Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Acoustic Guitar Review
When you’re looking for a guitar that gives excellent value for your money with high-quality sounds, then you should check out Taylor Guitars. Taylor Guitars is a pioneer in using the latest technologies to produce guitars with world-class sound. They are one of the top brands that use innovative manufacturing techniques and modern craftsmanship that has helped shape the new world of guitars today.
The company is headquartered in El Cajon, California, and became famous in 1996 for its Baby Taylor dreadnought guitars. Today, they are known worldwide for their guitars, which are great for children and travelers because they’re attractive, highly playable, well-built, and have outstanding sound quality.
About The Taylor GS Mini
Its guitars of Taylor are famous for bringing excellent sound quality, including its GS Mini. A couple of years ago, Bob Taylor, the head of the guitar-making company, decided to revisit their primary guitar model. He challenged himself and his team to develop a design with high-quality sound compact enough to be easily carried around.
After experimenting with his product developer, David Judd, with different variations of top thickness, Baby’s bracing, and all the other specifications, they focused themselves on the company’s Grand Symphony (GS) series of body shapes to capture the rich tone and solid bass of their guitars for their newest instrument. Thus, the latest release of the Taylor GS Mini that is just around $500.
Features Of Taylor GS Mini – Editor’s Review
Regarding the materials they use with their products, Taylor Guitars ensures that all their products will significantly contribute to their final output. To understand why the Taylor GS Mini is different from its competitors, here’s a quick run-through on all the materials used for the GS Mini.
Composition Of Taylor GS Mini
The materials and woods used to make every guitar different from the others. For the Taylor GS Mini, the fingerboard and bridge were made from genuine African ebony that produces a rich, ringing tone that’s best for people who prefer fingerstyle or slow to medium attack.
The back and sides are made from laminated Sapele, which gives a great sound with durability, affordability, and an appealing design. The top of the guitar is made from solid mahogany that compliments the overall quality of the guitar. It’s more on the midrange character and creates a well-balanced tone with the great overtone of the GS Mini.
The GS Mini has die-cast tuners that help stabilize the guitar’s tone. With this tuner, you don’t have to worry about your guitar getting out of tune because it can stay in tune for days, weeks, and even months.
The manufacturers chose to use the Elixir Phosphor bronze, medium gauge NanoWeb strings, which is great because it helps the guitar with its toning and quality of sounds. You’ll be able to hear all the strings play with perfect clarity. It’s a good combination with the chosen woods because even if you’re fingerpicking or strumming the GS Mini, you’ll be able to hear high-quality sounds that sound like a $1000 guitar.
- See Also: Does The Guitar Size Matter?
How Taylor GS Mini Looks
The Taylor GS Mini has one of those traditional looks of an acoustic guitar. Although, it’s slightly thinner compared to full-sized guitars, which are just 14 3/8” wide. Because of this size, it makes children and even adults feel comfortable playing this guitar even while they’re standing or sitting in a chair.
It has a nut width of 1 11/16” and a saddle of 2 ¼” string spacing. It’s essential to note that the GS Mini is equipped with the NuBone for its nuts and saddle that GraphTech created. The NuBone enhances the tone of the GS Mini, contributing to the guitar’s hardiness, appearance, workability, and overall performance.
Compared to other guitar brands that use plastic for their nuts and saddle, Taylor ensures that everything that they include in their guitars’ setup will contribute to the quality of the sound of it. That is why I really like their addition of these small things to their guitars.
How It Sound
When people talk about the GS series of Taylor Guitars, everybody remembers how powerful the sound quality of these guitars and this is also true with the GS Mini. Although it’s slightly smaller than your regular full-sized guitar, nothing can beat the GS Mini regarding sound and value in its price range.
Because of the grand symphony body shape, the woods, and the strings used, the Taylor GS Mini can match any player’s playing style. It can match every effort you make, whether strumming or fingerpicking, to the power of its volume.
When you strum softly or make a medium attack, it produces rich bass and bright trembles that everyone loves to hear. The best time to use the GS Mini is when you’re jamming with friends and family or practicing different chords and songs.
Personal Opinion About Taylor Gs Mini
When you’re looking for a guitar around $500 and want the best value for your money, I recommend you check out the Taylor GS Mini. Nothing can beat the GS Mini at its price range regarding durability, comfort, affordability, and sound quality.
The manufacturers chose excellent materials for this guitar and did it precisely. Because of the Grand Symphony’s body shape, it didn’t matter if the guitar was a little smaller since it could produce the same world-class quality as previous guitars of Taylor.
I’m genuinely impressed that the Taylor Guitars were able to choose more affordable materials for the GS Mini that didn’t lack the sound quality characteristics. Plus, they have installed top-notch materials on this guitar, like the NuBone for the nuts and saddle.
Comparing Taylor GS Mini Vs. Taylor BT2 Baby
Taylor Guitars are known for producing guitars that have world-class sound qualities. Although all of their guitars offer excellent quality with their materials, some are still better than others. When you’re looking for a great guitar under $500, there are the Taylor GS Mini and the Taylor BT2 Baby.
There’s no doubt that you’ve seen many reviews when looking for both of these guitars on the internet. Both are durable, made for beginners and travelers, and have excellent sound quality. But I recommend the GS Mini compared to the Baby.
I recommend the GS Mini because of its outstanding qualities. Not only is it just around the budget, but it’s also more compact compared to the Baby and has a fuller sound to it. Plus, the GS Mini is easier to carry around if you’re a frequent traveler.
Pros Of Taylor GS Mini
Although the GS Mini already sounds good to you by now, here are some quick pros about this guitar:
• The sound quality feels like you’re playing a full-sized guitar.
• Even though it’s smaller, it still feels comfortable to play, whether sitting or standing.
• The die-cast chrome enables the guitar to stay in tune for long periods.
• It’s very much affordable.
• The materials that were used are simple but durable.
Cons Of The Taylor GS Mini
Even though the GS Mini has a lot of pros, there are still some cons to this guitar. Here are some of the cons you’ll find:
• Some buyers complained that the GS Mini is poorly constructed.
Editor’s Rating Or Taylor Mini GS Review
The Taylor GS Mini is, doubt, a guitar to be reckoned with. Here are my ratings for the features of this guitar and its overall quality:
Conclusion
Taylor Guitars is undoubtedly one of the best companies that manufacture top of notch guitars. If you’re looking for an acoustic guitar for a beginner or would suit your traveling and jamming needs, then you should try the Taylor GS Mini.
For just under $500, you get a guitar made with careful planning and chosen from affordable but durable materials that help with the guitar’s overall tone. The Taylor GS Mini is a guitar that’s not only affordable but also durable, highly playable, and will shock you with a sound quality like a full-sized guitar.
The Taylor GS Mini has no drawbacks regarding sound quality and materials used. Although some people complained about the guitar’s construction, there are just one out of ten chances you’ll end up with that, mainly if you buy from a respected seller.
Thank you so much for enjoying my “Taylor GS Mini Review.” Please, comment below if you have any questions about that.
