Taylor GS Mini (Mahogany Top) Reviews

Jim C
from Boston, MA
May 16, 2013Music Background:
Student

What an awesome guitar

Taylor has done an amazing job creating a travel size guitar with such great sound. I purchased it thru Sweetwater and couldn't have had a better experience. They are a first class retailer.

John Kasperek
from Livonia, MI USA
May 1, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

Taylor Gs Mini (Mahogany}

My new Taylor GS Mini Mahogany top has met and exceeded all expectations. I had my reservations about a made in Mexico Taylor instrument but I quickly learned that its has the same quality craftsmanship as my previous American made Taylor 414 that I previously owned. This guitar plays wonderfully and has exceptional sound. Dealing with Sweetwater also exceeded all expectations I had about buying from an online store. I would definitely return to Sweetwater for any of my future musical instrument purchases.

Chris
from Utah
April 22, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

The iPad of Guitars

I was originally drawn to the idea of a smaller guitar after seeing Ed Sheeran on TV with his Little Martin. I was aware of some of the "campfire" guitars but was never impressed with their ukelele-like sound. But if Ed Sheeran can cope with one, I was sure I could too. I immediately headed to Guitar Center to check out the Little Martin and stumbled across the Taylor GS Mini. Yes, the price was considerably higher, but the salesperson said he's never had a complaint about the GS Mini. Reading countless Web reviews sealed the deal. I bought from Sweetwater because 1) Guitar Center has no mahogany models in stock and I didn't want to order sight-unseen, and 2) I love how Sweetwater posts pictures of each individual guitar, giving you the ability to see exactly what you're buying and a choice between various units they have in stock. I fell in love with one with a dark striping pattern, unusual compared to all the relatively mundane examples I had seen online. Very classy and exotic looking. Sweetwater's buying experience was fantastic.

I love, love, love this guitar. Remember when surfing the web in bed or on the sofa involved dragging out a clunky, heavy laptop that could never be positioned comfortably? Now we have tablets that are small and light and cozy to use pretty much anywhere. That's the Taylor GS Mini. My other acoustic guitar feels like trying to cradle an adolescent child. The GS Mini just feels right. Light as a feather and small enough to embrace, I find myself playing this guitar all the time. On the sofa, at my desk in the home office, in bed, on the front porch. I just grab it off the wall hook and play. So effortless. The tone is fantastic. I feel like I'm losing nothing in sound compared to my vintage solid wood Japanese-made Epiphone acoustic. The playing action is great. This is my first Taylor, and I now understand the hype about Taylor's playability. I love the neck size. The reduced scale actually enhances playability for me and my slender fingers.

I don't see this as a niche product - rather a new guitar paradigm. I envision Taylor greatly expanding this model line. I hope to see solid wood versions of the Mini as well as cutaways. Maybe even some with fancier inlays and bindings if one wants to "climb the ladder" of guitar quality/appearance. Maybe even a version with the Expression electronics? I know you're listening, Bob Taylor.

I predict the GS Mini is the guitar that will finally break me out of the "perpetual beginner" rut. Great, great product. If I had the dough I'd buy one to hang on the wall in each room in my house for grab-and-play convenience. Thanks Taylor! And thanks Sweetwater.

nelson smith
from columbia, north carolina
April 12, 2013Music Background:
guitar hobbyist

outstanding guitar

I started to title this review "outstanding travel guitar" but felt "outstanding guitar" better fits the gs mini. While it IS a perfect guitar for travel, it's much, much more. I presently own a martin dsr, martin hd-28, taylor 314ce, taylor gc3e, and takamine mini. I chose the taylor mini because of the reviews on this guitars and what I had read on various guitar forums. I flat pick, strum, and finger pick classical style, folk style, and travis pick. I have been playing guitar for over 50 years. My present travel guitar is not fun to play because of the neck width and fret spacing. When I received the gs mini 4 days ago I was expecting a slight improvement in playability over my takamini mini. Wow, was I surprised! It was so easy to finger pick, flat pick, and strum. It was almost as great for finger picking as my gc3e. And the loudness without distortion was unbelievable. All this with a tone which is unbelievable! I love the tone of the mahogony top, and you would never know that it had laminated sides and backs if it was not listed in the specs. The laminated back even vibrates during strumming and picking. Taylor did an incredible job in their laminating process. The guitar is sounding better each day, and I will probably be playing this guitar around the house more than my single bodied guitars.

