Taylor GS Mini Showdown: GS Mini-e Rosewood vs. GS Mini-e Mahogany vs. GS Mini-e Koa

The compact GS Mini is one of the most popular guitar designs Taylor Guitars has ever offered. Over the years, the Mini has grown into a diverse family of models featuring different wood pairings, plus the fun-to-play GS Mini Bass. In this Showdown, Aaron Dablow and Daniel Fraire play and compare the GS Mini-e Rosewood, with layered rosewood back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top; the GS Mini-e Mahogany, with layered sapele back and sides and a solid mahogany top; and the GS Mini-e Koa, with layered Hawaiian koa back and sides and a solid koa top. You’ll hear a strumming and fingerstyle demo for each and find out which model stands out to Daniel. Be sure to let us know your favorite in the comments below.
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About Taylor Guitars
Taylor Guitars was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, and has grown into the leading global builder of premium acoustic guitars. Renowned for blending modern, innovative manufacturing techniques with a master craftsman's attention to detail, Taylor acoustic guitars are widely considered among the best-sounding and easiest to play in the world. The company is a pioneer in the use of computer mills, lasers and other high-tech tools and proprietary machinery, and today, Bob Taylor is widely recognized throughout the musical instrument industry as a visionary acoustic guitar manufacturer.
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[@mdsmusiclibrary7872]

Strumming 0:37 rosewood 1:32 mahogany 2:14 koa Fingerstyle 2:57 rosewood 3:13 mahogany 3:31 koa

[@paul_sebastian1154]

I’ve had my GS mini mahogany for about 5 years now and love it, it’s my go-to noodling guitar, and become a real good friend.

[@kcn-qt6fc]

I am so happy with my mahogany GS Mini. The tone of it in this video is true to the tone I hear and feel when I play.

[@kd5773]

Love my mahogany and this didn’t change my mind. Beautiful playing sir.

[@daveallsopp320]

I bought a gs mini in the U.K. just after xmas after having various different makes and sizes this has got to be the best all round guitar for your money and after watching many KZbin videos of comparisons on sound I do like the koa but the price put me off a bit, I do have a theory that you get what you pay for in this world but pound for pound the mahogany goes all the way, keep up the good work Taylor👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@paulgardner1613]

Just bought the Mahogany and I love it!

[@pateastes9767]

Tried several different ones at a music store, and the koa followed me home. Very nice!

[@BG-ig6fd]

I prefer the mahogany. Warmer and fuller. I guess I like that kind of a sound. But in other videos of other players, sometimes I prefer the koa.

[@mikebailey2119]

I have a GS Mini e Koa and love the sound it produces. 🎶

[@mrsmilefailrocker]

Awesome GS Mini Mahogany and sapele sir, warm n light/soft bright

[@walterstreet1467]

I’m torn between the mahogany and the koa, I like them both, I was going to buy the koa , but the mahogany reminds me of my first guitar 56 years ago. Haven’t played in 45 years so I will be starting over again and it was recommended for therapy and I wanted to be able to play anyway

[@Suninitib]

I have a koa and it is lovely. But I have a full size mahogany and know what you mean. They have a lovely sound. Good luck with your playing. I started playing at age 67 and still love it. 🥰

[@walterstreet1467]

I bought the koa and even sounds better at home I have a lot a work ahead of me and I am 71 years old, my fingers will have to adjust. I am glad to see I am not the only one starting late.

[@jerricosagala2904]

@@Suninitib Omg at 40 im not too late to begin

[@Suninitib]

@@jerricosagala2904 you’re a youngster 👍

[@suyesess7754]

Same here I m 40 n going to buy GS MINI mahogany today.Its never too late to start anything if u've passion.

[@randyx5887]

Love the appearance of both mahogany & Koa. Both have better mids & lows, but the Koa lets the highs come through as well. I have both a Larivee & Taylor 214 with Koa sides & back. Next will be a GS Koa. Love the sound. Also, I do some woodworking s I think the Koa is just a beautiful wood.

[@davegutshall8117]

I've bought & sold several over the 12 years or so Taylor's been producing the GS Mini. Of the three top wood styles I've owned (Sitka, Mahogany, Koa), I'd give the visual beauty to the Koa models, but the tonal winner is the Mahogany model. Warmth, clarity, nice mid push - The 'Hog' is a completely satisfying acoustic tone from a compact and easy to carry instrument. Just bought another Mahogany topped Mini for an upcoming vacation - I really need to hang on to this one!!!!

[@NetMillionaire]

Love them all and I bought the Koa plus and love it. Sounds so good and (maybe even better plugged in!)

[@paulstubbs4487]

Koa for me. Rosewood seemed nice all round (I own an 814CE so know that sound), mahogany just seems a little dark and lacked sparkle. Koa seemed nice and bright and had more life than the other two.

