Taylor Baritone 6-String User Manual page 51

electronics
The performance-ready expression
System faithfully reproduces your
Taylor's natural voice
Our commitment to great acous-
tic tone doesn't end with the guitar. It
includes the realm of amplified sound
for players who want to plug in and
convey all the great acoustic nuanc-
es they love about their Taylors. A
guitar's shape, its wood pairings, and
the technique of the player together
create a unique tonal character, and
we think that voice deserves to be
heard when the guitar is plugged-
in. After all, many gigging acoustic
players stake their livelihood on their
live sound, and they want a pickup
that sounds natural, is reliable, and is
easy to use.
We decided to develop our own
acoustic pickup, the Expression
System (ES), because other after-
®
market pickups like a traditional piezo
transducer had never managed to
produce a true acoustic sound. We
started by studying how a guitar
resonates. We worked closely with
legendary pro audio designer Mr.
Rupert Neve. Ultimately, our product
development group designed a high-
fidelity acoustic pickup and preamp
that are fully integrated into the
guitar. We've been installing it in our
guitars since 2003, and some of the
biggest names in music, from John
Fogerty to George Strait, rely on it
for a great acoustic sound on stage.
The ES incorporates a network
of magnetic sensors that work like a
microphone to capture the acoustic
detail coming from the guitar's body
and neck as they resonate. Two body
sensors affixed to the underside of
the guitar's soundboard (top) cap-
ture all the sonic detail of its move-
ment, while the neck sensor picks up
string and neck vibration. A pro audio
grade preamp cleanly boosts the sig-
nal and eliminates noise that might
otherwise distort or muddy the tone.
The result is amplified acoustic tone
that sounds like you and your guitar,
with all the richness, articulation and for each string. The ES-T has an
dynamic range you could ask for. It's onboard preamp and the same
also highly feedback resistant. active controls found on the full ES.
Another goal of the ES design Featuring a custom-voiced EQ and
was to offer easy-to-use tone con- dynamic response, the system is
trols without intruding on the beauti- powered by a 9-volt battery, with a
ful aesthetic of a Taylor. With three battery life LED power indicator
soft-touch roller knobs elegantly (which is lit when the battery is being
embedded in the upper bout of the used). The pickup also has a Phase
guitar, you can adjust your volume, switch for feedback control, which is
bass, midrange and treble frequen- located on the preamp board inside
cies, allowing you to dial in your the soundhole.
sound to suit the performance space.
The latest version of the ES (updated
in 2007) allows players to turn off
one or both body sensors with a
switch on the preamp board inside
the soundhole, features a battery
indicator LED, and includes a fused
string ground to protect players who
play at venues that may not have
proper electrical ground.
Although the ES was originally
designed with performance in mind,
the sound quality is good enough
that many players and recording
engineers also use the ES signal for
recording.
In the end, the ES will satisfy
the most demanding pro player, yet
makes it simple enough for anyone
to plug in and get a great live tone.
Even if you're not quite ready for that
open mic night, with the ES, your
guitar will be ready to go when you
are.
The ES comes standard on
acoustic/electric models from the
300 Series up and is optional on
models in our acoustic line.
ES-T under-Saddle
Transducer / 100 & 200
Series
Inspired by our Expression
System technology and installed on
®
our 100 and 200 Series, the ES-T
is a single-source, under-saddle
transducer with individual elements
• The ES retrofit is used on a Taylor
ES-N / Nylon Series
New for 2010, the ES-N applies
our ES pickup technology to our • The ES upgrade will modify your
Nylon Series. It's similar to the ES-T,
but the preamp design and tone
controls were customized to comple-
ment the nylon-string voice. Our
standard ES control knobs replace
the Fishman EQ control unit formerly
installed in the guitar's upper bout,
adding more tone-shaping control
and preserving the natural design
aesthetic.
• The ES-NC (no controls) is an
ES Installation and
Retrofits
Whatever model of acoustic gui-
tar you own, whether an older Taylor
with pre-ES electronics, a model
without electronics, or even another
brand of acoustic, our Factory
Service Center can install or retrofit
the Expression System. A retrofit
for "classic" Taylor necks (featuring
a one-piece, pre-NT neck design)
incorporates the same type of a
neck/string sensor used on the stan-
dard ES, only the pickup housing is
mounted in the soundhole. The Baby Refresh service package. For more
and Big Baby can be equipped with information, see our service pack-
an active under-saddle transducer age listings on page 53, or feel free
($150). to call Taylor's Customer Service
Department at (800) 943-6782.
• The ES install adds the ES to a
Taylor that doesn't currently have
electronics, or a guitar that has
other electronics inside the body
of the guitar and won't present an
obstruction to the installation
process. NT neck design only.
($500)
that has the Fishman Onboard
Blender, Fishman Prefix or the
L.R. Baggs pickup used on the
Doyle Dykes Signature Model.
Side-mounted controls fill the
existing preamp hole in the guitar.
($500)
ES-equipped Taylor guitar from
the former AA battery power
source to the 9v system currently
used. The latest version of the ES
also includes a fused string
ground, battery indicator LED, and
switches that allow you to turn off
the body sensors.
($300)
option for customers who want
the ES electronics but also want
to preserve the pure acoustic
aesthetic of their guitar. This
version features the ES sensors
and preamp, but has no volume or
tone controls. The pickup installa-
tion also features a standard
endpin jack along the tail line
instead of the ES battery carriage.
(The 9v battery is housed inside
the soundhole.) ($500)
ES installation includes our
The K4
Another Taylor tone-
shaping product that we feel
deserves a place in any seri-
ous musician's toolbox is the
K4 Preamp and Equalizer. Like
the ES, it incorporates the
ultra-musical analog circuitry of
Mr. Rupert Neve and expands
the degree of tone control
of the ES, allowing you to
precisely shape your guitar's
tone by honing in on the notes
or frequencies of your choice
and then cutting or boost-
ing them to taste. It's perfect
for studio or home recording
and live performance. Among
the K4's features are a tuner
output, phase reverse switch,
headphone jack, and an effects
loop, which allows you to use
reverb, a stomp box, a volume
pedal or other effects and
maintain a balanced signal
chain. Multiple, transformer-
coupled balanced outputs give
you routing flexibility, enabling
you to drive an amp, PA or
both. The K4 is also handy for
enhancing the amplified sound
of other types of acoustic/
electric guitars. If you like to
detail your tone, the K4 is an
essential piece of gear.
Tip: Because of its flexible,
smooth EQ section, the K4
can come in handy in a mixing
session. Try using the K4 as a
channel insert on your mixing
console the next time you do
a mix.
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