Taylor GS Mini . . . The rumours are all true . .

maw4neu · March 2016

I've finally managed to buy a GS Mini and I can honestly say that the rumours are all 100% True . . . They are absolutely bloody amazing . . They sound amazing, feel amazing, play like a demon . . . Completely blown away . . I thought my 414 CE was good, and don't get me wrong it's really fucking good but in terms of value for money, these things are the mutts nuts . . . I paid £300 for it secondhand and it included the Taylor pickup which is pretty good too . . . Bob Taylor and his team have created a real gem . . Excellent . . .

richardhomer · March 2016

As I've said many times before, mine sits on a stand behind the sofa - I pick it up more than any other guitar I own.

Cirrus · March 2016

Aye, I've found mine a great songwriting tool in the last couple of years. It's just so comfy to slouch on a sofa with and noodle ideas, and the neck feels good for doing electric guitar style riffs which I find inspiring as that's usually what I'm writing for.

thomasross20 · March 2016

I have to disagree, sorry! Most Taylors I've tried (other than a very high-end nylon-strung one) don't play well for me. I find Martin superior, and prefer Larrivee over both! However, HNGD!

meltedbuzzbox · March 2016

thomasross20 said:

I have to disagree, sorry! Most Taylors I've tried (other than a very high-end nylon-strung one) don't play well for me. I find Martin superior, and prefer Larrivee over both! However, HNGD!

and that is how you piss on someones chips

richardhomer · March 2016

meltedbuzzbox;1009959" said:
and that is how you piss on someones chips

And the GS Mini has a satin neck too....

thomasross20 · March 2016

I did say sorry and wish him a hngd - apologies again though! Everybody's different, sounds like the OP had found a great guitar for him

maw4neu · March 2016

Each to his own . . . I just can't fault it though :-)

thomasross20 · March 2016

That's good man, glad you like it

Winny_Pooh · March 2016

It's a great songwriting and travel tool. mine gets played more than any other acoustic.

PC_Dave · March 2016

HNGD

I recently got a 114e and I adore it. The projection from the spruce top is fantastic. I'm thinking of getting a mahogany GS Mini as well.

WillEdmunds · March 2016

Yeah they're really fun little guitars. Great little travel guitar and for general situations when the Collings is too precious. Really handy for kids to learn on too and super playable!

musicman100 · April 2016

The neck on these just feels a bit cheap for my liking but they r decent little guitars

Gru · April 2016

Well it lasted two months, but yesterday I got another GS Mini. I had some regrets selling the previous Rw version, it has started opening up, felt great, sounded great, but I wasn't sure it was right for my only acoustic and sold it to purchase an OM, and then not surprisingly found that I don't take that anywhere.

I was very fortunate to receive a long time service award at work and have used it to purchase a std GS Mini. My first thoughts are it isn't as bright as the RW model I previously had, and I had certainly missed that Taylor wood smell.

Funnily, my wife has already asked if am going to sell the Martin (or should I say hinted). And at the moment that is not something I can answer. They are two very different guitars in feel and sound. I guess I will have to see which gets the most playing time. However, I wouldn't have the GS Mini as my only guitar, although in not sure that's what my wife meant.

thomasross20 · April 2016

@Gru. Wait so you had a GS Mini, sold it, bought a Martin OM (which one?) and now bought a GS Mini again?

I bought a Little Martin years ago. Played AMAZINGLY well. Loved the small nature, easy to play strings. Sounded flat, though. But I've got small hands and it was easy to play for me.

Bought a Larrivee OM-02 which sounds absolutely fantastic - all wood for about £800 at the time. However I do miss the smaller guitars... but would never get the same sound out of them. The B strings on Larrivees are special - they really ring out... like a 12-strong, almost! They have slightly flatter fingerboards so I may be making this up (or not) but I find barre chords a tad difficult at times.

I recently play the Little Martin again. I remember why I sold it. Doesn't sound anything like the Larrivee.

GS Mini felt solid enough but again didn't have that sound. The only Taylor I've loved was a 3k+ nylon string and it was "wow."

I don't like huge dreadnoughts.

I don't like gloop all over the body of an acoustic, either.

Nor do I like heavy string gauges. The Little Martin played like an electric!

I took the gauge on my Larrivee down from 12 to 11 and it plays better for me.

Ideally I'd like something smaller with Martin playability and Larrive sound, with a slightly curved fingerboard. Cutaway not completely essential. In-built (reliable) electrics a bonus.

Every time I go try an acoustic (actually rarely as I'm more an electric player, but I'm maturing....

) I come back, play the Larrivee and I'm wowed... Maybe I need a smaller version or need to practice my barre chords

Gru · April 2016

thomasross20;1052587" said:
@Gru. Wait so you had a GS Mini, sold it, bought a Martin OM (which one?) and now bought a GS Mini again?

I bought a Little Martin years ago. Played AMAZINGLY well. Loved the small nature, easy to play strings. Sounded flat, though. But I've got small hands and it was easy to play for me.

In a nut shell yes. I only play acoustic, but I think I am still learning what I like.

I've never been able to justify owning multiple expensive guitar, and tbh the ones I have now, in acoustic terms, are still not expensive, but having £1k+ tied up in guitars is a lot when I only play for fun/relaxation and up until now have only played a few acoustics over £500.

