There is a difference, love the non-cutaway tone much more than the cutaway. Whether its the wood or the diminished body space, I will defer. I just like what I hear 🙂
In the end playing I preferred the cutaway. That was a really good way to compare them at the end, particularly the first switch where the sound of what was being played was so similar and so fast.
I’ve made this argument many times again and I will say, non cutaway always have more tone and a bit more volume. I understand maybe there’s not a lot of vibration happening in the upper body of the guitar but just that little piece of wood that’s taken away from a guitar really does make all the difference.
it´s not just a matter of vibration of the top... there´s so many other factors like air volume in the box, symmetry, how sound behaves along curves, etc... There is definitely a SUBTLE but clear difference. This test has been done many times and you can basically tell the difference every times. Rarely will a cutaway have a bigger or fuller sound due to the other factors on it being "better"...
I have a "li'l" 214 in my mix, and other guitarists (including fellow Taylor, Martin, Gibson, etc) are surprised (amazed?) at the sound of that inexpensive, but well-made guitar.
I have this Taylor 114 guitar, without the cutaway or Taylor factory electrics. Same sunburst edition. I installed a K & K Pure Mini pickup and its awesome.
I've compared dozens of guitar pairs non cutaway and cutaway and I would say there is definitely a difference. In some guitars, not that much, in some quite a lot. Non-cutaway always fuller around the bass, cutaway always more pronounced midrange with sharper attack, more kind of "percussive" sound. I am not sure which is louder, though. But there is not just one measure of guitar loudness.
I hear a lot of talk about how something as simple as switching bridge pins to a different material, e.g., bone, plastic, ebony, or brass, can affect tone. If something as simple as switching 6 little pins or forward shifting the bracing a half inch for that matter, can affect tone, it is for sure that removing a large chunk of the guitar will make a difference. I found the non-cut to be fuller, richer more blended. The cut had more note separation, clear, articulate and seemed to project more volume but not sure if that was the guitar or the player digging in harder. A guitar is an echo chamber where vibrations bounce around then emanate out the sound hole. Vibrations from different areas of the guitar will emerge at different wavelengths and speeds. Think of it like dropping a rock into a long puddle. The waves that go to the side return sooner than the ones that went lengthwise. Once the longer waves return it can turn the initial drop point into a mishmash. It stands to reason that if you remove a portion of the echo chamber, you will have less sound bouncing back from that area then blending with the other tones as they emerge resulting in a cleaner tone.
5 same models, 5 different tone because of different wood. These are tasteful finish. Cool!! In this case non cutaway has more resonance and I prefer to it. Many thanks for super cool review all the time Paul and super cool performance Wayne!! I think Wayne minds a guitar carefully. Wayne never puts his arm on the neck when talking.
IMO, the non-cutaway adds nothing but mud to the low end. The cutaway has less boom, but you can hear that low string more cleanly, which I like better.
Throu good headphones i really can say difference. Catoway or not that non cut sounds so tick and other prety thin. It really has that studio Taylor spund that people like or not
You know, generalities aside, I've learned in all my 45 years of playing acoustic guitars of every shape and size known to man (probably), that it all has to do with the specific guitar. I can even have 10 of the exact same cutaways. of the exact same make and model, and every one of THOSE will sound different (fuller, thinner, brighter, duller, etc.), as well... or vice versa. Throw in the iffyness of trying to discern a comparison of sound through computer speakers and the like, and you got yourself a dubious endeavor at best.
Cutaway reduces the resonance. As simple as that. If the fully body top construction resonates just right for the specific guitar, cutaway will sound somewhat muted and tinny. If the full body construction resonates excessively, cutaway often brings it down to a more pleasant range. It is a matter of taste too. The sound difference can be very small or none for low-end guitars because the full body had a poor resonance to start with and the cutaway won't make an audible change anyway. Most acoustic guitars have a boomy low end when played loud and a cut away will help reduce that. This is the one reason I often prefer cutaways. And for those who say there is no difference, try with a good set of headphones. If you still don't hear a difference, you should be spending as little as possible on musical instruments.
