Retrofit ES System---Est. Cost?

[Go Navy]

I'm looking at a Taylor with no electronics on it, and might send it to the factory to have them retrofit the ES system to it.  Does anyone have a  ballpark idea what that might cost, shipping excluded?

I may have posted this question before but I can't find the thread if I did.....apologies in advance. 

Thanks.

[Penname]

I have a GA8 with no electronics so I looked this up in December. Taylor charges $X00 to retrofit a ES system into acoustic models series 300 and above. Took me a while to find the right link on the new Taylor web site but here it is: http://www.taylorguitars.com/support/service-packages




edited for price - please use PM for pricing discussions

[Go Navy]

Thanks, Penname......I haven't found my way around the new website entirely. 

Anyway, that retrofit cost, while maybe justifiable, is a deal breaker in terms of the used Taylor I was contemplating.  I want a Taylor with an ES system. 

[Satsuki]

My GS8 does not have the ES system but at $X00.00 I will stick with my trusty Fishman Rare earth Blend.



edited for price

[Fellrunner]

I have just received my 2001 712ce back from Amsterdam and thought I would report how I got on. It left my house (in Hull, UK) on 8th December via UPS. Eri at Taylor did all the organising of the shipping, although I had to pay (£78 both ways) and obtain a box (I took a trip to my nearest Taylor dealer - it actually contained a new 812ce at the time which I bought and am delighted with), so that was a successful but expensive trip!! They gave clear instructions on how to pack the guitar safely.

The 712 had some finish lifting off the wood around the Fishman preamp cutout - this was the original reason for sending it back in the hope the new 12 year warranty offered would cover repairs. I also took the opportunity to have a retrofit es installed (£xxx - I can pm the UK price if you want, let me know). The work was carried out with no charge for the finish repairs, I paid via paypal and Ups dropped it off today less than a month later.

I am delighted with the es - in my opinion it's transformed the plugged in sound of the guitar with a lot less knob twiddling - although some eq is still needed. You have to look really carefully and know where to look to see any evidence of the repair. As part of the es fitting the guitar was re setup and now plays better than ever.

Eri and the guys in Amsterdam were helpful and efficient and I am delighted with the end result. My experience seems to mirror those of people in the US, so it seems to me that Taylor are succeeding in their aim of providing a similar level of service in Europe to that in the US

I thought I'd quote a post I put on the old AGF Taylor forum (just before it died) which included my thoughts about an es retrofit for my 2001 712ce with Fishman stereo blend electronics.  Having had this now for a couple of months and used it a lot in a variety of situations including in a very loud band, I am still delighted with it and personally feel it was well worth the cost.  For the use I put it to and in my view it really has transformed the guitar - it sounds much more "acoustic" and is far less feedback prone.  In combination with a Sabine FBX Solo I can play at very high on stage monitor volumes without problems, something I could never do with the Fishman.  Although I had to ship the guitar to Taylor I got the extra benefit of a neck reset, a polish and general "tweaking" (as well as the repair I mention above) which has really improved an already good guitar.