The ultimate showdown the new kid on the block the Taylor GS mini Koa Plus vs the number one favorite GS Mini Koa. Baxter plays the same riffs and patterns on both guitars so you can see what one sounds the best to your ear!
Probably the main difference between the two guitars is the electronics system. The comparison could have been more valuable if both guitars were plugged.
After weeks of watching comparison videos and a couple visits to some local guitar stores, I decided that to my ears, the GS mini Koa was the best sounding “small” bodied guitar I had tried. I played Martins, Taylor’s, guild’s, fenders, and Gibson’s. For the size and price point, Nothing came close. The fretboard action, sound, and feel felt just right on the mini Koa. Not to mention the stunning looks! On my way home I felt a bit guilty since the Koa is not cheap by any means. But as soon as I strummed it in my house for the first time. I knew I’d never regret it.
Great choice! We to think the gs mini trumps them all! It’s almost frustrating how good it is and I often find myself picking up my gs mini over the much more expensive pieces we have available when I need a quick play fix. Congratulations and enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!
Awe man! I’ve been playing for 20 years Taylor GS mini Mahogany has been my goto for about 7 years now. I’m thinking of going Koa, and this comment is the first thing I see! 😅
Do you have the same strings on both? Interestingly, in other reviews I've preferred the classic Koa but in this review, I lean toward the Koa Plus, it has a clearer, more refined sound.
After picking up two of the original Koas (non plus) in the store...I was literally blown away by how much DIFFERENT and RICHER/fuller one of them sounded compared to the other identical model. Exact same model, but they did NOT sound the same. Don’t know if it was the wood grain, or a specific builder in the local Taylor factory here...but they sounded like two VERY different guitars. This leads me to think that perhaps it’s less about plus/non-plus and more about the specific unit you pick up. Might be enough difference...copy-to-copy...to have just as much effect on the sound difference than whether it’s the plus or non plus. I liked the first one, but when I asked if they had another and they brought 2nd unit out...I was just in awe. Perhaps an interesting nnext comparison would be to do the same exact comparison...but with two or three copies of the same exact model model. If it’s anything like my experience, the differences may be pretty stunning.
I had the same, went to check out 3 wild patterned GS mini koa's and the new koa plus (one of the few at that time available in my country). One of the standard models had a pattern which everybody would love as a show piece. But while playing it was the guitar with the least sustain and vibrant tones. The Koa with the most boring pattern had most sustain and best tones, which was in my case the Koa Plus and I took it home. So yes most likely the way fibers are arranged in a piece of wood, will influence total sound. So far I did not see any Koa plus guitars with wild patterns, perhaps its due to above and keeping better constant sound quality.
@@PC85X Same strings from factory. Both new as could be. One had a distinctly more plasticky finish to it…so there must be differences builder to builder…wood to wood…finish job to finish job…bindings, etc. My real poi t was just that it definitely is worth looking at & comparing multiple copies whenever feasible.
The plus seems to have a slightly richer sound. Definitely more base and a little more mid. It sounds more rounded to me. Love the koas. Was gonna buy the regular but after my research I’m getting the plus. Got my pre-Order in and waiting for the call for shipping confirmation 😁🤘🏻
Thank You! Both sound so beautiful! I am a (older) beginner learning on a borrowed guitar-- My husband told me yesterday he ordered me the Koa plus! I am so excited for it to get here!!! This will be my only guitar for a while.
Congratulations! The Koa Plus is truly outstanding and in person she really is gorgeous! You shall have years of joy with that new instrument and sincere congrats! Thanks you for watching and one more Yay!
I walked out really happy with the regular koa except for one thing. I wanted darker color but it sounded so good. Didn’t realize the plus existed so already took my the regular koa for the plus. Had to order to store but really excited for it.
I fell in love with the GS mini Koa after spending hours playing as many guitars as I could. It was the only one that had a tone I liked and was comfortable to play. I wanted the Plus, but I just could not justify the price at my beginner level of playing. So, I put it out of my mind. After all the Black Friday ads, I thought, I would stop by and see what was happening. I walk into the guitar room and there's a Koa sitting on the floor with a used tag on it. It was $400 off a new one! I picked it up and it looked like it had never been played. So, I go talk to the staff and find out the guy bought it and never played it. I later saw the paperwork for the original sale. It was purchased in September and traded in in November. By the serial number, the guitar is not even a year old yet. It's a mini e, but at my level it's really not a deal breaker. They both sounded the same to me anyway. Thank you Jesus!
