LittleBrother

Yall bring up many good points. This is one reason I stopped buying acoustics with any factory system. There is literally no good reason to do it. The after market systems provide much better choices and options and sound way better because not only are they installed better but you have more time to relax and find the right solution. Often times factory systems lag behind the market in technology. I also think the ES system was a huge blunder by Taylor. They also came out too strong with way too much hype like they usually do. I played them at the NAMM shows and the ES did not do anything for me. Hardware wise it is not really anything revolutionary except it is far too excessive for such an average result. If you do end up with a fishman UST the clay shim trick on my website under TIPS and TRICKS works wonders on it tonally.

I'd buy one with NO pickup system and install your own. There are just too many BETTER options that sound better than both of those systems and in most cases cheaper. Buy a bare guitar then shop until you find the state of the art. The ES system in my opinion invades the guitar WAY too deeply with far too many cables, components and single points of failure. Look at all the parts in an ES system. It's insane... IMO

I thought I posted this. I guess I forgot. So I guess I will show off my latest pride and joys. I have video clips to show what they sound like and you GOTTA see the bursts on the Cruz (photo page). Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner Deluxe (stone cold killer) Page of photos and video clip with sound Here's the new Gibson J-45 I have now to use as an alternate gig guitar so the Cruz doesn't get banged up over time. It's really sweet and I had some difficulty finding this one with a perfect old style neck. J45 Page with photos and video and audio demo

My Larrivee L05-M My little Pete Anderson Larrivee

As requested. I will stick this here for a while... LB