I have a 214ce that is 11 years old. Still sounds great and have had zero problems with it. Because it’s HPL Rosewood I have little worries about playing Farmers Markets with it when it’s pretty hot and humid. I have my eyes on another Taylor soon.
I just made this decision today. I chose the 214ce-k over the 214ce dlx. The 214ce-k was Koa and the 214ce dlx was rosewood. Rosewood with the gloss finish made it more bassy with an emphasis in the midrange and and the Koa was brighter with still good bass response. Other than that, they were very close in sound. The difference was mostly in the appearance which didn't mean too much to me. The 214ce dlx was also $300 more. So while they looked different, I couldn't hear $300 worth of difference and that's what matters most to me. Either way, this is a can't go a wrong choice.
Actually, according to Taylor's website, they all have Layered Indian Rosewood (layered with Poplar) for back and side and Sitka Spruce for the top. The only tonal difference between the three is that the 214ce has forward shifted bracing instead of X bracing. So 214ce Plus and 214 DLX sound exactly the same and might sound minutely more resonate in response, intonation, and sustain than the 214ce.
I’d say the only difference between the Plus and DLX is that the DLX has a singier high end and a bit less low end. Also think these tars are decently unique in that you can pick up a few of the same model and get slightly different tones all within that spruce Taylor range. The main difference is the aesthetics and feel when playing rather than sound which clearly goes to the DLX but the tones could be argued for either of the three. I’m happy with the changes they’ve made.
All three guitars share the same tonewoods and measurement specs which means that they all should sound the same. I believe that tonal variances in these models may be due to tuners, satin vrs gloss finish. But, if there is any difference, it will depend on one's ear and will be very subtle except for possible differences in the age of the tonewood which would be specific to each guitar. The differences of these models are in the extra bling.. The standard model comes with a gig bag. I have had a taylor with a gig bag and find that it is very hard to keep properly humidified during the winter months where I live. The plus model had the advanced tuners, the gloss finish , and the aero case which to me, is worth the extra money as I have a similar type of hard gig bag and it really does keep the humidity in the 45-55% range without as much effort. The taylor guitar that I had with the regular gig bag ended up needing to be repaired due to humidification issues which I didn't have with the hard cases on my other taylors.. The deluxe model takes the plus guitar to a higher level with enhanced fret inlays, gold tuners and the hard case. The choice will depend on how much bling you want. I have the 224-k dlx. I wanted a koa guitar that looked like a more expensive guitar without paying the $5000 price tag so the extra bling was worth it to me. My only regret is that it came with the hard case rather than the new aero case. I prefer the lightness of the structured gig bag which still has the rigidity to keep my guitar safe and humidified
I chose to buy the 214 ce Plus because its sound is more balanced, it does not sound as sharp as the other two with that metallic finish. I am really happy with my choice.
I've been wanting to invest in a quality guitar, and I think I am going with the Taylor 214ce. Nice demo. By the way, I recognize the song you are playing. It's Last Train to Clarksville by the Monkees. Love it. :)
I watched yesterday's live on Instagram where Blaise was teaching Paul some licks on guitar! It's good to see him practice and give guitar a go even though he is a drummer. It really is never too late to learn how to play a new instrument! 😁 Keep on rocking, Quinton and Paul 🤟 Much ❤️ from 🇮🇹
First, thank you so much for this great content!! I'm currently saving up for the next addition for my guitar family. It's been between the plus and the deluxe. I went on Taylor site and did the comparison and these are the only differences out of all the specs between the plus and deluxe. I thought some folks might find this information helpful. 214 CE Plus/214 CE Deluxe Price $1,199/$1,399 Tuners and Buttons Taylor Nickel/Taylor Polished Bronze Case Aerocase/Taylor Hardshell Brown Binding and Heel Cap Binding Black/White Those are the only differences! After doing that I realized the plus is 100% the one I'm going to get because the Aerocase case is a more meaningful "plus" over the aesthetic differences which are minimal. The only thing I wish is that the plus came in a Sunburst but I guess you've got to give somewhere.
