2000 Taylor 914ce bracing

[theguitarguru]

I was wondering if someone knows about the bracing of 914ce model, year 2000. What is it called? My second question... what's the close date Taylor started making NT necks on high end models?

thanx

[Herb Hunter]

I was wondering if someone knows about the bracing of 914ce model, year 2000. What is it called? My second question... what's the close date Taylor started making NT necks on high end models?

thanx

As I recall, Taylor introduced the NT neck in 1999, Standard II (forward shifted with relief rout) bracing in 2006 and CV bracing around 2008.


The tonal difference between Standard II bracing and the bracing that preceded it, which was also scalloped X-bracing positioned slightly aft of where Standard II is positioned, was more subtle than between Standard II and CV bracing.


I would expect that a 2000 914 would have the NT neck. NT necks made between 1999 and 2006 are easily identified by the finger joint that joins the headstock to the neck. In 2007, the finger joint was replaced by the more esthetic scarf joint.

[michaelw]

I was wondering if someone knows about the bracing of 914ce model, year 2000. What is it called? My second question... what's the close date Taylor started making NT necks on high end models?

thanx

it is scalloped x-bracing (5/16" non-forward shifted, no relief rout) -
after standard II bracing was introduced, first in 02 on the X10 (500 up) & in fall 04
on the X14 (500/up), it was unofficially referred to as pre-standard II or 'classic' bracing

i previously owned a 00 914c (& a 00 K14c) made in the spring of 00 & both had
the pre NT neck, but the 00 W14ce i had made in late december had the NT neck -
perhaps, the later part of the fall (although i heard that the 315s were the last to get the NT neck)

a call to Taylor customer service will be more definitive (they re-open on the 7th of january)

unrelated to your question, but a little more bracing/neck joint info -
CV bracing was introduced on standard models in 09 (800/900/PS, then Koa) &
the 08 models with adi CV were LTDs with no numerical designation (**e/ceLTD -*)

the 99 314mce i owned had the NT neck & a 06 414eLTD grafted walnut had standard II bracing

[Herb Hunter]

I was wondering if someone knows about the bracing of 914ce model, year 2000. What is it called? My second question... what's the close date Taylor started making NT necks on high end models?

thanx

...standard II bracing was introduced, first in 02 on the X10 (500 up) & in fall 04
on the X14 (500/up), it was unofficially referred to as pre-standard II or 'classic' bracing...

Since I often rely on your Taylor timeline knowledge, I'd appreciate a clarification. I seem to remember you posting, on the Acoustic Guitar Forum, that Standard II bracing was introduced in 2006. Was that an understandable error, the kind I make all too frequently, or did  Standard II bracing  begin to appear in 2006 and not 2002?

Edit:


I found the post in question:

[COLOR="Navy"][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]the original 414ce had 'mahogany' (not sapele or khaya) back & sides,[/font]
a satin finish sitka top & pinless bridge, black binding, chrome Grovers &
fishman prefix electronics with a mahogany preNT neck in 97

in 98, the switch was made to ovangkol for the back & sides,
with a gloss finish top, 'smiley' pin bridge & white binding

in 99, the NT neck with fingerjoint headstock was phased in

in 01, the pre-amp was upgraded to the fishman prefix plus

in 03, the pre-amp was upgraded to the fishman stereo blender
(the 414ceL4 had ES) & in the spring, Taylor tuners were phased in

in 04, the first generation ES (2AA power supply) was used &
the fretboard lost it's white binding

in 06 (some time in the fall, i believe), Standard II bracing began

in 07, the second generation ES (9V, 2 body sensors) &
scarf joint headstock were introduced & white fretboard binding returned

in 10, the 3rd generation ES (9V, discrete pre-amp & 1 body sensor)

the main difference between the 03 & 08 model would be
the bracing, electronics, headstock joint & (possibly) tuners

if you have the opportunity to play both guitars,
i would go with the one that sounds the best to you,
as electronics can be upgraded & the neck angle
reset relatively easily (if needed) as both have NT necks

out of the several 414/414ce ovangkol models i've had over the years,
i've found them to be very consistent in tone (in general), but i'm partial
to the bit of extra depth & warmth a wide grain sitka top provides (imho)

i have a 98 414 ovangkol (& a 97 414K), which i really like the tone of -
if i were looking to add an ovangkol 400 series to the herd, it'd be a '11 416ce :guitar:[/COLOR]

