After almost becoming so mad i wanted to wrap my Taylor around a pole, i finally found a small enough Allen wrench (actually a tine allen screwdriver) to adjust the es2 pickups. Before i couldn't even tune it using an electronic tuner, but when i just slightly turned it, the tuner started working and it actually sounds better. Now i have to (want to) adjust the action down a little which looks like a neck re-set is in my future. I am not sure whether i like the bolt on or not because although it does make it easier to re-set the neck, it seems like between the trouble i have went through trying to get the correct shims (mine is a used 2019 model)... and not under their precious warranty anymore, Taylor makes it so much trouble to actually get them. The guitar sounds pretty good (not nearly as good as my China made Merida Poison guitar with all solid AAA Engleman spruce top and rare African Rosewood (Bubinga)) . Now if not for the bull you must go through to get shims, i would be praising Taylor right now. It has just been such a hassle and a high price for just a couple shims that i probably will sell mine and buy something else.
The TC Helicon Play Acoustic is an amazing pedal! I've used one for about 6 years now. I'm also playing a Taylor 214ce with an ES-2, but I actually only use a tiny bit of Body Rez (using the advanced menu), but every time I hear my guitar on our church recordings, I think it sounds REALLY close to the sound coming out of the sound hole. Even if you are happy with your guitar tone, you should look into the TCHPA for what it can give in the way of reverb, chorus, delay, and vocal effects. My son runs sound a lot and says the vocal EQ curve the TCHPA sends is great - very little needed to make it sit in the mix with the band and other singers.
I have an early 2006 Taylor 814ce with the dreaded ES1 that I tolerated too long. I bypassed it and installed a K&K mini style system from JJB. Vast improvement. Now with a decent preamp like the Baggs Para DI or Fishman Aura Spectrum I can get a better tone than anything I tried with the original pickups. I considered the Baggs Anthem but was unsure if I would keep the Taylor guitar. I love the look and playability but wish I had looked into other high end guitars instead.
Inforamative video! Beautiful guitar regrettably I agree the expression system sounds 'nasal', however buying a $300.00 pedal to improve your tone is unacceptable on a $4000.00 Taylor
I wish that they kept the Fishman prefix as I own a 312 ce from 2002 with the Fishman and I ownes a newer 2012 with the new system and found it very limited in what tones I could get from the volume/bass/treble knobs. The older Fishman prefix has eq/brilliance/phase/blend options. You can just get way more sounds out of the Fishman. The older models also have the x brace instead of the v brace. The x brace has a warmer tone with more mid to bass sustain. I personally will only buy an older one myself and I own a play acoustic. It works well with the older model. Not so much with the newer version. Taylor didn't improve their guitars with the new system. They just improved profits. Acoustically it still sounds awesome, plugged in? Get an older one. The tweakability is like having 3 or 4 guitars in how you can shape your sound. Pop some body rez or a Fishman aura or equivalent and you can recreate a mic'ed sound live without the feedback of a microphone. I have 3 Taylors, a Breedlove,,a Seagull, a Parkwood and a Luna for travel. The Taylor's are my go too for playability and tone.
I think the Body Rez is making it worse. I have the same TC Play Acoustic pedal. Body Rez is essentially a mid scoop EQ with subtle compression. It tames the mid-forward sound of typical under saddle piezos. But the ES2 is picking up more of the top wood and, therefore, already has more “Rez” in its sound. Applying more Body Rez effect via the TC is doubling up on the low frequencies and mid cut and making it mushy. If anything, the ES2 probably needs more of a mid boost, like a miced acoustic does, when in a mix.
Taylor owners are so bloody precious. The expression system is sounds streets ahead of anything else I’ve heard. If I had one, I wouldn’t have bought my Play Acoustic. I think the bodyrez made the Taylor sound even better. But worth paying for?
I do not have the stand-alone bodyrez pedal. But I assume the effect is the same whether it's bundled in the play acoustic or on its own. I may be mistaken though.
I use a play acoustic and I hate the bodyrez. Better off with a preamp with parametric EQ or preamp and a seperate multi ban EQ, add a compressor and you’re done. Or use an IR like the LR Baggs Voice Print.
