Taylor GS Mini Koa Plus - Compared to GS Mini Koa Standard
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2020
- Just in… the new Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus!! If you like a GS Mini, you'll LOVE the newest addition to the lineup! The Plus features upgrades like the edge burst finish, better tuners and pickup system, and the super durable Aerocase! Watch until the end where we play it next to a standard GS Mini Koa too!
GUITAR SPECS:
Back & Side Wood: Layered Koa
Body Type: GS Mini
Series: Travel Guitars
Top Wood: Koa
Nut Width: 1 11/16"
Neck Shape: Standard
Bracing Pattern: GS Mini with Relief Rout
Scale Length: 23 1/2"
String Spacing at Saddle: 2 3/16"
Acoustic Pickup: ES2
Tuners: Taylor Nickel
Case: Taylor Aerocase
MORE INFO:
Give us a call at (406) 290-9390 or email us at sales@musicvilla.com for more information.
Website: musicvilla.com
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This is currently in my wish lists!!
Update: I should be getting my Taylor Gs Mini Koa Plus today and I’m SUPER EXCITED!!
How are you liking it two years later?
@@briguy345 I absolutely love it!!! It is such a compact guitar (something to consider if you travel with it or take it from place to place). The sound is much louder than expected, as well as pretty sounding. The mahogany wood is beautiful, especially when the sun shines on it (but do make sure to project the finish and neck too). The guitar case it comes with is also great quality, so you don't have to worry about purchasing a new one or the guitar being damaged. There isn't a flaw that I can think of. This was the first guitar I bought with my own money, and It's 100% worth it imo!
Great video ! Mine arrived yesterday as beautiful as can imagine !
Travel & students & grandchildren. Great smaller guitar. Thanks Paul and Quinton.
I recently purchased one. Easy to play, beautiful look, and super sound! I am delighted with my purchase.
Just got mine last Friday. Awesomeness!! 😎🎸👍
Have had the regular Koa mini-e for 18 months. Love it! Sold my larger Taylor 800CE , too big and bulky to carry. Sound on mini is top notch, especially plugged in. Light to carry. Price of $800-$1,000 much more palatable than the $3,500-$6,000 guitars being marketed.
The Koa minis are sweet sounding guitars.
Nice Job 👍
Koa+ has X-bracing vs. "GS Mini with Relief Rout" on the regular Koa. Also "Ebony" fingerboard on Koa+ vs. "West African Crelicam Ebony" on regular Koa. I traded up from Koa to Koa+. Koa+ is better wrt staying in tune, plugged-in sound, and a bit better on unplugged sound. The new case is sooo luxurious, but it is bulkier and heavier.
I loved the comment about getting one for your kids becuase I literally just bought one for my soon to be 11 year old who has been playing a Baby Taylor for the last couple of years and, IMO, has outgrown it's size. It was expensive, but I think it's a great investment in his learning and ability to enjoy playing.
I got one of the first one's shipped after a preorder over a year ago. Still absolutely love it! And BTW, Music Villa was great to work with.
These gs mini’s are drop tuning monsters. Excellent.
I just traded my Taylor 214e deluxe custom, lost hundreds of dollars doing so, but I really wanted this one and don’t really regret it, I love the size and the bass evens out the brightness that they are known for.
Did you trade your Taylor 214 deluxe? for the gs mini e Koa plus?
@@Crismartz2024 I traded a 322e 12 fret for a Mini koa plus some pedals and stuff. Dont regret it.
easy on the eyes and comfy on the couch
Great video! Any chance you can do a comparison video where you take the travel version and the full version of the same guitar, both with the same woods, and A/B them so and we can just hear the difference the size makes?
There is a comparison at the end of this video. This GS Mini-e Koa Plus is the EXACT same body size as all other GS Minis.
@@musicvilladotcom I think they meant a Taylor Grand Symphony
I like the improved sound system in this model.
