Ted, my friend, my experience is different from yours. You know I am a Taylor fan, but the X20 I recently bought competes nicely with the 814... playability is similar (same scale and nut width), the Emerald is more comfortable, and... dare I say it: I prefer the sound of the X20. The neck profile on the X20 is closer to the Taylor than the N2 neck of my RainSong.
I would never compare my experience with various guitars to yours, but I have been playing for over 50 years and know what feels "just right" to me. The 814 has been my "just right" guitar for years, but the X20 is "just righter." I understand that everyone's mileage WILL vary. I have tried a couple CA guitars, including a pre-Peavey OX (no experience with the Peavey models). It was a decent guitar, but (at the time) I preferred my Shorty.
Lots of guitars, lots of options. I picked the Shorty based on the "most like a Taylor" at the time, but I have since come to regard each guitar on its own merits.
Best wishes,
Jim
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