Big, expressive power from sustainable Urban Ironbark
The Taylor 514ce Red Ironbark is what happens when a builder chases huge, piano-like acoustic tone and real-world sustainability at the same time. Red Urban Ironbark on the back and sides, a torrefied Sitka spruce top, and V-Class bracing all come together to give you a voice that is wide open, clear, and ridiculously responsive.
This particular guitar (serial 1202144040) is light on the shoulder at 4.8 pounds, but it hits way above its weight in volume and sustain. If you live in that world where you need one acoustic that can cover fingerstyle, strumming, worship, studio sessions, and everything in between, this thing absolutely hits that sweet spot.
Urban Ironbark: Rosewood clarity with mahogany punch
Red Urban Ironbark is the star of the show here. Tonally, it gives you that high-fidelity, full-range clarity you expect from great rosewood, but with the warm, punchy midrange and quick response of a great mahogany guitar. The result is a voice that feels big and muscular without getting muddy or boomy.
The coolest part is where it comes from. This wood is harvested from city trees in the western United States that have reached the end of their service life along streets and parkways. Instead of turning into mulch, they get turned into instruments that will make music for decades. You can feel good about the tone and the story every time you hit a chord.
Torrefied Sitka top and V-Class bracing: already broken in
The torrefied Sitka spruce top gives you that played-in, broken-in response from day one. Notes bloom quickly, the attack feels warm and rounded, and the guitar just seems to “breathe” more than a standard new spruce top. Strum hard and it has headroom for days, play softly and it still speaks with detail and nuance.
Taylor’s V-Class bracing takes that foundation and makes it even more addictive. You get more volume, longer sustain, and noticeably better intonation up the neck. Chords sound more in tune, open-string drones ring against fretted notes in a really musical way, and single-note lines stay clear even when the whole band is going.
Grand Auditorium comfort with lightweight feel
The Grand Auditorium shape is the sweet spot for modern players. Big enough to move air for full strumming, tight enough in the waist to keep the midrange focused for fingerstyle and flatpicking. At just 4.8 pounds, this 514ce feels almost effortless on a strap or in your lap, even over long sets or long sessions.
Gloss on the body shows off the subtle stain and rich red hues of the Ironbark, while the satin-finished tropical mahogany neck stays fast and non-sticky under your hand. The West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard and bridge add that familiar Taylor snap and precision, so every note feels clean and deliberate under your fingers.
Elegant details that stay out of your way
Visuals are classy and dialed in. A single-ring abalone rosette, Aerial inlays in Italian acrylic and faux pearl, tortoise binding, and a lightly shaded edgeburst make this guitar look as refined as it sounds. It feels high-end without tipping into bling overload.
No armrest, no wild appointments that distract you. Just clean lines, tasteful details, and a finish that lets the wood and the tone speak for themselves. It is the kind of guitar that looks right at home on stage, in the studio, or on a stand in your living room.
ES2 electronics: plug in and sound like your guitar
When it is time to plug in, the Expression System 2 keeps things honest. The ES2 is designed to capture the natural acoustic character of the guitar instead of turning it into a quacky piezo impersonation. It sits in a live mix with very little fuss and responds really well to EQ at the board.
Whether you are running straight into a PA at church, into an acoustic amp, or into an interface for recording, it stays clear, dynamic, and touch-sensitive. Real talk, you spend the money on a guitar like this because of the acoustic voice. ES2 actually lets you hear that voice through speakers.
Dialed in and ready from the Moore Guitars shop
This 514ce Red Ironbark is in stock right now in our Evansville, Indiana shop, and the photos you see are of this exact guitar. It has already been inspected multiple times and set up by our techs, who are all real players. You are not getting a box-store warehouse special; you are getting a guitar that has been treated like it is going on stage tonight.
Every Taylor we sell gets our Player-Perfect setup, free 2 to 3 day shipping, and is backed by our 72-Hour Love-It Guarantee. We also offer price matching, trade-ins, and 0 percent financing for 36 months with Synchrony, so you can get pro-level tone without wrecking your cash flow.
Questions about this guitar? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to Rob, Cory, or one of our crew. Real players, real conversation, no scripts.
