To my ear, I actually prefer the 614 to the 814. The work Andy Powers did with the maple 600 series, is outstanding. Never was a big Taylor fan, but this is turning me around.
***** i agree almost completely. The bass response, to my ear, has definitely improved. In some aspects i still like the rosewood like when he did the drop d flatpick lick. I found that the maple was a little more vibrant for a lot of the other licks. Im usually a huge fan of rosewood and not a huge fan of maple or Taylor (in a Martin guy.) But this may change my mind!!!
Maple acoustics are the best. I'm not entirely sure what I think of the 614ce to be completely honest, although I haven't played one in a while. Some of the demos I've heard sound absolutely awful, and others sound decent. Even clips in this demo are mixed. I'll make an effort to play one the next time I make it to area Taylor store.
Thanks for the very effective comparison. Switching guitars mid-song really demonstrates the differences. The 614ce is brighter for sure. Thanks again.
When you hear them side by side you realise what a great job Andy has done. As misha1d1 said, I would take either. And I'm not a fan of maple, or I wasn't till Andy worked his magic recently on these guitars. I did prefer the Rosewood back and sides but it was very, very close and I'm sure if I was asked which was which in a blind test I wouldn't be able to tell. Thanks for this comparison Tony!
I listened without watching and I simply had no idea which was which. Since I have Rosewood and Mahogany guitars, I'd take the 614-for that reason(plus it's beautiful). If you like the traditional maple sound, Taylor doesn't have it anymore! Great job Andy. I'd love to hear these same 2 in 5 and 10 years to see how sound with some age...
Wow! Your comparisons are the BEST ever! Love the way you keep everything as close to the same as possible, so the differences in guitars gets heard.I have never preferred or seriously considered a maple guitar for myself. ...until Now. This newly braced, updated 600 series is incredibly close to the 800 series. I would not have guessed I was hearing maple on the 614 if I didn't know better. The maple 614ce sounded slightly more forward and had a touch less depth in the lows than rosewood 814ce. But both sound very musical. I would be happy with either. I personally own a 2014 Taylor 814CE. the new 614CE is not different enough or 'better' that I would make the switch. But I would be VERY content with that 614CE! Andy Powers is at the top of his game!
I've owned the 618e for 18 months. I'm done with rosewood forever. If I can't play the 618e V2 then I'm not playing, lol! The sound on the rebraced maple still amazes and SURPRISES me to this day, what an amazing transformation.
Your nice, consistent play style really helps my ears to compare. I actually prefer the maple version, I think tonal clarity and focus is noticable better and sustain is also a bit better. The Rosewood guitar has more of a multifrequency chime, which is pretty in its own way, but to me, the clarity of the maple guitar wins the day.
I'll play a Taylor over a Martin any day. My uncle was a Martin man. He loved my old pearly fender acoustic, he said it sounded better than any Martin he ever played . It was one of a kind. I never should have ever sold it. Ces't la vie :)
Man o man... I love this channel... I'm getting so much information that is truly solid and informed... That 614 sounds really nice and bright, just the way I like it...
Some of the tonal differences I would say the torriffied top is making some difference on the 614ce. I would love to hear the newer model 814ce videos in a few years when some of the guitars have opened up a bit. If I had to base it on that vid I think 614 edges it but I would put money on an 814ce ageing better in the long game.
I love good lows and the 814 has them. That being said, the 614 has a super clean sound. They each have their place. I would own the 614 given the chance. I have my Martins which gives me all the lows I need.
i'd suggest 614 for soft strummers and 814 for hard strummers,maple is brighter.but i settled for 814 after trying 314ce,614 ce and 814 ce.i tried all instruments plugged and unplugged for abt 1 and half hrs.i have been playing guitar frim more than 15 yrs now.☺I hope it helps.314ce is a great choice too,its the brightest sounding out of these three guitars.
The 614 sounds more classic to me. Like an old cowboy guitar. The 814 has that "nu-acoustic" sound that's so high definition and bass-heavy that it borders on sterile but I can't help but be impressed with it because of how loud it is for a flat top steel string. The old 714 with the cedar top blew me away more than any Taylor I've tried, and I've played a couple people's different old 714s. It really sounded romantic, whereas so many of these are super bright cannons.
