Paula--you are the GOAT! I was just going to comment that they should do this. It's much easier to A-B the models back and forth with the the direct links. Perfect!
Just picked up a used GS mini mahogany and I can't put it down. Literally picked it up on a whim while playing a number of acoustics at my local music store, only came in for strings and ended up buying it. My first guitar was a mahogany Gibson LG 0 that my folks got me in 1975, and I absolutely loved that guitar. Unfortunately it was stolen many years ago, and when I first picked up the mini it reminded me so much of my old Gibson. The mini is a joy to play and the sound is unbelievable. Holds up to my full size Epiphone in volume and has a warmer tone. Amazing that such a small guitar can produce so much sound.
I just bought the Koa plus as my 1st guitar and didnt even know what the heck i was buying lol..I just picked it up and felt good in my hands and also looked good..
I got the edge burst in all mahogany and a great tip is to replace the plastic bridge pins of any model GS Mini with Tusq bridge pins and it lifts the sparkle and openness of an already excellent guitar to another level!
I believe the sound of the Mahagony is the way it is balanced nicely for this sized guitar. I ended up buying it and it is superbly made and sounds great. Any of these will not boom like a full-sized dreadnaught, which then I prefer spruce tops.
I`ve had my Mahogany for 9 years now and LOVE it. I ordered me a new one with upgraded electronics with a built in tuner. It should be here at any moment.
I bought a Taylor 714CE V-Class last year, after checking out the entire Taylor full-size lineup. And I thought this is the perfect guitar for me. Two months later I bought the GS Mini Koa Plus, and since then I play it more often than the 714CE, because the Mini is so much fun and easy to play. And it looks gorgeous too.
I wish they had a Koa Plus without the sunburst, as well as a spruce-top with the sunburst! Koa is a beautiful wood, and while the sunburst is awesome, the center is quite dark already, and the beauty of the wood is lost. At the same time, a spruce would look amazing with the sunburst. In any case I just bought an Eastman E1OM, so maybe it's good that they don't make my dream Koa Plus (yet).
I just got this guitar today. Walked in, was weirdly the first one I picked up and loved it. I actually tried the one with the electronics in it, but the regular one sounded way better. The electronic version sounded less full. I got the mahogany one. It sounds so big and full! I played about 30 guitars today and kept going right back to this one cuz it sounded so much better than all the other smaller guitars. I wanted a couch guitar and I think I found it.
I bought a GS mini Koa just shy of a year ago. I have been very pleased with how nice it sounds. And I feel it’s getting better with time. I read a lot of opinions on the Koa wood. I saw no reason to spend the extra money on the Plus for travel, but admit it’s also a nice look. It can be hit or miss with the basic koa so hand pick yours if you can. One thing to note: the basic koa will get a bit darker with time. I often let mine watch the sun rise and know the sun will darken it somewhat. I love how mine has mellowed in both tone and looks! I travel in a camper a lot and needed a smaller size guitar that would hold up to the environments it would be in. I also keep a Hygrometer and a D’Addario Humidipak in the case when it’s traveling with me. I will rarely plug in but on occasions will, so the ES-B is just fine in MHO. I do appreciate the tuner with it. Bottom line, if I had the choice for a do over, I’d make the same choice. I’m very happy with my Koa and playing the guitar is the biggest joy.
Thing about a Hygrometer and the Humidipacks is that a Hygrometer only tells you what the humidity is, it does not change humidity. The Humidipacks are good if you have excess humidity as they suck that up, however, if your humidity is under 45%, they do more harm than good. And while a Hygrometer tells you the humidity, you need other things to fix the humidity (Humidifier, Humidipacks) if it is not at the correct levels. And perhaps more importantly, you need to know what the conditions are throughout the day and night. The more swings you have, the more problems you will have with the guitar at some point.
Sound wise, I prefer the spruce. I love the range in it's tone, also I think the koa sound just a bit more "ringy" or "twangy". The koas are beautiful! The mahogany really does offer its own sound! For me it's between the spruce and mahogany 👍💯
I've owned several GS Minis, and while the Koa is beautiful, I always found them too bright and sort of 'toy guitar' sounding. I have found the Mahogany models to be the fullest sounding.
@@emhezmfe wow i was looking to buying one of these wasnt even paying attention to that it does sound really bright im definitely gonna go with mahogany or rosewood
Thank you so much for this and all your great videos! I just bought a GS mini Koa Plus! On the basis of this video I thought it would be close between the rosewood and the koa plus, but in real life there was no contest. My local guitar shop had 3 koa plus guitars, and I chose one that stood out from the other 2 with a lovely rich sound!! Cannot believe what a huge yet complex and mellow sound it has for such a little guitar. I'm in the process of selling my 2 vintage Martins, coming back into playing after 30 years, and I find I am a Taylor convert! So much easier to play. Your videos have been a tremendous help to me.
I own 3 Taylor’s, including gs mini Koa, but none of them are anything special. When I think of Taylor’s, I think of utility, durability, and consistency…but also, boring, generic, and no character. When you say you’re a “Taylor convert” this is me:🙄🤦🏼♂️🥱haha! So hear me out, before you dedicate yourself to being a “Taylor Guy”, I have to warn you…don’t do it man! Taylor guys are the absolute worse! When I think of Taylor guy, my first thought is “worship guy”…SMFH, aka “youth group leader” aka “child predator guy”…or the other Taylor guy, the ones I see in the local music store, finger picking the $4500 Taylor as if he’s preforming at a NYC Symphony…while the middle age snobby store owner, also a “Taylor guy”, hovers over him, about to have an orgasm as they give eachother feedback on amazing harmonics on the Taylor are, and the subtle differences of the tonewoods…(I’m the guy standing at counter, trying to buy set of exliers, but being completely ignored) Anyways, I’m getting off topic here, my point I’m originally trying to make, but got distracted by my strong dislike of Taylor fanboys, is that if you are just getting back into guitars, after many years, and you are selling your 2 “vintage Martins”….because you played a Taylor mini GS and it blew your mind??? Ok, I have so many questions….do you hate Vince Gill by chance. lol. Vintage Martins don’t musically inspire you, but an assembly line mass produced cookie cutter Taylor does? That just weird. I by no means, am a guitar brand expert, but I do own a lot of guitars, both acoustic and electric. My butterscotch 50’s reissue Telecaster is really the only electric guitar I ever use. It’s the perfect guitar, and it was under $1k. When it comes to acoustic guitars, my Taylor GS mini koa is the guitar I pick up and play everyday. It’s the guitar I keep out on a stand by my couch…it’s not my favorite guitar, not even close, but it’s the perfect everyday guitar, because it’s small, it’s easy to play, and it actually sounds really good. Also, it’s made well, and it’s not going to be affected by humidity and temp changes. And I don’t care if it gets banged up to shit. At $1000 it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s the cheapest guitar i have that i would actually still play. My first guitar was a Taylor 110e, a big dreadnaught I paid $600 for, and it served me very well for a long time. I break it once in a while, but never really use it. My other Taylor is a 12 string, I forget what it is, but I think it was like $1500. And while I don’t play it too often, when I do I’m always very impressed with it. But when it comes to acoustic guitars, I’m a Gibson guy. My first was a J-15, and its got spruce top, and walnut back and sides. It’s my most beloved guitar, something just very special about it, everyone who plays its, is blown away, it’s just one of those things about Gibson acoustic guitars, every once in a while, they’ll make an exceptional guitar that, for unknown reasons, is just magical. Now, my J-15 was cheap as far as Gibsons acoustic go, it was $1600 bucks I think. I also have a LG-02 50’s reissue. Now, if you like Taylor Mini GS, then the Lg-2 will blow your mind. I mean, it’s an amazing guitar, it’s small bodied but is big big sounding. Amazing guitar, my go to guitar for recording or playing with group. Great great guitar. They run 2500 to 3000k, but worth every penny. I also have Eric Church signature Gibson Hummingbird. Now, the funny thing about that guitar, is that it’s insanely expensive, like we’re talking $6k…but is it worth it? Fuck no it’s not worth it. 