There are sooo many musicians out there that play thousands of shows with "only" the GS mini. I don't own one yet, but I've been playing lots of them over the past year and I definitely will get one this year and I absolutely will use it as my main guitar for gigging and busking.
I own a gs mini and a very nice Martin OM . I feel a gs mini is a perfect first guitar for most people . I feel the gs mini is super easy to play and that is perfect for a new player . I also feel if you start with a gs mini and you are still playing guitar a year or two down the road you can buy another larger guitar at that point ….. but you will not regret owning a smaller guitar . I love picking up my mini at the end of the day , watching tv and practicing a bit . I love my koa mini
I travel with a GS mini all the time. It handles all the big changes in humidity from travel just fine and has the nicest case. It also sounds and plays great!
I have a full-size Seagull s guitar. I have picked it up and put it down more times then I wish to recall.After watching your travel video . I went out and ordered a Yamaha JR1. I love it . I am 5.4..and it’s so light and accessible I can’t wait to it up.l also favor this guitar for learning. Thanks
for many people the gs mini might be a great first nice guitar. for me it feels like it could be my last 😅 i have a 2016 koa so it has the full es-2 pickup system. got it second hand early 2024 and it’s been my main guitar ever since. busking, gigging, chilling on the couch, waiting for pasta water to boil, you name it. i don’t think i will ever really need another guitar for any live purposes. i can play it for hours, it’s light, comfortable, easy to play, easy to carry, it’s rugged and it was a great deal. it may get some proper 18/1 tuners for the holidays. ❤
I use my Koa mini quite similarly. Bought it sorta for my wife to teach her during Covid , but also for me as I always wanted to try one. All our others are downstairs. It’s on display in the living room, and the only one I have upstairs -that Koa top pops next to our wood furniture, stands out and calls out to me every time I pass by - fits both of us well and I love the brightness of the sound. Quite enjoyable to play on.
I picked up playing guitar at 68 years old. 5 years ago. I immediately fell into fingerstyle. John Fahey type stuff. My Koa GS-Mini is my favorite guitar. My “big” guitar is a Taylor 312ce 12 fret. 😂 The GS Koa sounds much bigger than it actually is.
I have been playing for quite some time, and have had my gs-mini koa-e for about 3 years, and I 100% agree with everything you mentioned about use cases. The ease of picking it up has resulted in hundreds more hours of playing with each year that passes simply because the ease of picking up and playing, I play it sometimes in the kitchen when I'm waiting for something to cook, or on the sofa, home office, bedroom, and one of my favs the balcony. Anyone who's considering it just go check em out you're gonna love the GS Mini
as someone who have a smaller body frame and have only owned regular size guitars, playing on the regular ones has never been a real issue, but i did feel way more comfortable when i played with my friend's smaller size guitar. most likely gonna get a small one as my next guitar.
Thank you for this video. I am a beginner that picked up guitar later in life. I have smaller hands and wondered if a mini would fit me better, but stayed away thinking the performance/sound would be subpar. But now i am going shopping
I own a gs mahogany and, although, i don't play open mike or honky-tonk gigs anymore, i do play at church jams and also use it in my ministry and i can tell you that the gs has plenty of voice and see sound for this. Good video!
I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out whether I should by the Mini. Your vid pushed me over the edge. Thanks for taking time to tell me your thiughts
Love my mahogany mini and have traveled a lot with it, super comfortable. I put souvenir pins on the bag to show where it has traveled. But love my Martins more.
Yes, definitely a key factor in my choice. Also, the Martin has solid wood back and sides and the sound is warmer than the Taylor. I really enjoy playing it and will often grab it for composing because it is a good size for hanging out on the couch. @@spacep0d
I have the Martin Jr. also. 3/4 body size, 24" scale, 1.75 nut. Great balanced sound, more bass than you would expect. Amazing sustain. True Martin sound. I have two larger dresses. This is my go to...
I have an Ortega Ebony guitar/uke. It is under 30 inch small. But I prefer my 36 inch Enya carbon fiber silver glitter. It came with busted electronics (which I tore out) and I slapped some thick Plectrum Austrian strings on it (.11 or .12's). I made intonation adjustments; the lower bridge was too low so to eliminate the fret buzz I dropped the thin wire in a bread bag twist under the string support. The thing stays in tune like no other guitar and I use a pretty thick pick on it. The silver glitter is really something I don't see them offer now. incredible sparkle and shine.
GS mini got me into playing acoustic again. I have played electric guitar for 30 years. My wife bought a GS mini mahogany and I tried it one day. I was blown away and hooked. She said it may as well be mine because I play it all the time. She recently came home with another GS mini koa. She said this is mine. Leave it alone.
Great video. I owned a GS Mini and the problem for me was the 1 11/16 nut width and the really short scale cramps my fat fingers on the sixth fret and fat finger tips buzz other strings. There are lots of travel guitars with 1 3/4 nut width.
