For many years,Taylor’s 700-series was positioned as a more-affordable alternative to the company’s other rosewood guitars, but over the last decade or so, the line has grown into its own, offering wood combinations, features, and tonal attributes not found on other models in Taylor’s catalog. The latest version of the popular 714ce doesn’t change the basic formula of materials or appointments, but it now includes Taylor’s new V-Class bracing (check out our demo of the earlier, X-braced version). I recently had a chance to check out the updated model in the Peghead Nation video studio.

The 714ce’s grand auditorium body is built with Indian rosewood back and sides and a Lutz spruce top. A natural hybrid of Sitka and white spruce, Lutz spruce is prized for its excellent stiffness-to-weight ratio, inviting comparisons to Adirondack spruce. The guitar has koa binding, Taylor’s “reflections” inlay in the fingerboard, and a herringbone-style rosette made from Douglas fir and maple. A Douglas fir herringbone pattern is also used for the purfling on the top. All the materials are of very high quality, and the guitar has a beautiful overall appearance.

The 714ce is a fine example of why Taylor’s grand auditorium–size guitars are its most popular. With a flexible tonality, it’s fun to play fingerstyle or with a pick, and while it has the great volume, balance, and dynamics from the previous version, the V-Class bracing brought even more clarity and precision to the overall tone. Plugged into a Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge amp, the guitar’s Taylor ES2 electronics turned the 714ce into a superb acoustic-electric, offering natural sound as soon as I turned up the volume.

Without a question, the 714ce is a highly capable guitar that will be at home in many musical styles and should be considered by anyone looking for a mid-size flattop with built-in electronics. The fact that it is still less expensive than Taylor’s better-known 814ce is icing on the cake.

SPECS: Grand auditorium body with cutaway. Solid Lutz spruce top with V-Class bracing. Indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.5-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Nickel tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in USA. $2,999 street. Taylorguitars.com

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