I would also like to praise sweetwater, especially dustin keesbury, for its outstanding customer service department. I have never received the quality of service in my professional and personal life as I have received with sweetwater. They will be getting my business for future needs.

Lianne
from United States
March 26, 2013Music Background:
Singer/Songwriter, Teacher, Therapeutic Musician-in-training

Perfect fit

I love this guitar! I teach music to kids in daycares, I am training to play music for sick people and gig. This guitar is incredibly versatile and easy to transport. It weighs 5lbs on your back with the guitar in the case. It plays like butta' and is beautiful! Anyone that has played my little Mini falls in love with it.
I am very pleased with the level of customer service that Sweetwater provides as well as the different payment plans.

Ryan Schmidt
from Boston, MA
February 5, 2013Music Background:
Touring Solo Artist

Perfect. Big Sound from a little package.

I'm a touring solo artist and have been taking my Taylor 414ce out on the road for the last 3 years. It has been great but the wear and tear on my "nicest" guitar makes me feel guilty.

I wanted something that was affordable and convenient enough to tour with, this GS Mini is just what the Dr. ordered. Best of all, these fit in overhead compartments on most airplanes so you don't have to worry about checking it. If you had to, I'd recommend you pick up SKB's aftermarket case and gate check it. That thing is a lot more protective than the softcase that it comes with.

As a live performance guitar this thing is worthy. Laminate sides and back are great for live settings as they are less likely to feedback. Not impressed with the ES-GO pickup, I opted for a K&K piezo clone from JJB Electronics, they sound great and won't break the bank! Plus, the Mahogany really stands out in a world full of light blonde spruce top guitars.

from
January 4, 2013

GS mini

Oh yeah! This is my first acoustic guitar in a while and this one is wonderful. Great tone and sustain. The neck is slim and elegant and feels very much like my electric LTD. Played in drop D with the elixir medium strings and it sounds great and stays in tune. Throaty low end and nice warm mids/ highs. Quality construction and quality materials. There are a ton of videos with people playing this guitar if you need further information or sampling.

Charlie Davis my sales guy is always top notch. Great communication and customer service. I have purchased several things from Sweetwater now and will continue to come back because of the quality and time Charlie takes to ensure the best experience possible.

Jim Cox
from Muncie, Indiana
January 1, 2013Music Background:
Singer/songwriter with a small home studio, played in bands semi-professionally since the '50s

Taylor GS Mini

I was shopping around for an acoustic that was within my price range, yet would still be suitable as part of my “backup group” on my demos – something with crisp highs and not a lot of low end. In reading the reviews, it appeared that the GS Mini filled the bill on both counts. It is also sized to fit my small hands and small frame. After several weeks of playing it, I'm convinced I was right in choosing this great instrument.

Despite its size, it doesn't have that “uke” sound that plagues many smaller acoustics. The intonation is dead on up and down the neck and it's so easy to play. I'll keep this one for a long time.

Joe Davis
from Central America
December 16, 2012Music Background:
Professional for the last ten years.

Super funt to play

This guitar was a total surprise. I had read other reviews and was prepared for a great guitar but I never expected to get this much guitar for the money. I still gig with my CE 315 but I practice a play and do some giging with the GS Mini. GEt the pickup and cable too. It's worth the extra investment.

Jim
from NJ
November 3, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

Awesome guitar, awesome service from Sweetwater

The GS mini is extremely well made, easy to play, and sounds incredible. It is a great size - very easy to handle but clearly not a "kids" guitar. If you were intrigued by the baby Taylor because you want somthing easy to travel with but consider the baby taylor too small, the GS mini is the way to go. You will be pleased. Case that comes with it is top notch as well. As to Sweetwater - their customer service is outstanding. I got my guitar and it had a problem. They quickly sent me a replacement (overnight!) and a postage paid return for the other one. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with, every step of the way. I have bought two guitars from them, and they will get my future business as well - never seen a more orgnanized, friendly, knowledgable company on the web. Special thanks to Dustin for looking out for me since day one. :-)

matthew goppert
from New Paris IN. USA
October 23, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

sounds big!

