Has anyone taken a brand-new Taylor in for a setup?

[Jerry D]

Taylor is so well respected out-of-the box, but I recently bought a GS Mini Koa-e Plus https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=620863 and I'm not so sure it doesn't need one. The action seems to be fine, but I'm not used to the medium strings on it. Some have advised me not to go to light strings because of the hardness of the Koa top.

What would a good setup do for me, considering the action is OK to begin with?

[phavriluk]

First thing I did with my new GS Mini was restring it with lighter strings. Second thing I did was bring it to a luthier for tweaking and adjusting. Taylors have excellent out-of-the-box consistency and build quality, but they can all be optimized.

[Jerry D]

Originally Posted by phavriluk

First thing I did with my new GS Mini was restring it with lighter strings.

Thanks. No loss of bass or tone? And, is yours Koa?

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by Jerry D

Taylor is so well respected out-of-the box, but I recently bought a GS Mini Koa-e Plus https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=620863 and I'm not so sure it doesn't need one. The action seems to be fine, but I'm not used to the medium strings on it. Some have advised me not to go to light strings because of the hardness of the Koa top.

What would a good setup do for me, considering the action is OK to begin with?

As far as the medium gauge strings, you have to consider that Taylor ships the Mini with medium strings because it's engineered to use mediums due to the GS Mini's shorter scale length. It makes the string tension similar to lights on a standard scale length.

If you string with lights you'll loose some of the tension necessary to drive the top as Taylor designed it.

If you don't notice much of a tonal difference with the lights then it's usually a matter of tweaking the truss rod adjustment to match the setup that was done with mediums.

[EZYPIKINS]

Taylor out of the box?

You're obviously not buying yours around the Kansas City area.

But it's not just Taylor around here.

I'm fairly picky. And like a very low action.

When living in Ca. I could usually find good players now and then.

I have seen nothing in this area that doesn't need a setup something fierce.

The best ones are probably at Mass Street in Kansas.

But even they feel high to me.

I see Taylor's hanging on a wall that you could stack two quarters between the 12th fret and string 6 and it wouldn't touch.

These are not even worth taking off the wall.

It amazes me, the amount of people who will spend 3000, 4000, 5000 USD on these things.

And in order to set them up. You gotta call Taylor and beg for a shim kit. Just to get it close enough to start filing.

[tbeltrans]

I have three Taylors: 912CE and two K14CE, all from within the past 2 years brand new. For me, it is simply a matter of course to take mine in for a setup right after I purchase them because I want the action as low as it can go without buzzing. Fortunately, we have a very good shop with factory trained people - St. Paul Guitar Repair, and they always do an excellent job. They have the shims and the proper skill set to do it right.

Until I got my McPherson Sable, the Taylors seemed to set up for easier play than anything else I have owned over the years. The Sable is as good as the Taylors with just the smallest bit of tweaking that I can easily do myself. The advantage of the McPherson is the neck will never shift so it will always play as set up under any conditions.

Tony

[AndrewG]

I have seldom experienced a guitar, including Taylor, which didn't need setting up to my preference from new. Expecting a guitar to suit you off the wall is like expecting a car seat to fit you comfortably with no adjustment. It rarely happens.

[Dru Edwards]

Jerry, great question. It sounds like you like the setup now with medium strings. I say try light strings to see how you like it. You may or may not need a very slight truss rod adjustment (i.e eighth to a quarter turn at most). If you find there's a tonal loss and you prefer mediums, put mediums back on and don't worry about the setup if you like it all.

One thing for both medium and light strings (whatever you decide). Put a capo on the first fret. Is it easier to play than without a capo? If so, you may be able to lower the action at the nut.

[Jim in TC]

My mahogany GS Mini was pretty good right from the store but better after a little (inexpensive) setup work from a local tech.

If you want to lower the string tension a bit, try one of the silk/steel or silk/bronze sets. I am still experimenting with my Emerald X7 but the Plectrums were nothing short of spectacularly nice on that guitar. Pricey though, so I am interested in other brands but will pay the price if they don't measure up.

[Bob Womack]

I typically take in a new guitar to be set up to me if I can.

Bob

[Tahitijack]

I bought my first guitar from a local shop. A complete setup was done before it left the shop that day at no extra cost. Ever since I have done the same with each new guitar.

[RalphH]

My GS mini played much, much nicer with 12's on and sound just as good, or slightly better

I took the action down at the nut and saddle -- it was too high for my tastes

[Guitarplayer_PR]

Originally Posted by Jerry D

Taylor is so well respected out-of-the box, but I recently bought a GS Mini Koa-e Plus https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=620863 and I'm not so sure it doesn't need one. The action seems to be fine, but I'm not used to the medium strings on it. Some have advised me not to go to light strings because of the hardness of the Koa top.

What would a good setup do for me, considering the action is OK to begin with?

My rule of thumb: ALWAYS set up, used or new.

[Rad]

Strings are a 5 or 6 dollar cost. Try the strings you are thinking of before you take it in for a set up. This way when you do take it in the tech will set it up for your string selection.

[EZYPIKINS]

Originally Posted by Rad

Strings are a 5 or 6 dollar cost. Try the strings you are thinking of before you take it in for a set up. This way when you do take it in the tech will set it up for your string selection.

You do want to set it up with the strings you'll be using.

One string will pull and intonate differently.

Acoustics are by nature far from a precise instrument.

So the better the initial set up, the better off you'll be in the end.

Unfortunately even some of the best tech's won't go as far in depth on an acoustic as I will.

So I got the tools to do it myself.

Now my guitars play better than any others I've ever played.