Taylor 656e-2014 Grand Symphony 12 String ES2 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

You wont forget the sound of the Taylor 656e Grand Symphony 12 String ES2 Acoustic-Electric Guitar. It's full, lush and clear with Taylors signature 12-string playability.

Big Leaf Maple/Stika Spruce
The 656ce Maple Grand Symphony 12-String Acoustic-Electric is constructed of big leaf maple back and sides with a Western Sitka spruce top so it has a crisp, bright tone that cuts through on stage.

Grand Symphony (GS)
Though you might see similarities to a Grand Auditorium, the GS body of the 656ce is unique in both sound and shape. Significant changes in its geometry yield a deeper, more piano-like bass. A wider lower bout and higher, wider waist return ample volume and low-end sustain, in symphony with fuller mids and balanced highs.

Expression System 2
The Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in Taylors ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is Taylors proprietary behind-the-saddle pickup (patent pending), which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before. Together with Taylors custom-designed œprofessional audio-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your Taylor guitar.

Behind the ES2 Design: Rethinking the Piezo Pickup
For decades, piezo-electric transducers have been positioned under the saddle of a guitar based on the long-held belief that the string and top vibration cause the saddle to œbounce up and down. But Taylors electronics team, led by developer David Hosler, discovered that the vertical movement is actually heavily restricted, and that the saddle gets œlocked down due to the string tensions downward pressure. Thats why a traditional under-saddle pickup with piezo-electric crystals often responds with a sound often characterized as thin, brittle, brash or synthetic, especially with more aggressive playing.

The saddles natural range of movement as the guitar is being played is actually back and forth like a pendulum. That revelation led Taylors design team to relocate the crystals from under the saddle to behind it. The new positioning enables the crystals to respond more naturally to the guitars energy as it is transferred through the saddle. Three pickup sensors are installed behind the saddle, through the bridge, with three tiny Allen screws that calibrate the position of the sensors in relation to the saddle.

Like the original Expression System, the ES2 features the same volume and tone control knobs. The preamp is similar but with a slightly different gain structure. As a result it will be about 25 percent hotter, which is more in line with other pickups. This makes it plug-and-play friendly both for artists and live sound mixers.