Tried all three yesterday, actually went in to compare the martin dreadnought jnr to the taylor gs mini. Then I tried the martin 000cjnr, hands down the winner. I took it home with me.
@@toddjohnson271 I just bought the 000 jr-10...love it so much... I already have a GS Mini Ovangkol special edition... The 000 sounds and plays very well... I must try the MA535 strings that you recommended
GSMini so much clearer and notes really stand out. The Martins also sound great, Really comes down to what sound you like the best. I am sure the guitars are all great quality from two of the best Guitar Builders. I vote for the GS Mini.
Still digging the sweeter sound of the DJr. But it's nice to see a great demo of a nice range. Thank you for playing the same thing each time and doing different music styles. One of the best.
That was really enlightening. I have two Taylors - the GS Walnut and the T5z. In these tests, the Martins left the GS for dead. Very surprising. Love the D.Jnr but may well look at the Martin 000Jr-10. Excellent review and demo.
I hear you. I'm there now... Tested OOO Jr vs GS mini Mahogany in a shop today, thinking I'd like Mahogany more, and was proven wrong. Hearing it live is not the same as in a video. Plus Taylor had surprisingly high action, roughly half higher on fret 12. They said in the shop that recently they seem to rush more with the minis, and require more setup. That's sad as I heard Taylor had a reputation of low action guitars with great playability out of the box.
I own the 000CJR-10E and consider it the most enjoyable guitar I’ve played in over 60 years of strummin and owning over 50 guitars, all of them solid wood models. All big brands (except Taylor for personal reasons) + SCGC & handmade to vintage up to $5,000. What I’ve learned is you want good sound And a good time when playing. Having incredible sound but fearful of a scratch or touch etc. is head trip drag. My 000cjr is a great buddy a pal that’ll go anywhere sound great, play great do anything looks sharp, all solid Martin $550 w elec & gig bag. I’ve hot rodded mine with $5 OM pickgaurd for looks and gets rid of finger swoosh of top, rosewood John Pearse armrest gets rid of forearm damp improving volume comfort and clarity. Switched out endpin and bridge pin to tusq. Dr Duck Axe Wax to highlight gorgeous Sapele flare. Experimenting with strings but going back to Retros. Add a Silver Creek Hardshell classic size case plush green 5 latch fits fine with bit of room for gear. Makes a complete package that is simply a whole lot of Fun. Light weight, fast , easy to chord, comfortable, good looking. Nearly identical size to 018 but 24” vs 24.9”. Enough said, time to pick.
Hi, I just ordered a 000jr. Just wondering how you're liking the retro strings after a few months. Also, what gauge size do you use? Thanks for your detailed info here. I'm looking forward to my Jr.
I played them both back to back several times over in a store yesterday. The standard body sounded significantly better than the cutaway version, and I also preferred it over the dread. 000jr-10 was the winner to my ears.
I have both guitars, Martin Junior 000Jr-10 (cutway version) and Taylor GS mini Spruce top and sapele side and back version. My observations are: 1.Martin sounds warmer, bass and middle tones are deeper and not that aggressive like in Taylor 2. Taylor has super comfortable narrower than Martin neck with low action, perfect for electric guitar players (as myself) 3. Martin has black ABS binding protective plastic trim on the top edge, which is an absolutely necessary for travel guitar (IMO) (after a few trips my Taylor GS looks awful, every slight bump is visible at the top edge) 4. Martin's fingerboard is made from Richlite laminate which is better solution (IMO) for travel guitar, is easy to keep clean on your trip, is very hard, shock and water proof and sounds to me the same good as solid ebony. 4.The best travel guitar to me would be the mix of Taylor's shape neck with Martin's cutway body...:)
Great point about the protective edge trim- while I likely won't travel with it I DO have a dog and a 5-yr old running around the house so dings are always a concern!
Thanks for mentioning the feel of the neck. I was wondering how the necks feel compared to each other. It’s surprising how many guitar reviews don’t mention how the guitar/neck feels, definitely a big factor for me personally.
I have a gs mini walnut, love the sound but prefer the Martin dreadnaught jr. It sounds fuller, woodier and like the wider 1_3/4"nut ,and now in sunburst, nice! But they're both great couch guitars and for travel. Martin's & Taylors, great guitars!
I recently went with the OOO Jr cutaway strictly due to having a couple of “capoed” slide favorites sending me up to fret 20. So happy with it especially for that reason. Glad to hear the D Jr today and may have to shake the piggy bank again. Yes!