[@StephenRybacki]

I've had my GS Mini-e Koa for maybe 5-6 years and it is really nice to take traveling! The sound is excellent, and the day I got it I went to a friends show where he asked me up to play along and it performed admirably!

[@davidwalker41]

I have often heard that koa warms up a bit as it ages. Have you noticed any change in tonal quality since you bought it. I'm sure it's gradual so maybe it's hard to notice unless very pronounced.

[@mikemcnevin1785]

I personally think the rosewood sounded clearer, with almost a bell ring clarity to each note.

[@musikus7092]

Agree

[@letsridehard]

Recently got the GS Mini Koa plus. What an amazing little guitar, it looks beautiful and sounds like a big guitar. I have 7 other guitars but this one I can’t out down

[@scottduell2416]

Mahogany is my choice and one that I own and love as well.

[@kongyuenhung]

Really like the koa, the sound is so beautiful

[@kimrileymusic]

I bought the Rosewood, I like a brighter guitar

[@saxMD2008]

I have a spruce/rosewood mini which I love and play frequently. If I were to add another? It would be mahogany.

[@jamesow5163]

I bought a koa last year. No regrets. Still the best sound ever !

[@GrammyJane57]

I bought the Koa . I really like it.

[@user-ug3vo3pg7g]

I hope you guys will release a gs mini kind of size but with a cutaway because that would be so greatt :)

[@juzzie]

I liked the Koa!

[@LeeEisenstein]

Love the mahogany top.

[@juanpaolosalazar3029]

That mahogany is too good. I love the sound

[@troybagby4902]

Actually I like all of them but for different reasons.

[@cueoneful]

ordered my rosewood lefty today.

[@martywilkinson6722]

I want a koa version.

[@charlesmurschell3110]

Spruce for me. I love the lively sound.

[@ultramagnetic3556]

Will Taylor ever produce a small scale guitar like the GS Mini, but with a cutaway? The 23.5 scale is awesome, I just wish I could reach those higher frets. Love these guitars!! :)

[@user-ug3vo3pg7g]

For real!! THAT WOULD BE SO DOPE

[@planetdigital300]

there are luthier design considerations - Taylor surely has looked into this and it is possible that the cutaway 'cuts down' too deep into the tone given the short scale length.

[@leesamuelson]

like the rosewood best. Others were a bit to warm. Ok for being alone but with other instruments it will get lost.

[@glen7228]

Mahogany for me. I bought it.

[@briandonnelly3052]

Mahogany had the warmest tone, followed by koa, and rosewood was brightest.

[@desmirage]

Mahogany for my vote.

[@rootbox]

That koa is so rich.

[@MrPeter924]

Very good music playing guitar so sound great audio

[@becklondonespinoza7051]

0:37 1:31 2:13

[@shine3667]

2:57

[@philipaklonis7906]

Mahogany❤

[@4711Baron]

Wich one is the best for strumming? What would the player say?

[@musikus7092]

What is a natural compression?

[@shermanbrennan3349]

All very nice but it's mahogany for me.

[@HandmadeDarcy]

Are you sure the third type that you're calling Koa is Koa? While the mahogany can be quite stripey (as yours is), I have never seen a koa with so little striping, or of that colour - while it looks exactly like most of the BT2s do, and sound like them, too. I think you've either mislabelled them both, or just have 2 mahogany ones - which would also explain why they sound so very similar.

[@frogblues]

They all sound the same, which is not surprising since they are all laminate small body guitars. Yes, there are some minor differences but I'll bet most people could not pick them out in a fully blind test.

[@Roofished]

Why did the Koa Plus price increase?

[@danielgrant4543]

They added a gloss finish and a different pickup, so the Koa plus has the 3 usual Taylor knobs on the body which is supposed to help with the resonance. The Koa had a cut out pick up controls and they got some complaints it would affect the sound basically.

[@shepaluteprez]

The Koa Plus also adds the aero case and 18:1 tuners which is a step up from all the others. The electric pickup is also the ES2 rather than the ESB. The ES2 is what the higher end guitars all carry and they utilize a short of preamp along with the piezo pickup to give it a richer sound when plugged in and it utilizes a 9 volt battery.

[@Roofished]

@@shepaluteprez had all that last year when it was $999, as opposed to the current $1099. So you really didn’t answer the question

[@jordanross9828]

Also has an Ebony fret board and bridge.

[@jordanross9828]

@@Roofished All things went up in price the last 18 months

[@bapohh]

I just bought the rosewood, from all comments its the least best😢

[@tabutog]

Strumming 0:37 rosewood 1:32 mahogany 2:14 koa Fingerstyle 2:57 rosewood 3:13 mahogany 3:31 koa

[@lourdesfrancis2201]

Thank you