Listened in a loop using reference headphones, and there's definitely a difference between the three models. In comparison, the DLX had the most harmonic ring and a lighter bottom-end similar to the CE. The CE had better clarity than the PLUS, but noticed the guitarist working the CE harder to get a bigger bottom which came for free with the PLUS. The CE midrange with the PLUS bottom would be a nice combination. From a budget recording perspective, it's difficult to cleanly enhance the low-end, and difficult to filter ringing, so I'm inclined to go with the PLUS. Not interested in paying for the PLUS case that includes a roll-bar, but I guess it doesn't hurt to have.
Great comparison. Thanks. All 3 sound virtually identical to me (actually if I listen with my eyes close I can't hear any difference at all, even using JBL monitors). Therefore I think the choice between the various models comes down to: How important is a gloss finish? And how much do you want to spend for the supplied case? I'd look for the best sounding "standard", and purchase a good aftermarket hard case, only if was doing a lot of gigs on the road. The standard Taylor gig bag works fine for the local gigs I do.
@@x-cluster Spend your money on the one your ears like the most. The wide variety of individual preferences/tastes is why Taylor offers so many different guitars to choose from. Personally I'm not of fan of the voice of any x14 body style Taylors. I much prefer the tone of x10 dreadnought body guitars. My personal favorite is the 1999 410ce I purchased new followed by a 2016 GS-Mini-E-RW.
I work at a major music box retailer and I basically get anything at cost. I’m now in the market for a really good acoustic and this is the one I’ve been playing a lot at work when I get the chance. The sound is huge yet crisp. I’m definitely on the fence but this may be it.
Splitting hairs they all sound the identical. I have a 214ceK gloss top, satin flame Koa laminated back & a nice gig bag - $650 used & mint. I’m good😉!
I own a, no longer in production, Taylor 214 DLX. Thanks for profiling all three, in production, 214's. The bass tone on my DLX was closest to the Plus...good to confirm the consistent quality of Taylor guitars.
I own a 214ce CF dlx and at the store I played other variation of the 214 and 114 and the coppafera was the one that sounded the best to me... good bass and a lush tone. When I was going back and forth between the CF and the others i was finding the other models harsher sounding. At the time they had no resowood 214 (If i recall correctly it was walnut)... there was another guy at the store who was just drooling on the DLX koa and it sounded really good in his hands (amazing finguerpicker) but it was not for me.
Im looking at a 214 ce dlx or a martin 000-15m, cant decide at the minute, all advice welcome . I know they're quite different and I've been between the two for a while now
nice playing man sound like a rock a billy like a johnny cash type kind of like mexican regional strumming i want the 214sce plus one probably after i buy my 12 string i will upgrade my 6 string guitar to a nice Taylor
No. The plus has a gloss finish, black binding and quicker tuners. The 214ce has a satin finish, white binding and standard tuners. The difference is more than aero case vs gig bag.
Funny You say that because I have some decent quality Bluetooth headphones connected to my phone. I then flipped my phone over right before they they started playing and I told myself that I would flip it back over when I heard something I liked or something that sounded different. Essentially I tried to simulate a blind listening test. I did not hear any differences whatsoever. Could be just me but that was my experience
I wish they would stop changing this lineup. The 2019 214ce with the koa back and sides with the gloss top and softshell case is much better than what they just made.
I bought my very first taylor guitar, which was the 214ce-CF deluxe. I sold it as it did not have enough volume and sounds harsh when being strummed. I got a good deal on a brand new 414ce-R and bought it. Sadly, it became the worst guitar I have had. It has thin, lot of treble and harsh tone. I sold it again and bought a 214ce Plus. I really like the tone of it as it has more bass and warm. However, the higher E string keep on slipping off the fret when I play it. I took it to a luthier and he said that the end of the frets have been shimmed aggressively leaving no enough space for the higher E string to rest on. I brought it back to the shop and replaced it with a 214ce deluxe rosewood. Hope this will be my last purchase.
I bought a 214CE and found while I liked the guitar, it had a faulty B string sound..(open string sound Im talking about - fretted was fine ) .It went to the luthier who could see/ hear the problem, but could not solve it. The sound of the string went "dung" for the want of a better word, it would not ring true. I have since returned the guitar and had another 2 x of the same model to choose from - one was worse, one was slightly better - and I have taken that one home but playing it, it still has the same "dungy" sounding B string. So, Im thinking is this a common fault with this model ? Anyone else have the same issue ? I have reached a point where I am returning the guitar for a 314CE which I find does not exhibit the fault. Shame really, I liked the first 214 I had, a Koa model but a bad sounding B string just doesnt cut it for a guitar sold for $2000 here in NZ
I cant hear a huge difference to justify the extra price. If you're a professional then sure go for the top of the line, but I doubt you're buying this series of taylor if you're in the market for top of the line.