This is a great little guitar, I take it every where, and I find myself using it at home instead of my full size martin. Great when your siting in a recliner.

Rich
from England
October 18, 2012Music Background:
Experienced plucker.

GET IT

I was one of those people who waited 18 months before buying this guitar. I had doubts that a solid top and laminate back and sides guitar would be any good. I promise all of you out there who have been considering buying this guitar but have yet to make the leap of faith don't wait any longer, if you have the money and can afford it buy this guitar, it totally rocks. It has a very BIG sound from such a small guitar. An incredible guitar by Taylor. If I had known how good this guitar was gonna be I would of bought it much earlier. This is the best guitar I've ever played of the price. It's simply excellent!

Rich McGuire
from Valparaiso, IN
October 9, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

Taylor sound all the way!!!

I stopped in a Guitar Center last week looking to buy a uke. I started playing some Taylor guitars to kill time. I grabbed the GS Mini and was amazed at the sound! I went home and did some research and found they made it in mahogany as well. I read the reviews here and decided to pull the trigger. I currently own a Martin D15m, which is a solid wood (mahogany) dread, so I am familiar w/ the warm tones that mahogany emits (oh, did i mention it costs 2.5 times more). I was surprised to receive a phone call the next day from Mark at Sweetwater thanking me for the business and then conversing with me about the Taylors and the GS Mini. I couldn't wait to get the guitar.
Two days later it arrived. I played it all weekend long, even with sore fingers!!!

Put aside any ideas of this being a "less-than" guitar. This instrument is every bit as good as some of the $1k models on the market, maybe even better. The finish is flawless. I actually love the satin look. It gives the guitar a vintage look, which marrys well with the warm, rich vintage tone that is produced from the mahogany top.
I cannot wait to get the ES-Go pickup and try it!

Incidentally, I had never heard of Sweetwater prior to this. I am so glad I gave them my business. The customer service was second to none. When was the last time a company called you personally to thank you for your business or allowed you to pick the exact model you wanted from their inventory?! Buy this guitar from Sweetwater and you will be glad you did.

As I write this, I can't wait to get home and play her.

Steve Pastore
from Clermont FL USA
October 7, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

AWESOME Taylor GS Mini

What a remarkable instrument the Taylor GS Mini is...She is in a class all by herself.....Tone and playability/projection is astonishing given it's size...add a ES-Go pickup and shes sings... So, If you are looking for a fine guitar that gives you that authentic Taylor sound without breaking the bank..then this guitar is for you.....Thanks JK at Sweetwater.....

James
from Atlanta, GA
September 19, 2012Music Background:
Beginner/Hobbyist

Oh My God

This guitar is seriously everything everyone says it is and more. Despite the price, this guitar is literally studio quality, you just need the studio. You sacrifice all the bells and whistles to get the "Taylor" tone at an affordable price. By bells and whistles I mean no binding, no dazzling inlays, no abalone, no exotic shiny finish and plastic bridge pins and some plastic-like top on the head stock, but the sound quality is immaculate. It's crazy loud and clear, and I hear if you upgrade the bridge pins it gets even louder. I haven't tried the es-go pickup, i'm still skeptical about it.

And ordering from Sweetwater is just icing on the cake. I was able to pick the exact guitar that I wanted and I love the 55 point inspection. I literally played a tune fresh off the delivery truck.

If you are considering this guitar, which you are reading this review, go ahead and get it. GET IT. You will not regret it. Go to the store and play it first. You WILL fall in love.

M Lamb
from Fresno, CA
August 30, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician

A travel-sized axe that is anything but a toy...

I just picked up a mahogany top GS mini today. I was looking for small, travel sized guitar; we live in a small house, and wanted to keep a miniature guitar on the wall in our nursery to play for our baby without taking up a lot of room. I was thinking the Taylor Baby would be perfect. Now, there is nothing wrong with the Taylor Baby at all, but when I saw that this guitar was only an inch or so larger than the Baby, I reckoned I'd pick it up and give it a try.

