Pricing and availability
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Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $566
Standard/Professional
$200
$601+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Taylor GS-Mini". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Taylor GS-Mini, a small but mighty acoustic guitar, perfect for both amateurs and pros. Released in 2012, this guitar has proven to be a crowd favorite, boasting a solid mahogany top that not only gives it an elegant look, but also a distinct and punchy tone. Despite its compact size, this guitar delivers a sound that far exceeds its dimensions, making it a versatile instrument suitable for various settings, from the studio to intimate live performances.
The GS-Mini isn't just about sound and size, it's also crafted with top-quality materials. It features a sturdy layered sapele body and sides, along with a sapele neck equipped with a true ebony fingerboard. What sets this guitar apart is its proprietary Taylor NT neck, designed to adapt to microscopic changes over time, ensuring your guitar maintains its precision and adjustability throughout its life.
This guitar has a surprisingly powerful voice and throw, due in part to its gently rounded back with a depth of 4.4375 inches. You'll be pleasantly surprised by its low-end oomph and the 20-fret neck that allows for open frets up through the 14th. The GS-Mini also comes ready for you to add one of Taylor's ES-Go pickup systems with the simple click of a clip, giving you the option to electrify your sound whenever you want.
Key Features:
- Solid mahogany top
- Layered sapele back and sides
- Scale length of 23-1/2"
- Taylor NT neck with true ebony fingerboard
- Body depth of 4 7/16"
- 20-fret neck with open frets up to the 14th
- Ready for add-on of Taylor ES-Go pickup system
- NuBone Nut and Saddle
- Sapele Neck and Heel
- Taylor X-Bracing with Relief Rout
- 5mm Fretboard Dot Inlay
- Die-Cast Chrome Tuners
- Black Plastic Truss Rod Cover
- Tortoise Pickguard
- GS Mini Hard Bag Included
Product specs
| Available since | August 2016 |
| Design | GS Mini |
| Top | Solid Mahogany |
| Back And Sides | Sapele |
| Cutaway | No |
| Fretboard | Ebony |
| Nut width in mm | 42,80 mm |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickups | No |
| Colour | Natural |
| Case | No |
| Incl. Gigbag | Yes |
FAQs
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What is the body size and shape of the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany?
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The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany features a compact Grand Symphony body shape, making it a smaller, more portable option that retains a rich, full sound ideal for both beginners and seasoned players.
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What kind of wood is used for the top of the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany?
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The top of the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is made from solid mahogany, which contributes to its warm, balanced tone and enhances its midrange frequencies.
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Does the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany come with a pickup system?
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No, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany does not come with a built-in pickup system, making it a purely acoustic guitar designed for natural sound without amplification.
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Is the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany suitable for travel?
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Yes, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is designed for travel, featuring a compact size that fits comfortably in overhead compartments and includes a gig bag for easy portability.
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How many frets does the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany have?
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The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany has 20 frets, providing a comfortable playing experience for both fingerstyle and strumming techniques.
Equipboard's Expert Review
Equipboard tested this
Compact, Portable, and Resonant Gem
When it comes to crafting guitars, Taylor has consistently earned a reputation for quality and craftsmanship, and the GS Mini is no exception. We’ve spent ample time with this compact marvel, and we’ve got some insights to share.
First things first: the initial impressions of the Taylor GS Mini are stellar. This little guitar feels incredibly solid in hand, with a build quality that’s both impressive and reliable. The satin finish, whether you opt for mahogany or spruce, gives it a classy yet understated look. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, making it ideal for travel or casual strumming around the house.
The GS Mini arrives ready to play straight out of the box, requiring minimal setup. It includes a nice gig bag, which is a thoughtful addition for those on the go. The tuners, while functional, are just okay and might be the first thing we’d consider upgrading.
In terms of sound quality, the GS Mini is a vibrant, warm-sounding guitar that belies its small size. The tone is consistently rich, with good projection and sustain. Whether fingerpicking or strumming, the sound remains beautiful and mellow, perfect for a wide range of musical styles. However, we did find that with a heavier pick and more aggressive strumming, there was a bit of buzz and the sound could "flab-out". Additionally, some might find themselves wishing for a bit more volume or customizable tone controls.
To sum up, the Taylor GS Mini is an excellent choice for musicians who need a reliable, high-quality guitar that’s both portable and versatile. Its fantastic build and beautiful sound make it a joy to play, especially for those with smaller hands or those looking for a travel-friendly option. That said, if you’re someone who plays with a heavier hand or needs a guitar for louder, more robust performances, you might find the GS Mini’s limitations more pronounced. Nonetheless, at its price point, it offers exceptional value and is certainly worth considering for its impressive craftsmanship and sound.
Videos
Acoustic Letter
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Review - How does it sound?
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Review - How does it sound?
Acoustic Letter
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs Spruce - Can you hear the difference?
Acoustic Letter
Martin Dreadnought Junior versus Taylor GS Mini - Is the redesigned Dreadnought Junior better?
Alamo Music Center
Taylor GS Mini Review
Tony Polecastro
Taylor GS Mini Comparison 2021 | Rosewood, Mahogany, Koa, Koa Plus
Alamo Music Center
The ULTIMATE Taylor GS Mini Comparison! - GS Mini Koa vs Walnut vs Mahogany vs Spruce vs Ovangkol
Alamo Music Center
2022 Taylor GS Mini range overview | Better Music
Better Music
Q&A: Travel-Size Guitar... Worth It, or a Waste? (Taylor GS Mini review, 3 years later)
Song Notes by David Pots
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany VS Taylor GS Mini Rosewood Review (No Talking)
Music Force Official
Why does everyone LOVE the Taylor GS Mini!?
