This is the demo video I was waiting for! It's been fun spending time with this guitar over the last few months and so excited for people to get it in their hands.
I like Cooper’s new revised guitar presentation with some basic chord sounds as well as his fantastic picking. It really shows what a shade tree picker as well as a professional could expect from the guitar.
The “striped” ebony is now a $200 up-charge on the Taylor custom worksheet… what was initially a conservation effort, has turned into a profit enhancing opportunity…
@@clementnade972 cynical of you to assume it wasn't. Bob has spend hundreds of thousands on projects he'll never see come to fruition because htey'll be decades after he's no longer alive.
Thanks guys your explanation of the features and benefits are the best and most complete anywhere, including taylor guitars themselves and Taylor's playing perfectly shows what can be accomplished. Because of your video I bought an 814ce builder's yesterday. I also got fantastic sound from my P.A. with it thanks to Chris's excellent es2 video.please keep them coming! I'd love to see content on action height and set up details including measurements, I had the action lowered as it was a bit high for me. Thanks again guys.
Great review, great guitar, and great demo! I have a AD12e Ebony and was surprised to learn it has an 8-piece back. It’s easy to spot the 8 pieces now that I know that. But it plays like a dream and sounds better every day, and after over two years, there hasn’t been a single issue with it. My point is, I’m pretty confident Taylor has this sort of technology nailed.
Someone needs to come out with a video comparing all of the X14ce models. Hearing the different woods back to back would be useful. Videos seem to exist from 5-8 years ago, but parts of the model line have been completely revamped since then.
The builders really should create an app and web based experience to show off the different tones of their instruments. I guess they just leave the tone demos up to the vendors. I in this age where putting hands on a specific make and model is very hard, the poor sound samples the better and that the builders need the retailers to keep doing demos but they should also be providing sound clips.
Nice! Yes, as long as the boards/planking is quartered. Makes it easier to select vertical grain orientation. Doesn't matter how many boards there are. Also there is the opportunity to place the more compliant wood on the bass side.
Beautiful! In all aspects. A 4 piece top wouldn’t scare me either as long, as Chris said, it was done correctly and done well. With the genius of Andy Powers behind it, I have no qualms about muti-piece tops from Taylor. My wallet, on the other hand, unfortunately does. For now 🙂. Thanks fir showcasing this for us. I hope someday I can add it to my small collection.
Round of applause again for Cooper's playing...wow! I don't really have a full appreciation for the sound of a Taylor, and while this is a beautiful instrument, I tend to prefer the different sound of a Martin. I would love to see comparison of this builder's edition with something close in a Martin to see if there really is a difference in what I perceive as a more full sound of a Martin to the Taylor.
I always appreciate Alamo’s reviews/demos… this is more of a general acoustic review comment. I wish more reviews and demo’s of acoustic guitars (and specifically Taylor’s) would include a plugged in sound. It seems like everyone is just mic-ing them up… that’s only half the story! Most of the time I am plugged in (Taylor’s are great gigging guitars).
I have the 814ce Deluxe the year before V class, still a great guitar! I compared the standard 814ce to the Deluxe due to price difference. Loved the comfort curve but notice a difference is sound between the two. After further research found that the deluxe had Adirondack Bracing, which I felt was the sound difference. I would be interesting if your videos discussed that as well as bringing that up when reviewing your new guitars. Especially comparisons between models, such as the new Taylor Builders addition. I have purchase once before from Alamo and take to heart what you two have to say. Thanks Kevin in Arizona
Wow! That is beautiful! I own several Taylor guitars including an 814ce that I picked up in 2019, V class bracing but no armrest. Sounds as beautiful as it looks.
Dang. I was waiting for this one. Bummed about the gloss and adirondack, was hoping for a satin and sitka.Seems nice though, I imagine this is the new DLX in a sense. I can def. imagine people preferring gloss for the protective factor, I just think the satin ones all sound so much better.
Wow. Sounds amazing. My 814ce is my go to guitar. It sounds great and the playability is better than any other. I think the Builders Edition sounds even better. If the 814ce wasn't being so heavily discounted on reverb, I'd sell mine and buy the builders edition.
