{"id":146211,"date":"2024-12-04T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/?p=146211"},"modified":"2024-12-03T16:07:35","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T00:07:35","slug":"review-taylor-614ce-ltd-and-858e-ltd-golden-anniversary-guitars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/review-taylor-614ce-ltd-and-858e-ltd-golden-anniversary-guitars\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Taylor 614ce LTD and 858e LTD Golden Anniversary Guitars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Taylor Guitars 50th Anniversary Models [614ce LTD and 858e LTD] Combine the Best of Past and Present\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cn0CPrriv98?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1974, Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug founded Taylor Guitars after buying out the American Dream, a small guitar-making workshop in San Diego where they both worked as luthiers. At the time, they likely never imagined their brand would become one of the most renowned names in the guitar world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But fast-forward a half century, and Taylor Guitars has released a series of special limited-edition models to celebrate the company\u2019s 50th anniversary, starting in January 2024. The anniversary lineup includes 18 guitars that revisit some of the brand\u2019s most iconic designs, blending the character of the originals with modern innovations like V-class bracing and the ES2 pickup system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each model also features distinctive details, including gold tuner buttons, ebony bridge pins with acrylic dots, and a commemorative 50th-anniversary label. Taylor is producing limited quantities of each model. I reviewed two of them\u2014the <a href=\"https:\/\/reverb.grsm.io\/ag?query=Taylor-50th-Anniversary-614ce-LTD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">614ce six-string<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/reverb.grsm.io\/ag?query=Taylor-50th-Anniversary-858e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">858e jumbo 12-string<\/a>, both priced at $3,999\u2014and found them impressive all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Taylor 614ce LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146219\" data-id=\"146219\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 577w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=282%2C500&amp;ssl=1 282w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=169%2C300&amp;ssl=1 169w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=865%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 865w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=1154%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1154w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-FrontRight-2023-scaled.jpg?w=1082&amp;ssl=1 1082w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 614ce LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Taylor 614ce LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146220\" data-id=\"146220\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 577w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=282%2C500&amp;ssl=1 282w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=169%2C300&amp;ssl=1 169w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=865%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 865w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=1154%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1154w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-BackLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?w=1082&amp;ssl=1 1082w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 614ce LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Taylor 614ce LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146218\" data-id=\"146218\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?resize=500%2C281&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-01-2023.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 614ce LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" alt=\"Taylor 614ce LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146217\" data-id=\"146217\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?resize=500%2C282&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?resize=768%2C433&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-614ce-50th-1210233109-gallery-09-2023.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 614ce LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>614ce LTD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 614ce LTD is a Grand Auditorium model and features a two-piece back and sides made of big leaf maple, with a Sitka spruce top and a maple neck. While Taylor describes the 614ce LTD as being inspired by some of its earlier designs\u2014they introduced the Grand Auditorium body shape in 1994\u2014the V-class bracing and ES2 pickup system add a modern touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most striking visual feature is the gloss white\/edgeburst finish on the top and back, which creates an elegant, classy look. The opaque white finish on the neck, along with the high-gloss finish, produces a smooth feel that makes playing seem effortless. Another notable feature of the 614ce, as well as the 858e, is the wood used for the fretboard binding and bridge, which are made of West African Crelicam ebony\u2014Crelicam is the company co-owned by Bob Taylor to ensure the sustainable, responsible production of ebony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maple has a reputation for being bright, but the 614ce LTD is voiced to produce a warm and balanced tone. The sound is clear, but with plenty of low end. To my ear, the maple in this instrument adds just a touch of warmth and resonance, supplying a hint of a jazzy tone while maintaining clarity and clean separation between notes. Plugged in, the ES2\u2019s behind-the-saddle design delivers an impressively natural tone that reflects the guitar\u2019s sonic character.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I found the 614ce LTD to be a fun guitar to play. The sleek feel and snappy yet balanced tone were a good fit for a variety of styles, from strumming to fingerstyle. The guitar generally pushed me toward more aggressive, up-tempo tunes that took advantage of the superb playability and clear tone, along with the extra access provided by the cutaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Taylor 858e LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146225\" data-id=\"146225\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 577w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=282%2C500&amp;ssl=1 282w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=169%2C300&amp;ssl=1 169w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=865%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 865w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=1154%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1154w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-FrontLeft-2023-scaled.jpg?w=1082&amp;ssl=1 1082w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 858e LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"577\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Taylor 858e LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146226\" data-id=\"146226\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=577%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 577w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=282%2C500&amp;ssl=1 282w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1363&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=169%2C300&amp;ssl=1 169w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=865%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 865w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?resize=1154%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1154w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-BackRight-2023-scaled.jpg?w=1082&amp;ssl=1 1082w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 577px) 100vw, 577px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 858e LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" alt=\"Taylor 858e LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146223\" data-id=\"146223\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?resize=500%2C282&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?resize=768%2C433&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-04-2023.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 858e LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" alt=\"Taylor 858e LTD\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-146224\" data-id=\"146224\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C577&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?resize=500%2C282&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?resize=768%2C433&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Taylor-858e-LTD-1209203108-gallery-03-2023.