood back and sides and you get the kind of low-end weight and shimmering high-end complexity that rosewood has always delivered well. The result is a guitar with lows that bloom, trebles that sparkle without getting harsh, and a slight midrange scoop that keeps everything feeling open and articulate.
Taylor elected to use traditional X-bracing here rather than their modern V-Class architecture, which is the right call for a guitar meant to evoke a specific era. Legacy X-bracing is the engine behind that warmer, rounder voice that longtime Taylor fans associate with the classic 900 Series sound. If you've ever wondered what the fuss was about, this is the guitar that shows you.
Appointments Worth Looking At
The Legacy 914ce doesn't hold back aesthetically. Green abalone top purfling and a matching rosette give the soundboard a refined, eye-catching border. Cindy inlays — a floral design found on the fretboard, headstock, and bridge — add elegance without going over the top. Rosewood binding, red-accented back and side purfling, and a full-body gloss finish round out a look that feels true to the premium 900 Series heritage this guitar is honoring.
The neck is Taylor's modern profile in neo-tropical mahogany, topped with a West African Crelicam ebony fretboard. The nut width comes in at 1-3/4" — a comfortable width for most playing styles — and the 25-1/2" scale length gives you that familiar, balanced string tension. Gold hardware completes the upscale visual package.
Stage-Ready Electronics Built In
For players who need to plug in, the Legacy 914ce comes with an LR Baggs Element VTC pickup. The VTC (Vintage Tone Control) is a passive system that does a good job of capturing acoustic character without introducing unnecessary coloration — it's well-regarded for sounding natural both on stage and in the studio. Controls are discreetly mounted inside the soundhole, keeping the exterior clean.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Grand Auditorium with Venetian cutaway
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Top Wood: Solid Engelmann spruce
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Back & Sides: Solid Indian rosewood
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Bracing: Legacy X-Bracing (traditional, not V-Class)
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Neck: Neo-tropical mahogany, Legacy Standard Carve profile
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Fretboard: West African Crelicam ebony
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Scale Length: 25-1/2"
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Nut Width: 1-3/4"
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Electronics: LR Baggs Element VTC with internal soundhole controls
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Appointments: Cindy inlays, green abalone purfling and rosette, rosewood binding, gold hardware, full-body gloss finish
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: Legacy 914ce
SKU: O90400211810087A268
Condition: New
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