Introduced more than 20 years ago, Taylor’s grand auditorium 814ce has been one of the company’s best-selling guitars. It was the first model in Taylor’s line to receive a significant overhaul by head designer and luthier Andy Powers, and the company recently added a deluxe version of the guitar that includes a handful of clever new features. Like the standard 814ce, the DLX is built with Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top and it has similar appointments, including maple binding and “Element” fretboard inlay. But three significant additions set the Deluxe apart: Adirondack spruce top bracing, Gotoh 510 tuners, and a smaller version of the armrest found on Taylor’s 900 and Presentation series instruments.

Playing the 814ce DLX, it becomes apparent that the additions have a direct impact on the guitar’s performance. The beautifully executed rosewood armrest is smaller than Taylor’s standard bevel, but its effect on playing comfort is undeniable, as the rounded edge gives the right arm a smooth surface to rest on. Similarly, the smooth-turning Gotoh 510 tuners’ 21:1 ratio allows for ultra-precise adjustments. Tonally, the guitar has an impressively large sonic range, with a complex character whether played fingerstyle or flatpicked, and it’s likely that the stiff Adirondack bracing has a turbo-charging effect on the guitar’s Sitka spruce top. Like most current Taylors, the 814ce DLX includes the company’s Expression System 2 electronics. Plugged directly into a Fishman Loudbox Mini amp, the system’s bridge-mounted pickup sounds natural and responds well to different playing styles and attacks. Overall, the 814ce DLX is a very cool new take on a classic model.

SPECS: Grand auditorium body with cutaway. Solid Sitka spruce top with Adirondack spruce bracing. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.5-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Gotoh 510 tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in USA. $5,098 list. Taylorguitars.com

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