Taylor GS Mini acoustic bass

[D.A.R.K.]

Went to a local store, and tried out a bunch of acoustic basses today- Warwick, Epiphone, Breedlove, a couple other- picked up this Taylor thinking it was a tenor guitar,
and ***? it was louder, deeper, and better sounding acoustically than everything else, with better projection, side by side! Damn. Now I want one. It was a Koa version. Anyone else find this?

 

[D Bopp]

I have the Guild version. Decent acoustic tone, but plugged in it sounds killer! One of the best sounding basses I own through a PA. I use it at my church gig.

 

[B-Mac]

Went to a local store, and tried out a bunch of acoustic basses today- Warwick, Epiphone, Breedlove, a couple other- picked up this Taylor thinking it was a tenor guitar,
and ***? it was louder, deeper, and better sounding acoustically than everything else, with better projection, side by side! Damn. Now I want one. It was a Koa version. Anyone else find this?

I have the Guild Jumbo Junior like @D Bopp and it is a surprising fun little bass. The Taylor is more expensive and I believe all solid wood. I'd like to try a Taylor just to compare.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

One thing about the Taylor I noticed, even if you slammed the bridge all the way down, there would be considerable height to the action. To get it truly correct, the bridge would have to be removed and planed down.
This is pretty bad for an instrument at that price.
Is the is the same with the Guild?

 

[B-Mac]

One thing about the Taylor I noticed, even if you slammed the bridge all the way down, there would be considerable height to the action. To get it truly correct, the bridge would have to be removed and planed down.
This is pretty bad for an instrument at that price.
Is the is the same with the Guild?

It is that high so you can hear it when unplugged. It isn't a solid body electric bass. ABGs require a different playing technique. This is why so many here at TB are disappointed when trying out an ABG.
Light touch dead fish handshake limp wrist low action let the amp do the work playing doesn't work for an ABG when unplugged.
Of course, if you plan on always being plugged in, then some other ABG is what you need to look at.

 

[D Bopp]

The guild's action doesn't feel high. But at the same time, the strings are super loose tension, so by nature, the action needs to be a little higher to compensate that.

 

[B-Mac]

The guild's action doesn't feel high. But at the same time, the strings are super loose tension, so by nature, the action needs to be a little higher to compensate that.

Compared to a slab O'Wood electric all ABGs have a higher action.

In order to lower the action, the saddle has to be removed and sanded down from the bottom.

However, when this is done, you sacrifice the loudness for unplugged playing.

This has been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere on TB.

 

[scuzzy]

They are very impressive. I tried to hate on Taylor, but they make really great instruments. My wife has two 300 series, and they are top shelf all around. Those little basses pack punch.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

It is that high so you can hear it when unplugged. It isn't a solid body electric bass. ABGs require a different playing technique. This is why so many here at TB are disappointed when trying out an ABG.
Light touch dead fish handshake limp wrist low action let the amp do the work playing doesn't work for an ABG when unplugged.
Of course, if you plan on always being plugged in, then some other ABG is what you need to look at.

I understand the height reasoning, but all my acoustic guitars are correctly set up- and this isn't right. Almost like body bow from tension.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Compared to a slab O'Wood electric all ABGs have a higher action.

In order to lower the action, the saddle has to be removed and sanded down from the bottom.

However, when this is done, you sacrifice the loudness for unplugged playing.

This has been discussed ad nauseum elsewhere on TB.

You could sand the bridge down on the one I played and the action would still be super high. The neck relief was set correctly, as well. If I dive in, I guess I'll have to try a few.
Does the Guild exhibit the same thing? (I'm not expecting a bass guitar action, just like I wouldn't on my upright).
Also, the other acoustics there, while having the height you mention, did not exhibit this issue either.

 

[B-Mac]

You could sand the bridge down on the one I played and the action would still be super high. The neck relief was set correctly, as well. If I dive in, I guess I'll have to they a few.
Does the Guild exhibit the same thing? (I'm not expecting a bass guitar action, just like I wouldn't on my upright).
Also, the other acoustics there, while having the height you mention, did not exhibit this issue either.

That is really odd for a Taylor.

I own over 20 ABGs and they’re all high.

 

[Ronnie Thunders]

The little Ibanez parlor size bass, also. Just a fun good looking good sounding little guy

 

[B-Mac]

The little Ibanez parlor size bass, also. Just a fun good looking good sounding little guy

What’s funny about that Ibanez is that the body is actually longer than the body on the Guild Jumbo Junior and the scale is a half inch longer. I wasn’t expecting that.