I have one - everything you described is completely accurate. The Adirondack allows this baby to jump or pop when you want to. Great to play and way up the neck too…. Thanks!
looking forward to the side by side comparison, but cooper has to play both! i have the 2022 814 ce and sometimes i think i can see the seams and then other times not, great video today boys!
Does Chris just not do any demos anymore? I mean Cooper's good, but I liked hearing Chris play his chord demos. To be fair I'd like to hear both of them do different demos than what they always do, but still...I miss hearing Chris do demos too.
It seems to have definite different tones the other 814s I have heard and watching Cooper play his responses suggested something about it that he didn't expect.
thanks for this guys. Is there any word about how the guitar will age as a consequence of being a 4-piece top. I don’t doubt its gone through thorough sound tests to explore potentialities of fissures expanding but how do they test how the guitar will age over time? thanks again. I’m considering this one as well after I get my 517.
Is the top old growth Adirondack spruce? Some channels are saying that. I’m buying one today from my local shop in Washington state. Very excited. Thanks for the review
Outstanding piece, gents!!! Thank you for your continued excellence in education and presentation. I think this Taylor 4 piece top begs the question, is Taylor doing multiple, automated, laser-cut, vacuum-heated joins like Cort invested in???? The join is much stronger than the wood. I see the slanted Builder's Addition back bracing through the sound hole. I would humbly suggest that not enough detail was said about what makes a Taylor Builder's Addition a Taylor Builder's Addition. I listen to these things and ask, how does this stack up vs. a Tommy Sands or a Nigel Foster guitar?? I think Taylor et all should be approaching them, but sorry not sorry I don't experience that. I look forward to the day that bracings are not straight but serpentine. Love "n Light best & cheers, Sean
Lovely guitar and great demo as ever by Cooper but for the money Furch's Red Deluxe series with an alpine spruce top are my choice over the 800 and 900 series Nothing against Taylor at all , they make great guiitars and I'd certainly have no qualms over owning one of these beauties too, I am fortunate enough to own a particulalrly great one, already a GS custom shop Sinker Redowwd top, Amazonian Roswewood body and importantly, in my humble opinion CV bracng with relief not V I love the unque wood combination But unless I was looking for something vintage from a series if I was going to buy a new series guitar with a Spruce/ Rosewood combi at the moment I would choose the Furch over Taylor For me for overall sound and bang for your buck you can't beat Furch in this class
That is a top guitar and in the hands of a maestro it sounds magnificent as well. Fantastic review guys , I just wish there was an Alamo Music store here in the UK.
I cannot believe its 5 months or so since this video was made and I wanted it then and now I have just scratched my itch, it is fantastic so much better than I could have ever imagined, i was knocked out of the ball park , wow what a great instrument. Thanks again guys for this comprehensive review, just don't tell my wife, shhhh. all the best.
I'm not saying this guitar doesn't sound fantastic. It does. But after watching hundreds of these types of reviews, it's amazing how average some really expensive guitars sound to lesser offerings. I guess if a guitar is built well and sounds good, the price tag ultimately means nothing. Nice guitar, nice playing.
While I'm not speaking about this channel specifically, please keep in mind that guitars on the Internet only sound as good as the person who recorded and mixed the audio.
@@peterpulpitpounder I'm a pro audio engineer and also a cinematographer. Most people who shoot video know nothing about audio and on many channels the guitars don't get mixed.
04/10/2023: Nice looking guitar, and most important to me "No Bear Claws" in the wood grain that looked like cats used the guitar for a scratching toy. I bought the 414c and it was so ugly, I returned it. I also did not like Tailor's new "V" bracing. Looking at this video, it is nice to see straight tight grain on these guitars. Hmmmm, maybe I will try again and buy another Taylor, but only with "ladder" bracing or "X" bracing. Sorry, I just will not buy "V" bracing.
I agree, the V-bracing sounded unappealing to me. I ended up going for a Furch Yellow Master's Choice Gc-CR, incredible sounding guitar and relatively speaking, much better for what you get for the money! Certainly the guitar featured in this video is very beautiful!
Sounds great. Please review Yamaha new flagship Cannon. Same A top for more volume. Full dreadnaught size. Hand Made in Japan The FG9. Developed in both Japan and America. Lots of new tech.
