Taylor ES2 Pickup Information and Adjustment

[@TheSoulmatesFamily]

Great video! I finally got the courage to adjust the hex screws on both my Taylors after watching this. I hesitated for years just because I don’t want to mess my sound up. Thanks for educating and reassuring me this was not complicated!❤

[@julianmetcalfe1070]

YES ,you would think they would come fairly dimmed in ,mine was dread full, tinny sound, i was shocked, i thought battery but no

[@TheSingingDoctor325]

Nice video. I recently learned about adjusting the ES2 pick up. Taylor is doing themselves a great disservice by hiding this information.

[@RobertHamm]

Glad to help!

[@ericwillmusic_tpa]

just adjusted the Allens on the bridge. My sanity is saved! Thank you for the intel! My high E and B were super quiet in comparison to the low stings. I tightened it and that evened it out.

[@RobertHamm]

I'm glad my inf was helpful for you. Cheers and good luck.

[@im58woody]

You did an amazing body of providing information about the ES2 pickup! I always noticed the Allen head screws on the bridge but never realized that they were adjustable. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@RobertHamm]

Thank you for your comment. I'm happy my video helped you.

[@ktrn2b]

Thank you very much, I hated the way my Taylor sounded plugged in, and now..... after fully adjusted, its my favorite go to electric Acoustic, just sounds Phenomenal now!! Taylor is doing themselves wrong by not fully explaining this ES2 pickup system in my tiny opinion, it's capable of being SO GOOD after adjustments....

[@robertraffaniello7991]

I bought a taylor 314 and I am very disappointed with the es2 system. Why do people keep saying players don't realize it needs adjusting or understand how it works? It is not (or shouldn't be) rocket science. 3 hex screws and tone controls. I get it. But I cannot adjust these to get decent sound out of my PA. And I shouldn't have to purchase an EQ, DI or preamp when there is a system built into the guitar. It sounds terrible and Taylor should realize their mistake. The idea looks good (behind the saddle pickup, three separate transducers..) but it does not work as well as the simplest UST I've used over the years. I will either sell the 314 (it plays and feels great!) or change the pickup system.

[@RobertHamm]

That hasn't been my experience. Mine sounds great on both guitars, and I enjoy it quite a bit.

[@meloche1syndrome]

I was shocked at how hot the highs were when i plugged my 114 the first time. Hearing literally everything isn't quite what i wanted, i prefer my plugged in sound on my yanaha fgx730, tbh

[@adambreska4490]

If it sounds hot chances are it's slightly too tight. You might want to loosen it slightly if it's sounding too hot or too loud on certain strings. Don't forget it's a piezo pickup, so the tighter you have it, the louder/hotter it will sound.

[@adambreska4490]

Also there is a phase switch inside the guitar if you just reach inside the sound hole and find that switch you can toggle the phase switch.

[@bogart5131]

me too i ended swapping my taylor. sounds so thin. why cant taylor set it up before selling it. unlike yamaha, their pick up system is excellent. try buying cheap yamaha transacoustic, remove the electronic and install to taylor

[@terryadams3489]

Ran across this be accident, and really glad I did, Thank you ! At this point I dont believe you have much competition.

[@jamesrenner5086]

Great Vid! Thx! I wish I had known to loosen the pickups before pulling my saddle in and out about 10 times for adjustments... oops! Live and learn! 😮 I'm excited to try and make customized sound adjustments! I really love the sound and design of the ES2...but this is now icing on some already great- tasting cake!! 🎉

[@RobertHamm]

I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for your comment.

[@Theweeze100]

Just want to say thank you for this video, this is the second Taylor guitar that I’ve owned with the expression system and I thought I would need to just swap it out..as per usual. I love Taylor guitars, but the ES -2 expression system leaves a lot to be desired. I used your technique and was able to EQ the guitar output to an acceptable level. Thank you so much!

[@joeclark7082]

Great video! I just bought a used 214cek-dlx and your vid answered most of my questions. Thanks

[@RobertHamm]

No problem 👍

[@kurtisloew108]

Great info here! I just order an AD22e and have been watching tons of vids and reviews. Nobody mentions this stuff! Plenty of gripes about the pickups. I feel well informed now and cant wait to get my hands on this duitar. Thanks!