😂 But it’s an iconic guitar. The Gibson hummingbird guitar is an iconic guitar, it’s the rock stars acoustic guitar. Mine is even more bad-ass, it’s painted black. Im sure it’s worth quite a bit more than $6k now though, which while I’ll probably never sell it, was my reasoning behind buying. I’ve actually only played it couple times, it’s nothing special. My girlfriend has a Collin’s I bought her, that was $4500, and that guitar is worth every penny, not only is it a work of art as far as craftsmanship, it plays and sounds amazing. But, nothing plays and sounds like my J-15, that guitar is just special. I highly recommend trying out some Gibson acoustics, the J45 and J-15 are reasonably priced, and if you try few out, you can find a really special one, and then you can call yourself a “Gibson Guy” 💪😃😝 cheers mate, good luck with guitar playing 😎
@@jsmoker10man I just want a guitar around $500 max so I can learn guitar but it’s still not complete shit. I’m not a hardcore guitar guy I’m just a noob that wants something moderately decent. I want to learn guitar cause I have way too much time scrolling on social media, don’t have a girlfriend. I would much rather watch video tutorials and learn a new skill rather then scroll for 3-4 hours a day. Idk about all that what you said, but if the guitar community is like you, it’s very off putting and idek if I want to anymore if people will judge me for having a cheap Taylor
I have the GS Mini Koa plus. My other two main guitars are a Martin J-40 and a Martin 000-SM. The GS more than holds its own and is the one I can sit down on the couch with and play scales and licks while I watch tv. I’ve read several pros say they use these on stage and I can see why. Get one with a pickup. Sounds just great through an acoustic amp. Great review An unbelievable bargain.
The quality of these comparison videos are astounding! Out of the bunch, the Koa Plus is definitely my favorite! Might have to get one! Great playing Chris!
@@acshaw80 Hey Adam! Sorry for the late response, brother! Yes; I do still love it! It’s the only guitar of mine that I keep in standard tuning and it plays significantly well. I made a few modifications: I swapped the tuners out for gold ones & I got abalone bridge pins. Looks good & it plays good. If you’re still considering I highly recommend it!
I picked up a Koa Plus from these guys at Alamo Music Center in San Antonio, Texas a few months back. Great service, very knowledgeable, and very helpful. I upgraded from the Koa-E - best decision I could’ve made. Highly recommend. It’s all based on preference, but as a full-time musician (gigging 7 times a week), the Koa Plus is my go-to guitar every time. Playability and tone is unmatched, especially in its price range. Give Alamo Music Center a call and pick up a GS Mini as soon as you can, you won’t regret it!
Preferred the Spruce/Rosewood, but, I’m a singer where almost every guitar I’ve ever played with that combination went the best with my voice/vocal range over any other wood combination as most singers prefer, but not written standard however. Nothing wrong with the others at all though. Great job capturing all the tones! Would’ve liked to hear them plugged in as well for gigging performers though 😬
These are great guitars, especially after you become acclimated to the sound. It’s comforting and unique. It plays amazingly well, despite its size. I’ve bought and sold/traded four of them over the years. One day you’ll pick up a dreadnaught again and realize what you’ve been missing. At least that’s what happened to me. Good couch and travel guitars though, but I’d still rather play a full size acoustic on the couch and traveling. Every time I carried the case in public someone would say “HEY GS MINI!” so that was cool.
I like definitely like the koa plus the most, best sound over all and beautiful design. However, where I live it'll cost you an extra 500 euros. The Mahogany is only 600, so from a price perspective the mahogany wins hands down. If money isn't a problem, koa plus.
I bought a GS Mini mahogany last summer and I love it. The store I bought it at in CT had several models and I thought it sounded the best. To my ears the spruce and walnut ones in the store had a little too much high end to them. But they are all great and to each his or her own.
@@andrewfeliciano9107 New Canaan Music. Great little store downtown with lots of great acoustics & electrics in all price ranges. Would be a great place to try a few models.
I have a 214ce Grand Auditorium which I love!! But I would like to get a mini as well at some point. “Taylor” in my opinion, makes some of the finest acoustic guitars on the planet!
I bought my gs mini after watching your past videos and it was/is everything I need! I have small hands and it’s sooooo perfect! I play it nonstop. I honestly want it in other models especially the Koa.
Literally buying a GS mini tomorrow. Alamo Music really has perfect timing 😂 That rosewood is what I think I'm gonna go for. Love the look of rosewood and love the sound of that spurce top. That thing can really sing. 😍
A great add-on available for the ES-2 system is TaylorSense, with an app that reports humidity levels and other conditions, including impact so you'll know the time that your guitar may have received damage. I always use a headstock tuner, even with the ES-B equipped Academy 12e and after 2+ years the ES-B system is at last showing "O-L" when I switch on the tuner (low battery, I think, but I'll see how long it takes to completely discharge the CR-2032 batteries). Having matured as a "boonie rat" I always carry spare batteries along (for the Snark tuners, strings, and... more mileage). The descriptions of tone differences provided by Chris and Cooper are very helpful, since the compression applied by UA-cam reduces those differences. We have noted those differences between our PA, monitor and livestream UA-cam mixes with church services. That is a struggle... I'm leaning toward the GT K21e or a Songwriter as a bucket list item... Thanks!
Exactly what I heard, Koa is top for me too because match the warmth tonality and compression of mahogany with a good percentage (not at all) presence and brilliance of sitka. Nice video guys 👍🏻🙂
I have played several and chose the all mahogany....the spruce topped model is louder, but the overtones seem to get in the way of itself and has that tinny jangle. I also believe the hog and koa models accompany the voice better IMO.
Just pulled the trigger on the GS Mini Koa Plus and could not be happier. I prefer not having a tuner on the guitar as well. Next up is the AD27E Flametop. Also, and you all did not mention it, but, the Koa models do not come with a pick guard which I appreciate considering the wood. A pick guard over the beautiful Koa would hide some of that beauty. I have to give Taylor props for thinking of that.