[/font]

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2508617&postcount=2

[theguitarguru]

Thanks Herb and Michael for the info. Here is a pic of two 914ce. They are a decade apart. Blood brothers but very different from each other

[michaelw]

I was wondering if someone knows about the bracing of 914ce model, year 2000. What is it called? My second question... what's the close date Taylor started making NT necks on high end models?

thanx

...standard II bracing was introduced, first in 02 on the X10 (500 up) & in fall 04
on the X14 (500/up), it was unofficially referred to as pre-standard II or 'classic' bracing...

Since I often rely on your Taylor timeline knowledge, I'd appreciate a clarification. I seem to remember you posting, on the Acoustic Guitar Forum, that Standard II bracing was introduced in 2006. Was that an understandable error, the kind I make all too frequently, or did  Standard II bracing  begin to appear in 2006 and not 2002?

Edit:


I found the post in question:

[COLOR="Navy"][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]the original 414ce had 'mahogany' (not sapele or khaya) back & sides,[/font]
a satin finish sitka top & pinless bridge, black binding, chrome Grovers &
fishman prefix electronics with a mahogany preNT neck in 97

in 98, the switch was made to ovangkol for the back & sides,
with a gloss finish top, 'smiley' pin bridge & white binding

in 99, the NT neck with fingerjoint headstock was phased in

in 01, the pre-amp was upgraded to the fishman prefix plus

in 03, the pre-amp was upgraded to the fishman stereo blender
(the 414ceL4 had ES) & in the spring, Taylor tuners were phased in

in 04, the first generation ES (2AA power supply) was used &
the fretboard lost it's white binding

in 06 (some time in the fall, i believe), Standard II bracing began

in 07, the second generation ES (9V, 2 body sensors) &
scarf joint headstock were introduced & white fretboard binding returned

in 10, the 3rd generation ES (9V, discrete pre-amp & 1 body sensor)

the main difference between the 03 & 08 model would be
the bracing, electronics, headstock joint & (possibly) tuners

if you have the opportunity to play both guitars,
i would go with the one that sounds the best to you,
as electronics can be upgraded & the neck angle
reset relatively easily (if needed) as both have NT necks

out of the several 414/414ce ovangkol models i've had over the years,
i've found them to be very consistent in tone (in general), but i'm partial
to the bit of extra depth & warmth a wide grain sitka top provides (imho)

i have a 98 414 ovangkol (& a 97 414K), which i really like the tone of -
if i were looking to add an ovangkol 400 series to the herd, it'd be a '11 416ce :guitar:[/COLOR]

[/font]

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2508617&postcount=2

that post was specifically for the standard 414 (400 series grand auditorium) -
standard II started in 02 with the 510/710LTDs (sitka top, paua rosette, tortoise binding,gold Grovers, fingerjoint headstock
NT neck, snowflake inlays & soft V carve necks) & around the fall of 06 it (standard II bracing) made it to the 300/400s

the Fall 11 rosewood & Spring 12 cedar/tasmanian blackwood 400 LTDs had CV bracing, but i don't believe
those  were available at the time i had posted this (& they were LTDs rather than standard models)

the 10 model will have a sitka top, CV bracing, scarf joint headstock NT neck, gotohs
900 series inlays, bone nut & saddle, gloss ebony headstock & ivoroid binding -
the 00 has an engelmann top. gold Grovers, Cindy inlays, Tusq nut & saddle, gloss rosewood
headstock (unbound) & rosewood binding with red purfling (provided both are standard models)

also, the deluxe case for the 00 was a 5 ply hardshell, made in el cajon
with a genuine leather handle & the 10 case was a 3 ply, made in tecate

that 00 has a nice patina on it
thanks for sharing the pic