[@RobertHamm]

Thanks for your comment. I'm glad the video helped you. I love the ES2 system. It works great.

[@Jam-m7m]

I just bought a new Taylor ad22e. I love it and it is very warm soulful sounding

[@tonycarpenter-Makzimia]

Smug guy here, lol, as someone who owns 3 Taylors including that lovely Koa one, I knew right away which was ES2 and which was mic. The mic was easy because of more surface noise :). Great video and explanation.. Oh, and great to know about adjustments, definitely did not know that!. Thank you.

[@RobertHamm]

I'm glad you liked the video. Cheers.

[@LoveFix2558]

This video is very helpful, I’ve adjusted my 317e pick up & spent a couple of hours playing and have eventually produced a sound I’m happy with. Many thanks 🙏 Now I need to focus on my Fishman artist 😂

[@RobertHamm]

Great to hear!

[@dlmullins9054]

That 'splains it! lol.... i am glad i watched this video. My Taylor is coming Monday and it was very good to watch your video before i did anything to the guitar i may regret later. I feel i can check it all out with a better understanding of how it works. Just subscribed and hope to learn more with videos like this. Thank you.

[@toddpattison]

Ah- I needed to see this video !

[@markharwood7573]

Thanks. People talk the ES2 down but I bought my Taylor 12-string because it sounded so good plugged in. Never adjusted the screws but it's nice to know we can.

[@michaelthomson5101]

Well that was informative, Very informative. Thanx.

[@RobertHamm]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@allanfry1914]

Great information! Thanks

[@RobertHamm]

You bet!

[@jackbandel]

Was pretty easy to tell that “B” was the mic. It sounded fuller and well…like a mic’d acoustic. “A” sounded more tinny and thin than A.

[@lewbrill9983]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@dewaldvanvuuren1179]

Thank you for the information. Would you be able to share that manual on the ES2 pickup with us please

[@RobertHamm]

Just Google Taylor ES2 manual and you will find it.

[@Optiman5000]

Have you done similar comparisons playing with a pick? I am having trouble when playing in a gig situation. Getting distorted high string sounds. People I play around don’t seem to notice it so much but I hear it. I’m gonna try some adjustments. I tend to strum pretty hard with a pick.

[@TheSoulmatesFamily]

Did this work? I would’ve thought that a heavy strummer will benefit from the hex screws being a bit loose to remove the harshness of the ES2.

[@RianLinomta]

Why is my taylor guitar has power but it has no sound. I checked every thing ...chord,ampli.., even the mini light is working but my guitar has nobsound.

[@dancassidy7471]

Bob ! This is a game changer dor me and my 824 series Taylor. Do tell approximately how much you tightened the E and A string pup. This is exactly how I want my sound. Is it a bit of a task? Am I able to adjust without removing strings..apologize for my lack of knowledge

[@RobertHamm]

Thanks. I'm glad you found the video helpful. It's a straightforward task with very small adjustments using the Allen key. You can download the PDF from Taylor, search Taylor ES2 PDF and it will pop up in google. Again, small adjustments. A whole turn of the Allen key would be a bug adjustment. two complete loosening turns on all the strings would allow the unit to fall out from the bottom (or close to falling out). Yes, you can adjust without removing the strings. That's actually the only way to adjust it. How much I tightened/loosened mine won't help you. There is no "standard setup", and no starting point used at the factory. I have found that between my two Taylor guitars with ES2 pickups, the out-of-the-box setup was wildly different. Even if the placement was accurate down to the millimeter, my measurements wouldn't help because I set it up for how I play. I don't believe I do anything special, but I have met very few people that strum/pick the way I do. I think I mentioned that I have a percussive 'strum-pick' style in the video. That being the case, I adjusted each course in the following manner: tighter on the bass side, tight on the mids, and less on the treble. Then I went back and tested the pickup for palm muting at the bridge and fine-tuned the bass (which is the pickup where my hand hits the bridge the most). If not, then I get a lot of 'quack' when I strum percussively. As you can imagine, I can't transfer those adjustments from one guitar to another, so I had to set up each of my guitars differently. I also use a bit of EQ on my PA (JBL PRX One ii/Eon One ii- if you want one please check out my reviews and use my amazon links). I also find that I adjust it as the seasons change. It's part of basic maintenance. Let me know how you get on. Cheers!