I would prefer a 2 piece top after seeing videos of cracks from dry guitars that usually happens at the joint ends. I would rather fix 1 crack rather than potentially 3 if the guitar dries out. I understand the intention of conservation though, although I'm not sure if conservation methods should be used in higher end models like this. I would rather the standard 814CE.
Cracks are from people letting guitars get too dry, not because of how many pieces the top is. This model is only a few hundred more than the standard 814ce and they're showing that you can make a great high end guitar with a 4 piece top
Hmm... For $4000+ I would hope Andy Powers builds the "builders editions" by hand... I imagine, regardless as good as this looks, and it does look fantastic, but... I imagine it's still a product of Taylor's assembly line process, which produces very playable guitars but they are just missing something... I would say I've not found a "good one" but Taylor's are incredibly consistent. The K24ce I would buy, if it were about $4k less than it is :/ Does Taylor have a custom shop? I'd be curious to know the attention to detail differences between Taylor's standard line and their custom shop. I know with C.F. Martin it's quite a jump and that's saying something, because the standard series C.F. Martin's are fantastic guitars.... Not that Taylor's are bad guitars, just not quite to my taste for what I've played of them.
Yeah I’d be afraid that the top would start breaking into pieces overtime. Probably more susceptible to cracking, separation, especially in climates that change a lot with humidity and whatnot.
I'm sorry but I must agree with the overwhelming consensus here that there is no way you pay full price if the guitar is not a solid top.. I don't care what brand you are... and the $200 upcharge for the less desirable ebony is actually insulting to anyone's intelligence... it reminds me of how you get charged for recycling your garbage after it was initially touted as a "let's save the planet" movement ....it's crazy insane as these guitars are already OVERPRICED AS IS...I'm sorry, I'm getting off at the next stop🛑
I always watch your RUclips videos but Chris, you talktoo much, you did for 15 minutes before Cooper played the guitar. What goes on in your shop? I like to study an instrument , play it, then listen to/about specifications.Australians aren't that big on talking- we do then maybe talk.
I am selling all of taylors except for the builder's addition 324 urban ash. A dependable stage friendly instrument that requires minimal tuning. Ready to talk to mr. Bourgeois.
This is the demo video I was waiting for! It's been fun spending time with this guitar over the last few months and so excited for people to get it in their hands.
I like Cooper’s new revised guitar presentation with some basic chord sounds as well as his fantastic picking. It really shows what a shade tree picker as well as a professional could expect from the guitar.
That HINGED THUMB needs to GO!!!.😮🤔🤨
@@seamusbrowne4909 Whatever. When you play like Cooper, you can do what works.
@@lorigilmore5521 your entitled to your opinion, even if it is coloured by emotion.🤔🤔🤔
@@seamusbrowne4909 I would not complain if I could play that poorly, lol
@@johnwashburn3793 just STIFFEN that THUMB, don't COPY BAD HABITS. Use MARK KNOPHLER and NOT JOHN MARTYN as your reference point.😎😎😎
The “striped” ebony is now a $200 up-charge on the Taylor custom worksheet… what was initially a conservation effort, has turned into a profit enhancing opportunity…
Generous of you to assume it was even their intention to to conserve.
@@clementnade972 cynical of you to assume it wasn't. Bob has spend hundreds of thousands on projects he'll never see come to fruition because htey'll be decades after he's no longer alive.
@@clementnade972 I just like Guitars :D
Best guitarist on RUclips!
Humans are easy to program,. They can be reprogrammed but it’s not always easy.
Thanks guys your explanation of the features and benefits are the best and most complete anywhere, including taylor guitars themselves and Taylor's playing perfectly shows what can be accomplished. Because of your video I bought an 814ce builder's yesterday. I also got fantastic sound from my P.A. with it thanks to Chris's excellent es2 video.please keep them coming! I'd love to see content on action height and set up details including measurements, I had the action lowered as it was a bit high for me. Thanks again guys.
Great review, great guitar, and great demo! I have a AD12e Ebony and was surprised to learn it has an 8-piece back. It’s easy to spot the 8 pieces now that I know that. But it plays like a dream and sounds better every day, and after over two years, there hasn’t been a single issue with it. My point is, I’m pretty confident Taylor has this sort of technology nailed.
