Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

I've said it many times --perhaps too many-- that I can EQ the ES2 on my dred to sound decent live, but it will never be a choice of mine, ever.  For me, it is ES1.3 first, then ES1.2 is acceptable.  Beyond that, I'd rather have a Taylor without any system, and merely pop in the Baggs pickup of my choice.

But these ES1 guitars are narrow-model-year choices which limits me quite a bit.  Which is all the more reason I stick with what I got (and am uber-thankful for them), and by and large "done" with any other acoustic purchase unlesssss I see something that ultimately checks all the right boxes for me. Sorry as that was a bit OT, but heck, it's a slow morning!

Edward

More Than a Feeling - Boston

don't do me like that - tom petty and the heartbreakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFkJ_BOz88E

I have 3 Taylors with the ES-2 system and struggle with all of them. I have a more percussive style of playing and I always use a pick and found that the ES-2 picks up not only noise from my pick, but also from my finger nails and palm, a screechy noise.

For my 814ce, I found that it worked best when I loosened the middle pickup bringing its volume down to match or be slightly below the bass and treble pickups.  Leveling the pickups really helped to reduce the noise I was getting and allowed me to fix the rest with the EQ.  I agree with the EQ settings others have recommended for my 814ce.

I was not so lucky with my GS Mini or my 562ce 12-string.  I do not think that the ES-2 works well for short scale guitars.  I just could not beat the noise, even with adjustments.  For these guitars, I worked with Taylor and they sent me an UST to replace the ES-2 transducers.  The UST worked perfectly with the ES-t eq that was already installed in the guitars.  I just left the ES-2 in the holes so both options are available and the only modification was the small hole for the UST.

I am now finally happy with the plugged in sounds from my GS Mini and my 562ce.  I have left the ES-2 in my 814ce for now, but may convert it to UST in the future.

I’ll give you $20 for them and will pay for the actual shipping.