K14ce Builder's Edition - questions for owners

[rinzai]

Hello all,
I'm new to this forum and while I've purchased a number of Taylor guitars over the years to give as gifts (4, I think), I’ve never owned one myself until now.
 
I have had my eye on a v-class 914ce since sometime last fall and about a month ago when I thought I was 'ready' to take the plunge, I learned about the 2018 v-class K14ce Builder's Edition. 

I started reading, watching reviews, etc.  I read or watched everything I could find.  The things that cinched it for me (apart from all the glowing kudos it’s receiving) included the torrefied top, vine inlay and carved cutaway. The Koa back and sides would offer a new tonal palette over my existing instruments.  I've never owned anything with a 'satin' finish so I never gave this aspect much thought.
 
It’s been about a week now since it arrived.  Visually, it’s stunning.  Sonically it is unique and has a great deal to offer.  It feels great in the hand and plays beautifully.  So, you might be inclined to think it’s the perfect flattop… but if you'll indulge a newbie, I have some questions I’d like to pose to those of you who also own one and have more experience with it.

First the finish; I’m having a hard time understanding where the ‘silent’ part comes in.  I’m not trying to bait anyone or come off as a troll. I honestly don’t get it.  Handling this guitar creates a lot more surface noise than any of my other acoustic instruments (all finished in gloss nitro).   And please don’t shoot me for this, but I’ve gone so far as to ask Taylor about polishing it. Can any owners out there tell me what your thoughts on this are?  Do you find it quieter to the point of deserving this moniker?  And if so, how? e.g. under what conditions?

The second question I have is what are your thoughts on how the cutaway carve was done?  Unlike the finish, I find this feature to be very functional as it really opens up access to the upper registers.  But the wide, black transition into open end-grain is really strange and somewhat unsightly; making it look really out of place to me.  What puzzles me is why no-one who has reviewed this guitar has said a single word about how this was done.  Granted, I had the instrument for several days before I noticed it, but I believe that this is largely due to the extremely dark finish inside the cutaway…

Lastly, is there anyone out there with both the K14ce BE, and a 914ce both with V-class?  If so, if you had to choose only one of these based on your ability to side-by-side them, which would it be and why? I know this is a tough question, since player style/preference is infinitely diverse… but from your perspective if you have a ‘favorite’ which one is it? 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and for any thoughts you are willing to share…

-Mark

[ClassicRock]

I don’t exactly qualify to answer your questions-I own neither-but may have some experience you can draw from.

First, congrats on your great new guitar! I own Martin in Rosewood and Mahogany but when it came to adding Koa to my collection, I turned to Taylor. I test drove the K14ce-BE three times and I was impressed. I would have bought it but the example my dealer had was a beat up Road Show hand-me-down and the dealer would not discount it appropriately. The Koa shortage hit about this time so I decided to buy a K24ce-V. I’ve played it side-by-side for six months now with an excellent custom HD28V in Guatemalan RW. Very different guitars, but that’s kind of the point for me anyway. My all Koa guitar is very strong in the midrange. In fact, I can say it showed why the Martin is described as having “scooped midrange” (perhaps the 914 is similar).   But the V-Class tone of the Taylor is a keeper in my book, a very sweet tone that supposedly will open up significantly as the hardwood top ages. I think the main point of the BE is to shortcut this lengthy opening up of their Koa top guitars by putting a torrified spruce on it.

But, Koa will never have the overtones of rosewood. Even so, I feel blessed to own both. I note that Taylor puts the thin, 3.5 mil gloss finish on the 914 which may give it almost a torrified tone. If you can only afford one or the other, I’d hang on to the BE because there will not ever be another first Builders Edition. You can always pick up a 914 or other Rosewood/Sitka guitar.

[Earl]

I'm new to this forum and while I've purchased a number of Taylor guitars over the years to give as gifts (4, I think), I’ve never owned one myself until now.

Very generous of you, and time to reward yourself.        K14 BE is a great choice!  Although I have minimal experience - just brief test drives before a recent Road Show - it is doubtful you could go wrong with either option.  It is mostly a case of features and woods.  (I'm a big koa fan myself, and Taylor does a really nice job with koa).

I'm not sure what the thinking is behind the "silent" satin finish, other than maybe saving a few bucks on the labor needed to get a true gloss.  Normal satin finishes can be noisy rubbing against the body any time the guitar moves.  Sometimes when recording with my satin 414ce, I've had to use a chamois between me and the guitar to cut down on that handling noise in the microphone.  The new satin is likely an attempt to tone down handling noise with a smoother surface.  But glossy will always be the quietest of all. 