Alex, you are correct. I own a 2011 714ce with the cedar top. Every time I try any other Taylors in the stores, to my ears the cedar top wins every time. It's a wonderful instrument. I will never part with it.
Oh man, it's like the acoustic guitar sound has finally been let out of the box with that 614. I admit, I'm biased because I fell in love with the newly designed tone last month when I first heard it in other videos including Tony's. The clarity in the CHORDS beats anything rosewood IMO (and my price range, lol). Absolute game-changer.
For me the 614 wins in both looks and sound. I've played one a couple of weeks ago and the maple is very very beautiful in person. I like it almost as much as the sapele in my own 314ce which I found the most beautiful wood personally.
I don't know if this comment is relevant...I just bought the 810ce used online and I haven't played it yet, I was looking for comparisons, which ended up here. I love both of these guitars and be unhappy with either. I think we are spoiled with choice these days and I would be happy with either of these instruments. I am hoping the 810ce I just purchased will compare to these!! Also, I agree with the previous comments that Andy Powers is on a roll with his innovations...one of the reasons I was shopping for a Taylor over a Martin guitar. Thanks for the excellent review!! Cheers Pete
Both sound and look beautiful. To me the 614 was a bit more open, while the 814 had more mystery. I have budget for neither, but if money was no problem, I'd probably go for the rosewood.
The 614 projects a more immediate and direct response presenting clear and crisp fundamentals with subtle overtone accompaniment. The 814 is warmer and has more overtones but in this instance I prefer the 614 for that additional quickness and crispness.
These two guitars I think sound the most similar out of all your comparisons. The 600 sounds more. Dirtier? It's not as neat sounding and that's something I actually like, and had just a TINY bit more high end to my ear. I prefer the 600 however they're VERY acoustically similar.
I agree with most on here... The new 614 sounds amazing for a maple guitar.... Good call Bob Taylor for bringing Andy Powers aboard... Not watching just listening it is very hard to tell them apart... I think the maple with the brown sugar finish is a sexier looking guitar and with the striped ebony back strap the 614 is hands down the winner. Oh ya I almost forgot great Video Tony...
Taylor has a RUclips video that compares tonal differences between Mahogany, Maple, and Rosewood sides/back. I purchased a 614ce Builders Edition recently and am very pleased with it. Toriffied spruce top in satin Wild Honey Burst, Maple sides/back. Wife got the Baby Taylor for $99. Fair winds and following seas to all.
i was heavily favoring the 814 up until around 4:30 where strumming and more mixes of bass and treble on the 614 hit me. I think i'd still prefer the 814 but the 614 sounds much much more amazing than i thought a maple guitar can!
The 814 has a more brighter more punchier sound but the 614 has a more defined more clearer sound.. it varies on people what they choose.. to me they both sound awesome
each note on the 814 complements the next note.. so each pluck will compliment the next one making the whole sound blend.. the 614 has a slight hint of pause each tone making it sound like the first pluck will let the next pluck breathe and be heard as an independent sound rather than blending... a true test of contrasting sounds but both wonderful in terms of tone.. beautiful guitars
I was always wanted a good Taylor guitar and think I've found it in the 614. The Maple handles mids that bit better than the Rosewood, that's the clincher for me.
Of course the 614 sounds better off - torrefied wood of the is going to sound way more complex than the brand spankin new top of the 814. It's just more resonant. But give it a few years! I'd be curious to see a comparison in like 2-3 years
I have 2015 816ce and I have a 2015 614ce and 1980 Martin d28 and I love those guitars if I had to choose it would be the 614ce yeah I think it's my favorite this guitar is never leaving my sight but three totally different sounds from three great guitars I'm really not a Martin fan I lucked out with this one I'm getting ready for another Taylor I'll probably go for a v brace either 614ce or 814ce
I'm hearing the 614 as being more focused. It's the mid-range. The 814's bass projects and while very pleasant to my ears is more mellow and less focused.
the new 600 series sounds very mahogany like, nice focus on the mids but also great highs. Bass is better on rosewood but marginally. I can imagine the difference would be more marginal in person.
I am surprised. I prefer the 614. Cleaner note separation, balanced tone. While the 814 has a deeper warmer sound it borders on being muddy. I think the 614 more closely resembles the 914 in tone. JMO. In full disclosure, I have a 2011 614ce and it doesn't sound all that much different from the 2015 update. Nuances.