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Taylor 858e LTD<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>858e LTD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Taylor has long been known for making exceptional 12-string guitars, and the 858e LTD certainly upholds that legacy. The company\u2019s jumbo body 855 model got a boost back in 1979 when Neil Young appeared playing one in the documentary&nbsp;<em>Rust Never Sleeps<\/em>, and again when Leo Kottke began playing Taylor 12-strings in the mid-\u201980s, partly drawn to their excellent playability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 858e LTD is a large-body, non-cutaway 12-string guitar inspired by those earlier models but now based on Taylor\u2019s Grand Orchestra body shape, a large guitar measuring 16-3\/4 inches at the lower bout and five inches deep at the soundhole. The 858e LTD also incorporates Taylor\u2019s modern construction features, like V-class bracing and an ES2 pickup system. One especially interesting change from Taylor\u2019s earlier large-body 12-strings is the use of only six bridge pins, with each pin holding both strings in each course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One might expect such a large guitar to produce an equally large sound, and the 858e does not disappoint. The guitar produces a sound that can only be described as huge\u2014both loud and full. There is plenty of low end but also the high-end shimmer expected from a 12-string. The low action makes the playability nearly as easy as a six-string while still avoiding buzzing. Like most 12-string guitars, the 858e LTD features a somewhat wider fretboard, measuring 1-7\/8 inch at the nut width, which provides the additional space required for the double courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 858e makes a great rhythm instrument, producing a wall of sound when strummed, but I found it equally enjoyable to fingerpick. The guitar can deliver aggressive, percussive Kottke-esque sounds as well as delicate and ethereal textures when played more gently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was interesting to compare the 858e LTD side by side with my own 655ce maple-bodied Taylor 12-string. While both sound excellent, the combination of the rosewood body and larger size made the 858e LTD seem just a bit louder, fuller, deeper, and more shimmery, all at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While reviewing the 858e LTD, I was asked by a local theater group to record a backing track that captured the feel of the strummed introduction to the Eagles\u2019 \u201cTake It Easy.\u201d When double-tracking several six-string guitars failed to create a sound as big as I was hoping for, I pulled out the 858e, which promptly and easily handled the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was especially impressed with the intonation on the 858e. Twelves are notoriously difficult to tune\u2014after all, you have twice as many strings to deal with! But I found that not only was the 858e easy to tune, even when switching to alternate tunings, but the intonation over the entire range of the guitar was remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 50th anniversary models are a perfect encapsulation of Taylor Guitars\u2019 accomplishments over five decades. The company has long set a standard for playability, quality, and consistency\u2014while constantly raising the bar. The 614ce LTD and 858e LTD combine a look back at historically interesting and popular models with the current state of the art in construction, which Taylor continues to push forward. Both models seem just a bit sleeker and more polished than the already excellent examples I\u2019ve been familiar with over the years, while amplifying the best qualities of the brand\u2019s sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Specs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>614ce LTD&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Body<\/strong> Grand Auditorium shape; Venetian cutaway; Sitka spruce top with V-Class bracing; big leaf maple back and sides; ebony bridge with Micarta saddle; green abalone rosette; faux tortoise binding; gloss white\/edgeburst finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Neck<\/strong> 25.5&#8243;-scale hard maple neck; dual-action truss rod; ebony fretboard; ebony binding; green abalone wing inlays; 20 frets; 1-3\/4&#8243; black Tusq nut; Taylor tuners with gold buttons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other<\/strong> Taylor Expression System 2 electronics; D\u2019Addario XS coated phosphor bronze light strings (.012\u2013.053); deluxe hardshell case<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Made in <\/strong>United States<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Price<\/strong> $3,999 street&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>858e LTD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Body<\/strong> 12-string Grand Orchestra shape; Sitka spruce top with V-Class bracing; Indian rosewood back and sides; ebony bridge with Micarta saddle and double-mounted string anchoring system; green abalone rosette; tortoise pickguard; white binding; gloss finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Neck<\/strong> 25.5&#8243;-scale neo-tropical mahogany neck; dual-action truss rod; 15&#8243; radius ebony fretboard; white binding; mother-of-pearl progressive diamond inlays; 20 frets; 1.875&#8243; black Tusq nut; Taylor tuners with gold buttons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other<\/strong> Taylor Expression System 2 electronics; D\u2019Addario XS coated phosphor bronze light strings (.010\u2013.047); deluxe Western Floral hardshell case&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Made In <\/strong>United States<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Price<\/strong> $3,999 street<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/taylorguitars.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">taylorguitars.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-350-january-february-2025\" name=\"magazine\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 198px; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/001_350_Cover-150px.jpg?w=1290&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Acoustic Guitar magazine cover for issue 350\"><\/a>\n<p style=\"font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 15px 0px;\">This article originally appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-350-january-february-2025\">January\/February 2025<\/a> issue of <em>Acoustic Guitar<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taylor&#8217;s 50th anniversary lineup revisits some of the brand\u2019s most iconic designs, blending the character of the originals with modern innovations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":146214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"Taylor's 50th anniversary lineup revisits some of the brand\u2019s most iconic designs, blending the character of the originals with modern innovations.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"Taylor Guitars 614ce LTD and 858e LTD Golden anniversary models combine the best of Taylor\u2019s past and present","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1686,1684,1670],"tags":[1961],"ppma_author":[1566],"class_list":["post-146211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-12-string","category-grand-auditorium","category-guitars","tag-january-february-2025"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/02082024-TAYLOR-ENV-50TH-ANNIVERSARY-614ce-and-858e-1045.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1","authors":[{"term_id":1566,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"doug-young","display_name":"Doug Young","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Doug-Young.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Doug-Young.jpg"},"user_url":"https:\/\/dougyoungguitar.com\/","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":"Doug Young is a fingerstyle instrumental guitarist, writer, and recording engineer. He is the author of <i><a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/acoustic-guitar-amplification-essentials\">Acoustic Guitar Amplification Essentials<\/a><\/i>."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146211"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146579,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146211\/revisions\/146579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146211"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=146211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}