I'm glad I did.

This is an amazing little axe: HUGE sound, plenty of volume (more than any other travel-sized guitar I've heard), sweet tone and great playability. In fact, it was mildly disconcerting: how can a guitar this small sound so good? There must be some brujo magic in Taylor's Tecate workshop.

Of course, I'm kidding. The tone comes from great materials and quality construction. I played several variations of the GS mini: rosewood, sapele, blackwood-- all sounded great. As a matter of taste, I settled on the smooth, warm and throaty mahogany model. It just barks in the right way when you dig in, and has wonderful sustain & harmonics on lead lines. Playing up around the double digit frets, I found every note was clear and punchy with lots of ring. The setup is superb; polished, even frets and a handsome tobacco finish.

And oh yeah, the price. 5 bills, and you get a guitar that is both compact and sonically rich. If you are looking for a travel-sized axe that is anything but a toy, you can't go wrong with this one. What's more iif my daughter ever decides to learn the guitar (after she's mastered the fine arts of walking, talking, and peek-a-boo of course), I cannot think of a better instrument for her little hands.

Joe Davis
from Costa Rica
August 25, 2012Music Background:
Professional musician for the last ten years

This Thing Barks!

Got my new Mini and and haven't been able to put it down. I use it on gigs and it rocks. I would point out that the pick up system is great and very simple to install but you'll need a little more volume on the master and back every one else off so you can get in the mix. NOy a big deal but should be pointed out. I've done two or three gigs with it and have no problem being heard. The mahogany top and medium guage string make this little pony a real work horse. Buy it, play it and dig it!

Tony M.
from North Carolina
May 16, 2012

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany: Sweeeeeeeeet acoustic

I was looking for an acoustic with a smaller width (Lower bout to higher bout) and less depth (top to back), due to back and neck issues resulting from a car accident.

I'm a smaller guy ( 5' 8" ) and bigger width and depth guitars force my body (back, arms, shoulder and neck) to bend, reach and lean way too far, in order to play. Causing my neck and spine to bend in uncomfortable (and painful) angles and compress spinal discs and neck.

I auditioned many acoustic guitars prior to coming across the Taylor GS Mini. But these GS Mini acoustics are almost perfect for me (or anyone with similar problems).

The tone is warm and quite melodic. A little more trebley when brand new, but as the strings break-in and the wood resonates over two or three weeks of consistent playing; it gets even sweeter sounding.

It has a decent projection, but no overly loud projection. Certainly nothing like the bigger body guitars in terms of projection/loudness.

But what it lacks in projection/loudness, it makes up for in heart-felt sweet, warm tones. The ebony fingerboard gives it a very nice and deep sense of melody and resonate tone. The neck is nice and easy to play. I really love this guitar.

If I had one gripe, I would say that I wish Taylor would make a GS Mini just like this, but with a 1 7/8" nut width. That would be sheer perfection, for me.

As usual, a big thanks to Dave W. (at Sweetwater) for his top notch customer service!

saul sepulveda
from San Diego, CA
April 22, 2012Music Background:
lifetime musician

MUST HAVE

i just recently bought the GS mini Mahogany top. i was originally going to purchase a taylor 210ce but wasn't in stock. while waiting for the 210 i kept in touch with bob at sweetwater and had the opportunity to play a spruce top GSmini and loved it i spoke to bob about the mahogany top and decided to purchase one. i received it thursday and didn't put it down till i had to go to work on monday. its such an awesome guitar. great warm tone great volume would recommend it to anyone. bob and everyone at sweetwater were all so helpful, great customer service i would definitely buy more stuff.

cg
from San Diego, CA
February 24, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist, Student

The perfect guitar

I love this guitar! No flaws, perfect finish. And the sound! Nice deep, full, projected sound. This guitar is easy to play, makes you instantly feel like a better player. It is a great size, smaller without looking or feeling too small (I'm a 5'5" woman with smaller hands). Very impressed with Sweetwater. Guitar even came tuned and ready to play straight out of the box.