I have a 100 dollar mitchell that is funner to play and sounds better so..... I have this guitar too... Action is fn high I paid 70 for a set up and it's still exhausting to play
That cleared up my questions about the 214 models. Definitely going with the plus. Thank you so much for this review!
I have a 214ce that is 11 years old. Still sounds great and have had zero problems with it. Because it’s HPL Rosewood I have little worries about playing Farmers Markets with it when it’s pretty hot and humid. I have my eyes on another Taylor soon.
Playing Starts around @4:30 if you don't want to hear all the specs necessarily
Have a 214ce and just picked up a 214ce Deluxe a few hours ago. The Deluxe does sound warmer. Its a stellar looking guitar too. It’s awesome.
I just made this decision today. I chose the 214ce-k over the 214ce dlx. The 214ce-k was Koa and the 214ce dlx was rosewood. Rosewood with the gloss finish made it more bassy with an emphasis in the midrange and and the Koa was brighter with still good bass response. Other than that, they were very close in sound.
The difference was mostly in the appearance which didn't mean too much to me. The 214ce dlx was also $300 more. So while they looked different, I couldn't hear $300 worth of difference and that's what matters most to me.
Either way, this is a can't go a wrong choice.
I think the 300 was in the case? Maybe.
Actually, according to Taylor's website, they all have Layered Indian Rosewood (layered with Poplar) for back and side and Sitka Spruce for the top. The only tonal difference between the three is that the 214ce has forward shifted bracing instead of X bracing. So 214ce Plus and 214 DLX sound exactly the same and might sound minutely more resonate in response, intonation, and sustain than the 214ce.
I’d say the only difference between the Plus and DLX is that the DLX has a singier high end and a bit less low end. Also think these tars are decently unique in that you can pick up a few of the same model and get slightly different tones all within that spruce Taylor range. The main difference is the aesthetics and feel when playing rather than sound which clearly goes to the DLX but the tones could be argued for either of the three. I’m happy with the changes they’ve made.
Did the video say that they weren't all rosewood??
All three guitars share the same tonewoods and measurement specs which means that they all should sound the same. I believe that tonal variances in these models may be due to tuners, satin vrs gloss finish. But, if there is any difference, it will depend on one's ear and will be very subtle except for possible differences in the age of the tonewood which would be specific to each guitar. The differences of these models are in the extra bling.. The standard model comes with a gig bag. I have had a taylor with a gig bag and find that it is very hard to keep properly humidified during the winter months where I live. The plus model had the advanced tuners, the gloss finish , and the aero case which to me, is worth the extra money as I have a similar type of hard gig bag and it really does keep the humidity in the 45-55% range without as much effort. The taylor guitar that I had with the regular gig bag ended up needing to be repaired due to humidification issues which I didn't have with the hard cases on my other taylors.. The deluxe model takes the plus guitar to a higher level with enhanced fret inlays, gold tuners and the hard case. The choice will depend on how much bling you want. I have the 224-k dlx. I wanted a koa guitar that looked like a more expensive guitar without paying the $5000 price tag so the extra bling was worth it to me. My only regret is that it came with the hard case rather than the new aero case. I prefer the lightness of the structured gig bag which still has the rigidity to keep my guitar safe and humidified
Great Demo , I just ordered the Taylor 214 CE Quilted Sapele DLX .
I chose to buy the 214 ce Plus because its sound is more balanced, it does not sound as sharp as the other two with that metallic finish. I am really happy with my choice.
I've been wanting to invest in a quality guitar, and I think I am going with the Taylor 214ce. Nice demo. By the way, I recognize the song you are playing. It's Last Train to Clarksville by the Monkees. Love it. :)
I like the sound of the 214ce, the 214ceDLX, and then the 214ce Plus, in that order.