Definitely the 614ce for me since my taste changed towards the woody mid-range kind of mahogany sound although I still play a rosewood guitar. It's amazing what Andy Powers has done with maple.
The 814 CE (sitka top, rosewood back and sides) has a much flatter audio response curve than the 614CE. The 614ce (torrified sitka top, maple back and sides) has a lot more response in the highs and there is a woody-sounding hump in the mids too. They both sound good to me, which is surprising since I don't like most of the maple guitars I have heard. Great job by Andy at Taylor, getting the voicing to sound good on the maple.
At certain price range, (high end prices) The difference in pricing has little to no effect. Meaning a 2k guitar vs a 3k guitar would both sound good, would feel good, and would have excellent build quality. But what you're paying for is which sound you prefer. One would cost more because of the wood used, but it does not necessarily mean one is better or one is worse. It has come to taste.
I hear the maple as having a faster top end. It jumps more than the 814 in that range. The low-mids scoop as Rosewood is known to do in the 814, and I like that scoop. In the maple, there is a little low-mid bump I don't favor. Then the Rosewood clearly has a stronger voice and more sustain on all low E string touches. The 814 wins in the low end, but the 614 wins in the highs. Might be easier to sing over the 814. Really interesting and a great video to make these observations by.
614 has more midrange while 814 has more bass. The new 614 sounds awesome and in spite of being maple could probably take some sales away from the 814.
Can you compare aged top 814ce and aged torified top 614ce with each other and with their new counterparts please, now that it's been a couple years since you did this video?
haha wow you really know your stuff man! I like the sound of the 614 slightly more in this clip but I'm sure a wiggle of EQ would make much more of a difference in a live setting? I'm starting to think it doesn't really matter about tone comparison when you compare great guitars as they're all great guitars(!) and punters don't have a clue anyway! cheers
Tony I noticed on the gear list, no Taylor's, especially GS mini which I thought you had? Anyways cool doing the list, wanted that in the Q&A but couldn't make it.
Развлечения
To my ear, I actually prefer the 614 to the 814. The work Andy Powers did with the maple 600 series, is outstanding. Never was a big Taylor fan, but this is turning me around.
***** i agree almost completely. The bass response, to my ear, has definitely improved. In some aspects i still like the rosewood like when he did the drop d flatpick lick. I found that the maple was a little more vibrant for a lot of the other licks. Im usually a huge fan of rosewood and not a huge fan of maple or Taylor (in a Martin guy.) But this may change my mind!!!
I own one and I am really happy with it. Bought used. You would be surprised at how many compliments I get on its looks.
I've never been too crazy about maple acoustics until Taylor's new 614. It sounds amazing.
***** I've never been too crazy about Taylor's acoustics until the 614/612. :P Yes, It sounds amazing.
Maple acoustics are the best. I'm not entirely sure what I think of the 614ce to be completely honest, although I haven't played one in a while. Some of the demos I've heard sound absolutely awful, and others sound decent. Even clips in this demo are mixed.
I'll make an effort to play one the next time I make it to area Taylor store.
Love them both. One of each please... Really like the 614 a lot. I dig rosewood, so I knew that I would like the 814, but the 614 blew me away.
Thanks for the very effective comparison. Switching guitars mid-song really demonstrates the differences. The 614ce is brighter for sure. Thanks again.
When you hear them side by side you realise what a great job Andy has done. As misha1d1 said, I would take either. And I'm not a fan of maple, or I wasn't till Andy worked his magic recently on these guitars. I did prefer the Rosewood back and sides but it was very, very close and I'm sure if I was asked which was which in a blind test I wouldn't be able to tell. Thanks for this comparison Tony!
I love what Taylor has been doing and I hope they keep this up. My two dream guitars are the new 810 and the new 614.
I listened without watching and I simply had no idea which was which. Since I have Rosewood and Mahogany guitars, I'd take the 614-for that reason(plus it's beautiful). If you like the traditional maple sound, Taylor doesn't have it anymore! Great job Andy. I'd love to hear these same 2 in 5 and 10 years to see how sound with some age...
