I like the 114 better for fingerpicking and the 214 better for strumming. You can tell the difference in Sepele and Rosewood. The Rosewood was “hollowed” out in the mid range but had a warm base. The sepele really brought out the mid range. Depends what you need the guitar for. The hollowed mid range of the 214 is good for singing over since the voice is a mid range instrument. The 114 is good when you want the guitar to be the main “voice” of a song.
@@fabieng6864 Yesterday I was able to play the 214ce and 114ce back to back, and the tonal difference was from my point of view quite negligible. They felt very similar and the 214 mainly had more "eye candy". So it definitely looked better and sounded maybe a little different. And I also played the Academy 12e and again it sounded very similar. With the 314 and upwards the difference in tone became more drastic. But they're way out of my budget. And given that I played a lot of acoustic guitars and the Academy was by far the most comfortable to play and sounded good through my amp (Roland AC 33) I definitely will get the Academy 12e for Christmas. The GS Mini was too much of a compromise sound wise, but it's amazing to play, it's small, it's super comfy, it's easy to carry and the sound through the amp was very, very good. But only with the upgraded Koa version with the ES2 System on board. And this one is 1099 €...
I love both of these guitars, but the 114ce definitely gets my vote. During my recording, the 114ce articulates every note so perfectly! 214 is however much better for live performance. They both feel and play exactly the same.
I'm such the strummer, so I like the 214ce's "darker" sound. The 114ce sounded slightly "abrasive" when it was being strummed hard, but that's just me!
Thank you so much for such a well produced, mic'd, performed demo! I've been considering one or the other and this was very informative. I have more of an opened mind now.
I definitely expected to like the 214ce better, but the 114ce's sweet midrange won me over. I've always been a mahogany fan, so I guess that holds true, even in laminates. Great job, as always, Tony.
I preferred the 114 for finger picking because it seemed to be brighter and had more clarity. For strumming I preferred the 214 since it had a warmer tone and wasn't as brash.
I agree in this video, I totally experienced playing the both of them the 214ce just feels more comfortable than 114ce more warmer when you strum it, but since I'm into plucking ng lead playing I like the 114ce better, its just so clear & crisp that could definitely cut through the mix when playing it in a band setting.
I bougth the 214e today, i played back and forth between the 114e and 214e, the 214e spoke alot more to me, it was brigther and more responsive to my ears :)
They both sound great...wouldn't mind owning both for different uses, but overall, for my playing style I think the 114 fits what I do better (I tend to like a twangy, low end snap for single note picking and arpeggios). Thanks for the comparison vid. Very well done. : )
Just a followup...I picked up a 114 without the cutaway a couple of weeks ago...I haven't been this happy with an acoustic purchase since I bought a Martin HD-28 a few years back. It's a different beast, obviously, but I can't believe the build and sound quality from the Taylor considering it's price. I've payed a lot more for guitars I wasn't nearly as happy with. I'm a fan. :)
From my ears, it sounds like the 114CE each string had more brightness and definition, but it could get jangly at times The 214CE each string sounded more mellow, but individual strings could get lost in the tones of other strings. Neither produced a "bad" sound, just overall different.
100% agree on the brightness of the 114CE. Both sound great if you're looking for a solid acoustic. Not sure you can go wrong if you just want something to play on and nothing top end.
Agree. I'm surprised at the number of comments in favor of the 114. They are very similar, but the 214 sounds like a more expensive guitar to my ears. Not saying that expensive always equals better, but......
I preferred laminate guitars when I first started playing too. You can't recreate rich resonant tones from laminate wood though, brightness is a different story.
Actually you CAN get rich resonant tones from laminate and I defy almost anyone to hear the difference. I tried 214s, 314s, 414s, and 514s. The 214 I bought sounded BETTER than all of the 314s and 414s and one of the 515s. Every guitar is unique. The 114 in this video sounds more like a Martin than a Taylor. Look at the tone knobs in this video... lol. When you play them yourself side by side in a practice room, the difference from the 114 is staggering, but from the 214-515 the differences become far more subtle. And I have owned most major brands except Gibson.
