Taylor 214ce

epictring

Hey guys, I'm looking at buying a Taylor 214ce.

Gonna take a while to save up but I'm up for it..I think..

So what are your opinions? Good guitar?

Bob-Dubery

Street price is 900 to 999 USD. Expect to pay 9 grand at least in SA.

In my opinion the current new Taylors are not bad guitars, but also don't represent great value for money. They don't sound that good plugged in. Shop around for a good 2nd hand example, or visit a couple of shops and play other brands of new guitar in the same price bracket.

What do you expect to pay for the Taylor?

epictring

I found a offer on eBay for R8300 (incl. fully insured FedEx shipping)
But then there's taxes that need to be added..

How much % is import taxes on these guitars?

dee

epictring wrote: I found a offer on eBay for R8300 (incl. fully insured FedEx shipping)
But then there's taxes that need to be added..

How much % is import taxes on these guitars?

There is no import tax on guitars, but you will have to pay 14% VAT, so basically an additional R1162, so you are essentially paying R9462.

epictring

I gave music connection a call, they don't have the 214ce, but they said the 110 already goes for 8000 (something in the 8).
So I'm guessing the 214ce will be wayy above the price?

Edit: Orange Music quotes R13.585

So ordering off eBay would probably be saving me then?

Squonk

I think you wil get a better guitar second hand. That Taylor is not worth R8000. Anyway it would be best to try before you buy.

Go to the music shops, scan Gumtree etc.

Bob-Dubery

epictring wrote: I gave music connection a call, they don't have the 214ce, but they said the 110 already goes for 8000 (something in the 8).
So I'm guessing the 214ce will be wayy above the price?

Edit: Orange Music quotes R13.585

So ordering off eBay would probably be saving me then?

This is an ongoing debate on GFSA. You need to factor in shipping, duties etc to understand what you are REALLY going to pay. The deal may not be as good as the dollar selling price suggests. Plus you are buying the guitar without having played it or even seen it, and your guarantee, if there is one, must be honoured on the other side of the world.

For 13 grand you should be able to get a very lekker Takamine, and Breedlove starts coming into the picture too.

Look.... if you've played a 214 and like it and feel that's what you want then by all means ignore me ?

chris77

Good luck man. I was in the market for an acc-electric in that price range as well. Got quoted prices for the 214 in the same range as you. Which sucked big time, because I really wanted one. Good thing is it made me look at other options. Nearly bought a Masterbilt Epiphone and a Seagull artist model, but ended up getting a Breedlove instead (for about 4grand less than the Taylor I might add) So ja, if you have your heart set on the 214 and want to get one, importing is a helluva lot cheaper. (Unless you, a friend or a relative has some pull at a music store and you can get a great discount ? ) But check out the alternatives as well hey. There's a lot of good guitars in that range, and even more if you don't mind buying 2nd hand or importing.

epictring

Thanks man.. I'll also take a look at some of the other mentioned brands!

Why do you guys think you can get way better value for money when it comes to Taylor guitars?

theantirockstar

It is actually a fantastic guitar. I own the 214e (non cutaway version) the secret for the good plugged in sound is getting a balanced jack to XLR cable, and playing around with the ES system. The neck beautiful to play, and there is great articulation. It does have the typical bright Taylor sound, which is what I was going for, but is a matter of taste (cuts through the mix brilliantly)

There are other options Tanglewood, Martin, Takemine , Breedlove, Seagull etc all make good guitars in that price range, so it's down to choice. I am really happy with my 214e, makes me play guitar more.

chris77

'Value for money' is a personal thing for me. I don't mind paying a bit extra for the name on the headstock. But there's a point where you start to think, "uhn-uh, I'm not paying that". Where that point is varies from person to person, and is dependant on a lot of different factors. We all value stuff for different reasons. Ultimately, something is worth exactly as much to you as you're prepared to pay for it. How you come to that figure is entirely up to you. So bollocks to everybody else telling you what is too much for it. If you want it and is prepared to pay for it, it's your choice. I'm just saying that if (like I did) you find the price a bit stiff, it needn't be the end of the world. Some great guitars out there if you shop around a bit.

aubs1

epictring wrote: Why do you guys think you can get way better value for money when it comes to Taylor guitars?

I wonder too ... ???

chris77 wrote: 'Value for money' is a personal thing for me. I don't mind paying a bit extra for the name on the headstock. But there's a point where you start to think, "uhn-uh, I'm not paying that". Where that point is varies from person to person, and is dependant on a lot of different factors. We all value stuff for different reasons. Ultimately, something is worth exactly as much to you as you're prepared to pay for it. How you come to that figure is entirely up to you. So bollocks to everybody else telling you what is too much for it. If you want it and is prepared to pay for it, it's your choice. I'm just saying that if (like I did) you find the price a bit stiff, it needn't be the end of the world. Some great guitars out there if you shop around a bit.

Ditto ....... ?

[deleted]

epictring wrote: Why do you guys think you can get way better value for money when it comes to Taylor guitars?

For R12000 you can get an amazing Solid Wood Takamine... thats why...
A 2 series Taylor is a laminate rosewood back and side. for R12k?
Jee the equivalent guitar with Tanglewood on the headstock costs a might R2500 ?

