GS Mini Koa....pieced together top thoughts

[gnuse]

I am searching for one of the many very distinct GS Mini Koa guitars and have noticed that some have pieced together tops.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the durability of this vs the more common two piece top?

Any reason for concern?

[Minnesotaman]

If you are buying new comes with lifetime warranty, what is there to worry about?

[jkm]

I believe most (if not all) of the GS Minis have 2 piece tops.  Many (most?) of the standard series (if not all) have two piece tops, though you have to look very close to see it.  Someone will (and should) correct me if I am wrong.

The GS Mini koa top is still still solid koa, even if 2 pieces.  Mine is great.  Very sweet sounding instrument.

[gnuse]

Thanks.

I may not have stated my question properly.

Most guitars have two piece tops, two pieces joined down the center.

I have noticed that some of the GS Mini Koa's have the left and right pieces made up of more that one piece of Koa....sometimes two on each half and as many as three on each top half.

I would expect that Taylor has made these joints very secure, just wondered if that were actually the case.

[g.man]

Every one I have see was just two bookmatched pieces.

[gnuse]

Yes, it seems they are selling so many Koa guitars these days, that this is becoming more common.

I guess I may just have to suffer through this and buy one any way. 

[zeebow]

Yes, it seems they are selling so many Koa guitars these days, that this is becoming more common.

I guess I may just have to suffer through this and buy one any way. 

not sure i follow. every koa gs mini i have seen is bookmatched, so taylor cuts a piece in half, so it when it unfolds, it opens like a book and is mirrored from the center

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmatching

i haven't seen any that have tops from two different pieces of wood

can you show us what you mean?

[jkm]

I have only ever seen bookmatched tops.

[timfitz63]

I have only ever seen bookmatched tops.

Actually, I've seen a few GS Mini Koas that appear (at least in photos) to be three-piece tops (a la three-piece backs that are used occasionally).  Never having examined one closely and in person, I admit what I've seen could be a trick of how Koa's wood grain appears in a photo.

To toss out an opinion about the OP's original question:  I don't think there should be any concern.  If the top can be book-matched with two pieces and remain durable, I'm sure it can be done with three (or even more pieces) as well.  It's just going to become progressively more labor-intensive to do more than three pieces, so I doubt any manufacturer would go beyond that -- other than, perhaps, for some kind of artsy aesthetic appeal.

[zeebow]

I have only ever seen bookmatched tops.

Actually, I've seen a few GS Mini Koas that appear (at least in photos) to be three-piece tops (a la three-piece backs that are used occasionally).  Never having examined one closely and in person, I admit what I've seen could be a trick of how Koa's wood grain appears in a photo.

To toss out an opinion about the OP's original question:  I don't think there should be any concern.  If the top can be book-matched with two pieces and remain durable, I'm sure it can be done with three (or even more pieces) as well.  It's just going to become progressively more labor-intensive to do more than three pieces, so I doubt any manufacturer would go beyond that -- other than, perhaps, for some kind of artsy aesthetic appeal.

maybe you and the OP are looking st the same place lol

i haven't seen it but i also should have said i don't go looking for minis too often. i'm curious now lol

[Maple422]

I have seen photos of these, posted here on this forum, in the past.
Check out this link for an example.

https://www.southpawguitars.com/taylor-left-handed-guitars/1506-taylor-gs-mini-koa-e-top-r.html

On second look, I'm not sure if this is a GS Mini or a Baby??

[Edward]

That pic is not a GSm ...that's a Baby.

Edward

[gnuse]

Looks like 4 pieces to me. 

I have seen a few lately with as many as 6......or as some might say: 3 book matched.

[timfitz63]

Here's another one for sale at Sweetwater; looks like a 3-piece top to me...

[jkm]

The southpaw baby looks like multiple pieces.

The sweetwater GS Mini looks like 2 piece bookmatched koa.