who here owns any one of daves guitars?

[Beauford33]

Hey Everybody,
New to the forum and this is my first post!

The "Dave guitars" I own are a Martin DM3MD, a 1999 Gibson Chet Atkins SST (with the "Dave" modification from Joe B. @ Fishman), and a Taylor 714 (same modification by Joe B.)

As you would presume, I am most proud of my DM3MD. I bought it in the fall of 2000 for less than half of what they are going for on Ebay...I never thought the prices would go up as fast as they did, as I didn't see the guitar as an investment but rather a piece of DMB history.

A lot of people I speak to are curious about the modifications done to the DM3MD, and I've changed the nut/saddle to Fossilized Elephant Ivory and had the bridge pins changed to Fossilized Walrus Ivory. The tuners that come with the guitar are fairly cheap (about $25) so I immediately changed them to Waverlies. Other than that, it has factory installed Fishman Matrix II electronics (I have no cutaway preamp in the side though) and has a strap button installed in Dave's favorite spot, the heel cap!

The 714 is a great guitar, and I use the Chet as my live guitar to this very day. The 714 cost about $1900 new, and the chet was about $1700 new...

thats a little low. I got mine for 2500 and that was a good deal. They have them new in Musicians friend for 2699 and they fee guitar center.

$1900 for a 714 is about right, if you paid $2500 you got ripped off. Its about $2200 for a Taylor 714CE, and the prices that Musicians Friend are selling them for are NOT the industry standard 40% off MSRP...

I have a CE. Missread, but oh well...it was a christmas gift.

[GrateDMB21]

Hey Everybody,
New to the forum and this is my first post!

The "Dave guitars" I own are a Martin DM3MD, a 1999 Gibson Chet Atkins SST (with the "Dave" modification from Joe B. @ Fishman), and a Taylor 714 (same modification by Joe B.)

As you would presume, I am most proud of my DM3MD. I bought it in the fall of 2000 for less than half of what they are going for on Ebay...I never thought the prices would go up as fast as they did, as I didn't see the guitar as an investment but rather a piece of DMB history.

A lot of people I speak to are curious about the modifications done to the DM3MD, and I've changed the nut/saddle to Fossilized Elephant Ivory and had the bridge pins changed to Fossilized Walrus Ivory. The tuners that come with the guitar are fairly cheap (about $25) so I immediately changed them to Waverlies. Other than that, it has factory installed Fishman Matrix II electronics (I have no cutaway preamp in the side though) and has a strap button installed in Dave's favorite spot, the heel cap!

The 714 is a great guitar, and I use the Chet as my live guitar to this very day. The 714 cost about $1900 new, and the chet was about $1700 new...

wow man you have quite a nice setup there...

[T714]

Thanks Grate....I wanted the W65 or the K65 12-stringer, but I had to settle for a Martin J12-15...not a bad guitar though....

I know a lot of people are jumping at the 914, whatever you do, DONT GET IT WITH THE ES SYSTEM!!!!!! It's a piece of crap!

[Brock]

Thanks Grate....I wanted the W65 or the K65 12-stringer, but I had to settle for a Martin J12-15...not a bad guitar though....

I know a lot of people are jumping at the 914, whatever you do, DONT GET IT WITH THE ES SYSTEM!!!!!! It's a piece of crap!

First time in my life I have ever heard anyone say anything even remotely similar. Having played through copious amounts of them, I can wholeheartedly say I disagree. Why do you say this?

[T714]

Thanks Grate....I wanted the W65 or the K65 12-stringer, but I had to settle for a Martin J12-15...not a bad guitar though....

I know a lot of people are jumping at the 914, whatever you do, DONT GET IT WITH THE ES SYSTEM!!!!!! It's a piece of crap!

First time in my life I have ever heard anyone say anything even remotely similar. Having played through copious amounts of them, I can wholeheartedly say I disagree. Why do you say this?

The ES system has been flawed from the beginning it left the production line, and Taylor even noted this! They basically recalled 70,000 guitars for bad soldering wire and improper installation of the pickup within the NT neck...The guitars produce serious buzzing and distortion, as well as a "hot" B and E string. The guitars use body sensing pickups that are inline with each other, like a circuit...if a pickup was mounted wrong at the factory, all pickups are now thrown off soundwise, yielding feedback or distortion...the guitar also uses a TRS cable (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) which is very flimsy and a piece of crap. Most of us do not use TRS cables and prefer the standard 1/4", however, Taylor does not recommend using 1/4" cables, so that means you have to throw away your amp....speaking of that, Taylor only recommends using this guitar through a DI (Direct Injection) Box, which couples as a Pad (or Ground Lift) to eliminate the buzzing the guitar produces...Finally, the guitar runs on Triple AAA batteries that last less than 20 hours...I keep my 9volts in my Fishman system for a year with generous play...

