New Acoustic: Taylor 414ce - Nice except when plugged in

Coated strings, e.g., Nanoweb, etc., generally sound darker with less 'zing' than uncoated strings. Your guitar may be brighter after swapping the strings, but it's a cheap experiment and if it works, it was worth the efffort.

If the problem does not get resolved, hopefully you're still inside the try-out window and you can return it.

I hava a 2007 814CE the spruce top and rosewood back and sides and have never had a problem with it...but it has a different pickup/preamp circuit (the Expression system).

Thanks guys. I checked out the K&K site and looked at the Double Helix solo pup. I like that there's an option to clip the output jack to the guitar endpin. Still, I want to see if I can just use the onboard ES2. I tried a bunch of lighter picks. I think I've settled on the Dunlop .50 mm triangle for strumming. It did cut out most of the string squeak compared to my usual heavy H3 Jazz pick. I also sprayed the strings with Fingerease and wiped them. Squeak is reduced considerably. I also have an unopened box of the Dunlop System 65 kit that includes the Ultraglide 65 cleaner/conditioner. I may try that tomorrow.

    I’ve only purchased one acoustic guitar that came with a pickup. I plugged it in at the store before I purchased it and it passed. It’s a simple transducer to lower bout strap button out put.  It sounds good, plugged in it sounds just as good.

    I purchased an Ibanez PNB14E-OPN 24 3/4” Scale acoustic bass a while back, same deal, sounds good both ways, which is kind of a shock. I’d never think such a small boxed bass would actually be viable in an acoustic setting but it’s fine. Normally I wouldn’t have purchased it, it has square hole in the E string side that’s plugged up with an EQ and tuner, generally a deal killer for me with acoustics. If I would of had the option of purchasing this bass without the pickup with it’s square hole cut into the side I would taken “it”, even at the same price. I have EQ stomp boxes  that cover all I need in the way of acoustic guitar and basses. 

    I would prefer my own transducer instillation in a great sounding instrument than stock, generally. I know not everyone is inclined to make these kind of modifications but it is one of the easiest things to do, I’d do it for anyone for just the cost of parts, about 25-26 bucks, the cost of the end pin strap button jack, about 30 minutes and done. Takes me longer to make the sound hole plug to cut the feedback.


    I’ve got an old Guild B-50 factory fretless that some goofball, years ago, drilled a hole in the upper side of the instrument for a pickup, I’m still searching for a piece of rose wood that can match the grain an color to plug it. I installed the JJB two transducer assembly into this bass, last I checked it was about $40 for the entire  assembly.

    For some reason it doesn’t bother me a bit to have transducers attached to the bridge plate and the end pin strap button jack, it just seems so none invasive. The jack can easily be removed and plugged without any damage to the instrument. even if the plug can be seen after the stock strap button is installed you could always cut a MOP or abalone disk to cover the plug wood. wala custom inlay “o)

I just checked out the system your Taylor came with. I can’t positive from the description but it mentions three bridge plate transducers being adjustable, and a foggy reference to some connection to the bridge. I wonder if you can non-invasively take the preamp out of the loop and see what it sounds like straight to the amp. Another search didn’t mention the bridge connection, if they did put piezo ribbon under the saddle it could just be too much signal for the preamp.