Wow! Your comparisons are the BEST ever! Love the way you keep everything as close to the same as possible, so the differences in guitars gets heard.I have never preferred or seriously considered a maple guitar for myself. ...until Now. This newly braced, updated 600 series is incredibly close to the 800 series. I would not have guessed I was hearing maple on the 614 if I didn't know better. The maple 614ce sounded slightly more forward and had a touch less depth in the lows than rosewood 814ce. But both sound very musical. I would be happy with either. I personally own a 2014 Taylor 814CE. the new 614CE is not different enough or 'better' that I would make the switch. But I would be VERY content with that 614CE! Andy Powers is at the top of his game!
Does Engelbert have a Taylor? 🤣
This is the video that convinced me to buy a 2017 614ce...Im very happy with the purchase and it is a great sounding instrument!...
I've owned the 618e for 18 months. I'm done with rosewood forever. If I can't play the 618e V2 then I'm not playing, lol! The sound on the rebraced maple still amazes and SURPRISES me to this day, what an amazing transformation.
Your nice, consistent play style really helps my ears to compare.
I actually prefer the maple version, I think tonal clarity and focus is noticable better and sustain is also a bit better.
The Rosewood guitar has more of a multifrequency chime, which is pretty in its own way, but to me, the clarity of the maple guitar wins the day.
814 sound wowwww!!!! So deep sound and clean!!! I love it!
They are both great guitars. Both have a great sound. The 814ce is a little brighter and clearer and the 614ce to my ears is a little warmer.
I'll play a Taylor over a Martin any day. My uncle was a Martin man. He loved my old pearly fender acoustic, he said it sounded better than any Martin he ever played . It was one of a kind. I never should have ever sold it. Ces't la vie :)
I have a 1997 Taylor 614c and it sounds really good, I personally love the 600 series.
ive always been an 800 series type of guy, but that new 614 sounds awesome!
Man o man... I love this channel... I'm getting so much information that is truly solid and informed... That 614 sounds really nice and bright, just the way I like it...
What a great comparison! Thank you so much for doing this.
Some of the tonal differences I would say the torriffied top is making some difference on the 614ce. I would love to hear the newer model 814ce videos in a few years when some of the guitars have opened up a bit. If I had to base it on that vid I think 614 edges it but I would put money on an 814ce ageing better in the long game.
Just saw the 614ce today and i fell in love with it.
Both beautiful instruments. I’m giving the nod to the 614 (and I’m a major fan of rosewood!).
I love good lows and the 814 has them. That being said, the 614 has a super clean sound. They each have their place. I would own the 614 given the chance. I have my Martins which gives me all the lows I need.
i'd suggest 614 for soft strummers and 814 for hard strummers,maple is brighter.but i settled for 814 after trying 314ce,614 ce and 814 ce.i tried all instruments plugged and unplugged for abt 1 and half hrs.i have been playing guitar frim more than 15 yrs now.☺I hope it helps.314ce is a great choice too,its the brightest sounding out of these three guitars.
One of few times I can't pick which one I like more. Both guitars sound very good.
I have the 614 in a non cutaway configuration. Definitely my favorite guitar.
The 614 sounds more classic to me. Like an old cowboy guitar. The 814 has that "nu-acoustic" sound that's so high definition and bass-heavy that it borders on sterile but I can't help but be impressed with it because of how loud it is for a flat top steel string. The old 714 with the cedar top blew me away more than any Taylor I've tried, and I've played a couple people's different old 714s. It really sounded romantic, whereas so many of these are super bright cannons.
Alex, you are correct. I own a 2011 714ce with the cedar top. Every time I try any other Taylors in the stores, to my ears the cedar top wins every time. It's a wonderful instrument. I will never part with it.
814 sounds better for picking and 614 sounds better for playing solid chords or rhythm
Oh man, it's like the acoustic guitar sound has finally been let out of the box with that 614. I admit, I'm biased because I fell in love with the newly designed tone last month when I first heard it in other videos including Tony's. The clarity in the CHORDS beats anything rosewood IMO (and my price range, lol). Absolute game-changer.
For me the 614 wins in both looks and sound. I've played one a couple of weeks ago and the maple is very very beautiful in person. I like it almost as much as the sapele in my own 314ce which I found the most beautiful wood personally.
