Taylor 314ce Studio

An attainably priced "serious" Taylor with high-end touches

- JAMIE DICKSON

TAYLOR'S GUITARS ARE clean-cut, original and (most of the time) their sound owes little to the past. The benefits of that approach are all to be found in this neat and sleek Grand Auditorium cutaway 314ce Studio - but also one or two of the drawbacks.

Who is Taylor aiming at with this guitar? One clue is that, while relatively simple cosmetically, the 314ce Studio is built with solid woods throughout, rather than cheaper laminates. In fact, Taylor states that this model is now “the lowest-priced gateway to the solid wood experience,” though at $1,999 it’s hardly a beginner's model. Think of it as a beckoning invitation to buy your first “serious” Taylor, if you will.