NGD: Taylor 914ce LTD Sinker Redwood/EIR

[Guitarsan]

I like a guitar with a story or two behind it. Most of mine have or had one, I'm sure many of you have guitar stories too. (Share them below if you like!) Like, did I tell you the time I had to buy my GS Mini at 30,000 feet in the air?

When I show this guitar for the first time, I explain that the Sinker Redwood top started out life as an old growth Redwood in Northern California, then cut down as a log, sent downriver to the mill only to never finish the journey. Sank instead, almost like it dug in it's heels, awaiting a better destination. And then, oh, over a hundred years goes by, and someone hauls it up, dries it off, and sells the wood to Taylor. Who would imagine (before it was discovered) that the silt and minerals which invaded that wood would only strengthen it and make it prettier? And spectacular as a guitar top? Amazing stuff.

I've always had in the back of my mind that my final keeper guitar would have very rich overtones. I don't sing, so they would help make up for that. Plus I wanted a louder guitar, one that could project fingerstyle playing but also could handle a decent amount of strumming. Cedar fails on that last account, but this Sinker redwood doesn't. In fact, maybe it's the V-Class bracing, but this top has as much headroom as Sitka spruce as far as I can tell.

Then there's that beveled armrest that Taylor doesn't put on any guitars these days other than Custom BTOs and some LTDs like this one. It'll set you back in the neighborhood of $1,500 to add it it to a custom guitar, because it takes a lot of labor to make and Taylor doesn't have many artisans who have the skill to make them. It's as functional as it is pretty and really helps with comfort on the GA size body.

What does it sound like? Well, everything I've ever wanted and needed. Plus the sustain is magnificent and while I've been ambivalent to V-Class bracing in the past, I only see positives from what I can hear in the tone and playability all the way up the neck.

And she looks good too.



I had dyed bone bridge pins handy, they go great with the top!

[TaylorGirl]

They really paired the woods nicely; all around. It's a real beauty. I know how special the beveled armrest is too; it's what's on my 914. It's great you found the tone, story, and aesthetics that you were seeking. You did good, congratulations!

[Edward]

Ohhh man, that's some serious stuff right there!  I miss my macassar GS from years back; such a rich/deep tone.  Huge congrats; enjoy that beauty in good health!!

Edward

[Strumming Fool]

Congrats - she's a beauty!

[Guitarsan]

They really paired the woods nicely; all around. It's a real beauty. I know how special the beveled armrest is too; it's what's on my 914. It's great you found the tone, story, and aesthetics that you were seeking. You did good, congratulations!

I remember that 914ce when you got it and that they stopped the beveled armrest on 900s not long after. 900s are a bit of mystery to me, setting aside the cosmetics, there's something tangibly better about their tone compared to the 800 series - that's been true with any one I've ever played. Not sure if they tweak it somehow or are extra careful with wood selection, but whatever it is, I appreciate it.

Thanks for all your comments!

[Earl]

Purdy!  I don't know about the magic involved, but I tend to agree that 900's in general seem a touch better than even 800's.  I have never owned any Taylor above the 600 level, but have certainly played quite a few.  It is more a case of not being able to afford one for quite a long time, then my guitar interests moving on to other things by the time I could afford the 900-series price tag.

[Bo]

That is a handsome guitar.  So rich and elegant looking. The quality of wood that Taylor puts into their 900's is always amazing.  Nearly every single one you see is just stunning.   Play it good health!

[Frettingflyer]

Guess I missed this earlier, congrats, what a fantastic looking guitar! Great find there for sure. Enjoy that new sound and look and thanks for sharing. I also really like the way you explain the Sinker top, great story with that one.

[Guitarsan]

Thanks again all, here's a bit of what it sounds like.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTJVZb9DJAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omgqGVi6iNQ

[Guitarsan]

I accidentally bought a set of Elixir 80/20 Nanoweb strings some time ago and it was time to change strings for this guitar so I figured I would throw them on. I knew they'd sound a bit different than the Phosphor Bronze set they came with, but what the heck. Tuned them up, one strum and... oh my gosh, that sounds awful. Hard to keep in tune, all the overtones were muted or gone, just bad. What the heck, did I get a bad set? I thought 80/20 would be brighter?

Put it down to do something else, picked it back up to play again, looked down at the strings and... I had accidentally put the D and G strings on wrong, having switched their positions. Huh, well, let me swap them and.... man, there we go! I never would have believed it would make that much difference, but you learn something every day. And that something is... don't put new strings on after midnight again! 

[Celts88]

Thanks again all, here's a bit of what it sounds like.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTJVZb9DJAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omgqGVi6iNQ

Guitarsan

Beautiful guitar.

Acoustic Centre - did you get the guitar from there, and was it new (are they back to doing the bevel instead of radius).

I've a 914ce Ltd Sinker / EIR which unfortunately only has the radius, but still a lovely guitar.

[Guitarsan]

Beautiful guitar.

Acoustic Centre - did you get the guitar from there, and was it new (are they back to doing the bevel instead of radius).

I've a 914ce Ltd Sinker / EIR which unfortunately only has the radius, but still a lovely guitar.

Thanks, yours is gorgeous too. I got mine at Ken Stanton Music. They special ordered 6 and I had my pick of those 6. This model is a 2021 914ce LTD Sinker Redwood/Rosewood combination. Taylor made a small global batch that dealers bought and then later allowed dealers to order an additional batch beyond that global batch and Ken Stanton took advantage of that buying opportunity. I believe 2 remain in stock. Just love the sound and look of this guitar, it is my forever keeper main acoustic guitar! I suspect this was a very special version with the beveled armrest, not sure it'll happen again.

Yours appears to be the 2019 NAMM Sinker/EIR version with the radiused armrest?

[Guitarsan]

Well, update on this guitar. When I got it, I questioned the dealer about the back and side wood. They told me it was Macassar Ebony but I felt like it looked like Rosewood, not like the striped appearance of M. Ebony at all. But I shrugged it off and forgot about it. But looking at it again the other day, I thought, this is Rosewood . So I emailed Taylor Guitars giving them my serial number. They quickly wrote back that indeed it is East Indian Rosewood on the back and sides. As a result, I've removed any of my references that this was Macassar Ebony in the posts above.

"Mystery" solved - not that it bothers me in the least, it's gorgeous and the tone is outstanding. But the nagging feeling something isn't right has gone away. 

[TaylorGirl]

I wondered that myself, but then thought, what do I know? 

[sstaylor58]

That is an absolutely stunning instrument. I’ve always longed for a sinker top, someday…enjoy the heck out of it!