I wish I could play non cutaways. But the way I fly all over the place in the 10-14 fret range makes it difficult to play non cutaways. The employees at GC stop and stare in amazement when I play the first 7 notes of stairway to heaven. Sometimes they are so blown away that they laugh. 🤣🤣
It's funny that cutaway vs. non-cutaway makes little/no difference... but 12 fret vs 14 fret does make a big difference. Of course that has more to do with bridge and bracing placement than the extra body volume. I mean, probably. Who knows.
More surface area just sounds better. It's science. I was at guitar center and picked up a 314CE (all solid wood with cutaway and electronics) then i picked up a 114 (laminate back and sides and no electronics) guess what? I kid you not: he 114 blew it out the water. I wanted a 314. I assumed all solid wood would sound better and i wanted the 1 3/4 nut width. But just going by sound and price alone, ive changed my mind im getting a 114. I cant justify paying 3x as much for a wider nut that doesnt sound as good.
Some say no difference. Agree with you though Muhammad, that you can hear a slight difference, a slightly fuller sound as well as sustain on the non-cutaway. Also, as Wayne Johnson said in this video, you need to listen to a recording (with GOOD mics, sound system) to hear that difference, however and again, I've always heard just a slight difference (also, reach on the higher frets isn't much - emphasis on "much!" - of a problem).
If a cutaway doesn’t make a difference, apples to apples, why would anyone not buy a cutaway? Looks? From a function standpoint, you either get the extra notes or you don’t, and the question for me is whether that access comes at a sonic cost. I have a 1970’s non-cutaway Hummingbird and there’s a thing or two I can’t play because of it, in particular the Bob Weir part from China Cat Sunflower. it’s too high without a cutaway.
I feel like the cutaway is a little more 'jangley', definitely agree you lost that warmth and mellowness that the full size provides- pretty lackluster review tho, considering its the only one I found, they should've really strummed the $hit out of those things to get a full picture. I personally think the Cutway is a little more ‘jangley’ as someone else said. I’ve always loved the look of cutaways and had a Koa Alverez cutaway, but it was so cheap and tinny I don’t think it matters,. I’m in the market for a 214, def torn between the two, I sing fairly soft and don’t project as much as I should, so someone else said a cutaway might be good since it takes out some of that low resonance. How much did ya’ll get your used 114 or 214’s for?? I found a 214e (2001) for only $600 but I delayed and it got bought! Most go for upwards of 750
there is a different between the 2 i can hear the difference in 2 of the same models as you guys are doing here, also with the cutaway its also better to me because you also get access to the higher frets which is not so easy to do on a standard shape, the cutaway has just a bit less bass and more mids and highs where the standard has more bass and more duller mids and highs , the finish will also affect the sound to on the guitars tho these are the same id take one and put on a high gloss finish one and leave the other one as it is now and even 2 the same style you will hear a huge difference in both styles
Nice crispy sound. I say cutaway for playability and no cutaway for looks. In this video i think the one with no cutaway even sound a tiny bit better as well.
Minute differences make no difference. Strum technique and how hard you pick or strum makes the difference and no one can do an identical strum/pick regardless of chords..human error will always make the difference...both amazing guitars
Zero difference for the majority of the population with normal hearing. As opposed to the ones that post here with sharpened canine hearing and an ultra higher level of spidey-sense!!!
I own both, a Taylor 114ce 2017 and since 3 month a Lakewood M14 custom. First I must say that I love both guitars with very different characters, the Taylor is more bright and crisp but after two years of playing with a warm tone overall. The Lakewood sounds warm and full, sweeter and more woody. Both have a great playability, but the Taylor for me is easier to play. That's the reason, why I do not like sentences like . Second you must see the price: I payed 850 EUR for the Taylor and 2.120 EUR for the Lakewood. Both sounds great but different for me. And I would buy both again.
so yeah this clown should clean his ears out and listen to the tony polecastro video comparing 2 gibsons - there is a distinct difference - maybe less in taylor which is already trebly but still .. its also physics - a larger surface /sq footage area the more it would impact the vibration /resonance sound Based on his logic a ukelele “ really” sounds the same as. dreadnought - yeah right So then it dawns on me - if more expensive cutaways sound worse/cost more then its tougher to sell those - bingo .