I watched yesterday's live on Instagram where Blaise was teaching Paul some licks on guitar! It's good to see him practice and give guitar a go even though he is a drummer. It really is never too late to learn how to play a new instrument! 😁 Keep on rocking, Quinton and Paul 🤟
Much ❤️ from 🇮🇹
First, thank you so much for this great content!!
I'm currently saving up for the next addition for my guitar family. It's been between the plus and the deluxe.
I went on Taylor site and did the comparison and these are the only differences out of all the specs between the plus and deluxe. I thought some folks might find this information helpful.
214 CE Plus/214 CE Deluxe
Price
$1,199/$1,399
Tuners and Buttons
Taylor Nickel/Taylor Polished Bronze
Case
Aerocase/Taylor Hardshell Brown
Binding and Heel Cap Binding
Black/White
Those are the only differences!
After doing that I realized the plus is 100% the one I'm going to get because the Aerocase case is a more meaningful "plus" over the aesthetic differences which are minimal.
The only thing I wish is that the plus came in a Sunburst but I guess you've got to give somewhere.
Listened in a loop using reference headphones, and there's definitely a difference between the three models. In comparison, the DLX had the most harmonic ring and a lighter bottom-end similar to the CE. The CE had better clarity than the PLUS, but noticed the guitarist working the CE harder to get a bigger bottom which came for free with the PLUS. The CE midrange with the PLUS bottom would be a nice combination. From a budget recording perspective, it's difficult to cleanly enhance the low-end, and difficult to filter ringing, so I'm inclined to go with the PLUS. Not interested in paying for the PLUS case that includes a roll-bar, but I guess it doesn't hurt to have.
DLX. Thanks for comparison!
Great comparison. Thanks. All 3 sound virtually identical to me (actually if I listen with my eyes close I can't hear any difference at all, even using JBL monitors). Therefore I think the choice between the various models comes down to: How important is a gloss finish? And how much do you want to spend for the supplied case?
I'd look for the best sounding "standard", and purchase a good aftermarket hard case, only if was doing a lot of gigs on the road. The standard Taylor gig bag works fine for the local gigs I do.
Come on, I hear the difference even on my phone. The plus is more balanced when strumming, the highs were not so dominant. The dlx sounds worst to me
@@x-cluster Spend your money on the one your ears like the most. The wide variety of individual preferences/tastes is why Taylor offers so many different guitars to choose from. Personally I'm not of fan of the voice of any x14 body style Taylors. I much prefer the tone of x10 dreadnought body guitars. My personal favorite is the 1999 410ce I purchased new followed by a 2016 GS-Mini-E-RW.
@@dgreysun1631 meanwhile I've had some Taylor guitars at home and the sound didn't vibe with me. I like the warmer sound of Martin guitars much more.
These guitars changed again?
Definitely the satin finish 214ce . That is the best deal. Same guitar just lower cost
I work at a major music box retailer and I basically get anything at cost. I’m now in the market for a really good acoustic and this is the one I’ve been playing a lot at work when I get the chance. The sound is huge yet crisp. I’m definitely on the fence but this may be it.
Splitting hairs they all sound the identical. I have a 214ceK gloss top, satin flame Koa laminated back & a nice gig bag - $650 used & mint. I’m good😉!
I own a, no longer in production, Taylor 214 DLX. Thanks for profiling all three, in production, 214's. The bass tone on my DLX was closest to the Plus...good to confirm the consistent quality of Taylor guitars.
I own a 214ce CF dlx and at the store I played other variation of the 214 and 114 and the coppafera was the one that sounded the best to me... good bass and a lush tone. When I was going back and forth between the CF and the others i was finding the other models harsher sounding. At the time they had no resowood 214 (If i recall correctly it was walnut)... there was another guy at the store who was just drooling on the DLX koa and it sounded really good in his hands (amazing finguerpicker) but it was not for me.
I just don’t got it either but enjoy trying, and I enjoy your videos!
Which one did Quinton like the most?
Im looking at a 214 ce dlx or a martin 000-15m, cant decide at the minute, all advice welcome . I know they're quite different and I've been between the two for a while now
000-15 for sure
Did you get one? ch ro
I perfer the 214ce sound to more expensive ones
Venetian cutaways are rounded, Florentine cutaways are sharp.
nice playing man sound like a rock a billy like a johnny cash type kind of like mexican regional strumming i want the 214sce plus one probably after i buy my 12 string i will upgrade my 6 string guitar to a nice Taylor
Gibson G45 or Taylor 214ce?