Just wanna say thank you for these reviews...I can vicariously enjoy these lovely guitars!! I love the OOOJr tbh, such clarity AND mellowness...but the GS is brilliant too
They all sound great. But for some reason I prefer the sound of the GS Mini. But they all sound very similar, and the cutaway triple 0 is very compelling to me because there’s no cutaway option for the GS mini, not sure why
To me, the Mini sounded brighter and more pronounced. I just got the Koa version and couldn't be happier. I was hoping I could have tried the Martin Jr., but therr were none in stock.
You do the best reviews. Best played and best explained with no rubbish irrelevant patter like some. Thank you. Oh, and you just convinced me to get the
Love my GS Mini-e Ovangkol. It, and my Orangewood Oliver, Jr Mahogany Live are 2 of my favorite guitars. Ordered my Martin 000Jr-10 last night, can’t wait to get it.
I compared the Martin OOO Jr to the GS Mini and playing them, I was surprised that the Martin sounded thin compared to the GS Mini Rosewood. I purchased the GS Mini.
Taylor Grand Symphony Mini I hope to own my own Taylor GS Mini Guitar soon, Sitka Spruce top with Rosewood and variegated Ebony Fretboard from The Fret Shop, Huntsville, Ala. I am most grateful for all you share via UA-cam. I've learned so much by watching your videos.
I have the same issue with my GS Mini - the smaller nut width, so I've been really considering changing to one of the Martins (I have two Martins already and love them but I travel a lot as well). Even with the limitations of the MacBook speakers the boom of the dread comes across! That's the one I think.
Since I bought my KOA GS Mini about 6 months ago, I’ve not found another travel size guitar from any company that can complete with the GS Mini sound. The larger sound hole and pushed out back make the Mini sound like a full size guitar.
The 000 Martin is solid wood, that is a definite advantage over the laminated sides/back of the Mini. The difference can be easily heard in this head-to-head video.
I personally own both the gs mini and the dr-10e2. They're both awesome but I've always been a martin guy sooo,The djr has that martin tone I've been looking for, amazing guitar for it's price
I have a GS Mini, love it. For me it came down to the comfort playing it. New to playing and I am a petite female 4'11" The Martin was amazing but the nut with and guitar body are just big enough to make it more difficult with my small hands and frame. Definitely try them both and pick what works for you!
One thing id love to see people do for these tests is put the Martin strings that come on the Jrs onto the GS Mini and see how it changes the tone, and how similar they can be with the same strings. I personally love the sound of the strings they use, and am starting to use them on all acoustics.
Somehow Martin seems to create guitars that sing the Delta blues. The tone with the scooped mids, crisp highs and soggy bottom lows does it like no ones buisness.. Seems to project a bit better than the Mini.. I prefer the more full range classic Taylor tone.. It does not exaggerate the "Taylor tone" that Taylor is known for the way the Martin does..you know by ear that the Jr or 000 are Martin. The Taylor Mini on the other hand does not carry over the tones and sound of its larger brethren and just sounds like a great guitar all around. I am more curious of what you thought of playing it.. You have a few Minis in your house..you obviously love the lil Minis but now how did it play by comparrison? How is the Martin action out of the box? Is it more natural to play? Do you prefer the Martin tones in person? If today was yhe day you were buying scaled down guitars for you and your son.. Would they still be Taylor Minis???
All sound good. Different , but good. Personally, I prefer the Martin Dred JR. ( I have the First model with the deeper body) suits my all around playing needs.
I bought the Martin 000 jr 10 ce, September 2020. I did not like the retro strings at all. I tried various strings and last week went a different direction and bought Martin Authentic Acoustic MA130 Custom-Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings, Silk and Steel Folk. Wow is all I can say, I feel like I have the feel of just buying a new guitar. They are just the sound I have been looking for. I almost ordered a new Taylor gs mini koa plus, well I saved $1000. Love the sound and feel of my Martin. I do have A Taylor 214 ce koa, that I also love. Might try these strings on that guitar also. All great guitars cannot go wrong with any of these.
This would also be a great opportunity to compare cutaway vs non-cutaway versions of the same guitar. Since having a cutaway basically takes away part of the body of the guitar, it would be interesting to see what affect it has if any.
I think it really all boils down to personal preference. As usual. I am a GS-MINI fan. I would really like for mine to have a 1 3/4” nut but it’s not a deal breaker. I think what should be mentioned is the body construction for a travel guitar. I think the laminated body of the Taylor is a better choice for a guitar that you intend on hauling around a lot.