I love the review of the Taylor GS mini , I am 70 years old and want a guitar that I can grow with and when I pass , I can pass on to my grandson who is the real talented guitar player from the school of rock
It’s hard not to be biased when it’s not blind, but to me I heard: mahogany was compressed and overall muddy with no “air” in between the strings; the spruce surprisingly had nice clear highs while the koa surprisingly had nice clear lows; the koa plus combined the best of the spruce and koa.
Great demo, guys. The four models truly do sound different, but all of them sound great. I purchased a limited edition GS Mini with a spruce top and quilted Sapele back and sides from Alamo Music Center about three weeks ago, and it sounds different from the four in this demo, too. It is incredibly fun to play, has a surprising full sound and is now, of the six guitars I own, the one I reach for the most often.
I'm planning to buy a Taylor GS Mini Rosewood, but I've been interested on a Martin 000jr too, however I prefer the Taylor This is great help guys, thank you
Well, it took almost a year and a half from the date of this video, but I finally got my daughter the GS-e mini Koa Plus. 8-3-22 Thank you Chris & Cooper and salesman Richard. I have been wanting to get this for her for a long time.
I love my koa plus and bought it to use as a travel guitar but it is so beautiful I might hesitate to travel with it. The aero case is very nice. It is a great sounding guitar and beautiful.
The Koa Plus also has Taylor branded 18:1 tuners which most reviews don't mention. Since all GS Mini's are solid top and laminate back and sides you wouldn't expect much difference between them sound wise but some models are very much different than others. I have 8 different GS Mini models and they are all slightly different sounding but a couple more noticeably different. Currently the Ovangkol LTD is my favorite all around sounding. Mahogany sounds great, and Rosewood sounds great. The only production model I'm missing is the Walnut.
Do you have the Ko plus? Sadly the demo video plays the Mahogany with a pick while the Koa plus is played with fingers, so it's hard to tell which sounds better. I like the warmth and balance of the Mahogany but I just can't tell if the warmth and balance is maintained with the Koa plus. The comparison on the video doesn't help in that regard.
I have the Koa plus model, and I absolutely love it! You’re right, Chris, it has a tone that is somewhat like mahogany but with a bit more brightness. It is somewhere between the hog and the spruce-topped sapele models. As for the burst finish of the Koa plus model, I am not a fan of the mat finish. I think it fails to accentuate the natural beauty of the wood. Simply put, a burnished or bright finish on the wood brings out its beauty by leaps and bounds. I rubbed out the finish on my Koa plus to a semi-gloss finish, and the results are stunning! The burst finish on the koa is so much more beautiful than with the original mat finish. The color and grain of the wood is beautiful. It isn’t high gloss, but it is just glossy enough to bring out the best coloring of the burst and the beautiful grain of the koa. It is similar to a French polish finish. It looks like an entirely different guitar. Gorgeous! Yes, Chris, I too am shallow! 🤣
The spruce top sounds the most percussive and touch responsive for light finger style playing. For tender finger style, it sounds best. For other things, its a a bit too boomy and nasal sounding. The Koa plus sounded dull, like the strings were old and word out. However, some of the notes are more complex and rich, like with a more expensive guitar. Perhaps in a different set of hands, it might show better. The mahogany had very little boom and boxiness. It let more of the mid tones through and more balance. Probably the best for pairing with vocals. It's slightly more compressed and therefore a tiny bit more forgiving if your right hand gets a little too loose . It lacked a little brightness from the high strings so not a great for awesome soloing featuring the guitar as a full range concert musical instrument. The Koa is very interesting, but I think it has to be in the hands of a very disciplined player to bring out it's potential. Very pretty and promising, but not that friendly (a little stuck up).
These are Great Guitars. I have a Rosewood which I detune to Eb, and a Koa which is in standard. They're the most versatile Acoustic Guitars I have played, particularly the Koa Version. The Larger Guitars have been demoted to the bedroom.
I just gave one a test drive yesterday at our local Guitar Center. Your RIGHT when you say it has a bigger sound, then you would expect from a smaller size guitar. It sounds amazing! It actually doesn’t sound much different than the 214 CE that I already own! Very nice guitar. I might actually consider buying one. Thanks for the video. 👍
Hahaha! So at 0:42 Chris says it’s time to go over some mini-Coopers…. These two are educational and fun to watch. Based on their reviews I went with the e-Koa after finding a left-handed model at deep discount.
The spruce by a mile. The other woods all have some kind of scooped mids thing going on, which is superficially appealing but IME falls flat in a mix or in an ensemble. You just end up with woofy inaudible low end mush and a brushy noise from the pick strokes. The spruce has tone focused in the right place.
What a great video! Such a huge help as I’m new to the guitar world! After lots of research & listening to your demo’s it’s just a matter of which one..?! They’re all beautiful in their own right, however, I’m definitely swaying towards the Mahogany. Lovely warmth & dynamics. 👌🎶
Just added a Mahogany to my lefty lineup. I really like it a lot. It has the ES-Go pickup which is just ok. I have an AD-27E Flametop and a 114 CE beater. At some point, I'd like to get a GS Mini with the ES2. Thanks for a nice comparison guys!
I love my fall limited koa GS Mini, but I increasingly felt like I needed more from the guitar than it could deliver. Still a wonderful guitar for what it is and I will never get rid of it.
I initially had a koa with the es 2 pickup system. The koa sounded very nice but didn’t project as much as I wanted. I sold it and later bought the rosewood with spruce top. More projection and I liked the built in tuner. I can’t hear a big difference in the pickup systems. Regardless, the GS Mini’s are great guitars.
After listening, from bright crisp sound to warmer tones: spruce, koa plus, koa, mahogany. I’m more of a warmer tone person, Mahogany is a great choice. But the Koa also has that balance between warmth and bright tones so I think I’m torn between these two. But what would be the best choice when playing in an open venue or like in the beach?
I’m really not a fan of the burst finish on the koa plus. Everything else about it is superb and if I could get a “natural” Gs mini koa plus, I’d tell Taylor to shut up and take my money! Very nice video as always, Chris & Cooper!
I love the video it really did help me decide which GS Mini to get. I would also love it if y'all would do a video like this for the Baby Taylors, spruce, mahogany and koa.
You made them all sound great but the one that didn’t sound anything like I expected was the Spruce. I expected it to sound thinner than the others but it sounded rich and full. That and the Koa Plus for me.
very helpful and detailed comparisons of the gs mini series. Was having trouble to choose between Mahogany or Rosewood but im 100% sure I want to get the Rosewood, its just better sounding for me. The tone is sharper and clearer which I was hoping to get from. Thanks for making this video !!!!
You guys just sold me a Koa plus. As a blessed enough traveling musician in 2021 I couldn't find a better option. It fits in the airplane's hand baggage compartment and it seems to be the best travel guitar with built-in electric system.
