Taylor 814ce VS 914ce (quick comparison)

To our eyes are ears it's very hard to tell these two guitars apart. Even on the spec sheet, there aren't a ton of obvious differences to draw out. You have Gotoh tuners on the 914ce and a premium or "select" Spruce top. But when you hear and play them both, it doesn't necessarily feel like the 814ce is a step down, at all. Once you get above $3000, you aren't going to get a "bad" guitar.

So please note, this is strictly opinion.

But we'd argue that the value in the 814ce is better since it's so much cheaper, yet sounds and plays very similar to the 914ce. 

That said, both are apex examples of Taylor craftsmanship.

Comparing the 814ce and 914ce

This table lets you compare the 814 and 914, along with a couple other acoustics we like and recommend. The compare buttons let you see basic specs and pricing. We'll have an expanded specs list and price guide below for both guitars.

What do these guitars sound like?

In the second video, they actually bring out the 814ce near the end to compare it to the 914ce. If you can tell a difference, you have a better ear than I do. To me, they sound almost exactly the same. Both are bright, focused, and have some attractive chime and brisk resonance on the high-end. In typical Taylor fashion, these grand auditorium body designs and better for fingerpicking and more melodic acoustic styles.

Detailed Spec Sheets

We've highlighted the areas of difference in yellow. Note that when there are differences that we think are quality issues, we highlight those in red. But in this case, I don't think any of them have an impact on quality. 

The only thing that is remotely eye-catching to me is the Gotoh tuning machines in the 914ce. I'd rather have those than the Taylor brand, but not enough to pay the additional cost to get the 914ce.

Price Comparison

This section provides pricing for both the 814 and 914 from major retailers. It updates whenever you refresh the page, but keep in mind that pricing and availability are always subject to change (we pretty much have to say that).

Price updated Wed, June 07th, 2023.

Multiple Vendors

Amazon Only

What about the premium Spruce in the 914ce?

Wood grades are hard to pin down from a manufacturer's product description.

They'll usually mention wood type (Spruce, Mahogany, etc.) and whether it's solid or layered.

But they rarely specify the quality or grading of the tonewood. For example, you can have two pieces of solid Spruce, where one is a higher grade than the other. But for whatever reason, we rarely see this noted on product pages.

So with these two guitars, there is reportedly a "premium" grade Spruce used in the top of the 914ce, but that's not really defined anywhere.

Take that information with a grain of salt.

What are the major differences?

There are really no "major" differences between these two guitars, and I don't want to split hairs on wood grade or even the tuning machines. Aside from price (check the tables above) there's not much to fuss about.

What are the tone characteristics and similarities?

Tone, playing feel, projection, and right hand response are all very similar in each guitar. As I mentioned earlier, they also lean bright and focused, with more of a chime/lead acoustic sound. 

This is in stark contrast to something like a Martin dreadnought which would be more of a strumming acoustic.

Read more: Best Strumming Acoustic Guitar

Most Taylors are brighter, especially with the grand auditorium body shape.

Which would we recommend?

I would personally go with the 814ce and save the money. While the 914ce might have some additional prestige, you just won't find anything to complain about in the 814. You also won't find anything in the 914 that makes you want to spend an extra $1000, or more.

Again, check the price guide, because that number can change.

If you have questions about our Taylor 814ce VS 914ce comparison, feel free to reach out via the comments section below.

Thanks for hanging out with us.

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