Keep in mind I've owned 3 ES guitars, and one guitar was sent back to the factory 4 times...each time, Taylor said they fixed it, but really, I was paying for a guitar to spend a week on vacation in sunny california. Needless to say, but those ES guitars are all sold...

[i like tictacs]

How about one of Stefan's basses

[mangold]

Thanks Grate....I wanted the W65 or the K65 12-stringer, but I had to settle for a Martin J12-15...not a bad guitar though....

I know a lot of people are jumping at the 914, whatever you do, DONT GET IT WITH THE ES SYSTEM!!!!!! It's a piece of crap!

First time in my life I have ever heard anyone say anything even remotely similar. Having played through copious amounts of them, I can wholeheartedly say I disagree. Why do you say this?

The ES system has been flawed from the beginning it left the production line, and Taylor even noted this! They basically recalled 70,000 guitars for bad soldering wire and improper installation of the pickup within the NT neck...The guitars produce serious buzzing and distortion, as well as a "hot" B and E string. The guitars use body sensing pickups that are inline with each other, like a circuit...if a pickup was mounted wrong at the factory, all pickups are now thrown off soundwise, yielding feedback or distortion...the guitar also uses a TRS cable (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) which is very flimsy and a piece of crap. Most of us do not use TRS cables and prefer the standard 1/4", however, Taylor does not recommend using 1/4" cables, so that means you have to throw away your amp....speaking of that, Taylor only recommends using this guitar through a DI (Direct Injection) Box, which couples as a Pad (or Ground Lift) to eliminate the buzzing the guitar produces...Finally, the guitar runs on Triple AAA batteries that last less than 20 hours...I keep my 9volts in my Fishman system for a year with generous play...

Keep in mind I've owned 3 ES guitars, and one guitar was sent back to the factory 4 times...each time, Taylor said they fixed it, but really, I was paying for a guitar to spend a week on vacation in sunny california. Needless to say, but those ES guitars are all sold...

how old are your guitars with es's, cause im tellin ya right now, you about to get flamed to no end... I have not heard of any problems like this with the es system, and it is widely considered the best acoustic amplification available. i have played many guitars that feature it and have been nothing but blown away. I would think that if the es had any problems, especially ones this large they would be more public. Do you have a source?

[i like food]

yo T714 got any pics and recordings of dm3md

[T714]

Thanks Grate....I wanted the W65 or the K65 12-stringer, but I had to settle for a Martin J12-15...not a bad guitar though....

I know a lot of people are jumping at the 914, whatever you do, DONT GET IT WITH THE ES SYSTEM!!!!!! It's a piece of crap!

First time in my life I have ever heard anyone say anything even remotely similar. Having played through copious amounts of them, I can wholeheartedly say I disagree. Why do you say this?

The ES system has been flawed from the beginning it left the production line, and Taylor even noted this! They basically recalled 70,000 guitars for bad soldering wire and improper installation of the pickup within the NT neck...The guitars produce serious buzzing and distortion, as well as a "hot" B and E string. The guitars use body sensing pickups that are inline with each other, like a circuit...if a pickup was mounted wrong at the factory, all pickups are now thrown off soundwise, yielding feedback or distortion...the guitar also uses a TRS cable (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) which is very flimsy and a piece of crap. Most of us do not use TRS cables and prefer the standard 1/4", however, Taylor does not recommend using 1/4" cables, so that means you have to throw away your amp....speaking of that, Taylor only recommends using this guitar through a DI (Direct Injection) Box, which couples as a Pad (or Ground Lift) to eliminate the buzzing the guitar produces...Finally, the guitar runs on Triple AAA batteries that last less than 20 hours...I keep my 9volts in my Fishman system for a year with generous play...

Keep in mind I've owned 3 ES guitars, and one guitar was sent back to the factory 4 times...each time, Taylor said they fixed it, but really, I was paying for a guitar to spend a week on vacation in sunny california. Needless to say, but those ES guitars are all sold...

how old are your guitars with es's, cause im tellin ya right now, you about to get flamed to no end... I have not heard of any problems like this with the es system, and it is widely considered the best acoustic amplification available. i have played many guitars that feature it and have been nothing but blown away. I would think that if the es had any problems, especially ones this large they would be more public. Do you have a source?

go to http://www.acousticguitarforum.com and search "ES system"...I can give you names of about 100 people who are unsatisfied with their ES system and think it's a piece of crap...i dont see whats to flame on, the system is highly flawed and it was Bob Taylors excuse to drop Fishman as the in-house electronics representor...

other than Leo Kottke and Doyle Dykes, I can not think of one popular musician today that uses the system...Take Dave Matthews for example, he's under no contractual obligations with Fishman, but after speaking with Joe B. awhile back, his view on the ES was "I think they should stick to making guitars" email him at tech@fishman.com

[T714]

yo T714 got any pics and recordings of dm3md

i dont have any pics available of my DM3MD, but I do have some of my Chet Atkins...

