Taylor 814ce Special Edition Electro Acoustic in Sassafras and Bearclaw Sitka

The Taylor 814ce 800 Series Special Edition in Sassafras and Bearclaw Sitka takes one of Taylor’s most beloved grand auditorium designs and gives it a unique tonal twist. With striking Blackheart Sassafras back and sides paired with a highly figured Bearclaw Sitka spruce top, this limited model delivers a focused, articulate voice with a beautiful blend of warmth, clarity and shimmer, all enhanced by Taylor’s V-Class bracing and premium Claria electronics.

Whether you are a songwriter looking for an inspiring all-rounder, a fingerstyle player chasing nuance and detail, or a performing guitarist who needs a reliable, stage-ready workhorse, this 814ce Special Edition is built to respond to every touch. The combination of Taylor’s ultra-stable Action Control neck, West African Crelicam ebony fretboard and a comfortable 1-3/4 inch nut width makes it feel instantly familiar and effortless to play, while the carefully voiced tonewoods reward you with a rich, complex sound that sits perfectly in a mix or shines on its own.

At the heart of this guitar is Taylor’s V-Class bracing, which optimises the top for improved sustain, better intonation and a more responsive dynamic range. The result is a guitar that rings longer, stays in tune more consistently across the fretboard and offers a wider palette of usable tones, from delicate whispers to confident strums. Plugged in, the Claria pickup system captures that acoustic character with clarity and balance, making this 814ce Special Edition a superb choice for studio sessions and live performance alike.

Visually, the Bearclaw figuring in the Sitka spruce top and the dramatic grain of Blackheart Sassafras make each instrument genuinely individual. Combined with Taylor’s meticulous build quality and premium appointments, this is a sophisticated, inspiring electro acoustic that feels special every time you pick it up.

Blackheart Sassafras Back and Sides

Blackheart Sassafras is prized for its striking, varied grain and its unique tonal character that blends elements of mahogany, maple and rosewood. On this 814ce Special Edition it delivers a focused low end, clear mids and a sweet, airy top, giving you a versatile voice that works for fingerpicking, flatpicking and strumming without ever sounding muddy or harsh.

Bearclaw Sitka Spruce Top

The Bearclaw figuring in the Sitka spruce top is not just visually stunning, it also comes from wood with a naturally lively, responsive character. This top offers plenty of headroom for dynamic players while remaining sensitive to a light touch, so you can move seamlessly from delicate passages to powerful choruses and still enjoy definition and sparkle in every note.

V-Class Scalloped Bracing

Taylor’s scalloped V-Class bracing design allows the top to flex and vibrate more efficiently, improving sustain and enhancing the guitar’s natural volume. It also helps notes ring more in tune up and down the neck, so chords sound sweeter, single lines cut through with clarity and recording or performing in ensemble settings becomes easier and more rewarding.

Comfortable Action Control Neck

The mahogany Action Control neck is engineered for stability and precise adjustment, giving you a consistently low, comfortable action without sacrificing tone. Paired with a smooth West African Crelicam ebony fretboard and a 1-3/4 inch nut width, it offers an inviting feel for complex chords, wide stretches and expressive bends, keeping long sessions fatigue free.

Claria Electronics for Natural Plugged-in Tone

The onboard Claria system is designed to translate the guitar’s acoustic voice with clarity and balance when amplified. It captures the nuance of the Sassafras and Bearclaw Sitka combination, giving you a natural, feedback-resistant sound that sits well in a band mix and requires minimal tweaking on stage or in the studio.

• Blackheart Sassafras Back and Sides - This distinctive tonewood provides a focused, articulate sound with a pleasing blend of warmth and brightness, helping your playing cut through while still feeling rich and musical.
• Bearclaw Sitka Spruce Soundboard - The visually striking Bearclaw figuring comes from a responsive, lively piece of Sitka spruce, giving you excellent dynamic range and clarity for everything from gentle fingerstyle to full strums.
• V-Class Scalloped Bracing - Taylor’s advanced bracing architecture enhances sustain, projection and intonation, so chords sound sweeter, notes ring longer and the guitar feels more in tune across the entire fretboard.
• Claria Pickup System - The integrated Claria electronics deliver a clear, natural amplified tone that reflects the guitar’s acoustic character, making it easy to achieve a professional sound on stage or in the studio.

Body

• Model: 814ce 800 Series Special Edition
• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium
• Back and Sides Wood: Blackheart Sassafras
• Top Wood: Sitka spruce, Bearclaw
• Bracing: Scalloped V-Class

Neck

• Neck Wood: Mahogany Action Control neck
• Fretboard: West African Crelicam ebony
• Scale Length: 25-1/2 inch
• Nut Width: 1-3/4 inch
• Nut Material: Black TUSQ

Hardware

• Saddle: White Micarta

Electronics

• Pickup and Preamp: Claria system

Miscellaneous

• Strings: D’Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze, Light
• Guitar Case: Deluxe hardshell case, brown