2:48 Cut away
3:15 Not cut away
There is definitely a difference. Non cut away is richer.
Bigger volume
Fuller
But i feel cut away guitar has good sound...
There is a difference, love the non-cutaway tone much more than the cutaway. Whether its the wood or the diminished body space, I will defer. I just like what I hear 🙂
There is a tonal difference. Body depth has allot to do with it. Depends on what one thinks sounds better. String sizes and type also impact.
I have the Taylor 114e without the cutaway and sounds great! I believe the best guitar money can buy under 1000$!
Non cutaway takes the trophy for my ears. Both sounds great. The cutaway was full but lacked that “Oh yeah... that’s it” big sound.
In the end playing I preferred the cutaway. That was a really good way to compare them at the end, particularly the first switch where the sound of what was being played was so similar and so fast.
I’ve made this argument many times again and I will say, non cutaway always have more tone and a bit more volume. I understand maybe there’s not a lot of vibration happening in the upper body of the guitar but just that little piece of wood that’s taken away from a guitar really does make all the difference.
it´s not just a matter of vibration of the top... there´s so many other factors like air volume in the box, symmetry, how sound behaves along curves, etc... There is definitely a SUBTLE but clear difference. This test has been done many times and you can basically tell the difference every times. Rarely will a cutaway have a bigger or fuller sound due to the other factors on it being "better"...
Their expressions when they played the non cutaway summed up which one sounded better
Thanks. Both versions are great guitars.
I have a "li'l" 214 in my mix, and other guitarists (including fellow Taylor, Martin, Gibson, etc) are surprised (amazed?) at the sound of that inexpensive, but well-made guitar.
I have this Taylor 114 guitar, without the cutaway or Taylor factory electrics. Same sunburst edition. I installed a K & K Pure Mini pickup and its awesome.
5:25 for A/B comparison
I've compared dozens of guitar pairs non cutaway and cutaway and I would say there is definitely a difference. In some guitars, not that much, in some quite a lot. Non-cutaway always fuller around the bass, cutaway always more pronounced midrange with sharper attack, more kind of "percussive" sound. I am not sure which is louder, though. But there is not just one measure of guitar loudness.
I hear a lot of talk about how something as simple as switching bridge pins to a different material, e.g., bone, plastic, ebony, or brass, can affect tone. If something as simple as switching 6 little pins or forward shifting the bracing a half inch for that matter, can affect tone, it is for sure that removing a large chunk of the guitar will make a difference. I found the non-cut to be fuller, richer more blended. The cut had more note separation, clear, articulate and seemed to project more volume but not sure if that was the guitar or the player digging in harder. A guitar is an echo chamber where vibrations bounce around then emanate out the sound hole. Vibrations from different areas of the guitar will emerge at different wavelengths and speeds. Think of it like dropping a rock into a long puddle. The waves that go to the side return sooner than the ones that went lengthwise. Once the longer waves return it can turn the initial drop point into a mishmash. It stands to reason that if you remove a portion of the echo chamber, you will have less sound bouncing back from that area then blending with the other tones as they emerge resulting in a cleaner tone.
5 same models, 5 different tone because of different wood. These are tasteful finish. Cool!! In this case non cutaway has more resonance and I prefer to it. Many thanks for super cool review all the time Paul and super cool performance Wayne!!
I think Wayne minds a guitar carefully. Wayne never puts his arm on the neck when talking.
Both of them sounds good. My friend Marcus own a cutaway 300 series guitar and it sounds wonderful.
Non-cutaway has a much fuller sound to the stream.
