NGD- GS Mini

[Maynard9089]

Well after a few attempts to find a local dealer with a GS Mini in stock I finally found one who had 3 to choose from. I hadn't ever held one prior to today and thought it may be a good guitar for my wife with its smaller size.
My first reaction was that it was too small. Man did this look small next to full size guitars. I gave it a whirl and it sounded and played great. It even felt right but I was hung up on the size. I wanted this to be her go to guitar.
So I started trying everything in the store under $1000. I tried many Martins but not one of them stood out to me. The closest was the PA series and I think that the GS Mini sounded better for less than half the price. My wife couldn't join me to try them out so I was on my own.
In the end I narrowed it to a 214ce and the Mini. After talking to her on the phone and sending her more than a few photos it came down to her trying my 414ce at home for size and comfort. She thought it felt as big as her Fender Dread so it really wasn't going to be an improvement. The Mini was marked ridiculously low compared to what I have seen elsewhere online. In fact, of the 3, one was marked for $65 less than the best price I had previously seen. I think it was a mistake but they honored the price on one of the higher priced Mini's they had. I had taken my Strat with me to trade in but never bothered because this was so cheap.

[mgap]

Nice find Maynard9089, The hunt is half the fun isn't it.  Did you get the Mahogany or the spruce top?  or was it a limited?

[Maynard9089]

I would have jumped on a Maple or Koa LTD had they had one but no such luck. No hogs either but my wife wouldn't have liked the darker color so it wouldn't have really been a choice anyways. I have a TRC on order from Bill Nichols for my 414ce but he hasn't started it yet so I am going to have him do it for the Mini instead. Its an image of a daylily and my wife collects and sells them so she will really love it. Maybe I need two now.

[Captain Jim]

Congrats on the GS Mini and the good buy!  I have been enjoying the Mini I bought last month... and it was not what I went in to check out.  Glad to have it... hope your wife feels the same.

Best wishes,
Captain Jim

[The G]

Congrats 

[Maynard9089]

She was able to try the Mini briefly tonight and it looks like it's a winner. She may have broken her thumb this afternoon so it hurt when she played. I only made one mistake...I didn't pick up the ES-Go. Her first question was "where is the plug". I will order one tomorrow but she will never use it. Whatever makes her happy.

[cigarfan]

Sweet deal on a great little guitar. Congrats!

I know you said it was for her but I'm curious, how did it feel for you? Comfortable? ... just too small?

I am asking cause I may be looking at one shortly.

[Captain Jim]

Sweet deal on a great little guitar. Congrats!

I know you said it was for her but I'm curious, how did it feel for you? Comfortable? ... just too small?

I am asking cause I may be looking at one shortly.

Best way to know is to try one.   

[Maynard9089]

I agree. You have to try one. When I first saw it next to the full size guitars I thought no way. When I picked it up and held it I was still skeptical. But when I started to play it I was really surprised with the sound and the ease of playing it. It felt good at that point. I needed to compare it to full size instruments though because I was looking at it as her main guitar rather than the travel guitar it was built to be. I tried everything around $1k and down in the store to compare it to and it held its own. I really wanted to like the Martins I tried but I really didn't get it. The Taylors sounded so much crisper to me. The Martin PA4 series was the Martin I liked the most but that was limited to sight and feel. Sound wise the Mini was more my thing. The Mini sounds like every other Taylor I have played even in side by side comparisons last night. The only notable difference was that it wasn't as loud but for my wife and I that is a non issue. I came very close to ordering one online but in hind site I am not so sure I would be as happy with it had I done so. Being able to compare it to so many other guitars that cost 2x as much or more really made me appreciate what this guitar can do.

[Cindy]

Congratulations on a nice guitar! I've found there can be slight tonal differences between identical models, so since you found one with tone you liked, then great!!! I hope your wife's thumb will be okay!

[roadbiker]

She was able to try the Mini briefly tonight and it looks like it's a winner. She may have broken her thumb this afternoon so it hurt when she played. I only made one mistake...I didn't pick up the ES-Go. Her first question was "where is the plug". I will order one tomorrow but she will never use it. Whatever makes her happy.

Sent you a PM about the ES Go. I have one and a V-Cable I am about to sell.

I originally bought a Martin LX1 Little Martin for traveling with, but it was like a toy. It sounded like a toy and I didn't like the way it played. Then I got a GS Mini. It's surprising how much sound comes out of such a small guitar, and it plays good too. Not as good (IMO) as a full size, but I bought mine for traveling and it is exactl;y what I was looking for. So far aI am very happy with it. Congratulations!

Now where are the obligatory pictures???

Jim

[Maynard9089]

No photo's yet Jim. Sorry. I too prefer the sound and feel of the full size guitar and last night I had a good opportunity to A/B the Mini to my 414. Obviously the Mini isn't as "bold" or loud but for her (or I for that matter) it's not an issue. If it helps her learn and progress then it is the best investment I can make. What I absolutely love about the Mini is its tone. For the life of me I have no idea how Taylor has the ability to carry its unique sound across every series they produce. The Mini sounds like my 414 for the most part and I can recognize it as a Taylor. I mentioned in another topic here that the night I bought the Mini I had an opportunity to try many Martins and a few others but none of them had a consistent sound. I played roughly 8 Martins and no two sounded similar. In comparing them to the Taylors they sounded flat to me. I did limit the Martins I tried to $1100 or so and less but of all the Taylors I played from the Mini to an 814, they shared a common tone that I have found in EVERY Taylor I have ever played. I'm not saying they were identical but just that they shared something that let you know it was a Taylor.

Jim- I never got the PM about the ES-GO and cable. I am certainly interested though. You can email me at chas.maynard@yahoo.com. Thanks.

[andyi5]

Congrats!

Agree this guitar sounds absolutely like a Taylor. Although a full size guitar will obviously have a bit more volume and a more rounded tone, the GSm has a unique growl to it, it doesn't feel like a compromise like so many travel size guitars. I'd also love to get my hands on one of the Spring Ltd's but there's not much chance of it happening! In any case, I really like the spruce/sapele combination both in tone and appearance. The sapele on these seems richer and more glossed than on the Baby and Big Babys, and if you get lucky you can find some really nice pieces of spruce on the top.

[cigarfan]

Gonna take the advice. GS mini on it's way to my place right now. Should be here tomorrow.

Jim: If Maynard doesn't get your ES-Go & cable, I'll take it!

[roadbiker]

Jim- I never got the PM about the ES-GO and cable. I am certainly interested though. You can email me at chas.maynard@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Sent you an e-mail...

Jim