Taylor’s 700 series has long been a great option for guitarists looking for a rosewood-and-spruce instrument. Although they are sometimes overshadowed by the company’s more-expensive 800 series, 700s have a look and sound of their own and are available in all of Taylor’s body styles. We recently received a 714ce (WSB) to check out.
The grand auditorium-size 714ce (WSB) includes a cutaway and onboard electronics and is built with beautiful Indian rosewood back and sides and a Lutz spruce top. Lutz spruce is a natural hybrid of Sitka and white spruce and is often compared to Adirondack spruce because of its similar stiffness-to-weight ratio. The “WSB” in the guitar’s name refers to Taylor’s “Western Sunburst” finish, which adds a vintage look to the instrument (Taylor also offers the guitar with a natural finish). Other appointments include koa body binding, a three-ring rosette, and diamond-like fingerboard markers that Taylor calls “Abalone Reflections.”
The 714ce (WSB) has Taylor’s long 25.5-inch scale length, and the slim neck shape and superb setup will be familiar to anyone who has played other Taylors. The guitar’s ES2 electronics include three piezo sensors behind the saddle and an onboard preamp with controls for volume, bass, and treble.
Taylor grand auditoriums are typically known for their versatility, and the 714ce (WSB) shows why this reputation was earned. The guitar has great volume and complexity when strummed softly or played fingerstyle, but also had reserves of volume when we dug in with a flatpick. Plugged into a Fishman Loudbox Mini amp, the guitar conveyed similar qualities and demonstrated the excellent string-to-string balance of the ES2.
Overall, the 714ce (WSB) is a great guitar. With its Lutz spruce top and unique set of appointments, it distinguishes itself from other rosewood Taylors; it’s a Jack-of-all-trades instrument that will do well in many different musical settings.
SPECS: Grand auditorium body with cutaway. Solid Lutz spruce top with Performance bracing. Indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.5-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Chrome tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in USA. $3,199 street ($2,999 street with natural finish). Taylorguitars.com
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