Q&A: Travel-Size Guitar… Worth It, or a Waste? (Taylor GS Mini review, 3 years later)
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Every few months I get an email asking about my Taylor GS Mini, which I picked up back in summer 2020. Why do I (sometimes) use it? Is it good for traveling? Can it work as your only guitar? In this video I’ll answer all these questions, going in-depth on the various things I truly love about owning it.
I’ll also touch on some of the disadvantageous you’re due to run into with any shorter scale guitar. And for good measure, I’ll show how it compares to my full-size Taylor 310 (with measurements and audio samples included). To all of you who are wondering, I hope you find this helpful!
– 0:00 Intro & Quick Summary
– 1:14 Good for Travel?
– 3:04 Good for Main Guitar?
– 8:34 Good for Tough Songs?
– 12:59 Disadvantages
– 15:06 Close-Up & Size Comparison
– 17:21 Audio Comparison
#TravelSize #Guitar…Worth #Waste #Taylor #Mini #review #years
Originally posted by UCNN4Aacm_jhzjB8IdURvgyg at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW8HB4N0sEY
nobody can answer this for anyone else. you just have to go to the music store, play a bunch of guitars, and decide for yourself. the best guitar is the one YOU like. different people like different things.
Bigger guitar more mellow
Enjoyablity!!!
Guys get the Journey Rt is the best incredible sound Gs mini doesn’t sound and comfortable as Journey Rt – 410, Rt – 312
Can it be tuned in standard tuning?
I have the same Taylor Mini and it’s amazing – sounds loud and full.
Thank you very much. Can you please tell me how comfortable it is to play on it? I have a 114 Taylor in full size. It's a bit big. I'm thinking about the mini.
Is it easier and more comfortable to play than the full size? I mean chord progressions etc. I play at home just for myself, for my soul, for my wife. So I'm more interested in how much easier it is to play on it compared to a big instrument.
Can you tell me the difference between the Taylor Baby guitar and the Taylor Mini. I want to purchase the smallest guitar I can find! Does one of these have a different size of body? Thank you
I am a beginner and recently purchased a Fender CP-60S parlor (24.74" scale). I'm a petite person with small hands. I can manage a 4 fret stretch but not without flattening out my fingers and muting strings. I'm so tempted to go to a smaller scale but don't want to handicap myself in the future should I outgrow the 23.5" scale.
My GS mini is my favourite guitar, above my 317e & Maton
I have a 114e… it's okay I'm glad i got one but its miles below the 2 and 3
Great video! It was quite helpful for me as I’m looking to pick up playing again after so many years and the GS mini checks all of my needs. Keep up the great work!
Very helpful review, Im in the market for a travel guitar
Seems like an expensive option for just playing at home
Adore my Mini GS! My only acoustic, and it's perfect for a dad guitarist where music doesn't pay the bills. $550 used? No brainer. I'm only 5'7" with medium sized hands, and my 9 year old daughter can play it without a dreadnought drowning her.
Funny, traveler guitars are huge guitars for me. I’m a very small guy. 5 feet tall. Guitaleles are the perfect guitars for me.
https://youtu.be/WUoZ4-DTMhs?si=bCQIlPRsQYpWJf-d
Yamaha CSF TA (transacoustic) is better.
Would 000 martin be close in size to a gs mini?
To me, it sounded like the non-wound/plain strings sound brighter in your bigger guitar. I'd classify your particular mini as mellow. (I wonder how much that has to do with the difference in choice of wood and grain too.) The wound strings on the mini certainly seemed broad enough from a miked standpoint. I guess the difference is best heard live in the room without mics. Still your mini-e sounds awesome!
That’s the year of the weasel the cigar to the ashtray I left in oxfam
Hi has that Taylor Mini GS…got a nice Warm Sound ?? Thank You ☘️
Though I am not a Taylor fan I do own an academy 12 love the sound it provides and comfort ability .
The original GS Mini version made of sitka/sapele is louder than this Koa version.
My Taylor mini Mahogany is coming to me this week!!
Hi I got a baby Taylor guitar I’ve been playing all my life on normal size but my baby Taylor is like playing a different instrument all together ????????
What gauge strings are you using? Taylor ships with 13's (and so does HB – cheaper!). I much prefer 11's – otherways the sound is too dark. It's also more difficult to play. OK, you lose volume, but that's not what a mini is for.
your Taylor mini is a stunning beauty
Best video, answered all my questions, thanx so much. BTW you look like nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic. Keep rocking
I've owned two GS Mini's, there is nothing quit like them in their price range. Just so well built, the sound great and they come with a great gig bag… However, know that they put medium gauge strings on the GS Mini at the factory for a reason. Regardless how much you adjust the neck relief, light gauge strings don't provide good tension to move the top on these and bring out their richness. They are designed to get optimal tone with medium strings. Full size Taylor models, like most guitars, do fine on light gauge strings and even ship with them, but GS Mini's just take a bigger hit in tone if you go there. For that reason, I don't think they are a great beginner guitar, but more a good traveler for a seasoned player…. The Taylor Academy series is great for beginners, Martin's D-JR and 000-JR both great guitars for beginners (and great travelers). My other issue with the GS Mini is how sensitive I've found its neck joint to be. The reason I got rid of my last one was the number of times I had to get the neck reset. If you're truly traveling with these guitars they can end up getting left in a hot car for 30-45 minutes spans while you're taking a break on the road, etc… do that even a few times a week and you end up needing an authorized Taylor tech to give the guitar a neck reset. This is something covered under warranty for the life time of the guitar, but you'll have to find a Taylor tech to do it. I never had this problem with my Martin 000-JR so that's why I eventually just sold the GS Mini and kept the 000-JR.
Hi I have an Epiphone J-15 EC Deluxe dreadnought but I feel it's too big for me I have smaller hands changing frets chords is really difficult is the Taylor mini a good choice for smaller hands I'm a beginner only been playing 3 weeks cheers
for many people the gs mini might be a great first nice guitar. for me it feels like it could be my last ???? i have a 2016 koa so it has the full es-2 pickup system. got it second hand early 2024 and it’s been my main guitar ever since. busking, gigging, chilling on the couch, waiting for pasta water to boil, you name it. i don’t think i will ever really need another guitar for any live purposes. i can play it for hours, it’s light, comfortable, easy to play, easy to carry, it’s rugged and it was a great deal. it may get some proper 18/1 tuners for the holidays. ❤
Great video!
A company called SKB makes a specific crush proof airline car for the GS mini. I have the 2014 Koa mini and my son has a rosewood mini
Just got a Yamaha fg jr to keep in my work truck ! Fixin to play it now at lunch!
I have a lefthand Taylor Gs mini Mahogany and absolutely love it
Anyone know what strap that is at 2:55?
Enjoy you, but some advice: don't answer questions you can't answer. Kinda meandering. Come to your points.
Thanks for the video. You mention the sound isn't as full on the mini but if you plug it in will you get a fuller sound?
thinking of getting a gs mini for travel – will it fit in airplane overhead bin if in a soft case?