Taylor 514ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Part 2

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

In Part 1, we got up close and personal with a Taylor 514ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar. Now, in this post, the 514ce has been disassembled for servicing. As this presents us with a rare opportunity to examine the innards of this mighty fine instrument, I've taken as many pics as possible. We'll start off at the headstock end of things, then. The tuners have been detached for servicing, as has the truss rod cover. I've also taken a close-up of the ebony fretboard and 12th fret ivoroid inlay.

Taylor Nickel-Plated Tuners

Ebony Truss Rod Cover

Truss Rod Adjustment Nut

12th Fret Ivoroid Inlay

Next up is the ebony bridge. After detaching the ebony bridge pins and micarta saddle, one can clearly see the three ES2 pickup sensors located behind the saddle.

Micarta Saddle and Ebony Bridge Pins

ES2 Pickup Sensors

With the strings removed, we can take a closer look at the inside of the body through the soundhole. At this stage, none of the components have been dismantled. So, here they are, as is.

Soundhole Label

Upper and Lower Kerfing

Neck Block Label

Fretboard Extension Attachment Bolt

ES2 Preamp PCB

ES2 Pickup Housing

End Pin Jack/Battery Compartment Housing

Right, then. Now the really fun part begins. As I will be servicing the Taylor Expression System 2 [ES2], we're going to detach the wiring harness from the body, and then examine each component in detail.

Soft-Touch Knobs and Mounting Nuts

ES2 Wiring Harness

The connecting cables have been detached, allowing us to separate the three major components. These are the Expression System 2 preamp, pickup housing and integrated end pin jack/9V battery compartment. Let's start off with the preamp PCB. Viewed from the rear, you'll see a tiny white Phase Switch. This switch helps reduce low-frequency feedback.

ES2 Preamp PCB - Top View

ES2 Preamp PCB - Underside

ES2 Preamp PCB - Front View

ES2 Preamp PCB - Phase Switch

ES2 Preamp PCB - Right Side

ES2 Preamp PCB - Left Side

On to the ES2 pickup housing, then. Within this housing are three adjustable, "uniquely positioned" and "individually calibrated" pickup sensors. To these eyes, they appear to be three strips of copper.

ES2 Pickup Housing

Close-Up of Pickup Sensors

Taylor Stamp and US Patent Number

What's next, then? Ah, yes, let's examine Taylor's proprietary integrated end pin jack and 9V battery compartment combo. This unique design features a "sliding" compartment for the 9V Battery that clicks securely in place when pushed in.

Battery Compartment Unlatched

Compartment Separated From Housing

Side View of Compartment and Housing

Close-Up of the PCB

Now that the tuners, truss rod cover, ebony bridge pins, micarta saddle and Taylor Expression System 2 electronics have been detached from the body, it behooves me to store the components safely and separately while awaiting servicing. Yes, that's recycled pharmaceutical packaging.

Disassembled Components Packaged Separately

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4