[@TheSoulmatesFamily]

I bought a small screwdiver set with T5 size and it worked!

[@RiffLair]

Hey Robert. Thanks for sharing. Does the Koa Plus model come with a tuner? I think it does?? but where is it if so? Cheers!

[@RobertHamm]

The Koa/Rosewood plus models have a different pickup systems than all the other GS Mini guitars. No. There is no tuner on the "Plus" GS Mini models.

[@jonnyroxx7172]

Thanks for a great video. I just purchased a GS mini Koa plus and am having a bit of a challenge eq’ing it for my live setup. Do you have an opinion on the Leon Brown Music KZbin channel review of the ES2 system?

[@antoniogabriele4065]

For me in neither case the sound is to my liking. It doesn't matter if they sound the same if we don't like the take. My cheap Yammy FGX412 sounds fuller and with more harmonic content in acoustic. Both takes don't give back the real sounds of a good acoustic guitar. I'm sure that Taylor heard in the room sounds better, at least I hope so for Taylor!

[@RobertHamm]

Yeah, guitars sound different. I like mine. I also like Yamaha as a musical instrument company. When given the choice, I chose Taylor. I've always wanted one and am very happy with my choice. Guitars are all different. Get the one that sounds good to you and never look back.

[@HMDTech]

I have the taylor ce 114 ce, with the ES2, acoustic sound is ok, but the output is extremelly low far, and with a lot of feedback, and i dont see taylor talking about this, (the internal phace button does not resolve the issue)

[@markcollinson7973]

Great! Thank you!!

[@RobertHamm]

Glad it was helpful!

My es1.1 battery box fell apart and no replacement parts are avaliable from Taylor. I sent my gutar to Taylor for an "upgrade " to the Es2. BIG MISTAKE. Go with any other system but es2. I hate my Taylor now.

[@Zach-ls1if]

With the ES2 the finger squeaks are the dead giveaway. It’s impossibly difficult to reduce finger noise with those

[@RobertHamm]

That's not true. Your comment tells me that you do not own an ES2 equipped guitar and have never adjusted the ES2. If you had, you would not spread such nonsense. The entire point of the ES2 is to reduce finger noise and allow for custom equalization between the strings. That's why the pickups are put behind the saddle, not under it, and that's why there are three sets of adjustment screws. All of this is done so that the player can create a custom sound.

[@Zach-ls1if]

@@RobertHamm ok, rock on dude

[@TheSoulmatesFamily]

Have you tried putting in new strings?

[@piperlynn9060]

So tell me how you adjusted yours to the sound that you liked. Because that sounded the best to me as well. I mean for example: on the lows strings, did you do a 1/2 turn clockwise, and the middle one ??, and the one for the high strings? I have the Taylor 812ce when I play it in church, it sound tinty on the high strings and the low strings gave me feed back (I probably had the bass set too high on that. But can you give me a little more info on the direction you turn the hex pins and how far did you turn them on the sound that you liked??

[@RobertHamm]

I'd like to be able to help you, but there is no specific instruction. Just like tuning, this is done by ear. Each guitar sounds different. Each guitar would require different settings based on the preferences of the person playing it. Also, the ES2 system is not set up to be reproducible. It's not a metered system. There's no way to judge a quarter turn from an original start position. It's just not how the system's made. So, the best thing you can do is download the manual from Taylor. Give it a look, it's not very long, and it tells you how to adjust the system. Watch this video again, and make sure you hear what I'm saying. And then apply what you've heard. Make sure you do not take the screws all the way out or you will break the system. The screws just need to come out enough to loosen or tighten. No more than that. So, if you unscrew the little screws all the way, you're going to have a problem. It's a really easy adjustment. And it's easy to do while you're playing it. That's how it's made to be done. So give it a try if you feel like it. Good luck.

[@JimmyBmusic1]

I’m taking mine out and putting in a k&k mini

[@RobertHamm]

That's a good choice for an upgrade.

[@dnottis]

wish you wouldve explained how to make it sound usable. Bought and sold so many Taylors. I read the manual, adjusted the pickup but it always just sounded terrible. Give me an under saddle Fishman over a Taylor ES2 any day.

