Taylor 414ce - Ovangkol or Rosewood?

[PeteyPower16]

Hi All,

If you were to purchase a New Taylor 414ce, would you select the Ovangkol or the Rosewood model? The difference in cost is a couple of hundred dollars.
I've played both and can't decide which is "better" given the + and - below.

There are two comparison videos linked below in case you are curious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULqXdRle6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIlt9Ur1yj8

Thoughts on Rosewood:
+Sitka/EIR is a classic tonewood pair
-Lower quality Rosewood (cosmetically) on the 400 series?
+More overtones/bass?

Thoughts on Ovangkol:
-Less traditional tonewood pair
+Ovangkol supply may lead to better wood selection?
+More mids to cut through a mix, but
-Less low end?

Also of cosmetic consideration: the inlay pattern on the Rosewood model is more ornate (Renaissance or Victorian, depending on whether Standard or Guitar Center Custom model) compared to diamond inlays on the Ovangkol. Personally, I am not a fan of ornate inlays that appear to be gaudy to me.

I'm curious to see your votes and hear your opinions.

[boneuphtoner]

There is a great youtube video of Andy Powers doing a comparison of these two from a few years back (before the V-class release), and his bottom line recommendation is that these two are so close, little things like how you are feeling, how much coffee you had etc. are more likely to make a bigger difference in sound compared to the differences between them. I've played them both and I do think they are awfully close. Personally speaking, if I were in the market for these two, since there are so many rosewood guitars out there by so many builders, I would go for the ovangkol - but that is just me.

[Earl49]

The 414ce that I bought in 2001 (my first Taylor) was ovangkol, and I never felt like that excellent guitar lacked anything versus rosewood. My usual description of ovangkol is "rose-hogany" because it has tonal elements of both woods. As for the appearance, only you can judge how important that is to you, but "bling don't sing".

[mawmow]

I am not quite a Rosewood guy, and the little difference would not justify the higher cost.

[Lamenramen]

Are you not considering the 814ce because of the price or because you think that the 414 rosewood is sonically identical to the 814? I don’t care about the bling too and would like to know.

[PeteyPower16]

Originally Posted by Lamenramen

Are you not considering the 814ce because of the price or because you think that the 414 rosewood is sonically identical to the 814? I don’t care about the bling too and would like to know.

Great question!

There are more than just cosmetic differences between the 414 Rosewood and the 814: extra special bracing and thinner gloss, for example. I believe the 814 wood is also more selectively QC’d for visual regularity and grain? Some of those details may affect sound. Other than those differences, they seem like very similar instruments in terms of sound and construction.

Cosmetically, the 814 is more ornate, but still classy. I felt that the renaissance and Victorian inlay patterns are somewhat distracting, but maybe that is just me.

Pricewise, there is a big difference between a 414 and an 814, so the 414 Rosewood is a great deal if your primary priorities are price and rosewood.

[DukeX]

I already have to EIR guitars, so it's Ovangkol for me.

[bil40272]

I have a GA4 , that is about 7 yrs old.
It is a great guitar, pretty much a does everything well guitar , but doesn't do anything spectacular.
Its got good volume, but isn't what you would call loud.
Good bass, but looses out to the 414 RW, yes I played both,,,
Good mids, but its not hog,,,,Good trebles, but again not rosewood,
Good overtones, but still not what I would call spectacular.
Great guitar when playing by yourself, because it does bring a lot to the table.
Played in a group, it tends to get lost in the mix.
As far as comparing the 414 RW to an 814,,,,
Taylor does some real good things with the 800 series guitars.
I played A 414 RW next to an 814, an there was no comparison, the 814 was head and shoulders above the 414 RW in every category.
The only category where it was even was playability.
Back to the OP,,,It all depends on what your playing styles, and the setting where you are going to be playing.

[Shadowfox]

For me I've never like Ovangkol. So Rosewood for me!

However, if you are looking at a Taylor, you should consider a Furch G (Grand Auditorium).

They are far more consistent that Taylor in their QC, just because they are far fewer made. They are really good deals too!

Fretted Buffalo is a forum sponsor and has them in stock.

[SpruceTop]

Just for resale ease, rosewood would be my choice. I've had a Taylor 414ce Ovangkol (was it a circa 2008 Spring Limited?) and it sounded nice but rosewood needs no explanation when selling in the future.

[penguins0141]

I would vote Rosewood for responsiveness and Ovangkol for warmth, but that is only my opinion. How do you like your GS Mini compared to the 414ce?

Originally Posted by PeteyPower16

Hi All,

If you were to purchase a New Taylor 414ce, would you select the Ovangkol or the Rosewood model? The difference in cost is a couple of hundred dollars.
I've played both and can't decide which is "better" given the + and - below.

There are two comparison videos linked below in case you are curious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULqXdRle6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIlt9Ur1yj8

Thoughts on Rosewood:
+Sitka/EIR is a classic tonewood pair
-Lower quality Rosewood (cosmetically) on the 400 series?
+More overtones/bass?

Thoughts on Ovangkol:
-Less traditional tonewood pair
+Ovangkol supply may lead to better wood selection?
+More mids to cut through a mix, but
-Less low end?

Also of cosmetic consideration: the inlay pattern on the Rosewood model is more ornate (Renaissance or Victorian, depending on whether Standard or Guitar Center Custom model) compared to diamond inlays on the Ovangkol. Personally, I am not a fan of ornate inlays that appear to be gaudy to me.

I'm curious to see your votes and hear your opinions.

[whvick]

I have a 1998 ovangkol, but must admit that I like my Orpheum spruce/rosewood tone a little better...but that is apples to oranges
Play both yourself and chose
Everyone’s ear is a little different

[otis66]

I picked ovangkol because I wanted a guitar that was made from non traditional back and sides. I got the ovangkol 414ce to go with my Larrivee khaya OM40