"Buy Quality"

Feature:
You don't need many feautures on this type of guitar , your'e looking for a clean natural sound that you get from a quality accoustic, The expression system seems superior in conveying a more natural sound.

Quality:
It's extrememely well made..and I looked closely! Mine has been very reliable,especially like the tuning heads ,it just refuses to go out of tune. With this much built-in quality I can only imagine it sounding a little better each year.

Value:
I feel it was worth paying for a better instrument, I'd rather pay a little more and be happy with the guitar

Desirability:
The visual attraction to me , is it's clean look ,simple, and looks well made. It does'nt have lots of onamentation, but I'd rather not have to pay for that, and go for the sound

Sound:
The sound is beautiful, partly because of the types of wood and also beacuse of it's large box

Support:
I had some issues at first with the action and string gauge and called a Taylor rep. He seemed a little uninterested and not very helpful . I hope he isn't represetative of the rest of their staff

Overall:
I don't forsee ever getting rid of this guitar, it can be used for so many styles. I would compare it to a Martin. I really don't have anything to complain about it. I selected for the tone, playability and clean quality look, quality of the Expression system and I can use it at church or a jazz gig.

"Best of the Taylors 600 series and lower"

Feature:
only missing feature that is a real bummer is a tuner but they are probably optimizing for better resonance / less weight. Not that hard to hook up an external tuner. Special feature is the balanced output - comes with a special cable with an xlr connection at the end for going straight to PA or improved sound quality in amps that have xlr inputs.

Quality:
Tuners are excellent - smooth and really really solid. Excellent craftsmanship throughout of course. The only thing better would be a 5,000 dollar+ instrument from a custom luthier etc. Generally you get the feeling that this thing is really solid. Of course the sound of it and the great neck / action testify to the quality of materials used and the quality of craftsmanship. Obviously a Taylor is not going to fall apart if treated more or less right. This 414CE is noticeably nicer than the 314CE - both the neck and the sound. I actually preferred it to the 514CE as well.

Value:
Hard to say...in this price range it becomes very subjective based on what tone and feel you like. If you like the Taylor sound in general, the 414 is a good value price point because it's significantly better than the 300 series but only a little more money. The more expensive 500 series don't seem much nicer. The 700's are a little nicer but way up there in price. 400's are a good way to go if you are looking at that price range.

Desirability:
More like an ok-looking life partner that will treat you right, rather than the incredibly hot girl that is fun to have until you realize there isn't much substance in the relationship (ex. a quilt top Celebrity Deluxe.)

Sound:
wonderfully bright but the bass isn't as lacking as some people make out. With the tone controls (plugged in) you can definitely get good bass. Overall a really really well balanced sound (in terms of dynamics from string to string and all over the fretboard.) The preamp, although lacking some controls that ovations and other guitars have, sounds so much better to begin with that it is pointless to have the cheaper preamps of other guitars even if those ones have more eq, notch filter, etc. Very little susceptibility to feedback on the taylor despite no notch filter.

Support:
Don't know about Taylor but they are a big enough company they can't be entirely unreachable.

Overall:
If you are looking at acoustic guitars anywhere near this price range, definitely check this one out. Well built, should last for life if taken care of properly (humidify it!) and outstanding neck and action. Great balanced response, wonderful clear tone, a straightforward preamp that sounds great to begin with despite few controls.