IMO, the non-cutaway adds nothing but mud to the low end. The cutaway has less boom, but you can hear that low string more cleanly, which I like better.
Throu good headphones i really can say difference. Catoway or not that non cut sounds so tick and other prety thin. It really has that studio Taylor spund that people like or not
You know, generalities aside, I've learned in all my 45 years of playing acoustic guitars of every shape and size known to man (probably), that it all has to do with the specific guitar. I can even have 10 of the exact same cutaways. of the exact same make and model, and every one of THOSE will sound different (fuller, thinner, brighter, duller, etc.), as well... or vice versa. Throw in the iffyness of trying to discern a comparison of sound through computer speakers and the like, and you got yourself a dubious endeavor at best.
Cutaway reduces the resonance. As simple as that. If the fully body top construction resonates just right for the specific guitar, cutaway will sound somewhat muted and tinny. If the full body construction resonates excessively, cutaway often brings it down to a more pleasant range. It is a matter of taste too. The sound difference can be very small or none for low-end guitars because the full body had a poor resonance to start with and the cutaway won't make an audible change anyway. Most acoustic guitars have a boomy low end when played loud and a cut away will help reduce that. This is the one reason I often prefer cutaways. And for those who say there is no difference, try with a good set of headphones. If you still don't hear a difference, you should be spending as little as possible on musical instruments.
I wish I could play non cutaways. But the way I fly all over the place in the 10-14 fret range makes it difficult to play non cutaways. The employees at GC stop and stare in amazement when I play the first 7 notes of stairway to heaven. Sometimes they are so blown away that they laugh. 🤣🤣
I always tend to play in higher freda, so there's is no question for me. Even I hear that the non is bit fuller
It's funny that cutaway vs. non-cutaway makes little/no difference... but 12 fret vs 14 fret does make a big difference. Of course that has more to do with bridge and bracing placement than the extra body volume. I mean, probably. Who knows.
Cutaway: 2:48 Non cutaway: 3:19
What kind of strings/gauge are you using? Nice video!
Cutaway sounds cleaner. The problem was the guitarist. He was not consistent.
More surface area just sounds better. It's science. I was at guitar center and picked up a 314CE (all solid wood with cutaway and electronics) then i picked up a 114 (laminate back and sides and no electronics) guess what? I kid you not: he 114 blew it out the water. I wanted a 314. I assumed all solid wood would sound better and i wanted the 1 3/4 nut width. But just going by sound and price alone, ive changed my mind im getting a 114. I cant justify paying 3x as much for a wider nut that doesnt sound as good.
With head phones there was a difference but both sound nice.
To me non cutaway sound more fuller and boomy and cutaway sound more projcted
Some say no difference. Agree with you though Muhammad, that you can hear a slight difference, a slightly fuller sound as well as sustain on the non-cutaway. Also, as Wayne Johnson said in this video, you need to listen to a recording (with GOOD mics, sound system) to hear that difference, however and again, I've always heard just a slight difference (also, reach on the higher frets isn't much - emphasis on "much!" - of a problem).
Same, I think people who don't hear a difference at all need to get their ears checked
@@schroonsjozef - WHAT?
;-)
I prefer to have the cut away. It's perfect for a people having a not-so-loud voice..
I like that idea- I'm someone who sings and plays 'softly'... def dont project my voice like I should... so this is a possible benefit to a cutaway
not enough difference for the human ear to detect IMO. man they both sound sweet!
thnx for the comparison.
there's a difference on my headphone. however, on live and without sound system maybe we can't distinguish.
I like the cat one 👍👍
It's not the vibration it's the volume inside. Just like comparing a Parlor to a 0 to a 00 etc..
One Questionen do anyone know what cleaner for the ( matt Finish) use
Non cutaway. 114e was my first guitar...no regrets.