A Taylor 1series 2series 3series 4series 5series are all... errrrrrrr
Im leaving now....
I have not played a decent Taylor below a 6 series ? If I had to, thats where I would start
and then you at R30k

But hey that is my humble opinion... ?

[deleted]

chris77 wrote: 'Value for money' is a personal thing for me. I don't mind paying a bit extra for the name on the headstock. But there's a point where you start to think, "uhn-uh, I'm not paying that". Where that point is varies from person to person, and is dependant on a lot of different factors. We all value stuff for different reasons. Ultimately, something is worth exactly as much to you as you're prepared to pay for it. How you come to that figure is entirely up to you. So bollocks to everybody else telling you what is too much for it. If you want it and is prepared to pay for it, it's your choice. I'm just saying that if (like I did) you find the price a bit stiff, it needn't be the end of the world. Some great guitars out there if you shop around a bit.

he asked if a 214ce is a good guitar...

In my opinion... NO... its K@K for the price ? if it was R5000 maybe yes

zohn

epictring wrote: Hey guys, I'm looking at buying a Taylor 214ce.

Gonna take a while to save up but I'm up for it..I think..

So what are your opinions? Good guitar?

No, I don't think it is a good guitar. You can do better with that amount of money.
Believe me, once you have it, you'll want to upgrade and the 214 will be worth zilch.

theantirockstar

zohn wrote: Believe me, once you have it, you'll want to upgrade and the 214 will be worth zilch.

True, owning a 214e makes me want to own a higher end Taylor, the GA8 is possibly one of the best guitars I have everplayed. It's never a bad thing to aspire to collecting top end guitars IMO . It is down to personal preferance. I am so glad I got my 214e, regardless of what people think it is a fantastic guitar, sounds and plays beautifully. On the trade in value to be honest not many guitars besides Martin, Gibson and Fender have any real resale or investment value.

I also have a Tanglewood TW45FLRB, solid cedar top, solid rosewood back and sides. It's a great guitar too, cheaper than the Taylor, but not necessarily better. Play a few guitars, decide on what you enjoy playing and speaks to you. In the end you need to pay for it, and you need to play it, you need to love it and enjoy it. It's going to be your musical voice. Not us, we a bunch of opinionated gents and dames on the internet ?

guitarboy2828

theantirockstar wrote:
zohn wrote: Believe me, once you have it, you'll want to upgrade and the 214 will be worth zilch.
True, owning a 214e makes me want to own a higher end Taylor, the GA8 is possibly one of the best guitars I have everplayed. It's never a bad thing to aspire to collecting top end guitars IMO . It is down to personal preferance. I am so glad I got my 214e, regardless of what people think it is a fantastic guitar, sounds and plays beautifully. On the trade in value to be honest not many guitars besides Martin, Gibson and Fender have any real resale or investment value.

I'm not sure anyone is knocking the sound and build of Taylor's, they are good guitars. i agree with an earlier post, I have only played one 314ce i like, the rest were all above the 6 series, which costs a lot more. HOWEVER, I think what everyone is saying is that when it comes to value for an instrument, Taylor has lost the plot. They are a lot more expensive than a guitar of exactly the same build quality and sound quality. You can pick up a breedlove for the same price that'll play and sound A LOT better, IMO.

So, if you love 214ce's, and you've played a few, then get one. However, if you want to sell it in 6 months time, expect to get half of what you paid for it.

On importing a guitar. I really do believe that anyone who is going to import an acoustic guitar is being a little silly (no offence). When I was in the USA, i played 3 or 4 Taylor 314ce's. All in different music stores. Not one of them sounded exactly the same. One actually outshone the rest by far, was just an amazing instrument. The other 3 were okay, but not WOW. So, to buy a guitar online, without ever playing it, especially when putting out R10k for it, seems a little silly to me. But again, that is just my opinion. Maybe you'll get it and it'll be everything you wanted..

chris77

Yup, buying an acoustic online is a lottery. I've bought 2 thus far from online vendors. Extremely happy with one, extremely dissapointed in the other. But for some of us that's the only option. I can't take a trip to gauteng, pay for fuel, accomodation and meals And still pay premium prices at a store. To me, that's a bit silly.

epictring

Alright, thanks for the advice guys. What alternative models can I try with Breedlove that compare nicely to the 214ce?

Thanks ?

Edit: I'm now having a look at the Breedlove Atlas C25/SR, it seems to be at about the same price range? Any idea how much it will set me back in SA?
And what other models can I look at?

chris77

I got a D35/SMe. The breedlove model codes work like this - first letter is shape (D is dreadnought, C is auditorium iirc), then if it starts with a 2 the body depth is normal, with a 3 and it's a bit deeper. If the code has two numbers, eg 35 or 25 it has a solid top and back. Three numbers, eg 250 or 350 means solid top, laminate back and sides. Then the next 2 letters stand for woods used, SM is spruce top, mahogony back and sides and SR is spruce top, rosewood back and sides. So the model your'e looking at wil be a regular auditorium sized guitar, with a solid spruce top and solid rosewood back, with laminate rosewood sides. So spec wise it looks like a great guitar. I have only ever played mine, so I cannot speak for the other models, but mine is great. Nice deep mellow bass and clear trebble tones. And loud as hell. Great for strumming and flatpicking, and I'm sure if I could fingerpick properly it wouldn't sound to bad either. Hope that helps you a bit.