$2,799/£2,599, taylorguitars.com

Taylor Guitars celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this yr. Now one of many world’s largest guitar makers, the corporate has come a really great distance from its beginnings because the younger upstart that disrupted the established acoustic guitar market dominance of Gibson and Martin again within the Nineteen Eighties.

To mark this milestone Taylor has launched a set of guitars that embody the model’s course going into the subsequent half century. From the working participant’s American Dream to the presentation grade delights of the highest finish, your entire stratigraphy is well-represented. One guitar was of specific curiosity to me, nevertheless – the 314ce LTD.

Taylor’s 314ce mannequin has been one of many firm’s finest sellers – for a lot of gamers it was in all probability their first contact with the model and its recognition throughout the a long time stems from the super-comfortable grand auditorium physique measurement and the mixture of a Sitka spruce high and sapele again and sides. They really feel and sound nice on stage and within the studio. What’s to not love?

What’s torrefied spruce?

From an aesthetic standpoint that is very a lot an Andy Powers-era guitar. The mild sunburst on the sapele again and sides and the dusky soundboard are a lifeless giveaway. A part of that soundboard’s color comes from the torrefaction course of it has undergone. In Powers’ personal phrases it’s “baked like a muffin” to imbue it with the form of tonal glory gamers have come to anticipate from a played-in, outdated guitar.

There are different visible touches that elevate this instrument above the norm – a firestripe pickguard, gold Taylor-branded tuners and a few delicate Italian acrylic inlays on the fretboard and headstock all pop properly, as does the pure white and Crelicam ebony physique purfling.

Talking of ebony, Taylor’s pioneering work in sustainable woods has helped to make sure the standard of their inventory and that is readily obvious within the calmly figured fingerboard and headstock veneer.

I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of Taylor 14s I’ve performed through the years however each has felt snug towards the physique. As I’ve come to anticipate from Taylor, the neck is an instantly welcoming piece of Neo-Tropical mahogany with a barely raised centre. As ordinary it encompasses a matte end which contrasts with the shiny physique.

The attribute sound of a Taylor 314ce is heat and interesting. Taylor was one of many first firms to discover the delights of African sapele as a tonewood and people acquainted, stunning stripes make me smile. A Sitka spruce soundboard is at all times welcome round right here however the voice of a Taylor guitar has modified dramatically because the change from the standard X-brace to the inception of the V-Class Bracing sample. Add the torrefied high and we needs to be in for some enjoyable!

How does the Taylor 314ce LTD sound?

My first exploratory strums definitely reside as much as preliminary expectations. The trebles particularly are silky and detailed. There’s a slight sizzle of overtones however the voice retains the elemental readability attribute of a sapele Taylor guitar.

Shifting into the bass register is enlightening. Smaller-bodied guitars with a 25.5” scale size can sound a little bit tight at instances – an inclination that may be exacerbated by the customarily metallic transient of a Sitka spruce high. What I discover right here, nevertheless, is a diametric reverse; the bass is velvet easy whereas remaining articulate. It’s punchy too – growling towards my chest as I play.

Is it the V-class bracing? Is it the torrefaction of the highest? One thing very cool is happening right here. There’s an immediacy to this guitar that makes it a really convincing finger-style instrument.

Responsiveness has grow to be a buzzword within the acoustic guitar world over the previous few years. Whereas many take it to imply quantity and headroom, the actual indications of a responsive guitar are how a lot sound you get from the lightest assaults and the way shortly the guitar adjusts to modifications in dynamics. When it comes to return on funding on your preliminary assault this guitar actually is satisfyingly responsive. It might not have the headroom of a dreadnought however it’s all the extra balanced due to it.

The guitar’s dynamic vary is convincing too. Whisper quiet passages retain the color and timbre of the instrument with out sounding weak and you’ll dig in with out it farting out too shortly. One of many joys of a small physique guitar is the immediacy you get from the lowered soundboard floor space. This could usually make a smaller instrument appear louder and this guitar fills a room with naked fingers.

There’s a scratchplate right here in any case so including a medium choose to proceedings looks as if good manners. To my delight the guitar takes off like a little bit rocket. It’s a targeted, percussive sound that occupies a candy spot within the EQ spectrum which suggests it ought to sit effectively in any combine with minimal adjustment wanted.

It’s attention-grabbing to see the variations between the devices Taylor launched to rejoice their twenty fifth anniversary and the suite of latest guitars that mark the corporate’s half-century. Gone is the unsustainable use of Brazilian Rosewood, the Fishman prefix mix electronics and the x-braced Sitka soundboards. As a substitute we have now fastidiously stewarded woods, a revolutionary proprietary bracing design and own-brand electronics – which by the way in which do an ideal job of translating this guitar’s acoustic voice into a robust amplified sound. As soon as once more the smaller physique comes into its personal by serving up larger suggestions resistance than you’d discover in a bigger guitar. Good!

Fittingly, Taylor is limiting numbers of this mannequin to solely 1974 guitars to rejoice their fiftieth birthday. Whereas totally comprehensible, this does appear a pity because the 314ce LTD is likely one of the most inspiring and musical Taylor guitars I’ve ever performed. It sings, it purrs and it is a superb instance of the very best of North American manufacturing facility guitar making. It’s been an distinctive first 50 years for Taylor Guitars, right here’s to many extra!

Taylor 314ce Options

One other upstart within the acoustic guitar world, however a more moderen entry is Chinese language firm Eastman, who will make you a really beautiful and equally up to date feeling AC522CE for $1,689/£1,769. The heritage manufacturers have tried to adapt to the altering calls for of the fashionable participant too, most notably Martin with its offset-bodied SC-13E Particular Burst ($1,799/£2,150) whereas Gibson has the Songwriter Cutaway Vintage Pure ($3,399/£3,199).