[@RobertHamm]

I don't know what to tell you if you can't adjust three Allen screws as to intensity or deminish the base (EA), mid (DG), and treble (Be) response, then there's no video that will help you.

[@georgescarlett2320]

Be nice if you told us which amplification you were using, ie: Es2, or Mic.!!!!

[@RobertHamm]

Hmm.. but isn't the point that if you can't tell it doesn't matter? Yeah. That's it.

[@ella801000]

Great video. Thanks for sharing the info. I have exactly the same Taylor and it sounds beautifully acoustic but when I plug it into some mixers (on open mics) it sounds awful, kind of distirted. We managed to set it nicely on digital mixer but struggling on analog mixers. Wonder if adjusting my pickup would help. Would you be so kind to share a link of a manual of this pick up please ? Thank you !

[@RobertHamm]

It's on their website. I downloaded it so long ago I don't remember the link. Google Taylor ES2 Pdf. That should get it for you. Cheers.

[@ella801000]

@@RobertHamm thank you

[@jerbear1601]

Digital input box? Maybe Direct Input box?

[@stevehightower8906]

Good information as I search... I seem to be having a lack of gain compared to every other guitar at open mic. Wondering if my two year old Taylor has an issue because beyond a new battery, I have no options and will have to do what others don't... to achieve the same volume.

[@stevehightower8906]

sorry... other guitars, I meant to say

[@RobertHamm]

Try tightening the hex screws on your pickup. Make SMALL adjustments. 1/8 of a turn is a big adjustment. If you overtightene the screws, you could break the pickup elements. So, be careful and make SMALL adjustments. The tighter the screw, the "more gain" you will get on that course of two strings that each screw controls. This means that you can "scoop" the sound by varying the tightness on each screw. If you want scooped mids, then make the middle screw a little less tight than the outer screws. This takes experimentation. Just be careful and don't back your screws out all the way or overtightene them. Cheers.

[@stevehightower8906]

Thank sir... Appreciate the consideration.

[@jackbandel]

what model Taylor is that?

[@gerimayawhyte154]

I take it that the difference between the prices of the Taylor Koa e-mini is that the cheaper one is the passive one and the more expensive is active?

[@RobertHamm]

No. Checdk the specs on Taylor's website. There are a lot of differences in the models. anu "e" version comes with an active Pickup. The plus models use the ES2 pickup, and the non-plus models use the ESB pickup. two different electtronics and preamp packages. Any version that does not say "e" in the name does not come wiht a pickup.

[@nfn16076]

How about finger picking and strumming with a pick?

[@RobertHamm]

I love it for both.

[@nfn16076]

so you can't actually adjust each string individually, only 2 at a time

[@RobertHamm]

You adjust two strings at a time. That's the way the ES2 is set up.

[@OlegGubanov-n7x]

Ни чего не понял, но звук интересный получился. Спасибо за обзор!

[@RobertHamm]

Thanks. Glad you watched.

[@OlegGubanov-n7x]

А что если датчики расположить до порожка со стороны розетки, на него будет создаваться естественное давление от струн, так как бывает что отламывается кусочек подставки с этой стороны.And what if the sensors are positioned to the threshold on the side of the outlet, natural pressure from the strings will be created on it, since it happens that a piece of the stand breaks off on this side.

[@grahamhall2662]

You don't know what you are talking about. It's not pressure on the piezo that causes the quacking sound. It's the harmonics that are created because of the type of ceramic material used. That's why when buy a cheap piezo that merely sticks on the top without any pressure still quacks in most cases even worse.

[@RobertHamm]

Hmm.. then I suppose the ES2 should work when removed. Idiot.

[@attybong]

the ES2 on my 416 sounded too boxy and lacked sustain .. so, i switched to the original lb6

[@RobertHamm]

Interesting. I'm glad you found a system that works for you. I did not encounter the issue with sustain or a boxy sound. I adjusted it to get rid of some string noise on the high strings, and think it wounds great now. I like The Pure Mini, but that's a completely different pickup anyway. Cheers.

[@thehumblebardmusic]

Recently got a Taylor A110e with ES-B pick ups and found that the acoustic and plugged in sounds are completely non-comparible. Acoustic, it has a great rich and well-balanced tone. Plugged in, it's completely dominated by treble, I will need to completely remove treble on the EQ and post the lows to near max too. Any suggestions?