My 2022 Taylor 314e sounded great at the store going directly into a Fishman LoudBox. Took it to band practice and got the most shrill sound I've ever heard. We have Mackie 1402VLZ4 14-channel Mixer. Wether going straight into the mixer or using my Zoom AC-2, it just sounded awful. Any suggestions? The was set up by a Taylor tech, so let's assume we don't need to address the issue with the guitar. Any pedal or settings on the guitar or mixer that could help?
Use an acoustic amp made for acoustic guitars. I use my Taylor 214ce Koa DLX into a loudbox, boss cube street, AER and it sounds fantastic. No rez needed
Adjust the pick up (050” hex key) per Taylor instructions from their website. Small adjustments can make a big difference in tone and balance between the strings. I run mine through a BOSE S1 although it sounds fine direct through the PA too.
Here's your FINAL answer!!! I have this guitar. I have this pickup. Taylor is smart enough to not make junk. Between the pickup adjustments on your bridge and some simple EQ adjustments, my guitar is EXPLOSIVE live through a PA. RESEARCH, STUDY, LEARN, about your guitar and its fantastic pickup system. It's not rocket science. I did some reading, and then some tweaking, and my guitar performs perfectly in every situation. Don't be too quick to condemn.
I have same Taylor/pickup and wondered about exactly what you did to tweak adjustments on your bridge if you don’t mind sharing. I agree that EQ adjustments can make a big difference.
I can tell you like playing guitar and music - Look out on a friend of mine named Corey Heuvel. He does a 3hr livestream every Friday. He plays a Stonebridge guitar but it's actually a Furch. (at the time they had sell them under a different name) He is an awesome player who I think you would enjoy watching. Drop him a comment. Tell'em Rob sent you. Check him out. He comes on after the first intro song. . . I like your interest in guitars and music.
Don't know what ur talking about my ES2 never sounded quacky quite the opposite. ES2 IMHO is the best for acoustics for natural acoustic sound. I have no idea what these people whining about the ES2 are hearing. I have the Play acoustic and my Taylors sound better through an actual acoustic amp with no Rez. Don't get me wrong the Rez is great too. Had the LR baggs PU and they are horrible talk about quacky never heard so much quack from a pick up than the LR baggs Athem
Yeah, it's strange. Some people get great tone out of their ES2, but it seems a lot (like me) do not. I'm sure it depends on the amp and how each particular guitar is set up with the pickup. I'm glad yours works well for you. Cheers.
@@jasonbussellsmusic8828 There might be two potential issues for the quacky sound. One reason might be, that the pickup pressure isn't perfect. Maybe the pressure is to high and this causes the issues. The other potential issue wasn't in my mind at all but I came across an intersting discussion and had to try it myself. I tend to play with rather light picks and they causes a quacky sound. I switched to heavier picks and the sound became way better with them. Here is the question what picks are you using. I would give it a shot to try heavier ones and see how the sound changes.
I think it comes down to what string:wood ratio people want in their sound. A typical under saddle piezo is almost all string and no wood. It’s a harsh, unflattering, mid-forward sound. But it cuts through anything. The ES2 includes more wood in the sound. It’s more mellow and natural but can have trouble in loud mix situations. Realistically, a miced acoustic has the same problem in a mix.
Yes I agree, just bought 214ce plus and it sounds fabulous just with a bit reverb through my Marshal AS100D acoustic amp. bass and treble down a bit and volume up a bit done.
After almost becoming so mad i wanted to wrap my Taylor around a pole, i finally found a small enough Allen wrench (actually a tine allen screwdriver) to adjust the es2 pickups. Before i couldn't even tune it using an electronic tuner, but when i just slightly turned it, the tuner started working and it actually sounds better. Now i have to (want to) adjust the action down a little which looks like a neck re-set is in my future. I am not sure whether i like the bolt on or not because although it does make it easier to re-set the neck, it seems like between the trouble i have went through trying to get the correct shims (mine is a used 2019 model)... and not under their precious warranty anymore, Taylor makes it so much trouble to actually get them. The guitar sounds pretty good (not nearly as good as my China made Merida Poison guitar with all solid AAA Engleman spruce top and rare African Rosewood (Bubinga)) . Now if not for the bull you must go through to get shims, i would be praising Taylor right now. It has just been such a hassle and a high price for just a couple shims that i probably will sell mine and buy something else.
