Introduction
Founded in 1974, Taylor Guitars has become one of the most respected acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world. Known for their innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship, Taylor revolutionized the industry with their combination of modern technology and traditional guitar making techniques.
In 2010, Taylor introduced the GS Mini guitar line as a more portable and travel-friendly version of their popular Grand Symphony body shape. With a compact, comfortable body size and incredible tone, the GS Mini appealed to everyone from touring musicians to college students.
Of all the models in the GS Mini series, the GS Mini Mahogany stands out for its rich, complex voice. The solid mahogany top produces a warm, focused sound that balances sparkling highs and tight lows. For travelers and gigging guitarists, the GS Mini Mahogany packs an impressive tonal punch in a small package. With its professional features and appointments, this little guitar embodies everything Taylor is known for – innovation, playability, and stunning tone.
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Specs & Features
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany stands out for its compact yet full-sounding scaled-down Grand Symphony body shape. It measures just 18-5/8 inches long, with a width of 15 inches and depth of 4-5/8 inches. Despite the small size, it still weighs a very comfortable 6.6 pounds. This makes it easy to play for extended periods and ideal for travel.
The top is made of solid tropical American mahogany, which gives the guitar a rich, warm, and articulate tone. The back and sides are layered sapele, providing crispness and definition. The 23-1/2 inch scale mahogany neck has a slim taper profile that is very comfortable and playable. The width at the nut is 1-11/16 inches, with 20 frets and an ebony fretboard.
It comes equipped with Taylor’s ES-B pickup system, featuring an undersaddle piezo pickup paired with onboard preamp controls for volume and tone shaping. This allows you to easily plug into an amplifier or PA system.
The GS Mini Mahogany also includes a deluxe padded gig bag for protection and portability. Along with a polishing cloth, picks, and extra strings.
Sound & Tone
The solid mahogany top is the defining feature of the GS Mini Mahogany, giving it a rich, warm, and articulate tone. Mahogany is known for its balanced sound across the tonal spectrum, with pronounced mids, smooth highs, and tight low end. This makes it extremely versatile for a variety of musical genres and playing styles.
The mahogany produces plenty of volume and projection for a small-bodied guitar. It has a focused and clear tone when played unplugged, with the crisp highs and midrange definition that Taylor guitars are renowned for. There’s an almost piano-like quality in the treble, while the mahogany adds a touch of woody character and resonance to the mids and low end.
Plugged in, the ES-B pickup and preamp system accurately captures the balanced mahogany tone. The EQ controls allow you to shape the sound to suit any amplified performance situation. The mahogany’s natural warmth and balanced EQ make it ideal for pop, rock, country, folk, and fingerstyle playing. It’s a great choice for singer-songwriters and recording applications where a versatile acoustic guitar tone is needed.
Playability
The GS Mini Mahogany is designed for comfortable, effortless playing during practice sessions, gigs, or travel. Its compact body size makes it lightweight at under 2 lbs, avoiding shoulder, back, and neck strain during extended playing.
The slim, tapered neck profile provides smooth transitions up and down the neck, with carefully sculpted contours for your hand. String spacing at the nut is 1 11/16", allowing adequate room between strings for fingerstyle techniques. Action is set impressively low for an acoustic guitar, hovering around 2.5mm on the treble side and 3mm on the bass side.
This allows easy fretting and facilitates complex chording and lead playing. The richlite fretboard offers a smooth, pleasing feel, with a satin finish that doesn’t stick to your fingers during fast runs. The mini mahogany neck imparts a comfortable, almost "broken-in" feel right out of the box.
Build Quality & Craftsmanship
Taylor Guitars has built a reputation for exceptional build quality and fine craftsmanship over decades of guitar making. The GS Mini Mahogany lives up to these high standards with its flawless construction and attention to detail that Taylor is known for.
The guitar features solid tonewoods and high-quality appointments from top to bottom. The solid mahogany top not only sounds great, but is strong and stable. The layered sapele back and sides are durable and add visual depth. The ebony or richlite fingerboard and bridge feel smooth and comfortable under the fingers.
Small details like the binding, purfling, and rosette are executed with precision. The neck joint, fretwork, and body construction reflect Taylor’s masterful guitar building. Even the satin finish and appointments add to the understated elegance.
Overall, the GS Mini Mahogany shows off the refined craftsmanship and premium materials that make Taylor acoustics stand out. For a travel-sized guitar, it maintains a remarkably high level of fit and finish. This ensures it will hold up well to regular use, travel, and gigging while aging gracefully over years of playing.
Portability
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany was designed from the ground up for maximum portability. Its compact size and lightweight construction make it the perfect travel companion for guitarists on the go.
Despite its small size, the GS Mini Mahogany retains the familiar Grand Symphony body shape that Taylor is known for, just in a scaled-down format. The guitar measures just over 18 inches long, with a nut width of 1 11/16 inches. This makes it extremely comfortable to play, even for long periods of time.
