More Taylor ES2

[jjbigfly]

Not that I ever use sarcasm, I always think of it as more towards dry humor…so…

I have seen the question MANY times with Taylor threads (others also, but THIS is a Taylor thread &#128519. Why do they build such nice instruments and put crappy PU’s in them?
Duh! Taylor gets a lot of heat (at times) so I think they put sub standard electronics in them so as to NOT dominate the guitar market thereby drawing even MORE criticism. Smart move, huh?

And, I am as guilty of this as anyone else. BUT NOW I either understand how to make it sound right, or….I am heading downhill. Either way, it’s a ride!

[rmp]

Originally Posted by jjbigfly

Not that I ever use sarcasm, I always think of it as more towards dry humor…so…

I have seen the question MANY times with Taylor threads (others also, but THIS is a Taylor thread &#128519. Why do they build such nice instruments and put crappy PU’s in them?
Duh! Taylor gets a lot of heat (at times) so I think they put sub standard electronics in them so as to NOT dominate the guitar market thereby drawing even MORE criticism. Smart move, huh?

And, I am as guilty of this as anyone else. BUT NOW I either understand how to make it sound right, or….I am heading downhill. Either way, it’s a ride!

hey aren't we all heading down hill? (I say this as I look ahead to my 66th trip around the sun)

but - yea you can get good stuff out of an ES2 but! it's a lot more work than it should be.

[aschroeder]

I think it was a mistake when they started making their own pickups 15 years ago. But that is how Taylor rolls, always trying to be the innovator in the acoustic industry. I personally think the ES2 is vastly superior to the original ES1. I had a 714ce with the ES1 and I loved the guitar, but sold it because I hated the pickup.

I think all undersaddlle piezo pickups sound terrible without major EQ and other effects. In my opinion the ES2 sounds better than many piezo pickups out there. However, I always prefer soundboard transducers and have Schatten HFNs in my other guitars.

I have an Impulse Response pedal and use an IR with my Taylor 816ce that sounds amazing. So yes, plugging straight into a PA is underwhelming but the ES2 (like all piezos) can sound great with a little extra work.

[Guitars44me]

I have had a bunch of Taylors over the last 30 years.

IMO

The ES1.3 is the best of them all. Even Taylor says it sounds most like a good condenser mic. I believe it can still be retrofitted, but maybe not anymore… but Taylor customer service could tell you. Not the hottest signal, but a RedEye will bump it nicely.

I prefer the K&K now, and occasionally consider removing the ES 1.3 from my RT. I don’t gig the RT anymore.

The Es 1.2 with the retrofit soundhole pup sounds great for slide on my 96 412c.

I would rather not have all that stuff in my axe. And prefer NO battery. Less hassles and less weight.

I play solo almost all the time and rarely plug in anymore anyway…

Hope you find what works for you!

Paul

[Nick84]

I love Taylor guitars. I hate their pickups. Getting a specific model without ES2 electronics is near impossible in the UK. I wouldn’t mind if you could remove it. But those three piezos in the bridge just make it a big no go.

[Talk2Me]

Originally Posted by jjbigfly

Not that I ever use sarcasm, I always think of it as more towards dry humor…so…

I have seen the question MANY times with Taylor threads (others also, but THIS is a Taylor thread ��). Why do they build such nice instruments and put crappy PU’s in them?
Duh! Taylor gets a lot of heat (at times) so I think they put sub standard electronics in them so as to NOT dominate the guitar market thereby drawing even MORE criticism. Smart move, huh?

And, I am as guilty of this as anyone else. BUT NOW I either understand how to make it sound right, or….I am heading downhill. Either way, it’s a ride!

Funnily enough Taylor themselves will be discussing getting the best from an ES2 system on Taylor Primetime with a Taylor engineer "tonight" (Feb 21, 2023) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDzuh6mbdDc

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by Talk2Me

Funnily enough Taylor themselves will be discussing getting the best from an ES2 system on Taylor Primetime with a Taylor engineer "tonight" (Feb 21, 2023) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDzuh6mbdDc

It would be so funny if they go:”Just to add a little extra, we use a little pedal to add a tiny touch of realism. It is called Tonedexter”

[Br1ck]

I have several friends who, when they grab a guitar to play out, take their ES2 equipped Taylors. When asked why, they answer for their competence. Not that they are the best sounding, but that day in and day out, they can be made to work for whatever job is needed. Really, what could be a more compelling endorsement? It's not just the ES2, but the whole guitar.

Solo cafe gig? No problem. Fronting a band with a drummer? No problem.

Playing for an audience of effete snobs? You could be in for a long night.

[6L6]

I think the ES2 pup system is the worst sounding pickup I’ve ever played.

[waterlooz]

Originally Posted by 6L6

I think the ES2 pup system is the worst sounding pickup I’ve ever played.

What specifically makes it the worst for you?

[SpruceTop]

I just had a Great Idea! I'm going to buy a Presentation PS14ce Honduran Rosewood Model Taylor for $10,000 and rip out the ES2 and put in a $39 JourneyTek pickup because I want the best available amplified tone in the Universe.

[jjbigfly]

OK! Now that we have this sorted out can we start on PA systems…

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

It would be so funny if they go:”Just to add a little extra, we use a little pedal to add a tiny touch of realism. It is called Tonedexter”

They didn’t mention IR at all but they did state that some players may simply not like the ES2. In the audio comparisons I preferred the ES2 to the undersaddle but the undersaddle will have better string balance and longer battery life.

I think I would buy a Taylor without a pickup and add the Anthem SL.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

They didn’t mention IR at all but they did state that some players may simply not like the ES2. In the audio comparisons I preferred the ES2 to the undersaddle but the undersaddle will have better string balance and longer battery life.

I think I would buy a Taylor without a pickup and add the Anthem SL.

I wonder why nobody came out with a decent retrofit yet…. I am sure it would not be such a big deal…