If you’re looking for your new guitar then welcome! In this feature, we’ll be guiding you through the wonderful world of Taylor Guitars. Taylor is a company synonymous with acoustic and acoustic-electric models that are suitable for all ages and abilities. In this guide, we’re going to take a closer look at five of the best Taylor guitar options and assess the pros and cons of each. We’ll then answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Taylor Guitars.
The company itself was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor. Since then, Taylor Guitars has gone on to become one of the leading guitar manufacturers in the world, producing over 130,000 items per day.
They specialize in acoustic and semi-hollow electric models whilst using a number of innovative techniques and patented designs. These designs and innovations, along with the use of materials such as Oak and Mahogany mean that Taylor Guitars are considered very good quality.
Despite having product lines that sit both ends of the pricing scale, this quality is always guaranteed.
Whether you’re totally new to the guitar world or a seasoned vet, once you’ve read our guide you’ll know precisely which model is for you. Don’t forget that once you’ve decided on which model to get you can get advice on accessories you’ll need, guitar maintenance as well as amps and pedals, should you require them.
Combining elegant aesthetics with sophisticated playability and tone-enhancing details, the 800 Series is Taylor’s incredibly popular class of premium rosewood guitars. 
But first, let’s take a look at an overview of our five favorite Taylor Guitars.
5 of The Best Taylor Guitars – An Overview
| Model | Type | Finish |
| Taylor 814ce | A/E | Gloss/Natural |
| Taylor 614ce | A/E | Gloss/Brown |
| Taylor 414ce | A/E | Gloss/Natural |
| Taylor 214ce | A/E | Satin/Natura |
| Baby Taylor | A/E | Satin/Natural |
What Are Taylor Guitars and Why are They so Popular?
You’ll probably have heard of Taylor before and maybe even played a couple, but have you ever really thought about what it is that makes them so desirable? In this section, we’ll talk in a little more detail about why exactly Taylor Guitars has become such a popular producer of acoustic and acoustic-electric models.
There’s a Taylor Guitar for Each and Every Style of Play
Whatever your preferred style of play maybe, you can be sure that there is a Taylor suited to you. Enjoy booming chorus lines, complicated licks, or need access to upper frets? There are multiple models built with those needs in mind.
Super Comfortable Neck
Taylor Guitars has a reputation for producing instruments that have exceptionally comfortable necks. They actually describe it as the ‘most playable neck in the industry’! The necks on Taylor Guitars are straight and stable when compared with competing brands.
This means that they hold their shape really well and don’t warp in warm or humid conditions. Support is maintained on a Taylor Guitar all the way through to the 19th fret, again meaning that the longevity of these guitars is excellent.
This innovative neck design is a great example of some of the patented technology that goes into these products and is one of the many reasons people love them so much.
They’re Used by Musicians the World Over
It’s always nice to emulate your heroes and if playing the same instrument as them helps you to achieve that then a Taylor could be for you. Some of the most famous musicians on the planet use Taylor Guitars including; The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Taylor Swift, RJ Thompson and Shawn Mendes to name a few. Great company to keep!
They Appeal to Players
By this, we mean anyone who really wants to get the most out of their instrument. If tuning your guitar to perfection is important to you then some of the high-end Taylors could be right up your street.
Tonal quality and overall playability is key to the production process at Taylor and it really does shine through into their products. No matter your ability, these guitars will help you improve.
Like a Fine Wine, They Only Get Better With Age
Like all the best things in life, Taylor Guitars get better and better with maturity. Thanks to the beautiful balance between the quality tonewoods and delicate production processes used by Taylor, the worst your guitar will ever sound is the day you buy it (so long as you take excellent care of it!). One thing to remember with Taylor’s, particularly the really high-end ones, is that the more you play it, the better it will sound.
Taylor Make Some of the Best Guitars for Travelling With
If portability is a key element that you’re looking for in your next instrument then you’re looking at the right brand. Taylor’s ‘baby’ series are some of the best compact models on the market. Perfect if you’re on the go or on a budget, the Baby Taylors are perfect for those evenings by the campfire. We’ll take an in-depth look at one of our favorite Baby Taylors a little later on.