I think the cutaway sounded the best by far. Of course, all he did was hold it and talk about it, he never played it. Great video other than not playing one of the guitars he was reviewing and showing.
Surprisingly, the Taylor has better bass than the Martins -- go figure. But otherwise, I find it kind of tinny-sounding. I'd go for the warmer all-around sound of the Martins, especially the dreadnought.
I used 3 classifications to determine my favorite. Absolutely a subjective decision on my part. I rated my favorite stumming, picking and overall classes. I awarded 10 points per class, and this is my outcome. Martin 000JR got 25 points. The Taylor GS Mini got 26 points, and the Martin Dreadnaught JR got 29 points. I think the Martin Dreadnaught JR was warmer in both strumming and picking with 10's in both categories, and finished best in overall by 9 to 8 over both the others.
I would prefer the taylor gs mini, considering the price gap here which is more or less $ 400 in the philippines and, the marginal benefit, bigger nut longer scale etc. Does not work for me, Filipinos are smaller in stature and the taylor is lighter and has lesser minimal concerns on humidty since we are in a tropical climate compared to an all solid martin jr.
Mas marami nga issue ng taylor dito sa pilipinas kesa sa martin. Mas mabilis malusaw yung glue na gamit sa taylor dahil sa humidity dito sa pilipinas. Di gaya ng martin gawa kasi sa mexico kaya mas nakakayanan yung klima dito satin.
The strings on the DJr seems to be dead. Most of Taylors sucsess comes from the Elixir strings. After weeks in a showroom they still sound great. In time others strings loose overtones, clarity and by this customers attention.
hoidoi62 the string on Taylor’s are fantastic. I’ve had my 115CE for over a year and am just now getting to the point where I may have to change strings. They hold up really well
Not all guitars of the same model have the same sound. And this is more evident in solid wood guitars. Despite manufacturing efforts to standardise procedures,wood is an alive material that has varying properties that affect sound even between same model guitars. For the same reason, carbon fiber guitars are more consistent sound wise but luck character and the feeling of an all solid guitar especially when it is made by great brands as Martin or Taylor. Comparisons are useful to a point, but if one is serious about buying a quality instrument, playing in vivo at a shop is vital.
I like how the Martins sound, but my GS-mini (2012 model) sounds like them. It sounds way better than his. His mini sounds thin. Also, I much prefer Ebony over the Richlite that is on the Martins (fretboard and bridge).
I tried every Martin and Taylor available at my local guitar store (s) and walked away with the martin 000cjr-10e. I initially went in wanting a parlor sized guitar, the LX1E, but it ended up being way to small for my taste. These videos are good for reference, but don't really do any justice. I recommend actually playing the guitars available in your area at your price range. Every player has a different sound and taste, what works well for one my not for another.... Get what ever guitar works best for you!
Great vid! Could you please compare 000Jr-10 with Taylor Academy 12 (A12)? They have exactly the same price and I can't decide which one to get. Thanks!
I have owned almost all mini guitars by now. GS and Dreadnought Jr. can both work for you--it depends on the particular piece, action etc. My last month's 2018 Jr has already be upstaged under my fingers by the Koa GS Mini. Both are precariously perched on the brink of a less than full sound + buzzing, given their less than full size. But that one perfect piece at your neighborhood store can convert you to small guitars, forever. (So, moral of the story: these reviews are just an indulgence. Don't decide on their basis.)
To me the Martin dreadnought jr has the best sound. That will be my next guitar. All of yours ur videos are great keep them coming. You should do one n the prs silver sky se unless you already done one and I missed it
I've played every dread jr in my area. Fabulous guitar in all respects. Our local mom and pop shop got in several of the OOO 's recently. I tried those as well and by comparison I find the OOO kinda " nasal" sounding. I like it but much prefer the dread jr. Good video thank you.
The Martin 000Jr has the best overall balance and clarity. None of these guitars is going to have a deep, thumping bass. For me, the Martin winds handily. I imagine the cutaway version's lows will be slightly attenuated compared to the non-cutaway. Martin fingerboard is WAY better, but their case is lightweight nonsense. You may also find that the 000 strings are slightly narrower at the bridge/sound hole than standard. The uniform width from nut to bridge is a big plus when finger picking.