A couple of years ago, I was about to buy a 214ce, but I tried both a 114ce and a 214ce at a local Guitar Center. Then, the 114ce sounded louder to me probably because the coating on the 214 made it sound quieter. So I picked the 114ce. And I heard the "wood" sound from the 114's body more than the 214, which is another reason why I picked the 114ce. Mine is a updated version and has walnut laminated wood on the body, though. But whenever I play guitar on stage I use the pickup, so the sound difference doesn't really matter, but I'm happy with my 114ce now. It's a matter of my satisfaction, I guess.
Neck on 114 is slimmer and easier to play. I also preferred it for fingerpicking. More high end on the notes, easier to hear. 214 is also good, but not as good for fingerstyle.
If it comes down to how to they sound the 214 has a softer, fuller, and more mellow contemporary tone. While the 114 has stronger, raspy, folk style to it. So its not which one is better its what type of sound do you want? And from experience the fuller and softer the guitar can be the more expensive the price tag.
214 is a very slightly richer tone but it gets lost in the mix more when playing with others, I own the 114 and it's wonderful enough, if I was to upgrade I'd go a level higher than the 214 as the difference is minimal and the 114 is a better group instrument as it cuts through the mix better.
my 214ce is all satin finish, and anyone that knows guitars knows that the back and sides dont make any difference but the tops sure do even martin guitars admited that tonewood is not a really a real thing at all. other then the top that matters the most as well as body style and dimensions and of course the stings you use also make a huge impact on the sound of the guitar..
I know it's not to do with the sound but personally I much prefer the matte finish top to the gloss finish top. Makes it feel less tacky in my opinion. Also helps reduce fingerprints
I too play almost exclusively finger style, kept dropping pick in hole when I was a kid. IN THE MARKET for an nice inexpensive axe that's easy to bar & hold down a note quick & clean. I assume price escalates with model # any suggestions ?
I would go with the 114e (not ce), no cutaway that most people will never use. I prefer my guitar body to not be amputated. Also much prefer the Satin finish. I found a mint 314e for $450 on Facebook Marketplace 😮. It’s awesome.
I tried both of these at guitar center few weeks ago. The 214 feels better in the hands. The neck is smoother if you play with your palms against the neck. The fret board is smoother. It just feels like liquid in the lap. BUT the 114 just sounds downright better. The differences between the two in real life and in this video compare pretty well. Coming from someone who has tried both, you can trust the audio of this video.
214 is just smoother and nicer to the ear. The 114 is bright and that doesnt help the cause on the higher strings. A bit sharp on the ear. 214 is perfect.
I ABed both these today. I preferred the feel on the 114. The deep end sound was better on the 214 but I still preferred the 114. It comes down to taste. I couldn't tell them apart by ear alone.
I've always preferred darker, nylon-esque tones from steel string guitars. For that purpose, the 214 is closer to what I'm after. Regardless, both sound gorgeous.
In some very small ways I actually felt that the 214 sounded worse. It's an incredibly small difference. In some ways the 214 was superior, but there was almost this kind of slight trebly variation or lack thereof between them which could have just been a knob slightly turned up (or down) on one by a few percent.
Good job. I think that the sound difference is so minute that it does not matter. Playing style and mic placement were very controlled here, but the smallest variation in either would make more of a difference that the tone of the wood. The choice comes down to looks.
I prefer the 114 simply because I'm listening with a mix engineer's ear. I think having a more pronounced midrange and less low end is going to make it way easier to fit into a mix. I don't really care what the guitar sounds like by itself because I rarely intend to use it that way.
When he was just playing open chords, I really liked the 114ce. I don't primarily play acoustic, I use it here and there to add something to songs, and to me, the 114ce has that sound I'm looking for when there's a rock song and I need the acoustic to provide a little accent.
I went to Guitar Center the other day and a/b'ed both of these guitars back and forth. I wanted to like the 114ce more, or at least the same, but the 214ce was so much more rewarding to play. The 114ce was good, but lacked articulation and low end in comparison
I went to the Guitar Center today and tried them both. I agree with this comment. Seems like the mid is lacking in the 114 which would explain why some people hear the pronounced bass and treble. That's because the midrange is missing.
I started out on a Yamaha FG500S and its a Great starter guitar but it doesnt compare to a Taylor. I had $1000 budget & would have loved to save extra money but this line of Taylors sound so sweet. I returned my 114ce because the Finish didnt look or feel like it would last & planned on getting the 214ce but the 210ce blew the first two out of the park. I learned on a dreadnought so it feels right to me. I was really wanting the smaller body but you can fight what feels right.
