Nice comparison I wish Taylor would go with the ES2 throughout the entire line up. The controls are nice but I find them to be a blemish on a beautiful guitar.
Well done! I have the older one in my GS Mini Koa and my only complaint is that that batteries don’t last long enough and if you are not careful taking the clip out the batteries fall out and it’s hard to remember how they should go in.
9 volt, 3 band, tuner and the ES 2 pick up are a great combination. I also like the recessed controls (sometimes I bump by accident on my 214ce). Add a notch filter and I’d skip my pedal and just plug and play.
What’s up gents, always an education watching your feeds so thanks 🤙 I’m a New Yorker but I’ve always been a huge Dallas Cowboy fan, one of these days I’ll probably make my way over to the armadillo state to go watch a game and when ai do I’ll have to swing on by and check out Alamo Music. My only fear will be me walking out of there with another axe LOL! Anyways, please keep doing what you guys are doing, great guitar videos.
I use a di box for eq. I found even the cheaper di boxes are worth the 100$. They can make a super cheap acoustic sound amazing. But I guess this would be a separate video.
The GS Mini pickups is the #1 reason those guitars just failed for me. I went through the original with the ES GO, then with the ES1, then a koa with ES2! None of them can be used live plugged in. Hopefully this fixed that issues cause the GS Mini is the perfect pickup and play but not pick up and gig guitar.
Those little batteries are such a bad idea. If you are gigging its going to be SO much easier to get a 9v battery like most acoustic electrics. I know not a lot of people are going to be gigging with these but its just a bad idea. I also really dislike the idea of just having one tone knob vs an actual EQ. Thanks for making this video, most videos about the GS mini are about the older preamp version so this is very good to see.
This latest version ES-B that is being installed in several different Taylor models is a good idea and now that I have one it works fine, but...in the case of the GS-Mini it doesnt quite fit the curve of the upper bout and they are using a gasket to fill the space but the front lip still sticks up. Also, the tuner switch feels cheap compared to a button. Overall this latest ES-B version looks and feels like lower quality but sounds fine. I'm a Taylor guy but I'm calling this out. I suspect it fits the larger body guitars better.
There’s obviously more control with the 3-band EQ. But the 9v battery is worth waiting for IMHO. I don’t suppose there’s a retrofit option. I’d love to put this new preamp in my GS mini bass. Those watch batteries work fine in my old activity tracker, but…
Have a "watch battery" Academy 12e. Great little take anywhere guitar, only gripe is the almost comically approximate built-in tuner. Easy enough to overcome with a decent clip-on of course, just surprising Taylor ever approved the use of such a lame component. Hopefully the new preamp has a better tuner to go along with that 3-band. Appreciate your many excellent videos, thanks for the care and effort you put into them.
Thanks for the video, love the dynamic between you both 👌. I would be interested if there will be a follow-up to the es2 in the near future since I'm planing to buy the 914 (played hours/days through all taylor/martin/furch-lines for comparison and just fell in love) but for this price the pickupsystem feels unrewarding somehow 😅.
Nice demo- the new system does seem to work better. My first Taylor was a 1991 512 with a pickup (bought in January 1992). It is a plain under the saddle piezo pickup, presumably made by Fishman. I got a Baggs Para-acoustic di box, and have played the guitar through my Fender acoustatonic jr or through sound systems in various places. I am able to get great loud sounds out of this little guitar which really sound like the guitar- no piezo quack or strangeness. I certainly understand the attraction of onboard electronics, but it is easy to keep the box nearby and make small changes, and flexibility of sound adjustment is much greater than the onboard pre-amps I have seen. I have also used this with the es-go in my GS-mini and with a K&K pure mini in a recently bought martin. In the long run, having a good pre-amp with adjustments and an XLR out for sound boards would seem to be a better and more flexible option.
