Taylor Prototype 314ce Studio Blacktop Sapele / Sitka

The Taylor Prototype 314ce Studio Blacktop offers a distinctive take on Taylor's Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar, pairing a Sitka spruce top with solid sapele back and sides. Featuring a custom printed Blacktop finish, chamfered body edges, and V-Class bracing, this prototype combines the versatile tonal character of the 314ce platform with a streamlined visual design. Taylor's NT neck construction, Venetian cutaway, and Expression System 2 electronics provide the familiar playability and amplified performance that make the Grand Auditorium a versatile choice for stage and studio.

The Grand Auditorium body features a Sitka spruce top and sapele back and sides, producing a balanced acoustic response with clear articulation, focused midrange, and a responsive dynamic range. Taylor's V-Class bracing with Relief Rout, Voicing A, is constructed from Sitka spruce and designed to enhance sustain, projection, and tonal consistency. The body features chamfered edges instead of traditional binding, creating a smooth, understated appearance. A gloss Blacktop finish is applied using Taylor's Roland printing process, which also prints the three-ring white rosette and top purfling directly onto the soundboard. The natural sapele back and sides receive a gloss finish, providing a warm visual contrast to the black top.

The neo-tropical mahogany neck features Taylor's Standard Carve profile and NT neck joint, providing a comfortable playing feel and allowing precise neck-angle adjustments. Its Crelicam ebony fingerboard has a 15" radius, 20 frets, and 4mm faux-pearl dot inlays. A 25.5" scale length and 1 11/16" nut width offer familiar string tension and comfortable spacing for both strumming and fingerstyle playing. The Venetian cutaway provides access to the upper frets, while the satin-finished neck offers a smooth playing surface.

The Prototype 314ce Studio Blacktop is equipped with Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics, which use behind-the-saddle pickup sensors to capture the guitar's amplified acoustic response. A Crelicam ebony straight-wing bridge, Taylor nickel tuning machines, and black pickguard complement the instrument's understated design. Additional appointments include a smoked satin-finished peghead with Crelicam ebony veneer, black bridge pins, and D'Addario XS coated phosphor bronze strings. The guitar ships in a tan Taylor structured gig bag with burgundy plush lining.

Highlights

• Prototype 314ce Studio with custom gloss Blacktop and natural sapele back and sides

• Sitka spruce top with solid sapele back and sides

• V-Class bracing with Relief Rout, Voicing A, and chamfered body edges

• Standard Carve mahogany neck with Crelicam ebony fingerboard

• Taylor ES2 electronics and tan structured gig bag with burgundy plush lining

Specifications

Body

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

• Body Style: Acoustic-Electric

• Cutaway: Venetian

• Top Wood: Sitka Spruce

• Back Wood: Sapele

• Side Wood: Sapele

• Back Configuration: 2-Piece, No Wedge

• Bracing: V-Class with Relief Rout, Voicing A

• Bracing Wood: Sitka Spruce

• Bracing Configuration: No Center Strip

• Body Lining: Kerfed

• Top Finish: Blacktop, Gloss

• Top Finish Application: Custom Roland-Printed Blacktop

• Back and Side Finish: Natural Gloss

• Body Binding: None

• Body Edge Treatment: Chamfered Edges

• Top Purfling: Printed

• Rosette: Three-Ring White, Printed

• Rosette Application: Roland Printing Process

• Tail Strip: Crelicam Ebony

• Cutaway Cap: Sapele

• Heel Cap: Black ABS

• Armrest: None

• Orientation: Right-Handed

Neck

• Neck Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Taylor NT Neck

• Neck Profile: Standard Carve

• Neck Finish: Brown Satin

• Neck-to-Body Joint: 14th Fret

• Fingerboard Wood: Crelicam Ebony

• Fingerboard Radius: 15"

• Fingerboard Inlays: 4mm Faux-Pearl Italian Acrylic Dots

• Side Dots: Silver

• Number of Frets: 20

• Fret Style: Standard

• Scale Length: 25.5"

• Nut Width: 1 11/16"

• Nut Material: White NuBone

• Peghead Type: Standard Paddle

• Peghead Veneer: Crelicam Ebony

• Peghead Logo: White

• Peghead Inlay: None

• Peghead Binding: None

• Peghead Finish: Satin

Hardware

• Bridge: Crelicam Ebony Straight Wing

• Saddle: White Micarta

• Bridge Pins: Black ABS

• Tuning Machines: Taylor Standard Nickel

• Tuner Buttons: Nickel

• Pickguard: Classic Black

• Truss Rod Cover: Black ABS

• Strap Pin: Black, Neck Heel

• End Pin: Black

• Factory Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light

Electronics

• Pickup System: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2)

• Pickup Type: Behind-the-Saddle

• Configuration: Acoustic-Electric

Miscellaneous

• Brand: Taylor

• Series: 300 Series

• Model: Prototype 314ce Studio Blacktop

• Finish: Blacktop / Natural Sapele

• Number of Strings: 6

• Orientation: Right-Handed

• Prototype Designation: 314ce Studio Blacktop

• Back Label: V-Class

• Case: Taylor Structured Gig Bag, Tan with Burgundy Plush Lining

Why Buy from Tone Shop Guitars?

Tone Shop Guitars is an independent Taylor dealer with locations in Addison, Southlake and Fort Worth, Texas. We offer free nationwide shipping on new instruments and multiple financing options.