Hey everyone,

I’m debating getting a Taylor GS Mini from Thomann, and I’m after some opinions before I make the decision. The cost will be partly covered (£240 from someone else), so I’ll only need to pay £175, which feels like a decent deal.

I’ve looked at a few alternatives, but nothing else has really caught my attention. For context, I used to have a Takamine GF15ce, and comparing it to the GS Mini, the Takamine had a lot of high frequencies, while the GS Mini seems to have a fuller, more balanced sound.

I used to play a lot, but I stopped once the Native Instruments Session Guitarist libraries came out—though I’ve realised those don’t quite do everything.

One thing I’m unsure about is how much I’ll actually use it, as I’ve been away from home a lot recently, and have been since the start of 2025

What do you all think? Is the GS Mini worth it, or am I better off sticking with other options?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

Taylor GS Mini Review --> https://acousticguitar.com/taylor-gs-mini-review/

Q&A: Travel-Size Guitar... Worth It, or a Waste? (Taylor GS Mini review, 3 years later)

 

Last edited: Jan 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM

I have owned several of these... currently have the sunburst and have one with a spruce top and maple ply sides... the pickups are fantastic, the quality extraordinary and as I travel a lot.. it fits in the overhead of even a commuter airline. The soft case doubles as a way of carrying tshirts and other soft things... for travel. Worth every penny. I bought the Thomann copy for my daughter as a learner guitar and it is a great value with a similar soft case. Through a sound system they sound big. Go for it. cheers mate

 

I have the all mahogany version. It's nice. If I were buying again I'd get the one with a spruce top. The shorter scale lets me play more adventurous stuff than I can on my Martin.

 

Why do you need a smallish guitar, and why do you want it to be an acoustic guitar?

I prefer a guitar with a cutout so you can move all the way up the neck and keep your thumb on the neck when needed.

The yamaha Apx 500 can be had used for around 100-150$ if you want a smaller guitar. it sound pretty good, has a piezo pickp and eq onboard, so you can punch the bass up a bit and roll off the highs if you need to.



on an acoustic guitar the smaller (and thinner) the guitar the more loss of bass frequencies, the cavity isn't sufficiently large to propagate the lowest frequencies, its just physics. Thats why the Martin backbacker sounds like a banjo.

If you don't need a smaller guitar, (for travel or other purposes) consider a full size guitar. or there is a carbon fiber guitar that is pretty cheap (for carbon fiber guitar)

189$ with case, acoustic version or there is the same guitar with some built in electronics including reverb
https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Beg...arbon+fiber+guitar&qid=1738112262&sr=8-3&th=1


or the smaller version for 100$

https://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Beg...arbon+fiber+guitar&qid=1738112262&sr=8-3&th=1

or the electric acoustic versions
https://www.amazon.com/NOVA-SP1-Aco...rds=carbon+fiber+guitar&qid=1738112984&sr=8-3


comes in 4 colours black,white,turquoise, or purple.



lots of options out there, the carbon fiber will take alot more abuse than the Taylor,
these are 2 samples, you might want to check youtube for guitars in your price range.

good luck, you won't go wrong with the Taylor, but you may outgrow it, if you like to play past the 12th fret..

 

Do they have the strap nuts on? I was looking at sigma and they don’t have strap nuts

 

Sigma Guitars 000MC-1E - 439 EUR
You can set your language at the top right of the page.
www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/Sigma-Guitars-000MC-1E/art-GIT0055435-000
www.musicstore.com/en_GB/GBP/Sigma-Guitars-000MC-1E/art-GIT0055435-000
www.sigma-guitars.com/acoustic-guitars/1-series/000mc-1e/

It has a button at the back for the strap and at the top you have to use a strap with ribbons that you attach to the top of your head.
With the cutaway you can also play higher notes without any problems.

The Sigma 000MC-1E at a glance

With the Sigma 000MC-1E, the manufacturer Sigma presents a compact 000-14 fret acoustic guitar with cutaway and pickup system, which, thanks to its construction and materials, is perfect for blues picking and light strumming both in the living room at home and on stage. A solid Sitka spruce top produces clear and powerful mid and high frequencies, which are perfectly complemented by the gentle warmth of a laminated mahogany body, so that the overall sound is very balanced.