I own one and it rocks. I had custom Koa and Ebony Bridge pins added, Custom Koa Tuning Buttons added, a custom Brazilian Black Cherry and Blue Abalone Pick Guard, a custom Truss Rod Cover made from Ebony and Kentucky Abalone with a Dragon in Blue Abalone and Mother of Pearl. Absolutely beautiful guitar that plays great. I own several nice guitars and this one gets played the most by a long shot. These things are used by many professional musicians both in studio and on stage. I have seen one played in a stadium in front of a crowd of 50,000 plus.
Is there a way you could show me a picture of yours by email or something? Because I want to customize mine and want more ideas and yours sounds decked out
Have you guys done a video comparing the GS mini mahogany, spruce, koa tops ?
Impressive in the store, but I'm a dread/Jumbo guy. Don't travel much, love big sound unplugged. These would be my first choices this type of guitar, though... Minis, Koa Minis.
It's an ideal size for playing... for adults too... Comfort is being overlooked. Not just for travel. Now that guitars are amped, if we need more volume, problem solved. What about comfort and tone in a small package. That is where the industry is heading...
As a woman with arthritis in my smaller hands and shoulders, this guitar size is ideal for everyday play compared to my dreadnought. You're right, adults, too!
@@libaI’m a guy with average size hands and I’ve been playing a long time, but like you, I now have arthritis and it’s almost impossible for me to play most full sized instruments. I have one of these and it allows me to still play professionally. I use lighter strings and even tune it down a whole step. I just love it.
Both sound pretty great for small guitars.
I have the all mahogany version it’s awesome, they do come set up high and I did need to lower the bridge some as well as cut the nut to get the action down, these are a bit challenging to play with medium strings with high action...only a few of the frets needed filing now it plays awesome!
You're right that the action on this mini plus is a bit high, compared to other Taylor guitars. And I was surprised to see that the height on the "high e" is way higher than other Taylor guitars.
I must also say that, considering its size, I was sold on how loud and full sound with amazing sustain the mini plus koa is able to produce. My jaw dropped in amazement.
I was at the local guitar shop to try "again" Taylor AD22e American Dream. When it comes to buying a guitar, I have to try it a few times and sleep on it and try it again to finally make a decision. But "Taylor GS Mini Koa Plus" threw a monkey wrench into my decision making when I was just about to walk out with the AD22e American Dream. I saw this Taylor GS Mini Koa Plus with a pricey tag, compared to other GS Minis, and decided to pick it up and give it a try. Now I have to think about which one to buy! Back to square one! Maybe I should say which one to buy first!?
As for the string height (action) at the 12th fret, here are some comparisons.
String height is from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the string.
--Taylor AD22e American Dream--
Low E: 2.5mm
High e: 1.75mm
--Taylor 214CE--
Low E: 2.75mm
High e: 1.75mm
--Taylor GS Mini Plus--
Low E: 2.75mm
High e: 2.25mm
did you use different strings? At least in this video the standard e-koa mini sounds a whole lot better.
Sir plz do some comparison between Taylor gs mini koa e vs orange wood ava live..
Hi guys, how does the GS Mini Koa Plus compare to a Martin 00-15m? Thanks and happy new year!
The standard Koa sounds more open to me, maybe it’s been played more but I’d take that one 😎
Agree!
Thats the one!!! Just like that ..... beautiful..
I'm givin' up my 57 year "Don Quixote" quest for a Les Paul for this work of Art. Great tone....
I'll have see what I can save from my Disability Check each month from a Terminal Illness, Aortic Dissection twice and chopped down to 1 1/4'legs or a leg and a stump so a smaller beautiful with great tone and electric capable in the Koa is perfect, well the Mahogany(?) one on the wall behind youse looks sweet too, also the Maple.... would be better as I will have to rest a guitar on my 1/4 leg stump...seems the answer to me!!! Had to give all my possesions away when I had to go into a nursing home including my Squire gear so now I'm trying to get back playing now that I'm back in an apartment to fight the wheelchair bound "stir crazies"..