The Martin is a OMXAE, all hpl and strata bond (bar the bracing). It has a very mellow, smooth sound, can be played super quiet and still sound balanced. I like the nut width and string spacing. Some of the great things are that it sounds the same today as it did when I purchased it 2 months ago, no breaking in :-), not effected by humitidy and super solid construction.

I've owned a few small body guitars now. A Martin LXM, LX1e and GS Mini and as you said above, the Little Martins just sound a little flat

Why the GS Mini again? Firstly it didn't cost me anything :-). But since owning the OM, I haven't taken it anywhere. I have always taken smaller guitars places (in laws, holidays, sometimes work).

I also missed that brighter tone with its clarity. I always play by my fingers and it works really well for that, if I want to strum and get some more zing the GS Mini works great. At the moment I am going to have to pick it up a lot to break it in and remember how the RW version started to loosen up after a couple of weeks of constant playing.

I did think that I may struggle with the slimmer neck and string spacing, but no problems so far, maybe even a little easier to get my fingers around the neck.

As I said above, they are two very different sounding guitars. As time goes by, my taste for sound may develop and I may look at other options, but there is no denying that the GS Mini is a very good lounge guitar as well as a travel guitar.

thomasross20 · April 2016

I'll need to check this OMXAE...

I'd be interested to hear what you think of Larrivee's if you ever get the chance. OM2/L03 are under £1k and all-wood - within the budget you set. I do miss the size of my Little Martin - like you, I used to be able to take it everywhere quite easily.

I'm on the cusp of getting something more expensive or something like a GS Mini - unsure.

Winny_Pooh · April 2016

FWIW I haven't found better strings for mine than the Elixir Nanoweb 12's. Worth a try

BigLicks67 · May 2016

maw4neu said:

I've finally managed to buy a GS Mini and I can honestly say that the rumours are all 100% True . . . They are absolutely bloody amazing . . They sound amazing, feel amazing, play like a demon . . . Completely blown away . . I thought my 414 CE was good, and don't get me wrong it's really fucking good but in terms of value for money, these things are the mutts nuts . . . I paid £300 for it secondhand and it included the Taylor pickup which is pretty good too . . . Bob Taylor and his team have created a real gem . . Excellent . . .

Is this the same guitar that is now for sale in the Fretboard classifieds?

maw4neu · May 2016

BigLicks67 said:

maw4neu said:

I've finally managed to buy a GS Mini and I can honestly say that the rumours are all 100% True . . . They are absolutely bloody amazing . . They sound amazing, feel amazing, play like a demon . . . Completely blown away . . I thought my 414 CE was good, and don't get me wrong it's really fucking good but in terms of value for money, these things are the mutts nuts . . . I paid £300 for it secondhand and it included the Taylor pickup which is pretty good too . . . Bob Taylor and his team have created a real gem . . Excellent . . .

Is this the same guitar that is now for sale in the Fretboard classifieds?

Sadly yes . . . but Ive got the Taylor 414 CE and there's no way I'd part with it . . . I know I'll regret selling them but my SG and my GS Mini will have to make way for a 62 AVRI Stratocaster . . . If I had lots of money Id keep them all :-) but I haven't and I cant . . GAS takes no prisoners but GS Mini's are awesome guitars regardless of my GAS issues :-)

thomasross20 · May 2016

That was fast lol

maw4neu · May 2016

Life is fast . . . GAS is turbo fast . . What can I say, I'm a slave to gas and horrendously weak willed . .

thomasross20 · May 2016

Hertz32 · May 2016

I've loved the GS Mini since I first picked one up. I have a mahogany mini-e with the built in pickup that sounds phenomenal! Not had any reliability issues, and it's my only acoustic and definitely the guitar I reach for first.
I replaced the bridge pins with some brass ones and it's as good as anything I could hope for.

@thomasross20 you could borrow it for a few days if you'd like?

thomasross20 · May 2016

That's a nice offer!! Wait I forget, are you the nice chap that came to my gig at binkies, I forget...?

Hertz32 · May 2016

I am indeed!

thomasross20 · May 2016

Ah cool

Where abouts in town are you?

Maybe we could just have a jam one day - you could try my Larrivee or PRS or whatever too.

Hertz32 · May 2016

thomasross20;1075531" said:
Ah cool Where abouts in town are you? Maybe we could just have a jam one day - you could try my Larrivee or PRS or whatever too.

PM'd

sw67 · May 2016

I love my Taylor GS mini mahogany. I normally hate acoustic guitars and acoustic music but the band i am in wanted to do acoustic practice and also some acoustic versions of our current set ( covers ). I went into guitar guitar and tried nearly every guitar they had and it was the only one i could get on with. Tried the es - go pick up but it was crap so ordered a jjb pick up and some superglue - sounds fantastic through the pa.

Grunfeld · May 2016

Well, thanks to this thread and a few extra quid that came my way the other day I now have a big grin and a GS mini.
What a lovely little guitar!
Really difficult decision between the mahogany and the spruce -- both sounded great.

Hertz32 · May 2016

Nice 'un! Which did you go for? Hog or spruce?

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Taylor GS Mini . . . The rumours are all true . .

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