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thomasross20 · March 2018

Totally spur of the moment. First time out of the house in days due to the snow.

Took a trip to the guitar shop. I had in mind a Taylor GS Mini-e Koa and that was exactly the guitar staring me in the face as I walked up to the acoustic section! It was used and I got £50 off the quoted price. Sounds loud, not as good as the Larrivee but so much easier to carry to weekly acoustic jams in its small case. It's got elixir 13s on it and is a tad buzzy, just a tad. Might try 12s and I read some people like to change the tuners and maybe also the nut & saddle but will see about all that - I probably wont. Felt good, sounded, compact - deal done.

Let me know if you can't see the pic. I just too kit briefly on my phone - so busy...
The top and bottom have a colour tinge, I think it's just the wood.. and some markings on the ebony fingerboard which again is just the wood and give sit some character. Anyway, there you go. Didn't fancy paying the new prices (I was just saying this very day in another thread) so when I saw this exact guitar used staring me in the face I had to have it!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B59lkNr26fmlOXpzMzAwREREenlvOG5pTWFqQ0FEODBWSHdV

ICBM · March 2018

Looks nice! The streaking and odd colours in the top is just the wood, it's not exactly a "premium top"

.

If it's a bit buzzy with 13s you probably don't want 12s on it - due to the short scale length, it will play about 'one gauge lighter' than normal, and if you go down a gauge the neck will move backwards (at least without a truss rod adjustment) and it will probably get worse. You may want to put strings that don't sound like Elixirs on it though

.

Good to see you rediscovering some acoustic guitar love

.

thomasross20 · March 2018

I was thinking I like it a tad lighter action, like how I use 9.5s on the suhr I have. But yeah, it'd make it buzzier.

Actually aiming to do some acoustic stuff as a trio at some point. I did think about a high end acoustic but I think I'm ok with a "travel" guitar and the Larrivee until I become an acoustic legend

I always missed the portability of my little Martin - this should fill that hole!

AlexC · March 2018

I’m loving that. enjoy!

thomasross20 · March 2018

P.s. it's got the "old" pickup system with the three knobs. I was told that's better than the new one but I wasn't caring too much. Which is better, out of interest?

ICBM · March 2018

thomasross20 said:

P.s. it's got the "old" pickup system with the three knobs. I was told that's better than the new one but I wasn't caring too much. Which is better, out of interest?

Both have three knobs as far as I know, unless there's a different version in the GS Mini. The old (magnetic-based) ES is the one with reliability problems and an 'electric' tonality when you play on the plain strings around the 10th fret. The new version (piezo-based) is OK for reliability as far as I know, and sounds better - this one has three small black studs just behind the bridge saddle, so you can easily tell if it's this one.

Strat_a_tat_tat · March 2018

Nice work, @thomasross20 .

I've played a few of these and have been very impressed. I've gone through the range... spruce top with mahogany, spruce with rosewood, mahogany top, koa top... and the koa has always been my favourite.

thomasross20 · March 2018

Yes there are three black studs and three knobs on the bout of the guitar (the newer one seems to have a big plastic plate on the bout with a tuner on it, too, I think).

darcym · March 2018

these are exceptional value, I think you've made a great purchase.

thomasross20 · March 2018

Thanks, guys!
Koa was my fave..
I got it for £550. Whether that's too much or not, I'm not too bothered.

Fuengi · March 2018

Nice, fun guitar to have around.

Winny_Pooh · March 2018

I like mine with elixir 12's, where is yours buzzy? Perhaps the truss rod needs adjusting. Tuners and nut on mine are fine, I've only changed the saddle (better intonation but bone is tonally a bit hard sounding on mine, spruce top)

thomasross20 · March 2018

Honestly I'm not sure, I won't have a proper chance to hammer it for weeks, this was a total spur of the moment buy.
It wasn't on the website so I didn't expect to see that specific one so when I saw it used and it felt and sounded great I thought "this has to be..."

darcym · March 2018

thomasross20 said:

Honestly I'm not sure, I won't have a proper chance to hammer it for weeks, this was a total spur of the moment buy.
It wasn't on the website so I didn't expect to see that specific one so when I saw it used and it felt and sounded great I thought "this has to be..."

what more reason do you need, you went into a shop, didn't expect to see this, loved it, played it, bought it.

thomasross20 · March 2018

Damn right. Lol.
With the smaller body I notice it cuts into my strumming arm a bit more. 13s are defo a tad heavy... I think I'll go 12s and maybe get the saddle filed down a hair, we will see..

m_c · March 2018

Lovely top on that!

thomasross20 said:

Yes there are three black studs and three knobs on the bout of the guitar (the newer one seems to have a big plastic plate on the bout with a tuner on it, too, I think).

Looks like they've changed the pre-amp and added a tuner on the very latest ones.
I bought my GS Mini last year, and it's the ES2 system with three knobs around nearer the neck. The latest one still claims to be the ES2 pickup system, but only two knobs with a tuner.

Guitar_Slinger · March 2018

Good buy... a bit less spur of the moment if you knew about them anyway. More like "right place, right time."

Happy hammering, whenever that may be.

DiscoStu · March 2018

Nice one. Good to hear you're getting back in to things.

richardhomer · March 2018

Looks lovely. The one I had played very cleanly with 13s and the factory set-up. It may be that the truss rod needs loosening a touch. Given the weather we’re having, I’d let it settle for a while before messing with it. Taylor are usually masters at making highly playable acoustics.

Strat_a_tat_tat · March 2018

richardhomer said:

Looks lovely. The one I had played very cleanly with 13s and the factory set-up. It may be that the truss rod needs loosening a touch. Given the weather we’re having, I’d let it settle for a while before messing with it. Taylor are usually masters at making highly playable acoustics.

As Richard said... with the snow, the humidity has been very low. That could have affected the guitar (I guess dry air would lower the action at the bridge... as the guitar's natural 'belly' would lessen in dry conditions (assuming it's a solid top)... but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can give you more / better info)

TimmyO · March 2018

Really like the look and colour - nice one Tigger

thomasross20 · March 2018

I'll defo leave it for a while. I do tend to go one size slacker compared to most people. Maybe it's frail fingers or something.

Thanks, all!

sticker · March 2018

I have one exactly the same and it's taken it's place as my go to guitar . Lovely wee thing , nice GASsing Tom !

Strat_a_tat_tat · March 2018

thomasross20 said:

I'll defo leave it for a while. I do tend to go one size slacker compared to most people. Maybe it's frail fingers or something.

Thanks, all!

At your age????

What hope is there for the rest of us? :-)

jakzek · March 2018

Great choice, got one myself and it’s now my most played guitar, leave it downstairs by the sofa and always noodle away watching TV, really impressive sound given the size and lovely to play.

if you fancy trying some elixir 12-56 (light-medium) I’ve got some I can send over to you for a heavily discounted price as I accidentally bought them at the guitar show instead of 13’s!

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