Taylor Guitars Expression System

I own four Taylors, and two have the ES systems, which I will be upfront about: after trying to use these on the road at gigs, I hate their sound.

My 414ce is a 2003, which were prone to have problems. This was no exception. I bought it on eBay from a terrible seller--he almost never mailed it until my credit card fraud department called him. The guitar came with a dead pickup. I took it into a Taylor authorized dealer. He had to replace the entire system. It then works like it's supposed to.

I own a 2004 354 as well. This was another eBay purchase, but from a reputable store. The guitar's system hasn't had problems, and sounds clearer than the 2003 414. However, that might be because I use the 414 for whole step down tunings with medium strings.

414 CE 2003-LTD
354 CE 2004

Note, it came factory installed. I liked this guitar at the store when I tested it for a few years when I window shopped. It sounded punchy in the Bose PA cylinders to my ear at first.

I liked the ES pickup at the store when I tested it for a few years when I window shopped. It sounded punchy in the Bose PA cylinders to my ear at first.

However, I now regret these eBay buys. I prefer my 2001 514ce's Fishman Stereo Blender 10 to one then the ES. While the ES doesn't have feedback problems, it also doesn't have the punchy fullness my 2001, 514 has. Plus, the ES can not handle the lower register of a whole step down tuning. It sounds very poor at gigs through my Mackie powered SA 12 inch and Mackie powered fifteen inch speakers.

Honestly, if you put an ES pickup equipped next to a Fishman Stereo Blender equipped guitar, any really aggressive, acoustic guitar player is going to prefer the Fishman. With a feedback buster, I rarely have feedback issues with my Fishman equipped 514.

In fact, when I pick up my ES guitars at gigs, I am disappointed every time. They just lack substance. They don't even sound like acoustic guitars to my ears.

However, I love Taylor guitars. The company has been very good to me. They replaced my pick-ups for free (I had to pay for the service since they were used) and they even payed for the service on my 2004's set up when the luthier accidently billed them and not me. They told him to just bill them and don't bother me since I own a few of their guitars.

I hope to purchase two used pre-2003 to replace my ES Taylors for gigs this year.

While off topic, I will also comment that Taylors are more susceptible to humidity, even if the company swears it's the customer's fault for not "properly" humidifying their guitars since "tone woods are always more delicate." BS. I use two humidifiers in my apartment and my Taylor 514 (2001) has two hair line cracks in the body from this winter (2007). Both other Taylors survived the winter, but my favorite has some serious cracking going on that didn't start till this winter, and I have watched my humidity diligently levels for the last five years.

The cracking hasn't stopped my appreciation for Taylor tone, but I must admit, these guitars need to be treated carefully, and will crack from road abuse. I'm going to try using the Damp-it humidifiers instead of the Planet Waves soundhole humidifier I used this winter for my case. Feel free to message me at musicianssearch@yahoo.com for Taylor feedback.

Taylor's Expression System is still a new technology and has been interesting to use in my music. As far as the product goes I can't tell you much about how it works, only how it has worked for me. It is an active preamp and my review is about my experience with my 2004 414 CE.

First of all, I did not buy this guitar for the Expression System, I bought it because it acoustically sounds fantastic to my ears, no other reason. I was however looking for a pickup system for my Avlerez Guitar when a Guitar tech mentioned about the ES.

I have very mixed feelings about the sound of this preamp. At times the pickup can be amazing, and at times its not, especially when stumming. It does have great feedback protection and when I have used it with playing music live it has been good for the most part. The Expression System in my guitar is 4 years old now and I have had it in the shop twice. They did solve the problem but it took some work on my part. My feeling is that Taylor is working to get the Expression system on par with their claims of it being the best preamp available. I do know that the newer Guitars now have a newer design incorperated that takes a nine volt battery instead of two AA batteries. I have not had the chance to check out the new improvements with the nine volt system as compared to my older AA sys. I am now planning on getting a fishman rare earth blender pickup in tandem to cover my Taylor 355, I will then try it against the ES and see if it is better for my 414 too.

Overall realize that the ES is a new technology. It does sound good to my ears because I am a light acoustic player for the most part. However it does have a annoying high mid/ high freq pitch problem. If you can be patient with Taylor in a number of years look to see if the ES has improved even more. Like I say, I am impressed with it for finger picking.

Essentially 3 magnetic pickups, one mounted in the neck, two more in the body. Onboard control is a volume, and a High and low band of equalization.

This guitar is a K14CE from 2005. It has a Koa top, back and sides. It's the system that came with the guitar. Tons of artists use the system, among my favorites is Tommy Shaw of Styx, Damn Yankees, and Shaw Blades.

The system includes an onboard preamp, and is capable of plenty of output and provides a strong signal for an amplifier, or mixing board, and it's balanced output requires no direct box. Using a TRS to female XLR cable, it connects to a mixing console or PA head as would a microphone.

I've used it with a PA setup with solid equipment from Allen Heath, and EV.

The overall tone of the guitar is very good when playing open chords in the first position. Dynamics, volume and feedback rejection properties are actually outstanding, far superior to any system I've tried. However, upon moving past the 4th fret, the tone gets neck-heavy. As though I'm picking the strings over the neck, or playing a hollowbody electric guitar with just a neck pickup engaged. There's no dialing that out even with the fairly extensive EQ capabilities on my mixer.

