ES2 compared to ES1

[ntotoro]

With all due respect, it doesn't seem like a fair comparison.  In my experience, the 2014 814 and 816 sound more bassy than the 2013 models -- played acoustically.  If the purpose of a pickup is to amplify the acoustic sound, then the differences you're describing may be due to the changes in the guitars, and not necessarily the changes in the pickups.

I have the ES2 in two guitars and one of those was a happy accident. ES2 is indeed more bass-heavy and I've had to adjust that, but it seems no different to me than any other piezo in that sense, including the ES-N in my 2012 Fall LTD GA-n. Definitely different than the ES1, though, of any revision.

Nick

[milo_otis]

I had a chance recently to compare my 2013 K26 vs. a 2014 ES2 K26 through a Loudbox Performer. IMO the ES2 would be great for a solo artist or someone in a small group setting since it fills space but seems to attenuate the nice highs that koa naturally has (which to me is disappointing). The bass on the newer one seemed really reduced or compressed (could have something to do with how new koa sounds), but at least the mids were there. The ES1.3 has a nice wide footprint with 12 string like highs, big spongy bass and plenty of mids. So it stands for me that Koa benefits most from the ES1. The ES1 cuts through better in a band setting that has a drummer, keyboard, and electric (distorted) guitar and works well for everything down to a solo instrumentalist.

One isn't better than the other. It just comes down to what YOU want.

[DJFUZZYMCPICKLE]

  I would pick the ES1 v3.  Is it perfect?  No.  I don't like it's honky sound on the high strings which apparently is the nature of the beast (mag sound).  At least it resolved the hissing/white noise issues with v2 and earlier, and it's more balance and articulate than the ES2.
[/quote]  Agreed...on all the versions I've tried and now own the ES1.3 the best on my 914.  That being said, i think Taylor should stick to building guitars and let someone else either custom design them or work with them exclusively to build 'their' pick-up.  Personally I like my barndoor fishman prefix in my 02 614CE better than all of the ES systems, but I still love my Taylors over everything else overall...soooo..since I'm not in charge of the company we can all just hope and presume, like everything they do, they'll keep tweaking and innovate and so on.

[wooglins]

I still maintain that the ES2 was bass heavy, less mids articulate, and less accurate to the source than said v3 ...but again, this is only my inexpert opinion based on a ridiculously small sample
so there you go.  Take this FWIW, my miscellaneous ramblings.  But they're my ramblings dag nab it, and I'm stickin to em

Edward

Yes, aside from being bass heavy it was less articulate and muddy.  I get that Andy's re-design is indeed more bass heavy acoustically, but playing it without the pick-up doesn't exhibit any of these articulation or muddiness issues.  To my ears, the ES2 is over amplifying the the lows over the highs even with drastic EQ correction.  I wanted to tweak the bridge screws of the ES2 to see if it would help, but I didn't have the wrench for it at that time.  I was thinking maybe the screws were too tight on the bass side?  I'm not even sure if those screws are to balance the volume or tone.

Of all the iterations, I would pick the ES1 v3.  Is it perfect?  No.  I don't like it's honky sound on the high strings which apparently is the nature of the beast (mag sound).  At least it resolved the hissing/white noise issues with v2 and earlier, and it's more balance and articulate than the ES2.

The hex screws are to adjust the pickup and if you had backed off the E and A string sensor you could have probably found a tone much more to your liking.