Up front I have to say more crisp - clearer and sharper / brighter sound on 114ce compared to 214ce wich sounded more bassy, subdued and warmer! But hearing can appear different from person to person sometimes, but for me its no doubt in my soul, ears and mind I definitely do like 114ce more. In short it is better balanced from the sound you get from it!
I chose the 114CE over the 214. Much of my decision was due to my Martin D18 sounding so similar to the 214. I actually prefer the sound of the 114 for the more bluegrass style that I play these days. These are both incredible Taylor instruments and the prices are more than fair. Good luck everyone.
These two models are great to play in a live band on stage and mic'd up, but also in a home studio un mic'd yes the 114ce is brighter and punchy the 214ce had a more scoped mid range. Obviously it's a personal choice but for me bright and punchy for stage 114ce and I use the 214ce for studio recording and open mic. Something to take note is the Satin finish seems to pick up external contact noise such as my long sleeve shirt rubbing across the guitar body especially playing standing up and wobbling the hips like the Elvis jiggle. That sound was picked up in the recording suttle but it's there. This also happened on my Satin finished Maton so Taylor are not alone in this department.
The 214ce has a lower, more punchy tone, where as the 114ce has a brighter and lighter tone in my opinion. I don't let videos decide my purchase, but they do help me decide which I think sounds better.
Actually...the 114 has a better balance...IMO the 214 sounds a bit muddy due to the mushy bass. The 114 has better string to string separation and seems louder. But it could just be the example of the materials. You could play 3 or 4 of the same model and due to the top spruce wood choices there will be some that sound better than others. Every tree is different... fact of life!!
I actually just bought the 114e (No cutaway) and Tried both of them. The 214 was in person exactly as this video describes as having slightly more low end. I liked the brightness and matte finish of the 114 but theyre both amazing guitars
The 114 sounds a little brighter but plugged in you can tweak them to your hearts desire..I just bought the little 114 to tide me over for three weeks until my Guild D50 gets back from from being worked on..to be honest I'm pretty attached to my El Cajon built Taylor Big Baby, but I thought I'd add an auditorium cutout with the ES electronics to see what the fuss was about without breaking the bank, plugged in it's impressive...not a bad guitar for the money..
Sound is so close, but I'd go with the 214ce just for the finish. The rosewood, gloss top, white binding, and headstock finish is easily work an extra $100...
That 114 looks like it got an adirondack or lutz spruce top. It sounds brighter and bassier than the 214. Plus Taylor has the tendency to put adironack/lutz on even baby taylors. They just use whatever is available at that given moment.
I actually like the 114 better. Higher pitch tone with less mid.. it's punchy and produces such a sharp but clean sound. The way the notes harmonize seems more complex
214 sounds much better when strummed but the 114 seems to excel when finger picked so idk...I guess the 214 but I could get use to the 114 when strumming.
They both sound good, and their sound is super similar. So if you could get a deal on either, it would be a good buy. My preference is the 114CE between what I heard here. The 114 seems to project a little louder, that may be the lack of finishing on the soundboard, and it also sounds more bright and present than the 214.
I think for me the 214 has a more mellow fuller sound. Rings better with my voice. Different strokes for different folks tho. Can’t go wrong with a Taylor.
these sound muffled to me, i don't know how to put it but they sound like you have a 1cm thick pillow covering them and there is just the middle hole that's not covered, i don't know what makes it like that but i definitely can hear it
I'd like to add electronics to a Taylor 114. I'd like to add 'onboard' pickups - I don't want just a soundhole pickup. This is for my daughter so she can start to learn 'coffeeshop' type playing for a small audience. For now, she'd be plugged into a Fender Frontman 25R. Any recommendations?
That's a well made comparison. The 214 sounds beautiful but also it sorta reminds me my yamaha a3r that I've sold to buy the 114. The a3r was screaming quality and finish perfection but it didn't have that crispiness and snappiness I wanted from an acoustic, in other way it was too well behaving ;) The 114 all the way for me in this video but I guess it's all up to personal preferences, as other comments clearly indicate. Thanks for the vid!
