Taylor Builder's Edition 514ce - Kona Burst #1202136068

The Builder's Edition line represents Taylor's most refined thinking on what an acoustic guitar can be, and the 514ce in Tobacco Kona Burst is one of the more compelling entries in that catalog. It takes a well-established platform — the Grand Auditorium with a cutaway — and elevates it with premium tonewoods, upgraded aesthetics, and the thoughtful ergonomic details that define the Builder's Edition series.

The top is Sitka spruce, a reliable and responsive choice that opens up with play and rewards dynamic picking with clear separation and consistent projection. Beneath it, Shamel ash back and sides bring something less commonly seen in this price range — a bright, punchy character with good note definition that keeps the low end from getting muddy, particularly useful in a fingerstyle context. The Tobacco Kona Burst coloring adds warmth and visual depth to the ash, with the gradient fading beautifully across the gloss-finished body. Taylor's V-Class bracing system underpins all of it, delivering improved intonation and sustain across the full length of the neck compared to traditional X-bracing.

The Builder's Edition specific appointments are where this guitar really separates itself from the standard 514ce. The beveled cutaway makes upper-fret access genuinely comfortable rather than just technically possible, and the beveled Neo-tropical mahogany armrest eliminates the hard body edge that causes fatigue on the picking arm during long playing sessions. These aren't cosmetic additions — they meaningfully change how the guitar feels to play. The chamfered body edges further soften the overall contact points, and the satin neck finish keeps the Neo-tropical mahogany neck fast and comfortable in the hand. The West African Crelicam ebony fretboard, binding, bridge, and bridge pins give the instrument a dark, dense consistency throughout, and the faux pearl compass inlays — echoed on the peghead — add a tasteful navigational theme without being overdone.

Electronics are handled by Taylor's Expression System 2, a behind-the-saddle pickup design that captures the natural acoustic sound of the guitar without coloring it the way an undersaddle transducer tends to. It's a well-regarded system that works reliably across a range of PA and amp setups.

Specs

General

• String Count: 6
• Orientation: Right-Handed
• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium
• Cutaway: Beveled Cutaway
• Color: Tobacco Kona Burst
• Electronics: Expression System® 2

Top

• Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
• Top Finish: Gloss
• Rosette: Faux Pearl Single Ring
• Bracing: V-Class

Back & Sides

• Back/Side Wood: Shamel Ash
• Back Configuration: 2-Piece, No Wedge
• Back/Side Finish: Gloss
• Body Binding: No Binding; Chamfered Edges
• Armrest: Beveled Neo-Tropical Mahogany

Neck

• Neck Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany
• Neck Profile: Standard Carve
• Neck Finish: Satin
• Fretboard Wood: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Fretboard Binding: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Fretboard Inlay: Faux Pearl Compass
• Nut Width: 1-3/4"
• Scale Length: 25-1/2"

Headstock

• Peghead Type: Paddle, Standard
• Peghead Veneer: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Peghead Inlay: Faux Pearl Compass
• Peghead Binding: None
• Peghead Finish: Satin

Hardware

• Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Nut: Black TUSQ
• Saddle: Micarta
• Bridge Pins: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Tuners: Gotoh 510 Antique Chrome with Antique Chrome Buttons
• Pickguard: Firestipe
• Strap Pin: Black
• End Pin: Black

Miscellaneous

• Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.053)
• Weight 4 lbs 8 oz
• Serial: 1202136068

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