But the best part is that the GS Mini Mahogany weighs in at just under 4 pounds. This feather-light weight means you can easily sling it over your shoulder and take it anywhere without compromising tone or playability. Whether you’re heading out camping, flying to a gig, or just practicing in a small apartment, the GS Mini Mahogany is ready for adventure.
The guitar comes with Taylor’s high quality hardshell case, custom fitted to protect the GS Mini Mahogany. The case features plush interior lining and rugged exterior shell to keep your guitar safe in transit. It’s compact enough to store in an overhead bin or under a plane seat when traveling.
With its ultra-portable size and weight, protective case, and impressive acoustic performance, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is the perfect travel guitar companion for musicians on the move. You don’t have to sacrifice rich tone just because you need a guitar that’s easy to take anywhere your music takes you.
Value
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany represents an outstanding value for the money. While not the cheapest travel-sized acoustic on the market, it is fairly priced considering the exceptional quality and craftsmanship that Taylor is known for.
At around $600, the GS Mini Mahogany costs a bit more than entry-level models from other brands. However, it delivers a tone, playability, and build quality on par with guitars costing two or three times as much. The all-solid wood construction and real ebony fretboard help justify the higher price tag.
For guitarists wanting a lifetime travel companion, the GS Mini Mahogany is an excellent investment. Should you ever decide to sell it, Taylors are known to retain their value exceptionally well on the used market. The stellar reputation of the brand ensures strong resale demand.
Overall, the mini mahogany represents a fair value at its price point of around $600. While not dirt cheap, it delivers professional-grade quality that makes it worth the extra investment over cheaper alternatives. For a travel-sized Taylor, it hits a sweet spot between price and performance.
Alternatives & Comparisons
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany stands out in the market for travel-sized acoustic guitars, but there are some worthy alternatives to consider from both Taylor’s own mini guitar lineup and competitor brands.
Within Taylor’s mini guitar series, the GS Mini Spruce and GS Mini Koa offer different tonal characteristics that may appeal more to some players. The spruce top model provides added brightness and projection, while the Hawaiian koa imparts a mellower, warmer tonality. Those wanting a mini guitar optimized for fingerstyle playing may prefer the wider 1-3/4" nut width of the Taylor 150e mini dreadnought.
For those wanting electronics in a mini Taylor model, the GS Mini-e Koa, GS Mini-e Bass, and GS Mini-e Mahogany come equipped with ES-B pickup systems. The GS Mini Bass offers a 30.5" scale length for optimized low-end, making it a great mini guitar choice for guitarists who also play bass.
Looking at competitor brands, the Martin LX1 Little Martin is comparable in size and portability to the Taylor GS Mini. It offers a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The Little Martin has a wider 1-11/16" nut width but lacks onboard electronics.
The Yamaha APXT2 Mini is another popular mini acoustic-electric, with a spruce top and nato back and sides. It’s very lightweight at just over 5 lbs, but may not match the Taylor’s build quality and attention to detail.
Overall, while there are many great mini and travel guitar options, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany stands out with its rich solid mahogany top tone, excellent playability, and high-end appointments and craftsmanship. For a top-tier travel-sized acoustic, it’s hard to beat.
Ideal User
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is perfect for guitarists who need a compact, portable acoustic. Its small size makes it ideal for frequent travelers who want to bring a guitar on the road or campers who need minimal extra weight in their pack. The GS Mini Mahogany is also a great choice for small apartment dwellers, as its scaled-down body won’t take up much space.
Some key benefits for ideal users:
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Frequent travelers will appreciate the compact, lightweight design that fits easily into overhead bins or suitcases. The included hard case provides protection during transport.
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Campers and hikers will love having a real acoustic guitar tone from such a portable package. The GS Mini adds minimal weight and bulk to a backpack.
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Small apartment dwellers get the joy of playing a Taylor acoustic without sacrificing precious space. The GS Mini is easy to store in a closet or corner when not in use.
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Students living in tight dorm rooms can finally have a high-quality acoustic guitar for practice, without disturbing roommates.
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Parents can keep a GS Mini easily accessible around the house for spur-of-the-moment practice or playtime.
So whether you’re a traveling musician, outdoor enthusiast, or just live in a tiny space, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is designed to fit your lifestyle. Its combination of full acoustic tone and compact portability makes it the perfect musical companion.
Conclusion
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany stands out as one of the best travel-sized acoustic guitars you can buy. Its solid mahogany top produces a rich, warm, articulate tone perfect for folk, country, pop, and rock. The slim neck profile and compact body size make it extremely comfortable and portable without sacrificing playability.
Taylor’s flawless craftsmanship and attention to detail result in a beautifully designed, durable guitar built to last. The layered sapele back and sides provide a balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. The included electronics allow you to plug in for live gigs or recording sessions.
For guitarists needing a high-quality, travel-friendly acoustic, the GS Mini Mahogany is highly recommended. It’s professional-grade tone and playability in a scaled-down package make it the ultimate choice for frequent travelers, students, apartment dwellers, or anyone needing portability. The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany earns our highest recommendation as the best travel-sized acoustic guitar you can buy.