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 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 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. :)
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!
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
To me the 114ce sounds just a tad darker over all, where the 214ce was a bit more resonant and crisp over all. Both sounded very good so I believe that the choices here would be one of what types of music you intend to play. I'm also wondering how each one would sound amped. (The "e" in the "ce"). The choice of amps and equalization can make a world of difference for any decent instrument.
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 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 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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
they really sound so much alike i actually closed my eyes this entire video and picked which one i thought sounded better and it was the 114ce. I am actually about to get a guitar and im stuck between the 114ce and the martin gpcpa5k, someone that has both guitars or one or the other please help me!
Rosewood always sounds better to me but I also prefer a dark tone. Most of what I play fits well with the mellow, dark rosewood sound. I don't hear it as muddy so much as dark.
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'm a proud owner of 114ce! I must say, I bought it with some resentment because I could not afford the higher models like 214ce and higher, but as I listen to more and more guitars (even Taylors), I am so glad that I went for 114ce. 1. It has a clear, bright textured sound that is so rare even in the best guitars. 2. Granted that its sound is not as warm as some of the better guitars (including 214ce), but it scores in clarity, where other warmer ones fail to match it. 3. Price!! No other guitar comes even close to 114ce in its price range. I think it is unfair to call it a beginner level guitar. I have played it in concerts and it sounds fantastic! Just so glad to own it!
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.
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 am very interested to buy a Taylor (have a low end Martin made in USA). I am surprised that the guitar is not played above 12th fret area at all in the demos. I would test any guitar around that area first to hear what it sounds. All average guitars sound good near the nut position. I live in India and prices here are all marked up and the guitar quality imported from abroad is a suspect.
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..
Do you use the same mic for all your videos? I am also interested in the Martin DCPA5K but I just want to make sure the sound test is fair so I can compare them.
Hi nice demo of both models.Are these models both considered small body acoustic guitars? They're the only types of acoustic models I can play. Iam looking to purchase a taylor soon.Thanks
Ok... nice review! But, my friend what about if you set the bass/middles/highs nobs the same way in both guitars? So we can listen the different when they are set equally. Just saying!
I played both of these guitars after watching this video. I liked the wat the 114 sounded in the video way better than the 214. But after playing each...I have to tell you. The 214 did not sound as muddy as it did in this video. Very balanced. The 114 sounded empty, action down the neck was bad and it wasn't as comfortable. Definitely going to start saving up for it as it is more pricey but much more worth it in MY opinion. So give each a play before you get one.
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.
Can't argue with either guitar; however, the 114's mids seemed a bit brighter, and I like that. Therefore, for me, the 114 is the one I would pick based off the video. That being said, I would like to play them side by side myself before making a final choice.
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.
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...
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!
Thanks so much for your review! I just bought a 114. LOVE the sound, and the articulation of each string!
I love the brightness of the 114CE, hence I got one! The 214CE sounds warmer and mellow, not bad at all, like all Taylors
Yall are awesome, bought my 114ce after I watched the review!
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 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 the helpful comparison!
That was exactly what I was looking for :)
Thank you for a very good comparison of these two guitars; very helpful insight.
Just got a 114ce today love it! Great sounding acoustic and feel
214CE sounds feel so good...
Getting the 114e tomorrow So nice and bright. Fills rooms
how was it after 5yrs
How is it after 8 years?
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
Exactly as you said. I love the bright mids of the 114ce, my next guitar.
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.
Extremely helpful! Thanks so much!
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. :)
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
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 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.
difference is very small
114ce sounds a little "brighter"
For me 114ce sounds better
I agree. 114E has brighter sound
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Love my 114ce, sounds great, even for a "bottom" line Taylor at $850
I'm from the future and it's 1k now 😢
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.
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
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.
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.
In my opinion there is a HUGE difference. The 214 is just a fuller, richer sound. And I'm buying a 214 tomorrow. Yes!!!!!
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!
the best video ever perfect job
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!
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
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.
To me the 114ce sounds just a tad darker over all, where the 214ce was a bit more resonant and crisp over all. Both sounded very good so I believe that the choices here would be one of what types of music you intend to play. I'm also wondering how each one would sound amped. (The "e" in the "ce"). The choice of amps and equalization can make a world of difference for any decent instrument.