 

[B-Mac]

Went to a local store, and tried out a bunch of acoustic basses today- Warwick, Epiphone, Breedlove, a couple other- picked up this Taylor thinking it was a tenor guitar,
and ***? it was louder, deeper, and better sounding acoustically than everything else, with better projection, side by side! Damn. Now I want one. It was a Koa version. Anyone else find this?

There’s more talk and owners of the Taylor here: Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have the Guild Jumbo Junior like @D Bopp and it is a surprising fun little bass. The Taylor is more expensive and I believe all solid wood. I'd like to try a Taylor just to compare.

I am pretty sure that all the Minis have laminated bodies.

One thing about the Taylor I noticed, even if you slammed the bridge all the way down, there would be considerable height to the action. To get it truly correct, the bridge would have to be removed and planed down.

The mini series of guitars and bass have the Taylor NT neck joint system; no need to sand the bottom of the bridge saddle, nor the bottom of the bridge, itself to lower the action.

Do a bit of reading on how the NT neck joint works.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

I am pretty sure that all the Minis have laminated bodies.
The mini series of guitars and bass have the Taylor NT neck joint system; no need to sand the bottom of the bridge saddle, nor the bottom of the bridge, itself to lower the action.

Do a bit of reading on how the NT neck joint works.

Ah, that is brilliant- now the price tag is making a lot more sense, been looking at a lot of these mini basses, and I am just about sold on that bass because of it. It future proofs the instrument as it ages to a degree, and normal changes happen. Not sure why but that feature isn't mentioned in the basic descriptions. Thanks for this info!

 

[gtirard]

I totally agree that the Taylor GS e-Mini is amazing.

Initially I played a big jumbo with a 20 singers choir band. I bought the Taylor for its mini size, because the long neck of my jumbo interfered with the movement of the band.

And I was really surprised that the Taylor was much louder than my initial jumbo.

I have for 2 or 3 years now, and I'm super happy, I would buy it again without hesitation. It's really a joy to play. This bass deserves much more fame and love.

There's just one small detail you should know if you want to buy it: sometimes, the volume of the 4 strings is not even. It's normal, it's just the way piezzo pickups work, the pressure of each string on the piezzo pickup is not equal. Fortunately you can adjust the pressure, but you just have to buy a 0,050" Allen key (same as for Fender American bridge).

My advice: buy this bass (and buy a 0,050" Allen key at the same time)

 

[DrSteve]

A few years ago I compared the Guild Jumbo Junior with the Taylor GS Mini and walked way with the Guild. I wanted to like the Taylor more, but the Guild felt and sounded better, and was at a much lower price point.
Perhaps I would have made a different decision had they had a Taylor Koa in the store.

Still, very happy with my decision.

Try to get your hands on a different Taylor Mini Koa. It may have lower action.

Good luck, and have fun with your search.

 

[B-Mac]

I am pretty sure that all the Minis have laminated bodies.
The mini series of guitars and bass have the Taylor NT neck joint system; no need to sand the bottom of the bridge saddle, nor the bottom of the bridge, itself to lower the action.

Do a bit of reading on how the NT neck joint works.

The top on the Guild JJ is solid.
The Taylor’s top is also solid.
my Guild Jumbo Junior

Taylor
Overview

• Portable acoustic bass offers a new musical flavor
• Special nylon-core strings for easy fretting and great tone
• Solid Hawaiian koa top serves up punchy bass tone
• Built-in ES-B pickup includes digital tuner
• Comes with padded gig bag for safe transportation
• 
  https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/gs-mini-e-koa-bass
  
• 
  
• 
  
  

 

[B-Mac]

I totally agree that the Taylor GS e-Mini is amazing.

Initially I played a big jumbo with a 20 singers choir band. I bought the Taylor for its mini size, because the long neck of my jumbo interfered with the movement of the band.

And I was really surprised that the Taylor was much louder than my initial jumbo.

I have for 2 or 3 years now, and I'm super happy, I would buy it again without hesitation. It's really a joy to play. This bass deserves much more fame and love.

There's just one small detail you should know if you want to buy it: sometimes, the volume of the 4 strings is not even. It's normal, it's just the way piezzo pickups work, the pressure of each string on the piezzo pickup is not equal. Fortunately you can adjust the pressure, but you just have to buy a 0,050" Allen key (same as for Fender American bridge).

My advice: buy this bass (and buy a 0,050" Allen key at the same time)


View attachment 5025747

You don’t have to hack up a perfectly fine instrument.
All that is needed is to take out the saddle and clean out the saddle slot in the bridge, make sure the piezo is seated correctly and then sand the bottom of the saddle to make sure it’s perfectly flat.