An original-sounding instrument that combines Sitka spruce, Hawaiian koa and Taylor Expression System electronics.
The Taylor 2012 314ce-LTD Spring Limited Edition Koa Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar is available in limited numbers and is a member of the Hawaiian Koa 300 Series for 2012.
Hawaiian koa occupies rare air among tonewoods, and for good reason: Its tone is crisp and complex, its figure can be variegated and striking, and it is among the more difficult woods to procure. Though it’s normally reserved for the upper end of the Taylor line, years of buying whole koa logs can sometimes yield sets of wood that have all the tonal character and charm of premium koa but aren’t quite as figured as the most prized sets reserved for the Koa Series. That’s where the 300 Series Koa Limiteds come in, offering a special treat and a great value.
Grand Auditorium (GA)
Body Width: 16" / Body Depth: 4 5/8" / Body Length: 20"
Taylor’s signature shape embodies the ultimate all purpose acoustic.
Taylor's most popular and versatile body shape, the mid-size Grand Auditorium arrived in 1994 bearing refined proportions that fell between a Dreadnought and Grand Concert. While the bigger Dreadnought was traditionally considered a flatpicker’s guitar and the smaller Grand Concert catered to fingerstylists, the GA was designed to deliver on both fronts. The shape produced an original acoustic voice that was big enough to handle medium-strength picking and strumming, yet with impressive balance across the tonal spectrum, especially in the midrange, producing clear, well-defined notes that suited both strumming and fingerstyle playing. The GA’s overall presence tracks well with other instruments both in a studio mix and on stage, and singer-songwriters have embraced its utility both for composing and traveling with one guitar. Many people want a single guitar that can cover a variety of styles, which is why the GA continues to be our bestselling shape. If you want a great all-purpose guitar, the multi-dimensional GA won’t let you down.
Expression System®
Natural Sound Made Simple
People love the clear, full acoustic tone of their Taylors. Why should it be any different when they plug in? That’s why Taylor spent several years developing their own onboard acoustic pickup and preamp. Taylor’s ground-breaking Expression System® (ES) was designed to naturally amplify the warm acoustic sound of your guitar.
The ES is an all-magnetic acoustic guitar pickup system that works like a microphone to produce a pure signal and a warm, natural acoustic sound. When you plug in, you'll hear the sound of your guitar, not the sound of the pickup. No complicated controls. No tone simulators. Just a clean amplified acoustic guitar sound supported by three simple controls — volume, bass and treble.
Breakthrough Technology
Years of research brought a simple realization: Nothing sounds as true and musical as a microphone. With that as a starting point, Taylor’s David Hosler led the team responsible for the Expression System's breakthrough technology. Utilizing a unique Dynamic Body Sensor® mounted to the soundboard, a Dynamic String Sensor® embedded beneath the fretboard, and a discrete preamp, the advanced ES technology is unlike any other guitar pickup system.
Integrated Design
The ES was designed in-house, alongside our acoustic guitars, which allowed Taylor to build the ES seamlessly into the design of the guitar, for an integrated pickup system unlike any other. From the design and location of the body and string sensors to the voicing of the preamp, the ES is fully optimized for the Taylor sound. The elegant design, including the non-intrusive control knobs, also preserves the aesthetic of a Taylor guitar.