If a cutaway doesn’t make a difference, apples to apples, why would anyone not buy a cutaway? Looks? From a function standpoint, you either get the extra notes or you don’t, and the question for me is whether that access comes at a sonic cost. I have a 1970’s non-cutaway Hummingbird and there’s a thing or two I can’t play because of it, in particular the Bob Weir part from China Cat Sunflower. it’s too high without a cutaway.
Massive difference through high end headphones. More bass and volume through the full body. Tighter on the cutaway.
Can fill more bass in cutaway one
I prefer the 200 series those are.great especially the Koa
I feel like the cutaway is a little more 'jangley', definitely agree you lost that warmth and mellowness that the full size provides- pretty lackluster review tho, considering its the only one I found, they should've really strummed the $hit out of those things to get a full picture. I personally think the Cutway is a little more ‘jangley’ as someone else said. I’ve always loved the look of cutaways and had a Koa Alverez cutaway, but it was so cheap and tinny I don’t think it matters,. I’m in the market for a 214, def torn between the two, I sing fairly soft and don’t project as much as I should, so someone else said a cutaway might be good since it takes out some of that low resonance. How much did ya’ll get your used 114 or 214’s for?? I found a 214e (2001) for only $600 but I delayed and it got bought! Most go for upwards of 750
there is a different between the 2 i can hear the difference in 2 of the same models as you guys are doing here, also with the cutaway its also better to me because you also get access to the higher frets which is not so easy to do on a standard shape, the cutaway has just a bit less bass and more mids and highs where the standard has more bass and more duller mids and highs , the finish will also affect the sound to on the guitars tho these are the same id take one and put on a high gloss finish one and leave the other one as it is now and even 2 the same style you will hear a huge difference in both styles
How tall are you guys? Those 114’s seem very large. I’m 6’2” and my 814 sits in my lap like a small child.
Nice crispy sound. I say cutaway for playability and no cutaway for looks. In this video i think the one with no cutaway even sound a tiny bit better as well.
where can i order online and delivered it here in UAE?
dunno why the one guy really wants to dispute that the full body has a slightly fuller or more pointedly bassier sound.
E,B and g string are more balanced on the cut away
Minute differences make no difference. Strum technique and how hard you pick or strum makes the difference and no one can do an identical strum/pick regardless of chords..human error will always make the difference...both amazing guitars
这几年产的114？
cut away is higher frequency, its better
Non-cutaway
I like how they were acting like someone would spend several hundred dollars on a new taylor just starting out, great video though
no difference at all both guitars sound great
Non cut away have a little more that boom zakalaka!! Hahaha
I really can't hear a difference, at least I don't think there is one.
All the 100 serie comes with a bad action and setup. I buy 2 and drive test 10 of them.
Hacia ariba I just got 114ce yesterday and the action and the intonation is spot on out of the box. Too bad you had a bad experience with 100 series.
Zero difference for the majority of the population with normal hearing.
As opposed to the ones that post here with sharpened canine hearing and an ultra higher level of spidey-sense!!!
No difference at all. Don't like the sound of taylors, and ive owned one and played loads. The lakewood ive got now blows taylors into yesterday.
I own both, a Taylor 114ce 2017 and since 3 month a Lakewood M14 custom. First I must say that I love both guitars with very different characters, the Taylor is more bright and crisp but after two years of playing with a warm tone overall. The Lakewood sounds warm and full, sweeter and more woody. Both have a great playability, but the Taylor for me is easier to play.
That's the reason, why I do not like sentences like . Second you must see the price: I payed 850 EUR for the Taylor and 2.120 EUR for the Lakewood. Both sounds great but different for me. And I would buy both again.
so yeah this clown should clean his ears out and listen to the tony polecastro video comparing 2 gibsons - there is a distinct difference - maybe less in taylor which is already trebly but still ..
its also physics - a larger surface /sq footage area the more it would impact the vibration /resonance sound
Based on his logic a ukelele “ really” sounds the same as. dreadnought - yeah right
So then it dawns on me - if more expensive cutaways sound worse/cost more then its tougher to sell those - bingo .