Finally! Played a Hog-top GS Mini Today

[naolslager]

Today I was browsing through GC looking for new strings when I spied the elusive GS Mini mahogany top guitar. Just as appealing and playable as I imagined but at $499 plus tax this is could not be a whimsical purchase for me. I ain't no Rockefeller!

More somber than its spruce-top sister I'd have to say both are winners but I'd opt for the mahogany top variant. Both are surprisingly robust sonically considering their size and a huge upgrade over traditional travel guitars.
dj

[naolslager]

I unwittingly "sold" a GS Mini to another customer in GC. We got to talking and I pointed out the GS Mini to him. He had never seen one and knew nothing of it. He walked out with a mahogany top GS Mini and a big smile.

Since i had just purchased a guitar vicariously I was able to walk out of GC empty-handed but with my GAS in check. I too was smiling.
dj

[Dru Edwards]

I love the GS Mini - great guitar. I do; however, prefer the tone of the spruce top. But considering I don't have a mahogany topped guitar, perhaps it makes sense to have something different.

[MikeB1]

Originally Posted by naolslager

Today I was browsing through GC looking for new strings when I spied the elusive GS Mini mahogany top guitar. Just as appealing and playable as I imagined but at $499 plus tax this is could not be a whimsical purchase for me. I ain't no Rockefeller!

More somber than its spruce-top sister I'd have to say both are winners but I'd opt for the mahogany top variant. Both are surprisingly robust sonically considering their size and a huge upgrade over traditional travel guitars.
dj

Hi DJ,

Maybe I can save you $200!
I also love the GS mini and think they are a fantastic value for $500.
A month ago I just purchased a Taylor Baby mahogany. This is my first Taylor and I am very impressed with the quality. The guitar is well put together and sounds great. For $300 this is a great value.

Mike

[naolslager]

Originally Posted by MikeB1

Hi DJ,

Maybe I can save you $200!
I also love the GS mini and think they are a fantastic value for $500.
A month ago I just purchased a Taylor Baby mahogany. This is my first Taylor and I am very impressed with the quality. The guitar is well put together and sounds great. For $300 this is a great value.

Mike

I have tried the BT but not the mahogany top model. I will say it is appealing to me but I'm not in the market for a travel guitar at the moment. My Recording King RP-06 is my travel guitar. (http://www.recordingking.com/guitars_rp06.html)

My attraction to the GS Mini (mahogany) had more to do with the relative affordability of a mahogany top guitar than it did its size. I really like the Martin 15 series but they always seem out-of-reach price wise for me. I was thinking the GS Mini might emulate the 00-15?

I've tried the BTs, Little Martins, Art & Lutherie Ami, and Yamaha FG-JR but found the RK to be superior albeit a little larger. The RK give me a full scale, bone nut/saddle, dovetail neck joint, etc. The RK can be loud or soft and seems "precise" to me. I refer to it as a scalpel as opposed to an ax.
dj

[rbachman]

What is the size of the Recording King RP-06 to the GS Mini?

[Jeremy]

Last night I compared a mahogany mini to two spruce topped ones. The mahogany one was noticeably fuller, deeper, and louder.

[MikeB1]

Hey Jeremy,

That's very interesting. Everything I ever read always said spruce was brighter and lowder, while mahogany was described as warmer.

But I did the same thing you did at GC comparing the spruce to mahogany, except I played the baby taylors, and I wound up purchasing the mahogany!

Mike

[mloywhite]

Originally Posted by MikeB1

Hey Jeremy,

That's very interesting. Everything I ever read always said spruce was brighter and lowder, while mahogany was described as warmer.
Mike

That was my experience, the spruces were louder and definitely brighter, the mahogany were warmer. I found a 'hog that played really well, but I knew I wanted the brighter spruce. Luckily I found one in spruce that played well, and not only had a great looking top, but a back that looks like nice mahogany, just great looking wood. I adjusted the setup and couldn't be happier with it. Keep trying as many as you can, but remember, it's easy to adjust the setup, but the wood I'd not going to change.

[naolslager]

Originally Posted by rbachman

What is the size of the Recording King RP-06 to the GS Mini?

The RP fits in a classical case and the body size is "0". I suspect it might be longer overall than the Mini but the RP is also a 12-fret design so it is compact. The main thing is it is light and it will fit in the overhead bin on a commercial flight. These are critical characteristics for international travel.

[rbachman]

Originally Posted by naolslager

The RP fits in a classical case and the body size is "0". I suspect it might be longer overall than the Mini but the RP is also a 12-fret design so it is compact. The main thing is it is light and it will fit in the overhead bin on a commercial flight. These are critical characteristics for international travel.

A classical "soft" case for international travel?
I say this because I am going to England with my lovely wife on Aug 17th and I do picture myself with a guitar there!! But what one ????

[naolslager]

Originally Posted by rbachman

A classical "soft" case for international travel?
I say this because I am going to England with my lovely wife on Aug 17th and I do picture myself with a guitar there!! But what one ????

Yes, a soft case, really a thinly padded gig bag. I carry this on the airplane and carefully place it in storage and monitor it for the duration. I would never check this.

However, i've discovered flying TO Europe with a hand-carry guitar is one thing. Trying to get out of Europe with what is now an extra bag can be very expensive. I was charged over 100 Euro once so now i don't travel with my guitar internationally.
dj

[rbachman]

Originally Posted by naolslager

Yes, a soft case, really a thinly padded gig bag. I carry this on the airplane and carefully place it in storage and monitor it for the duration. I would never check this.

However, i've discovered flying TO Europe with a hand-carry guitar is one thing. Trying to get out of Europe with what is now an extra bag can be very expensive. I was charged over 100 Euro once so now i don't travel with my guitar internationally.
dj

Why would the same airline have different rules for baggage in different directions?

[naolslager]

Originally Posted by rbachman

Why would the same airline have different rules for baggage in different directions?

Flying TO Europe one typically starts with an American carrier and then connects to a foreign airline. So checking-in in America you are allowed one carry-on and one personal item. I'm pretty sure they were not talking about guitars but most don't balk at them.

Flying FROM Europe, you start with a foreign carrier and they are somewhat more restrictive of what one is allowed to carry on. They notice two items which to them is "excess baggage" and they charge a fee.

Maybe they've been losing at the track and are trying to make up for their losses but they charged me 100 Euro once. Not inexpensive.
dj

[rbachman]

Originally Posted by naolslager

Flying TO Europe one typically starts with an American carrier and then connects to a foreign airline. So checking-in in America you are allowed one carry-on and one personal item. I'm pretty sure they were not talking about guitars but most don't balk at them.

Flying FROM Europe, you start with a foreign carrier and they are somewhat more restrictive of what one is allowed to carry on. They notice two items which to them is "excess baggage" and they charge a fee.

Maybe they've been losing at the track and are trying to make up for their losses but they charged me 100 Euro once. Not inexpensive.
dj

I understand what you are saying but ... I will be flying USAirways, non stop, both ways. So I think I will be okay. But it is between the GS Mini Mahogany (lefty) and the Yoyage Air VAOM-04 (lefty). I'm thinking that the Voyage Air might be easier to get past them. I would be coming to the gate with a guitar in a backpack and another backpack !!!