Taylor 814ce First Edition Grand Auditorium Cutaway ES2 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Part of Taylor's flagship series of acoustic/electrics, the 814ce First Edition Grand Auditorium Cutaway ES2 Acoustic-Electric traces back to Bob Taylor' first rosewood guitars, which helped establish a modern acoustic guitar sound. It features Taylor's popular Grand Auditorium shape with a Venetian cutaway for easier access to the entire fingerboard; curly maple CV bracing with Relief Rout for a more well-rounded sound with better projection; and ebony bridge pins with abalone dots, a tortoise pickguard, single ring rosette, Taylor Gold tuners, elaborate pearl 800 Series fingerboard inlays, and Indian rosewood headstock overlay give it refined style.

Grand Auditorium (GA)
Body Length: 20" / Body Width: 16" / Body Depth: 4 5/8"
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' 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' 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 Taylor's bestselling shape. If you want a great all-purpose guitar, the multi-dimensional GA won™t let you down.

Indian Rosewood
One of the most popular and traditional guitar woods of all time, rosewood takes the basic sonic thumbprint of mahogany (which has a strong midrange) and expands it in both directions. Rosewood sounds deeper in the low end and brighter on the top end (one might describe the treble notes as zesty, sparkly or sizzly, with more articulation). If you look at its frequency range visually, rosewood would appear to be more scooped in the middle, yielding less midrange bloom than mahogany. Like mahogany, rosewood' vintage heritage has helped firmly establish its acoustic legacy. It' a great sound in part because we know that sound. In some music circles in which preserving the traditional sound helps bring a sense of authenticity to the music ” certain strains of Americana, for example ” rosewood has an iconic status. Also like mahogany, rosewood is a versatile tonewood, which has contributed to its popularity. One can fingerpick it, strum it and flatpick it. It' very consistent, so players can usually rely on it to deliver.

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' why Taylor spent several years developing their own onboard acoustic pickup and preamp. Taylor' groundbreaking 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
Nothing sounds as true and musical as a microphone. With that as a starting point, Taylor' 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 fingerboard, and a discrete preamp, the advanced ES technology is unlike any other guitar pickup system.
Integrated Design
The ES was designed in-house, alongside Taylor's acoustic guitars, which allowed them 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.

CV Bracing with Relief Rout
This version incorporates the relief rout and additional refinements, including subtle contouring differences in the scalloping. In general, guitars with CV bracing sound fuller and fatter without giving up articulation. They are also slightly louder.