I owned a gs mini-e koa. I believe that good sounds is based on the guitar and amp matching. If you just plug a guitar to any amps, chances are, it will sound bad. Taylor needs to be tailored to achieve the best sound there is. Actually, there are no perfect sounding guitar, it all depend on our preferences. In my case, I built an amp or sometimes choose an amp that will compensate for the best equalization and sound I could ever make with the guitar. Acoustic amp is for acoustic guitars while electric amps are for electric guitar. Using an acoustic guitar with electric amps is the most devastating set-up ever made. When you get it right, your guitar will probably be the best guitar the world will ever know...
Just bought gs mini e with the new 3 band eq. I find it to be very trebly and crispy sounding. It has elixir pb strings on it and playing through a Boss katana with preamp on acoustic mode. Right now i have to turn the treble slider all the way down.
its cool for the cheaper Taylor's, but I hope they don't start putting these on the more expensive models, from the 214ce and up. I own a 214ce dlx, and want to get a higher model in the future. Do you think they will put these in the higher models? I hope not. what's your thoughts. love the channel by the way, you guys are very informative. Thanks Jerry
Great video and explanation! I owned a 2018 (?) BT2e and currently own a 2020 GS Mini-e, both with the older pickup system - and compared to my 2011 210e's pickup system, they both sound(ed) terrible. Just...dull and honky by comparison, for both the BT2 and GS Mini. Perhaps it's the difference in body size and/or the difference of the pickup system in the 210e (with the 3 flat volume + tone controls near where the neck meets the body). Can anyone attest to this? Thanks Alamo for the video!
Hey Chris, how does the new ESB compare to the “old” ES2 preamp on your koa gs mini? I just got a 2016 koa with the es2 preamp. Wondering if it would sound more like the koa plus with es2 or regular koa with esB. Would it change anything to get a new one or stay with the used older one. Thanks!
i’d prefer a no electronics option - or an option with a pure k&k mini with no holes in my guitar. would be interesting to see how many people actually played plugged in and/or use their own pickups anyway
Cordoba should be upgrading their Pre-amps .....as well.. straight to either a LR Baggs Anthem Soundhole Microphone/Undersaddle Acoustic Guitar Pickup, or to a Fishman "matrix infinity mic blend pickup preamp system"... and leave every other pre-amp from any other Guitar manufacturers built-into-the-Guitar ,... in the dust ...after...
I just went to your website and noticed some “Factory Used” Taylors . Are these demos? Refurbished? Could you give more details please or do a video. I also noticed non returnable. Do they have a Taylor warranty?
Taylor is overrated their pick ups suck I have three Taylor’s expensive ones and I’ll be honest with you I don’t like them they’re overrated they got most of them are not even solid wood and the minis they’re a joke they’re built cheap I do like breeds love that you never show and I like the pick ups in the sound hole I don’t like holes in my guitar I’ll put Martin and breeze I love guitar any day
The sides of guitars do not contribute to tone… that is why Takamine, one of the finest builders, put laminated sides, with solid tops and backs on expensive, great sounding professional guitars. Watch the CMAs, and a huge percentage of acoustics are Takamines. The guitars in this video are entry level Taylors, not 900 Series or Presentation models, so no harm no foul. I have an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem factory installed on a $3,000 RainSong jumbo, and a proprietary CoolTube3 factory side mounted in a $1,700 Takamine P4DC… I want side mounted preamps, because I play on stage, and want the controls at instant reach, during a set. Walking over to the board between songs is a bad look. With the Baggs, I can EQ and adjust the percentage of microphone to piezo…With the Takamine, I can EQ and adjust the level of Tube to solid state, and with both, I can tune without a pedal board. I guess it depends on whether you play on stage, or sitting on your couch…I am not a collector, so the appearance of a guitar doesn’t really matter much to me… putting a good show, however, does matter.
@@jed1166 I completely agree with you. I’ll also add that most Taylor guitars can be ordered WITHOUT electronics for anyone who does want “a hole in the side of their guitar”. For what it’s worth, that option actually reduces the price of the guitar.
Completely agree here, and if you have to cut a whopping hole in it then at the very least make it a sound port like the Gibson evolution line ( Not that I’m a huge fan of those either, at least not yet haha ).