David
from Asheville, NC
February 22, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist, blues and blues rock

Bluesy Brilliance

Can't put it down. Got it yesterday and played all night after work. Got up extra early this morning so I could get back on it.

I play mostly electric blues (Stevie Ray and Joe Bonamassa are favorites) and have never really been interested in acoustic guitars. That is until I played the GS Mini Mahogany top.

It is the best playing acoustic I've ever picked up. Very, very warm sound. Great projection and so easy to play. I've played a lot of Taylors and the higher end models are great playing guitars, but for this price point the GS Mini is an unreal deal. Instead of spending $1,500+ to get into a solid-wood Taylor, give this a try instead and I think you will really be impressed with both the ease of use and the tonality.

This guitar is great for all types of music. I was playing some Neil Young and The Doors last night as well as some Texas blues and each and every song had a deep warm resonance that my older full-sized acoustic sitka spruce top could not match. All in all I am THRILLED with this guitar and would recommend the Mahogany top version to anyone willing to listen.

The biggest difference between the mahogany and the spruce top, in my opinion, is the warmth and "vintage" sound of the mahogany vs. the brightness and "pop" of the sitka spruce. It really depends on whether you want a Dave Matthews-esque tone (spruce) or more of a old rock/folk/blues tone. The Taylor GS Mini mahogany top is a guitar that I could easily hear someone like Keb Mo playing. Pick it up, try it out, you won't be disappointed. It will be a guitar that I will hold onto the rest of my life.

Tony M.
from Buffalo, NY
January 29, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

The Little Guitar With Big Sound

I really am blown away by this little gem and I haven't put it down since I received it. The build and finish are flawless, the action is very low and the guitar is very playable.

I own a Taylor 814ce and I enjoy this guitar every bit as much. The sound is quite full with a surprising bottom end that usually isn't elicited from a smaller bodied guitar. The highs are crisp and clear and overall the guitar responds well to either a light or heavy attack.

It came in what Taylor describes as a "hardbag". Though not offering the same protection that a hard case could afford, the hardbag has a hard skeleton and soft interior which does a nice job of protecting the instrument.

Overall I'm thrilled with this purchase and with the support I've received from Sweetwater and recommend this guitar and Sweetwater highly.

Roger D.
from Prescott, Arizona
February 6, 2013Music Background:
Pro musician in my 20s and early 30s, just a hack nowadays.

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany

At age 64, after 49 years of playing, acoustic guitar has become a bit of a problem lately (left hand, right shoulder – growing older is not for sissies!). Electrics are no problem at all, but on the acoustic side I thought maybe the GS Mini might provide a solution.

I selected a mahogany-top at Sweetwater and my guy Ryan Murphy made sure everything went perfectly (customer service at Sweetwater is off the charts, if you don’t already know). Right out of the box, I was immediately impressed. The ergonomics of its size didn’t stress my shoulder at all, and I realized that with its truly surprising (and satisfying) tone, volume, and playability (objectively speaking, and also for my left hand), this might be all the acoustic I’d need on a day-to-day basis. I’d give it a full 5 stars, except I did feel the need to upgrade it a bit. If you’re interested, here’s what I did:

1) Changed to uncoated Phosphor Bronze strings. An amazing increase in volume and tone. Elixirs have always been tone killers to my ear, but everyone has different tastes.
2) Changed the black plastic bridge pins to white bone with abalone dots. I got a perfect-fitting set from a guy on ebay for just $14. Subtle improvement in tone, big improvement in looks.
3) Removed the plastic tortoise shell pickguard via the hairdryer method. Worked perfectly, but you do need to go slowly and be patient. There was not a trace of tan line because the guitar is so new -- your mileage may vary. I have no objection to pickguards, I just hated the tortoise look on the mahogany – frankly I would have left it on if Tayor had used a black one instead, which would have gone great with the bridge, fretboard and headstock – a no-brainer aesthetically (I have several other Taylors, so it’s a head-scratcher to me why they blew this – normally they nail every design detail and a black plastic pickguard is no more expensive). Now that it’s off, it looks so much better and I highly doubt I will replace it with a black one – which was my original idea.
4) I rubbed up the incomparable Virtuoso Guitar Polish on the matte finish varnish and it now sports a beautiful satin glow.
5) Installed a mahogany trussrod cover ($16 on ebay). A great unit with a perfect fit and very nice semi-gloss finish; it really dresses up the plain headstock.
6) Swapped out the tuners for Taylor Chrome Minis. $50. This was unexpected and does contribute a lot to my 4.5 rating. I had some tuning stability problems with the original 14:1 tuners and the new 18:1 tuners solved that. They drop right in with no modifications.
7) Installed a K&K Pure Mini pickup. Wow. Love this thing.
8) FYI, you have to fill in the recessed spot for the original endpin plate when installing a non-ES-Go endpin. I found a polished chrome washer that fits beautifully. The washer was a buck, but the shipping was $10.
9) Finally, I sent in the Tusq saddle to Bob Colosi and had him make a genuine bone saddle. This $26 was TOTALLY worth every penny. Not only is Bob a great guy and a meticulous craftsman, but the tone upgrade is truly eye-opening.

So there you have it. I don’t count the K&K because I would have bought the ES-Go anyway, and the K&K actually was $7 cheaper. So crediting myself that $7, I put in $110 on the GS Mini. You may question whether all that investment was worth it on a $500 guitar and I wouldn’t argue with you. The bottom line for me, though, is that it looks and sounds gorgeous, plays like butter, and my acoustic time has at least doubled because I pick it up constantly. Which is the test for any guitar, isn’t it?

Reuben
from U.S. Southeast
January 17, 2013Music Background:
high-level amateur pianist, so-so guitar picker.

Close to top-quality Taylor

Needed a smaller-than-standard acoustic for my teen who has smaller hands. Didn't want to go too cheap (i.e. $150 ). Tried the 3/4 size, but it really was *too* small; this GS Mini is perfect for her. Very nice sound, beautiful wood all around. Comes with a well-designed soft/padded case. Half-point off since it probably needs to be (obviously from a buyer's POV) about $75 cheaper.

Jon Fields
from Allentown, PA
December 6, 2012Music Background:
Playing out about twice a month.

Near Perfect Travel Guitar

Excellent tone comparable to a full size guitar. Not in anyway similar to the compromised tones of a Taylor Baby or Martin LX. The 23.5" scale is just long enough for me, but 24 or 24.5 would have been better. The hard bag is a bit bulky but provides enough protection to likely survive a green tag gate check where the item is returned at the arrival gate.

Paul Nichols
from San Diego, Ca. USA
October 19, 2012Music Background:
gigging retro real time one man band

hot rod travel axe

very nice guitar. Big sound for such a small body. sounds even better with bone saddle and bridge pins! nice smooth tuners. typical Taylor perfect set up. Mine has a real pretty figure to the mahogany top. The more you play it the better it sounds. excellent rigid gig bag! Very light. My only beef is that the edges of the body are very sharp 90 degree angles. A bit of sanding would make them a bit more comfy....pickey, pickey!

Jilly C.
from Northern California
June 7, 2012Music Background:
Been playing since I was 12, but laid off for decades, now I am back playing again with pals from school ! FUN!!!!

Sweet sound from Sweetwater~

I received my new Taylor GS Mini Mahogany just a few weeks ago...I'm sure glad to have this new sweet sounding beauty. I like the smaller size fretboard for my small hand (I am a lady) and the second I picked her up I knew she and I would be great pals. I'm still trying to think of a name for this mahogany top, in the running are "60" and "Sweet Pea". The sound is definitely deeper with lower tones than my Martin (a Little Martin) which I got last Christmas. They are both beautiful guitars and very different from each other. But since I received this Taylor by mail I have only picked up the other one time...hmmmm. This guitar fits me perfectly, is so splendid and I look forward to years of playing her. And the discounted price was awesome, thanks to Sweetwater!!
The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because nothing is perfect~

Jeffrey Lavalette
from Toledo, Ohio
April 11, 2013Music Background:
Singer/Songwriter, performer, guitar lover