Someone needs to come out with a video comparing all of the X14ce models. Hearing the different woods back to back would be useful. Videos seem to exist from 5-8 years ago, but parts of the model line have been completely revamped since then.
The builders really should create an app and web based experience to show off the different tones of their instruments. I guess they just leave the tone demos up to the vendors. I in this age where putting hands on a specific make and model is very hard, the poor sound samples the better and that the builders need the retailers to keep doing demos but they should also be providing sound clips.
wow, excellent playing. beautiful sounding Taylor. I was sorta shocked and impressed that it had some growl. very impressed.
What a gorgeous Taylor. Bass, punch, air, clarity in ♠️ s. Another great review Alamo!
Nice!
Yes, as long as the boards/planking is quartered.
Makes it easier to select vertical grain orientation.
Doesn't matter how many boards there are.
Also there is the opportunity to place the more compliant wood on the bass side.
That demo playing was fantastic
Beautiful! In all aspects. A 4 piece top wouldn’t scare me either as long, as Chris said, it was done correctly and done well. With the genius of Andy Powers behind it, I have no qualms about muti-piece tops from Taylor. My wallet, on the other hand, unfortunately does. For now 🙂. Thanks fir showcasing this for us. I hope someday I can add it to my small collection.
Very good presentation on this instrument and what went into it. Thank you for that!
Round of applause again for Cooper's playing...wow! I don't really have a full appreciation for the sound of a Taylor, and while this is a beautiful instrument, I tend to prefer the different sound of a Martin. I would love to see comparison of this builder's edition with something close in a Martin to see if there really is a difference in what I perceive as a more full sound of a Martin to the Taylor.
When you opened the case I half-expected to see a golden glow like Pulp Fiction.
I agree 😁. They should edit that in as a follow up scene!
I always appreciate Alamo’s reviews/demos… this is more of a general acoustic review comment. I wish more reviews and demo’s of acoustic guitars (and specifically Taylor’s) would include a plugged in sound. It seems like everyone is just mic-ing them up… that’s only half the story! Most of the time I am plugged in (Taylor’s are great gigging guitars).
I have the 814ce Deluxe the year before V class, still a great guitar! I compared the standard 814ce to the Deluxe due to price difference. Loved the comfort curve but notice a difference is sound between the two. After further research found that the deluxe had Adirondack Bracing, which I felt was the sound difference. I would be interesting if your videos discussed that as well as bringing that up when reviewing your new guitars. Especially comparisons between models, such as the new Taylor Builders addition. I have purchase once before from Alamo and take to heart what you two have to say. Thanks Kevin in Arizona
Dude Cooper is such an underrated guitarist my god that guy can make a guitar dance!
Wow! That is beautiful! I own several Taylor guitars including an 814ce that I picked up in 2019, V class bracing but no armrest. Sounds as beautiful as it looks.
Dang. I was waiting for this one. Bummed about the gloss and adirondack, was hoping for a satin and sitka.Seems nice though, I imagine this is the new DLX in a sense. I can def. imagine people preferring gloss for the protective factor, I just think the satin ones all sound so much better.
Taylor has done it again! They found yet another way to raise the retail price of the 814ce. Impressive!
Funny because it's true. Not even real binding on a 5.500 dollar guitar :D
Wow. Sounds amazing. My 814ce is my go to guitar. It sounds great and the playability is better than any other. I think the Builders Edition sounds even better. If the 814ce wasn't being so heavily discounted on reverb, I'd sell mine and buy the builders edition.
I have one - everything you described is completely accurate. The Adirondack allows this baby to jump or pop when you want to. Great to play and way up the neck too…. Thanks!
Really nice playing dude.
looking forward to the side by side comparison, but cooper has to play both! i have the 2022 814 ce and sometimes i think i can see the seams and then other times not, great video today boys!
Damn Cooper, you make that thing sing! Beautiful guitar, I love mine
Man, boys, she is a stunner - aided by Cooper's precise & punchy playing. Add must be the special sauce 'cause it really pops.
