My 2001 712ce has just been shipped back from Taylor Amsterdam. It started life with a Fishman system and was upgraded to an es1.3 in 2011. It is my gigging guitar (enthusiastic amateur) and has been used a great deal, particularly plugged in. It's frets had become increasingly worn and "buzzy" and it had picked up a few dings along the way. The truss rod cover screws were loose and the finish was lifting around the neck pocket and end pin/battery box. Finally the es1's preamp started to cause problems and needed fixing. I don't have a Taylor repair centre nearby (I live in Hull, UK) but Amsterdam is just across the North Sea so I phoned them. They (Remy) were really helpful and after discussing the options I decided to go for an es2 upgrade (it can be done with the old barn door guitars), a "revive" package and ding repair.
I am absolutely delighted with the results. I liked the es 1.3 but the new es2 is great and seems to compliment the small body of this guitar really well - I'm very impressed. I have attached a few "before and after" photo's of some of the repairs (not sure if they are really clear enough but worth a try). They've got out of order, sorry. 2 are a ding on the side of the body the others are the finish around the end pin. The ding repairs are very good (I was told they wouldn't be perfect) and the finish issues were sorted under warranty.
Following the fret dress and neck reset the frets are now flat, don't buzz and the action is great - it has a new nut and saddle (Micarta with the es2). The guitar shines like new, particularly great is the neck which had become a little rough where my hands had rubbed it. The truss rod cover fits perfectly. The machine heads are much tighter and smoother.
It wasn't the cheapest job (particularly with the post Brexit pound/euro exchange rate), but it was well worth it for what almost feels like a new guitar! I have always loved this little GC and it has matured beautifully over the years but now it's even better - I couldn't be happier.
