Unplanned 4 hour gig playing my 314ce

[Christhee68]

I got a last minute gig playing solo acoustic at a resort pool party on Saturday. Usually when I play out in the elements (beach, etc.) I'll play my Martin X-Series just to avoid damage and exposure to the 314ce. I decided I would take the Taylor along anyway, and maybe pull it out in between sets just to compare the two guitars side by side in a performance situation.

Well, before I could even get set up the Martin X-Series fell onto the parking lot (gig bags don't offer much protection) and smashed the end and cracked the top. I ended up playing the Taylor the whole time and it was great. I probably should just play it all the time--as long as I don't drop it in the parking lot, that is.

[warsmokeeagle]

That stinks for the Martin (and is why I hate gig bags), but at least you had the Taylor there to help you through.  I'm not that familiar with Martins - that's not a very expensive model, is it?

[Frettingflyer]

Sorry to hear about the Martin, glad the Taylor got you thru with no damage.

[michaelw]

That stinks for the Martin (and is why I hate gig bags), but at least you had the Taylor there to help you through.  I'm not that familiar with Martins - that's not a very expensive model, is it?

they're in the range of the 100s & 200DLX (no e) models -
HPL (high pressure laminate) back & sides (some tops)
https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/x-series/

[Christhee68]

I've played 5 more gigs since then, 3 with the patched together Martin (2 were actually ON the beach) and 2 with the Taylor. I played a three hour semi-indoor gig with the Martin and it was fine, but the Taylor plays a lot better. The EQ is way different on the Taylor. With it I pretty much have to turn everything to 12 oclock and turn up the gain, while the Martin (Fishman) is a lot hotter and needs to have the bass turned down also.

I guess I'm fortunate to have 2 worthy guitars and especially fortunate to have gigs to play, especially since I'm of what some may call "extra average" ability. Just strummin' and singin' is all I do. I guess it's enough.

[Bowedup]

Since you gig with your 314ce, can I ask a quick questions?  I have a 314ce also and am trying to work myself up to trying an open mic night or something, but I get alot of feedback if I turn the ES2 volume up much at all.  Have you had any issue with this?  Any suggestions? 

I've tried different amps, cables, adjusted the pickups away from the strings just alittle, but its still there.  I plan to run it by a Taylor svc dealer to get it checked out but have not had a chance to yet.  Just curious if theres a "trick" I'm just not familiar with on plugging in acoustic guitars?

Thanks

Scott

[Christhee68]

Since you gig with your 314ce, can I ask a quick questions?  I have a 314ce also and am trying to work myself up to trying an open mic night or something, but I get alot of feedback if I turn the ES2 volume up much at all.  Have you had any issue with this?  Any suggestions? 

I've tried different amps, cables, adjusted the pickups away from the strings just alittle, but its still there.  I plan to run it by a Taylor svc dealer to get it checked out but have not had a chance to yet.  Just curious if theres a "trick" I'm just not familiar with on plugging in acoustic guitars?

Thanks

Scott

I have the older ES (1.3 maybe?) and I've never had any feedback at all, and I play loud with a rock band sometimes.

Try these things and see if any/all of them work:

--Turn the bass knob down
--turn the volume knob down
--put a feedback buster in the sound hole (it's like a rubber gasket in case you don't know)
--turn away from the speakers, monitors, etc.
--stand farther away from your amp.

If none of that works, then I'm not sure what to tell you.

[cheetah236]

I pretty much have to turn everything to 12 oclock and turn up the gain, while the Martin (Fishman) is a lot hotter and needs to have the bass turned down also.

If you get the Taylor (or aftermarket) balanced cable and plug into an XLR jack on the PA or mixer, you'll have much greater signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio and better tone. The original through third generation ES electronics require this for acceptable performance. The ES2 is unbalanced output so a standard instrument cable produces the best results.