Well watching cooper play like that was damn treat.
I could listen to this dude play this guitar all day.
Does Chris just not do any demos anymore? I mean Cooper's good, but I liked hearing Chris play his chord demos. To be fair I'd like to hear both of them do different demos than what they always do, but still...I miss hearing Chris do demos too.
It seems to have definite different tones the other 814s I have heard and watching Cooper play his responses suggested something about it that he didn't expect.
thanks for this guys. Is there any word about how the guitar will age as a consequence of being a 4-piece top. I don’t doubt its gone through thorough sound tests to explore potentialities of fissures expanding but how do they test how the guitar will age over time? thanks again. I’m considering this one as well after I get my 517.
Is the top old growth Adirondack spruce? Some channels are saying that. I’m buying one today from my local shop in Washington state. Very excited. Thanks for the review
Can you guys do a comparison between 814ce builders edition and the 814ce Alamo music exclusive?
“It’s definitely been probably in the works…”. 12:40
Outstanding piece, gents!!! Thank you for your continued excellence in education and presentation. I think this Taylor 4 piece top begs the question, is Taylor doing multiple, automated, laser-cut, vacuum-heated joins like Cort invested in???? The join is much stronger than the wood. I see the slanted Builder's Addition back bracing through the sound hole. I would humbly suggest that not enough detail was said about what makes a Taylor Builder's Addition a Taylor Builder's Addition.
I listen to these things and ask, how does this stack up vs. a Tommy Sands or a Nigel Foster guitar?? I think Taylor et all should be approaching them, but sorry not sorry I don't experience that. I look forward to the day that bracings are not straight but serpentine.
Love "n Light best & cheers,
Sean
I like the gloss finish! ...and the Satin!
Lovely guitar and great demo as ever by Cooper but for the money Furch's Red Deluxe series with an alpine spruce top are my choice over the 800 and 900 series Nothing against Taylor at all , they make great guiitars and I'd certainly have no qualms over owning one of these beauties too,
I am fortunate enough to own a particulalrly great one, already a GS custom shop Sinker Redowwd top, Amazonian Roswewood body and importantly, in my humble opinion CV bracng with relief not V I love the unque wood combination
But unless I was looking for something vintage from a series if I was going to buy a new series guitar with a Spruce/ Rosewood combi at the moment I would choose the Furch over Taylor For me for overall sound and bang for your buck you can't beat Furch in this class
Fantastic, in depth review.
That is a top guitar and in the hands of a maestro it sounds magnificent as well. Fantastic review guys , I just wish there was an Alamo Music store here in the UK.
You have Andertons. 😅
I cannot believe its 5 months or so since this video was made and I wanted it then and now I have just scratched my itch, it is fantastic so much better than I could have ever imagined, i was knocked out of the ball park , wow what a great instrument. Thanks again guys for this comprehensive review, just don't tell my wife, shhhh. all the best.
Great demo, Cooper, very Doobie Brothers sounding.
Thanks from italy Alamo the best demo guitar ❤❤❤
I'm not saying this guitar doesn't sound fantastic. It does. But after watching hundreds of these types of reviews, it's amazing how average some really expensive guitars sound to lesser offerings. I guess if a guitar is built well and sounds good, the price tag ultimately means nothing. Nice guitar, nice playing.
While I'm not speaking about this channel specifically, please keep in mind that guitars on the Internet only sound as good as the person who recorded and mixed the audio.
@@gabrielobrien21 That is so true. :)
@@peterpulpitpounder I'm a pro audio engineer and also a cinematographer. Most people who shoot video know nothing about audio and on many channels the guitars don't get mixed.
@@gabrielobrien21 Yes, that is true. In any case, that Bulder's Edition Taylor guitar does look and sound nice. :)
Well said.
04/10/2023: Nice looking guitar, and most important to me "No Bear Claws" in the wood grain that looked like cats used the guitar for a scratching toy. I bought the 414c and it was so ugly, I returned it. I also did not like Tailor's new "V" bracing. Looking at this video, it is nice to see straight tight grain on these guitars. Hmmmm, maybe I will try again and buy another Taylor, but only with "ladder" bracing or "X" bracing. Sorry, I just will not buy "V" bracing.