I thought both koa models would sound the same but I was surprised when I heard the Koa Plus, there was just something about it, like it was more natural sounding or something, It was the best sounding of this bunch., although I don't like paint on acoustic guitars so I think the regular Koa model looks better, just personal taste I guess. BTW, I own the Mahogany version and I love it. I like Mahogany and Koa better for this small guitar, though in this demo, the spruce sounded quite well, maybe because of the chosen songs, but in person (when I played them at the store) It was not my favourite of the family.
As always, excellent review! I was looking for a decent sofa/travel guitar for songwriting; simple and affordable were my requirements. The GS Mini naturally caught my eye. I purchased the Mini-e Koa Plus model a month ago. I have to say honestly that I was not impressed. In fact, I was disappointed. The sound didn’t have the life I expected - certainly less than what I was expecting. The dark finish also hides the koa’s natural beauty. The koa did look to be of better quality than the plain koa’s I’ve seen though. All else was quite nice. I returned it and purchased the rosewood model without electronics. Quite frankly, it sounded significantly better than the koa did for $400 less. Admittedly, the tuning pegs aren’t as nice on the rosewood and I’m replacing them with better Taylor pegs. Also, the finish quality of the spruce top is a 3 out of 10 as it has significant planer tear out and minor voids all over. The headstock wood laminate is paper thin. Disappointing. However, it’s a sofa and travel guitar to me and not a performance guitar. If you want to perform, the mini-e koa plus is an easy choice with the better pickups. Either way, the GS Mini will work for what you want despite being far from Taylor’s best quality work even amongst their 200 series guitars. The GS Mini is clearly a minimum requirements guitar and priced accordingly, yet still not inexpensive. I still find it useful and convenient; it’s acceptable for my purposes. I’m sure many other guitars out there are better choices for less money, but you need to be realistic about what you’re getting when you buy the GS Mini. I have 4 Taylor guitars. I’ll stick with the brand, but honestly find the GS Mini lacking in several ways despite its popularity.
Martin 000-15 sm is said to be the No.1 songwriter guitar (mahagony). Joan Baez has, I think, a 0042. But Bob Marley had a cheap japanese built Guild and wrote amazing songs. Rock musicians favour Gibson (Emerson, Lake and Palmer/ Everly Brothers, Cat Stevens). Too big for me. Susan Vega sticks to Furch (sounds like in a cathedral). I miss my Takamine; it fell to pieces (dry air at work and many different kinds of wood). Greetings from Germany.
@@lebe220 Greetings! I actually even sent back my GS mini. It simply wasn’t fun to play. Barre chords are easy but the small scale makes a simple A a painful adventure. I recently purchased a Furch Red. OMG! I’ve never heard a more musical guitar! You’re perfectly right about it’s sound. Yes, dry air is a killer. It’s been a constant challenge this year filling humidifiers. Enjoy your instruments! 😋
I got my Gs mini koa with the Es2 pickup. Taylor recently downgraded the koa to have the Esb pickup and then readded the es2 pickup to the koa plus and added 200$ to the price and were like “brand new!” When in reality they purposefully downgraded the original koa just so they could jack the price up on the plus.
I like the Koa the most, then the Mahogany, then the Spruce. I really don't like a spruce top with steel strings, but I do like spruce with nylon strings.
7:56 I have heard that another difference is the tuners, with the Koa Plus having 18:1 Taylor nickel and the other minis having 14:1 Pings. If true, seems like a nice, functional upgrade that does not get mentioned.
Just place my order for a gs mini in koa last night, you gotta quit selling me guitars Chris 😂 you sold me on my 714ce with the lutz spruce top and now I need something smaller and less worrisome to take on the road with me. First time buying from the Alamo since it’s a far poke from Texas to WV but I figure you guys will set me up nicely.
Demo time stamps:
12:48 mahogany 15:48
13:32 rosewood 16:47
14:16 koa 17:48
15:01 koa plus 18:48
Thank you
@@woodandmetal3107 no problem!
@@jujufisherofmen np!
Paula--you are the GOAT! I was just going to comment that they should do this. It's much easier to A-B the models back and forth with the the direct links. Perfect!
@@Marty48034 No problem! And I agree, they should add the time stamps for each guitar, it's much easier to hear the differences.
Just picked up a used GS mini mahogany and I can't put it down. Literally picked it up on a whim while playing a number of acoustics at my local music store, only came in for strings and ended up buying it. My first guitar was a mahogany Gibson LG 0 that my folks got me in 1975, and I absolutely loved that guitar. Unfortunately it was stolen many years ago, and when I first picked up the mini it reminded me so much of my old Gibson. The mini is a joy to play and the sound is unbelievable. Holds up to my full size Epiphone in volume and has a warmer tone. Amazing that such a small guitar can produce so much sound.
Just picked up a 10 year old mahogany yesterday from a pawn shop.
Guy had no idea what he was selling.
Can't put it down.
I just bought the Koa plus as my 1st guitar and didnt even know what the heck i was buying lol..I just picked it up and felt good in my hands and also looked good..
Good choice
I got the edge burst in all mahogany and a great tip is to replace the plastic bridge pins of any model GS Mini with Tusq bridge pins and it lifts the sparkle and openness of an already excellent guitar to another level!
I believe the sound of the Mahagony is the way it is balanced nicely for this sized guitar. I ended up buying it and it is superbly made and sounds great. Any of these will not boom like a full-sized dreadnaught, which then I prefer spruce tops.
The Taylor 214CE-K is phenomenal. Spruce top and Koa sides and back with a mahogany neck… one of the best acoustics I’ve ever played
I`ve had my Mahogany for 9 years now and LOVE it. I ordered me a new one with upgraded electronics with a built in tuner. It should be here at any moment.
You should have spent the money on a top range pick up in your original gs now that the wood has matured.
I realize this post is 2 yrs. old..but you are me right now....can't wait til Friday
Picked up a Mahogany today. The universe is telling me something. Loving it so far.
I own the mahogany one. Its gorgeous and I love it's mellow tone. Best travel guitar in terms of sound and portability.
It sounds more crisp (higher tones) which I love. Koa has a more muffled bass tone compared.
I have one too. I won't ever need to buy another acoustic guitar. I love it. Feels great. Sounds great. Comfortable to hold. And it's beautiful.
The GS mini Koa plus also has upgraded tuners.
I bought a Taylor 714CE V-Class last year, after checking out the entire Taylor full-size lineup. And I thought this is the perfect guitar for me. Two months later I bought the GS Mini Koa Plus, and since then I play it more often than the 714CE, because the Mini is so much fun and easy to play. And it looks gorgeous too.
If you have short fat fingers will the mini work?
@@seanarmao7385 Yes, i dont have the koa model, but im poorly skilled with small fat hands and i like the gs mini still. Use it more than my 214ce.
I feel your pain. Spent 2 grand on a 326 CE and while it is an amazing guitar, I just feel more drawn to my gs mini koa.
I wish they had a Koa Plus without the sunburst, as well as a spruce-top with the sunburst! Koa is a beautiful wood, and while the sunburst is awesome, the center is quite dark already, and the beauty of the wood is lost. At the same time, a spruce would look amazing with the sunburst. In any case I just bought an Eastman E1OM, so maybe it's good that they don't make my dream Koa Plus (yet).
