Oh, this one is absolutely gorgeous, and above all, thanks to its Adirondack spruce top, this new Next Generation 814ce Builder’s Edition has volume and dynamics to spare!! Taylor has introduced its 814ce acoustic electric guitar into the prestigious Builder’s Edition collection. Boldly promising an “unmatched playing experience,” the latest incarnation of the 814ce, the Next Generation, remains a standard 814ce at heart, but comes with a number of sumptuous upgrades, including refined aesthetic and ergonomic improvements.

For those unfamiliar with it, Taylor’s Builder’s Edition range focuses on ultra premium feel and sound, benefiting from the brand’s “finest craftsmanship” with the goal of delivering “a new step forward in acoustic guitar comfort, playability, and tone.” In terms of construction, the 814ce Builder’s Edition retains Indian rosewood back and sides, but replaces the solid Sitka spruce top with a four piece Adirondack spruce alternative. According to Taylor, this design “acknowledges the changing availability of acoustic tonewoods” while balancing the need for exceptional sound and a more conscious use of available materials. The result, according to the brand, is “a high quality soundboard that delivers the sonic benefits of Adirondack spruce, including increased complexity and greater volume headroom, along with visually pleasing grain symmetry.”

The Next Generation series features Taylor’s new Action Control Neck system, with a deeper neck joint and greatly improved adjustment accessibility, allowing action adjustments through neck angle changes whenever needed, with an incredibly fast and simple setup process. But that is not all. These instruments are also equipped with the new ultra compact and discreet Taylor Claria pickup system, and the result is genuinely impressive while remaining faithful to the guitar’s natural voice. This piezo system mounted under the bridge, with volume, mid control, and tone controls integrated into a small unit inside the soundhole, delivers exceptional tone and remarkably intuitive controls.

The body once again features a beveled upper bout contour for comfortable upper fret access, but the Builder’s Edition goes even further by incorporating a similarly beveled cutaway contour, making access to the highest frets even easier. These ergonomic and aesthetic refinements continue with a subtly modified body taper and slight differences in the gloss finish. Interestingly, this is the only Builder’s Edition model to feature a full gloss finish, specifically chosen to highlight the body contours.

A Kona Edgeburst finish appears on the back and sides, while modified V Class bracing further distinguishes this model from its standard counterpart. Moving up the neck, Taylor pairs a neo tropical mahogany neck with a West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard, the same combination found on the standard model, but replaces the traditional Taylor neck joint with a Scarf joint alternative.

Additional hardware upgrades can also be found, notably in the form of Antique Gold Gotoh 510 tuners and an exclusive Builder’s Edition Curve Wing bridge design.