I’m with OP, side-mounted preamps look fucking dumb. As for functionality, the ES2 has never given me trouble on stage, and if I want an even cleaner look my Martin has the controls inside the soundhole. Both are super easy to adjust on the fly, and look way better.
That walnut guitar sounds beautiful. Thanks for the videos.
Nice comparison
I wish Taylor would go with the ES2 throughout the entire line up. The controls are nice but I find them to be a blemish on a beautiful guitar.
Thanks Chris and Cooper.
Well done! I have the older one in my GS Mini Koa and my only complaint is that that batteries don’t last long enough and if you are not careful taking the clip out the batteries fall out and it’s hard to remember how they should go in.
9 volt, 3 band, tuner and the ES 2 pick up are a great combination. I also like the recessed controls (sometimes I bump by accident on my 214ce). Add a notch filter and I’d skip my pedal and just plug and play.
Prefer the 9 volt battery over the double 2032 coin batteries. I find the coin batteries in guitars don't last that long. IMO.
What’s up gents, always an education watching your feeds so thanks 🤙
I’m a New Yorker but I’ve always been a huge Dallas Cowboy fan, one of these days I’ll probably make my way over to the armadillo state to go watch a game and when ai do I’ll have to swing on by and check out Alamo Music. My only fear will be me walking out of there with another axe LOL! Anyways, please keep doing what you guys are doing, great guitar videos.
I use a di box for eq. I found even the cheaper di boxes are worth the 100$. They can make a super cheap acoustic sound amazing. But I guess this would be a separate video.
The GS Mini pickups is the #1 reason those guitars just failed for me. I went through the original with the ES GO, then with the ES1, then a koa with ES2! None of them can be used live plugged in.
Hopefully this fixed that issues cause the GS Mini is the perfect pickup and play but not pick up and gig guitar.
Thanks for the video & info guys ! 🎸🎸🎸
Those little batteries are such a bad idea. If you are gigging its going to be SO much easier to get a 9v battery like most acoustic electrics. I know not a lot of people are going to be gigging with these but its just a bad idea. I also really dislike the idea of just having one tone knob vs an actual EQ.
Thanks for making this video, most videos about the GS mini are about the older preamp version so this is very good to see.
Very informative, thank you. You picked the wrong T-Shirt before the recording Chris…
This latest version ES-B that is being installed in several different Taylor models is a good idea and now that I have one it works fine, but...in the case of the GS-Mini it doesnt quite fit the curve of the upper bout and they are using a gasket to fill the space but the front lip still sticks up. Also, the tuner switch feels cheap compared to a button. Overall this latest ES-B version looks and feels like lower quality but sounds fine. I'm a Taylor guy but I'm calling this out. I suspect it fits the larger body guitars better.
how do you find the sound of the ES-B as compared to the older ES-2?
I find it challenging to compare the two preamps when the guitars compared are constructed of different tone woods.
And different models a10 vs a12 walnut! A22...I do like the walnut tone.
There’s obviously more control with the 3-band EQ. But the 9v battery is worth waiting for IMHO. I don’t suppose there’s a retrofit option. I’d love to put this new preamp in my GS mini bass. Those watch batteries work fine in my old activity tracker, but…
This was frickin awesome! Thanks Chris and Cooper. I now know much more than i did before about Taylor preamps.
I startet on the Taylor academy 10e. Such a Nice guitar. But the walnut guitar is really cool.
I think its the best starter guitars out there.
These are far superior to the other way the controls were, loved it.
Have a "watch battery" Academy 12e. Great little take anywhere guitar, only gripe is the almost comically approximate built-in tuner. Easy enough to overcome with a decent clip-on of course, just surprising Taylor ever approved the use of such a lame component. Hopefully the new preamp has a better tuner to go along with that 3-band. Appreciate your many excellent videos, thanks for the care and effort you put into them.
Thanks for the video, love the dynamic between you both 👌.
