Taylor 414ce Studio electro-acoustic guitar

Taylor 414ce Studio Shaded Edgeburst — Pro Tone at a Studio-Friendly Price

The Taylor 414ce Studio Shaded Edgeburst is an all-solid Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar that brings Taylor's flagship rosewood-and-spruce tonewood pairing within reach of working players. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides generate lush overtones and rich low-end character, while the torrefied Sitka spruce top adds bold projection with an aged-in sweetness. V-Class bracing, a Venetian cutaway, and Expression System 2 electronics round out a stage-ready package for live play, songwriting, and recording. The cutaway offers easy access to the upper frets.

What Sets This Model Apart

Two design choices define this model's voice. The torrefied spruce top is heat-treated in Taylor's roasting process to deliver traditional spruce clarity with extra warmth and played-in depth. Taylor's patented V-Class bracing underneath the top is a revolutionary sonic engine that boosts volume, lengthens sustain, and aligns intonation across the fretboard — a marked shift from traditional X-bracing patterns.

Body and Top — Solid Tonewoods, Gloss Edgeburst

The Grand Auditorium body shape is Taylor's flagship platform, balancing comfort with cross-genre utility.

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium — Taylor's flagship platform, balanced for fingerstyle and strumming
• Top Wood: Torrefied Sitka Spruce — heat-treated for aged-in warmth and faster response
• Solid Indian rosewood back and sides generate lush overtones, sparkling trebles, and rich low-end character
• Finish: Gloss with Shaded Edgeburst top — stage-ready visual that highlights the spruce grain

Neck and Playability — Slender Standard Carve

A slim neck profile and shorter nut width give the Studio a relaxed feel suited to chord work and lead lines.

• Neck Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany — stable, resonant, finished in satin for a smooth hand feel
• West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard and bridge provide a dense, durable playing surface with articulate note attack
• Nut Width: 1-11/16" (≈ 43 mm) — narrower than the standard 414ce for a slimmer grip
• Scale Length: 25-1/2" (≈ 648 mm) — Taylor-standard long scale for strong fundamental tone

Electronics and Hardware — Stage-Ready from the Gig Bag

The Expression System 2 behind-the-saddle pickup captures more of the guitar's dynamic range than typical undersaddle systems.

• Pickup: Expression System 2 (ES2) — behind-the-saddle design with three calibrated piezo sensors
• V-Class bracing underneath the top boosts volume, lengthens sustain, and aligns intonation across the fretboard
• Tuners: Taylor Nickel with Nickel Buttons — smooth, accurate tuning stability
• Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.012 - .053) — coated for longer tone life
• Burgundy Plush Lined Tan Structured Gig Bag included for protective transport

Who Is It For — Working Players, Songwriters, and Stage Performers

This Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric is the right choice for working guitarists who want Taylor's flagship rosewood-and-spruce voice in an all-solid, stage-ready package. Singer-songwriters will appreciate the elevated midrange that lets vocals sit naturally on top of the guitar, while live performers benefit from the Expression System 2's dynamic signal. Fingerstyle players, strummers, and lead guitarists all find a home in the Grand Auditorium's balanced response — light touch brings out delicate detail, and a heavier attack opens up the lower bout. Players who prefer a slimmer neck profile will find the Standard Carve with a 1-11/16" nut especially comfortable for extended sessions. Home recordists will appreciate how the torrefied spruce top and V-Class bracing translate cleanly through the ES2 pickup.

Taylor Guitars — The Grand Auditorium Origin Story

Taylor Guitars traces its identity to Bob Taylor, who shaped the company's approach to acoustic design. The Grand Auditorium body shape was born out of player requests — after Bob Taylor had built a dreadnought and a grand concert, customers asked for something in between. That balanced platform helped establish Taylor's rise to prominence. Today, patented V-Class bracing and the Expression System 2 pickup reflect the company's ongoing acoustic engineering, while responsibly sourced tonewoods and a structured gig bag underscore a player-first approach.