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Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
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Playability
82
Sound
81
Build
70
Value
83
Score
78
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Playability
82
Sound
84
Build
74
Value
85
Score
80
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
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Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs GS Mini-e Mahogany

Reasons to Get
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany over GS Mini-e Mahogany

Reasons to Get
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany over GS Mini Mahogany

Release Year
2021 vs 2012
From a more recent year
Value Score
85 vs 83
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs GS Mini-e Mahogany

Neck Wood
Sapele vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood

Shared Features
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs GS Mini-e Mahogany

Back Material
Sapele
Same Back Material
Sides Material
Sapele
Same Sides Material
Saddle Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Saddle Material
Bridge Material
West African Crelicam Ebony
Same Bridge Material
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
NuBone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
23.5'' (596.9mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany is probably the better product overall with its final score of 80 compared to the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany's 78 score, although not by a lot.

The Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Overview

  • From Taylor's 2012 GS Mini series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 23.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany top
  • Layered Sapele back
  • Layered Sapele sides
  • Sapele neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: (/)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany Overview

  • From Taylor's 2021 GS Mini series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 23.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany top
  • Layered Sapele back
  • Layered Sapele sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ES-B Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Taylor Chrome tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Sapele wood pattern used for guitar building
Sapele
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

It's similar to Mahogany in both color and tone. It can produce warm tones, and it's known for its beautiful figured grain patterns. Find out more about Sapele.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Tie.

Electronics

The Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany comes with a preamp that allows you to connect it to an amp, unlike its competitor. This allows it to have more versatility and sound quality if you want to record with it or play live.

Winner:Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Sustain 75
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 81
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany compares to the Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have NuBone nuts. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany's are Die-Cast Chrome while the Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany's are Taylor Chrome

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Electronics
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Quality of materials 76
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 70
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
Quality of materials 76
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 74

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42.9mm (1.688'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 23.5".

This is a slightly shorter scale than the more common short scale of 24.75". It's a good choice for beginners that want to get an easier-to-play guitar without it being much different than a normal scale guitar.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and the Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and the Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany have the same fretboard radius of 15". This radius y closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still comfortable for playing chords without muting strings.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82
Taylor GS Mini-e Mahogany
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs GS Mini-e Mahogany
General Taylor GS Mini Mahogany GS Mini-e Mahogany
Brand: Taylor Taylor
Year: 2012 2021
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: GS Mini GS Mini
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Tropical Mahogany Solid Tropical Mahogany
Sides Material: Sapele Sapele
Back Material: Sapele Sapele
Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Chrome Taylor Chrome
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck Material: Sapele Tropical Mahogany
Decoration: 4mm Dot Italian Acrylic 4mm Dot Italian Acrylic
Scale Size: 23.5" 23.5"
Shape: Acoustic Taylor Standard Acoustic Taylor Standard
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15" 15"
Nut: NuBone NuBone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: ES-B Electronics (Preamp / Active)