As a guitarist, it’s funny how guitarists truly think the average music lover or fan at a show can discern between a Martin D-35 and a GS Mini. They can’t. They hear the song and hear the guitar playing the notes. Eddie Van Halen made a $159 scrap pile Stratocaster sound like a $1,000,000 one of piece of art. It’s all in the fingers, feel, and timing. Those GS Minis will make a room full of music fans stand up and rage about how great you sounded that night you played.
Just bought a mahogany mini after years on a mini Martin. Now l remember this play forever neck. I had them neck and neck then and went wit the Martin for tone. Now it’s about the neck. Yum
I have the GS mini as my only acoustic and I agree with your assessment. It is super comfortable and means I pick it up all the time. Most of my song ideas emerge while I am noodling and strumming on the GS mini. As you, I find the sound lacking a bit of "body" but that means I make less noise for the rest of the household 🙂. I only ever record via the pickup because I don't have a good mike and yes, it needs a bit of EQ to fill up the sound. That button on the tuner/pre-amp is really easily left pressed in, especially when you stick the guitar in its (super handy) travel bag. Thanks for the video, new sub to the channel.
Great review. I got one a year ago, and it has vastly improved my love of playing and i play more. My other OM is a struggle as Ive gotten older to play comfortably.
The GS MINI koa in my least favorite of the GS Minis. The Taylor GS Mini spruce is the loudest of the GS Minis. In my opinion the GS Mini Mahogany is the most warm and tuneful sounding of the minis. I love my first year spruce top no pickup GS Mini. I’m thinking of buying a Taylor Academy 12e Nylon Grand Concert 12 fret full scale 25 1/2 inches
I'm a retiree and obsessed with guitar everything, all day, unfortunately. Played Martin 00s for years and loved um. Arthritis led me to a Rosewood GS Mini, which ended up reviving a lost passion for playing. I can relate to all the comments here. Then, bc I was so intrigued, and because it's only 500 bucks, I sprang for a Martin D-Jr 10, with a 24 in. vs 23.5 scale, and a wider nut. But, and here's the kicker, it's a solid wood instrument. In any case, I've got both guitars out, and I go to the D Jr 90% of the time. Just sounds deeper, richer, better. To me, anyway. But the Mini is a beauty, I'll say that.
I bought a Yamaha csf3m travel guitar 12 months ago and really enjoy playing it. It's a 23.5" scale so similar to the GS mini but the main difference I would say is it has solid wood back and sides and I find it fairly loud for a small guitar. Not much difference between it and my faith Venus. The Yamaha doesn't have a tuner but does have a passive undersaddle pickup so can be plugged up and sounds great too! Yamaha build quality is good but not sure how it compares to the GS mini in that regard. It comes with a soft case similar to the gs mini. BTW I like your videos David, very easy to follow, keep the content coming!
For some reason I've always wanted a small guitar. I initially worked my way up to a Martin 000-15e Granadillo which I love, and it has a 1.75" nut width. It's fantastic, but I'm a smaller player and the GS Mini-E (Spruce/Rosewood) is SO comfortable and fun to play. It's also super handy in a smaller studio where it's easy to bonk your larger guitar on a desk if you're not careful. The GS can go right into the DAW and with Studio One I can make it sound like anything, but I'm not risking dinging my $1600 Martin. One thing about the GS is that it has a 1.6875" nut width, so this might mean disrupting some muscle memory if you're used to the typical 1.75" nut width. But, this smaller nut is also comfortable for some, especially for those with smaller hands. It's also nice to have a second guitar if you want to keep different tunings. I have medium strings on the GS, and that tension is offset by the shorter scale length. If you pitch down a half step it's even easier. The guitar projects so much more than one would think. I love the GS Mini! Capo is pronounced "cah po" as it's shorthand for the Italian word "capotasto", meaning "chief note".
I use to play guitar on zoom for praise groups and so, got a thin nylon Fender so now I want another small guitar but with steel strings, I think this will be a fantastic one as I use to play in my small streaming spot
I have this guitar. I love mine! I am a woman with some neck and shoulder issues. This little baby is fantastic! It is now my number one acoustic. Absolutely perfect for me. And sounds beautiful.
I didn't know Paul Rudd played guitar! Great video!!! 51 and haven't played in a long time, was never that good to begin with but I've been playing a bit lately and my old Alvarez cracked where neck meets the body and won't stay tuned. You've convinced me to pick up the GS Mini. Thanks!
Another great video. Thank you! I just replaced my full size dreadnought with an Alverez Little Jumbo travel size guitar . I’m new to playing and find, like you mentioned, the smaller travel size guitar is much easier and more comfortable to play. I also find myself picking it up more often then I did my full size which means more time spent on the guitar.
I have a harder time doing bends on my GS mini. The thick strings that came on it were peeling my nails up. It’s not really a complaint. It’s a great little travel guitar. I take it tent camping. I had battery problems in the tuner as well. I seem to accidentally turn and leave it on and they are ALWAYS dead. 😅
I’ve had a Martin dread jr for about 8 years and can’t say enough great things about it. That being said the GS mini was my second choice. The smaller nut width was a turn off my fat fingers couldn’t get comfortable. I’m not traveling with my Martin but if I was probably would have went GS mini due to smaller size and laminated back and sides for durability.