I bought my GS mini Koa just shy of a year ago. I have been very pleased with how nice it sounds. And I feel it’s sounding better with time. I believe the sound hole is larger on the mini’s than a full size dreadnought guitar which helps with the sound. I’ve read a lot of opinions on the Koa wood. I saw no reason to spend the extra money on the Plus for my traveling, but do admit it’s also a nice look. Can’t really tell if one sounds better than the other. Both are nice and easy to play. It can be hit or miss with the basic koa wood so hand pick yours if you can. One thing to note: the basic koa will get a bit darker with time. I often let mine watch the sunrise and know the sun will darken it somewhat and it has. I love how mine has mellowed in both tone and looks since I’ve had it! I travel in a camper a lot and needed a smaller size guitar that would hold up to the environments it would be in. I also keep a Hygrometer and a D’Addario Humidipak in the case when it’s traveling with me. I will rarely plug in but on occasions will, so the ES-B is just fine in MHO. I do appreciate the tuner with it. Bottom line, if I had the choice for a do over, I’d make the same choice. I’m very happy with my GS Koa yet playing the guitar is the biggest joy. Great job on the review. Love your playing!
I’ve had the koa for 4 years I think.. a while at least and i love it! It’s my go to guitar most times when I get the urge to play. The new one looks cool but I like the natural finish on mine that shows the Beauty of the wood grain, and as far as sound to me there’s no difference and I don’t think a fancier case is worth the upgrade. I guess the electronics are updated but I usually play mine unplugged anyway
The electronics are a huge plus. Also, the gear ratio on the tuners is better on the plus. They are both great but the plus is definitely a step up. And that Aero Case is a super nice case. I know people who are ditching their hard cases on much more expensive Taylor's to buy that case.
Lovely guitars ; honestly I prefer the look of the koa mini, since the koa plus adds even too much, koa is already 'naturally' gorgeous. ... Anyway perfect guitars
If you listen with a nice set of headphones you can tell the Plus has a noticeable openness and wider tone than the original Mini GS. The tone is a sleight step up and sounds like it breathes easier.
Did you need to change the strings for half step tuning? How's the string feel? I feel like it's going to be too flabby given its shorter scale length unless you switch to a heavier gauge, is that the case?
@@AU-cs6er I tuned mine down a half step and it sounds amazing. The GS Minis come set up with medium gauge strings, which handle the Eb tuning quite well. I’m gonna take mine in to get another setup to this tuning, but to my ear it sounds good even with the factory setup.
Never heard of these before but was already in the market for a new Taylor and got a brand new Koa for $300 as part of Taylor's BOGO deal..... best $300 I've ever spent
Bouncing back and forth from ~3:20 to ~3:50 when Baxter really digs in you can hear how the Koa Plus holds together better at high volume. When playing at normal levels or finger-picking the normal Koa has a little more volume and brightness. To my ear the Koa Plus sounds better when it gets working but is kind of muted when finger-picking.
Guitars are wood! You could put two GS Mini Plus's ...side by side and one will sound better. Every guitar (even the exact same make and model) will have its own sound because its wood. I would not buy certain "model" of guitar based on this video. Play them all and find the "one" that talks to you. (The video and playing were very good.)
Bro you are a real bluesman after watching you rip that short blues lick. You put your soul into it. I’ve seen guys jamming with me that start to drool a bit not realizing it as they are totally in a different dimension. They realize it after a while. Well done. Oh yeah .......... nice guitar. S.
Johnny Garcia as do/did I and I had to sell it when we ran out of gs minis at the shop years back...I still miss that particular ya mini...:( love love loved it Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for such a great review. Would like the Koa +, but now that the GT is around I'm torn. Would be great if you'd do a comparison between them both if you get your hands on a GT.
Thanks for the comparison... I am a beginner and I really want the Koa to learn ... the only thing that confuses me is why would the two guitars sound any different? They are same wood and construction with only a prettier finish on the plus ... would that alone make a difference? They sounded the same to my untrained ear :)
They do sound very similar and I hear you. The main difference as well is the stain, the ES2 electronics, and the new Aero case. Both sound awesome and you cant go wrong with either one!