5 of the Best Taylor Guitars Available Today
Taylor 814ce V-Class Grand Auditorium
We’re diving straight in at the deep end here and taking a closer look at the 814ce. The 814ce is regarded as one of the best Taylor’s available and is arguably their flagship model. The price point reflects this but you really do get what you pay for.
The 814ce is essentially an updated version of one of Taylor’s original and best-loved models, the 800. Thankfully Taylor has done the classic guitar justice and has added a multitude of features that result in an instrument that retains the Taylor clear voice but also boosts the mid-range and thickens the highs.
Another key element of this fantastic instrument is that it is an acoustic-electric model. So, if plugging into an amp and turning up the volume is your thing then you’re in luck.
Interesting Read: What’s the Difference Between Grand Auditorium vs Dreadnought Guitars?
Features
Body
- Taylor Grand Auditorium
- Venetian Cutaway
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top wood
- Solid Indian Rosewood Back & sides
- Taylor V-Class Bracing with Relief Rout Bracing Pattern
- Finish: Gloss 3.5 Top, Back & Sides
Neck
- Taylor Standard Profile
- 1-3/4″ (44.5mm) Nut Width
- Genuine Smoky West African Ebony Fingerboard
- Tropical Mahogany Neck Wood
- 25-1/2″ Scale Length
- 20 Frets
- Satin Finish
Electronics
- Expression System 2 Professional Audio-Grade Pickup/preamp
- Behind-the-Saddle Transducer with Adjustable Sensors
- Volume, Active Bass and Treble Preamp EQ
- Onboard Phase Switch
Misc
- Genuine West African Ebony Headstock overlay
- Taylor Smoked Nickel Tuners with Smoked Nickel Buttons
- Genuine West African Ebony Bridge
- Micarta “Wave” Saddle
- Black Graphite Nut
- 6 Strings
- Extra features; Radius Armrest, V-Class Bracing, Indian Rosewood Pickguard, MOP Element Inlay, and Bound Soundhole
- Taylor Deluxe Hard Shell Case
Pros
- One of Taylor’s flagship models
- Incredible longevity that will last a lifetime
- Beautiful tones
Cons
- Price point
Combining elegant aesthetics with sophisticated playability and tone-enhancing details, the 800 Series is Taylor’s incredibly popular class of premium rosewood guitars.
Taylor 614ce V-Class Grand Auditorium
Next up on our list is another of Taylor’s premium models. The 614ce is another successful rehash of an older Taylor design, the 600 series. The 600 series is regarded as another classic Taylor that helped originally establish the brand. With the 614ce, Taylor has once again done their older guitars justice.
Traditionally, the best acoustic guitars have been made from Mahogany or Rosewood. Taylor broke from this tradition when designing the 614ce as they went with a Maple body. Despite this seemingly risky strategy this guitar has to be considered as one of the best Taylors available. It is on the pricey side but for your money, you’ll be getting a high-quality instrument that produces a clear, deep bass and is a joy to play.
Features
Body
- Grand Auditorium
- Venetian Cutaway
- Solid Torrefied Sitka spruce Top Wood
- Solid Figured Big Leaf Maple Back and Sides
- V-Class with Relief Rout Bracing Pattern
- Gloss 4.5 Finish
Neck
- Taylor Standard Profile
- 1.75″ (44.45 mm) Nut Width
- West African Ebony Fingerboard
- Tropical mahogany Neck Wood
- 25.5″ Scale Length
- 20 Frets
- Satin finish
Electronics
- Includes a Pickup/preamp
- Behind-the-saddle transducer with Adjustable Sensors
- 2-band Preamp EQ
- Phase Feedback Filter
Misc
- West African Ebony Headstock Overlay
- Taylor nickel with Nickel Buttons Tuning Machines
- West African Ebony Bridge
- Micarta “Wave”/NuBone Saddle & Nut
- 6 Strings
- Deluxe Hardshell case
Pros
- A great sounding guitar that is perfect for playing alongside other instruments
- Cutaway gives access to the full fingerboard
- Brown Sugar Stain
- Deluxe Hard Shell case
- Acoustic-electric model
Cons
- The price is relatively high
- The tones produced are considered high
Taylor's V-Class bracing is a fundamental innovation in acoustic guitar design. It marks an important evolution beyond traditional X-bracing, introducing an entirely new platform for acoustic performance.