I would be interested if there will be a follow-up to the es2 in the near future since I'm planing to buy the 914 (played hours/days through all taylor/martin/furch-lines for comparison and just fell in love) but for this price the pickupsystem feels unrewarding somehow 😅.
Nice demo- the new system does seem to work better. My first Taylor was a 1991 512 with a pickup (bought in January 1992). It is a plain under the saddle piezo pickup, presumably made by Fishman. I got a Baggs Para-acoustic di box, and have played the guitar through my Fender acoustatonic jr or through sound systems in various places. I am able to get great loud sounds out of this little guitar which really sound like the guitar- no piezo quack or strangeness. I certainly understand the attraction of onboard electronics, but it is easy to keep the box nearby and make small changes, and flexibility of sound adjustment is much greater than the onboard pre-amps I have seen. I have also used this with the es-go in my GS-mini and with a K&K pure mini in a recently bought martin. In the long run, having a good pre-amp with adjustments and an XLR out for sound boards would seem to be a better and more flexible option.
I owned a gs mini-e koa. I believe that good sounds is based on the guitar and amp matching. If you just plug a guitar to any amps, chances are, it will sound bad. Taylor needs to be tailored to achieve the best sound there is. Actually, there are no perfect sounding guitar, it all depend on our preferences. In my case, I built an amp or sometimes choose an amp that will compensate for the best equalization and sound I could ever make with the guitar. Acoustic amp is for acoustic guitars while electric amps are for electric guitar. Using an acoustic guitar with electric amps is the most devastating set-up ever made. When you get it right, your guitar will probably be the best guitar the world will ever know...
i got the one with the 3 band eq in my gs mini e koa and it sucks royaly its such a pain to get a decent sound thru my acoustic amp
Three band EQ is fine and keep the Volume a KNOB ....not a slider.
Just bought gs mini e with the new 3 band eq. I find it to be very trebly and crispy sounding. It has elixir pb strings on it and playing through a Boss katana with preamp on acoustic mode. Right now i have to turn the treble slider all the way down.
its cool for the cheaper Taylor's, but I hope they don't start putting these on the more expensive models, from the 214ce and up. I own a 214ce dlx, and want to get a higher model in the future. Do you think they will put these in the higher models? I hope not. what's your thoughts. love the channel by the way, you guys are very informative. Thanks Jerry
🎉🎉🎉For the battery change!!!
Great video and explanation! I owned a 2018 (?) BT2e and currently own a 2020 GS Mini-e, both with the older pickup system - and compared to my 2011 210e's pickup system, they both sound(ed) terrible. Just...dull and honky by comparison, for both the BT2 and GS Mini. Perhaps it's the difference in body size and/or the difference of the pickup system in the 210e (with the 3 flat volume + tone controls near where the neck meets the body). Can anyone attest to this? Thanks Alamo for the video!
The Yamaha SRT system is one of the best I have heard, far superior to my Es2 guitars.
The original ES preamp was designed by Rupert Neve! a true genius
I want my guitar to connect with my Apple Home via Matter over Thread that I can Airplay from
Thank you so much, I thought my ES preamp was broken 🎸
This is great news. Can we buy the new one so I can have it installed in my A12?
Batteries die way too fast in the old one?
I loved he said "más o menos"
Hey Chris, how does the new ESB compare to the “old” ES2 preamp on your koa gs mini? I just got a 2016 koa with the es2 preamp. Wondering if it would sound more like the koa plus with es2 or regular koa with esB. Would it change anything to get a new one or stay with the used older one. Thanks!
Millennium change? Did you have a Gretsch Millennium Falcon?
I have a 31 band eq on my sound system with a 5 band sweepable parametric . But seriously thanks for the video. Informative as always.😊
I just bought a gs mini koa can I switch the preamp to the new eq one?
i’d prefer a no electronics option - or an option with a pure k&k mini with no holes in my guitar. would be interesting to see how many people actually played plugged in and/or use their own pickups anyway
Both these guitars have a no electronics option that you could put a K and K in or anything else you want.