Tested OOO Jr vs GS mini Mahogany in a shop today, coming with preconception that I'll want mahogany more (based on various videos), and I was proven wrong. Hearing it live is not the same as in a video. Plus Taylor had surprisingly high action, roughly half higher on fret 12. They said in the shop that recently they seem to rush more with the minis, and require more setup. That's sad as I heard Taylor had a reputation of low action guitars with great playability out of the box.
My kingdom (such as it is) for a GS Mini with a 1.75” neck/nut. Taylor won’t even custom make one. The Mini - like many Taylor’s - wins the crisp & brightness division. But I’d string-up the 000Jr with some phosphor/bronze puppies, and bet on it to win hearts.
I’m not sure the Martin needs the oversized sound hole, it may be more focused without. I’d pick the Martin for sure though. Not a Dreadnaught fan but it sure sounds good.
I am not a fanboy of either and actually own several different brands including a GS mini and Martins. My preference is the Martin sound. The GS mini is a great couch guitar or something laminate to beat on, while still sounding great. They just do not have that Martin soul.
No contest ... the Martin Dread Jr. rules! The others have too much of that “thuddy”, “boxy” quality I find so objectionable in smaller bodied guitars.
Dreadnought Junior Is really simply fantastic! I do love a lot the Taylor GS Mini, but the Dreadnought Junior Is something different (shape, woods) . Said that... Three wonderful guitars, while I find almost impossible to Say which one it's the best
I went with DJr10 with sapele top. I prefer spruce tops on full size guitars, but for these, the sapele really warms it up and filters out some of the “tiny guitar” frequencies.
I had a rosewood GS, but once I tried the dread jrn I am afraid it went . Although the Taylor gig bag is a hundred times better, for me the neck and the sound of the Martin wins every time. But then again everyone is different.
Tried all three yesterday, actually went in to compare the martin dreadnought jnr to the taylor gs mini. Then I tried the martin 000cjnr, hands down the winner. I took it home with me.
I had to change those retro strings to MA535 and it sang top shelf....Love that little 000
@@toddjohnson271 I just bought the 000 jr-10...love it so much... I already have a GS Mini Ovangkol special edition... The 000 sounds and plays very well... I must try the MA535 strings that you recommended
Just got a Martin 000 Jr with the cutaway and I love it.
the warmth and richness in sound of Dreadnought Jr is on a whole new level than the rest 2 especially on finger-picking plays.
GSMini so much clearer and notes really stand out. The Martins also sound great, Really comes down to what sound you like the best. I am sure the guitars are all great quality from two of the best Guitar Builders.
I vote for the GS Mini.
Still digging the sweeter sound of the DJr. But it's nice to see a great demo of a nice range. Thank you for playing the same thing each time and doing different music styles. One of the best.
Dreadnought Junior is the best!...
I agree. But I'm a bit of a " Martin fanboy" lol
All those axes sound great. My vote is the Martin OOO JR. I recently bought the Martin OOOX1 Special and love it.
That was really enlightening. I have two Taylors - the GS Walnut and the T5z. In these tests, the Martins left the GS for dead. Very surprising. Love the D.Jnr but may well look at the Martin 000Jr-10. Excellent review and demo.
Just bought the 000 Jr yesterday... Took me only less than half hour to decide
@@chanwahmok9832 and . . . ?
@@theverseshed to pull the trigger
Love the warmer sound of a Martin.
Chris, can you explain to my wife that the decision is too difficult and that I need them all?
Believe me. I understand!
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission my friend haha
I hear you. I'm there now...
Tested OOO Jr vs GS mini Mahogany in a shop today, thinking I'd like Mahogany more, and was proven wrong. Hearing it live is not the same as in a video.
Plus Taylor had surprisingly high action, roughly half higher on fret 12. They said in the shop that recently they seem to rush more with the minis, and require more setup. That's sad as I heard Taylor had a reputation of low action guitars with great playability out of the box.
🤣🤣❤️
Big brain moment
You forgot to put in the cutaway footage! Lol please do!
The new martin 000Jr-10 really surprised me. Super well balanced. Great sound.
Matheus Gomes I thought so too. I like the drj for blues better. The Taylor wasn’t even close to the two Martin’s. But I’m a bit biased 🤔🇳🇿
Dreadnought Jr has a fuller, mellower sound that I prefer.