Both are nice Taylors. I like that style of a smaller than a dreadnought. If you have the money, you go for the 214CE. If not, then the 114ce will suffice quite nicely. Thanks for the comparison.
Theres a slight more clarity in the 214 but honestly they're both very bright in my opinion, I wish taylor could get a more low ends coming through to balance it out more. Which is why, I stopped drooling over taylors and now martins. Don't get me wrong I love love taylors.
I have a 114ce It's an incredible guitar for the price, it's easily the best buy I've ever made. The difference between Rosewood and Sapele is obvious...The 114ce has a really really clear and loud mid-range...If you're a singer-songwriter, the 114ce will sing over your voice if you're not strumming lightly. That's why there's the 214ce for anyone who doesn't like that. If you're just playing guitar without singing, the 114ce sounds loads better in my opinion.
Huge difference inside an auditorium. I have the Taylor 214ce Plus Grand auditorium and is the Best guitar ever!!! If you want to play at home with friend 114ce, but for a church or a small auditorium go with 214ce or Plus.
They both sound very good. I think I prefer the 214 CE. I did notice the volume and tone controls not being set the same for each comparison. I think perhaps they should have been set the same for a better comparison.
I like the 114 better for fingerpicking and the 214 better for strumming. You can tell the difference in Sepele and Rosewood. The Rosewood was “hollowed” out in the mid range but had a warm base. The sepele really brought out the mid range. Depends what you need the guitar for. The hollowed mid range of the 214 is good for singing over since the voice is a mid range instrument. The 114 is good when you want the guitar to be the main “voice” of a song.
Damn, I would love to have a 214CE but with the satin finish of the 114.
Both are laminated on the back 🧐🧐🧐no difference !!!
@@fabieng6864 Yesterday I was able to play the 214ce and 114ce back to back, and the tonal difference was from my point of view quite negligible. They felt very similar and the 214 mainly had more "eye candy". So it definitely looked better and sounded maybe a little different. And I also played the Academy 12e and again it sounded very similar. With the 314 and upwards the difference in tone became more drastic. But they're way out of my budget. And given that I played a lot of acoustic guitars and the Academy was by far the most comfortable to play and sounded good through my amp (Roland AC 33) I definitely will get the Academy 12e for Christmas. The GS Mini was too much of a compromise sound wise, but it's amazing to play, it's small, it's super comfy, it's easy to carry and the sound through the amp was very, very good. But only with the upgraded Koa version with the ES2 System on board. And this one is 1099 €...
I love both of these guitars, but the 114ce definitely gets my vote. During my recording, the 114ce articulates every note so perfectly! 214 is however much better for live performance. They both feel and play exactly the same.
Thanks so much for your review! I just bought a 114. LOVE the sound, and the articulation of each string!
Yall are awesome, bought my 114ce after I watched the review!
Getting the 114e tomorrow So nice and bright. Fills rooms
how was it after 5yrs
How is it after 8 years?
I love the brightness of the 114CE, hence I got one! The 214CE sounds warmer and mellow, not bad at all, like all Taylors
I'm such the strummer, so I like the 214ce's "darker" sound.
The 114ce sounded slightly "abrasive" when it was being strummed hard, but that's just me!
And me
Thank you so much for such a well produced, mic'd, performed demo! I've been considering one or the other and this was very informative. I have more of an opened mind now.
Thanks a ton for all your reviews and initiatives Tony! They have been more than helpful. Keep up the great work bro!
I definitely expected to like the 214ce better, but the 114ce's sweet midrange won me over. I've always been a mahogany fan, so I guess that holds true, even in laminates. Great job, as always, Tony.
I preferred the 114 for finger picking because it seemed to be brighter and had more clarity. For strumming I preferred the 214 since it had a warmer tone and wasn't as brash.
great review, you saved me some $$$ and opened my ears to how much I like the evenness of the bass-mid-high on the 114.
I agree in this video, I totally experienced playing the both of them the 214ce just feels more comfortable than 114ce more warmer when you strum it, but since I'm into plucking ng lead playing I like the 114ce better, its just so clear & crisp that could definitely cut through the mix when playing it in a band setting.