Taylor 414ce V-Class Grand Auditorium
The 141ce is a relatively recent release from Taylor having been brought out in 2018. It is one of their more versatile models and really caters to the musician who likes to experiment with multiple different playing styles and genres.
The sounds produced by the 414ce are as you’d expect, rich, balanced and true. There are also no notable overarching tones or dominating frequencies which is a major plus.
The combination of tonewoods used on this particular model helps deliver a broad, articulate and dynamic range. This range really adds to the versatility of the 414ce.
Like the previous models that have made our list, the 414ce is an acoustic-electric guitar so users benefit from the best of both worlds. If you’re a guitarist who values being able to adapt their sound then this versatile option could be for you.
Features
Body
- Grand Auditorium
- Venetian Cutaway
- Solid Sitka spruce Top Wood
- Ovangkol Back & Sides
- Taylor V-Class Bracing with Relief Rout Bracing Pattern
- Gloss Finish
Neck
- Standard Taylor Profile
- 1-3/4″ (44.5mm) Nut Width
- Genuine West African Ebony Fingerboard
- Tropical Mahogany Neck Wood
- 25-1/2″ Scale Length
- 20 Frets
- Satin Finish
Electronics
- Expression System 2 Professional-Audio-grade Preamp
- Behind-the-Saddle Transducer with Adjustable Sensors
- Volume, Active Bass, Active Treble Preamp EQ
- Onboard Phase Switch Feeback Filter
Misc
- Genuine West African Ebony Headstock Overlay
- Taylor Nickel Tuners with Nickel Buttons
- Genuine West African Ebony Bridge
- Micarta “Wave” Saddle
- Teflon-Infused Graphite Nut
- 6 Strings
- Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Case
Pros
- Incredibly versatile
- Fun to play
- Durable
- Stays in tune well
Cons
- We think the price point is a little high, given other options available on the market
The 414ce-R acoustic-electric Grand Auditorium features revolutionary V-Class bracing, which boosts volume evenly across the tonal spectrum, increases sustain, and improves the natural intonation of the instrument by creating a more synergistic response from the soundboard. 
Taylor 214ce Rosewood Grand Auditorium
The 200 series recently added to the range of Taylors has come as a welcome shift from tradition for many musicians. This is largely down to the pricing of this particular model and the fact that it comes in at less than half the price of the flagship 800 series.
The usually high prices of Taylor guitars is understandable given the quality of the workmanship and materials that go into each and every instrument. That being said, given slightly more budget-conscious buyers a solid option further down the scale is a very welcome move.
The 200 series by no means sacrifices feel or overall sound, instead it benefits from the deep richness that comes with all dreadnought style Taylors. The electrics, too, are designed and built in house to carry the same quality as the rest of the model.
Features
Body
- Taylor Grand Auditorium
- Cutaway
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top Wood
- Layered Rosewood Back & Sides
- Taylor Standard II Bracing (Forward Shift Pattern)
- Satin Varnish Finish
Neck
- Standard Taylor Profile
- 1 11/16″ (42.8mm) Nut Width
- Genuine West African Ebony Fingerboard
- Neo-Tropical Mahogany
- 25 1/2″ Scale Length
- 20 Frets
- Varnish Finish
Electronics
- Expression System 2 Professional-Audio-Grade Pickup/preamp
- Behind-the-Saddle Transducer with adjustable sensors
- Volume, Active Bass & Treble Preamp EQ
- Onboard Phase Switch
Misc
- Genuine West African Ebony Headstock Overlay
- Chrome Tuners with Chrome Buttons
- Genuine West African Ebony Bridge
- Micarta “Wave” Saddle
- Nubone Nut
- 6 Strings
- Elixir Phosphor-Bronze Light Gauge Strings
- Deluxe Taylor Gig Bag
Pros
- Great sound
- Good value
- Fun and easy to play
- Taylor craftsmanship
Cons
- Laminated wood may cause it to age poorly if not well looked after
Taylor's 200 Series delivers all the essentials of a great guitar: exquisite playability, a full and articulate voice, impeccable intonation up the neck, and Taylor's top-of-the-line, professional-grade pickup—at a price that's within reach. 
