Taylor Builder's Edition 814ce

Sitka Spruce and V-Class Bracing

For a maximum sound experience, the manufacturer uses Adirondack spruce wood for the top construction, which produces both defined midrange and subtle treble frequencies. Supported by the innovative V-Class bracing, the top is set into a two-dimensional vibration with each stroke, which results in each note unfolding quickly and persistently in all registers. This phenomenon is further enhanced by a paper-thin finish and lightweight construction, making the 814ce suitable for fingerstyle as well as expressive strumming. Bordered by a maple binding with a rosewood edge trim, the evenly grained top wood is perfectly accentuated and contrasts tastefully with the other materials of the body. Matching the fine Inlays and the high-quality single-ring soundhole rosette, the top is equipped with a generous rosewood pickguard that gives the instrument an individual touch.

Rosewood for an additional saturation

To enrich the sound with rich bass frequencies and the necessary volume, the back and sides are made of coarse-grained rosewood. The fine tropical wood also provides an almost attack and allows the individual notes to decay long in the overtones. The hinged back is separated by a backstripe of maple, which subtly brings the symmetry of the grain to the fore. Delicate bindings of maple separate the back of the 814ce from the rounded sides and provide a subtle visual contrast to the dark rosewood. The thin varnish also plays a decisive role on the back and sides, as it allows for perfect sound development even with the lightest of touches. Thus, the medium-sized Grand Auditorium design turns out to be a true all-rounder that can be used in many areas and is still comfortable to hold.

An incomparable playing comfort

For a particularly obliging playability, Taylor relies on a flat neck construction made of mahogany with an ebony fingerboard that, in combination with a nut width of 44.5 mm, allows a perfect and clean grip on all 20 frets. Made of black GraphTech TUSQ, the nut is perfectly matched to the compensated Micarta saddle, so the 814ce intonates perfectly over the entire scale length of 648 mm. The distinctive headstock is equipped with Smoked Nickel tuners that guarantee precise tuning and also perfectly match the intricate Element fretboard inlays. The guitar is completed by the in-house Expression System-2, which also amplifies the acoustic sound in a very natural way.

Expression System 2

With the Expression System 2, Taylor presents a pickup design that truly revolutionizes acoustic guitar amplification. Three piezo elements directly pick up the signals from each pair of strings, thus transmitting a completely unaltered sound. Meanwhile, three knobs allow the volume, bass and treble to be individually adjusted and optimally adapted to the ambient conditions and personal preferences. The knob are visually discreet in the form of unobtrusive buttons on the frame and therefore almost invisible.

Sustainable ebony cultivation in Cameroon

Because ebony 's hard, supple texture makes it particularly finger-friendly, it has long been the preferred choice for making fingerboards. Its attractive appearance is also extremely popular for bridges, headstock rests, bridge Pins and Bindings. However, high demand and a thriving black market outstripped stocks, landing ebony on the Red List of Endangered Species in 1994. Moreover, only the deep black heartwood, which makes up only a fraction of the tree, was used, resulting in a disproportionately large amount of waste in production. In order to protect the forests, Taylor has therefore been working since 2011 with the Crelicam Wood Mill in Yaoundé in Cameroon to promote controlled consumption by processing waste products. Thus, not only black ebony elements are found in Taylor guitars, but also the different colored, more clearly grained parts of the tree. This complete recycling is an effective method of preserving stocks and successfully counteracts their dramatic decline and the negative ecological effects that accompany it.

"We need to use the ebony that the forest gives us" - Bob Taylor