I bougth the 214e today, i played back and forth between the 114e and 214e, the 214e spoke alot more to me, it was brigther and more responsive to my ears :)
Master Obi Wan, cheers from Brazil
The 214 has a more bassy rounder sound with slight more separation between notes
That is what sold me on the 214. Love that deep bass and more unique tones if each string especially in the fingerstyle.
They both sound great...wouldn't mind owning both for different uses, but overall, for my playing style I think the 114 fits what I do better (I tend to like a twangy, low end snap for single note picking and arpeggios). Thanks for the comparison vid. Very well done. : )
Just a followup...I picked up a 114 without the cutaway a couple of weeks ago...I haven't been this happy with an acoustic purchase since I bought a Martin HD-28 a few years back. It's a different beast, obviously, but I can't believe the build and sound quality from the Taylor considering it's price. I've payed a lot more for guitars I wasn't nearly as happy with. I'm a fan. :)
214CE sounds feel so good...
A couple of times I thought the 214 sounded better, but most of the time I couldn't tell the difference.
I have some nice microlab speakers on my pc.
difference is very small
114ce sounds a little "brighter"
For me 114ce sounds better
I agree. 114E has brighter sound
From my ears, it sounds like the 114CE each string had more brightness and definition, but it could get jangly at times
The 214CE each string sounded more mellow, but individual strings could get lost in the tones of other strings.
Neither produced a "bad" sound, just overall different.
100% agree on the brightness of the 114CE. Both sound great if you're looking for a solid acoustic. Not sure you can go wrong if you just want something to play on and nothing top end.
for me, 214ce made a clean sweep. I have beed considering about both 2 models, but now I know that I definetely love the sweeter one.
214ce has a warmer fuller tone. The 114 is thinner and brighter. It still sounds good, but the 214 is definitely the better sounding guitar.
Agree. I'm surprised at the number of comments in favor of the 114. They are very similar, but the 214 sounds like a more expensive guitar to my ears. Not saying that expensive always equals better, but......
@@shawnsnow6413 114 definitely sounded better, i like a nice bright tone. I'm not debating the price difference but a warmer tone sounds cheaper to me
I preferred laminate guitars when I first started playing too. You can't recreate rich resonant tones from laminate wood though, brightness is a different story.
Actually you CAN get rich resonant tones from laminate and I defy almost anyone to hear the difference. I tried 214s, 314s, 414s, and 514s. The 214 I bought sounded BETTER than all of the 314s and 414s and one of the 515s. Every guitar is unique. The 114 in this video sounds more like a Martin than a Taylor. Look at the tone knobs in this video... lol. When you play them yourself side by side in a practice room, the difference from the 114 is staggering, but from the 214-515 the differences become far more subtle. And I have owned most major brands except Gibson.
@@petertrast yup
A couple of years ago, I was about to buy a 214ce, but I tried both a 114ce and a 214ce at a local Guitar Center. Then, the 114ce sounded louder to me probably because the coating on the 214 made it sound quieter. So I picked the 114ce. And I heard the "wood" sound from the 114's body more than the 214, which is another reason why I picked the 114ce. Mine is a updated version and has walnut laminated wood on the body, though. But whenever I play guitar on stage I use the pickup, so the sound difference doesn't really matter, but I'm happy with my 114ce now. It's a matter of my satisfaction, I guess.
Love my 114ce, sounds great, even for a "bottom" line Taylor at $850
I'm from the future and it's 1k now 😢
Neck on 114 is slimmer and easier to play. I also preferred it for fingerpicking. More high end on the notes, easier to hear. 214 is also good, but not as good for fingerstyle.
I picked up a 114ce for $500 used that was in new condition. Couldn't pass it up. I love it. I sits nicely next my Martin GPCX.
If it comes down to how to they sound the 214 has a softer, fuller, and more mellow contemporary tone. While the 114 has stronger, raspy, folk style to it. So its not which one is better its what type of sound do you want? And from experience the fuller and softer the guitar can be the more expensive the price tag.
214 is a very slightly richer tone but it gets lost in the mix more when playing with others, I own the 114 and it's wonderful enough, if I was to upgrade I'd go a level higher than the 214 as the difference is minimal and the 114 is a better group instrument as it cuts through the mix better.