You said you never used your Taylor in picking circles ,well I have .Mine has the spruce top and is probably a little louder I have been playing more than 30 years the reason I bought this guitar I was in Guitar Center admiring this $3,000 plus Taylor sitting there so I picked it up I started playing it and admiring it thinking what a wonderful sound this guitar has this little Mini was sitting beside it so I picked it up too started playing it I was blown away how great that little guitar sounded and played it compared to the 3000 dollar one almost identical in sound, amazing lows coming out of this little guy and how easy it was for me to play well long story short already had a half a dozen full size guitars did not go in there to buy a guitar but I walked out with this little guy and a LR Baggs anthem pickup I found myself playing that guitar all the time exclusively every Circle I went to (probably a dozen times a month) played it for 10 years hard everyday for hours I played it so much I was wearing out the first five frets every 2 years so the last time I went with stainless steel frets by the way I cant even tell the difference in sound from nickle silver to stainless frets my other guitars just sit there rarely do i pick one up i just gave the Taylor Mini a total refinish I refinished grand pianos for over 40 years literaly hundreds of them so after being retired from the restoration business for 10 years had to come out of retirement to refinished it lol well thats my take best value in a guitar i ever bought for sure .
I love my Taylor gs mini in koa,the only thing I wish the nut was bigger. But I wouldn’t trade it for another guitar . I just started playing almost a year ago, I almost bought a new guitar for my birthday this year but I figured I’d keep practicing and playing with my gs mini until I really find that guitar that says to me I’m next 14:49
I own a PRS parlor guitar and now a Taylor mini Koa. I like them both very much. Lately, I've been grabbing the Taylor almost exclusively. I've tried a number of different string types on both. On the parlor, I had pretty much settled for Thomastek-Infeld AC110 extra lights (very expensive). I have yet to try those on the Taylor, but having compared a number of other strings on the Taylor, I really like (and recommend) the Martin MM10X Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .010-.047 Extra Light (very reasonably priced).
I've owned two GS Mini's, there is nothing quit like them in their price range. Just so well built, the sound great and they come with a great gig bag... However, know that they put medium gauge strings on the GS Mini at the factory for a reason. Regardless how much you adjust the neck relief, light gauge strings don't provide good tension to move the top on these and bring out their richness. They are designed to get optimal tone with medium strings. Full size Taylor models, like most guitars, do fine on light gauge strings and even ship with them, but GS Mini's just take a bigger hit in tone if you go there. For that reason, I don't think they are a great beginner guitar, but more a good traveler for a seasoned player.... The Taylor Academy series is great for beginners, Martin's D-JR and 000-JR both great guitars for beginners (and great travelers). My other issue with the GS Mini is how sensitive I've found its neck joint to be. The reason I got rid of my last one was the number of times I had to get the neck reset. If you're truly traveling with these guitars they can end up getting left in a hot car for 30-45 minutes spans while you're taking a break on the road, etc... do that even a few times a week and you end up needing an authorized Taylor tech to give the guitar a neck reset. This is something covered under warranty for the life time of the guitar, but you'll have to find a Taylor tech to do it. I never had this problem with my Martin 000-JR so that's why I eventually just sold the GS Mini and kept the 000-JR.
The GSmini should have a 45mm nut as standard - they would sell so many more! 2mm for someone with smaller hands hardly makes a difference.....but for those of us that need at least 45mm it is everything. I can't play a GSmini because of this.
Larger guitars that are well made like your Taylor ring out longer and louder. That brings in the relative harmonics. That is probably the richer sound you hear. GS Mini is going to sound thinner
I own a Taylor gs mini and like it. I’m 5’4 so a smaller guitar is better for me. The full size guitars are too big for me. Their neck is just too big. I also bought a Zager parlor size guitar which is same size as the Taylor gs. Both are 3/4 size guitars. The body of this Zager is wider then the Taylor. I like a narrower body. The Zager parlor is a bit easier to play and sounds better then the Taylor. Recently I bought a Zager travel guitar. It’s slightly smaller then the parlor size and the Taylor gs mini. It’s become my favorite acoustic guitar. The smaller the guitar and the smaller the body, the less full the sound. But for an amateur learner it doesn’t make a difference. So in summary, I prefer Zager guitars over Taylors.
