Replacing a GS Mini - What should I be looking for?

nanoman · July 2020

So, I have a Taylor GS Mini that looks and sounds great but i have never quite got on with the narrow neck and the string spacing, and it doesn't get played anywhere near enough as a result. What should I be looking for if I put it up for a trade?

I like the body size of the GS especially with the sound it produces. I wouldn't want to go too much bigger if at all. I guess ideally something similar body wise but with a wider fretboard. I quite like the thought of being able to plug in at some point so an electro-acoustic would definitely be considered.

Doesn't have to be too loud unplugged it will just be used for strumming along to stuff on the sofa.

Any ideas?

PS: I know this borders on a trade post and should maybe go in the classifieds but I really haven't touched any of my guitars in years (and haven't ventured out of off-topic as a result) so it's really just advice I'm looking for and not offers. If it's bending the rules, please move.

TimmyO · July 2020

Martin 00-17 or 00-17S - small body, normal neck, makes the GS Mini sound like a plinky box

nanoman · July 2020

They look great but unfortunately there is no top up funds. It's what I can sell or trade the Taylor for. I'm guessing budget brands will be my only options...

Redlester · July 2020

Alvarez do a line in ‘parlour’ acoustics, all under £500 it seems. I haven’t played one, but I heard one being played and was impressed. The lower bout is bigger than you’d expect, so they are probably more like a modified parlour shape, but they have that nice, punchy upper mid sound.

GuitarGuitar do them.

Winny_Pooh · July 2020

Depending on the woods and condition your GS will be worth £350-£400

Not played one but Faith make a parlour in that price range though it may not quite sound as good.

For a bit cheaper: https://m.thomann.de/gb/recording_king_rps_9p_ts_plus_single_0.htm

nanoman · July 2020

The Faith Naked Series Venus looks quite nice. Maybe a bit bigger than the Mini but could work for me. I'll check out the Alvarez range as well.

thermionic · July 2020

Eastman do an all-solid GS Mini equivalent for about £350 - worth looking to see what the neck/nut specs are.

GTC · July 2020

thermionic said:

Eastman do an all-solid GS Mini equivalent for about £350 - worth looking to see what the neck/nut specs are.

I've had an Eastman travel guitar and a GS Mini. The Eastman wins hands down - better tone and playability, all-solid woods, ebony fingerboard and terrific build quality. The £350 version is spruce/sapele without an electrics. I had the lefty spruce/ovangkol version with Fishman electrics which came in at around £500. Nut width is 1 11/16" with a 12" fretboard radius. I prefer wider fretboards but it felt very comfortable.

I also had a Faith Mercury parlour which I would say sits in between the two in terms of performance (i.e. better than the GS Mini).

I've had several Alvarez guitars. The earlier Masterworks ones were very good - but the later ones (particularly the all-Mahogany variants) were characterless.

Two which might be a bit above your budget - a Blueridge BR-341 (with wide 1 7/8" nut width) and a Terry Pack PJRS parlour (1 3/4" nut width) - which is the finest short-scale parlour I've come across, better than instruments costing several times more

Winny_Pooh · July 2020

GTC said:

thermionic said:

Eastman do an all-solid GS Mini equivalent for about £350 - worth looking to see what the neck/nut specs are.

I've had an Eastman travel guitar and a GS Mini. The Eastman wins hands down - better tone and playability, all-solid woods, ebony fingerboard and terrific build quality. The £350 version is spruce/sapele without an electrics. I had the lefty spruce/ovangkol version with Fishman electrics which came in at around £500. Nut width is 1 11/16" with a 12" fretboard radius. I prefer wider fretboards but it felt very comfortable.

I also had a Faith Mercury parlour which I would say sits in between the two in terms of performance (i.e. better than the GS Mini).

I've had several Alvarez guitars. The earlier Masterworks ones were very good - but the later ones (particularly the all-Mahogany variants) were characterless.

Two which might be a bit above your budget - a Blueridge BR-341 (with wide 1 7/8" nut width) and a Terry Pack PJRS parlour (1 3/4" nut width) - which is the finest short-scale parlour I've come across, better than instruments costing several times more

Good post, I forgot about Blueridge guitars, they make good stuff. Not played a bad Eastman yet but never tried an OM or smaller in person.

nanoman · July 2020

Thanks guys. Funnily enough I was just checking out some Eastman vids on RGuitars Youtube channel

[Edit] I do like the 'Classic' finish that they have as well. I know it's just a stain but love a slightly darker, matt look. Nut width on the travel guitar appears to be identical to the GS Mini though. Maybe the PCH1-OM would suit me better.

nanoman · July 2020

GTC said:

I've had an Eastman travel guitar and a GS Mini. The Eastman wins hands down - better tone and playability, all-solid woods, ebony fingerboard and terrific build quality. The £350 version is spruce/sapele without an electrics. I had the lefty spruce/ovangkol version with Fishman electrics which came in at around £500. Nut width is 1 11/16" with a 12" fretboard radius. I prefer wider fretboards but it felt very comfortable.

I also had a Faith Mercury parlour which I would say sits in between the two in terms of performance (i.e. better than the GS Mini).

I've had several Alvarez guitars. The earlier Masterworks ones were very good - but the later ones (particularly the all-Mahogany variants) were characterless.