I've never cared what a guitar looks like. Sound good and people will love your guitar. Sound like shit and they won't. =)
100% agree with you. Which is why I'll probably get the regular Koa and use a pre-amp (LR Baggs or ToneBone)
I agree too..... the Koa doesnt need edgeburst cover up and its mean to be naked showing the natural grain 🤣😂
Yeah why did they sunburst the koa… at least they didn’t put a pick guard on it
That’s why I just bought the Koa, that burst on the plus just doesn’t sit with me. But I also think that Koa sounds the best all around
I just got this guitar today. Walked in, was weirdly the first one I picked up and loved it. I actually tried the one with the electronics in it, but the regular one sounded way better. The electronic version sounded less full. I got the mahogany one. It sounds so big and full! I played about 30 guitars today and kept going right back to this one cuz it sounded so much better than all the other smaller guitars. I wanted a couch guitar and I think I found it.
I bought a GS mini Koa just shy of a year ago. I have been very pleased with how nice it sounds. And I feel it’s getting better with time. I read a lot of opinions on the Koa wood. I saw no reason to spend the extra money on the Plus for travel, but admit it’s also a nice look. It can be hit or miss with the basic koa so hand pick yours if you can. One thing to note: the basic koa will get a bit darker with time. I often let mine watch the sun rise and know the sun will darken it somewhat. I love how mine has mellowed in both tone and looks! I travel in a camper a lot and needed a smaller size guitar that would hold up to the environments it would be in. I also keep a Hygrometer and a D’Addario Humidipak in the case when it’s traveling with me. I will rarely plug in but on occasions will, so the ES-B is just fine in MHO. I do appreciate the tuner with it. Bottom line, if I had the choice for a do over, I’d make the same choice. I’m very happy with my Koa and playing the guitar is the biggest joy.
Thing about a Hygrometer and the Humidipacks is that a Hygrometer only tells you what the humidity is, it does not change humidity. The Humidipacks are good if you have excess humidity as they suck that up, however, if your humidity is under 45%, they do more harm than good. And while a Hygrometer tells you the humidity, you need other things to fix the humidity (Humidifier, Humidipacks) if it is not at the correct levels. And perhaps more importantly, you need to know what the conditions are throughout the day and night. The more swings you have, the more problems you will have with the guitar at some point.
Sound wise, I prefer the spruce. I love the range in it's tone, also I think the koa
sound just a bit more "ringy" or "twangy". The koas are beautiful! The mahogany really does offer its own sound! For me it's between the spruce and mahogany 👍💯
Which one is the spruce? I don’t see it listed
@@reycastro1873
Light colored top.
I've owned several GS Minis, and while the Koa is beautiful, I always found them too bright and sort of 'toy guitar' sounding. I have found the Mahogany models to be the fullest sounding.
@@emhezmfe wow i was looking to buying one of these wasnt even paying attention to that it does sound really bright im definitely gonna go with mahogany or rosewood
Thank you so much for this and all your great videos! I just bought a GS mini Koa Plus! On the basis of this video I thought it would be close between the rosewood and the koa plus, but in real life there was no contest. My local guitar shop had 3 koa plus guitars, and I chose one that stood out from the other 2 with a lovely rich sound!! Cannot believe what a huge yet complex and mellow sound it has for such a little guitar. I'm in the process of selling my 2 vintage Martins, coming back into playing after 30 years, and I find I am a Taylor convert! So much easier to play. Your videos have been a tremendous help to me.
I own 3 Taylor’s, including gs mini Koa, but none of them are anything special. When I think of Taylor’s, I think of utility, durability, and consistency…but also, boring, generic, and no character. When you say you’re a “Taylor convert” this is me:🙄🤦🏼♂️🥱haha! So hear me out, before you dedicate yourself to being a “Taylor Guy”, I have to warn you…don’t do it man! Taylor guys are the absolute worse! When I think of Taylor guy, my first thought is “worship guy”…SMFH, aka “youth group leader” aka “child predator guy”…or the other Taylor guy, the ones I see in the local music store, finger picking the $4500 Taylor as if he’s preforming at a NYC Symphony…while the middle age snobby store owner, also a “Taylor guy”, hovers over him, about to have an orgasm as they give eachother feedback on amazing harmonics on the Taylor are, and the subtle differences of the tonewoods…(I’m the guy standing at counter, trying to buy set of exliers, but being completely ignored)
Anyways, I’m getting off topic here, my point I’m originally trying to make, but got distracted by my strong dislike of Taylor fanboys, is that if you are just getting back into guitars, after many years, and you are selling your 2 “vintage Martins”….because you played a Taylor mini GS and it blew your mind??? Ok, I have so many questions….do you hate Vince Gill by chance. lol. Vintage Martins don’t musically inspire you, but an assembly line mass produced cookie cutter Taylor does? That just weird. I by no means, am a guitar brand expert, but I do own a lot of guitars, both acoustic and electric. My butterscotch 50’s reissue Telecaster is really the only electric guitar I ever use. It’s the perfect guitar, and it was under $1k. When it comes to acoustic guitars, my Taylor GS mini koa is the guitar I pick up and play everyday. It’s the guitar I keep out on a stand by my couch…it’s not my favorite guitar, not even close, but it’s the perfect everyday guitar, because it’s small, it’s easy to play, and it actually sounds really good. Also, it’s made well, and it’s not going to be affected by humidity and temp changes. And I don’t care if it gets banged up to shit. At $1000 it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s the cheapest guitar i have that i would actually still play. My first guitar was a Taylor 110e, a big dreadnaught I paid $600 for, and it served me very well for a long time. I break it once in a while, but never really use it. My other Taylor is a 12 string, I forget what it is, but I think it was like $1500. And while I don’t play it too often, when I do I’m always very impressed with it. But when it comes to acoustic guitars, I’m a Gibson guy. My first was a J-15, and its got spruce top, and walnut back and sides. It’s my most beloved guitar, something just very special about it, everyone who plays its, is blown away, it’s just one of those things about Gibson acoustic guitars, every once in a while, they’ll make an exceptional guitar that, for unknown reasons, is just magical. Now, my J-15 was cheap as far as Gibsons acoustic go, it was $1600 bucks I think. I also have a LG-02 50’s reissue. Now, if you like Taylor Mini GS, then the Lg-2 will blow your mind. I mean, it’s an amazing guitar, it’s small bodied but is big big sounding. Amazing guitar, my go to guitar for recording or playing with group. Great great guitar. They run 2500 to 3000k, but worth every penny. I also have Eric Church signature Gibson Hummingbird. Now, the funny thing about that guitar, is that it’s insanely expensive, like we’re talking $6k…but is it worth it? Fuck no it’s not worth it. 😂 But it’s an iconic guitar. The Gibson hummingbird guitar is an iconic guitar, it’s the rock stars acoustic guitar. Mine is even more bad-ass, it’s painted black. Im sure it’s worth quite a bit more than $6k now though, which while I’ll probably never sell it, was my reasoning behind buying. I’ve actually only played it couple times, it’s nothing special. My girlfriend has a Collin’s I bought her, that was $4500, and that guitar is worth every penny, not only is it a work of art as far as craftsmanship, it plays and sounds amazing. But, nothing plays and sounds like my J-15, that guitar is just special. I highly recommend trying out some Gibson acoustics, the J45 and J-15 are reasonably priced, and if you try few out, you can find a really special one, and then you can call yourself a “Gibson Guy” 💪😃😝 cheers mate, good luck with guitar playing 😎
@@jsmoker10man I just want a guitar around $500 max so I can learn guitar but it’s still not complete shit. I’m not a hardcore guitar guy I’m just a noob that wants something moderately decent. I want to learn guitar cause I have way too much time scrolling on social media, don’t have a girlfriend. I would much rather watch video tutorials and learn a new skill rather then scroll for 3-4 hours a day. Idk about all that what you said, but if the guitar community is like you, it’s very off putting and idek if I want to anymore if people will judge me for having a cheap Taylor
@@jsmoker10why so long?