The GS mini is a solid wood top with a layered back and sides compared to the 310 which is an all solid wood guitar and much bigger therefore you’re going to get a bigger sound (more volume). Among the travel guitars the GS mini has done some construction techniques that place it at the top of the heap sound wise for a travel guitar. The sound from the GS mini belies its size. The 114e is also a solid top guitar with layered back and sides. I’ve had a 114. They’re a very nice sounding guitar and play well. Can you have a GS mini as only guitar? Certainly. I’ve done unplugged sets in small to medium rooms and it’s plenty loud enough. BTW Taylor sells more GS minis than a lot of other companies sells guitars. It’s Taylor’s best selling guitar. I have the spruce rosewood GS mini and the sound is a bit bigger than the Koa top. Koa is a hardwood and requires a lot of playing to open it up and get a bigger sound. Spruce is definitely more responsive and initially a little louder and fuller sounding. I played both and decided on the spruce top. The back and side woods really don’t effect the sound of the guitar much as they’re layered (plywood) and really don’t vibrate much. They’re pretty much for esthetics. They’re better than other makers press wood with a paper wood grain overlay. Taylor’s build quality and playability are second to none even in their lower priced guitars!
Agreed. I chose my spruce topped rosewood mini because of its playability, sound, and innovative adjustable neck to body construction. I tried the other top materials and found them lacking compared to spruce.
Started playing in a GS mini mahogany and find it is just about perfect…has traveled a lot, camping, sailing, road tripping, flying and just does great. Recently bought a Taylor 322e which has the next body size up, agree it’s hard case is very heavy and large for travel. The GS mini still gets the most playing, however the sound on the 322e is noticeably fuller with more sustain.
Hi I have an Epiphone J-15 EC Deluxe dreadnought but I feel it's too big for me I have smaller hands changing frets chords is really difficult is the Taylor mini a good choice for smaller hands I'm a beginner only been playing 3 weeks cheers
What gauge strings are you using? Taylor ships with 13's (and so does HB - cheaper!). I much prefer 11's - otherways the sound is too dark. It's also more difficult to play. OK, you lose volume, but that's not what a mini is for.
Tried that today with a gs mini and taylor academy 12 . Walked out the shop with academy 12 . It sounded the best to my ears and played the best . I preferred the look of the gs mini tho .
I have a Taylor mini Koa and so far, having tried a variety of strings, really like the Martin MM10X Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .010-.047 Extra Lights.
I couldn't agree more about the importance of picking up a guitar that is easy to grab etc, .. But man, you look a lot like a bearded Paul Rudd. Cheers.
@@songnotes I used to fly on company plane and bring my mini Pilot would stow it in the toilet space. Played in lobby at Norfolk va Marriott when on road-trips perfect hotel travel guitar
![Shootout + Opinion: HARLEY BENTON GS-TRAVEL-E vs. TAYLOR GS MINI-E [MAHOGANY]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WUoZ4-DTMhs/mqdefault.jpg)
![Shootout + Opinion: HARLEY BENTON GS-TRAVEL-E vs. TAYLOR GS MINI-E [MAHOGANY]](/img/tr.png)
I went to see Pat Benatar performing an acoustic show. Her guitarist/husband Neil Geraldo played the entire show using two GS mini’s. The show rocked!
Cool
There are sooo many musicians out there that play thousands of shows with "only" the GS mini. I don't own one yet, but I've been playing lots of them over the past year and I definitely will get one this year and I absolutely will use it as my main guitar for gigging and busking.
I own a gs mini and a very nice Martin OM . I feel a gs mini is a perfect first guitar for most people . I feel the gs mini is super easy to play and that is perfect for a new player . I also feel if you start with a gs mini and you are still playing guitar a year or two down the road you can buy another larger guitar at that point ….. but you will not regret owning a smaller guitar . I love picking up my mini at the end of the day , watching tv and practicing a bit . I love my koa mini
I’m a retiree, my gs mini mahogany is the only guitar I use currently. It goes in the RV and to the cabin easily. Love it to bits.
I travel with a GS mini all the time. It handles all the big changes in humidity from travel just fine and has the nicest case. It also sounds and plays great!
Just got the GS Mini Koa Plus and love everything about it. I own 7 guitars and this is by far my favorite
I have a full-size Seagull s guitar. I have picked it up and put it down more times then I wish to recall.After watching your travel video . I went out and ordered a Yamaha JR1. I love it . I am 5.4..and it’s so light and accessible I can’t wait to it up.l also favor this guitar for learning. Thanks
for many people the gs mini might be a great first nice guitar. for me it feels like it could be my last 😅 i have a 2016 koa so it has the full es-2 pickup system. got it second hand early 2024 and it’s been my main guitar ever since. busking, gigging, chilling on the couch, waiting for pasta water to boil, you name it. i don’t think i will ever really need another guitar for any live purposes. i can play it for hours, it’s light, comfortable, easy to play, easy to carry, it’s rugged and it was a great deal. it may get some proper 18/1 tuners for the holidays. ❤
I have a Taylor Gs mini Mohagony and i love it from the day one
I use my Koa mini quite similarly. Bought it sorta for my wife to teach her during Covid , but also for me as I always wanted to try one. All our others are downstairs. It’s on display in the living room, and the only one I have upstairs -that Koa top pops next to our wood furniture, stands out and calls out to me every time I pass by - fits both of us well and I love the brightness of the sound. Quite enjoyable to play on.
