Introduction
Taylor Guitars has been crafting premium acoustic guitars since 1974. Based in California, Taylor has earned a reputation for building exceptionally high-quality instruments with innovative designs and tonewoods. The Taylor 210ce model embodies the company’s commitment to excellence with its impressive specs, appearance and sound.
The 210ce is a dreadnought style acoustic-electric guitar that delivers full, rich tones thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood back and sides. It features a Venetian cutaway for easy upper fret access, making it ideal for lead playing and solos. Electronics include Taylor’s ES2 pickup system which accurately captures the 210ce’s acoustic voice.
This guitar stands out with its premium tonewoods, elegant appointments and versatility as both an acoustic and electric instrument. The 210ce is suited for intermediate to advanced players who want a finely crafted dreadnought acoustic with stage-ready amplified tones. Its premium construction and components justify its higher-than-average price tag. For guitarists seeking top-tier sound and playability, the Taylor 210ce is an excellent choice worth considering.
Body & Design
The Taylor 210ce features the classic dreadnought body style, which produces a deep and booming acoustic tone. This large body shape has become the quintessential acoustic guitar design.
The back and sides are constructed from layered rosewood, which gives a rich, complex sound. While some high-end models use solid rosewood, the layered construction provides excellent tonal qualities at a more affordable price point. The multiple thin layers are laminated together in a way that minimizes damping while offering strength and stability.
The top is made from solid Sitka spruce, which is a popular choice on acoustic guitars. Sitka spruce offers a bright and clear tone with excellent resonance and headroom. This light but strong wood allows the top to freely vibrate and project the 210ce’s dreadnought voice.
The 210ce has a cutaway design that allows easier access to the higher frets. Since this model comes equipped with electronics, the cutaway makes it more comfortable for guitarists to solo and play lead lines across the entire fretboard.
Finally, the 210ce has an attractive natural gloss finish. This allows the guitar’s solid wood construction to shine through. The minimalist finish contributes to the 210ce’s refined, handcrafted appeal.
Sound & Tone
The Taylor 210ce delivers the rich, booming projection and bass response that players expect from a quality dreadnought acoustic. Thanks to its combination of premium tonewoods, this guitar produces a wonderfully balanced and resonant overall tone profile.
When unplugged, the 210ce exhibits deep lows with plenty of body and warmth. Strumming produces a satisfying thump, while basslines have depth and definition. The mids are focused yet smooth, with appealing overtones from the layered rosewood back and sides. Highs have shimmer and articulation without being overly bright or harsh.
Plugged in, the 210ce retains its balanced tonal characteristics. The midrange in particular shines through the ES2 electronics system. This allows the unique voice of the guitar to be accurately translated when performing live or recording in the studio. While some acoustic-electrics can sound muddy amplified, the 210ce delivers enough clarity across the frequency range to please discerning players.
Overall, the 210ce achieves a masterful blend of the boom, warmth, and resonance expected from a dreadnought, along with the balanced articulation and playability that makes Taylor guitars so enjoyable to play. Whether unplugged or amplified, this guitar is capable of covering various musical styles while always maintaining its own distinctive voice.
Electronics & Plugged-In Performance
The Taylor 210ce comes equipped with Taylor’s ES2 electronics system, providing natural amplified tone and versatility. The heart of the ES2 system is the behind-the-saddle pickup, which accurately captures the guitar’s organic resonance and nuances. It’s paired with Taylor’s preamp, which has simple but effective tone shaping controls.
The pickup uses an engineered bracing pattern with individually calibrated pickup sensors to detect the vibrations of each string. This allows it to reproduce the unique overtones and dynamics of the guitar’s unplugged sound. The pickup is very feedback resistant, providing clean amplified tone even at higher volumes.
The preamp has familiar controls like volume, treble, midrange, and bass EQ adjustment. This allows you to easily shape your amplified tone for the room or mix. It also has a built-in tuner and phase switch for reducing feedback at loud volumes. The preamp runs on a 9V battery for cordless convenience.
Overall, the 210ce’s electronics offer a very natural plugged-in sound. It accurately conveys the guitar’s balanced tone and playing dynamics through an amp or PA. The tonal controls are effective yet simple to use, even for acoustic guitarists new to amplification. Whether on a crowded stage or in a intimate studio, the 210ce electronics excel at amplifying the gorgeous dreadnought tone cleanly and reliably.
Playability & Feel
The 210ce features a slim taper mahogany neck with a smooth satin finish. The neck has a rounded C-shape profile that provides a comfortable and familiar feel for most players. The string action is set low from the factory, allowing for easy pressing and bending without buzzing.
The fretboard is made from ebony, which is dense and smooth for great playability. It has 20 frets plus an additional 4 frets on the cutaway. The frets are narrow and tall, providing crisp note definition. The 25.5" scale length provides balanced string tension that makes chords and leads comfortable to play.
Overall, the 210ce has a very playable feel thanks to the slim taper neck, quality fretwork, and balanced string tension. Whether you’re a beginner or expert, you’ll find the 210ce comfortable and enjoyable to play for long periods of time. The smooth neck and low action allow you to play intricate chords and riffs with ease.