I don't know if this comment is relevant...I just bought the 810ce used online and I haven't played it yet, I was looking for comparisons, which ended up here. I love both of these guitars and be unhappy with either. I think we are spoiled with choice these days and I would be happy with either of these instruments. I am hoping the 810ce I just purchased will compare to these!!
Also, I agree with the previous comments that Andy Powers is on a roll with his innovations...one of the reasons I was shopping for a Taylor over a Martin guitar. Thanks for the excellent review!! Cheers Pete
That 614ce wins it easily for me.
i really love the 614ce
Both sound and look beautiful. To me the 614 was a bit more open, while the 814 had more mystery. I have budget for neither, but if money was no problem, I'd probably go for the rosewood.
The 614 projects a more immediate and direct response presenting clear and crisp fundamentals with subtle overtone accompaniment. The 814 is warmer and has more overtones but in this instance I prefer the 614 for that additional quickness and crispness.
These two guitars I think sound the most similar out of all your comparisons. The 600 sounds more. Dirtier? It's not as neat sounding and that's something I actually like, and had just a TINY bit more high end to my ear. I prefer the 600 however they're VERY acoustically similar.
This is such a great comparison video. Thank you.
I own an 814ce and love it but was pleasantly surprised by the 614ce. Nice comparison.
814 is just lit🔥
I agree with most on here... The new 614 sounds amazing for a maple guitar.... Good call Bob Taylor for bringing Andy Powers aboard... Not watching just listening it is very hard to tell them apart... I think the maple with the brown sugar finish is a sexier looking guitar and with the striped ebony back strap the 614 is hands down the winner. Oh ya I almost forgot great Video Tony...
Taylor has a RUclips video that compares tonal differences between Mahogany, Maple, and Rosewood sides/back. I purchased a 614ce Builders Edition recently and am very pleased with it. Toriffied spruce top in satin Wild Honey Burst, Maple sides/back. Wife got the Baby Taylor for $99.
Fair winds and following seas to all.
Just played the 614ce, the 814ce didn't sound quite as good. Tax return might end up being a 614ce 😃
+trivium192 I recently bought a 714ce, and love it!
i was heavily favoring the 814 up until around 4:30 where strumming and more mixes of bass and treble on the 614 hit me. I think i'd still prefer the 814 but the 614 sounds much much more amazing than i thought a maple guitar can!
That maple had me at hello
I've always been a Rosewood fan, but that maple sounds amazing!
The 814 has a more brighter more punchier sound but the 614 has a more defined more clearer sound.. it varies on people what they choose.. to me they both sound awesome
each note on the 814 complements the next note.. so each pluck will compliment the next one making the whole sound blend.. the 614 has a slight hint of pause each tone making it sound like the first pluck will let the next pluck breathe and be heard as an independent sound rather than blending... a true test of contrasting sounds but both wonderful in terms of tone.. beautiful guitars
I was always wanted a good Taylor guitar and think I've found it in the 614. The Maple handles mids that bit better than the Rosewood, that's the clincher for me.
Of course the 614 sounds better off - torrefied wood of the is going to sound way more complex than the brand spankin new top of the 814. It's just more resonant. But give it a few years! I'd be curious to see a comparison in like 2-3 years
614
Excellent comparison. Thank you.
Love my 614CE !!! Nice bright sound...use it with a Fishman amp...great review...Thanks!
I like this guy. Doesn`t talk much.
Wow! 614! Great sound comparison.
I love the 614 ce
I have 2015 816ce and I have a 2015 614ce and 1980 Martin d28 and I love those guitars if I had to choose it would be the 614ce yeah I think it's my favorite this guitar is never leaving my sight but three totally different sounds from three great guitars I'm really not a Martin fan I lucked out with this one I'm getting ready for another Taylor I'll probably go for a v brace either 614ce or 814ce
I like the 614ce better, as I think it sounds a lot warmer, almost like a Martin.
Think I like the 614 hard to tell they're both great
814 has more sustain than the 614 and wider dynamic range whereas the 614 is by comparison more compressed towards the mids.
the 814 sounded very focused and the 614 sounded a bit more jangly and woody
I'm hearing the 614 as being more focused. It's the mid-range. The 814's bass projects and while very pleasant to my ears is more mellow and less focused.
For me ist reversed. 814 more dynamic bass. 614 les range more mid
614 for instrumentals / 814 for singing songs.
