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Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar

6-string Acoustic-electric Travel Guitar with Solid Koa Top, Koa Back and Sides, Sapele Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
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$999.00

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Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar
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Exotic Grand Symphony Mini Acoustic-electric Guitar

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect Taylor GS Mini-e, then this koa model is the one. Desired for its resonant warmth and beautiful looks from the soul of a Polynesian paradise, the GS Mini-e Koa features a solid koa top and layered koa back and sides; one strum and you’ll be swept away in an ocean of tone. And thanks to the smaller body size of this koa acoustic-electric guitar, you’ll comfortably play it in the studio and on the stage. The GS Mini-e features Taylor’s renowned ES-B pickup system, with tone controls, a built-in tuner, and a low-battery indicator so you never have to worry about losing power in the middle of a gig.

GS Mini body shape gives great sound in a mini package

The award-winning original GS Mini was designed to be the ultimate musical companion. Inspired by the big, bold sound of Taylor’s Grand Symphony (GS) body shape, the Mini scales down the GS body without skimping on sound — packing a ton of tone into a comfortable travel size and giving you a guitar that’s full-voiced and incredibly fun to play. At Sweetwater, we think of the GS Mini as a modern-day parlor guitar, perfect for playing around the house but also built to fit an active lifestyle.

The richness of Hawaiian koa: a tonewood like no other

Koa is a treasured tonewood only found on the Hawaiian islands. Prized for its combination of warm tone and beautiful looks, this Taylor GS Mini has all-koa back and sides that offer the midrange richness of mahogany along with the bright top end of maple. And the layered koa back and sides provide superior resistance to changes in humidity from one environment to another — a must-have for many of Sweetwater’s traveling musicians. The GS Mini body style further enhances the wide-ranging tone and excellent balance, and because it has a solid top, the Mini-e Koa’s tone will become richer and more complex as the years go by.

Incredibly natural sound with full dynamics

Traditionally, acoustic-electric guitars have employed under-saddle piezo transducers, but Taylor goes about it a bit differently. Their Expression System-B uses a proprietary pickup behind the saddle. The pickup’s three individually calibrated, precisely positioned piezo-electric sensors respond organically to the instrument’s acoustic energy as it’s transferred through the saddle. In concert with Taylor’s custom-designed preamp (which delivers a 25% hotter signal), the result is a natural acoustic sound with incredible dynamic range and responsiveness to your pick or finger attack. Sweetwater’s guitar gurus are mightily impressed with Taylor’s Expression System-B. Whether you’re onstage playing through a PA, plugged into an acoustic amp, or running direct into recording software, the ES-B faithfully conveys the voice of your Taylor guitar.

Which Taylor is right for you?

Perfect for beginners or players with smaller hands, the Taylor GS and Baby Series guitars give you a compact, comfortable instrument that is loaded with tone. Learn more about the entire Taylor line here.

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • Solid koa top sounds as beautiful as it looks
  • Layered Hawaiian koa back and sides give you excellent tone and structural integrity
  • Sapele neck with ebony fingerboard gives you a comfortable, toneful playing experience
  • No pickguard — to show off all that beautiful koa grain
  • ES-B pickup designed by the same people who built your guitar
  • 5mm Dot fretboard inlays, chrome tuners, and 3-ring rosette accent

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Grand Symphony Mini
  • Back & Sides Wood: Layered Koa, Koa veneer
  • Top Wood: Solid Hawaiian Koa
  • Finish: Varnish
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: GS Mini with Relief Route
  • Neck Wood: Sapele
  • Neck Shape: Standard Carve
  • Radius: 15"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Acrylic dots
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 23.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.6875"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: NuBone/Micarta
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Taylor Chrome
  • Electronics: ES-B preamp with built-in tuner
  • Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Medium, .013-.056
  • Case/Gig Bag: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: FG01016017001751000

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Great Sound/Perfect Size

I loved my Fender, but it was just too big for me. The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is amazing because it has a big guitar sound without stressing my hands. As a professional musician I multi-task between fiddle, guitar, and harp, so I need an instrument that can keep up. The Taylor gives me everything I need. Thank you Taylor and Sweetwater!
Music background: Conservatory educated professional country/pop musician in Saint Louis.
Rated 5/5

GS Mini Koa

I'd like to thank the staff for helping me find my first Gs mini koa. Guitar came in perfect condition action was also perfect and was exactly as the picture of the guitar I selected from the Pics the staff helped me select from. I was told it's truly a gem of a Koa top from people who have seen it and it also sounds amazing for such a small guitar.
Music background: Beginner
Rated 5/5

Top Notch - The Little Guitar that Can!

First off - Connor Smith SW customer support and company are stellar, wish more companies / industries had this focus and real advise and support...

I actually ended up with two of these, so I tune then different... They are beautiful and sooooooo easy to play. Quite as amazing sound come out of these guitars, clearly my grab and go guitar!

Cheers
Rated 5/5

Perfect way to start

I've already found full size necks hard to use with my small hands. But I wanted Acoustic. This was recommended to me because of the C-shaped neck. I still cannot reach 4 frets but I at least can can close and accommodate as necessary.
Music background: Hobbyist
Rated 5/5

Confessions of a Koa-holic

I started looking for a parlor guitar to add to my collection (guitar horde?!) a few months ago. There are many to choose from covering the entire cost spectrum. After many hours of listening, most fell into the 'one-trick-pony' sound category; great for one music genre, poor for anything else. After eliminating those, I filtered my choices based on country of manufacture. I understand the global markets and marketing price points, but I do have my reasons.

So how does it sound? Loud and balanced!!! I was surprised how much sound pours out of this thing. Larger than usual sound hole and bowed back work together to make this an acoustic powerhouse. A surprisingly light touch gets the top ringing. Sustain time can be measured in days (OK, so I exaggerate a bit). The electronics aren't ES2, but I preferred the bare koa to the burst finish of the Plus model and they work well with my Roland Micro Cube GX amp.

The built-in tuner and strong gig bag complete the package. Rob (X1653) has been very helpful in addressing my many questions and made my decision much easier. Call him today.

Oh, by the way, this is my fourth koa-topped guitar and second koa-topped Taylor. I like koa. It took lots of looking to find the koa pattern that called to me.
Music background: hobbyist

Hear from a Sales Engineer

What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Darcee Berg

In my decade of playing guitar, I had been looking for one that was smaller in build, but that I could be confident wouldn’t have to sacrifice sound in the process. The first time I played this Taylor GS-Mini, I knew I had found just that. Many guitars have a bigger body making it difficult for smaller people to use, but this GS-Mini really is a perfect size. I was worried with the size that it would lose some mid or low range, but that was far from true.

As one of the nation's top Taylor Guitars dealers, Sweetwater receives regular on-site training from Bob, Andy, and the rest of the Taylor crew. We're also, many of us, Taylor players ourselves, and we're happy to steer you in the right direction once you're ready to make the leap. New to Taylor? Our Find Your Fit guide simplifies Taylor body shapes, woods, and series. Longtime player? Our Taylor Custom Shop, annual limited editions, and in-house mods offer a level of exclusivity you won't find in stores. Whatever your pleasure, Sweetwater's climate-controlled warehouse and 55-point Inspection ensure your Taylor guitar arrives ready to play just as the manufacturer intended.

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