Taylor Prototype 514ce Japan Limited Blacktop

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The Taylor Prototype 514ce Japan Limited Blacktop is a distinctive Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar featuring a gloss Blacktop finish, Kona Edgeburst mahogany back and sides, and appointments developed for this Japan Limited prototype. Built with a torrefied Sitka spruce top and neo-tropical mahogany back and sides, this instrument combines a warm, focused acoustic voice with Taylor's scalloped V-Class bracing and Action Control Neck. Faux-tortoise binding, green abalone rosette, and Aerial inlays add visual detail, while the Claria electronics provide a practical solution for amplified performance.

The Grand Auditorium body pairs a torrefied Sitka spruce top with neo-tropical mahogany back and sides. The thermal treatment of the spruce top helps produce a more developed acoustic response, while mahogany contributes a strong midrange, controlled overtones, and clear note definition. Taylor's scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout, Voicing G, is constructed from Sitka spruce and designed to enhance resonance, sustain, and projection. The gloss Blacktop contrasts with the Kona Edgeburst finish on the back and sides, while faux-tortoise celluloid binding and layered black-and-maple purfling frame the body. A single-ring green abalone rosette completes the top appointments.

The neo-tropical mahogany neck features Taylor's Action Control Neck construction, allowing convenient adjustment of the instrument's playing action. Its Slim Carve profile and satin finish provide a comfortable feel, while the Crelicam ebony fingerboard has a 15" radius, 20 frets, and faux-pearl Italian acrylic Aerial inlays. A 25.5" scale length and 1 11/16" nut width offer familiar string tension and spacing, and the Venetian cutaway provides access to the upper frets. Matching Aerial peghead inlays and a faux-pearl Taylor logo complement the instrument's distinctive appearance.

The Prototype 514ce Japan Limited is equipped with Taylor's Claria electronics, featuring an undersaddle pickup and soundhole-mounted controls for amplified performance. A Crelicam ebony straight-wing bridge, matching ebony bridge pins, black TUSQ nut, and white Micarta saddle complete the string path. Taylor nickel tuning machines, a classic faux-tortoise pickguard, and a Crelicam ebony truss rod cover round out the hardware. The guitar includes a Japan Limited back label and ships in a brown Taylor deluxe hardshell case.

Highlights

• Japan Limited prototype with gloss Blacktop and Kona Edgeburst back and sides

• Torrefied Sitka spruce top with neo-tropical mahogany back and sides

• Scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout, Voicing G

• Action Control Neck with Slim Carve profile and Aerial fingerboard inlays

• Taylor Claria electronics and brown deluxe hardshell case

Specifications

Body

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium

• Body Style: Acoustic-Electric

• Cutaway: Venetian

• Top Wood: Torrefied Sitka Spruce

• Back Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Side Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Back Configuration: 2-Piece, No Wedge

• Bracing: Scalloped V-Class with Relief Rout, Voicing G

• Bracing Wood: Sitka Spruce

• Body Lining: Kerfed

• Top Finish: Blacktop, Gloss

• Back and Side Finish: Kona Edgeburst, Gloss

• Body Binding: Faux-Tortoise Celluloid

• Top Purfling: Black and Maple Multi-Line

• Rosette: Single-Ring Green Abalone

• Rosette Purfling: Black and Maple Multi-Line

• Tail Strip: Crelicam Ebony

• Cutaway Cap: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Heel Cap: Crelicam Ebony

• Armrest: None

• Orientation: Right-Handed

Neck

• Neck Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Taylor Action Control Neck

• Neck Profile: Slim Carve

• Neck Finish: Medium Brown Satin

• Neck-to-Body Joint: 14th Fret

• Fingerboard Wood: Crelicam Ebony

• Fingerboard Binding: Crelicam Ebony

• Fingerboard Radius: 15"

• Fingerboard Inlays: Aerial, Faux-Pearl Italian Acrylic

• Side Dots: Silver

• Number of Frets: 20

• Fret Style: Standard

• Scale Length: 25.5"

• Nut Width: 1 11/16"

• Nut Material: Black TUSQ

• Peghead Type: Standard Paddle

• Peghead Veneer: Crelicam Ebony

• Peghead Inlay: Aerial, Faux-Pearl Italian Acrylic

• Peghead Logo: Faux-Pearl Italian Acrylic

• Peghead Binding: None

• Peghead Finish: Satin

Hardware

• Bridge: Crelicam Ebony Straight Wing

• Saddle: White Micarta

• Bridge Pins: Crelicam Ebony

• Tuning Machines: Taylor Standard Nickel

• Tuner Buttons: Nickel

• Pickguard: Classic Faux Tortoise

• Truss Rod Cover: Crelicam Ebony

• Strap Pin: Black with Felt, Neck Heel

• End Pin: Black

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

Electronics

• Pickup System: Taylor Claria

• Pickup Type: Undersaddle

• Controls: Soundhole-Mounted

• Bracing Compatibility: V-Class

• Battery Compartment: Integrated Battery Box

• Configuration: Acoustic-Electric

Miscellaneous

• Brand: Taylor

• Series: 500 Series

• Model: Prototype 514ce Japan Limited

• Finish: Blacktop / Kona Edgeburst

• Number of Strings: 6

• Orientation: Right-Handed

• Prototype Designation: Japan Limited Black Top

• Back Label: Japan Limited

• Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Case, Brown

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.