The dynamic range and depth of the koa plus is phenomenonal
0:42 i love how neither of them acknowledge that Chris just referred to the GS Mini as “Mini Coopers”.
I have the GS Mini Koa plus. My other two main guitars are a Martin J-40 and a Martin 000-SM. The GS more than holds its own and is the one I can sit down on the couch with and play scales and licks while I watch tv. I’ve read several pros say they use these on stage and I can see why. Get one with a pickup. Sounds just great through an acoustic amp. Great review An unbelievable bargain.
The quality of these comparison videos are astounding! Out of the bunch, the Koa Plus is definitely my favorite! Might have to get one! Great playing Chris!
Update: I’ve gotten one and I love it!
Still loving it? Trying to decide myself
@@acshaw80 Hey Adam! Sorry for the late response, brother! Yes; I do still love it! It’s the only guitar of mine that I keep in standard tuning and it plays significantly well. I made a few modifications: I swapped the tuners out for gold ones & I got abalone bridge pins. Looks good & it plays good. If you’re still considering I highly recommend it!
"So how many GS mini videos do you want?"
Chris: YES
I’M confused i don’t what kind of guitar i need to that’s baby taylor or gs mini😔
I picked up a Koa Plus from these guys at Alamo Music Center in San Antonio, Texas a few months back. Great service, very knowledgeable, and very helpful. I upgraded from the Koa-E - best decision I could’ve made. Highly recommend. It’s all based on preference, but as a full-time musician (gigging 7 times a week), the Koa Plus is my go-to guitar every time. Playability and tone is unmatched, especially in its price range. Give Alamo Music Center a call and pick up a GS Mini as soon as you can, you won’t regret it!
Preferred the Spruce/Rosewood, but, I’m a singer where almost every guitar I’ve ever played with that combination went the best with my voice/vocal range over any other wood combination as most singers prefer, but not written standard however. Nothing wrong with the others at all though. Great job capturing all the tones! Would’ve liked to hear them plugged in as well for gigging performers though 😬
Also koa plus has better tuning machines
What I think Taylor should have done in the plus model is to put ebony pins instead of plastic...
the koa plus is really in a league of its own
These are great guitars, especially after you become acclimated to the sound. It’s comforting and unique. It plays amazingly well, despite its size. I’ve bought and sold/traded four of them over the years. One day you’ll pick up a dreadnaught again and realize what you’ve been missing. At least that’s what happened to me. Good couch and travel guitars though, but I’d still rather play a full size acoustic on the couch and traveling. Every time I carried the case in public someone would say “HEY GS MINI!” so that was cool.
To my ears, the spruce is my favorite.
I like definitely like the koa plus the most, best sound over all and beautiful design. However, where I live it'll cost you an extra 500 euros. The Mahogany is only 600, so from a price perspective the mahogany wins hands down. If money isn't a problem, koa plus.
I have two, a mahogany and a rosewood. They are great guitars. Comfortable to play and a sound that is way bigger than their size.
I bought a GS Mini mahogany last summer and I love it. The store I bought it at in CT had several models and I thought it sounded the best. To my ears the spruce and walnut ones in the store had a little too much high end to them. But they are all great and to each his or her own.
If you don't mind me asking, which store did you go to? I'm in CT as well and shopping around for mini acoustics like these.
@@andrewfeliciano9107 New Canaan Music. Great little store downtown with lots of great acoustics & electrics in all price ranges. Would be a great place to try a few models.
@@rockturtleneck Awesome, I'll definitely be giving them a visit. Thanks!
I have a 214ce Grand Auditorium which I love!! But I would like to get a mini as well at some point. “Taylor” in my opinion, makes some of the finest acoustic guitars on the planet!
I bought my gs mini after watching your past videos and it was/is everything I need! I have small hands and it’s sooooo perfect! I play it nonstop. I honestly want it in other models especially the Koa.
Which one did you get?
Love my GS Mini mahogany so much. It's my go to guitar for anyday. Great review BTW, these GS Mini videos are awesome. Keep it up!
Literally buying a GS mini tomorrow. Alamo Music really has perfect timing 😂 That rosewood is what I think I'm gonna go for. Love the look of rosewood and love the sound of that spurce top. That thing can really sing. 😍
A great add-on available for the ES-2 system is TaylorSense, with an app that reports humidity levels and other conditions, including impact so you'll know the time that your guitar may have received damage. I always use a headstock tuner, even with the ES-B equipped Academy 12e and after 2+ years the ES-B system is at last showing "O-L" when I switch on the tuner (low battery, I think, but I'll see how long it takes to completely discharge the CR-2032 batteries). Having matured as a "boonie rat" I always carry spare batteries along (for the Snark tuners, strings, and... more mileage).
The descriptions of tone differences provided by Chris and Cooper are very helpful, since the compression applied by UA-cam reduces those differences. We have noted those differences between our PA, monitor and livestream UA-cam mixes with church services. That is a struggle... I'm leaning toward the GT K21e or a Songwriter as a bucket list item... Thanks!
Just got the Mahogany one yesterday ! Love it 😍 Crazy how loud it is !
I have one too. I absolutely love it.
Exactly what I heard, Koa is top for me too because match the warmth tonality and compression of mahogany with a good percentage (not at all) presence and brilliance of sitka. Nice video guys 👍🏻🙂
I have played several and chose the all mahogany....the spruce topped model is louder, but the overtones seem to get in the way of itself and has that tinny jangle. I also believe the hog and koa models accompany the voice better IMO.
Just pulled the trigger on the GS Mini Koa Plus and could not be happier. I prefer not having a tuner on the guitar as well. Next up is the AD27E Flametop. Also, and you all did not mention it, but, the Koa models do not come with a pick guard which I appreciate considering the wood. A pick guard over the beautiful Koa would hide some of that beauty. I have to give Taylor props for thinking of that.
I would be interested in the Spruce, but heck they all sound great! I thank you both for the Review and enjoyed the podcast.
Just bought a Koa Plus. Love it so far!
