Taylor GS HG01016016003201000 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Taylor GS Mini is part of Taylor's Grand Symphony line, featuring a compact grand concert body shape with a solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood back and sides. This Grand Symphony Mini model, the GS Mini-e Quilted Sapele, offers a beautiful figured sapele wood body for a rich tone, along with built-in electronics for amplified performance.

At just under 20 inches in length, the GS Mini has a scaled-down size that makes it a great option for travel, stadium gigs, and any setting where portability and volume are concerns. Despite its petite dimensions, the GS Mini packs impressive volume and warm low end, living up to Taylor's reputable craftsmanship and tone. Between the all-solid wood body construction and quality ES-B pickup system, the GS Mini-e Quilted Sapele balances portability with rich acoustic resonance and stage-ready amplified tones.

Build Quality

The Taylor GS mini features an all-solid wood construction using exquisite woods like quilted sapele back and sides paired with a solid Sitka spruce top. This gives the guitar a very resonant and full-bodied tone.

The top has a high-gloss finish that really makes the beautiful wood grain patterns pop. There is also faux tortoiseshell binding and rosette that gives it some classic and elegant visual flair.

The neck is made from mahogany and has a 20-fret ebony fingerboard and bridge. The ebony helps enhance clarity and definition. The mini also utilizes Taylor's patented ES-Go pickup system which uses three undersaddle sensors to capture the guitar's true acoustic tone when plugged in.

Overall, the materials and appointments used give this guitar excellent resonant properties while also looking classy and ornate. The attention to detail in terms of fit and finish is what you expect from a high-end Taylor guitar. The Taylor GS Mini is an excellent choice for musicians looking for a high-quality small-bodied acoustic guitar with nice visual aesthetics and great acoustic tone. It captures the Taylor spirit in a more compact and portable package.

If you're looking for another high-quality small-bodied acoustic guitar option, check out the Fender Paramount PM-3 All-Mahogany. This is another fantastic small-bodied acoustic that offers all solid wood construction with a solid mahogany top, back and sides. It has a nice warm and balanced tone thanks to the all-mahogany build. The guitar features a 25.3" scale length making it very comfortable and playable. The body is also slightly shallower than a typical dreadnought body, making it a great choice for smaller players. It has a satin finish that shows off the beautiful grain patterns in the mahogany. The Fender Paramount PM-3 All-Mahogany is an excellent alternative for those looking for a small-bodied acoustic with all-solid wood construction and warm, balanced tone.

Sound Profile

The Taylor GS Mini is known for its impressive sound quality from its compact body size. The solid quilted sapele top produces a lush, balanced tone with crisp highs and warm lows. The layered wood construction provides excellent resonance and sustain.

The mini dreadnought shape projects well with rich overtones and sparkling highs, despite the smaller body size. The sapele back and sides complement the solid spruce top, adding warmth and depth to the tone. Many reviewers praise the GS Mini's dynamic range across the frequency spectrum.

The mahogany neck contributes to the guitar's balanced tone and impressive sustain. The whole guitar has a resonant voice that belies its travel-friendly size. From delicate fingerpicking to energetic strumming, the GS Mini's sound profile excels across playing styles.

The Taylor GS Mini produces a stunningly full and rich tone for a guitar of its size. The solid wood top provides excellent projection and dynamics, while the layered sapele back and sides add warmth and character to the sound. Though compact, the GS Mini can hold its own tonally against larger dreadnought acoustics.

Many players praise the GS Mini's balanced frequency response across the tonal spectrum. It has sparkling, crisp trebles without being overly bright. The mids are focused and clear. And despite the small body, the GS Mini delivers robust, resonant bass tones. From soft fingerpicking to aggressive strumming, the guitar remains balanced and articulate.

The GS Mini works well for various musical genres thanks to its versatile tonal palette. The crisp trebles and present mids allow the guitar to cut through a mix for rock, pop, or folk playing. And the strong low-end provides a foundation for blues, country, and jazz. Whether recording in a studio or performing live, the GS Mini's full sound belies its size.