Hi I got a baby Taylor guitar I’ve been playing all my life on normal size but my baby Taylor is like playing a different instrument all together 🎸😀
I picked up playing guitar at 68 years old. 5 years ago. I immediately fell into fingerstyle. John Fahey type stuff. My Koa GS-Mini is my favorite guitar. My “big” guitar is a Taylor 312ce 12 fret. 😂 The GS Koa sounds much bigger than it actually is.
I have been playing for quite some time, and have had my gs-mini koa-e for about 3 years, and I 100% agree with everything you mentioned about use cases. The ease of picking it up has resulted in hundreds more hours of playing with each year that passes simply because the ease of picking up and playing, I play it sometimes in the kitchen when I'm waiting for something to cook, or on the sofa, home office, bedroom, and one of my favs the balcony.
Anyone who's considering it just go check em out you're gonna love the GS Mini
Best video, answered all my questions, thanx so much. BTW you look like nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. Keep rocking
as someone who have a smaller body frame and have only owned regular size guitars, playing on the regular ones has never been a real issue, but i did feel way more comfortable when i played with my friend's smaller size guitar. most likely gonna get a small one as my next guitar.
Thank you for this video. I am a beginner that picked up guitar later in life. I have smaller hands and wondered if a mini would fit me better, but stayed away thinking the performance/sound would be subpar. But now i am going shopping
I own a gs mahogany and, although, i don't play open mike or honky-tonk gigs anymore, i do play at church jams and also use it in my ministry and i can tell you that the gs has plenty of voice and see sound for this. Good video!
I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out whether I should by the Mini. Your vid pushed me over the edge. Thanks for taking time to tell me your thiughts
Love my mahogany mini and have traveled a lot with it, super comfortable. I put souvenir pins on the bag to show where it has traveled. But love my Martins more.
I had a mini for travel but sold it to get a Martin dreadnought Jr, Martin's travel guitar. Love it!
I have both. The Taylor neck is play forever
Martin D-Jr is an awesome travel guitar, too! Thanks for the great content, David.
Plus, the Martin has a 1.75" nut, so for some this is better as it keeps muscle memory intact for those used to this nut width.
Yes, definitely a key factor in my choice. Also, the Martin has solid wood back and sides and the sound is warmer than the Taylor. I really enjoy playing it and will often grab it for composing because it is a good size for hanging out on the couch.
@@spacep0d
I have the Martin Jr. also.
3/4 body size, 24" scale, 1.75 nut.
Great balanced sound, more bass than you would expect.
Amazing sustain.
True Martin sound.
I have two larger dresses. This is my go to...
I have a lefthand Taylor Gs mini Mahogany and absolutely love it
I have an Ortega Ebony guitar/uke. It is under 30 inch small. But I prefer my 36 inch Enya carbon fiber silver glitter. It came with busted electronics (which I tore out) and I slapped some thick Plectrum Austrian strings on it (.11 or .12's). I made intonation adjustments; the lower bridge was too low so to eliminate the fret buzz I dropped the thin wire in a bread bag twist under the string support. The thing stays in tune like no other guitar and I use a pretty thick pick on it. The silver glitter is really something I don't see them offer now. incredible sparkle and shine.
GS mini got me into playing acoustic again. I have played electric guitar for 30 years.
My wife bought a GS mini mahogany and I tried it one day. I was blown away and hooked.
She said it may as well be mine because I play it all the time.
She recently came home with another GS mini koa. She said this is mine. Leave it alone.
Great video. I owned a GS Mini and the problem for me was the 1 11/16 nut width and the really short scale cramps my fat fingers on the sixth fret and fat finger tips buzz other strings. There are lots of travel guitars with 1 3/4 nut width.
Got the exact guitar .. it’s the only one on the wall. I always play it.. the others are in their boxes
As a guitarist, it’s funny how guitarists truly think the average music lover or fan at a show can discern between a Martin D-35 and a GS Mini. They can’t. They hear the song and hear the guitar playing the notes. Eddie Van Halen made a $159 scrap pile Stratocaster sound like a $1,000,000 one of piece of art. It’s all in the fingers, feel, and timing. Those GS Minis will make a room full of music fans stand up and rage about how great you sounded that night you played.
Just bought a mahogany mini after years on a mini Martin. Now l remember this play forever neck. I had them neck and neck then and went wit the Martin for tone. Now it’s about the neck. Yum
I have the GS mini as my only acoustic and I agree with your assessment. It is super comfortable and means I pick it up all the time. Most of my song ideas emerge while I am noodling and strumming on the GS mini. As you, I find the sound lacking a bit of "body" but that means I make less noise for the rest of the household 🙂.
I only ever record via the pickup because I don't have a good mike and yes, it needs a bit of EQ to fill up the sound.
That button on the tuner/pre-amp is really easily left pressed in, especially when you stick the guitar in its (super handy) travel bag.
Thanks for the video, new sub to the channel.
As I get old 62 the smaller guitar gives me more control on the fretts. As strength in arm deminises from age .
