Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Review (2023)

Build Quality:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:
Average:

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Pros:

• Quality tonewood
• Good, easy to use electronics
• Consistent

Cons:

• Strings (they are not bad, per se, but for such an amazing quality guitar I would choose a better set)
• Price (A bit high for a mini guitar but in my opinion it’s worth it)

The history of Taylor might not be as old as some of the other giants of the industry but it definitely is as impressive. Starting from the 1970s Taylor has been creating high-quality instruments that have become a pinnacle of the industry. If you have been meaning to get a smaller-sized guitar (for instance for traveling) Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is not a guitar to miss. The quality tonewood used for this model along with hardware and electronics delivers a beautiful, warm sound that any professional player would love to have. Amazing acoustic-electric guitar for professional players.

Build Quality

This is a mini grand symphony body guitar with solid Hawaiian koa used for the top wood. This tonewood is especially amazing for its warm tone (not to mention how beautiful it is). The back and sides are layered koa. The great thing about koa is that it is very resistant to humidity level changes. So if you are a traveling musician (since this is a smaller-sized guitar, it is especially good for traveling) you will not have to worry too much about the toll that the changing environment usually has on the tonewood. The neck is sapele with an African ebony fingerboard. The combination of these woods creates a beautiful, warm and resonant sound that is hard to come by.

Hardware

This model features chrome tuners with GS Mini with chrome buttons and Lexan headstock. The nut and saddle are made of Nubone/Micarta “Wave” which offers crisp durability and sound that is basically indecipherable form the real bone. You can never underestimate the importance of protection for your guitar, especially if you are traveling a lot with it. I have already mentioned that Hawaiian koa is very resistant to humidity changes but of course that is not enough. That is why Taylor also adds, as a nice bonus, a hard bag so that your beautiful guitar does not get damaged accidentally during your travels.  

Taylor GS Mini Koa Sound

A lot of manufacturers claim that the sound on their smaller-sized guitars is indistinguishable from their full-sized models. Most times that is not the case and people just need to accept the fact that smaller-sized guitars cannot have the same volume as big ones. That does not really mean that mini or ¾ guitars are bad. Not at all. The volume is not all that matters and what actually matters is the sound and tone (well, other things as well, but you get the gist) which GS Mini-e Koa definitely can boast. The solid Hawaiian koa top along with the koa back and sides provides a warm and rich sound and it’s one of the best acoustic-electric guitars under 1000. AND, needless to say, this material ages extremely well, making this model sound better and better with time.

Electronics

If you are a beginner, learning about acoustic-electric guitars might be a bit daunting. I mean, the first time I started getting into guitars I had hard time learning everything about just acoustics. But now you got to learn about pickups, tuners and so much more. It might be a bit dizzying. You learn through trial and error but hopefully, your first attempt is not going to be a full-on failure. The ES-B pickups on Taylor GS Mini Koa incorporate a preamp with a digital chromatic tuner that is extremely easy to read. The LED display shows you not only tuning but battery levels (and of course, you get tone and volume controls). Overall, this is a great system that will give you control of the sound completely.

Conclusion

A beautifully crafted, well-designed guitar is not something you should take for granted. While there are a few (and by a few I mean a LOT) of brands that say they use “top quality” material that is rarely the case. I might claim that the Hawaiian koa used for the top of this guitar is an amazing material that produces crisp, warm sound and you can trust me on that or not. That’s your choice completely. However I am sure that this mini guitar is worth the same and even more money than a lot of full-sized guitars.

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