I agree, the V-bracing sounded unappealing to me. I ended up going for a Furch Yellow Master's Choice Gc-CR, incredible sounding guitar and relatively speaking, much better for what you get for the money! Certainly the guitar featured in this video is very beautiful!
I own this one, find the sound really what I call thingy
Beautifull guitar with a trashy pick up I wish they came with LR baggs or no pick up
Please compare this to Cooper’s custom Martin!
Why is the 814ce called the flagship Taylor when there is the more expensive and maybe better 914ce?
The Adirondack top is not asking for too much. What the hell does that mean?
Hi, what are the demo songs called? Thanks
What songs are played during the demo?
Beautiful guitar, almost as beautiful as Cooper’s playing.
Sounds great.
Please review Yamaha new flagship Cannon.
Same A top for more volume.
Full dreadnaught size.
Hand Made in Japan
The FG9.
Developed in both Japan and America.
Lots of new tech.
What material is the bevel made from?
Loving the rosewood pickguard, really not a fan of the plastic look of most of them..
I would prefer a 2 piece top after seeing videos of cracks from dry guitars that usually happens at the joint ends. I would rather fix 1 crack rather than potentially 3 if the guitar dries out. I understand the intention of conservation though, although I'm not sure if conservation methods should be used in higher end models like this. I would rather the standard 814CE.
Cracks are from people letting guitars get too dry, not because of how many pieces the top is. This model is only a few hundred more than the standard 814ce and they're showing that you can make a great high end guitar with a 4 piece top
Blacktop??
Came for the guitar, stayed for Cooper playing some sweet music
It sounded more open
Same trebleness
Don’t be surprised…. Sitka is disappearing too
Hmm... For $4000+ I would hope Andy Powers builds the "builders editions" by hand... I imagine, regardless as good as this looks, and it does look fantastic, but... I imagine it's still a product of Taylor's assembly line process, which produces very playable guitars but they are just missing something... I would say I've not found a "good one" but Taylor's are incredibly consistent. The K24ce I would buy, if it were about $4k less than it is :/ Does Taylor have a custom shop? I'd be curious to know the attention to detail differences between Taylor's standard line and their custom shop. I know with C.F. Martin it's quite a jump and that's saying something, because the standard series C.F. Martin's are fantastic guitars.... Not that Taylor's are bad guitars, just not quite to my taste for what I've played of them.
I'll be damned if I would pay $4,500.00 for a guitar with a 4 piece top.
Yeah I’d be afraid that the top would start breaking into pieces overtime. Probably more susceptible to cracking, separation, especially in climates that change a lot with humidity and whatnot.
I guess you need some education…
@@MervGinsberg-sc8kp I guess you need to understand quality guitar construction.
I'm sorry but I must agree with the overwhelming consensus here that there is no way you pay full price if the guitar is not a solid top.. I don't care what brand you are... and the $200 upcharge for the less desirable ebony is actually insulting to anyone's intelligence... it reminds me of how you get charged for recycling your garbage after it was initially touted as a "let's save the planet" movement ....it's crazy insane as these guitars are already OVERPRICED AS IS...I'm sorry, I'm getting off at the next stop🛑
Totally agree with you.👍
Us lefties get left out on the builder’s editions!
I always watch your RUclips videos but Chris, you talktoo much, you did for 15 minutes before Cooper played the guitar. What goes on in your shop? I like to study an instrument , play it, then listen to/about specifications.Australians aren't that big on talking- we do then maybe talk.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND TAYLOR GUITARS ...NO RESPECT FOR THE CUSTOMER!!!!!
Their numbering and identification system is hell.
taylor is master build acoustic guitars as so well and so nices
I am selling all of taylors except for the builder's addition 324 urban ash. A dependable stage friendly instrument that requires minimal tuning. Ready to talk to mr. Bourgeois.
I have a 2018 814 ce DLX what is different from mine to this one?How much does this guitar cost,I already own eight Taylor guitars I'm just curious.
Cooper made my day :) Guys.. thx a lot and have a nice week.
Rose wood, rose wood ,rose wood . I am tired of rose wood and sitka spruce. How about engelman and good mahogany.