Taylor 224ce Koa – 2020 Review

Taylor’s 224ce-K DLX electric acoustic Guitar is one of their best mid-range options – offering up stunning aesthetics and an equally-as-impressive sound profile that is sure to please even the most stubborn of enthusiasts. 

Produced in their Tecate factory, Mexico, the 224ce-K DLX Koa Deluxe Grand Auditorium is part of the hugely-popular Taylor 200 series which has been pleasing consumers since its introduction back in the early ‘00s. 

From a design standpoint, the 224ce-K is by far one of the most aesthetically stunning guitars we’ve laid our eyes on in some time. The deep, rich tones of the Hawaiian Koa wood work seamlessly with the rest of the guitar’s design, bringing to the table a natural styling that ticks all the right boxes.

Whilst this exotic hardwood is renowned for its rich and colourful aesthetic, that isn’t the only benefit it comes to the table with. As the guitar matures over time, the tonal output changes with it – losing some of its brightness and gaining more depth in the mids and lows. 

The top of the 224ce-K is carved from solid hawaiin Koa wood, finished with a slightly shaded edge which adds an aged, almost vintage look to its aesthetic appeal. The back and sides, whilst not solid Koa, have been designed using a layered laminate Koa which completes its natural look nicely.

The finishing touch to the body is a stylish glossy layer which not only accentuates the deep color of the Koa wood, but also adds a luxurious finish to the final product.  

As the name suggests, this version of the 224ce-K features Taylor’s Grand Auditorium shape, bringing a slightly tweaked design that varies marginally from the original.

With it comes a 25.5” scale length neck and a textbook 200 series’ venetian cutaway. The neck is constructed using solid sepal and joins the main body of the guitar at the 14th fret.

The natural design of the Sepal works extremely well with the rest of the guitar, slipping seamlessly into the natural blends of the Hawaiian Koa. The neck is topped with a 20-fret fretboard designed from genuine African ebony and comes accentuated by Italian acrylic diamond inlays, giving the 224ce-K a truly premium style. 

Taylor have equipped the 224ce-K with their expression system 2 electronics, offering up a unique behind-the-saddle pickup and featuring three custom-positioned, individually calibrated pickup sensors.

Furthermore, Taylor has also fitted a custom-designed professional-grade preamp, accompanied with volume, phase filter, and treble/bass controls. Other hardware includes a Micarta saddle, six chrome tuners attached to a Taylor headstock, and a Tusq nut for additional tonal consistency and stability.

Finally, the 224ce-K also offers up Elixir Phosphor Bronze light gauge strings that provide an extended tone for warmth and brightness. 

As with most Koa designed guitars, the 224ce-K offers up the characteristic brightness we’ve come to expect from this exotic hardwood. The sound has been compared to maple in the past, providing a similar tone and warmth.

That being said, and as we mentioned above, the more you play this guitar, the more the tone matures – becoming richer and warmer as time goes on. Whilst the Koa’s natural brightness shines through Taylor’s ES2 electronics, users can alter its sound by tweaking the controls, evolving the tone into something that better suits their playing style.

Overall, the 224ce-K is a stunning guitar that ticks all the right boxes. If you want an electric acoustic guitar that provides sound and style of the highest quality, then the Taylor 224ce-K DLX Koa Deluxe Grand Auditorium should be high on your list of considerations. 

Video Demos

Pros

• A stunning, natural design made from Hawaiian Koa
• Sound profile matures over time as the guitar ages
• High quality hardware that is tailored uniquely for this guitar
• Plays great for fingerstyle guitarists

Cons

• Over $1,500
• Can be considered too bright for some individuals

Conclusion

This is a premium guitar, even for Taylor. The crisp sound and superior build quality is certainly not what you’d get from an inexpensive guitar, but then again that’s what you pay for! I’d recommend any Taylor guitars above 1000 to anyone who is serious about playing, and looking for an acoustic guitar that they won’t want to get rid of for a long time to come.

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