Taylor 114e vs 214e (Comparison)
Our pick: The 114e
Though the 214 does offer some notable upgrades, it's not quite enough to justify the increased price of nearly $300. We'd recommend staying with the 114e or ce where you get a similar guitar at a much better value point.

What are the biggest differences between the Taylor 114e vs 214e? Where do the two acoustic guitars differ on the spec sheet? In this article we're comparing both guitars side by side in tables, to show you exactly where they're different, and how that impacts a potential purchasing decision.
To be fair, both are Taylors and are fairly close in the series lineup, which goes up by 100s:
- 100 series
- 200 series
- 300 series
- etc...
This continues on up to the 800 and 900 series Taylors, which are quite expensive. However, there's also a significant price jump going from the the 114 to the 214, for both the "e" and "ce" versions of each guitar.
Let's start our comparison by looking at the major differences.
Main Feature Differences
What are the biggest differences between the Taylor 114e and the 214e? We've settled on three major spec sheet distinctions that potential buyers should be aware of.
Pricing
If you look at the comparison section below, you'll see the 114e is $999 while the 214e is $1299. That's a significant jump in cost (about $300) which means we're looking to see if the differences justify the jump in expense.
Side/Back Tonewood
While both guitars use a laminate (layered instead of solid) tonewood for the back and sides, the 214 uses Koa while the 114 settles on Walnut. We like Koa a little better, but the top pieces on both guitars are still solid Sitka Spruce.
Finish
The 214's gloss finish looks nicer and is more attractive than the satin finish on the 114. It's not a huge quality issue, but definitely makes the 214 "pop" a little more.
Taylor 114e VS 214e: Compare to Similar Acoustic Guitars
In this section, use the compare buttons to look at pricing and some basic features. Also please note that we partner with Sweetwater to provide quick access to gear at no extra cost to you. These links also help support our site, so please consider them if you decide to shop for one of these guitars (or something else). Thank you.
Guitar | Name | RATE | BUY |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Taylor GS Mini (the Mahogany version) | 86.7 | |
![]() | Taylor 114e and ce | 95.4 | |
![]() | Taylor 214e and ce | n/a | |
![]() | Seagull S6 | 88.7 |

Taylor 114e VS 214e - what's the difference, and which one is right for you?
Audio
Both of these guitars lean towards a brighter tone profile, with a more crisp response on the high-end, making it more of a melodic acoustic. In the two demos below, you can hear that both guitars put a lot of emphasis on your picking hand movement and are a bit brighter in their response.
![]() Taylor 114e and ce | ![]() Taylor 214e and ce |
---|---|
$999 | $1299 |
Bright/Crisp/Melodic | Bright/Crisp/Melodic |
Strumming/Lead | Strumming/Lead |
Heavy picking emphasis | Moderate picking emphasis |
Clearly the 114e is cheaper, which is common for series drops - going from the 200 series to the 100 series in the Taylor lineup. We've also found it to put a little more emphasis on your right hand movements, with more noticeable scraping of the pick and/or finger callouses.
Bodies
There are a few noticeable upgrades we get in the 214 version of this guitar. First, we like the Koa a little better than the Walnut, which is a pretty common upgrade, even if both are still laminate or layered pieces. The gloss finish in the 214 also looks a little nicer, while the X-bracing is nicer as well, yet we still get a forward shifted pattern in the 114.
![]() Taylor 114e and ce | ![]() Taylor 214e and ce | |
---|---|---|
Body Type/Shape | Grand Auditorium | Grand Auditorium |
Body Dimensions | Unknown | Unknown |
Sides and Back | Layered Walnut | Layered Koa |
Top | Solid Sitka Spruce | Solid Sitka Spruce |
Finish | Satin Varnish | Satin |
Bracing | Forward shifted | X-brace (forward shifted) |
Binding | Black | White |
Neck & Fretboard
Moving to the neck and fretboard we don't see a ton of quality difference between these two guitars. Tropical Mahogany is used for the neck in the 214 while the 114 is Maple. It's hard to tell if there's a quality difference here without wood grades being listed, so we'll call it even.
![]() Taylor 114e and ce | ![]() Taylor 214e and ce | |
---|---|---|
Neck Wood | Maple | Sapele |
Neck Shape | Standard | Not listed |
Radius | 15" | Not listed |
Fingerboard Material | Ebony | West African Crelicam Ebony |
Fingerboard Inlays | Acrylic dots | Italian Acrylic Dots |
Number of Frets | 20 | 20 |
Scale Length | 25.5" | 25.5" |
Parts
In the parts department, we again see little difference between the two guitars. The NuBone material in the nut and saddle might be a little nicer, but it's not a difference that we could see being reflected in the cost of the guitars.
We do like the softshell case with the 214e, though most everything else - including the Taylor ES2 preamp - seems to be about the same.
![]() Taylor 114e and ce | ![]() Taylor 214e and ce | |
---|---|---|
Preamp/Electronics | Taylor ES2 | Taylor ES2 |
Bridge Material | Ebony | Ebony |
Nut & Saddle Material | Tusq/Micarta | NuBone/Micarta |
Tuning Machines | Die-cast Chrome | Enclosed, Die-Cast Chrome Plated |
Nut Width | 1.6875" | 1.6875" |
Case Included | Gig bag | Softshell case |
Strings | Elixir Phosphor Bronze Lights, .012-.053 | Elixir NANOWEB Light Gauge (.012-.053) |
Which one?
Since the difference in price seems to be the most significant distinction between these two guitars, we like the 114e and ce better based on the value argument. You're paying nearly $300 less but still getting a guitar that's appreciably similar to the 214e.
Both in terms of parts (the specs sheet) and sound quality, the 114e is comparable to the 214e.
We don't see much reason to pay the extra money for the 214e if the 114e will do the job.
Questions about these two Guitars
If you have questions about the Taylor 114e vs 214e, feel free to drop them in the comments section below. We've used both these guitars and have tested them guitar-in-hand, so let us know what your thoughts are.
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Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Reviews
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Acoustics & Info
The Taylor 114ce retails at $999., The Taylor 214ce retails at $1099.
The 214 in your comparison was a deluxe version.
Thanks, John. I’ll correct this.
I’ve previously had both guitars and besides the obvious cosmetic differences really don’t notice much re: sound and playability. I’ve just recently purchased a 114ce, again, opting for the most inexpensive and am happy with it. My hand requires a slimmer neck profile so anything above a 200 series is not an option for me. I sought out the most comfortable neck and the 114ce I chose was the best for me.
Yep – there’s not a ton that distinguishes the two. Given the price difference I’m pretty happy with the 114e. Thanks for sharing! Also, I checked out your site. Looks like you’re playing Guild acoustics mostly?
Hi yes, I play an older Guild F4CE model, have been been years but also have 2 Gibsons and a few others. I love my Taylor GS mini and wanted a full sized Taylor again
Yeah the Guilds and Gibsons look awesome. Thanks for sharing. 🤘🏻