Review: Taylor Branches Out with Its First Acoustic Amplifier, the Circa 74

Beautiful woods and graceful shapes have long been part of the appeal of fine acoustic guitars, but that aesthetic sense is not always present in other gear, especially electronics. We may proudly display our acoustic guitars in the living room, but most amplifiers can look out of place there. Taylor is setting out to change this by making its first acoustic amp as attractive as its guitars. This new offering, dubbed the Circa 74, is clearly intended to bring the amp out of the garage or basement and into a prime spot in your living room, den, or home studio. I tested the amp using a variety of acoustic pickups and found its performance every bit as good as its looks. 

The Taylor Circa 74 amp with custom standBeauty and FunctionWith its minimalist mid-century modern styling and solid mahogany cabinet, the Circa 74 makes a great impression even before it’s turned on. The matching mahogany stand places the amp in a position that makes it look even more like a fine piece of furniture, while also supporting easy access to all controls. 

The cabinet itself is relatively compact, measuring nine inches deep, 14 inches high, and 16.5 inches wide, while the stand raises the amp by an additional 16 inches. Given the hardwood cabinet, the amp is surprisingly light, weighing in at 24 pounds. While the amp is a perfect choice for home or studio, the size and weight make it quite practical to take to a gig as well.

Beyond its good looks, the Circa 74 offers a well-thought-out feature set that incorporates all the essentials without being overcomplicated. The solid-state amp provides 150 watts of RMS power through a ten-inch speaker, and can be plugged into 110–240 volts at 50 or 60Hz, making it compatible with power sources throughout the world. 

The controls are mounted on the top of the amp, providing easy access for a performer while maintaining the amp’s clean appearance for the audience. There are two separate channels: Input A features a combination XLR and quarter-inch jack that can be used for either a standard guitar cable or a dynamic mic. (The amp does not offer phantom power, ruling out condenser mics.) Input B is quarter-inch only and is intended for guitars. Otherwise, both channels offer the same controls: volume, bass, mid, treble, and reverb. A master volume controls the overall level.