Taylor and ES in full band

[brightlight]

Anyone have experience with their ES equipped Taylors in a full band situation?  I'm talking drums, keys, bass, and electric guitar.  I know that amongst these instruments an acoustic guitar will not rule the mix, but it should be present and heard somewhat.  I'm just wondering if in your experience the ES is one of the best heard, most cutting systems for acoustic guitars in loud full band scenarios.  I've been thinking about putting a k&k pure mini in my Gibson hummingbird artist but then I started reading about how it's not very good at cutting through the mix of a band plus it can feedback quite a bit if you're not careful of where you stand.  I'm thinking an ES equipped taylor is the way to go for this purpose.  I happen to like the sound of the 2010 and beyond ES system, but can't seem to find many opinions on its ability to hang with a full band or any live performance videos demonstrating this scenario.  thoughts?

[Edward]

Hi there brightlight,

First off, welcome to the board ...good to have you here! 

FWIW, yes, in my experience the ES is perfectly suited for live use.  Further, I feel it is one of the best (well actually, the best I've used so far) for a loud stage mix.  The ES has the best feedback-rejection I've ever used short of a sound-hole mag pickup, yet is worlds better sounding than a that (natch, it'd better be!).  I've had good experience with the 1st-gen ES of 2003, the 2nd-gen of 07, and the best with the 3-gen of 2010, where each system got better-sounding, IMHO (meaning less "mag sounding" and more natural), where the 2010 is superb.

Is the ES the "best-sounding" amp'd system?  It's all a trade off for me: those which sound more like an acoustic guitar work best as solo/duo "coffee house" type gigs but fail miserably with a full band replete with drummer, bass, keys, an electric, and multiple vocs.  Add stage monitors and they flat-out stink IMHO.  Yeah, there are soundhole plugs and then you have to EQ the heck out of it both to avoid feedback as well as to be heard, and then where did your original tone go? ...nosiree, not for me (and I likewise agree with you about the K&K which is fine on its own, but gets more lost as you add band members!  By contrast, the ES in a full live mix, even with a hard drummer and floor wedges, has always served me well, even with high SPLs.  Yet such excellent feedback rejection is pointless if your acoustic doesn't sound good live; and the ES does.  Particularly the 2010 iteration, your guitar's timbre is all there, but with presence and clarity that (short of a bonehead FOH mix) easily cuts through and sits in the full-band mix superbly.  Hope that helps you, if not assures you that your 2010ES, just as it is, is ready to rock at your next gig. ...in my humble experience/opinion, anyway

Edward

[MikeB]

Cutting through the mix can also be a function of the guitar model you are using, what you are playing (strummed chords, pleads, etc), and the overall mix.  Is everyone plugged into/miked through the PA?  That makes it much easier to EQ and balance everything than when everyone is using separate amps and the drummer is unmiked, as is often the case for lower volume/smaller venues.

[jfwund]

Edward's answer is spot on in my experience. You won't go wrong with a Taylor in a live band situation. I've also had good luck with Takamine's electronics in a band situation.

Cheers!

Jim