[@RobertHamm]

I don't know if you're asking a question or just making a statement, but thanks for commenting. The Taylor ESB system and ES2, are very similar. ESB is older. Both systems use the same transducers. They're just the same way. If you spend some time carefully adjusting your pickup, you should have great sound. People ask me all the time or say all the time that they don't like the Taylor system, and that's fine. I just think they don't know how to adjust it properly. I found that for piezo pickup, it's one of the most natural sounding out there. That's why I did a whole video on how they built it. You notice it's a different system right? Like they didn't do what everyone else is doing. They did something better. And if you properly adjust it, and keep it properly adjusted because it will change as the season changes just like the neck changes and the rest of the wood on the guitar changes, then it will continue to provide great sounds for you. If it's too harsh loud truly and quacky, loosen the course of strings for which those tones are attributed. If it's two muffled not very clear or defined, Titan the course of strings that are corresponding to those sounds. Keep in mind that small adjustments, 1/8 of a turn at a time, are the type of adjustments you would make when adjusting this. More importantly, download the user manual and read it. That's all I did, and now all my Taylor guitars sound even better than I thought. I will note, I did not like the factory setup of any of the ES2 systems in my guitars when I got them. So, setting them up to my own personal taste was important. Good luck.

[@thehumblebardmusic]

@@RobertHamm thanks for getting back to me Rob, had a good read and a rewatch and started tinkering, 15-20 mins and I'm able to to 0db the onboard EQ and just cut out very small amounts on my preamp pedal. The sound is completely different now, really captures the True Tone of the guitar!

[@nfn16076]

How do you adjust to get the most volume plugged in?

[@RobertHamm]

Well, as I said in the video, you adjust the sensitivity of the output two strings at a time by tightening (makinng the output louder) or loostening (making the output softer) the screws that corespond to the two closest strings. E and A on the bass screw adjustment. D and G on the middle screw adjustment. B and e on the trebel screw adjustment. Please watch the video again and download the user manual from Taylor for further information. BE WARNED that you should never overtighten the screws or loosten them too much as this can break the picup.

[@rstevenhanson]

My 2022 Taylor 314e sounded great at the store going directly into a Fishman LoudBox. Took it to band practice and got the most shrill sound I've ever heard. We have Mackie 1402VLZ4 14-channel Mixer. Wether going straight into the mixer or using my Zoom AC-2, it just sounded awful. Any suggestions? The was set up by a Taylor tech, so let's assume we don't need to address the issue with the guitar. Any pedal or settings on the guitar or mixer that could help?

[@RobertHamm]

That sucks. I won't assume that any of the setup/settings are correct just because a tech said it was good. This includes a Taylor Tech. The ES2 is completely different than the typical under saddle piezo pickup. Generally speaking, it's not the amp that was the problem. Not being there, here is my guess. Flip the phase invert switch on the ES2 inside the guitar body. Look it up. It's in the manual. Don't have the manual, Google it or download it from Taylor. It's free. As to why I say this, it's because you were using an acoustic guitar in a band setting. Feedback is something acoustic guitars are prone to experience. That's why solid body guitars were invented. Well, one of the reasons.. anyway. It was likely the audio profile of the room and your placement inside that room while playing that caused the issue. No amount of EQ will fix it. That's why good under saddle piezo pickups include a phase switch and/or a notch filter. Maybe if your board had a notch filter built in the sound couy could have helped. The only other thing you could have done would have been to turn the volume down on the ES2. There is a lot that goes on with the ES2. Just read the manual and adjust your pickup. Test, and You'll be fine. Cheers.

[@TheSoulmatesFamily]

Hi Steve. Have you tried using a soundhole cover? This will generally reduce feedback especially with other sounds from the band’s instruments. Also the advice on flipping the Phase switch will also help.

[@alejandrordz.1250]

I have this tuner on my Baby Taylor, but always's giving me a humming. Is it possible to fix it? You know any way to do it? I bought back on 2017, I don't know if I'd work.

