Taylor 614ce Prototype Next Generation Maple/Torrefied Sitka w/case 5091

The Taylor 614ce Prototype Next Generation offers a rare opportunity to own an early version of one of Taylor’s newest evolutions of the Grand Auditorium platform. Prototype builds like this are produced during the development phase before a model is fully finalized for broader production, giving players access to guitars that sit just outside the standard catalog. Even when the final production version remains close to the prototype, these instruments still represent a unique stage in the model’s evolution.

This particular prototype stands apart visually from the standard production version with its natural top paired with Taylor’s rich “Brown Sugar” finish on the back and sides. That combination gives the guitar a warmer, more organic aesthetic compared to the more traditional Antique Blonde treatment found on the production model, while still highlighting the figuring and depth of the maple body.

The Next Generation 614ce continues Andy Powers’ long-running refinement of maple as a premium acoustic tonewood. Rather than the brighter, more immediate character many players associate with older maple acoustics, this platform leans into warmth, responsiveness, and a fuller low-end voice while preserving maple’s excellent articulation and note separation.

Built with Big Leaf maple back and sides and a torrefied Sitka spruce top, the guitar delivers impressive clarity with added sweetness and openness from the roasted top. The torrefied Sitka contributes a more relaxed, played-in character right out of the case, while the maple keeps the response focused, dynamic, and highly reflective of the player’s touch.

Taylor’s scalloped V-Class bracing helps increase sustain, resonance, and balance across the fretboard while maintaining the versatility that made the Grand Auditorium body shape one of Taylor’s defining designs. The updated Next Generation platform also incorporates Taylor’s Action Control Neck system for more precise setup adjustment and long-term serviceability.

Visually, this prototype takes a slightly different direction than the standard model, with the natural torrefied top and Brown Sugar body finish creating a more understated, earthy look while still retaining the premium feel of the platform.

Highlights

• Prototype build offering a rare pre-production version of the Next Generation 614ce
• Natural torrefied Sitka spruce top with Brown Sugar maple back and sides
• Big Leaf maple body for articulation, balance, and dynamic response
• Scalloped V-Class bracing for enhanced sustain and resonance
• Action Control Neck system from Taylor’s Next Generation platform

Specifications

Body

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium
• Top Wood: Torrefied Sitka Spruce
• Back & Sides: Big Leaf Maple
• Bracing: Scalloped V-Class
• Finish: Natural Top / Brown Sugar Back & Sides Gloss
• Venetian Cutaway

Neck

• Neck Construction: Action Control Neck
• Neck Material: Neo-Tropical Mahogany
• Fingerboard Material: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Fingerboard Radius: 15"
• Nut Width: 1 3/4"

Hardware

• Bridge: Ebony
• Saddle: White Micarta
• Nut: Black TUSQ
• Tuners: Taylor Nickel

Electronics

• Taylor Claria System

Miscellaneous

• Prototype Build
• Included: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Case
• Made in USA

Why Buy from Tone Shop Guitars?

At Tone Shop Guitars, we specialize in hand-selected premium acoustic instruments built for serious players who care about feel, resonance, and long-term inspiration. Every boutique and Custom Shop acoustic we bring in is chosen for responsiveness, tonal balance, and musicality—not just specs on paper. When you buy from Tone Shop, you’re getting an instrument we genuinely believe in.