Just bought the 114. Seems to have a brighter tone and I don't like the white trim around the body on the 214 and the gloss finish.
my 214ce is all satin finish, and anyone that knows guitars knows that the back and sides dont make any difference but the tops sure do even martin guitars admited that tonewood is not a really a real thing at all. other then the top that matters the most as well as body style and dimensions and of course the stings you use also make a huge impact on the sound of the guitar..
This video is 10 years old. I don't know how these models may have changed but does this still reflect the difference to any extent?
The 214 has a sweetness in the tone that the 114 doesn't. The 114 doesn't sound bad....it's just a matter of taste!
I have a 214ce-k and I feel like the 214ce just sounds a bit more rich than the 114 but it's all personal preference and they all sound great!
I know it's not to do with the sound but personally I much prefer the matte finish top to the gloss finish top. Makes it feel less tacky in my opinion. Also helps reduce fingerprints
Just got a 114ce today love it! Great sounding acoustic and feel
I'm hurting myself, why am i always watching Taylor guitar Review even though i can't afford to buy it even the cheapest one😢
LakeRouge 9 I feel you 😞
You are not alone
Save, im saving up right now
I’ve been saving for months and months and I’m close to getting one finally.
me too. :(
Thank you for a very good comparison of these two guitars; very helpful insight.
Thanks so much for the helpful comparison!
That was exactly what I was looking for :)
like the warmer sound of the 214, I myself have a bright sounding guitar which I personally don't really like for fingerstyle picking
I too play almost exclusively finger style, kept dropping pick in hole when I was a kid. IN THE MARKET for an nice inexpensive axe that's easy to bar & hold down a note quick & clean. I assume price escalates with model # any suggestions ?
I would go with the 114e (not ce), no cutaway that most people will never use. I prefer my guitar body to not be amputated. Also much prefer the Satin finish. I found a mint 314e for $450 on Facebook Marketplace 😮. It’s awesome.
Great video. We have both in my house - a 214ce and a 114 (noncutaway). I think the 114 is sweet.
This might be a stupid question, but what song is played at 2:50? It sounds so familiar, I just can't think of the name.
I'm wondering too - would be nice if someone could answer this,
I tried both of these at guitar center few weeks ago. The 214 feels better in the hands. The neck is smoother if you play with your palms against the neck. The fret board is smoother. It just feels like liquid in the lap. BUT the 114 just sounds downright better. The differences between the two in real life and in this video compare pretty well. Coming from someone who has tried both, you can trust the audio of this video.
Thanks for the video. Could you please make another video where all the knobs are in the same position for each guitar?
214 is just smoother and nicer to the ear. The 114 is bright and that doesnt help the cause on the higher strings. A bit sharp on the ear. 214 is perfect.
I ABed both these today. I preferred the feel on the 114. The deep end sound was better on the 214 but I still preferred the 114. It comes down to taste. I couldn't tell them apart by ear alone.
I like the 114CE especially the fingerpicking
I can only here a subtle difference between the two. They both sound great. If I had two pick one, I would pick the 114ce.
Exactly as you said. I love the bright mids of the 114ce, my next guitar.
I've always preferred darker, nylon-esque tones from steel string guitars. For that purpose, the 214 is closer to what I'm after. Regardless, both sound gorgeous.
In my opinion there is a HUGE difference. The 214 is just a fuller, richer sound. And I'm buying a 214 tomorrow. Yes!!!!!
In some very small ways I actually felt that the 214 sounded worse. It's an incredibly small difference. In some ways the 214 was superior, but there was almost this kind of slight trebly variation or lack thereof between them which could have just been a knob slightly turned up (or down) on one by a few percent.
Good job. I think that the sound difference is so minute that it does not matter. Playing style and mic placement were very controlled here, but the smallest variation in either would make more of a difference that the tone of the wood. The choice comes down to looks.
I prefer the 114 simply because I'm listening with a mix engineer's ear. I think having a more pronounced midrange and less low end is going to make it way easier to fit into a mix. I don't really care what the guitar sounds like by itself because I rarely intend to use it that way.
What is the song you play at 2:50 mark of video? Have heard other people use it and really enjoy it.
The higher strings in 214 blend better with the rest of the chord. In 114 they're just too loud
I think that’s mic placement.
I do notice a little more muted bass response in the 214ce.
When he was just playing open chords, I really liked the 114ce. I don't primarily play acoustic, I use it here and there to add something to songs, and to me, the 114ce has that sound I'm looking for when there's a rock song and I need the acoustic to provide a little accent.
