Description
Taylor's Grand Auditorium body shape has long been a benchmark for modern acoustic versatility, and the Next Generation 514ce continues that legacy with a fresh wave of design innovation. Built for players who appreciate warmth, responsiveness, and a refined feel, this updated 500 Series model combines classic tonewood character with Taylor's latest engineering advancements. Whether you are a fingerstyle player drawn to subtle nuance or a songwriter looking for a responsive recording companion, the Next Generation 514ce offers a rich, expressive platform that responds beautifully to a wide range of playing dynamics.
At the heart of this model is a Western Red Cedar top paired with solid mahogany back and sides. Cedar is known for its warm, immediate response and exceptional touch sensitivity, making it a favorite among fingerstyle players and anyone who values a guitar that reacts effortlessly to a light touch. The mahogany body reinforces that warmth with focused mids and a woody low-end resonance that gives the instrument a dry, organic voice with plenty of clarity. Internally, Taylor's scalloped V-Class bracing enhances projection, sustain, and pitch accuracy while enriching the guitar's natural harmonic response. For amplified performance, the Claria electronics system pairs an improved under-saddle piezo pickup with a proprietary preamp that smooths out the brittle edge often associated with traditional acoustic pickups. Soundhole-mounted controls for volume, tone, and mid contour make it easy to shape your amplified sound on stage or in the studio. These innovations are part of Taylor's new Next Generation platform, which also includes the Action Control Neck for quick and precise string height adjustments while increasing the connection between neck and body for improved resonance.
Playability remains one of Taylor's greatest strengths, and the Next Generation 514ce delivers the comfortable, dependable feel players expect. The Grand Auditorium body strikes a balance between power and comfort, sitting easily against the player while producing a full, balanced voice across the tonal spectrum. Combined with Taylor's smooth neck profile and precise fretwork, the result is an instrument that encourages long sessions, whether you are exploring intricate fingerstyle patterns or strumming through a full set of songs.
Visually, this model carries a tasteful and refined aesthetic that complements its warm tonal character. Meridian inlays provide a new visual accent along the fretboard, while white body binding and black and white top purfling frame the cedar top with understated elegance. An abalone rosette adds a subtle touch of shimmer around the soundhole, and the gloss finish highlights the natural beauty of the woods without distracting from the guitar's organic personality.
The Next Generation 514ce captures the essence of what makes the 500 Series so beloved. Warm, responsive tonewoods meet modern design upgrades that improve comfort, sound, and stage performance. At Cream City Music, we appreciate guitars that feel inspiring the moment they leave the case, and this cedar topped Grand Auditorium is exactly that kind of instrument.
Specifications:
- Body Shape: Grand Auditorium
- Top Wood: Western Red Cedar
- Back and Sides Wood: Mahogany
- Finish: Gloss
- Color: Natural
- Bracing: Scalloped V-Class Bracing
- Rosette: Abalone
- Body Binding: White
- Top Purfling: Black and White
- Neck Construction: Action Control Neck
- Neck Wood: Tropical Mahogany
- Fretboard Wood: Ebony
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Nut Width: 1-3/4"
- Number of Frets: 20
- Fretboard Inlays: Meridian
- Bridge: Ebony
- Nut Material: Tusq
- Saddle Material: Micarta
- Tuners: Taylor Nickel Tuners
- Electronics: Claria Acoustic Electronics System
- Controls: Volume, Tone, Mid Contour (Soundhole Mounted)
- Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Case
Sku: 514CE-NG