My 9V drains power after about a month without use or tuner left on. Help.....is there an internal switch or simply a faulty unit
Cordoba should be upgrading their Pre-amps .....as well.. straight to either a LR Baggs Anthem Soundhole Microphone/Undersaddle Acoustic Guitar Pickup, or to a Fishman "matrix infinity mic blend pickup preamp system"... and leave every other pre-amp from any other Guitar manufacturers built-into-the-Guitar ,... in the dust ...after...
what difference does tone knob make ?? will be a great help if you .... thank you very much
I just went to your website and noticed some “Factory Used” Taylors . Are these demos? Refurbished? Could you give more details please or do a video. I also noticed non returnable. Do they have a Taylor warranty?
Excuse me, what is the name model of the new preamp system?
Sounds great
Watch batteries??? C’mon Taylor!!
Can the new preamp be retrofitted to an older GS mini?
SMH 🤦🏾♂! I just bought the GS Mini-e Ziricote LTD and now they change the controls . 🤬
In this demo anyway, I think the old preamp sounded better. So enjoy what you have.
why didn't they put bass with these pre-amps?
They can install rechargeable MISI pickups in them and no batteries are required.
Thank you for not mentioning Andy Powers. Good info but did you really need to take 20 minutes to do it?
Por isso q estão ficando pra trás, os preamps estão cada vez menores para ganhar mais dinheiro na vendas dos violões. Prefiro os takamine
na verdade, o preamp ficou maior kkkk
I love the ES2, not a fan of ESB. ESB has too much color in my opinion.
Waste of time. why didn't you zoom in on the battery removal
Just put a Baggs Element or Anthem in them
Two guitar-heads
Those big preamps are just fugly... Too big, ugly just ugly on a beautiful guitar, why?... Why?... 😢
Taylor is overrated their pick ups suck I have three Taylor’s expensive ones and I’ll be honest with you I don’t like them they’re overrated they got most of them are not even solid wood and the minis they’re a joke they’re built cheap I do like breeds love that you never show and I like the pick ups in the sound hole I don’t like holes in my guitar I’ll put Martin and breeze I love guitar any day
Chris, sorry bud but very boring, took too long and brought no informational knowledge to me personally. Thanks though.
The new style looks big and ugly and still uses exactly the same Pickup system.
Taylor...STOP cutting holes in the sides of guitars.
The sides of guitars do not contribute to tone… that is why Takamine, one of the finest builders, put laminated sides, with solid tops and backs on expensive, great sounding professional guitars. Watch the CMAs, and a huge percentage of acoustics are Takamines. The guitars in this video are entry level Taylors, not 900 Series or Presentation models, so no harm no foul.
I have an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem factory installed on a $3,000 RainSong jumbo, and a proprietary CoolTube3 factory side mounted in a $1,700 Takamine P4DC… I want side mounted preamps, because I play on stage, and want the controls at instant reach, during a set. Walking over to the board between songs is a bad look. With the Baggs, I can EQ and adjust the percentage of microphone to piezo…With the Takamine, I can EQ and adjust the level of Tube to solid state, and with both, I can tune without a pedal board.
I guess it depends on whether you play on stage, or sitting on your couch…I am not a collector, so the appearance of a guitar doesn’t really matter much to me… putting a good show, however, does matter.
@@jed1166
I completely agree with you.
I’ll also add that most Taylor guitars can be ordered WITHOUT electronics for anyone who does want “a hole in the side of their guitar”. For what it’s worth, that option actually reduces the price of the guitar.
@@charlesbolton8471 yep… function over looks.
Completely agree here, and if you have to cut a whopping hole in it then at the very least make it a sound port like the Gibson evolution line ( Not that I’m a huge fan of those either, at least not yet haha ).
I’m with OP, side-mounted preamps look fucking dumb. As for functionality, the ES2 has never given me trouble on stage, and if I want an even cleaner look my Martin has the controls inside the soundhole. Both are super easy to adjust on the fly, and look way better.