If you go to http://www.northallen.com you can see the Chet Atkins and listen to the sound clips...all the acoustic tracks were done on a DM3MD with a Neumann U87 microphone...

[Beauford33]

ummm, I both of my taylor guitars are equiped with the Taylor ES sytem and I must bitch-slap you in the face. The ES sytem is the best out there right now and own any pick-up out there.

914ce+Es sytem=God

Dont argue with me, I know.

[T714]

ummm, I both of my taylor guitars are equiped with the Taylor ES sytem and I must bitch-slap you in the face. The ES sytem is the best out there right now and own any pick-up out there.

914ce+Es sytem=God

Dont argue with me, I know.

Obviously you've never heard of Fishman, L.R. Baggs, Highlander, K&K, PUTW, to name a few...

Obviously you've never adjusted or done any electrical wiring or installation of any pickup system in this world...

Obviously you have some pretty shaddy views of God...

But hey, when you ES dies, you'll be all set!

P.S. I work at a freakin' guitar store that is a Taylor dealer and do all the set ups and neck adjustments, I should know of the number of ES guitars returned for malfunctions...

BTW, somebody was asking in another thread about DM's set up specs, it's 7/64ths Low E string 6/64 (3/32nds) on the High E side, 12th fret. The neck relief is set at "flat", with a slight bow that measures .016" (first fret clearance). You can use a feeler gauge to guide yourselp up the neck, I'm too lazy to write all the tolerances across the 3rd, 5th, and 12th frets...

[mangold]

ummm, I both of my taylor guitars are equiped with the Taylor ES sytem and I must bitch-slap you in the face. The ES sytem is the best out there right now and own any pick-up out there.

914ce+Es sytem=God

Dont argue with me, I know.

Obviously you've never heard of Fishman, L.R. Baggs, Highlander, K&K, PUTW, to name a few...

Obviously you've never adjusted or done any electrical wiring or installation of any pickup system in this world...

Obviously you have some pretty shaddy views of God...

But hey, when you ES dies, you'll be all set!

P.S. I work at a freakin' guitar store that is a Taylor dealer and do all the set ups and neck adjustments, I should know of the number of ES guitars returned for malfunctions...

BTW, somebody was asking in another thread about DM's set up specs, it's 7/64ths Low E string 6/64 (3/32nds) on the High E side, 12th fret. The neck relief is set at "flat", with a slight bow that measures .016" (first fret clearance). You can use a feeler gauge to guide yourselp up the neck, I'm too lazy to write all the tolerances across the 3rd, 5th, and 12th frets...

maybe thats cause you messed em up...


im jus jokin man... but there are alotta hardcore es fans here... im just gonna sit back and watch this one 8)

[Beauford33]

ummm, I both of my taylor guitars are equiped with the Taylor ES sytem and I must bitch-slap you in the face. The ES sytem is the best out there right now and own any pick-up out there.

914ce+Es sytem=God

Dont argue with me, I know.

Obviously you've never heard of Fishman, L.R. Baggs, Highlander, K&K, PUTW, to name a few...

Obviously you've never adjusted or done any electrical wiring or installation of any pickup system in this world...

Obviously you have some pretty shaddy views of God...

But hey, when you ES dies, you'll be all set!

P.S. I work at a freakin' guitar store that is a Taylor dealer and do all the set ups and neck adjustments, I should know of the number of ES guitars returned for malfunctions...

BTW, somebody was asking in another thread about DM's set up specs, it's 7/64ths Low E string 6/64 (3/32nds) on the High E side, 12th fret. The neck relief is set at "flat", with a slight bow that measures .016" (first fret clearance). You can use a feeler gauge to guide yourselp up the neck, I'm too lazy to write all the tolerances across the 3rd, 5th, and 12th frets...

My chet has a fishman in it and it sounds great...but my Es systems are better.

[thedirte]

T, beware of the wolves.

ES was a financial decision for Taylor, not a quality decision. Remember everyone, building guitars is a business, then an art.

And no I'm not biased, I own an ES equipped guitar.