The 614 is better, mainly that midrange is more focused and sweet and smooth and a little fat
Could you be better on a final copy, (saying that was a hard to understand rough draft)
the new 600 series sounds very mahogany like, nice focus on the mids but also great highs. Bass is better on rosewood but marginally. I can imagine the difference would be more marginal in person.
That torrifed spruce top on the 614 looks pretty sexy especially against that rosewood pick guard,
I am surprised. I prefer the 614. Cleaner note separation, balanced tone. While the 814 has a deeper warmer sound it borders on being muddy. I think the 614 more closely resembles the 914 in tone. JMO. In full disclosure, I have a 2011 614ce and it doesn't sound all that much different from the 2015 update. Nuances.
It will be interesting to compare the same guitars a few years down the road
Definitely the 614ce for me since my taste changed towards the woody mid-range kind of mahogany sound although I still play a rosewood guitar. It's amazing what Andy Powers has done with maple.
For me the 614 ce is the best
They both sound pretty much the same to me - I expected a much more noticeable difference.
I'm not a fan,but 614 thumbs up:-)
The 814 CE (sitka top, rosewood back and sides) has a much flatter audio response curve than the 614CE. The 614ce (torrified sitka top, maple back and sides) has a lot more response in the highs and there is a woody-sounding hump in the mids too. They both sound good to me, which is surprising since I don't like most of the maple guitars I have heard. Great job by Andy at Taylor, getting the voicing to sound good on the maple.
At certain price range, (high end prices)
The difference in pricing has little to no effect. Meaning a 2k guitar vs a 3k guitar would both sound good, would feel good, and would have excellent build quality. But what you're paying for is which sound you prefer. One would cost more because of the wood used, but it does not necessarily mean one is better or one is worse. It has come to taste.
814 has a nicer base but damn that 614 is pretty gd and looks stunning!
Agree!
I AGREEE!!!
agree!
i like the punchiness of the 614
I hear the maple as having a faster top end. It jumps more than the 814 in that range. The low-mids scoop as Rosewood is known to do in the 814, and I like that scoop. In the maple, there is a little low-mid bump I don't favor. Then the Rosewood clearly has a stronger voice and more sustain on all low E string touches. The 814 wins in the low end, but the 614 wins in the highs. Might be easier to sing over the 814. Really interesting and a great video to make these observations by.
614 has more midrange while 814 has more bass. The new 614 sounds awesome and in spite of being maple could probably take some sales away from the 814.
Can you compare aged top 814ce and aged torified top 614ce with each other and with their new counterparts please, now that it's been a couple years since you did this video?
3:05 what song is that???
614💪
If guitars had noses and could sing I would consider maple guitars to be nasally
I think AL should give their honest opinion on which guitar is more recommended or which is better.
Didn't the 614ce used to have golden tuners?
haha wow you really know your stuff man! I like the sound of the 614 slightly more in this clip but I'm sure a wiggle of EQ would make much more of a difference in a live setting? I'm starting to think it doesn't really matter about tone comparison when you compare great guitars as they're all great guitars(!) and punters don't have a clue anyway! cheers
I never hear the bass on maple guitars :( , im getting the 714ce
Nice Doc Watson pickin!
Does the 814ce sound more flat? Maybe slightly??
614 has more pronounced mids- less boomy, and not as dark
i was talking about 2015 revamped models
Sound exactly how maple sounds. Rosewood still offer way more colour and range
Tony I noticed on the gear list, no Taylor's, especially GS mini which I thought you had? Anyways cool doing the list, wanted that in the Q&A but couldn't make it.
He has a Taylor baritone I believe
Wow no wonder they used up all that rosewood sounds so musical.
What is the music that starts and ends her 4:31 to 4:50 ???
whats the song at 3:50?
Why dont you guys ever review the Taylor 610ce?
Maple! Although I prefer the older way of making the 600 series I feel it lost the bright sound
814!
new pick guards do not look good. should come with the option of installing yourself or not installing.
mid range seems a little scooped out to me on the maple as apposed to the rosewood
its actually the opposite
why would we need ce otherwise,we would want to go electric when required.
614 sounds better imo
614 sounds brighter for sure.I don't understand,why u did not plug in these semi-acoustic guitars for God's sake.aren't they electric?lol☺
814