Is the plus and the standard 214 the same guitar just the plus they are charging you for a case? Thanks
No. The plus has a gloss finish, black binding and quicker tuners. The 214ce has a satin finish, white binding and standard tuners. The difference is more than aero case vs gig bag.
@@psrando That gloss finish isn't on the neck, is it?
@@Gutslinger No. The neck is satin.
The bracing is different.
I really dig the sound of the plus.
Funny You say that because I have some decent quality Bluetooth headphones connected to my phone. I then flipped my phone over right before they they started playing and I told myself that I would flip it back over when I heard something I liked or something that sounded different. Essentially I tried to simulate a blind listening test. I did not hear any differences whatsoever. Could be just me but that was my experience
I wish they would stop changing this lineup. The 2019 214ce with the koa back and sides with the gloss top and softshell case is much better than what they just made.
Yeah, I would hope so. The Koa cost more.
What is the price for each guitar?
guys...we can't understand what you're saying when you both talk at the same time....
So annoying
Thanks for compare, can compare 214ce plus with 224 deluxe?
214ce plus the Best.
Thanks a lot for this video; For me, more bass tone in plus.
To be truthful, never new when you changed guitars
All sound the same
wonderful, thank you
I bought my very first taylor guitar, which was the 214ce-CF deluxe. I sold it as it did not have enough volume and sounds harsh when being strummed. I got a good deal on a brand new 414ce-R and bought it. Sadly, it became the worst guitar I have had. It has thin, lot of treble and harsh tone. I sold it again and bought a 214ce Plus. I really like the tone of it as it has more bass and warm. However, the higher E string keep on slipping off the fret when I play it. I took it to a luthier and he said that the end of the frets have been shimmed aggressively leaving no enough space for the higher E string to rest on. I brought it back to the shop and replaced it with a 214ce deluxe rosewood. Hope this will be my last purchase.
I bought a 214CE and found while I liked the guitar, it had a faulty B
string sound..(open string sound Im talking about - fretted was fine )
.It went to the luthier who could see/ hear the problem, but could not
solve it. The sound of the string went "dung" for the want of a better
word, it would not ring true. I have since returned the guitar and had
another 2 x of the same model to choose from - one was worse, one was
slightly better - and I have taken that one home but playing it, it
still has the same "dungy" sounding B string. So, Im thinking is this a
common fault with this model ? Anyone else have the same issue ? I have
reached a point where I am returning the guitar for a 314CE which I
find does not exhibit the fault. Shame really, I liked the first 214 I
had, a Koa model but a bad sounding B string just doesnt cut it for a
guitar sold for $2000 here in NZ
Intonation. Could have been fixed.
I've had the exact same issues with many Taylors, they all went back
The plus is warmer , more bass tone. The DLX sounds the worst in my opinion, sounds boxy to much mid and high end , not in a good way either
Steven Delopoulos
You can change from Elixir phosphor bronze(brighter sound) to polyweb coating 80/20 bronze(warmer tone)
ce 👍
the 214CE sound a bit more brighter to me
The plus both looks and sounds big
Voting for plus!
4:31 - 4:51 - 5:10
It's the cold weather Paul, it's the cold weather :-)
The guy on the right looks like John Cusak
I cant hear a huge difference to justify the extra price. If you're a professional then sure go for the top of the line, but I doubt you're buying this series of taylor if you're in the market for top of the line.
Yeah man I gotta say the standard 214ce sounds the best to me. Guess you can’t beat the OG.
the Plus+1
Regular 214ce for me. The Plus sounds too warm, and the DLX sounds kinda dead. The regular one has the best overall EQ to my ears.
You can hear the 214 plus is new, its sound is not open as the two others yet.
Quinton just squeezes tone out of any guitar he picks up.
I have a 100 dollar mitchell that is funner to play and sounds better so..... I have this guitar too... Action is fn high I paid 70 for a set up and it's still exhausting to play
#appropriatephonecalls
5:11 4:31
please, no plywood guitars...