In reviews, many players comment on the GS Mini's excellent sustain and resonance. The solid spruce top allows notes to ring out. And the sapele back and sides provide a resonant chamber that enhances sustain. Even delicate, fingerpicked passages ring clearly with the GS Mini. Single notes have character and dimension.

While the GS Mini may seem like merely a travel guitar, it truly excels as a primary acoustic for many players. The quality tonewoods and construction allow it to keep up tonally with full-size dreadnoughts. And the smart design provides easy playability without sacrificing the rich, nuanced voice Taylor is known for. For the musician needing portability without tonal compromise, the GS Mini is an excellent choice.

Acoustic players looking for an extremely portable guitar with professional-grade sound should consider the Fender 970331322. This compact parlor-style acoustic packs impressive volume, dynamics, and tone into a small but robust build.

The all-solid sapele construction provides excellent resonance and projection, especially for such a portable instrument. Many reviewers praise the balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, with clear trebles, scooped mids, and surprisingly full lows. The small body lends itself well to fingerstyle playing.

Despite the small size, the 970331322 has the volume to keep up with larger guitars. Players report it works quite well for studio recording and live performance applications. The neck has a comfortable C-shape that facilitates intricate playing. And the compact body is perfect for travel and practice on the go.

So for guitarists needing pro-level tone in a highly portable package, the Fender 970331322 warrants a close look. While meeting travel and convenience needs, it retains the full, nuanced sound expected from an all-solid wood acoustic. The smart design sacrifices nothing tonally compared to larger instruments.

Playability

The Taylor GS HG01016016003201000 features a fast, comfortable neck that makes it a joy to play. The neck has a slim taper profile that feels great in the hand. It has a 1 11/16" nut width, providing ample room for fingers while still being manageable.

The string action on this model is set impressively low from the factory. The action is smooth and buzz-free all across the fretboard, even with aggressive strumming and picking. This allows easy fretting and bending without excessive force.

The fretwork on this Taylor is top-notch, with smoothly finished medium jumbo frets. The frets are consistently level and have nicely rounded ends that don't scratch. The intonation is accurate, and notes ring true up and down the neck.

Overall, the playability of this acoustic-electric is superb. The combo of the slim neck, low action, and excellent fretwork makes this a guitar that begs to be played for hours on end.

Hardware

The Taylor GS Mini has excellent hardware that contributes to its overall quality and playability.

Tuning Machines

The guitar has chrome enclosed Taylor tuning machines that hold tune very well and make tuning easy and smooth. The tuning machines are precise and high quality.

Bridge

It has a nice looking ebony bridge that intonates well. The bridge transfers vibrations efficiently from the strings to the body.

Nut and Saddle

The nut and saddle are both made of Tusq, an artificial alternative to ivory that has similar acoustic properties. The nut guides the strings perfectly along the fretboard, while the saddle helps transfer string vibrations to the bridge. Both are cut properly for great intonation up the fretboard.

Overall, the hardware components on the Taylor GS Mini are high-end and enhance the guitar's sound, tuning stability and playability. The chrome tuners, ebony bridge, and Tusq nut and saddle give it a very professional feel.

Electronics

The Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Top features Taylor's ES-B pickup system, which consists of an onboard preamp and a discreetly placed undersaddle piezo pickup. The preamp provides volume and tone controls that allow you to shape your amplified tone to fit any live performance or recording situation.

The volume knob controls the overall output level of the guitar, while the tone knob lets you dial in more treble for a brighter, crisper tone or more bass for a warmer, rounder sound. The tuner button engages the chromatic tuner, muting the output so you can discretely tune on stage. There's also a phase switch, which changes the phase relationship between the pickup and preamp to reduce potential feedback at higher volumes.

