Bought a GS mini for a starter guitar and I think I've made a huge mistake.

[Earwitness]

Originally Posted by catfish

I do not think you made a mistake and you can learn to play guitar with a GS Mini as your first guitar. Your fingers and your mind will adjust to it, just keep playing.

If you have doubts about it, just put GS Mini aside and get yourself a Yamaha or similar bigger guitar. I would not sell GS Mini if I were you at this point.
Wait for a year or two, you can always sell it later, there is no hurry. But most likely you'll decide to keep it.

This is about word-for-word what I would say. You didn't make much of a mistake because it is a handy guitar to own and very resellable. Me, personally, I would rather see you on at least a 24.9" nut for the reasons you have already noticed. But, in no way are you "wasting" your practice or going backward.

I have a theme I seem to always echo on here, which is to find a guitar that seems unexplainably easier to play for you and that you like the sound of. No matter the brand, cost, specs etc. When I picked my own guitar and did not aim for advice or reputation, my guitar experience transformed.

Welcome to the forum! We are glad you are here. Let us know what you do.

[vintageom]

A GS Mini is an excellent guitar and NO the imperfections you display are not horrid, unless a buyer uses a 10x jeweler's loop. Few guitars will pass that test.

How do violin, mandolin and banjo players and classical guitar players move between various nut widths and scales?

There is no such thing as a scale length being "proper", as you stated, at a given number of inches or centimeters. So-called "full scale" guitars also vary in scale length.

I own a GS Mini KOA and have size 16 ring fingers, I have no problems.

I learned on a 2" nut width classical guitar for years. Still play two of them, along with a mandolin, a banjo, and nut widths of 1 11/16", 1 3/4", 1 13/16", 1 7/8" on guitars. I have "Shorter" scales and "Longer" scales too.

It is good to learn to adapt to differing specs.

If you just do not like the guitar, someone will buy it. The GS Mini in KOA is desirable.

[JBCROTTY]

I think the fundamental problem is that you simply don't like the GS Mini. Don't feel bad about it. The fact that you are a beginner is no excuse to suffer with an instrument you simply are not feeling great about.

I'm a beginner also - been at it since December after taking 32 years off. So finding a guitar that felt good was important to me also. I didn't want to spend a fortune out of the gate.

I had the same issue with the GS Mini - I got mine early in the journey back to playing (mine was used when I got it) and it was simply too small for me to play comfortably. Loved the sound of the guitar, but just too tight for my huge hands. I knew I'd always be fighting it.

You spent good money for the guitar and now you are questioning if you should recover some or most of that money and find a guitar that you will feel better about and be more comfortable playing. Yes you should - absolutely. If you don't like it, don't "hang in there" or power through it for 20 years. Sell it and find an instrument that will work for you. You can sell the GS Mini on the marketplace here and it will go quickly - it is a desirable model.

I would suggest you look at the Yamaha FG700S or FG800 dred sized guitars. I bought an FG700S - the FG800 is the newer version of the same guitar with an improved internal bracing pattern and a bit of a different neck that I hear good things about. If the dred size is too big, look at the FS700 or FS800 - those are the smaller body guitars of the same design.

These are terrific guitars that sound good, play easily, and are a great value for the money. You can learn to play without fighting them. You don't have to worry about keeping them in mint condition. New or used they are a great value. My opinion, mind you, but it worked for me.

I can relate to your experience - I am a beginner, tried the GS Mini, didn't like it and sold the guitar, and am playing the Yamaha FG's and really making good strides toward not being completely ashamed about my playing ability! Good luck and report back what you decide to do!

[fazool]

1) the site that listed this as a starter guitar is wrong. It is not a starter guitar - it is a travel guitar.


2) those colorations on the fretboard are perfect and normal wood streaking


3) those marks wont hurt used market resale value

[CASD57]

I'm not sure about all the GSmini bashing but it's a excellent guitar to learn on..It's very easy to play....easier to bar-chord/ finger stretching with and it's not so bulking for a beginner

I would throw out all the idea's of it's a travel guitar...it's a kids guitar..etcc., it's is what you make it...
It's my main guitar for now because it sounds better than most of the other guitars in it's class, it's build better and plays a heck of a lot better..

I wish I would of had this guitar when I started out.. instead of that classical $79 guitar...

[Earwitness]

I don't think anyone has bashed the GSMini. Everyone thinks it it a cool, well made guitar well worth having. The main comments revolve around learning on that scale and whether he truly likes the guitar.

I wish I had one. Personally it would not serve as my only guitar, if I had options. That's not bashing it. I would say the same about a Mini Cooper.

[docwatsonfan]

first off, welcome to the forum!

I get cramped playing an A chord too, even with small fingers...

so I learned a different way to do it by watching a James Taylor video

ring finger on the b string
middle finger on the d

and your pointer on the g

now you go to a d chord or e chord pretty easily!

[CASD57]

LOL My daughter had a mini cooper....Now that was like riding on a buck board
but fun car..

Ok maybe bashing was too strong of a term, I just feel it's a pretty good guitar that doesn't need to be lumped into travel or kids guitar..when really it's better than that.
Like I said before.... The guitar is what you make it...

[TBone-Idle]

Originally Posted by docwatsonfan

I get cramped playing an A chord too, even with small fingers...

so I learned a different way to do it by watching a James Taylor video

ring finger on the b string
middle finger on the d

and your pointer on the g

now you go to a d chord or e chord pretty easily!

