Taylor GS Mini Travel Guitar
A travel guitar like Taylor GS Mini Reduced Scale is probably the best acoustic guitar a beginner may wish. Many beginners prefer smaller guitars because the reduced size allows them to master the fretboard faster. Women, kids and some people suffering from arthritis will also find that playing a travel guitar is easier than playing a normal sized guitar.
There are at least three models of travel guitars made by Taylor Guitars namely Baby Taylor, Big Baby Taylor and Taylor GS Mini. Baby Taylor and its larger sibling Big Baby Taylor are based on dreadnought guitar whilst the Taylor Guitars GS Mini Reduced Scale is inspired by the Taylor’s award-winning Grand Symphony body shape. The GS Mini simply scales the dimensions down without altering or reducing the sound quality that represents the Taylor intonation and playability.
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Taylor GS Mini Specifications:
* Model GS Mini
* Grand Symphony shaped
* Sapele Laminate Back/Sides
* Solid Sitka Spruce Top
* Taylor’s patented NT® neck, Sapele wood
* Overlay Lexan Headstock
* Satin Finish
* 3-Ring Rosette
* 1 11/16″ Nut Width
* Black/White/Black Purfling
* Ebony Fretboard
* 5 mm dots Inlays
* 20 Frets
* Overall Length 36 5/8″
* Scale Length 23 1/2″
* Body Length 17 5/8″
* Body Width 14 3/8″
* Body Depth 4 7/16″
* Tusq Nut/Saddle
* Chrome Tuners
* Ebony Bridge
* Plastic Bridge Pins
* Tortoise Shell Pickguard
* No Pickups
* Elixir® Medium Gauge Strings w/ NANOWEB® Coating
* Case GS Mini Hardbag
Pros
- Doesn’t look like a toy (e.g.,the Baby Taylor)
- “Faster” fretboard due to reduced scale
- Amazingly impressive and loud for a mini guitar
- Great playability with good intonation
- Great response to light string attack, ideal for flat picking style
- Sound is loud, open and rich with sufficient bass response
- Good for adults with smallish hands, women and kids
- Light weight and small but still comfortable to play even for a big guy
- Great for traveling due to its mini size
- Well made gig bag
Cons
- The materials used seem a little on the thin side to achieve more powerful sound
- The solid top is quite thin so it may prone to break or crack if banged into something sharp or hard
- Not so friendly to fatty fingers
- Pricey
Choosing the right guitar is essential for a beginner. Always look for guitar with good playability – that should at least include low action setting, good tuners that keep the strings pretty well tuned and stable, and good intonation. Playing a poorly made guitar will take you nowhere and leave you frustrated because every single note or chord you play sounds weird, not to mention the high action that makes bar chording really painful. Avoid this mistake and see the difference when you are playing a Taylor GS Mini.
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