I play tons of acoustic solo covers, some strummy stuff, others as other instruments arranged for one acoustic guitar. It doesn't work very well in that application. However, as the strummy acoustic in a full band mix, it excels, and is one of few systems that will allow this degree of volume, even with a monitor blaring back at you.

It's my girlfriend's guitar. If it were stolen, she'd be devastated, and I'd convince her to buy a guitar with a different system, or no electronics installed.

I've been playing just over 15 years. I own 4 other Taylor acoustic guitars with Baggs and Fishman systems, a Rainsong acoustic with a Fishman system.

I like the dynamic range and feedback rejection, but don't enjoy the sound it produces.

"Home" for me is on a Fishman onboard blender system. That's my baseline for comparison, and the system I still prefer to use.

I wish it had the ability to dial out the neck sensor and derive it's sound from the body's sensors. There's no guarantee that that would provide a sound more pleasing to my ear, but my guess is that it might.

Contrary to many releases from Taylor, and reviews from a myriad of sources, the ES doesn't sound any more naturally acoustic than the other top contenders. It's just another variation of the magnetic pickup. If you like that sound, you'll love that pickup.

Taylor 614ce and 424ce

The sound output of both of my Taylors, goes from clean to slightly distorted, then from stereo to mono and back again. Such an unreliable system , I am sorry I bought them.

I am a professional full time musician and during the past 10 yrs I have used, for acoustic purposes, a Takaminie Santa Fe limited edition guitar, and never have I had a problem with it. It has been played thousands of times and at thousands of shows. Recently I purchased two new Taylors, a 614 and a 424 ce's. I thought I was upgrading, but since their purchase the 614 has been in for repair, several times and the expression system has already been replaced. The other Taylor has a warped neck a saddle problem , buzzing and a problem with the expression systam. Taylor sucks.

I bought 710 CE acoustic electric with Expression system. I found a buzzing sound and my tunner could not even pick up any sound from the output. There is no service center in this country, and I could not contact Taylor for they're based in US. I need someone to guide me/ tell me what's wrong with it. I did open this ES myself all the way through, Only the Bridge I couldn't take it off from its place. Is something wrong with the connection or the battery. This is my first time having problem with this. I will fixed it myself if someone knows about this. My email is steveadityamichael@yahoo.com, I have some events to play with this guitar 2 weeks from now...and don't know whatelse to do.

Preamp

Taylor 814 2005 LT Cocobolo/Spruce
Artist Using the Taylor Guitars
Alabama
Jars of Clay
Aerosmith
Link to all Artist Using Taylor Guitars
http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/recording.html

I have been playing guitars since 1969 and have used every kind of preamp available. I have a 1974 Martin D41 that has a K&K Ultra Pure with the pure XLR Preamp this also sounds good. The research and science that went into the ESM was done by some of the top men in the field. Rupert Neve was the primary engineer on the preamp. The sound is absolutely amazaing. The three band EQ located where the neck and shoulder join is a great design.

I have been playing 30+ years
I also own a Martin D41, the Taylor K4, TC Electronis G-Major, SWR Clafornia Blonde

3 different transducers, built into a Neve preamp

can only be ordered for a taylor

The sound is great. one of the best on the market.

This pickup system is notoriously noisy and has problems with battery life. Incredible design, but poor implementation.

Expression System (Read below)

N/A

When I picked up the 310CE and was trying the ES, the volume control didn't work and gave popping noises near the detent. A few more tries, the volume control went completely dead with the detent gone as well.

I bought it.

The guitar shop sent it to an authorized Taylor repair guy, which I'm still waiting on.

I love the guitar, except the fault in the ES. I did a lot of research (AFTER buying the guitar) and there seems to be tremendous posts regarding problems with the ES.

Seems like Taylor wants to keep the faulty ES a secret and do quiet repairs, rather than do a recall.

taylor expression system

used an all electro acoustic taylor guitars

for soft, delicate finger style playing the expression system is good, for med and heavier strumming it breaks up quite easisly and the overall tone loses definition and clarity.

This is my experience when using it through compatible acoustic amplification, D.I boxes and P.A systems.

I know a guy who runs a guitar store with over 20 Taylor guitars in stock, he said to me that they have had at least 20 Taylor guitars back with faulty (dead/not working)expression systems. He said he has spoken to many dealers in the U.K and U.S.A and also found this to be a common occurance and apparantly Taylor have produced an information DVD/kit for some dealers to aid repairing the new pickup, this action to me speaks volumes (no pun intended) as they must be getting a high number of problems with the new pickup system.

Pickup features: 3 internal pickups
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Taylor 710ce
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: na
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup: lots
You musical style(s): bluegrass, folk, rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: plenty loud
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation: I bought this guitar because I figured with the three pickups (one under the fretboard that responds to vibrating steel, and two soundboard transducers, no piezo), it should sound pretty good. Intially I was disappointed. There is a "hot" D# (4th fret on the B string) and the upper strings sound a bit quacky. But after playing some others, I think none of them sound as good a micing. But micing is impractical. So there you go, it is as good as it gets. The treble bass and volume knobs are a thing of beauty. The guitar is gorgeous.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: You can't isolate pickups, That is preset and no adjustment. You use all three in the balance that Taylor set.

Comments: I'd probably try a Martin. Not sure it would be any better though. Or maybe a Taylor 810ce. I think accurate sound reproduction with pickups on an acoustic guitar is an unsolved problem.