I own the 000CJR-10E and consider it the most enjoyable guitar I’ve played in over 60 years of strummin and owning over 50 guitars, all of them solid wood models. All big brands (except Taylor for personal reasons) + SCGC & handmade to vintage up to $5,000. What I’ve learned is you want good sound And a good time when playing. Having incredible sound but fearful of a scratch or touch etc. is head trip drag. My 000cjr is a great buddy a pal that’ll go anywhere sound great, play great do anything looks sharp, all solid Martin $550 w elec & gig bag. I’ve hot rodded mine with $5 OM pickgaurd for looks and gets rid of finger swoosh of top, rosewood John Pearse armrest gets rid of forearm damp improving volume comfort and clarity.
Switched out endpin and bridge pin to tusq. Dr Duck Axe Wax to highlight gorgeous Sapele flare. Experimenting with strings but going back to Retros. Add a Silver Creek Hardshell classic size case plush green 5 latch fits fine with bit of room for gear. Makes a complete package that is simply a whole lot of Fun. Light weight, fast , easy to chord, comfortable, good looking. Nearly identical size to 018 but 24” vs 24.9”.
Enough said, time to pick.
That's awesome! Modifying your guitar is a great way route go!
Hi, I just ordered a 000jr. Just wondering how you're liking the retro strings after a few months. Also, what gauge size do you use? Thanks for your detailed info here. I'm looking forward to my Jr.
I wanted you to play the cutaway Martin to see the sound difference in the standard body’s !
Yep, why hold it and show it and then just not even play it. I subbed, then unsubbed over that. Its kinda lame.
I played them both back to back several times over in a store yesterday. The standard body sounded significantly better than the cutaway version, and I also preferred it over the dread. 000jr-10 was the winner to my ears.
I have both guitars, Martin Junior 000Jr-10 (cutway version) and Taylor GS mini Spruce top and sapele side and back version. My observations are:
1.Martin sounds warmer, bass and middle tones are deeper and not that aggressive like in Taylor
2. Taylor has super comfortable narrower than Martin neck with low action, perfect for electric guitar players (as myself)
3. Martin has
black ABS binding protective plastic trim on the top edge, which is an absolutely necessary for travel guitar (IMO) (after a few trips my Taylor GS looks awful, every slight bump is visible at the top edge)
4. Martin's fingerboard is made from Richlite laminate which is better solution (IMO) for travel guitar, is easy to keep clean on your trip, is very hard, shock and water proof and sounds to me the same good as solid ebony.
4.The best travel guitar to me would be the mix of Taylor's shape neck with Martin's cutway body...:)
Great point about the protective edge trim- while I likely won't travel with it I DO have a dog and a 5-yr old running around the house so dings are always a concern!
Thanks for mentioning the feel of the neck. I was wondering how the necks feel compared to each other. It’s surprising how many guitar reviews don’t mention how the guitar/neck feels, definitely a big factor for me personally.
Incredibly awesome insight! thank you.
I could listen to you play all day Chris!!! Love it you’re so good
I have a gs mini walnut, love the sound but prefer the Martin dreadnaught jr. It sounds fuller, woodier and like the wider 1_3/4"nut ,and now in sunburst, nice! But they're both great couch guitars and for travel. Martin's & Taylors, great guitars!
I love my 2013 Fall Special Edition GS mini Mahogany e. I`ve played it every day for over 6 yrs.
I recently went with the OOO Jr cutaway strictly due to having a couple of “capoed” slide favorites sending me up to fret 20. So happy with it especially for that reason. Glad to hear the D Jr today and may have to shake the piggy bank again. Yes!
Chris and Alamo Music Center - you guys rock! Awesome. Thanks.
Dreadnought Jr sounds more like a full size guitar. It's my first choice.
Just wanna say thank you for these reviews...I can vicariously enjoy these lovely guitars!! I love the OOOJr tbh, such clarity AND mellowness...but the GS is brilliant too
They all sound great. But for some reason I prefer the sound of the GS Mini. But they all sound very similar, and the cutaway triple 0 is very compelling to me because there’s no cutaway option for the GS mini, not sure why
To me, the Mini sounded brighter and more pronounced. I just got the Koa version and couldn't be happier. I was hoping I could have tried the Martin Jr., but therr were none in stock.
You do the best reviews. Best played and best explained with no rubbish irrelevant patter like some. Thank you. Oh, and you just convinced me to get the
Love my GS Mini-e Ovangkol. It, and my Orangewood Oliver, Jr Mahogany Live are 2 of my favorite guitars. Ordered my Martin 000Jr-10 last night, can’t wait to get it.
What is your favorite guitar now?
@@dareelevi9945 Probably my OM-28 or my 000-28.