Great vids, thank you!
From my point of view, GS Mini has always(?) a strong tension... specialized in string status, so .. .I recommend a martin silver string.( MA130s)
The plus looks to have a larger Sound hole as well is that the case?
The other day I've tried an normal Koa, and I didn't like the tension of the strings, It was too much... I think that with less tension strings the sound could improve. Consider that I'm a high tension player...
Have a nice day!!
"If I loved my children more...." -- classic! Nice guitar. A little rich for my blood, but sounds veddy nice.
Can you do one on the baby.
Damn it looks so good 😲
Going by the sound comparisons, the Standard is better for picking and the Plus for strumming.
No all solid on this model?
5:58 Koa Plus 6:21 reg Koa sound test.
Thanks.
You never showed the guitar case?! I Iove the minis.
Sorry. there's a pic on the product page, or this video has a bit more detail on the case… czcams.com/video/6_p1eMKHRko/video.html
Thank you and it IS cool
If I loved my children more this is the type of guitar I would buy them killed me mate funniest comment ive heard for a while, beautiful guitar that. I bought the Tanglewood Koa mini guitar for less than half the price and sounds amazing but would sure love one of these.
I own a a 200$ mahogany tanglewood, and it sounds nowhere as good as the taylor
If only i have a thousand bucks...
Also the plus has x bracing.
The other has a convex back. No bracing.
Noob question here : which one sound better ? I mean, i don't understand why Taylor changed this by a X bracing...
To my ears, the Standard had a bigger, better sound.
I noticed that too about the sound. There is a different bracing. The + has X bracing and the older Koa has GS Mini Relief Route. The tuners are Nickel vs Chrome. Other dif's are the neck and fretboard. I set out to buy the Plus but having heard them side by side now I'm so glad I bought the older model. I'm sure I'd love any of them though. TAYLOR makes a great instrument!
Same for me, the standard one sounds much more 'woody'
I thought the sound difference may have had more to do with the change in playing position with the mike picking up better on the standard due to change in position
Sweet guitar and wonderful playing! I think $1k is steep, though.
The thing is, smaller guitars take as much time as big guitars to make.
Earlier this year I bought the regular GS Mini-e Koa it was $799. It is worth every penny. The Plus version is only $200 more and I think that the upgraded features are definitely worth the price increase.
I absolutely love mine so I’m not going to be trading up for the Plus. However, if they ever do a Koa version of the new GT model I’ll definitely buy one of those. I’ve also heard rumors of a 222 Deluxe Koa which would interest me also.
I played one. It sounds awesome. I'd choose it over the regular koa mini. The case alone is worth almost 200 dollars
I just played a couple and really liked it too. The case IS a huge upgrade. I did like the rosewood GS as well, but the value is there.
What are the exact dimensions?
Christmas list for my daughter.
let me know if u need another daughter
:)
But which one smells better?
For a grand I'd want solid wood all round
Exactly! All the comments praising this made me seriously doubt myself, I am not a cheap guy when it comes to instrument but a solid top guitar priced more than a grand is pretty steep to me, I got my Yamaha CSF3m all solid less than 700 bucks, and it definitely sounds better than the normal gs mini koa( compared at the store) all solid wood guitar made a huge difference you can feel the punchy vibration on your chest when playing a all solid wood guitar.
Should I return my koa while I still have the chance and buy this or nah?
I would. But mostly because of the aesthetics. The Plus looks amazing and in a few months you won’t remember about the extra bucks you had to pay. Just an opinion...
Jonatan Sierra TVs honestly that’s what I’m thinking, I have like 40 days left to return it to guitar center lol
Jonatan Sierra is there a difference between the regular case and the newer case of the koa plus?
