NGD! 514ce Cedar top with ES2!

[guitarsrsoawesome]

Hi all!  I finally got my new 514ce Cedar top with the new ES2 in it.  It sounds amazing, and as all of you are want to do, I've played it pretty much every moment I've had available since getting it on Friday. 

The thing about this guitar is how much bass it throws.  I mean, I've owned a GS8 and this guitar sounds "bass-ier" than it ever did, if there's such an expression, but it also has amazingly clear mids and highs. 

The other part about it is that it's loud!  Really loud. Even a light fingerstyle touch results in plenty of volume in the room, and I understand the cedar top is known for that.  This is helpful for me because I play a lot of fingerstyle. I also noticed that I personally don't strum hard enough for the cedar top to "break up," even though I hit it pretty hard trying. 

One asthetic thing I love is the ebony headstock.  I really want to get some ebony tuner buttons to replace the chrome as I think they will seriously bring the ebony of the headstock, fretboard and bridge out even more.

I'm not going to lie about the ES2, I seriously prefer it to Taylor's original take with the top sensors. The new one is definitely more natural to me and I absolutely adore the volume, bass, treble controls (which all standard versions have had).  I love the ease of access/location as well as their understated dignity

It's been a long road for me to find my "right fit".  I always thought I'd be a rosewood/spruce top guy, but my last three guitars have been mahogany (including this one and my Martin 000-15sm and gs mini hog) and I realize I personally prefer it, the clarity of mahogany is better to my ear overall than rosewood.  Wasn't expecting that, but I should have known something was up when a few years ago at my friend's place, who had both a Martin HD28 (rosewood/spruce) as well as a D18v (mahogany/spruce), I was really digging the D18. 

Thankfully for me, most hogs are cheaper than rosewood!  Anyway, enjoy the pics, and please don't get gas from this post.  I wouldn't want your wives mad at me!  (Although, when I played it for my girlfriend, I kept stopping to say how good it sounded.  Her reaction, "Stop stopping and keep playing!  I want to hear it!" That was nice.

[mgap]

Welcome to the hog family again.  For the last several years my 514ce has been one of my best.  I have always enjoyed the cedar/mahog combination, finger style or flat picking it does not matter. 
The514ce's are a excellent guitar.  Your assessment on the ES2 is encouraging, and I like the new fretboard markers.  Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[DennisG]

Congratulations!  I hope you two have many happy years together.

[TaylorGirl]

Congrats...you have the big brother to my 512ce. Yes these cedar/hogs are amazing. I can't get GAS from your post....because I beat you to the punch. Your new Taylor is beautiful....enjoy it!

[michaelw]

very nice
thanks for sharing the pics

now, get back to playing the strings off 'er

[Lizzy]

Your guitar is beautiful! I really love a cedar tops. Congrats and enjoy!

[taylorcross65]

Congratulations for your new guitar.
I have noticed that the strings seem to be 80/20!

[John]

Nice, I too love the cedar, hog. I bought my first Taylor six months ago. 512ce 12 fret. I keep telling my wife it's the most beautiful sounding guitar I've ever heard and I can't believe it's mine. It continues to open up and sound better.

[michaelw]

... I have noticed that the strings seem to be 80/20!

it could  be one of the last 2013 models, like this one
http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/11969/Taylor-514ce-Western-Red-Cedar-Grand-Auditorium-AcousticElectric-Guitar/

[shorty]

Congrats...Looks great. enjoy

[raa2173]

Congrats! I agree, ebony buttons do look wonderful on that guitar. And that solid black/dark fretboard simply looks great. I heard that dark/black fretboards are becoming scarce these days.

[guitarsrsoawesome]

The strings: I immediately changed them from the stock elixir nano 80/20 lights that were on the guitar to Martin FX 80/20 lights (12's). I love these strings...if you get 3 weeks out of em you're fortunate because there's no coating, but man they sound amazing to me, and only cost $X.XX Sweetwater, Amazon, et. al.  They have this grittiness with the A and D string that makes it sound, "tough" and more driving, bassy sort of. They have fliexible core technology which makes them feel bendable and springy.  I think Tommy Emmanuel uses them.  They play fast and are actually fun to play.  Ok, Martin should send me some money for that!

$

[John]

I agree with your statement regarding the A & D strings having a driving force. This sound cuts through when playing lead licks even with a room full of others playing. I put on a set of John Pearce 80/20 and love them. I know Tommy Emanuel uses them too, along with the Martin's. I watched a clip where he said he changes up strings depending on what is needed and said the guitar responds better if you don't use the same brand all of the time.

[MB]

That is one sweet looking Taylor! I'm hoping to see/hear/play a cedar topped hog at the roadshow tomorrow.

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I agree with your statement regarding the A & D strings having a driving force. This sound cuts through when playing lead licks even with a room full of others playing. I put on a set of John Pearce 80/20 and love them. I know Tommy Emanuel uses them too, along with the Martin's. I watched a clip where he said he changes up strings depending on what is needed and said the guitar responds better if you don't use the same brand all of the time.

I really think he's right about that...i played life spans for a long time on my all hog martin and then switched to the fx and it sounded amazing, but i thought the same thing when i first went to the life spans.  maybe both our ears and the guitars need something new!