The Best Acoustic Guitar for Worship Leaders
The Taylor 214ce (Deluxe)
Taylor is a go-to brand for a lot of worship leaders (myself included), and the 214ce series (there are several models) is an excellent balance of price and quality.
I have the 114ce, which is also a great guitar, so you can shift down to that if this is too expensive. But I really like this one since it gets you a nice bright tone with the cutaway, but also some warmth on the rhythm side. Since it has the ES2 (pickup/preamp) you can easily plug it in to your church's PA system (you'll just need an external preamp with a balanced output or DI box).
BEST FOR: Balanced lead and rhythm styles, playing comfort (concert body shape with cutaway), crisp/brightened tones, and general use.
ELECTRONICS
85
COMFORT
95
TONEWOOD
90
NATURAL TONE
90
- Several versions and wide price range to pick from.
- Popular solid Spruce and Rosewood combination.
- Concert body shape is preferable for worship leading and playing live.
- Nice balance of crisp high end and warm lows.
- All Taylor guitars look fantastic.
- Includes a hardshell case
- Sometimes I miss the warmth you get from something like a Martin dreadnought.
- Taylor stopped shipping their acoustics with Elixir strings. It's some kind of coated D'Addario now. Probably fine, but I just really like Elixirs.
Important note: Ratings are based on the context of each article and may not apply to other contexts, recommendations, or use cases.
Why I like the Taylor 214ce for Worship Leaders
I've always preferred concert body style acoustics for performing and dreadnoughts for recording. Dreadnought acoustics tend to sound warmer, but they're quite large, even for a normal six-foot tall dude like myself. I love the comfort of a smaller guitar when I'm on stage, and the concert body styles, which are still considered full size acoustic guitars, are a lot more spatially flexible.
From there, I have a lot of experience with Taylor guitars, and can confidently recommend the 114, 214, and 314 models.
With the solid Spruce top, Taylor bracing system, and expression system (the ES2), you've got a perfect blend of high and low tone, all in a high-quality instrument that isn't crazy expensive.
Again, if you want to drop to a lower price, try the 114ce or 114e. The non-Deluxe version of the 214ce is also a more affordable option.
Solid Spruce and Rosewood (a common tonewood recipe for Taylor and other acoustics), an ES2 preamp, and the concert body design are the main attractions.
Selection and Recommendation Methodology
Since I trust the Taylor brand (among others) I start there, and then look at models I've used or at least tested. I also look at the guitar playing community to see where most people land for leading worship, including my own circle of friends and musicians.
With all that information compiled, it's fairly easy to make a recommendation. I just want to give you my personal experience, and avoid putting forward acoustic guitars that I'm not familiar with.
Recommendations on Guitar Chalk are always from real guitar players and musician's, either from myself or those I work with.
As always, make sure to take into account your own situation and unique circumstances.
Make sure you get something that's comfortable for you so you can lead worship effectively. If the 214ce isn't it, take the information we've provided and use it to loosely direct your search.
You can also shoot me a question in the comments section below.
The Taylor 214ce is a great option for worship leaders because of the comfortable body style and flexible tone capabilities. The ES2 preamp makes for a quick connection to a PA system as well. Image via Joebilly Guitars
Taylor 214ce Price Tracker
Prices updated Fri, August 21st, 2026.
More Acoustic Guitar Resources
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Roundups
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