The Official GS Mini Upgrades / Mods / Customizations Thread

[PTony]

I'll try to keep this concise. It really needs nothing...that being said because I have fun upgrading and modding... Bill Nichols (TRC) if still possible. Know he'd been ill. Black Gotoh 510's, Tusq 4mm black abalone pins, possible hard shell.

Love these new elixirs designed by Taylor that comes on the GS minis...or at least came on my ltd.

[Doubleneck]

Converted the three screw end pin to one that would accept any "normal" pickup. Found a chrome washer that needed to be slightly fitted but looks perfect. Put in a MiniFlex 2 mic.

[phavriluk]

I found the standard-issue tuners on my new GS Mini to be a bit sloppy and indistinct, although they do get the job done. Has anyone swapped out the tuners, with which new tuners, and how satisfactory did it turn out? And how far up the tuner food chain did you have to go to improve on the OEM tuners?

Thanks very much.

[Nedro]

Whitney,

As for the tan lines, mine is mahogany and over a few months it faded together and is hard to see. It only shows now in bright sunlight, but I waited 6 months to take off the pickguard. I think a month or two sooner and there would be no problem.

[ifret]

Has anyone swapped out their standard pickguard for a wooden one?

If so, is it still possible to remove a pickguard after several years, or is it something that has to be done when it is new? Just curious.

[Long Jon]

Originally Posted by TaylorMusician

Has anyone swapped out their standard pickguard for a wooden one?

If so, is it still possible to remove a pickguard after several years, or is it something that has to be done when it is new? Just curious.

Well, the old pickguard will still come off, but it will definitely leave a tan line.
Not a problem if you are covering it with a new guard that is at least as large as the old one. I bought a wooden guard for a lil' Baby Taylor that I used to have, (they have no standard guard fitted). Very easy to apply cuz there is no air bubble problem as with plastic guards.

[emidyl]

Originally Posted by fazool

One thing to note: the standard bridge pins do not fit the GS Mini and they only sell plastic ones for the GS Mini.
Standard Martin bridge pins fit perfectly on a mini.

Do you know if this is right across the board? I have done some research where I have found older posts ie from 2012 that say they fit then later ones that say the ebony pins from Taylor also fit. Yet another owner did some measurements and found them to be on par to a 1T fitting which would fit the regular Taylors as well.

Any current owners do a swap and have further comments? Are the Martin pins larger or smaller? Is it a matter of a bit of filing down?

I've ordered a couple sets from Bob Colosi and was hoping to be able to use them on my Holden mini as well as my other Taylors.

cheers

[Long Jon]

Mine's a 2011 . The pin holes are 5mm. The ebony pins I bought were 5.5mm.
They actually fit fine as they come, just sit a little proud of the hole. Easy to sand them down a little for perfection.

[wborisenok]

Originally Posted by PTony

I'll try to keep this concise. It really needs nothing...that being said because I have fun upgrading and modding... Bill Nichols (TRC) if still possible. Know he'd been ill. Black Gotoh 510's, Tusq 4mm black abalone pins, possible hard shell.

Love these new elixirs designed by Taylor that comes on the GS minis...or at least came on my ltd.

PTony, which model LTD is that? Love the dark back/sides. Rosewood?

[PTony]

Originally Posted by wborisenok

PTony, which model LTD is that? Love the dark back/sides. Rosewood?

It's the rosewood ltd with ES-T. 2012 I believe. Fabulous!!! Thx for the kind words

[XYRN]

The only mod I've made to mine was replacing the plastic bridge pins with ebony Martin ones.
I can't say for certain I hear a difference, but I did it on principle.

[wborisenok]

Originally Posted by PTony

It's the rosewood ltd with T-ES. 2012 I believe. Fabulous!!! Thx for the kind words

Very pretty. My '13 QS LTD with ES-T arrives on Tuesday. Can't friggin' wait.

[PTony]

Originally Posted by wborisenok

Very pretty. My '13 QS LTD with ES-T arrives on Tuesday. Can't friggin' wait.

Please post pics when it arrives! I'd love to own one of those and the black wood also. I had a standard GS mini and never bonded w/it. Glad i took a second swing at the ltd. I'm excited for ya! These are amazing Big Little guitars lol

[wborisenok]

Will do! Then I'll be sure to post more pics when I do some mods...and more pics after the mods after that...so on and so forth

[leehop71]

What type and gauge strings is everyone using on your minis?