I've got large stubby fingers that get cramped even on a 25.4" scale. The method as stated by docwatsonfan above is as good as any.

Alternatively:

Middle finger on the D; ring finger on the G and little finger on the B. This one leaves your index finger free for when you progress to bar chords.

Yet another alternative is to use the top pad of your index finger to fret across all three strings. This is how I generally play an A chord. With this method you must bend the first knuckle backwards quite hard in order to allow the high E string to ring out (takes a bit of practice). The big advantage with this one is that it is very fast because you are only using one finger.

Good luck on your journey.

[merlin666]

These mini guitars are more suitable for people of smaller stature such as children learning to play. Average sized adults need a guitar that fits their size so they have a comfortable reach and will not end up with injured joints. You would not want to wear shoes that are too small either. However as you already made a considerable investment l would also suggest you stick with it for at least a year and try to get used to the size. In the meantime you can also keep your eyes open for a trade and try out as many different guitars as you can. Diversity is fun and I switch between full size jumbo and ukulele.

[Captain Jim]

Nah, your GSmini is a fine small(ish) guitar. Will your fingers feel a bit cramped on some chords compared to a longer scale... sure; and on some chords that require more stretch, the Mini will seem much easier.

For the record, getting the Mini not long after then first came out made me appreciate smaller guitars. I have bought others since that time, but nothing bigger than a Grand Auditorium, and most smaller.

Now, for the idea that it is a beginner's guitar... well I bought mine when I had only been playing 45 years or so. I have gigged with the Mini and traveled with it. I bought a few other guitars that would be my "travel" guitars (we travel a lot), thinking the Mini would get sold off. Nope, it's still in the stable; still gets its turn.

What you have discovered: there is a real difference in the feel of the scale length. Neither is a beginner vs experienced situation... it is a difference. You will see some folks here say that they can't swap from one scale or nut width to another. I guess my old fingers don't fret that much about it (yes, pun intended). I move back and forth all the time, with no issue.

Play the Mini; enjoy the Mini. When the time comes that you're ready for another guitar, you might try something bigger. When learning, you don't want to start with a guitar that is hard to play, or as I call it: a crap guitar. Your Mini is not a crap guitar.

Today, I did something I haven't done in months: I went into a guitar shop just to look around. They had a nice selection of Taylors - I picked up a 912e 12 fret, a 562ce (12 string) 12-fret, an 814ce and a GSmini Koa. They all played great and sounded great. Different sizes, different scales. Any would be a fine "one only" guitar.

[printer2]

[QUOTE=TBone-Idle;5074845]
Middle finger on the D; ring finger on the G and little finger on the B. This one leaves your index finger free for when you progress to bar chords.
/QUOTE]

Was going to mention this also. Also using the ring finger to fret all three with your ring finger, rest your index finger on the nut. When moving onto barre chords you will can do the three strings with the one finger. With a smaller guitar you have no excuse to practicing as it is a perfect couch guitar size and you can play it in almost any non-proper position.

[jdinco]

If there's other guitars you like more, sell the GS and get it. You'll play it more than the Mini and be happier. The Mini will be around if you decide to get one later. Your guitar looks fine to me....it's not a bad idea to look around a bit more before buying the yamaha. Don't make another mistake....if you like the smaller bodies like the Mini, try a Martin Jr., wider neck, close to the same body size, Better sound.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by merlin666

These mini guitars are more suitable for people of smaller stature such as children learning to play. Average sized adults need a guitar that fits their size so they have a comfortable reach and will not end up with injured joints...

The Rickenbacker 325 John Lennon (who was 5'11" according to official accounts) played from the Beatles' Hamburg days through the end of 1965 was/is a true mini-guitar, with its 12-3/4" body width and 20-3/4" scale; not only didn't he appear to have any issues with it, he also seemed to adapt quite readily at the time to the substantially larger Gibson J-160E that served acoustic-electric duty for most of his career, as well as the Epiphone Casino he used from 1966 on. FWIW, he owned no fewer than three such instruments: the '58 "Hamburg" (gold pickguard, originally Mapleglo), the '64 "Miami" (Jetglo/white plexi pickguard), and a one-off Jetglo/white plexi 325/12 built, according to Rick expert and author Richard R. Smith, "as a favor to Brian Epstein" and delivered to John in early '64, with apocryphal reports of a Fireglo '65 (6-string) as well...

[Vol46]

OK, you have a nice GS Mini that you have decided is not for you, & feel that you have made a big mistake. My advice - don't rush into a quick sale ( at a loss) on the Mini & compound your mistake by buying the first inexpensive full sized "starter" guitar that you think is OK.
Go to a nice shop & play everything that is within your budget, stretch a little on what you are willing to pay if possible - look for comfort, playability, & tone. Try different body sizes. " full sized" necks come on a variety of body sizes & shapes. Be aware that dead strings & a poor setup can make a big difference in how a guitar sounds & feels when you try it out in the store. Wait until you find something that really feels & sounds like a "step up" for you, then look at as many models & brands as possible with the same characteristics & price points. After you find something that really speaks to you, you may be able to work a trade - if not, selling the Mini should be easy - KOA minis are popular guitars.
If you take this approach, you may still outgrow your next guitar, but you will have a better chance of having one that you will not quickly become dissatisfied with.