Quote from Forum Archives on May 5, 2003, 11:05 am

Posted by: twheeler <twheeler@...>

I've played several of them. I will certainly own one once finances
allow for it.

Here's how it goes. I plugged the thing in, having not yet played the
guitar at all. Turned on the amp and played a bit - I thought "hmmm -
it isn't working". So, I turned the volume all the way down on the amp
- played again. I though "that's funny, this guitar sure isn't very
loud". Thing was, it was working all along - it just sounds like an
acoustic guitar, not like a pickup. It really is everything Taylor
says it is (maybe more). Not only is the sound amazingly natural, but
the system responds to a player's dynamics like nothing else I've
played. You want it soft? Don't play so hard. Want it loud? Hit the
strings harder. If you're into a natural and realistic acoustic guitar
sound, this is the only way to go.

Now, there are a couple of tricks to making the thing work right. Most
importantly - you've got to plug it into the right gear. Most
salespeople in guitar shops do not understand and do not like this
system (which is because they do not understand it). Almost all of the
acoustic amps out there on the market really color your sound (some of
them quite a bit). This was done intentionally, by the amp
manufacturers, to make up for the lack of quality sound coming from
"old" pickup systems. You need to plug into one of three things to
make this system sound right: a "good" acoustic amp (SWR, Ultrasound,
or Genz Benz - there don't seem to be any other choices) - or - a
decent PA system - or - a powered monitor (JBL EONs seem to work well,
as do some of the Mackie and Yamaha products). If you plug it into
something like a Fender Acoustasonic, I'd bet money you'll not like the
system at all. In fact, I just sold my acoustasonic SFX in
anticipation of buying an ES equipped guitar at some point. If you go
try one out, please trust me - insist that you want to plug into one of
the three options I mention. The salesperson will likely tell you
you're crazy - but insist on it. You won't believe the difference it
makes. If none of the options I list are available, look for a good
keyboard amp or something like a Baggs Para DI and a set of decent
headphones. Also, make sure you insist on using the balanced TRS cord
(with XLR on one end) when you try it out. Taylor ships a cord with
each ES guitar, so the shop will have one on hand.

Regards,

Trey Wheeler

On Monday, May 5, 2003, at 10:40 AM, Mike McDonald wrote:

> Ok. I am very interested if anyone has played on this new system? Is
> it
> everything they are saying it is? I just finished really reading up
> on it
> and I can't really believe it's all they are saying. The new ES is on
> all
> 500 and up series taylors. It is composed of three "magnetic!"
> pickups that
> supposedly give you a true acoustic sound. The best I have heard to
> date
> was the combination magnetic and piezo, but they were both limited and
> were
> still lacking a true acoustic feel. I haven't heard this system
> myself yet,
> and I was wondering if anyone out there has played the new system on
> one of
> the new Taylors. How is it?!?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
>
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