Took out ES...myself!!!!!yea me!!!
 

First of all..I had a very good 314ce that I couldn't sell...it had the aa ES system in it and in my opinion sounded bad plugged in. I'm not fond of any Es system..especially the aa 1st version. Well, I couldn't sell the guitar and had been leaving it out in my writing room on a stand. Yesterday, I noticed that something (a picture frame...I think) had fallen off the ledge above the guitar (either cats or cleaning ladies..??)..and cracked the guitar on the bottom edge. (By the way....20 minutes after finding this I got an offer from someone wanting the dang thing...)...anyway, with the side busted..not real bad...doesn't affect performance...and it is on the bottom..I decided to experiment. Here's the picture of the crack:
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/DSC_0002.jpg
Trust me, I'm not real good with wood or anything..but I have a band saw and a table sander..(thought about building guitars for awhile so got some of the equipment in the garage). Anyway, I found a piece of mahogony (a tailblock I ordered 4 years ago)..cut out an oval shape...eyeballed where the screws should go...drilled some holes...took out the Es pre-amp...installed an older version of the LR Baggs element I had taken out of another guitar...and BANG!!!!....
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/DSC_0003.jpg
THE FINISHED END PIN IS ON PAGE TWO AT THE END!!!!!!

It's not perfect...but. now, run thru my Fishman aura pedal it sounds SO MUCH BETTER!!!....
I'm not ashamed to play it out now...sometimes good things come from something bad happening!!!!!!

:eek: Just Kidding:D

Very cool! Wish I had the guts to do the same... I can't handle the ES sound, but have a hard time justifying deconstruction as it's an LTD nine-series... so that would kill it's value.

Great job...

understand
 

Yea, if this had been a higher end Taylor I wouldn't have tried it. But, with the small crack the value probably went down to $500 bucks..and I wouldn't sell it for that. It plays great...so, I thought what the heck...it's really amazing how good it sounds with the element pick-up....

Good gutar to experiment with (not being super expensive). Looks like you did real good. Congrats! ;) Sorry about the crack.

I forgot...
 

After I got the baggs installed I decided to take the strings off and take out the entire ES system..pre amp and all...wires...the only thing left in the guitar is the sensors and neck pickup...they wouldn't budge....then I attached one of those stick on tuners over the holes...it looks better...and it's lighter....

Interesting subject, $ongwriter. One of my musician friends has added an Element system (with a second strap-jack) to his Taylor 810ce (because he just couldn't get used to the ES) and another is contemplating adding an Anthem system to his 914ce (because he doesn't like the ES).

The first time I heard the 810ce amplified, I thought to myself that it was one of the best sounding ES systems that I'd yet heard. I had to laugh when he showed me the second jack and explained that he was using an Element system.

Gary

me too
 

Funny thing is..this time yesterday I had two ES equipped Taylors...now I have none. I just traded my 710 to a used GS-8 with an element pick-up already installed. I've given the ES system a chance, it's cost me 7 or 8 thousand dollars trying different versions, different guitars...I'm done. I'm gonna put an Anthem in the GS-8 just after Christmas, it's the best system I've heard...

Glad to hear that, as I just sold my Aura Spectrum DI and will soon be equipping a new guitar with an Anthem system. While I do like the Spectrum w/Fishman USTs, I needed to add a PreSonus EQ3B (3 band parametric EQ device) to the signal chain for optimum results. I'm hoping that the Anthem system, plus a Fishman Platinum preamp, will be just as effective or moreso. I'm sure it'll be less hassle.

Gary

That's what I use
 

I have the Anthem in my Martin and right now I'm running it thru the Fishman Plat EQ..I like it sounds great, But, I tried the LR Baggs Venue the other night and love the built in tuner that comes with it...in the future I may switch to that just because it's all in one unit....but, either way the pick up will sound great!!!

Good for you. I also just got rid of an ES Taylor (414ce 2009 Spring LTD) to buy a new GS8. It just went into the shop today for a D-Tar Wavelength installation.

I'm loving the GS8. After the darned Elixir 80/20 strings calmed down, it's got a great bass reverb and really suits my strumming style. Good stuff. Looking forward to throwing some PBs on it for even more richness.

Adam

I'm using the tuner in my Harmony-G pedal for solo shows, as its important to be in tune with that pedal.

1st time out
 

Well, I'm doing a writers nite tonight so I brought it with me...1st time to play out with a Taylor with no ES system....can't wait!!!!!:D

Let us know how it goes. I'm also looking forward to a non-ES GS8. :-)

First nights playing out for us will be in September sometime.

Adam

went great!!!
 

It went pretty good. The sound check consisted of plug in, hit it 3 times and go...at first I had the treble a little low but before I played I stopped, bent down and adjusted it. The best thing was the sound man didn't say during the "soundcheck" "I'm not getting anything...is it turned up???...not getting anything...so, all in all it worked great.....the sound system at this club normally sounds really good but tonight every mic in the place was feeding back....that didn't help but I was pleased with the guitar!!!...Plus, this club has alot of tables that are close together and I banged the guitar twice on the way to and from the stage...but, with this guitar that's no big deal...(see previous post showing the crack!!)...and, had 4 good comments on my second song which I only wrote this past week....a good night!!!!...

I did exactly the same thing to my 114e, including the L.R. Baggs Element!

(However, I have no power tools, so it took FOREVER to hacksaw and sand down to size.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...%20Fix/1-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...or%20Fix/4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...or%20Fix/3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...or%20Fix/5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...or%20Fix/6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...or%20Fix/7.jpg

I neglected to upload a photo of the finished product, but I painted it black and installed the endpin jack.

And yes, it sounds a lot better now, and I'm not ashamed to use it as a backup guitar or for festivals and other such performance that might endanger my "nice" guitars.

Nice...
 

Nice job..the hole in your's is shaped a little different than mine was...that's amazing without the ban saw....

another gig...
 

I just did another gig...locally here at Stonecrest Assit Living...took my Marshall amp and ran my guitar thru my Fishman Aura pedal....sounded great...I'm really loving this Non ES Taylor....can't wait for my GS to show up next week!!!!....:D

Finished!!!
 

Well, got some stain today so here's the finished job....!!!!
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/DSC_0026.jpg

And, here's how I covered the three holes. First I used Velcro to mount this tuner...the sticky stuff on the back of it got dirty and messed up...the velcro didn't work real good...so, today I mounted it with that white stuff that you put behind picture frames.....tuner works better now. I'll just have to remove it and replace it every year or so when the batter goes down...no biggie!!!
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/DSC_0027.jpg

Can I ask this - has there been any deterioration of the sound using the Element. Specifically, I'm curious to know if the natural acoustic sound of the instrument has been affected.

TIA

what tool did you use to take out the preamp (three little knobs)? it has slots on the outer edge so a normal screwdriver will not work.

housing..
 

If I remember corectly there is a housing around the three knobs that actually holds the pre-amp in place. Plus, I wasn't at all interested in keeping the pre-amp so I wasn't worried about destroying it....

not at all..
 

Not at all...but, a day or two after removing the ES and installing the element I put in a bone nut and saddle. But, I've had elements in other guitars before and I honestly can say I don't think it's affected the tone.

Thanks, good to know.

took out bone saddle...
 

The element pick up can be tricky to get the same volume on each string. And, I noticed that some strings were louder than others. I assumed it was the bottom of the bone saddle not being perfectly flat. I removed the bone one and put the tusq one back in...and, now the string volume is perfect. I use a Boss 10 ban eq pedal between this and the amp and it sounds great!!....

I have noticed the string problem as well in this new install. Time to do some sanding.