Great review. I got one a year ago, and it has vastly improved my love of playing and i play more. My other OM is a struggle as Ive gotten older to play comfortably.
The GS MINI koa in my least favorite of the GS Minis. The Taylor GS Mini spruce is the loudest of the GS Minis. In my opinion the GS Mini Mahogany is the most warm and tuneful sounding of the minis. I love my first year spruce top no pickup GS Mini. I’m thinking of buying a Taylor Academy 12e Nylon Grand Concert 12 fret full scale 25 1/2 inches
I'm a retiree and obsessed with guitar everything, all day, unfortunately. Played Martin 00s for years and loved um. Arthritis led me to a Rosewood GS Mini, which ended up reviving a lost passion for playing. I can relate to all the comments here. Then, bc I was so intrigued, and because it's only 500 bucks, I sprang for a Martin D-Jr 10, with a 24 in. vs 23.5 scale, and a wider nut. But, and here's the kicker, it's a solid wood instrument. In any case, I've got both guitars out, and I go to the D Jr 90% of the time. Just sounds deeper, richer, better. To me, anyway. But the Mini is a beauty, I'll say that.
I bought a Yamaha csf3m travel guitar 12 months ago and really enjoy playing it. It's a 23.5" scale so similar to the GS mini but the main difference I would say is it has solid wood back and sides and I find it fairly loud for a small guitar. Not much difference between it and my faith Venus. The Yamaha doesn't have a tuner but does have a passive undersaddle pickup so can be plugged up and sounds great too! Yamaha build quality is good but not sure how it compares to the GS mini in that regard. It comes with a soft case similar to the gs mini.
BTW I like your videos David, very easy to follow, keep the content coming!
For some reason I've always wanted a small guitar. I initially worked my way up to a Martin 000-15e Granadillo which I love, and it has a 1.75" nut width. It's fantastic, but I'm a smaller player and the GS Mini-E (Spruce/Rosewood) is SO comfortable and fun to play. It's also super handy in a smaller studio where it's easy to bonk your larger guitar on a desk if you're not careful. The GS can go right into the DAW and with Studio One I can make it sound like anything, but I'm not risking dinging my $1600 Martin.
One thing about the GS is that it has a 1.6875" nut width, so this might mean disrupting some muscle memory if you're used to the typical 1.75" nut width. But, this smaller nut is also comfortable for some, especially for those with smaller hands.
It's also nice to have a second guitar if you want to keep different tunings. I have medium strings on the GS, and that tension is offset by the shorter scale length. If you pitch down a half step it's even easier.
The guitar projects so much more than one would think. I love the GS Mini!
Capo is pronounced "cah po" as it's shorthand for the Italian word "capotasto", meaning "chief note".
I use to play guitar on zoom for praise groups and so, got a thin nylon Fender so now I want another small guitar but with steel strings, I think this will be a fantastic one as I use to play in my small streaming spot
I love my GS Mini Koa. It has such a warm sound.
I have this guitar. I love mine! I am a woman with some neck and shoulder issues. This little baby is fantastic! It is now my number one acoustic. Absolutely perfect for me. And sounds beautiful.
Same here. Same issues and same love for the gs mini! 🥰
I didn't know Paul Rudd played guitar! Great video!!! 51 and haven't played in a long time, was never that good to begin with but I've been playing a bit lately and my old Alvarez cracked where neck meets the body and won't stay tuned. You've convinced me to pick up the GS Mini. Thanks!
I've got 2 full size Taylor's and a KOA mini just like that one. I like all of them.
Just got a Yamaha fg jr to keep in my work truck ! Fixin to play it now at lunch!
I picked up a GS Mini quite a few years ago, the case is TOP NOTCH quality! The guitar itself sounds as good or better than my 314ce to my ears.
Another great video. Thank you! I just replaced my full size dreadnought with an Alverez Little Jumbo travel size guitar . I’m new to playing and find, like you mentioned, the smaller travel size guitar is much easier and more comfortable to play. I also find myself picking it up more often then I did my full size which means more time spent on the guitar.
I got a tiny Rainsong parlor and it’s great for traveling and I can leave it in my car in the heat and cold . I love the little guy !
A company called SKB makes a specific crush proof airline car for the GS mini. I have the 2014 Koa mini and my son has a rosewood mini
I have a harder time doing bends on my GS mini. The thick strings that came on it were peeling my nails up. It’s not really a complaint. It’s a great little travel guitar. I take it tent camping.
I had battery problems in the tuner as well. I seem to accidentally turn and leave it on and they are ALWAYS dead. 😅
your Taylor mini is a stunning beauty
Love this. I've been debating on getting a smaller guitar for camping 🏕
My Taylor mini Mahogany is coming to me this week!!
I got the academy 12 e grand concert brilliant guitar a little louder and bigger but still pretty portable and easy to travel with.
I literally chose the 12 today after trying a few others. Great sound and playability.
@@itsmorphed6416 you won’t regret it was just playing it there, it’s so nice to play and I love the way it looks.
