WOW Thank You Chris for this detailed run down of the Taylor Expression system. I have a Taylor 214CE KOA and the D string feedback was so annoying when plugged into an old Crate acoustic amp. The amp really sounds great but not with that guitar in particular. I have Yamaha and Alvarez guitars that seem to not have this issue through the same amp.  Your adjustment of the phase switch on the preamp board solved the problem. There is no phase option on the amp in this case. You saved this guitar from the trade in pile for me. I love all the videos you and your store do. Very informative and love the playing too. Thanks sooooo much.

Thank you. After years of hating the ES2 system, last night was the first gig where I actually had a great experience with it live!

Your explanation of phase will help many guitarists who don't understand it.  When two or more frequencies match, the result is boosted by 6 dB !  Because low frequencies push more air and travel farther, it's usually the lows that cause problems with acoustic amps. That can really screw up your sound, and you can end up trying to cut that frequency which can throw everything else out of balance. Acoustic amps don't have the surgical precision to cut the exact range, so it's often better the use the phase inversion switch inside the guitar.  Cheers!

Thanks for the insight!! Lots of good info here. Appreciate it!!

Thanks so much for this.  You really helped me understand the ES 2 on my K24 CE.  I will remember.....subtract first!

As a sound guy at our church (who has just started learning guitar), I hope your great explanation of the various stages of "gain" along the signal chain helps all of the instrumentalists who watch this video. I have a couple of additional points. I know you know these things but they aren't specifically related to the Taylor ES2 and they weren't mentioned.
1)  Feedback reduction can often be done solely by moving the mic or guitar farther from the speakers that are carrying the sound that's feeding back. I realize that's not always possible but when it is, it will be the first thing to consider.   2) When instrumentalists "turn up" in the middle of a performance after the entire system has been balanced, they change the volume of their instrument at every point that it gets distributed to in addition to wrecking the good gain setting your sound person probably already set for the best outcome. When you're band mates have you dialed in just where they need you in their monitors or the sound person has you where they need you in a recording or the house speakers, you desire to "turn up" wrecks all of those things. There is no way you can tell from your seat in front of a floor monitor or while wearing in ear monitors how your sound is balanced in the main speakers.  If you need more of "ME" in your monitor, that's what needs to change whether that's in your control or the sound guy's. If you are in doubt about how you're being heard in the main speakers, have an unbiased and trusted friend sit out there where the audience will be and get their opinion. What's in your monitor and what the audience hears are not the same thing and are adjusted independently. Most people who have been in a performing environment with a sound system for very long are aware of this separation but not all are. I have spent many hours explaining to musicians that what they hear in their monitors is not what the audience hears.

I'll also use this comment to recommend in ear monitors every time if you can have them in my opinion.  Some systems have their own drawbacks but overall they solve so many problems and make life so much better for everyone on stage. The systems that let each musician manage their in ear mix themselves are the best. A good in ear monitor system is the once and forever end to the "I need more ME" or "I can't hear the keyboard" monitor wars.

Thank you for the time and money you put into making your videos great.  Great sound, great video and always informative.

Hey Chris I appreciate your informative video on Taylor guitars.

Excellent information. Will work on subtracting with the EQ. Thank you!

Been a follower of yours and The Store vids for quite a few years.....thanks for explaining the reason for a DI Box and the turning down treble instead of cranking up the bass first.  Thanks again from Bill in Florida 👍🏻

Wow, I’ve had my Taylor 816 for seven months and never liked playing it plugged in, I’m half way through this video and tried turning down base and treble all the way and I love the sound

Thanks your video was very helpful

Excellent video

Extremely well delivered explanation I have been setting my guitar up wrongly for years so much happier now I have watched this video thank you for you attention to detail this is so important to take on board I now have the sound I have been looking for 😊

I'm glad you answered that question... ; )

Just bought a Taylor with ES2. This video was very helpful video.

Great video! Very useful!

THANK YOU! I got a 110e, sounded nice unplugged, but when I plugged it into the acoustic amp I got really disappointed. I actually thought there was a condenser mic (like the presys blend 301) hidden somethere because it would produce some feedback on some certain notes and a shitty sound overall, but after some exploration I found a blue pickup under the saddle (This one doesn´t have the 3 dots behind the saddle). I changed the position of the white phase switch and the sound became what i was expecting from this guitar. This video REALLY helped,  excellent explanation about sound and EQ, Thanks again big time.

super helpful info, especially direct box content

Great stuff explaining signal path and what impacts it. Thanks!

Excellent! Very informative video. Thanks!