Taylor Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar
The Taylor Baby Taylor, or BT2, is one of the brand’s ¾ size models. It is perfect for guitarists who need a little more portability from their instrument and serves as a great guitar for beginners who are learning the ropes.
Despite this appeal to beginners, this model should not be written off by the more experienced player. The smooth, mellow tones produced by this purely acoustic model are more than enough to be taken seriously as a ‘real’ guitar. The guitar itself is made from Mahogany which gives richness to the mellow tones this guitar produces so well.
This is another Taylor model that will appeal to those on more of a budget. It sits below the 200 series and provides an excellent option to beginners and seasoned guitar gods alike.
Features
Body
- Dreadnought ¾ Scale
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top Wood
- Layered Walnut Back & Sides
- Taylor Standard Baby X-Bracing Pattern
- Satin Varnish Finish
Neck
- Taylor Standard Baby Profile
- 1 11/16″ (42.8 mm) Nut Width
- Genuine African Ebony Fingerboard
- Sapele Neck Wood
- 22-3/4″ Scale Length
- 19 Frets
- Satin Varnish Finish
Misc
- Copafera Headstock Overlay
- Chrome Baby Tuners & Buttons
- Genuine African Ebony Bridge
- Micarta Saddle
- Nubone Nut
- 6 Strings
- Taylor Deluxe Baby Gig Bag
Pros
- Easy to play
- Useful carry case
- Perfect for beginners
Cons
- Needs a good level of maintenance
- Tends not to stay in tune very long
The Baby Taylor is my top pick for small hands. It's also cross-marketed as a travel guitar, making it ideal for on-the-go easy playing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Taylor Guitars
We get asked all the time about Taylor Guitars seeing as they’re one of the most popular brands on the planet. Here, we’ll outline the most common ones.
Question: What Strings does Taylor use on Their Guitars?
Answer: Ever since 1999, Taylor has used Elixir Strings on all steel-string models and currently use their ultra-thin NANOWEB design. In 2014 they switched from 80/20 Bronze to Phosphor Bronze on most steel-string acoustic models.
Question: Do Taylor Guitars Come with a Warranty?
Answer: Yes, all Taylor guitars come with a manufacturer’s warranty. The length and terms of these warranties vary depending on where in the world you purchased your guitar. However, the standard length found in most countries is 2 years.
Question: Can I Visit the Taylor Factory?
Answer: Yes, you can! You can visit the factory where the vast majority of Taylor Guitars are produced in El Cajon, California. There are factory tours run by Taylor that allows visitors to get a sense of the intricacies that go into modern guitar production.
Question: How do I Look After my Taylor Properly?
Answer: To get the most out of your guitar and to ensure that it lasts a lifetime you will need to commit to regularly maintain it as often as possible. The do’s and don’ts of guitar care are worth an entire piece to itself so we recommend reading further about guitar maintenance here.
The Bottom Line – Which is the Best Taylor Guitar?
We’ve had great fun looking through some of our favorite Taylors. The brand has such a global presence for a reason – they make excellent instruments. For that reason, it was always going to be tricky to pick a definitive winner.
If you’re after a fantastic option as a
However, despite the allure of Baby Taylor’s style and simplicity, we simply couldn’t pick any other than the flagship 814ce as our overall winner. The 814ce comes with an elegance rarely found and produces some of the most gorgeous tones imaginable whilst remaining in tune for great lengths of time and being great to look at.
If you are happy with paying the premium price tag then you can’t go wrong. This is a real top-of-the-range instrument in every way imaginable.
Combining elegant aesthetics with sophisticated playability and tone-enhancing details, the 800 Series is Taylor’s incredibly popular class of premium rosewood guitars.
Check out more reviews from popular Taylor guitars:
Continue the Discussion – Join the forum
- The Yamaha FG800 vs FG830: Which to Pick? - August 23, 2023
- Best Martin Guitar Options: How to Pick the Right One - August 22, 2023
- Best Gypsy Jazz Guitars: How to Pick the Right One? - August 22, 2023