I love the review of the Taylor GS mini , I am 70 years old and want a guitar that I can grow with and when I pass , I can pass on to my grandson who is the real talented guitar player from the school of rock
It’s hard not to be biased when it’s not blind, but to me I heard: mahogany was compressed and overall muddy with no “air” in between the strings; the spruce surprisingly had nice clear highs while the koa surprisingly had nice clear lows; the koa plus combined the best of the spruce and koa.
Great demo, guys. The four models truly do sound different, but all of them sound great. I purchased a limited edition GS Mini with a spruce top and quilted Sapele back and sides from Alamo Music Center about three weeks ago, and it sounds different from the four in this demo, too. It is incredibly fun to play, has a surprising full sound and is now, of the six guitars I own, the one I reach for the most often.
I'm planning to buy a Taylor GS Mini Rosewood, but I've been interested on a Martin 000jr too, however I prefer the Taylor
This is great help guys, thank you
I bought koa plus a month ago. It's so amazing. Recommend you strongly!!! Just buy it!!!
Well, it took almost a year and a half from the date of this video, but I finally got my daughter the GS-e mini Koa Plus. 8-3-22 Thank you Chris & Cooper and salesman Richard. I have been wanting to get this for her for a long time.
I love my koa plus and bought it to use as a travel guitar but it is so beautiful I might hesitate to travel with it. The aero case is very nice. It is a great sounding guitar and beautiful.
The Koa Plus also has Taylor branded 18:1 tuners which most reviews don't mention. Since all GS Mini's are solid top and laminate back and sides you wouldn't expect much difference between them sound wise but some models are very much different than others. I have 8 different GS Mini models and they are all slightly different sounding but a couple more noticeably different. Currently the Ovangkol LTD is my favorite all around sounding. Mahogany sounds great, and Rosewood sounds great. The only production model I'm missing is the Walnut.
Do you have the Ko plus?
Sadly the demo video plays the Mahogany with a pick while the Koa plus is played with fingers, so it's hard to tell which sounds better.
I like the warmth and balance of the Mahogany but I just can't tell if the warmth and balance is maintained with the Koa plus.
The comparison on the video doesn't help in that regard.
You have 8 GS Mini's?!
Have you considered therapy?
@@NoLefTurnUnStoned. lol
Got a gs mini koa plus and had to check it at the gate thrice.That aero case held up like a champ
Koa Plus, because it’s pretty, and I’m shallow. And I share Chris’ assessment of its response and tone.
By the way, I just watched this a second time because I’m trying to master that quiet tune Chris plays in every demo ever.
I have the Koa plus model, and I absolutely love it! You’re right, Chris, it has a tone that is somewhat like mahogany but with a bit more brightness. It is somewhere between the hog and the spruce-topped sapele models. As for the burst finish of the Koa plus model, I am not a fan of the mat finish. I think it fails to accentuate the natural beauty of the wood. Simply put, a burnished or bright finish on the wood brings out its beauty by leaps and bounds. I rubbed out the finish on my Koa plus to a semi-gloss finish, and the results are stunning! The burst finish on the koa is so much more beautiful than with the original mat finish. The color and grain of the wood is beautiful. It isn’t high gloss, but it is just glossy enough to bring out the best coloring of the burst and the beautiful grain of the koa. It is similar to a French polish finish. It looks like an entirely different guitar. Gorgeous! Yes, Chris, I too am shallow! 🤣
Interesting, how did you buff it to a semi gloss?
How did you make it glossy? Please get back to me! 😊
The spruce top sounds the most percussive and touch responsive for light finger style playing. For tender finger style, it sounds best. For other things, its a a bit too boomy and nasal sounding. The Koa plus sounded dull, like the strings were old and word out. However, some of the notes are more complex and rich, like with a more expensive guitar. Perhaps in a different set of hands, it might show better. The mahogany had very little boom and boxiness. It let more of the mid tones through and more balance. Probably the best for pairing with vocals. It's slightly more compressed and therefore a tiny bit more forgiving if your right hand gets a little too loose . It lacked a little brightness from the high strings so not a great for awesome soloing featuring the guitar as a full range concert musical instrument. The Koa is very interesting, but I think it has to be in the hands of a very disciplined player to bring out it's potential. Very pretty and promising, but not that friendly (a little stuck up).
These are Great Guitars. I have a Rosewood which I detune to Eb, and a Koa which is in standard. They're the most versatile Acoustic Guitars I have played, particularly the Koa Version. The Larger Guitars have been demoted to the bedroom.
Did you just detune it or did it require more adjustment to sound as good in Eb? What do you se as the biggest difference between koa and rose?
I just gave one a test drive yesterday at our local Guitar Center. Your RIGHT when you say it has a bigger sound, then you would expect from a smaller size guitar. It sounds amazing! It actually doesn’t sound much different than the 214 CE that I already own! Very nice guitar. I might actually consider buying one. Thanks for the video. 👍
Bought the koa plus and it’s stunning 🤩 sounds even better plugged in! Just wow!!
Does it sound warm plugged in or a lot of treble?
@@douglasboyd8475 warmer sounds stunning plugged in
Great review! Honestly, they all sound REALLY amazing to me. I own a koa plus but would be happy with any of the others.
Rosewood sound the best to me, bright and airy but bass is still prominent for that warmth sound.
Hahaha! So at 0:42 Chris says it’s time to go over some mini-Coopers…. These two are educational and fun to watch. Based on their reviews I went with the e-Koa after finding a left-handed model at deep discount.
Had mahogany, sold it for a rosewood. But in this clip i like mahogany the most .
The spruce by a mile. The other woods all have some kind of scooped mids thing going on, which is superficially appealing but IME falls flat in a mix or in an ensemble. You just end up with woofy inaudible low end mush and a brushy noise from the pick strokes. The spruce has tone focused in the right place.
they sounded so similar its hard to believe they are even different types of wood!
What a great video! Such a huge help as I’m new to the guitar world! After lots of research & listening to your demo’s it’s just a matter of which one..?! They’re all beautiful in their own right, however, I’m definitely swaying towards the Mahogany. Lovely warmth & dynamics. 👌🎶
I prefer the look of the koa plus and the koa. My question as a beginner is which model is better suited for blues? I do not plan on ever gigging.
Just added a Mahogany to my lefty lineup. I really like it a lot. It has the ES-Go pickup which is just ok. I have an AD-27E Flametop and a 114 CE beater. At some point, I'd like to get a GS Mini with the ES2. Thanks for a nice comparison guys!
I have a GS Mini Koa headed to Grandchildren. The Plus sounds nicer but the GT 811e is speaking to me more.
Cooper had kind of a look when Chris said "mini Coopers" at 42 seconds into the video.
My brain stalled when he said that, as I was thinking I missed some kind of inside joke there. Lol
Hello guys, thanks for the demo! It was so super helpful. I got a GS MINI-E KOA Shaded and I love it! I got it today for my birthday next month LOL
I owned a 2010 mini Cooper
😂😂😂
I love my fall limited koa GS Mini, but I increasingly felt like I needed more from the guitar than it could deliver. Still a wonderful guitar for what it is and I will never get rid of it.