210ce vs Other Taylor Models
The 210ce occupies an interesting spot in Taylor’s lineup. It sits towards the higher end of their 200 series, offering a step up in craftsmanship and appointments from the entry-level 200 models.
Compared to the similar 214ce Plus, the 210ce has a slightly smaller body depth while retaining the same rich dreadnought tone. It uses layered rosewood rather than solid wood for the back and sides. This provides beautiful looks at a more affordable price point. The 214ce Plus does have a solid spruce top, which some players feel is tonally superior.
Against the 210ce Deluxe, the standard 210ce gives up some bling for a reduced cost. The 210ce Deluxe features refined appointments like a beveled armrest, grained ivoroid binding, and special inlays. It remains identical in terms of tonewoods and electronics. Those looking for a more understated aesthetic will appreciate the standard 210ce.
Within the 200 series lineup, the 210ce stands out for its impressive balance of quality and value. Models like the 214ce and 214ce-K offer comparable specs and materials, but without the cutaway or electronics. For players wanting an acoustic-electric with Taylor’s signature sound, the 210ce is an ideal choice.
Overall, the Taylor 210ce punches above its weight class in terms of looks, playability, and versatile electric tones. This makes it a unique offering among Taylor’s crowded 200 series. For intermediate players or working musicians, it brings pro-level craftsmanship at an attainable price point.
Accessories & Pricing
The Taylor 210ce comes with a few useful accessories included. Most notably, Taylor includes a padded gig bag with the purchase of the guitar. The gig bag provides basic protection for transporting the 210ce between locations. While it’s not as protective as a hardshell case, the included gig bag is a nice value-added bonus.
In terms of pricing, the 210ce has an MSRP of $1,998, but it can readily be found new at guitar stores and online retailers for $1,600 – $1,800. This positions the 210ce in the upper mid-range of the acoustic-electric market. Players can find cheaper options, but they would be sacrificing the quality of materials and workmanship that Taylor is known for. Given the premium tonewoods, electronics, and attention to detail, the 210ce represents a fair value at this price point. Those seeking maximum savings could consider purchasing a used 210ce in good condition for $1,200 – $1,400.
The Taylor 210ce is sold at most major music equipment retailers like Guitar Center and Sweetwater Sound. Due to its popularity, you can also find it at general online retailers like Amazon and Reverb. We recommend purchasing from an authorized Taylor dealer if possible, so you receive the full factory warranty and can be assured of getting an authentic Taylor instrument. Private sellers often list used 210ce models on Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace as well.
Conclusion
The Taylor 210ce is a premium dreadnought acoustic-electric that delivers on all fronts. This guitar combines the bold, deep voice of a classic dreadnought body with modern appointments like a cutaway and quality electronics.
Some of the standout strengths of the 210ce include its resonant tonewoods, great playability, and versatile plugged-in performance. The layered rosewood back and sides produce a balanced, rich acoustic sound. Paired with the brightness of the Sitka spruce top, it creates a guitar that excels at both fingerpicking and strumming. Despite the large body size, the 210ce remains comfortable to play thanks to its slim mahogany neck and medium action.
When it’s time to plug in, the ES2 electronics accurately convey the 210ce’s acclaimed acoustic tone. Useful features like the built-in tuner make this guitar stage-ready right out of the case. Between its acoustic and electric abilities, singer-songwriters will find this to be a highly capable companion.
The Taylor 210ce also represents excellent value in its price range. Given the quality materials, craftsmanship and electronics included, this guitar punches above its weight class. The deluxe hardshell case only sweetens the deal further.
In summary, the Taylor 210ce is easy to recommend for intermediate to advanced players seeking a great all-around dreadnought. Its blend of rich acoustic tone, easy playability and stage-friendly features make this a guitar that can capably handle any musical scenario. For those looking to invest in their first serious acoustic-electric, the 210ce is an ideal choice.
Video Demo
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This video from Taylor Guitars provides an excellent demo of the 210ce’s sound across its full tonal range. Filmed in Taylor’s studio, it lets you hear the crisp highs, rounded lows and overall balanced tone of the guitar.
The demonstrator plays fingerstyle, flatpicking and rhythm parts to showcase the 210ce in both lead and accompaniment scenarios. It’s clear from the demo that this guitar can handle anything from intricate fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.
The sound when plugged in via the ES2 electronics system is also demonstrated. The amplified tone remains clear and balanced, translating the 210ce’s acoustic voice very well. Overall this is a great video for evaluating the sound before purchasing this model.
Spec Table
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Back & Sides | Layered Rosewood |
| Top | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Nut Width | 1 11/16" |
| Electronics | ES2 |
| Finish | Gloss |
| Strings | Elixir Phosphor Bronze |
| Left Handed | No |
| Included Accessories | Gig Bag |
The table provides an easy way to see the key specifications for the Taylor 210ce at a glance. Highlights include the classic dreadnought body shape, layered rosewood back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, and built-in ES2 electronics system. The 25.5" scale length and 1 11/16" nut width contribute to the playability. It has a gloss finish and comes strung with Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings. The 210ce is only available in right-handed orientation, but does include a high-quality gig bag.