Product Description

While maple is known for its bright tone and fast decay, the design of 's 618e Grand Orchestra ES2 Acoustic-Electric Guitar enriches maple' natural tonal palette to produce a full-bodied voice with impressive sustain. Bigleaf maple is paired with a Sitka spruce top, which adds responsiveness to the powerful output.

Grand Orchestra (GO)
Body Length: 20-5/8" / Body Width: 16-3/4" / Body Depth: 5"
's biggest, most complex voice is also balanced and responsive.

Just as the Grand Symphony yields a deeper, more powerful voice than the Grand Auditorium, the Grand Orchestra stands out as a more robust alternative to the Grand Symphony. The GO shape features a slightly bigger footprint and a deeper body, which helps produce a potent low-end response. Under the hood, a new bracing scheme optimizes the movement of the soundboard to produce louder, more complex tone with incredible sustain. What separates the Grand Orchestra from other big-bodied guitars is how balanced the tone is from top to bottom, especially given its brawny bass. And unlike other big-body guitars that require an aggressive attack to get the top moving, the GO is responsive to a light touch, rewarding players who have a dynamic playing style. If you crave a guitar sound that' brimming with power and rich detail, the Grand Orchestra won™t disappoint. From big cowboy chords to lush fingerstyle arrangements, the Grand Orchestra might be the most expressive and versatile big guitar you ever play.

Expression System 2
The Expression System 2 (ES2) is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in ' ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is ' proprietary behind-the-saddle pickup (patent pending), which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before. Together with ' custom-designed œprofessional audio-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your guitar.

Behind the ES2 Design: Rethinking the Piezo Pickup
For decades, piezo-electric transducers have been positioned under the saddle of a guitar based on the long-held belief that the string and top vibration cause the saddle to œbounce up and down. But ' electronics team, led by developer David Hosler, discovered that the vertical movement is actually heavily restricted, and that the saddle gets œlocked down due to the string tension' downward pressure. That' why a traditional under-saddle pickup with piezo-electric crystals often responds with a sound often characterized as thin, brittle, brash or synthetic, especially with more aggressive playing.

The saddle' natural range of movement as the guitar is being played is actually back and forth like a pendulum. That revelation led ' design team to relocate the crystals from under the saddle to behind it. The new positioning enables the crystals to respond more naturally to the guitar' energy as it is transferred through the saddle. Three pickup sensors are installed behind the saddle, through the bridge, with three tiny Allen screws that calibrate the position of the sensors in relation to the saddle.

Like the original Expression System, the ES2 features the same volume and tone control knobs. The preamp is similar but with a slightly different gain structure. As a result it will be about 25 percent hotter, which is more in line with other pickups. This makes it plug-and-play friendly both for artists and live sound mixers.

Type/Shape: 6-String Grand Orchestra Back & Sides: Bigleaf Maple Top: Sitka Spruce Soundhole Rosette: Single-ring Abalone Neck: Hard Rock Maple Fretboard: Ebony Fretboard Inlay: Twisted Inlay Headstock Overlay: Ebony Binding: White Bridge: Ebony Nut & Saddle: Tusq Tuning Machines: Gold Tuners Strings: Elixir® Medium Gauge Strings with NANOWEB® Coating Scale Length: 25-1/2" Truss Rod: Adjustable Neck Width at Nut: 1-3/4" Number of Frets: 20 Bracing: Grand Orchestra Bracing Finish: Gloss Case: Deluxe Hardshell Brown

Enjoy improved tone with ES2 electronics. Order today.

Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage

Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.

Gold Coverage Includes:

Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks Normal wear and tear Power surges Dust, internal heat and humidity

Other plan features include:

For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks) For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax. Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold Plans are renewable on new gear

*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details

Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.