We can proudly say that Darren Shepherd has played every guitar featured in this article. These Taylor acoustic guitars are here based on extensive research and decades of combined guitar experience of Darren and Teemu.
Best Overall – Taylor 814ce
Summary
This guitar checked off all of the boxes on my list of things that make up my idea of the perfect Taylor.
The Indian rosewood sings in harmony with the Sitka spruce top and provides an incredible mid-range tone with plenty of presence and warmth.
The playability is second to none. A smooth-playing action allows you to venture up into the higher frets courtesy of the cutaway.
Pros:
-Amazing looks add major stage appeal
-High-quality tonewoods produce sweet, singing tones
-Very comfortable and extremely easy to play
-Versatile and great for every experience level
-True Taylor sound
Cons:
-This guitar deserves a real bone nut and saddle! I’m just not a fan of Micarta or Tusq for these very important parts.
This guitar is an investment that players from any level can appreciate. Play one and you’ll be hooked.
How Taylor 814ce sounds:
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The Next Best:
Best Live Performer – Taylor 324ce Builder’s Edition
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Summary
Pros:
- Incredible volume for a Grand Auditorium body
- Beautiful finish with plenty of stage presence
- Rich, balanced mid-range tone for excellent articulation on stage
- Extremely comfortable to play
Cons:
- Real bone nut and saddle would add more volume and clarity
- Lack of an onboard tuner is a bit of a bummer for a guitar of this caliber
You need this on stage. Trust me when I say that not all sound guys are created equal.
Best Dreadnought – Taylor American Dream AD17
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Summary
Pros:
- Well-balanced tone with tons of clarity for versatile playing situations
- Extremely solid construction makes it road-worthy
- Comfortable to play for guitarist of all skill levels
Cons:
- This guitar really needs a real bone nut and saddle to maximize tonal potential
- I would have personally preferred a gloss finish over the matte finish for better visual appeal
Those who are looking for a high-quality dreadnought with exceptional tone and playability should look no further than the Taylor American Dream AD17.
Best Budget Taylor – Taylor Academy 10e
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Summary
Pros:
- Quality tonewoods provide a full, rich tone
- Dreadnought size provides impressive volume without playing hard
- Shortened scale length is great for smaller hands
- Onboard electronics make it an incredibly versatile full-bodied acoustic
Cons:
- Some more experienced players may not like the shorter scale length
- A real bone nut and saddle would add a bit more tonal balance
- Taylor needs to add an onboard tuner to the ES2 system
If you aren’t quite ready to fork out big bucks on a higher-end Taylor, I enthusiastically recommend that you give the Taylor Academy 10e your consideration.
Best Travel – Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor
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Summary
Pros:
- Choice woods produce impressive volume and tone
- Small size is great for travel or smaller players
- Comes with a travel case!
Cons:
- A simple onboard electronics system would improve versatility
- Players with larger hands may find the ¾ scale a bit too small for them
It has plenty of usable volume, and they are right at home in the studio. I would venture to say that many players would appreciate what this little guitar has to offer when it comes to sound and playability.
Compare Key Specs:
Compare The Tonewoods:
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood
Neck: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard: West African Ebony
The fretboard and neck don’t affect the tone much.
Top: Solid Mahogany
Back & Sides: Solid Urban Ash
Neck: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Top: Solid Spruce
Back & Sides: Solid Ovangkol
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Eucalyptus
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Layered Sapele
Neck: Hard Rock Maple
Fretboard: Ebony
Top: Solid Tropical American Mahogany
Back & Sides: Layered Sapele
Neck: Maple
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony
We got the specs from Taylor’s site.
For more cool info about tonewoods, check this acoustic guitar tonewoods article.
If you are not sure if Taylors are the right choice for you, check this article: “Are Taylor Acoustic Guitars Any Good?“
How We Chose These Taylor Acoustic Guitars
- We decided which Taylors to recommend by using our own experience, doing extensive research, visiting music stores, and asking help from our musician friends
- After we had chosen the best guitars to recommend we looked for a good way to test the gear. This means either renting it, buying it, testing it in a music store, or visiting a friend who owns it. This time, our main testing method was playing these acoustic guitars in music stores.
- Even after this, we’ll still do another round of extensive research to make sure that this specific product is in fact, a real cream-of-the-crop candidate.
- Then we wrote this in-depth but easily digestible review about these acoustic guitars. We kept in mind who will be playing them (most likely) such as bluegrass players, blues players, players who want to plug in, beginners, advanced players, etc.
Most acoustic guitars we recommend are run through tests like these:
- We go carefully through the finish and build quality of the guitar.
- We inspect the fretwork and edges of the fretboard to make sure there are no sharp edges.
- We play the acoustic guitar unplugged and plugged in.
- We use different playing techniques, such as fingerpicking, flatpicking, strumming, tapping, and even percussive playing.
- We measure and weight the guitar.
- We try licks and riffs from different genres.
Learn more about GND’s testing and reviewing processes here.
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Our Taylor Guitars Buying Guide was first published on 11/29/23. It was revisited, refined, and republished to be more comprehensive than ever on 5/7/25.