I like the Martin 000Junior 10. Clean, warm tone.
You didn't play the cutaway and that is really what I wanted to hear.!!
I compared the Martin OOO Jr to the GS Mini and playing them, I was surprised that the Martin sounded thin compared to the GS Mini Rosewood. I purchased the GS Mini.
I think the GS Mini has got them all beat, however, the Martin 000 mini runs a good second place.
Wow your playing has improved so much dude!
Taylor GS Mini 3:20
Martin 000Jr 2:49
Martin Dreadnought Jr 3:53
Taylor Grand Symphony Mini
I hope to own my own Taylor GS Mini Guitar soon, Sitka Spruce top with Rosewood and variegated Ebony Fretboard from The Fret Shop, Huntsville, Ala.
I am most grateful for all you share via UA-cam. I've learned so much by watching your videos.
Sunburst option for GS mini will be dope! 👌🏽
I hope Taylor is paying attention. They just added sunburst option to the 100 series. -Chris
@@AlamoMusic Woah! Sunburst on 100 series is a good deal! I haven't seen one. Are they on the market yet?
I have the same issue with my GS Mini - the smaller nut width, so I've been really considering changing to one of the Martins (I have two Martins already and love them but I travel a lot as well). Even with the limitations of the MacBook speakers the boom of the dread comes across! That's the one I think.
Since I bought my KOA GS Mini about 6 months ago, I’ve not found another travel size guitar from any company that can complete with the GS Mini sound. The larger sound hole and pushed out back make the Mini sound like a full size guitar.
I have a decent full-sized Martin, and I've barely played it since getting the Mini.
The 000 Martin is solid wood, that is a definite advantage over the laminated sides/back of the Mini. The difference can be easily heard in this head-to-head video.
I personally own both the gs mini and the dr-10e2. They're both awesome but I've always been a martin guy sooo,The djr has that martin tone I've been looking for, amazing guitar for it's price
I have a GS Mini, love it. For me it came down to the comfort playing it. New to playing and I am a petite female 4'11" The Martin was amazing but the nut with and guitar body are just big enough to make it more difficult with my small hands and frame. Definitely try them both and pick what works for you!
One thing id love to see people do for these tests is put the Martin strings that come on the Jrs onto the GS Mini and see how it changes the tone, and how similar they can be with the same strings.
I personally love the sound of the strings they use, and am starting to use them on all acoustics.
Its 1 3/4" nut width--advantage, 000Jr-10.
Somehow Martin seems to create guitars that sing the Delta blues. The tone with the scooped mids, crisp highs and soggy bottom lows does it like no ones buisness.. Seems to project a bit better than the Mini.. I prefer the more full range classic Taylor tone.. It does not exaggerate the "Taylor tone" that Taylor is known for the way the Martin does..you know by ear that the Jr or 000 are Martin. The Taylor Mini on the other hand does not carry over the tones and sound of its larger brethren and just sounds like a great guitar all around. I am more curious of what you thought of playing it.. You have a few Minis in your house..you obviously love the lil Minis but now how did it play by comparrison? How is the Martin action out of the box? Is it more natural to play? Do you prefer the Martin tones in person? If today was yhe day you were buying scaled down guitars for you and your son.. Would they still be Taylor Minis???
James Hill - he can’t answer that bc he’s an authorized dealer of both brands.
Dude. Just ran across this video and I’m definitely driving into San Antonio tomorrow from New Braunfels to check out your shop.
All sound good. Different , but good. Personally, I prefer the Martin Dred JR. ( I have the First model with the deeper body) suits my all around playing needs.
GS mini has by far the best sound, but the martin neck is so much more comfortable, mix of both would be ideal for me.
Awesome idea ooo Jr Martin! 👍
I bought the Martin 000 jr 10 ce, September 2020. I did not like the retro strings at all. I tried various strings and last week went a different direction and bought Martin Authentic Acoustic MA130 Custom-Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings, Silk and Steel Folk. Wow is all I can say, I feel like I have the feel of just buying a new guitar. They are just the sound I have been looking for. I almost ordered a new Taylor gs mini koa plus, well I saved $1000. Love the sound and feel of my Martin. I do have A Taylor 214 ce koa, that I also love. Might try these strings on that guitar also. All great guitars cannot go wrong with any of these.
Unbiased multiple Martin and Taylor owner here. I still have to go with the GS Mini but Martin is getting closer.
Wish the gs mini came with a wider nut width...
