Taylor GS Mini-e Koa: Top Compact Acoustic

Introduction

The Taylor GS Mini is one of the most popular compact travel acoustic guitars on the market. Since its debut in 2010, it has become a go-to choice for players who need a high-quality portable acoustic. The GS Mini line includes a range of top wood options like spruce, mahogany, and rosewood – but the GS Mini-e Koa stands out for its use of premium solid Hawaiian koa on the top.

Koa is a tonewood prized for its beauty, rarity, and tonal complexity. It only grows at high elevations in Hawaii’s volcanic soil. The unique growing conditions imbue koa with a resonant, focused voice that balances warmth and articulation. Its shimmering appearance and scarcity add to the allure of the GS Mini-e Koa for discerning players.

Taylor’s decision to use solid koa for the top wood helps the GS Mini-e Koa deliver an unexpectedly bold, nuanced tone from its compact body size. The koa top is complemented visually and sonically by layered koa back and sides, which further enhance the Hawaiian wood’s presence. Between its exotic good looks and full-bodied acoustic voice, the GS Mini-e Koa stands apart as a premium offering in Taylor’s lineup of portable guitars.

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Specs & Features

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa stands out for its compact size and premium tonewoods while retaining Taylor’s signature acoustic tone and playability. This Grand Symphony shaped mini guitar has a solid Hawaiian koa top with layered koa back and sides for a stunning figured look and complex tone.

It features a tropical mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard and 20 frets. Electronics consist of Taylor’s ES-B undersaddle piezo pickup with volume and tone controls discreetly placed inside the soundhole. This allows you to easily amplify your acoustic tone at gigs or recording sessions.

This model comes in a choice of shaded edgeburst finish options to highlight the beautiful koa grain patterns. Each GS Mini-e Koa comes with a padded gig bag for protection during transport and storage. The deluxe hardshell case is available separately for those wanting maximum security.

Koa Tonewood: Sound & Tone

Koa is a premium tonewood that lends the GS Mini-e a highly resonant and complex acoustic voice. Native to Hawaii, koa has a distinctive look and sound characterized by a warm low end, sparkling highs, and pronounced midrange. The solid koa top is key to the guitar’s acoustic projection, allowing the wood’s tonal nuances to come through.

The koa top gives the GS Mini-e a balanced and articulate tone. Compared to spruce, koa has a tighter and more focused voice with added complexity in the mids. The lows have warmth yet still retain definition. When strummed, the koa GS Mini-e has a clear and present sound with nice sustain. The crisp highs allow individual notes to sing out nicely during fingerstyle playing.

Compared to the mahogany top option, koa has more shimmer and openness. Mahogany has a darker, woodier voice that can sound somewhat muted. The koa top is lively and resonant, though not as overtly bright as spruce. It finds a pleasing middle ground – enough warmth to handle light strumming but enough clarity for melodic playing. As the guitar plays in, the koa develops even more dimension and responsiveness.

Playability & Feel

Despite its compact size, the GS Mini-e Koa offers impressive playability and feel that makes you forget you’re playing such a small guitar. The Grand Symphony body shape is expertly downsized to 14 frets, providing a comfortable balance between portability and full-size acoustic tone.

The neck has a slim, fast-playing profile that feels great in the hand. It’s not overly thin but strikes a nice balance of contour and substance. Combined with the ebony fretboard and low action from the factory setup, the GS Mini-e Koa is incredibly comfortable and easy to play. Even intricate fingerstyle passages come across smooth and fluid.

While a compact acoustic may not seem like the ideal choice for hard strumming, the GS Mini-e Koa holds up well when you dig in. Notes ring out clearly with excellent intonation across the fretboard thanks to Taylor’s meticulous attention to setup. This makes the guitar suitable for a wide range of playing styles.

The smaller body size does mean the GS Mini-e Koa may not project as loudly as a full dreadnought when played unplugged. However, the focused overtone-rich voice cuts through well in small to medium venues. And the onboard ES-B pickup provides excellent amplified volume and stage presence when needed.

Overall, the playability is top-notch for a compact acoustic. The GS Mini-e Koa feels inspiring to play while retaining Taylor’s signature ease of use across musical genres. It’s a guitar that makes you want to keep picking it up and playing for hours.

Electronics & Plugged-In Performance

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa comes equipped with Taylor’s ES-B pickup system, which utilizes an undersaddle piezo pickup design. This allows the guitar to be easily amplified while retaining the natural acoustic tone and dynamics.

When plugging in the GS Mini-e Koa, the tone produced is impressively faithful to the unplugged acoustic sound. The ES-B does an excellent job of capturing the bright, complex voicing of the Hawaiian koa top. There is a natural resonance and body that comes through, avoiding the sterile "quacky" sound some piezo pickups can have. The tone controls on the guitar allow for further shaping of the amplified tone if desired.

The undersaddle piezo also provides great feedback rejection when playing the GS Mini-e Koa at higher volumes. The compact body size can sometimes cause issues with feedback when amplified, but the Taylor ES-B system handles higher gain exceedingly well. No unwanted ringing or howling occurs even at loud volumes making it ideal for live performance situations.

For recording applications, the ES-B pickup gives the GS Mini-e Koa a studio-ready amplified acoustic tone. It has the articulation and nuanced voicing needed for professional-level recording while still retaining the authentic acoustic sound. The guitar can be easily direct inputted into recording interfaces and mixes well with other instruments.