114 sounds brighter so i think its more what you were looking for cuz its able to cut through the mix better
I went to Guitar Center the other day and a/b'ed both of these guitars back and forth. I wanted to like the 114ce more, or at least the same, but the 214ce was so much more rewarding to play. The 114ce was good, but lacked articulation and low end in comparison
I went to the Guitar Center today and tried them both. I agree with this comment. Seems like the mid is lacking in the 114 which would explain why some people hear the pronounced bass and treble. That's because the midrange is missing.
David Griffis Yes!
I started out on a Yamaha FG500S and its a Great starter guitar but it doesnt compare to a Taylor. I had $1000 budget & would have loved to save extra money but this line of Taylors sound so sweet. I returned my 114ce because the Finish didnt look or feel like it would last & planned on getting the 214ce but the 210ce blew the first two out of the park. I learned on a dreadnought so it feels right to me. I was really wanting the smaller body but you can fight what feels right.
I prefer the 114's tone, especially for the finger-picking. The 214 just sounded a bit too muddy to me.
Same
All gloss sounds muddy, satin/matte finish will always sound more open in any price range because the wood can breath, unlike full glossed body..
I agree
I feel the opposite. I guess I like mud.
Hello! Is there a difference in the comfort and hardness of the left hand for fingerpicking? Thanks a so much!
Its the 114 for me, its just so bright
Up front I have to say more crisp - clearer and sharper / brighter sound on 114ce compared to 214ce wich sounded more bassy, subdued and warmer! But hearing can appear different from person to person sometimes, but for me its no doubt in my soul, ears and mind I definitely do like 114ce more. In short it is better balanced from the sound you get from it!
214 sounds a tad warmer
I chose the 114CE over the 214. Much of my decision was due to my Martin D18 sounding so similar to the 214. I actually prefer the sound of the 114 for the more bluegrass style that I play these days. These are both incredible Taylor instruments and the prices are more than fair. Good luck everyone.
These two models are great to play in a live band on stage and mic'd up, but also in a home studio un mic'd yes the 114ce is brighter and punchy the 214ce had a more scoped mid range. Obviously it's a personal choice but for me bright and punchy for stage 114ce and I use the 214ce for studio recording and open mic. Something to take note is the Satin finish seems to pick up external contact noise such as my long sleeve shirt rubbing across the guitar body especially playing standing up and wobbling the hips like the Elvis jiggle. That sound was picked up in the recording suttle but it's there. This also happened on my Satin finished Maton so Taylor are not alone in this department.
Great comparison! Your commentary is spot on - the 114 is a bit more middy than the 214.... a little more "in your face".. and I like that :)
114 definitely sounds brighter/crispier and the tones are more distinct vs the 214, which is warmer and muddier in terms of it's sound.
The 214ce has a lower, more punchy tone, where as the 114ce has a brighter and lighter tone in my opinion. I don't let videos decide my purchase, but they do help me decide which I think sounds better.
Actually...the 114 has a better balance...IMO the 214 sounds a bit muddy due to the mushy bass. The 114 has better string to string separation and seems louder. But it could just be the example of the materials. You could play 3 or 4 of the same model and due to the top spruce wood choices there will be some that sound better than others. Every tree is different... fact of life!!
I actually just bought the 114e (No cutaway) and Tried both of them. The 214 was in person exactly as this video describes as having slightly more low end. I liked the brightness and matte finish of the 114 but theyre both amazing guitars
the riff that starts at 2:37 what song is that?
does anyone know the song he plays at 2:49?
The 114 sounds a little brighter but plugged in you can tweak them to your hearts desire..I just bought the little 114 to tide me over for three weeks until my Guild D50 gets back from from being worked on..to be honest I'm pretty attached to my El Cajon built Taylor Big Baby, but I thought I'd add an auditorium cutout with the ES electronics to see what the fuss was about without breaking the bank, plugged in it's impressive...not a bad guitar for the money..
Extremely helpful! Thanks so much!
I love the 114. I’m looking a 414, but $$$$
The Taylor 214ce has a smoother sound. If you are recording/performing It is definitely worth the extra $$$
Sound is so close, but I'd go with the 214ce just for the finish. The rosewood, gloss top, white binding, and headstock finish is easily work an extra $100...