Nope!! It’s fine the way it is. If you don’t like it but a Martin
GT is your new fren
Not sure why Taylor doesn’t make that an option. They should also have a cutaway option for the GS mini
I hate that the 000 jr doesn't have a pick guard.. I feel like somethings missing
The Martin D jr really stands out for its rich sound. I like the looks of the concert style better, but for sound, I’d take the mini dread.
I think they all would be worth haveing
GS is brighter but I really like the solid wood sound from the 000 jr
Dreadnought jr sounds the best but I like the taylor shape
Djr for the blues. Gs mini and 000 for newer stuff
Clarity of taylor is crazy
This would also be a great opportunity to compare cutaway vs non-cutaway versions of the same guitar. Since having a cutaway basically takes away part of the body of the guitar, it would be interesting to see what affect it has if any.
Agreed! I wanna hear that.
I think it really all boils down to personal preference. As usual. I am a GS-MINI fan. I would really like for mine to have a 1 3/4” nut but it’s not a deal breaker. I think what should be mentioned is the body construction for a travel guitar. I think the laminated body of the Taylor is a better choice for a guitar that you intend on hauling around a lot.
To me the martin dread jr is the is the best sounding also like the burst finish.
I think the cutaway sounded the best by far. Of course, all he did was hold it and talk about it, he never played it. Great video other than not playing one of the guitars he was reviewing and showing.
Yep, need them all 😉
I love both
At 4:25 what piece was that?
That's an original by Chris!
Alamo Music Center wow we need a tab!!
He might be making one soon! Fingers crossed!
That Martin sounds beautiful
Surprisingly, the Taylor has better bass than the Martins -- go figure. But otherwise, I find it kind of tinny-sounding. I'd go for the warmer all-around sound of the Martins, especially the dreadnought.
Thoiught you said you'd also play the CE! That's the one I have my eye on...
its all about personal preference which guitar you buy in the end..
I was looking at the gs mini, but now I don’t know.
That’s the name of the song at 6:40? I always hear it, but never hear the name.
I used 3 classifications to determine my favorite. Absolutely a subjective decision on my part. I rated my favorite stumming, picking and overall classes. I awarded 10 points per class, and this is my outcome. Martin 000JR got 25 points. The Taylor GS Mini got 26 points, and the Martin Dreadnaught JR got 29 points. I think the Martin Dreadnaught JR was warmer in both strumming and picking with 10's in both categories, and finished best in overall by 9 to 8 over both the others.
I'd probably get a mini, but I'm a classical guy trying to branch out.
I wish you also did a strumming sample. I'd like to mainly compare the D-jr and the 000-jr. Both Martins sounds good in the picking.
Dreadnought jr all the way, Everyday!!
I would prefer the taylor gs mini, considering the price gap here which is more or less $ 400 in the philippines and, the marginal benefit, bigger nut longer scale etc. Does not work for me, Filipinos are smaller in stature and the taylor is lighter and has lesser minimal concerns on humidty since we are in a tropical climate compared to an all solid martin jr.
Mas marami nga issue ng taylor dito sa pilipinas kesa sa martin. Mas mabilis malusaw yung glue na gamit sa taylor dahil sa humidity dito sa pilipinas. Di gaya ng martin gawa kasi sa mexico kaya mas nakakayanan yung klima dito satin.
The strings on the DJr seems to be dead. Most of Taylors sucsess comes from the Elixir strings. After weeks in a showroom they still sound great.
In time others strings loose overtones, clarity and by this customers attention.
Martin is stringing these with retro strings made of monel which emphasizes the funamentsl but doesn’t have much overtone. -Chris
hoidoi62 the string on Taylor’s are fantastic. I’ve had my 115CE for over a year and am just now getting to the point where I may have to change strings. They hold up really well
Not all guitars of the same model have the same sound. And this is more evident in solid wood guitars. Despite manufacturing efforts to standardise procedures,wood is an alive material that has varying properties that affect sound even between same model guitars. For the same reason, carbon fiber guitars are more consistent sound wise but luck character and the feeling of an all solid guitar especially when it is made by great brands as Martin or Taylor. Comparisons are useful to a point, but if one is serious about buying a quality instrument, playing in vivo at a shop is vital.
I like how the Martins sound, but my GS-mini (2012 model) sounds like them. It sounds way better than his. His mini sounds thin. Also, I much prefer Ebony over the Richlite that is on the Martins (fretboard and bridge).