Pricing

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa has a street price of around $999, which positions it at the higher end of Taylor’s GS Mini lineup. This premium pricing is largely due to the use of solid Hawaiian koa for the top wood. Koa is one of the most highly-prized tonewoods due to its beauty, rarity and tonal properties. The costs involved in sourcing and working with koa wood contribute to the higher price tag compared to more common tonewoods.

Compared to other similar compact travel-size acoustics on the market, the GS Mini-e Koa commands a premium price, often $200-400 more than models from other brands. Players are paying for the unique appearance and sound of Hawaiian koa, which many feel is worth the extra investment. The koa top in particular adds to the value proposition by influencing the resonance and voice of the guitar.

Part of the added cost can also be attributed to Taylor’s reputation for quality and craftsmanship. The company is known for employing master luthiers and builders to carefully construct each guitar by hand. This results in excellent attention to detail, premium components, and high standards of quality control. Owners can have confidence in the longevity of a Taylor guitar thanks to their comprehensive warranty program as well.

For players who appreciate exotic tonewoods like Hawaiian koa and seek the portability of a compact travel-friendly guitar, the GS Mini-e Koa represents an excellent value despite its higher price. The investment pays off in the form of beautiful looks, rich acoustic tone, and Taylor’s signature playability and build quality.

GS Mini-e Koa vs Other Compact Acoustics

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa stands out from other popular compact travel acoustic-electrics with its premium solid Hawaiian koa top. While many travel guitars opt for more affordable tonewoods, the koa immediately sets the GS Mini-e apart visually and tonally.

Compared to other travel-size acoustics like the Martin LX1 or Yamaha APXT2, the GS Mini-e Koa delivers more complexity and articulation in its tone. The solid koa top resonates with a focused midrange and clear treble response. This allows the GS Mini Koa to work well for intricate fingerstyle playing and recording applications.

The layered koa back and sides also give the Taylor a unique look and contribute to the balanced koa voice. Many competitors use laminate or non-solid wood backs and sides to keep costs down.

Against the standard GS Mini with a solid spruce or mahogany top, the GS Mini-e Koa excels in providing an exotic tonewood character. The koa adds warmth and richness to the GS Mini formula. However, the spruce and mahogany GS Mini models do offer a more affordable price point at around $600-700.

Overall, the koa wood is the GS Mini-e Koa’s standout feature versus other compact acoustics. It makes the guitar equally suited to home playing and travel while delivering premium acoustic tone in a small package. The koa tone and aesthetics justify the higher cost for players who appreciate exotic tonewoods.

Who Is the GS Mini-e Koa Best For?

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is an ideal choice for certain players who will appreciate what this premium model offers.

Premium Compact Acoustic Players

Guitarists looking for a high-end compact acoustic will find a lot to love with the GS Mini-e Koa. Its use of solid Hawaiian koa for the top along with layered koa back and sides gives it a level of tonewood quality rarely found in a travel-sized instrument. The mini body shape retains Taylor’s signature feel and playability as well.

Those Who Value Exotic Tonewoods

For players who appreciate unique and exotic tonewoods like koa, the GS Mini-e Koa delivers those aesthetics along with the coveted sound profile. The koa imparts a balanced and intricate voice that blossoms as the guitar ages.

Musicians Needing a Quality Travel Guitar

The small footprint of the GS Mini-e Koa makes it a perfect gigging companion for musicians frequently on the go. It can handle the rigors of travel while providing pro-level tone in a compact package. The optional Taylor deluxe case offers even more protection.

Recording Artists and Songwriters

With its clear and articulate acoustic voice, the GS Mini-e Koa works well in studio settings. Its ES-B pickup accurately captures the nuances of the koa top. For songwriters, the Hawaiian koa can inspire creative melodic and harmonic ideas.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The solid Hawaiian koa top produces a warm, bright, and complex tone that makes this model stand out. The koa develops more resonance and richness over time.

• Despite the compact Grand Symphony body size, the GS Mini-e Koa retains the full acoustic voice of a Taylor guitar. It’s extremely portable for travel without sacrificing tone.

• Taylor’s excellent playability shines through on the GS Mini-e Koa. The neck profile is comfortable and accessible. The action is set low and precisely from the factory.

• The ES-B under-saddle piezo pickup provides quality amplified acoustic tones. The electronics showcase the Koa’s balanced voice.

Cons

• The GS Mini-e Koa commands a premium price, even in the compact acoustic-electric category. The Hawaiian koa wood does add to the cost.

• The smaller body doesn’t project as loudly as a full-size dreadnought when played unplugged. It works better for more intimate playing situations.

• The ES-B pickup only has basic tone and volume controls. It lacks more advanced tweaking compared to higher-end pickup systems.

Conclusion

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is a premium option for players seeking the ultimate compact acoustic-electric. With its solid Hawaiian koa top and layered koa back and sides, this guitar delivers a complex, articulate tone perfect for fingerstyle playing and recording applications.

Overall, the GS Mini-e Koa is best suited for discerning players who appreciate exotic tonewoods and need a quality travel-friendly guitar. The compact Grand Symphony body retains Taylor’s signature playability while remaining portable enough for tight spaces. Players who crave Taylor craftsmanship in a scaled-down package will find their ideal instrument here.

In closing, the GS Mini-e Koa warrants its premium price tag by providing Taylor’s renowned build quality and tonewoods to players needing a smaller acoustic. While not cheap, it’s built to last and offers long-term playability. For guitarists wanting the ultimate grab-and-go acoustic, the GS Mini-e Koa is a smart, if pricey, investment.