I’ve had a Martin dread jr for about 8 years and can’t say enough great things about it. That being said the GS mini was my second choice. The smaller nut width was a turn off my fat fingers couldn’t get comfortable. I’m not traveling with my Martin but if I was probably would have went GS mini due to smaller size and laminated back and sides for durability.
You said you never used your Taylor in picking circles ,well I have .Mine has the spruce top and is probably a little louder I have been playing more than 30 years the reason I bought this guitar I was in Guitar Center admiring this $3,000 plus Taylor sitting there so I picked it up I started playing it and admiring it thinking what a wonderful sound this guitar has this little Mini was sitting beside it so I picked it up too started playing it I was blown away how great that little guitar sounded and played it compared to the 3000 dollar one almost identical in sound, amazing lows coming out of this little guy and how easy it was for me to play well long story short already had a half a dozen full size guitars did not go in there to buy a guitar but I walked out with this little guy and a LR Baggs anthem pickup I found myself playing that guitar all the time exclusively every Circle I went to (probably a dozen times a month) played it for 10 years hard everyday for hours I played it so much I was wearing out the first five frets every 2 years so the last time I went with stainless steel frets by the way I cant even tell the difference in sound from nickle silver to stainless frets my other guitars just sit there rarely do i pick one up i just gave the Taylor Mini a total refinish I refinished grand pianos for over 40 years literaly hundreds of them so after being retired from the restoration business for 10 years had to come out of retirement to refinished it lol well thats my take best value in a guitar i ever bought for sure .
Love the Graceland album in the background, my favorite album. Like the video, thank you
I love my Taylor gs mini in koa,the only thing I wish the nut was bigger. But I wouldn’t trade it for another guitar . I just started playing almost a year ago, I almost bought a new guitar for my birthday this year but I figured I’d keep practicing and playing with my gs mini until I really find that guitar that says to me I’m next 14:49
Thanks very much for such an explicit review!
That E Koa looks amazing going to save for one of them defo.
I own a PRS parlor guitar and now a Taylor mini Koa. I like them both very much. Lately, I've been grabbing the Taylor almost exclusively. I've tried a number of different string types on both. On the parlor, I had pretty much settled for Thomastek-Infeld AC110 extra lights (very expensive). I have yet to try those on the Taylor, but having compared a number of other strings on the Taylor, I really like (and recommend) the Martin MM10X Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .010-.047 Extra Light (very reasonably priced).
I've owned two GS Mini's, there is nothing quit like them in their price range. Just so well built, the sound great and they come with a great gig bag... However, know that they put medium gauge strings on the GS Mini at the factory for a reason. Regardless how much you adjust the neck relief, light gauge strings don't provide good tension to move the top on these and bring out their richness. They are designed to get optimal tone with medium strings. Full size Taylor models, like most guitars, do fine on light gauge strings and even ship with them, but GS Mini's just take a bigger hit in tone if you go there. For that reason, I don't think they are a great beginner guitar, but more a good traveler for a seasoned player.... The Taylor Academy series is great for beginners, Martin's D-JR and 000-JR both great guitars for beginners (and great travelers). My other issue with the GS Mini is how sensitive I've found its neck joint to be. The reason I got rid of my last one was the number of times I had to get the neck reset. If you're truly traveling with these guitars they can end up getting left in a hot car for 30-45 minutes spans while you're taking a break on the road, etc... do that even a few times a week and you end up needing an authorized Taylor tech to give the guitar a neck reset. This is something covered under warranty for the life time of the guitar, but you'll have to find a Taylor tech to do it. I never had this problem with my Martin 000-JR so that's why I eventually just sold the GS Mini and kept the 000-JR.
That´s why I love my Yamaha APX700ii
The GSmini should have a 45mm nut as standard - they would sell so many more! 2mm for someone with smaller hands hardly makes a difference.....but for those of us that need at least 45mm it is everything. I can't play a GSmini because of this.
7/8 is the best investment for me. It makes it so easy to work out while sitting on the couch.
Nice video, what size strings would you recommend for a mini guitar?
I also wanted to ask that. I am playing on mini plus and using 13. Thinking to try put number 12
Larger guitars that are well made like your Taylor ring out longer and louder. That brings in the relative harmonics. That is probably the richer sound you hear. GS Mini is going to sound thinner
What wall hanger are you using in your living room? I like this automatic open/close mechanism.
just the video i was looking for thank you
I love mine. It’s the perfect recliner guitar lol.
Thank you... I was just wondering this very thing...😀
that battery dying you mentioned is common to all acoustic electrics in my experience
Great video!
I think that GS mini has a sweeter, quieter tone. I liked it.
