Best Acoustic-Electric Guitar for Performing Musicians
The Taylor 114ce delivers a solid Sitka spruce top, layered walnut back and sides, Taylor Expression System 2 electronics for live performance, and the legendary Taylor playability — the acoustic-electric for players ready to perform.
ClearPick Score
9.3 / 10
Excellent
Sound Quality
9.5
Playability
9.5
Electronics
9.0
Build Quality
9.0
Value for Money
8.5
Full Specs
Top
Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides
Layered Walnut
Neck
Tropical Mahogany
Fingerboard
West African Ebony, 20 frets
Scale Length
650mm
Nut Width
44mm
Body Style
Grand Auditorium (GA)
Electronics
Taylor ES2 (Expression System 2)
Cutaway
Yes (single cutaway for upper fret access)
Case
Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Case included
As an Amazon Associate, ClearPick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
🏆 Best Acoustic-Electric Guitar for Performing Musicians
Taylor Expression System 2 electronics are the best under-saddle pickup system at this price — the ES2 uses an innovative behind-saddle pickup placement that captures more of the acoustic resonance than standard under-saddle systems, producing a plugged-in sound that retains more acoustic character than typical piezo pickups.
Grand Auditorium body shape balances projection and comfort — the GA body is Taylor's most versatile design: larger than a concert or OM for more projection, but narrower and more comfortable than a dreadnought for extended seated playing. It works for strumming and fingerpicking.
Taylor's neck profile and setup is consistently player-oriented — Taylor guitars leave the factory with low, comfortable action and a straight, even neck. More than any other major acoustic guitar brand, Taylor's out-of-box playability is consistently high.
Cutaway allows access to the upper frets — the single Venetian cutaway allows the picking hand to access frets above the 12th position for lead playing, making the 114ce appropriate for melody-focused playing styles.
⚠️ Worth Knowing
Layered (not solid) walnut back and sides — only the top is solid. The layered walnut back and sides are engineered wood construction, which is humidity-stable but resonates less freely than solid wood back and sides. This is the standard trade-off at $1,099.
Grand Auditorium projects less than a dreadnought for acoustic-only use — the GA body shape has a more balanced, controlled projection rather than the booming volume of a dreadnought. For loud unplugged playing, a dreadnought projects more. For amplified or studio use, the GA's controlled response is advantageous.
ES2 requires a 9V battery — the Taylor Expression System 2 is battery-powered. A fresh 9V provides 70-100 hours of use, and the battery is accessed through a compartment on the end block. Replace before performances.
The included hardshell case is a genuine value-add — Taylor includes a padded hardshell case (normally $100-150 separately). Factor this into cost comparisons with guitars sold without cases.
What Real Buyers Are Saying
What buyers love
"Gigged this weekly for 3 years. The ES2 sounds better plugged in than any acoustic pickup system I've tried. Sound engineers love it."
Source: Reddit (r/acoustic)
"Taylor playability is real. Picked this up in a guitar store and played chord shapes I'd never comfortably played before because the action is so dialed in."
Source: Amazon.ca reviewer
"The case alone is worth $100. Getting a hardshell case included made my decision easy between the Taylor and a competing guitar at the same price."
Source: Amazon.ca reviewer
Common complaints
Layered walnut back and sides limits…
Layered walnut back and sides limits resonance versus all-solid alternatives — the back and sides are engineered wood, reducing the acoustic resonance that all-solid guitars achieve. Players upgrading from the Seagull S6's solid back and sides may notice the difference.
Source: Reddit (r/acousticguitar)
GA body projects less than dreadnought…
GA body projects less than dreadnought for unplugged acoustic-only use — the Grand Auditorium produces less volume than a dreadnought body for players who play primarily acoustic without amplification.
Source: Amazon.ca reviewer
ES2 battery compartment access awkward…
ES2 battery compartment access awkward mid-gig — the 9V battery replacement requires a small screwdriver or coin and is slightly fiddly to access during a performance. Change the battery before any gig.
Source: Reddit (r/acoustic)
ClearPick Verdict
The Taylor 114ce is the best acoustic-electric guitar under $1,100 for performing musicians. The ES2 electronics, Grand Auditorium body, Taylor playability, and included hardshell case make it a complete gigging guitar from the moment it arrives. If you play acoustic shows, open mics, or studio sessions where plugging in matters, the Taylor 114ce is the professional-entry purchase.