OOOC JRE
Martin takes it with the solid wood, but affordable couch guitar imo
I tried every Martin and Taylor available at my local guitar store (s) and walked away with the martin 000cjr-10e. I initially went in wanting a parlor sized guitar, the LX1E, but it ended up being way to small for my taste. These videos are good for reference, but don't really do any justice. I recommend actually playing the guitars available in your area at your price range. Every player has a different sound and taste, what works well for one my not for another.... Get what ever guitar works best for you!
Great vid! Could you please compare 000Jr-10 with Taylor Academy 12 (A12)? They have exactly the same price and I can't decide which one to get. Thanks!
get the 000 it's all solid wood
Martin, hands down
Great video but I didn't see you playing the Martin 000CJR-10E, unless the microphone covered it up.
Taylor definitely has more volume than the new 000 but I can say that’s one heck of a Jr!
I have owned almost all mini guitars by now. GS and Dreadnought Jr. can both work for you--it depends on the particular piece, action etc. My last month's 2018 Jr has already be upstaged under my fingers by the Koa GS Mini. Both are precariously perched on the brink of a less than full sound + buzzing, given their less than full size. But that one perfect piece at your neighborhood store can convert you to small guitars, forever. (So, moral of the story: these reviews are just an indulgence. Don't decide on their basis.)
Hi sir, since you own theae guitars, which one do you prefer? Martin DJR10 or Taylor GS mini koa?
To me the Martin dreadnought jr has the best sound. That will be my next guitar. All of yours ur videos are great keep them coming. You should do one n the prs silver sky se unless you already done one and I missed it
ordered gs mini rosewood, on the way now.
I've played every dread jr in my area. Fabulous guitar in all respects. Our local mom and pop shop got in several of the OOO 's recently. I tried those as well and by comparison I find the OOO kinda " nasal" sounding. I like it but much prefer the dread jr.
Good video thank you.
They all have their place, nut width can make a real difference to newby’s
When playing the Martin Guitars I can here Clapton....:-)
Martin 000jr had more richness and projection. I'd love to see it compared to the GS Mini Koa.
The Martin 000Jr has the best overall balance and clarity. None of these guitars is going to have a deep, thumping bass. For me, the Martin winds handily. I imagine the cutaway version's lows will be slightly attenuated compared to the non-cutaway. Martin fingerboard is WAY better, but their case is lightweight nonsense. You may also find that the 000 strings are slightly narrower at the bridge/sound hole than standard. The uniform width from nut to bridge is a big plus when finger picking.
Tested OOO Jr vs GS mini Mahogany in a shop today, coming with preconception that I'll want mahogany more (based on various videos), and I was proven wrong. Hearing it live is not the same as in a video.
Plus Taylor had surprisingly high action, roughly half higher on fret 12. They said in the shop that recently they seem to rush more with the minis, and require more setup. That's sad as I heard Taylor had a reputation of low action guitars with great playability out of the box.
My kingdom (such as it is) for a GS Mini with a 1.75” neck/nut. Taylor won’t even custom make one. The Mini - like many Taylor’s - wins the crisp & brightness division. But I’d string-up the 000Jr with some phosphor/bronze puppies, and bet on it to win hearts.
I’m not sure the Martin needs the oversized sound hole, it may be more focused without. I’d pick the Martin for sure though. Not a Dreadnaught fan but it sure sounds good.
I am not a fanboy of either and actually own several different brands including a GS mini and Martins. My preference is the Martin sound. The GS mini is a great couch guitar or something laminate to beat on, while still sounding great. They just do not have that Martin soul.
I wonder what makes the dreadnut sound so much better than the others… Maybe the inside bracing system
No contest ... the Martin Dread Jr. rules! The others have too much of that “thuddy”, “boxy” quality I find so objectionable in smaller bodied guitars.
GS Mini to this tin ear.
GS Mini for the win
Dreadnought Junior Is really simply fantastic! I do love a lot the Taylor GS Mini, but the Dreadnought Junior Is something different (shape, woods) . Said that... Three wonderful guitars, while I find almost impossible to Say which one it's the best
I went with DJr10 with sapele top. I prefer spruce tops on full size guitars, but for these, the sapele really warms it up and filters out some of the “tiny guitar” frequencies.
Martin 000C-J is better than the others
I had a rosewood GS, but once I tried the dread jrn I am afraid it went . Although the Taylor gig bag is a hundred times better, for me the neck and the sound of the Martin wins every time. But then again everyone is different.
I have both. Was gonna return one, but can’t decide. May end up keeping both.