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 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.
Great video. We have both in my house - a 214ce and a 114 (noncutaway). I think the 114 is sweet.
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. :(
What are the names of the songs your are playing in the demonstration?
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 :)
Thanks Chad i'm leaning toward the 114c. I also own an Ibanez acoustic.
214 sounds a tad warmer
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.
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.
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.
I like the 114CE especially the fingerpicking
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
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.
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.
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 actually liked both, but for me 114ce is much more crisp and bright.. I'd go with 114
This was a great video - thanks man. To me the 214 sounds flatter compared to the 114 which seems to have a boost in the mid range
Look at the tone knobs :)
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!
Its the 114 for me, its just so bright
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 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 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?
I think I prefer the forward mids of the 114, just a really articulate sound. I own a 114 by the way, so that was my choice.
Dammit, I like em both
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.
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.
does anyone know the song he plays at 2:49?
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.
114 rings brighter?
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.
they really sound so much alike i actually closed my eyes this entire video and picked which one i thought sounded better and it was the 114ce. I am actually about to get a guitar and im stuck between the 114ce and the martin gpcpa5k, someone that has both guitars or one or the other please help me!
Rosewood always sounds better to me but I also prefer a dark tone. Most of what I play fits well with the mellow, dark rosewood sound. I don't hear it as muddy so much as dark.
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'm a proud owner of 114ce! I must say, I bought it with some resentment because I could not afford the higher models like 214ce and higher, but as I listen to more and more guitars (even Taylors), I am so glad that I went for 114ce. 1. It has a clear, bright textured sound that is so rare even in the best guitars. 2. Granted that its sound is not as warm as some of the better guitars (including 214ce), but it scores in clarity, where other warmer ones fail to match it. 3. Price!! No other guitar comes even close to 114ce in its price range. I think it is unfair to call it a beginner level guitar. I have played it in concerts and it sounds fantastic! Just so glad to own it!
Another proud 114ce owner and I agree 100%. I find the 114 sounds better than the higher models
Can you compare these taylors versus the new fender paramount series pm-3 triple 0? Has Fender stepped up their acoustic guitar line finally?
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 higher strings in 214 blend better with the rest of the chord. In 114 they're just too loud
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.
Suprised how big the difference actually was :O i would go with the 214 \m/
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 do notice a little more muted bass response in the 214ce.
I am very interested to buy a Taylor (have a low end Martin made in USA). I am surprised that the guitar is not played above 12th fret area at all in the demos. I would test any guitar around that area first to hear what it sounds. All average guitars sound good near the nut position. I live in India and prices here are all marked up and the guitar quality imported from abroad is a suspect.
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..
have both guitars same preamplification?
Do you use the same mic for all your videos? I am also interested in the Martin DCPA5K but I just want to make sure the sound test is fair so I can compare them.
Hi nice demo of both models.Are these models both considered small body acoustic guitars? They're the only types of acoustic models I can play. Iam looking to purchase a taylor soon.Thanks
I would consider these both medium body guitars.... -Chad
Ok... nice review! But, my friend what about if you set the bass/middles/highs nobs the same way in both guitars? So we can listen the different when they are set equally. Just saying!
What's that song at 2:16?! It's so good o.o
I played both of these guitars after watching this video. I liked the wat the 114 sounded in the video way better than the 214. But after playing each...I have to tell you. The 214 did not sound as muddy as it did in this video. Very balanced. The 114 sounded empty, action down the neck was bad and it wasn't as comfortable. Definitely going to start saving up for it as it is more pricey but much more worth it in MY opinion. So give each a play before you get one.
What is the song you play at 2:50 mark of video? Have heard other people use it and really enjoy it.
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.
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.
214 seems slightly warmer playing chords, but I like the finger picking/individual note sounds of the 114 better.
214ce all the way! :D thanks for finally making this video but I'm not sure if I can get it now because its to late :(
214 for me.... notes clear much smoother and deeper
Can't argue with either guitar; however, the 114's mids seemed a bit brighter, and I like that. Therefore, for me, the 114 is the one I would pick based off the video. That being said, I would like to play them side by side myself before making a final choice.
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.
Which one should you choose if you could get them at the same price?
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...
The 114 definitely sounds brighter and much more rich