The TC Helicon Play Acoustic is an amazing pedal! I've used one for about 6 years now. I'm also playing a Taylor 214ce with an ES-2, but I actually only use a tiny bit of Body Rez (using the advanced menu), but every time I hear my guitar on our church recordings, I think it sounds REALLY close to the sound coming out of the sound hole. Even if you are happy with your guitar tone, you should look into the TCHPA for what it can give in the way of reverb, chorus, delay, and vocal effects. My son runs sound a lot and says the vocal EQ curve the TCHPA sends is great - very little needed to make it sit in the mix with the band and other singers.
I have an early 2006 Taylor 814ce with the dreaded ES1 that I tolerated too long. I bypassed it and installed a K&K mini style system from JJB. Vast improvement. Now with a decent preamp like the Baggs Para DI or Fishman Aura Spectrum I can get a better tone than anything I tried with the original pickups. I considered the Baggs Anthem but was unsure if I would keep the Taylor guitar. I love the look and playability but wish I had looked into other high end guitars instead.
tried m my Taylor 414ce with ES2 and a stand alone body Rez, no difference that I could hear.Thank you for your video.
im returning my body rez as it did nothing but make the guitar sound cheap...er
I believe the pedal made more difference on fingerstyle than strumming. Seems to help.
Inforamative video! Beautiful guitar regrettably I agree the expression system sounds 'nasal', however buying a $300.00 pedal to improve your tone is unacceptable on a $4000.00 Taylor
I cant agree more!!!! I just purchased a 816ce BE for $4000.00 . It sounds amazing NOT being plugged into an amp!!!
I am so disappointed!!
I wish that they kept the Fishman prefix as I own a 312 ce from 2002 with the Fishman and I ownes a newer 2012 with the new system and found it very limited in what tones I could get from the volume/bass/treble knobs.
The older Fishman prefix has eq/brilliance/phase/blend options.
You can just get way more sounds out of the Fishman. The older models also have the x brace instead of the v brace.
The x brace has a warmer tone with more mid to bass sustain.
I personally will only buy an older one myself and I own a play acoustic. It works well with the older model. Not so much with the newer version. Taylor didn't improve their guitars with the new system. They just improved profits. Acoustically it still sounds awesome, plugged in?
Get an older one.
The tweakability is like having 3 or 4 guitars in how you can shape your sound. Pop some body rez or a Fishman aura or equivalent and you can recreate a mic'ed sound live without the feedback of a microphone.
I have 3 Taylors, a Breedlove,,a Seagull, a Parkwood and a Luna for travel.
The Taylor's are my go too for playability and tone.
Yes, the LR Baggs in the Furch sounds better. Try the Tone Dexter pedal. I don't own one yet, but if I could I probably would.
Interesting video - great work. Subscribed 👍🏻
I think the Body Rez is making it worse. I have the same TC Play Acoustic pedal. Body Rez is essentially a mid scoop EQ with subtle compression. It tames the mid-forward sound of typical under saddle piezos. But the ES2 is picking up more of the top wood and, therefore, already has more “Rez” in its sound. Applying more Body Rez effect via the TC is doubling up on the low frequencies and mid cut and making it mushy. If anything, the ES2 probably needs more of a mid boost, like a miced acoustic does, when in a mix.
Taylor owners are so bloody precious. The expression system is sounds streets ahead of anything else I’ve heard. If I had one, I wouldn’t have bought my Play Acoustic. I think the bodyrez made the Taylor sound even better. But worth paying for?
Recently got a 114, after hearing it plugged in, i gigged with my yamaha instead.
I play the Taylor at home though
can you try it with the actual Body Rez pedal? This is not what we are referring to.
I do not have the stand-alone bodyrez pedal. But I assume the effect is the same whether it's bundled in the play acoustic or on its own. I may be mistaken though.