I initially had a koa with the es 2 pickup system. The koa sounded very nice but didn’t project as much as I wanted. I sold it and later bought the rosewood with spruce top. More projection and I liked the built in tuner. I can’t hear a big difference in the pickup systems. Regardless, the GS Mini’s are great guitars.
Koa is the most beautiful but Mahogany is faaar ahead if we talk about tone and sound.
Completely subjective.......I prefer the Koa.
I love the looks of spruce and warmth of mahagony.
Excellent review, guys! The KOA Plus is music to my ears.
Best sounding acoustic I’ve ever played tbh
After listening, from bright crisp sound to warmer tones: spruce, koa plus, koa, mahogany. I’m more of a warmer tone person, Mahogany is a great choice. But the Koa also has that balance between warmth and bright tones so I think I’m torn between these two. But what would be the best choice when playing in an open venue or like in the beach?
I’m really not a fan of the burst finish on the koa plus. Everything else about it is superb and if I could get a “natural” Gs mini koa plus, I’d tell Taylor to shut up and take my money! Very nice video as always, Chris & Cooper!
My favorite is definitely the koa
I love the video it really did help me decide which GS Mini to get. I would also love it if y'all would do a video like this for the Baby Taylors, spruce, mahogany and koa.
I love the Mini-e Mahogany. I for one think the tuner is awesome, accurate, and incredibly convenient.
I want to buy the mini-e mahogany too, what do you think about preamp ES-B? Plugged
@@marcoblancomusic I sometimes plug it into my Roland JC-40 and it sounds fine. 😀
Taylor GS Mini vs. Yamaha FS850, who wins?
You made them all sound great but the one that didn’t sound anything like I expected was the Spruce. I expected it to sound thinner than the others but it sounded rich and full. That and the Koa Plus for me.
The koa looks gorgeous 😍
very helpful and detailed comparisons of the gs mini series. Was having trouble to choose between Mahogany or Rosewood but im 100% sure I want to get the Rosewood, its just better sounding for me. The tone is sharper and clearer which I was hoping to get from. Thanks for making this video !!!!
What rosewood?
Mahogany, Spruce and 2 Koa's
You guys just sold me a Koa plus. As a blessed enough traveling musician in 2021 I couldn't find a better option. It fits in the airplane's hand baggage compartment and it seems to be the best travel guitar with built-in electric system.
I thought both koa models would sound the same but I was surprised when I heard the Koa Plus, there was just something about it, like it was more natural sounding or something, It was the best sounding of this bunch., although I don't like paint on acoustic guitars so I think the regular Koa model looks better, just personal taste I guess. BTW, I own the Mahogany version and I love it. I like Mahogany and Koa better for this small guitar, though in this demo, the spruce sounded quite well, maybe because of the chosen songs, but in person (when I played them at the store) It was not my favourite of the family.
What is the name of the song of the minute 15:47 ?
Chris should make a video highlighting all of his original demo songs on all his favorite guitars
As always, excellent review! I was looking for a decent sofa/travel guitar for songwriting; simple and affordable were my requirements. The GS Mini naturally caught my eye. I purchased the Mini-e Koa Plus model a month ago. I have to say honestly that I was not impressed. In fact, I was disappointed. The sound didn’t have the life I expected - certainly less than what I was expecting. The dark finish also hides the koa’s natural beauty. The koa did look to be of better quality than the plain koa’s I’ve seen though. All else was quite nice.
I returned it and purchased the rosewood model without electronics. Quite frankly, it sounded significantly better than the koa did for $400 less. Admittedly, the tuning pegs aren’t as nice on the rosewood and I’m replacing them with better Taylor pegs. Also, the finish quality of the spruce top is a 3 out of 10 as it has significant planer tear out and minor voids all over. The headstock wood laminate is paper thin. Disappointing. However, it’s a sofa and travel guitar to me and not a performance guitar. If you want to perform, the mini-e koa plus is an easy choice with the better pickups. Either way, the GS Mini will work for what you want despite being far from Taylor’s best quality work even amongst their 200 series guitars.
The GS Mini is clearly a minimum requirements guitar and priced accordingly, yet still not inexpensive. I still find it useful and convenient; it’s acceptable for my purposes. I’m sure many other guitars out there are better choices for less money, but you need to be realistic about what you’re getting when you buy the GS Mini. I have 4 Taylor guitars. I’ll stick with the brand, but honestly find the GS Mini lacking in several ways despite its popularity.
Martin 000-15 sm is said to be the No.1 songwriter guitar (mahagony). Joan Baez has, I think, a 0042. But Bob Marley had a cheap japanese built Guild and wrote amazing songs. Rock musicians favour Gibson (Emerson, Lake and Palmer/ Everly Brothers, Cat Stevens). Too big for me. Susan Vega sticks to Furch (sounds like in a cathedral). I miss my Takamine; it fell to pieces (dry air at work and many different kinds of wood). Greetings from Germany.
@@lebe220 Greetings! I actually even sent back my GS mini. It simply wasn’t fun to play. Barre chords are easy but the small scale makes a simple A a painful adventure. I recently purchased a Furch Red. OMG! I’ve never heard a more musical guitar! You’re perfectly right about it’s sound. Yes, dry air is a killer. It’s been a constant challenge this year filling humidifiers. Enjoy your instruments! 😋
Just played them all. And bought a koa! It sounds great for blues!!
I got my Gs mini koa with the Es2 pickup. Taylor recently downgraded the koa to have the Esb pickup and then readded the es2 pickup to the koa plus and added 200$ to the price and were like “brand new!” When in reality they purposefully downgraded the original koa just so they could jack the price up on the plus.
Damn I wish I would of bought one a year ago
I like the Koa the most, then the Mahogany, then the Spruce. I really don't like a spruce top with steel strings, but I do like spruce with nylon strings.
I sold my 322ce because I like my mini mahogany more. That says it all.
what wood is tougher and holds better for longer? i mean vs high humidity/low humidity and such.
this was very helpful. Decided on Mahogany.
I sold my GS Mini-e Walnut, to upgrade to a 214 Deluxe. I've regretted it everyday since.
I just sold my Walnut as well. I had bought the GT. If I was ever going to cry over a guitar, it would be my Walnut.
I like the mahogany one best
7:56 I have heard that another difference is the tuners, with the Koa Plus having 18:1 Taylor nickel and the other minis having 14:1 Pings. If true, seems like a nice, functional upgrade that does not get mentioned.
I know this has been asked houndred times, but... Does Andy Powers finally lift the secret around the TABs for this Song?
I have a Mahogany and it sounds great, fuller than the Spruce. I have both.
Just place my order for a gs mini in koa last night, you gotta quit selling me guitars Chris 😂 you sold me on my 714ce with the lutz spruce top and now I need something smaller and less worrisome to take on the road with me. First time buying from the Alamo since it’s a far poke from Texas to WV but I figure you guys will set me up nicely.
i just bought my gs mini koa after dating it for more than 3 years... I guess next step for Taylor should be a cutaway version.