Two which might be a bit above your budget - a Blueridge BR-341 (with wide 1 7/8" nut width) and a Terry Pack PJRS parlour (1 3/4" nut width) - which is the finest short-scale parlour I've come across, better than instruments costing several times more

The Blueridge and the Terry Pack are indeed out of budget, as lovely as they are.

I'm starting to err towards small body full scale guitars (with electrics as a nice to have but not essential by any means)

fandango · July 2020

Note Blueridge are one of twenty-odd brands made in China by Saga Musical Instruments.

Kilgore · July 2020

Guild M240E/240 Troubadour

Simon and Patrick Trek Natural Folk

Art and Lutherie Roadhouse Parlour.

There are a number of Breedlove models that might suit your needs.

I'm not specifically recommending them, it's just that they are brands that sometimes fly under the radar and may be worth a look.

Redlester · July 2020

@kilgore Great shout on the Guilds. The 140 and 240 look great. The one known colloquially in pickers’ circles as the ‘Nick Drake’ guitar always looked a beaut to my eyes.

It was on my list to try when I was on the hunt for a small bodied acoustic but I found one hard to track down.

I tried a couple of Blueridge 000 types a several years ago. Spruce tops and faux tortoisehell pickguards. Lovely things, but again the brand doesn’t crop up that often.

It might be worth people mentioning specific shops where they know these and other ‘under the radar’ models are stocked.

Whitecat · July 2020

+1 for Faith.
I would also consider a second-hand Yamaha LS6. It's a bit of a deeper body despite having smaller dimensions all-around otherwise though, but they sound great for the price.

Monkeybone · July 2020

nanoman said:

The Faith Naked Series Venus looks quite nice. Maybe a bit bigger than the Mini but could work for me. I'll check out the Alvarez range as well.

I part exchanged my GS Mini for a Faith Naked Venus, I couldn't be happier with it.

nanoman · July 2020

Whitecat said:

+1 for Faith.
I would also consider a second-hand Yamaha LS6. It's a bit of a deeper body despite having smaller dimensions all-around otherwise though, but they sound great for the price.

I was hoping for a Yamaha recomendation. I've always liked the electric guitars of theirs that i've tried and had a bit of envy at the LL thread in this section of the forum. I think if I go up in size it maybe wouldn't be depth though.

[Edit] That LS6 ticks a lot of boxes. Something is not quite clicking with me though.

nanoman · July 2020

Monkeybone said:

nanoman said:

The Faith Naked Series Venus looks quite nice. Maybe a bit bigger than the Mini but could work for me. I'll check out the Alvarez range as well.

I part exchanged my GS Mini for a Faith Naked Venus, I couldn't be happier with it.

If you don't mind me asking, what would the damage be on top of the part-ex? Mine is the vanilla GS mini in very good nick with padded gig-bag

Monkeybone · July 2020

nanoman said:

Monkeybone said:

nanoman said:

The Faith Naked Series Venus looks quite nice. Maybe a bit bigger than the Mini but could work for me. I'll check out the Alvarez range as well.

I part exchanged my GS Mini for a Faith Naked Venus, I couldn't be happier with it.

If you don't mind me asking, what would the damage be on top of the part-ex? Mine is the vanilla GS mini in very good nick with padded gig-bag

I actually can't remember, although I had upgraded the Taylor from being pure acoustic to having an LR Baggs Anthem SL pickup, so it wasn't a standard GS Mini.

danny_777 · July 2020

Brook. They are the absolute masters of small-bodied acoustic guitars. Pus everything is handmade in the UK.

nanoman · July 2020

The Brooks are definitely out of my price range. Nice though

enjo · July 2020

Loved my GS mini and haven't had anything that is quite the same since (sofa comfy travel guitar). However I just picked up a cheap guitalele and while it is pretty poorly finished, made cheaply and needs work to be playable... It scratches the itch for a guitar to pick up and noodle on next to my desk. I bought it for my 4yo but he isn't interested - I've played it quite a bit!
The one I bought is a gear4music one - not recommended unless you know how to fix problems with set up/poorly cut nuts/ installing side fret markers! Sounds OK though. With that and my Eastman OM I have all I need.

nanoman · July 2020

I really like the look of the Eastman PCH1-GACE or the non electro OM.

ToneControl · July 2020

the best sounding small steel-strung guitar I have ever played is my Avalon Ziricote & Redwood
Not boxy, and amazingly responsive

nanoman · July 2020

ToneControl said:

the best sounding small steel-strung guitar I have ever played is my Avalon Ziricote & Redwood
Not boxy, and amazingly responsive

I've just seen the pics on your thread about it. That is jaw droppingly stunning!

fandango · July 2020

nanoman said:

ToneControl said:

the best sounding small steel-strung guitar I have ever played is my Avalon Ziricote & Redwood
Not boxy, and amazingly responsive

I've just seen the pics on your thread about it. That is jaw droppingly stunning!

So are the prices. Not a guitar I'd be using for a pub gig, that's for sure.

nanoman · December 2020

Well I finally got round to selling the GS Mini and it's been replaced by an Eastman PCH GA-CE in the classic finish. Got a great deal from Forsyths over the Black Friday weekend. Stunning looking and sounding guitar. Hopefully this will kick start my playing again.

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Replacing a GS Mini - What should I be looking for?

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