Thank you for your reply
I use a play acoustic and I hate the bodyrez. Better off with a preamp with parametric EQ or preamp and a seperate multi ban EQ, add a compressor and you’re done. Or use an IR like the LR Baggs Voice Print.
My 2022 Taylor 314e sounded great at the store going directly into a Fishman LoudBox. Took it to band practice and got the most shrill sound I've ever heard. We have Mackie 1402VLZ4 14-channel Mixer. Wether going straight into the mixer or using my Zoom AC-2, it just sounded awful. Any suggestions? The was set up by a Taylor tech, so let's assume we don't need to address the issue with the guitar. Any pedal or settings on the guitar or mixer that could help?
Set the EQ settings in the Zoom and on the amp flat. Flip the phase polarity switch on the circuit board.
Use an acoustic amp made for acoustic guitars. I use my Taylor 214ce Koa DLX into a loudbox, boss cube street, AER and it sounds fantastic. No rez needed
Adjust the pick up (050” hex key) per Taylor instructions from their website. Small adjustments can make a big difference in tone and balance between the strings. I run mine through a BOSE S1 although it sounds fine direct through the PA too.
You must use a trs/xlr cable to get the full effect of the pickups.
No, that only applies to ES1. ES2 uses standard Tip Sleeve cable.
Here's your FINAL answer!!!
I have this guitar.
I have this pickup.
Taylor is smart enough to not make junk.
Between the pickup adjustments on your bridge and some simple EQ adjustments, my guitar is EXPLOSIVE live through a PA.
RESEARCH, STUDY, LEARN, about your guitar and its fantastic pickup system. It's not rocket science. I did some reading, and then some tweaking, and my guitar performs perfectly in every situation. Don't be too quick to condemn.
I have same Taylor/pickup and wondered about exactly what you did to tweak adjustments on your bridge if you don’t mind sharing. I agree that EQ adjustments can make a big difference.
What D.I. is best with the es2?
I can tell you like playing guitar and music - Look out on a friend of mine named Corey Heuvel. He does a 3hr livestream every Friday. He plays a Stonebridge guitar but it's actually a Furch. (at the time they had sell them under a different name) He is an awesome player who I think you would enjoy watching. Drop him a comment. Tell'em Rob sent you. Check him out. He comes on after the first intro song. . . I like your interest in guitars and music.
Only try a Lr Baggs or fishman System .....
Don't know what ur talking about my ES2 never sounded quacky quite the opposite. ES2 IMHO is the best for acoustics for natural acoustic sound. I have no idea what these people whining about the ES2 are hearing. I have the Play acoustic and my Taylors sound better through an actual acoustic amp with no Rez. Don't get me wrong the Rez is great too. Had the LR baggs PU and they are horrible talk about quacky never heard so much quack from a pick up than the LR baggs Athem
Yeah, it's strange. Some people get great tone out of their ES2, but it seems a lot (like me) do not. I'm sure it depends on the amp and how each particular guitar is set up with the pickup. I'm glad yours works well for you. Cheers.
@@jasonbussellsmusic8828 There might be two potential issues for the quacky sound. One reason might be, that the pickup pressure isn't perfect. Maybe the pressure is to high and this causes the issues. The other potential issue wasn't in my mind at all but I came across an intersting discussion and had to try it myself. I tend to play with rather light picks and they causes a quacky sound. I switched to heavier picks and the sound became way better with them.
Here is the question what picks are you using. I would give it a shot to try heavier ones and see how the sound changes.
I think it comes down to what string:wood ratio people want in their sound. A typical under saddle piezo is almost all string and no wood. It’s a harsh, unflattering, mid-forward sound. But it cuts through anything. The ES2 includes more wood in the sound. It’s more mellow and natural but can have trouble in loud mix situations. Realistically, a miced acoustic has the same problem in a mix.
Yes I agree, just bought 214ce plus and it sounds fabulous just with a bit reverb through my Marshal AS100D acoustic amp. bass and treble down a bit and volume up a bit done.
I bought a guitar for about 4000 and the PU is bad.....
Nothing can fix this horrible ES system. Get real, and put a Fishman Prefix or Blender in it.
This video is simply a sales pitch for tc helicon.