A flat mahogany neck with a low profile, which is equipped with a robust Micarta fingerboard that can be gripped cleanly at all 20 frets, ensures pleasant playability. In addition, a 42.9 mm wide bone saddle and a compensated bridge insert ensure precise intonation over the entire scale length of 645 mm. Chrome-plated die-cast mechanics also guarantee easy tuning and fully reflect the quality of the acoustic guitar. Decorated with subtle bindings, a three-ring soundhole rosette and a tortoise pickguard, the Sigma 000MC-1E also impresses with its elegant high-gloss finish, which gives the instrument a timeless look.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM

the nice thing I didn't mention, but its in the video, is the carbon fiber guitar with the "electronics" has a built in acoustic reverb effect, meaning you don't need an amp to have reverb applied to the sound of the guitar you are playing. This could quite effective if you want to play for friends or do a bit of busking. The bag strap doubles as a guitar strap as well, it looks like an interesting guitar. I'm up to my neck in guitars and am on double secret probation, or I'd buy one myself.

 

Sorry, but I posted this asking about the Taylor, not be persuaded into buying something completely different.

 

About the Taylor Mini...I've played a few when helping my daughter search for a guitar as she recently decided to learn after 20 years of listening to me. She has since abducted my Martin D-15M and she is very happy not to have gone with a tiny, not great sounding instrument, and I concur. They sound like the little boxes of wood that they are. Perhaps if you are only using to hike around with sure, but as a regular every day guitar most definately not, at least in my opinion. There is no bottom end at all and the rest of the tonal spectrum is just meh. My advice is to find a different larger guitar, even a parlor size or 00 size will be more of a real guitar with a sound to it. I have a Yamaha Guitarele which is horrible but can be used as an effect on a track. I won't make a suggestion on what other guitar to perhaps get instead as that's not what you wish to read, but I give a two thumbs down on the Taylor.

 

Hello @Vincent Price, have you decided yet, Taylor or Sigma? If Sigma, which model?
It's better to go to a guitar shop and play a few and then see what you like.
The most important thing is the sound. P.S.: Mahogany is a bit darker than spruce.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM

I’m thinking about Taylor, but I don’t want
To go with anything that doesn’t have both strap nuts, as that is just more work for me. I was looking at a few Sigma Acoustics, but just nothing appealed to me. I though they sounded thin

I have looked at the OOME, the OMT-1 and the OMM-ST

 

If possible it's best to go to a music shop and try a range of different acoustics. Even if you don't buy one at least you will have a better idea of what you like.

 

I have looked everywhere but nowhere has them in stock to go and try out

 

Mine came with strap nuts.

 

Guys guys guys!

Lets be realistic and remember, just because someone says something bad about a certain brand, doesn’t mean that everyone thinks the same about that brand…

sometimes I regret asking on these forums for opinions and some of the stuff people have replied to me with on forums just completely pisses me off.

Also let’s take into account budget…yes…a lot of it is going to be paid by a relative, as it is a combined Christmas and birthday present…

And finally, my friend Charlie from the proclaimers, plays Taylor guitars and I have been to many of their concerts over the years so I know the sound of Taylor’s reasonably well.

At the end of the day, I can’t go and try one out as all the stores don’t have them in stock. But I plan to buy from Thomann so at least, if I don’t get on with it at least I can send it back free.

 

Last edited: Jan 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM

Vincent Vincent Vincent

If you get angry you should stop participating in forums altogether or try to get a sense of humor. Besides, you have already asked a question without ever having heard the guitar, the guitar is too small and has no cutaway and of course Thomann has a "money back guarantee", Thomann then sells your goods as B-stock. And the statement that I know Taylor guitars is complete nonsense. Guitars have a resonance chamber and the choice of wood makes the sound.

Nowadays there are many companies that produce under license, for Gibson it is Epiphone, for Marin Sigma. Today you get the impression that the quality is due to the great competition, the guitars are all produced in low-wage countries.

 

I have heard it

 

And it wasn’t me that said it was too small and has no cut away…that was Garamonda furbish…

 

Taylor GS Minis are great guitars for the money which is why I have one. It's a no brainer getting one for that price. I also had the smaller Baby Taylor BT2 which I regret selling.