Taylor 514ce Gloss Natural 2011 Grand Auditorium Electro-Acoustic Guitar

This is a Taylor 514ce Grand Auditorium electro-acoustic guitar in Gloss Natural finish. Made in the USA in 2011, this guitar features an all-solid bolt-on construction comprising a Cedar top, Mahogany back & sides, Mahogany neck & 20 fret Ebony fingerboard with matching bridge. The body is double bound in Rosewood, matching the headstock veneer. A Micarta saddle is fitted, along with a Tusq nut & Gold Gotoh 510 sealed tuning machines- standard equipment for Taylor at the time. This guitar is equipped with Taylors ‘Expression System 1’ undersaddle piezo & on-board preamp, with shoulder mounted controls for master volume, treble & bass.

The Mahogany neck plays very well, with Taylor’s neck profile filling the hand for a substantial yet articulate playing experience across the register. The Ebony of the fretboard is pleasant under the fingers, and provides a playing surface which is smooth, durable & luxurious. The venetian cutaway really enhances access to the upper frets, opening up the full range of the instrument. The smooth lines of the Grand Auditorium body are as comfortable in the arms as ever, ensuring comfort in both standing & seated positions. The controls are conveniently placed on the shoulder for easy access without intruding on the playing experience.

The acoustic tone of the Taylor 514ce is rich, smooth & very nicely balanced. The Grand Auditorium body sits between the Grand Concert & Dreadnought designs, and in effect ‘cherry picks’ the best of both worlds - there is plenty of power & volume on offer when strumming, similar to a dreadnought, however some of the balance & intimacy of the Grand Concert design is retained, especially when playing fingerstyle. The Cedar top of this instrument projects very well, and produces plenty of volume. Taylor’s ES-1 undersaddle piezo pickup & preamp system faithfully conveys the acoustic voice of the instrument, completing a very versatile package.

Luthier Report

Our ID: 1020726221050

Weight: 4.25lbs

Serial: 1103031054

Aesthetic Condition:

Headstock: Overall excellent condition. The top edges demonstrate light indentation most notably towards the treble side front corner, piercing the finish slightly.

Neck: Overall excellent condition. The fingerboard demonstrates light playwear in the early register that is difficult to discern from the natural grain.

Body: Overall very good condition. A small indentation is present to the front face at the bass side lower bout, piercing the finish slightly. The rear face demonstrates a similar indentation on the treble side lower bout edge. Very light scratching is apparent throughout, visible only under direct lighting at certain angles.

Condition of Frets:

The frets demonstrate moderate signs of use, with indentation in the early register beneath the E & B strings, not affecting playability. There is moderate material remaining for future fret work.

Current Set Up:

Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (7mm socket) not included.

Hardware: Fully functional with light signs of wear.

Structural: No concerns or issues to note. Both rear corners of the bridge show signs of lifting. This is due to the way the top is finished prior to the bridge being fixed down, which can lead to poor adhesion of the glue at the corners. The bridge is stable and presents no structural concern.

Height of the string from the 12th Fret-2mm - Bass 2.5mm

Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.

Strings on Guitar - 11-52

There is considerable material remaining for future adjustments to the saddle.

Electrics:

Fully functional.

Case & Accessories:

Original Taylor hard case

The case demonstrates light signs of use. Taylor care & feeding guide included. Truss rod tool not included.