A Fabulous Find

I just received my Taylor GS Mini Mahogany via Fex Ex today, and already I can't put it down. This is my fourth Taylor (W-15, 816, 412) so I wasn't too worried that it would be disappointing. But here's the thing- the expectations need to be appropriate for the instrument- this is a $500 guitar. It is a small-scale guitar. It is a laminate back/sides guitar. That being said it sounds tremendous- much better than the sitka top in my opinion. It's good for- sitting in the recliner and fingerpicking, campfire moments, writing music on the back porch, serenading the family dogs as they look on in bewilderment. Here's what I wouldn't use it for- studio work and live performance. I wouldn't take my 816 to the lake for singalongs, and I wouldn't take my GS Mini to the studio to lay down final tracks on my next album.

Mike
from Cape Cod, MA
March 14, 2013Music Background:
Studio Musician, Recording Hobbyist

Just... FUN!

Great little guitar for the apartment, road, bonfire, studio... could really see it being used in a any number situations. Sounds great, looks and feels great. It's my first Taylor and I can say it lives up to the quality that I expect from this brand. Setup nice when it arrived thanks to Sweetwater tech's. Really just fun to play!

Randy
from New Hampshire
February 20, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany

The Taylor GS Mini is a nice smaller "travel" guitar. I am not so sure about the travel at least as far as air travel. The guitar is small enough and light enough that airlines should allow; however it is big enough to exceed carry on size so it is really up to the individual flight crew as to whether you will be allowed to carry it. If they do not allow it then you will be forced to check a guitar in a non-rigid case.

The case itself is pretty nice. It offers good protection, but I am not sure I would want it thrown around by baggage handlers. It is has backpack style straps for easy carrying. Carrying capacity is fairly limited, but it has a storage area for a couple song books and whatever you can squeeze inside.

The GS Mini Mahogany is pretty sweet. This is a very nice sounding small guitar with a big voice. I bought the Mahogany for its good looks and because I thought the sound might be a little less bright then the Sitka version. The finish is beautiful with an almost 3D holographic effect as you move the guitar the wood grain changes in the light. I am torn on the pick-guard. I don't have a pick-guard on my other guitars and I haven't had problems with scratching the top. The pick-guard is also a little sharp on the edges so you can feel it scratch on your fingertips at times. I think the pick-guard would be better as an option, but all Mini's have it.

The guitar is fun to play. The neck is a bit narrow, but plays easy once you adjust. The body when placed just right tilts the guitar gently so you can see the fretboard without any effort. This is a great guitar for strumming in first position. I wouldn't want to play a lot of barre chords on it. It uses medium strings so it is a little harder to play down the neck. I miss the cut-out on my larger guitars, but I would have the same issue on any other dreadnought-style guitar.

I am also a little disappointed about the ES-Go pick-up system because I have seen some videos and reviews which show it is a noisy system. I may have to consider another pick-up option, but that is not a true flaw of the guitar itself.

I would recommend the GS Mini Mahogany to anyone interested in a smaller guitar. I can see many people would be happy using a GS Mini as their only guitar because it is that good.

Todd
from Montreal
September 20, 2012Music Background:
hobbyist

Love the gs mini mahogany

Crisp resonant tone, very warm also, and great playability. I love the fact that Taylor is pushing the design envelope to produce such an affordable and great playing guitar. I also have the Taylor baby mahogany so I knew I'd be getting something I'd love.

Bob
from Colorado
January 17, 2013Music Background:
Novice

GS Mini

I am not an avid guitarist, but wanted something I could pack around and offer good, full sound. I have purchased a mini Martin and my daughter plays that, although I was not impressed with the sound as it offer a muted sound and she had some problems with the integrity of the construction. So, that said, based on the reviews and the web videos this sounded like it was a full sound for the size and Taylor quality would be better. It plays decent, but this too offers the muted sound and at the price and and being sligthly larger than the Mini Martin I was hoping to have a stronger, fuller sound, guess for the size it is nice, but not what I would have thought at this money. The frets are rough and although I did not expect a perfect guitar at the botton of the tier, this would not have taken but a little longer on the assembly cycle to have filed the fret ends down a bit more to smooth out the ends. The finish is nice and the action is consistent.