The ES-B pickup combined with the guitar's solid spruce top captures the GS Mini-e's sparkling tone with excellent clarity. It's a simple but versatile system that makes this an ideal gigging and recording guitar. The controls are conveniently located just inside the soundhole for quick adjustments on the fly.

Pros

The Taylor GS HG01016016003201000 has several standout features that make it a compelling choice for many players:

• Lightweight and comfortable to play - Weighing just under 4 pounds, this model is easy on the shoulders and back during long practice or gigging sessions. The slim mahogany neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it very fast and comfortable to play.

• Balanced tone across the tonal spectrum - With a solid Hawaiian koa top and layered koa back and sides, this guitar delivers a rich, full sound with clear and balanced bass, mids, and treble. It handles both fingerpicking and strumming very well.

• Quality workmanship and attractive looks - As expected from Taylor, this guitar is built to very high standards. Visible details like the koa binding and rosette show the careful craftsmanship. The quilted sapele pattern on the top is eye-catching.

Cons

• The GS mini lacks a cutaway, which limits higher fret access. This can make playing solos and leads challenging, especially for smaller hands. While a solid top guitar often has a robust, balanced tone, the lack of a cutaway sacrifices some accessibility.

• Finish options for the GS mini are relatively limited. It only comes in a natural, satin finish or a sunburst version. Players who want more dramatic or eye-catching finishes should look elsewhere. While the minimalist finish keeps the focus on the guitar's sound, those wanting more visual flair will be disappointed.

• The lack of onboard electronics is another downside for some players. You'll need to install a pickup if you want to amplify the GS mini's sound. This adds to the costs and limits on-stage practicality. While an acoustic-electric version exists, the model reviewed here is entirely acoustic.

Alternatives

When looking for a small body acoustic-electric guitar similar to the Taylor GS HG0, here are some other excellent options to consider:

Martin Road Series DRS1 - This small body acoustic-electric from Martin also has a solid sapele top with laminate back and sides. It has a similar comfortable body size as the Taylor, with a slightly wider nut width of 1.75". The Fishman Sonitone electronics provide natural amplified tone. The downside is it may not have quite the same level of refined fit and finish.

Blueridge BR-160 - Blueridge offers all solid wood construction with their BR-160 model. It has a sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides in a comfortable small body size. The electronics are simple but effective, and it provides an excellent value. The tone may not be as balanced across the frequency spectrum compared to the Taylor.

Seagull Coastline S12 - This model from Seagull Guitars has a wider nut width of 1.8" on its select pressure tested solid cedar top with wild cherry back and sides. It produces a warm balanced tone. The electronics are an SGS/QIT pickup system. The playability is very good, although not quite at the same level as the Taylor.

Takamine GD11MCE - With its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the Takamine GD11MCE delivers a balanced tone in a small body size. The nut width is 1.75", and it includes the CT4B II electronics. It's an excellent playing and sounding guitar, although the aesthetics and finish may not be quite as refined as the Taylor.

Conclusion

The Taylor GS HG01016016003201000 is the latest model in the company's Grand Symphony line, bringing a bold new look along with Taylor's signature playability and balanced tone. This quilted sapele guitar has a striking appearance, with the flame maple binding and pickguard providing an upscale look.

The sound profile leans towards Taylor's signature balanced and articulate tones, with plenty of volume and sustain thanks to the Grand Symphony body shape. It has an all-solid wood construction with layered rosewood back and sides, resulting in warm and rounded low end, pronounced mids, and crisp trebles.

Overall, the GS HG01016016003201000 is an excellent choice for fingerstyle players who want Taylor's signature playability and balanced tone in a visually stunning package. While not inexpensive, it delivers outstanding looks, feel, and sound. If the unique quilted sapele appearance catches your eye, this could be the Taylor acoustic for you. Those seeking maximum value may want to compare it to other Grand Symphony models. But players drawn to the beautiful aesthetics will find this to be a gorgeous yet highly playable instrument.