CriticalDog88 Not sure about the case buddy. I hear it’s better and nicer. But your main concern should be the sound and looks of the Plus, which tops the regular Koa IMO ;)
The regular, light shade koa has the built in square-shaped tuner, whereas this deluxe, dark shade koa does not, but has instead the 3 little knobs for the upgraded pick-up system. Both can be plugged into an amp.
The term "layered" wood is preferred since it better describes an all wood build, rather than simply a marketing term. "Laminate" implies and typically suggests a material using composites vs. wood.
Additionally, the Taylor layering process uses glue different from "laminates" all affecting the sound, weight, etc (and appearance to some extent...especially if we have the tendency to look inside the sound hole like "Doc King" does!)
I actually prefer the standard sound more.
Is this an electric acoustic?
Yes, this guitar has a pickup.
I have a KOA GS-mini I use as a porch and travel guitar and "brawl bar gigger." - For that purpose it's great but frankly the laminate back and sides does not have a lot of sustain and complexity as you wood (pun intended) imagine.
I agree. With that said, having the back and sides laminated on a travel guitar is a smart move as it increases the strength of the guitar. I believe this is part of why they did that. And overall, this is not a fullsize guitar so there are some gives and takes. They are absolutely great instruments for their intended purpose which is why they sell so many of these.
@@lonestarpatriot876 Exactly
@@WysteriaGuitar I think it is important to make the distinction between a layered wood vs. a laminate (HPL). This guitar is layered Koa, not a laminate.
@@lonestarpatriot876 That's fine it is still not solid wood and does not and will never sound as such. As I said I have the guitar and it's great for what it is but it does not have the sustain and tone of an all solid guitar.
@@WysteriaGuitar 100% agree with you. I was just making the distinction because it is one that gets overlooked. laminates can literally be silk screened and look cheap as well as destroy any sustain and tone. IMHO there is a vast difference between how a layered wood looks and performs vs. a laminate. Neither will be as good as a one piece wood that comes in a fullsize.
I personally own this guitar as well as two fullsize acoustics and they are different for sure. I don"t think anyone should buy one thinking it is like a fullsize guitar.
Why is the guy on the left constantly strumming really loudly every time the other person tries to speak ?
the standard is better by far.
Martin jrs sound so much more mature.
You are right, I have both and the Martin jr sounds better
Micky and Christopher: is there a specific model of the Martin Junior series that you like better? Thx.
Tony, I have the original D-jr, 2015. It is better because the body is wider, like a real dreadnought. The new ones are skinnier like a 000
Christopher Stoddard Thanks!
Every time I've bought a Taylor guitar I've ended up returning it and buying another Martin. Martin>Taylor.
That koa plus don’t sound that great to others I have heard
You couldn’t plug it in to show the electronics??? What was the point of this video?
That was kind of where I was at
I wanted to hear the comparison of the ES-B on the non-plus mini, versus the ES-2 plus electronics and can't seem to find any videos showing the comparison
I might also add, that I bought the Taylor t5z thin line rosewood acoustic electric. Taylor was running a deal to buy an acoustic guitar and get a GS mini for $200.00 your choice and I went with the solid spruce with laminated rosewood back and sides.
Happy with the guitar, just not over thrilled with the electronics even though it has a built-in tuner.
Might have been better off with the koa Plus and the ES-2 electronics
You guys know you're making a video, right? That it's not a podcast? Why talk about the aero case and spend time describing it when you could just put it on camera?
👁❤️Quiton. But, considering our current crisis with the pandemic, I wish he would stop blowing on every guitar after he introduces himself to it...
Hi dibuccio - Your point is very well taken - I'm trying to blow dust off the top, and MV does routinely decon their instruments, but for everyone's sake, I'll try to keep my breath to myself. Thanks for watching!
Man, you need to let the expert talk!! You interrupt so much! Please shut up!
The guy on the right talks absolute drivel, he adds nothing to this so-called review... "the gig bag lets you take it on the road, or an airplane" good point that, one that i bet a lot of buyers missed...
good old redneck music.. yeehaw!