Taylor’s Gold Label Assortment is the famend builder’s idea of a contemporary instrument that speaks to flat-tops of the Nineteen Thirties and ’40s. The 814e SB is a conventional non-cutaway fitted with Taylor logos like a bolt-on neck, super-quick fretboard, and electronics.

The Gold Label 814e SB makes use of Taylor’s Tremendous Auditorium form, which is bigger than a Grand Auditorium and produces a deeper tone. On the outside, a torrefied Sitka spruce high and Honduran rosewood again and sides produce a heat, simple tone, whereas fanned V-Class bracing and a long-tenon neck joint lend help inside. Cosmetics embrace a revamped headstock form, script brand, and “Continental” inlays.

The 814e SB has a Normal Carve mahogany neck with a shallow D form the rests properly within the hand. The ebony fretboard had a 15″ radius that makes it simple to stress and fingerpick. The ebony is West African Crelicam, coming from Taylor’s mill of the identical identify in Cameroon. Our tester had a heat, gold-brown sunburst end, whereas the rosewood again and sides exhibit stunning crimson/brown hue and grain. The 2-piece again has a very enticing bookmatched rosewood (the choice 814e makes use of koa).

Twenty years in the past, Taylor acoustics had a repute for being shiny and brash, however the 814e SB has a mellower voice – extra mid-focused and balanced, which is especially good for fingerpicking and delicate strumming. This isn’t a dreadnought “cannon,” like Taylor’s Legacy 810e, however has a more-refined voice. Plugged in to a Boss acoustic amp, the LR Baggs Aspect VTC electronics sounded high quality, once more mixing the previous with the brand new.

All informed, the Gold Label 814e SB scores extremely throughout the board, delivering appears, tone, playability, and an affable character. It’s on the upper aspect, price-wise, however presents a substantial quantity of ornamentation together with exquisitely detailed rosette, high binding, and fretboard inlays. – Pete Prown

This text initially appeared in VG’s July 2025 challenge. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.