Taylor 114ce electro-acoustic guitar

Taylor 114ce — Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric With Torrefied Spruce Top

The Taylor 114ce brings the brand's signature Grand Auditorium body shape into a workhorse acoustic-electric built for everyday playing. A solid torrefied spruce top, heat-treated to mimic decades of natural aging, pairs with layered sapele back and sides to produce the warm, balanced midrange and clear note definition that have made Taylor a stage and studio staple. This model is the right choice for players who want authentic Taylor tone and reliable plugged-in performance without stepping into the 300 or 400 series price bracket.

What Sets the 114ce Apart

Two details elevate this guitar above typical entry-level acoustic-electrics. First, the C-Class internal bracing, a cantilevered design that lets the top vibrate more freely than standard X-bracing, delivers louder volume, longer sustain, and a stronger low end for the same playing effort. Second, the Expression System 2 pickup uses three individually calibrated piezo sensors mounted behind the saddle, the same architecture Taylor installs in the 314ce, 414ce, 514ce, and beyond, so the plugged-in voice stays faithful to the acoustic one.

Body Construction and Tonewoods — Player-Facing Benefits

The Grand Auditorium body sits between a dreadnought and a smaller concert shape, giving the 114ce the volume and bass response of a larger guitar with the focused highs and tighter waist that suit fingerpicking. Layered sapele back and sides keep the guitar stable through climate changes while adding the focused midrange that cuts through a mix on stage.

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium — adaptable enough for strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle
• Top Wood: Torrefied Spruce — heat-treated for vintage-style warmth and resonance
• Back & Sides: Layered Sapele — stable construction with clear, balanced tone
• Finish: Matte — non-reflective surface that feels broken-in from day one

Neck Profile and Playability — Comfort Across the Fretboard

A mahogany neck with Taylor's standard carve and a 43 mm nut width keeps the 114ce comfortable for most hand sizes, while the 648 mm scale length produces the snap and projection Taylor guitars are known for. The Venetian cutaway reaches the upper frets cleanly for lead lines and percussive techniques.

• Neck Wood: Mahogany — stable feel with ringing midrange character
• Fingerboard: Ebony — smooth, dense surface for clean note articulation
• Nut Width: 43 mm (1-11/16") — comfortable for both fingerstyle and strumming
• Scale Length: 648 mm (25-1/2") — Taylor-standard tension and projection

Electronics and Hardware — Stage-Ready Details

The Expression System 2 captures the guitar's dynamic range through three behind-the-saddle sensors paired with a custom preamp, giving players simple volume, bass, and treble controls on the side of the body. Die-cast chrome tuners and a West African Crelicam Ebony bridge keep tuning stable through long sets and travel.

• Pickup System: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) — three-sensor behind-the-saddle design
• Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony — dense, articulate tone transfer
• Tuners: Die-cast Chrome — reliable tuning stability for live performance
• Factory Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.012 - .053) — long-lasting tone right out of the box

Who the 114ce Is Built For

The 114ce suits a wide range of players, from those picking up their first serious acoustic to experienced guitarists who need a reliable stage and studio instrument. Singer-songwriters benefit from the cutaway access to upper frets and the ES2's faithful amplified tone, while fingerstyle players appreciate the Grand Auditorium's balanced response and the torrefied spruce top's played-in character. Working musicians who want Taylor build quality and electronics at a price below the 200 series will find this guitar fits the bill.

Taylor Guitars and the 100 Series

Taylor Guitars, founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, has built its reputation on precise neck geometry, clean manufacturing tolerances, and a forward-thinking approach to bracing and electronics. The 100 Series represents the brand's entry point into full-size Taylor acoustics, sharing the same Expression System 2 pickup architecture found in the company's 300 through 900 series instruments. Every 114ce ships with a gig bag and is backed by Taylor's limited lifetime warranty with registration.