GUITARGUITAR
Reviews
PROS
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Compact size perfect for travel or casual playing around the house
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Beautiful, warm tone despite smaller size
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High-quality build with a classy satin finish
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Comes with a well-made gig bag for easy transport
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Ideal for players with smaller hands; very playable neck
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Great projection and sustain for its size
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Perfect for beginners and advanced players alike
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Ebony fretboard and Elixir strings offer smooth playability
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Versatile sound that handles both fingerpicking and strumming well
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Fantastic value offering exceptional craftsmanship and sound at the price point
CONS
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Tuners may require upgrading for better tuning stability
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Minor cosmetic imperfections noted by some users
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Can buzz with aggressive strumming or heavier picks
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Smaller nut size may not be ideal for players with larger fingers
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Taylor GS-Mini.
Comparisons
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The Yamaha CSF3M is favored for its all-solid wood construction and passive pickup, offering a premium feel at a similar price.
Source -
The GS Mini is compared to the Martin LX and Breedlove Pursuit Koa, with the Martin cited as a more frequently reached-for travel guitar.
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The GS Mini is often compared to larger guitars, noted for lacking volume, balance, and bass compared to full-sized models.
Source -
The Yamaha CSF1m is mentioned as a more aesthetically pleasing alternative, preferred by one user over the GS Mini.
Source
Use cases and applications
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Despite being small, the GS Mini is praised for producing a loud sound, making it suitable for modern fingerpicking styles and small group performances.
Source -
The GS Mini's compact size makes it ideal for overhead compartments during air travel, as reported by a frequent traveler.
Source -
It's popular for travel, playing around the house, and camping, with many owners preferring it for its size and portability.
Source
Value and pricing
User experience
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Owners report that the GS Mini is particularly inspiring for fingerpicking, offering a comfortable playing experience due to its smaller size.
Source -
The GS Mini's scale length is noted as short, with fret spacing becoming cramped beyond the 5th to 7th fret, affecting playability.
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The GS Mini is particularly favored for fingerstyle blues, with its punchy and coarse midrange offering a vintage tone when recorded.
Source -
Owners have taken their GS Minis to diverse climates, like the Guatemalan jungle and Iceland, noting durability in various conditions.
Source
Features and functionality
Setup and maintenance
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Keeping the GS Mini humidified during dry months is crucial to maintaining its integrity and playability over time.
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Owner reported needing action adjustments, as 13-gauge strings can be too harsh for extended play, especially on smaller hands.
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A user found that placing a piece of paper towel under the high E and B strings in the nut resolved a twangy sound issue.
Source
Build quality
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 10 Reviews and 35 Ratings
Comfortable, great tone and affordable
There's a reason why a lot of people say 'everyone must have a GS mini in their arsenal' The guitar is light and comfortable due to its size yet still has a a loud voice and great tone due to its wide lower bout and curved back that allows a lower frequency resonance and a larger out-of-plane vibration, these are made out of real wood (there are many options depending on your preference) and come with a professional, well made gig bag. I am very happy with this guitar.
Excellent small Grand Symphony Guitar
I started playing the GS Mini Mahogany for a one-man band act I did outdoors. I have also used it in place of my Taylor 610, in larger venues. It's very pleasant to play, with a nice tone, if not as deep and loud as the 610.
It's a great guitar for playing tunes.
53
The Only Guitar I Will Ever Play
I love this guitar. This is a 3/4 size, yet when I first sat down to play it at Guitar Center I was blown away by how loud and bright it was. I bought the custom pick up and I only wish it were louder or had knobs to adjust volume.
347
Love this guitar
Compact design, big sound, beautiful guitar. This guitar out performs all others in its price point. A must have for players of all skill levels.
1194
GS not so mini.
I just bought this and really did not intend to buy anything. Overall this is a very impressive acoustic with a very huge sound. If you’re looking at getting into the Taylor sound I highly recommend this guitar.
148
608
simply.....
bla bla bla bla bla...........it' s simply........SUPERB !!!!!!!
571
Great
Nice, warm sounding acoustic guitar. Mahogany version sounds extremely good in particular.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo shoot, Taylor can be seen playing a Taylor Gs Mini mahogany.
In the live performance video "Time To Dance - Live In Chicago" by Julia Rae on YouTube, Brendon Urie plays a Taylor GS-Mini acoustic guitar.
In this video, Mateus plays a Taylor GS-Mini.
In this video, Hayley can be seen playing the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany acoustic guitar.
You can see from the size, pickguard, and colour, as well as the headstock, that Jake Ewald is playing a Mahogany Taylor GS Mini.
On artist page on the official Taylor website, it is confirmed that Chris Tomlin uses a Taylor GS-Mini.
Naomi can be seen playing a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar throughout this entire video.
Devon Portielje is seen using a Taylor GS-Mini, equipped with an added single coil pickup, as captured in a photo by Getintothis.
In this KEXP live performance, Jessica can be seen using the Taylor GS-Mini. It looks like the mounted pickup she is using is the Taylor ES-Go pickup.
In the provided image, Unique Salonga is depicted playing a Taylor GS Mini guitar.
In this video from Herri's Instagram post, He can be seen playing along with a Taylor GS-Mini Acoustic guitar.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Taylor GS-Mini, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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