[@RobertHamm]

Hi. Thanks for your question. Hum or feedback. That's what I would look into first. I have only experienced feedback when playing too close to a speaker. As for hum, that could be many things. Most likely a loose ground in the system or you could check the tension on the adjustment screws. They could be too tight. Cheers.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

Do you know if the ES-B pickup can be adjusted like the ES-2 can? I got the Taylor Mini Koa but with the ES-B pickup. I like it but it picks up so much string noise which is not great for me as I do a lot of live looping. I may experiment with putting some Elixir Nanowebs on it as I have Monels on now but it would be nice to get an adjustment done.

[@RobertHamm]

Yes. The two systems use the same adjustable behind the saddle pickup but have different active preamps. Google Taylor ESB PDF. Download it and it will show you exactly how to adjust the pickup. It's the same way I show here. Good luck.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

@@RobertHamm I usually am not very comfortable with working on my instrument's. Is it fairly straightforward?

[@RobertHamm]

Learn to work on your guitar. Start with little things. Action at the first fret, file the nut slot, action at the 12th, relief, changing strings, adjusting pickups.. I will agree that it seems difficult at first, but it's not really. A nut costs 3 bucks to replace. So no real loss if you screw it up. Same with the saddle. As for the pickup adjustment. Just read the manual, and make sure to use small turns. I was pickinging up a lot of string noise on my bass strings. Loosening the adjustment on my EA and DG strings helped a lot. It's not an adjustment that's just one and done. You'll need to continue to adjust it as the season changes. I change strings about every two months and I make any necessary adjustments to the pickup as needed at that time. Also, add polishing your frets to the list of things to do. It's a great way to make your guitar play even slicker than now. It's a great experience and should take about an hour to do it right. It's a once every other year kind of job most of the time. Totally worth it.

[@nfn16076]

yes agree, Taylor is not very informative about the adjusting option - they don't educate us customers well at all

[@RobertHamm]

Yeah, I wish they did a little better job of that too. But they make lots of money and make really great products, so I guess they like for their fans and owners to talk about it amongst themselves. Cheers.

[@bonesmusicandguitars5848]

Anyone have any issues with ES2 output being too low?

[@RobertHamm]

Tighten the screw for more output on a course of strings. Loosen the screw for lower output. It's that simple. Remember to only make small adjustments. A quarter turn would be a big adjustment.

[@johncharney5188]

I have, but mostly with soloing. Even with compression and boost pedals, there is a strange lack of cut that I never experienced with my previous go to, an Ovation Doubleneck, with which I used to perform for over 2 decades. But that behemoth guitar created shoulder and back issues. Back to this guitar, the 414-ce... I have also had issues with string two being significantly louder than the rest, with regards to soloing. Also, there is a harsh, twangy overtone to the D string when played open. Very unpleasant. So those three issues have plagued me since I made the purchase. Unbelievably frustrating in such a high end, expensive guitar. The guitar, when unplugged, is the most beautiful I have ever played. But when amplified, has serious issues. And I am an acoustic soloist, largely, so my frustrations have been extensive. In spite of all that, this video gives me hope. And I am going to adjust those saddles and hopefully find remedies to all these issues. If this fails, I will most certainly be replacing this pickup.

[@ajimza]

For mine, big adjustments don't seem to make a lot of difference until it just doesn't sound anymore. 214ce-K SB. I really dislike this pickup system. I also own another guitar with a Fishman pickup and it is just amazing.

[@jerryh.9812]

But.... you didn't show us how to adjust it! So disappointed.

[@RobertHamm]

I'm pretty sure I stated that adjusting was done with Allen keys on the three pickup holes on the bridge. I pointed it out and everything. Just adjust in very small turns until you have the sound you want, more pressure, then right, and those strings will become more present and active. Want less? Do the opposite.

[@jerryh.9812]

@@RobertHamm Thank you, that helps!

[@nfn16076]

Yes, actually show us how!

[@kevduff7416]

The es2 is scrap on par with fishman presys

[@RobertHamm]

I disagree.

[@bobt7484]

I watched this whole video waiting for you to explain the proper way to adjust the ES2 pickup, which is in the TITLE of the video. You never did. And, by the way, you're wearing a jacket with a ZIPPER, which is rubbing against the back of the guitar. Not good practice.

[@JimmyBmusic1]

The pickup sucks

[@RobertHamm]

I disagree.

[@aardvark77]

Piezo. P-A’-Zo

[@RobertHamm]

Potato. Po-TA-To.