You want a guitar that feels like the real thing, but four figures is more than you’ll spend. Ask around and the Taylor 114CE comes up over and over.
The 100 Series is how Taylor brings its name into the middle of the market. The 114CE looks like the smart pick on paper, though a spec sheet never tells you how a guitar plays.
You grow into this one. Whether you’re upgrading from a cheap first guitar or skipping that step, it makes a strong case.
We put in real hours with it to judge the tone, the ES2 electronics, and where the savings show up. It also ranks among our favorite acoustic guitars, and the sound is where we begin.
Taylor 114CE
Solid-top Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric with ES2 electronics for beginners and gigging players alike.
Pros
- Solid Sitka spruce top with warm, resonant tone
- Comfortable Grand Auditorium body for strumming and fingerstyle
- Premium ebony fretboard at a mid-range price
- Usable ES2 electronics for gigging and recording
Cons
- No onboard tuner
- Layered sapele back and sides, not all-solid wood
- Slightly narrow nut can feel tight for larger hands
Sound and Playability
You could be forgiven for mistaking the 114CE for an all-solid build the first time you hear it. The solid Sitka spruce top gives it a warm, deep voice with rich resonance and surprising volume, and it opens up further as the top ages and the wood settles in.
Notes sustain and bloom rather than dying off quickly, which makes it as rewarding for slow fingerstyle passages as it’s for full strumming.
That versatility comes largely from the Grand Auditorium body shape. It’s Taylor’s most popular silhouette because it splits the difference between a punchy dreadnought and a more intimate concert guitar, handling both flatpicking and fingerpicking without favoring either.
It also sits more comfortably on your lap than a bulky dreadnought, which matters during long practice sessions.
Playability is where Taylor consistently outshines rivals, and the 114CE is no exception. The Venetian-style cutaway gives you clean access to all the upper frets, and the slim, smooth neck profile makes barre chords and quick position shifts feel effortless.
The ebony fretboard lets your hand glide more easily than the rosewood you find on many competitors, and a compensated saddle keeps intonation tight across the strings. One small note: the nut is a touch narrower than some players prefer, so if you’ve larger fingers it may take a short adjustment period for tight chord grips.
Build and Features
The 114CE is a Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric built around a solid Sitka spruce top with layered sapele back and sides, paired with a comfortable, hard-wearing neck. Taylor uses ebony for the bridge and fretboard, a premium tonewood usually reserved for pricier instruments, and the saddle and nut hardware are tuned to transfer string energy efficiently to the top.
Durability is clearly a priority. The forward-shifted bracing strengthens the top while letting it vibrate freely, and the easy-access truss rod plus sealed chrome tuners make tuning stable and action adjustments painless.
Cosmetically it keeps things tasteful with a satin finish that also helps your hand slide along the neck, plus simple fretboard inlays, a clean ring rosette, and a black pickguard.
The headline feature is Taylor’s ES2 electronics, co-designed with the legendary Rupert Neve. A behind-the-saddle triple-sensor pickup feeds a discreet preamp with volume, bass, and treble controls, so you can shape your tone on the fly.
The one omission worth flagging is that there’s no onboard tuner, so you’ll want a clip-on or pedal tuner in your case.
Who It Is For
The 114CE hits a sweet spot for a wide range of players. If you’re a beginner who wants to skip the disposable starter guitar, this is an instrument you can grow into rather than out of, and the forgiving neck makes the learning curve gentler.
Intermediate players moving up from an entry-level acoustic will appreciate the solid-top tone and the gig-ready electronics.
It’s also a smart choice for the singer-songwriter or worship player who needs one guitar that records well unplugged and plugs straight into a PA or amp without sounding artificial. The main players who might look elsewhere are tone purists chasing an all-solid-wood body, or those who specifically need a louder, bass-heavy dreadnought for hard strumming.
For everyone else, the balance here’s hard to beat. If you want to compare options, see our roundup of the best Taylor acoustic guitars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Taylor 114CE sound plugged in?
Very natural. The behind-the-saddle ES2 pickup is designed to preserve the guitar’s true acoustic voice rather than the thin, “quacky” sound some piezo systems produce.
With the onboard volume, bass, and treble controls you can dial in a brighter or warmer tone, and it sits well in a live mix or a recording.
Is the Taylor 114CE good for beginners?
Yes. Its slim, smooth neck and comfortable Grand Auditorium body make it one of the more forgiving guitars to learn on, and the quality is high enough that you won’t feel the need to upgrade for years.
It’s a great way to bypass a cheap first guitar without overspending.
Is the 114CE solid wood?
The top is solid Sitka spruce, which is the most acoustically important component, but the back and sides are layered sapele rather than solid wood. That construction keeps the price down and makes the guitar more resistant to changes in humidity and temperature, while still sounding remarkably close to an all-solid build.
Does the Taylor 114CE come with a case?
Yes, the 114CE typically ships with a Taylor gig bag for protection and easy transport. Listings can vary, so confirm the included accessories on the product page before you buy if a hard case matters to you.
Final Thoughts
You can enjoy everything the Taylor name is known for, the unmistakable tone and effortless feel, in the affordable 114CE. Between its solid spruce top, comfortable Grand Auditorium body, premium ebony fretboard, and genuinely usable ES2 electronics, it delivers far more than its price tag suggests.
The lack of an onboard tuner and the layered back and sides are minor trade-offs in exchange for that value. Whether you’re buying your first serious acoustic or a dependable second guitar to gig with, the 114CE is an easy recommendation.