My 214 ce is a satin finish all over. I never seen one with the gloss top, wish mine was. It is an 08 model
The 214ce DLX is gloss finish.
I prefer the 114ce coz the headstock stands out compared to the 214ce where it's almost as dark as the neck.
That 114 looks like it got an adirondack or lutz spruce top. It sounds brighter and bassier than the 214. Plus Taylor has the tendency to put adironack/lutz on even baby taylors. They just use whatever is available at that given moment.
I actually like the 114 better. Higher pitch tone with less mid.. it's punchy and produces such a sharp but clean sound. The way the notes harmonize seems more complex
214 sounds much better when strummed but the 114 seems to excel when finger picked so idk...I guess the 214 but I could get use to the 114 when strumming.
They both sound good, and their sound is super similar. So if you could get a deal on either, it would be a good buy.
My preference is the 114CE between what I heard here. The 114 seems to project a little louder, that may be the lack of finishing on the soundboard, and it also sounds more bright and present than the 214.
I don't think the price difference justifies the VERY slight sound difference. 114 = Winner
They also look slightly different. The binding, headstock, back and sides, and finish is different. Sometimes it's not always about the sound
Yeah, for sure Alex. I agree
Yep
I think for me the 214 has a more mellow fuller sound. Rings better with my voice. Different strokes for different folks tho. Can’t go wrong with a Taylor.
Sounds like someone is tone deaf lol 214
I noticed the 2017 Taylor 114ce now has a black pick guard. Do you know if there are any other changes made to this newest model?
these sound muffled to me, i don't know how to put it but they sound like you have a 1cm thick pillow covering them and there is just the middle hole that's not covered, i don't know what makes it like that but i definitely can hear it
the mids are like they are muted somehow like a 10 percent mute filter in them
I'd like to add electronics to a Taylor 114. I'd like to add 'onboard' pickups - I don't want just a soundhole pickup.
This is for my daughter so she can start to learn 'coffeeshop' type playing for a small audience.
For now, she'd be plugged into a Fender Frontman 25R.
Any recommendations?
I have yet to find a Taylor that I thought sounded and played better than any of my gibsons or Martins.
That's a well made comparison. The 214 sounds beautiful but also it sorta reminds me my yamaha a3r that I've sold to buy the 114. The a3r was screaming quality and finish perfection but it didn't have that crispiness and snappiness I wanted from an acoustic, in other way it was too well behaving ;)
The 114 all the way for me in this video but I guess it's all up to personal preferences, as other comments clearly indicate.
Thanks for the vid!
I think that it is definite that the 214ce has the best timbre of the two.
If you blind folded people and had them watch the video no-one would be able to tell which one was being played.
The 214 sounded like the 114 with about an hour more playing time on the strings.
Both are nice Taylors. I like that style of a smaller than a dreadnought. If you have the money, you go for the 214CE. If not, then the 114ce will suffice quite nicely. Thanks for the comparison.
the best video ever perfect job
Theres a slight more clarity in the 214 but honestly they're both very bright in my opinion, I wish taylor could get a more low ends coming through to balance it out more. Which is why, I stopped drooling over taylors and now martins. Don't get me wrong I love love taylors.
What are the names of the songs your are playing in the demonstration?
I have a 114ce It's an incredible guitar for the price, it's easily the best buy I've ever made. The difference between Rosewood and Sapele is obvious...The 114ce has a really really clear and loud mid-range...If you're a singer-songwriter, the 114ce will sing over your voice if you're not strumming lightly. That's why there's the 214ce for anyone who doesn't like that. If you're just playing guitar without singing, the 114ce sounds loads better in my opinion.
I actually liked both, but for me 114ce is much more crisp and bright.. I'd go with 114
Huge difference inside an auditorium. I have the Taylor 214ce Plus Grand auditorium and is the Best guitar ever!!! If you want to play at home with friend 114ce, but for a church or a small auditorium go with 214ce or Plus.
They both sound very good. I think I prefer the 214 CE. I did notice the volume and tone controls not being set the same for each comparison. I think perhaps they should have been set the same for a better comparison.
The pickup wasn't used in this comparison. Just one microphone, the same mic we use in all of our videos.