I counsel against trying to polish it further - that is very tricky.  The odds are high that you will ruin a perfectly good existing finish, based on everything I've read.

[Frettingflyer]

I can’t speak to the 914 v-class comparison, although I did play one, it really didn’t knock my socks off and I hope was not typical of the 914’s.
I think the silent part of the Satin is less noisy than a normal satin finish. I haven’t noticed any noise but I also have not recorded with it yet.
I like both the look of the cutaway and the functionality of it, fwiw.
We each like different stuff, that is why there are so many choices.

[taylorguitar]

In my opinion, the sound of K14ce is a bit dampen and muffled compare to 914ce. And many people says that with Koa, the quality really varies from one to the other, while Rosewood sounds quality is more consistent. I tried a few K14ce but was not really impressed with the sound ( perhaps I tried the Koa which was not great quality)  which made me to buy 914ce instead.

In terms of the presentation, K14ce is really stands out (even compare to 914ce).

[TrampsLikeUs]

4 Taylor's as gifts? 
Can I be placed on your Christmas list?
 ....  Uncle  Rinzai ??

[ATR1]

Hello,
I also picked up a K14ce Builder's Edition 2019 about 6 months ago. Stunning!
What drew me to this was playing a 800 Deluxe at GC. It fit perfect and played perfect, but I wanted the K14 and had not played one. This is against everything I have learned over years of playing and buying guitars.
If it feels good and sounds good buy it! That's the one.
 
Compared to my 2001 614ce. Different sound and feel. Its been growing on me.
The thing I have been struggling with is the string tension. (std. tuning)
I typically use 12s light on my 614 which feel great. Not so on the K14ce. Feels like 13s. I know it's weird. After playing for a while your typical cowboy chords at the nut my fingers actually hurt.  I do play daily. Not so with my 614. No issues play for hours.

So I have started experimenting with different manufactures(Martin, Elixir 80/20 bronze) and gauges. I am starting with 12s light different company to see if there is a difference.
Next will be the EB Paradigm 11-52s sitting on my desk.  I will continue this till I find the right fit.

Has anyone else notice this and if so what are you using for strings?

Thx.

[Redpeters]

I have owned my K14ce since they first came out. I have played it on probably a hundred gigs and I can't find anything I don't like about it. I have no idea why the satin finish is quieter than gloss, I just know that I like it way more than any gloss finish I've ever had. It's easy to care for and never looks smudged like a gloss finish. It never feels sticky either, and that is a great benefit when you play gigs in hot weather. To me, the guitar is much nicer looking because of the satin finish. It makes the trim work stand out and it's a real departure from everyone else's guitar. Sound wise, it's great and getting better the more I play it. I also have a new 322ce in shaded dark burst with blackwood back and sides. It's a great guitar but the K14ce Builders Edition is like something from another world compared to the 322......as you would expect. Point is, the K14 is different and interesting and that's part of the reason it's such a great guitar!

[ATR1]

Redpeters,
Do you still feel the same about your k14ce BE?

What strings are you using?
I am really trying to bond with this guitar, but struggling. I am going to buy a few sets of strings/gauges from different manufactures and see if I find something I like.

Considering a Martin D41 as soon as I try one.

Thx ATR.

[DennisG]

Redpeters,
Do you still feel the same about your k14ce BE?

What strings are you using?
I am really trying to bond with this guitar, but struggling. I am going to buy a few sets of strings/gauges from different manufactures and see if I find something I like.

Considering a Martin D41 as soon as I try one.

Thx ATR.

This thread is almost seven years old, so I doubt that the OP is still monitoring their post.

[Earl]

The OP has not logged on since November 13, 2019.  As Dennis said, it is unlikely you will get a response.  Besides, I have not kept track of all the changes since the original question.  Was that an X-braced guitar?  It cannot be compared directly to a V-brace or newer hybrid V-brace, IMHO.

[Frettingflyer]

I tried a few different sets of strings on mine but returned to Elixir lights in PB on that particular guitar. I don’t think I tried the XS on that yet but I was ahead of Taylor in switching to those on my 322, which is my most played Taylor. It really likes the XS but I really didn’t like the XT’s I accidentally bough for it, so they only lasted less than 2 weeks.
Would be interested to see what strings end up working for you on the K24. Mine is Y braced, FWIW.