How responsive was that! Thanks David. I’m off to try out short scale guitars with as wide a nut as possible. It’s the holy grail! Rob
I have a Yamaha jr1. I love it
I own a Taylor gs mini and like it. I’m 5’4 so a smaller guitar is better for me. The full size guitars are too big for me. Their neck is just too big. I also bought a Zager parlor size guitar which is same size as the Taylor gs. Both are 3/4 size guitars. The body of this Zager is wider then the Taylor. I like a narrower body. The Zager parlor is a bit easier to play and sounds better then the Taylor. Recently I bought a Zager travel guitar. It’s slightly smaller then the parlor size and the Taylor gs mini. It’s become my favorite acoustic guitar. The smaller the guitar and the smaller the body, the less full the sound. But for an amateur learner it doesn’t make a difference. So in summary, I prefer Zager guitars over Taylors.
Hi! What strap are you using for that GS Mini? It’s super cool
Thanks for the video. You mention the sound isn't as full on the mini but if you plug it in will you get a fuller sound?
Anyone know what strap that is at 2:55?
The GS mini is a solid wood top with a layered back and sides compared to the 310 which is an all solid wood guitar and much bigger therefore you’re going to get a bigger sound (more volume). Among the travel guitars the GS mini has done some construction techniques that place it at the top of the heap sound wise for a travel guitar. The sound from the GS mini belies its size. The 114e is also a solid top guitar with layered back and sides. I’ve had a 114. They’re a very nice sounding guitar and play well. Can you have a GS mini as only guitar? Certainly. I’ve done unplugged sets in small to medium rooms and it’s plenty loud enough. BTW Taylor sells more GS minis than a lot of other companies sells guitars. It’s Taylor’s best selling guitar. I have the spruce rosewood GS mini and the sound is a bit bigger than the Koa top. Koa is a hardwood and requires a lot of playing to open it up and get a bigger sound. Spruce is definitely more responsive and initially a little louder and fuller sounding. I played both and decided on the spruce top. The back and side woods really don’t effect the sound of the guitar much as they’re layered (plywood) and really don’t vibrate much. They’re pretty much for esthetics. They’re better than other makers press wood with a paper wood grain overlay. Taylor’s build quality and playability are second to none even in their lower priced guitars!
Agreed. I chose my spruce topped rosewood mini because of its playability, sound, and innovative adjustable neck to body construction. I tried the other top materials and found them lacking compared to spruce.
That's a deadly top on that GS Mini
I tried many times to dig the GS Mini, and I just can’t. Find it to be extremely over blown online, ESPECIALLY when considering price.
how’s everything going?!love it!very insane traveling!goodnight,😍
Started playing in a GS mini mahogany and find it is just about perfect…has traveled a lot, camping, sailing, road tripping, flying and just does great. Recently bought a Taylor 322e which has the next body size up, agree it’s hard case is very heavy and large for travel. The GS mini still gets the most playing, however the sound on the 322e is noticeably fuller with more sustain.
I have the same two as you. GS mini so easy to play. 322e sound is awesome.
Hi I have an Epiphone J-15 EC Deluxe dreadnought but I feel it's too big for me I have smaller hands changing frets chords is really difficult is the Taylor mini a good choice for smaller hands I'm a beginner only been playing 3 weeks cheers
thinking of getting a gs mini for travel - will it fit in airplane overhead bin if in a soft case?
dope vid man. at 5 foot 8 this guitar feels like it was made for me lol. cheers
Thx. What's the weight of the Taylor GS mini?
Where did you get those posters on your wall
Cheers
Great video. Thankmyou
What's the strap on the Taylor GS mini? Thanks! Bob
What gauge strings are you using? Taylor ships with 13's (and so does HB - cheaper!). I much prefer 11's - otherways the sound is too dark. It's also more difficult to play. OK, you lose volume, but that's not what a mini is for.
What about the GS mini VS the baby Taylor?
What is your glove hand size. My hand is a 10 1/2". I find a slightly narrower guitar more difficult to play. Maybe I could adapt.
Very good video!
Love mine ha mini
Mahogany ❤
The Martin 000 Junior is a much better choice all around and for less money.
Tried that today with a gs mini and taylor academy 12 . Walked out the shop with academy 12 . It sounded the best to my ears and played the best . I preferred the look of the gs mini tho .
What strings do you use?
I have a Taylor mini Koa and so far, having tried a variety of strings, really like the Martin MM10X Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings - .010-.047 Extra Lights.
mediums all the way it was designed for 13s big rich sound due to its short scale
Im in Austin and I go to Strait all the time. Both locations are awesome love those guys!
As much as anything, I believe the reason these are so popular, is because of the shorter scale length.
I couldn't agree more about the importance of picking up a guitar that is easy to grab etc, .. But man, you look a lot like a bearded Paul Rudd. Cheers.
Ok what the hell,
You make them both sound well 😅
Is this good for beginners
yessssss
I have same guitar. Bought at 699 now they are 999.
I believe it! Quite happy with mine still, glad I got it for the price I did.
@@songnotes I used to fly on company plane and bring my mini Pilot would stow it in the toilet space. Played in lobby at Norfolk va Marriott when on road-trips perfect hotel travel guitar
is a smaller guitar worth it? Yes. when you have small hands it's worth it.