The only reason these two should sound different is if you listen with your eyes. Or the age of the strings,...or the player playing differently trying to make them sound different if unconsciously. I think I like the look of the plus better, that stain really brings out the beauty of the wood.
... or the age of the wood, koa guitars open up massively with age. Koa is well known for being the slowest of all woods to realise it's not a tree any more, but a guitar!
I have had an original GS mini Koa for many years now. It's just such a rounded instrument, I don't think you're going to find anything meaningfully better until you get into the astronomical price range. I'd take a Martin D-42 or something similar over it, but they cost as much as a vehicle. If you don't have one yet, maybe the plus is a better route, but the GS mini in general is probably one of the best guitars for the cost ever made, koa or not, and it's damn easy to play compared to full body acoustics.
The darker one sounds darker and the lighter one sounds lighter🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Hell man I don't know...to close to call. It's a DRAW! Joe Rogan and who ever tied.😜
Love that...ye they sound pretty darn close and it really comes down to the finish, the ES2, and the new Aero case as far as differences. Go Rogan...always!!!
Just bought the original GS Mini Koa at Casino Guitars today. Surprised at how good a short scale guitar could sound (other brands don't). I normally would like the darker color in the plus, but in person the look of the original just seemed more organic and no real sound difference. $200 for a better pick-up and case would normally be an easy choice for me, but I saved $200...the original looked that good. Baxter and James were super helpful, as I spent plenty of time there trying out many guitars. Thanks guys.
The Koa plus is the choice for me. It just seemed more pleasing to the ear, had better dynamic range and deeper bass. Love the color, better tuners, and better pick up. Great review!
Darn it. I was waiting for your opinion in the end lol! Anyway, I tried both in the store and you all are gonna find it hard to believe this but the classic sounds much better than the plus in person... no mic, ampli-just bare sound. I was surprised by it. The salesperson agreed as well. I do love the look of the dark one though. I hope I'm not the only one who thinks this because I'm about to buy the classic koa tomorrow in Guitar Center!
It is hard to find the guitars in stores. I ordered the rosewood one , but today I stumbled across a mini koa plus. Fell in love with it If I buy it, I will give the one I ordered to my boyfriend . I'd love to find a regular koa to play and compare. If I could save a couple of hundred dollars
I’ll cast my two cents (for what it’s worth) I just picked up the KOA MINI, after debating long and hard about getting the koa plus. I already have a Taylor 110ce and a Guild 12 string jumbo; so I was looking for one of these smaller (as I call them and as they were originally) parlor guitars to kind of round out my collection...for now. I did not intend on picking up the Taylor Mini Koa, but soon I found myself in this SAME SITUATION; struggling between the koa plus and the koa Mini. The ones I was comparing didn’t sound that much different from each other, with the exception of the plus having a more pronounced lower end; but to me the koa Mini has the most balance between the two. It could be the finish on the two that helps distinguish the sound. The koa plus has (what appears to be) a more layered finish by the way of stains/varnish etc. The color of the plus isn’t that way naturally in wood, so that leads me to believe (obviously) there is a different finish on it than on the koa Mini, and that the plus might have extra stain to give it that dull ALMOST burst look. As you can see how it’s darker on the edges and then lightens up in the inside- kind of typical with sunburst or burst style designs, but this is a way more subtle approach by Taylor. Where as the koa Mini appears to have less work done to the top as the woods natural appeal shows through more. Because of this small difference you might have a change in tone. The reasons to pick the plus over the koa Mini is the new pickup system used by the plus and the 18.1 ratio tuners PLUS the new case; other than that I don’t really see much of a reason to pay about $200 more. The reason why I hesitated so much between the two is because I did like the look of the plus. I like that it didn’t have the on board tuner, and that it just had the tone and volume control knobs. I prefer my acoustics without pickups, and I like (if they do have pickups/electronics) that they are discreet and not make hole in the body somewhere so you can mount a tuner with a bunch of dials in a plastic shell through the wood. That was reason 1 I ALMOST went with the plus. Reason 2: The tuners. The tuners are great on the plus; that ratio is a good one for keeping in tune consistently, and for handling lower tunings (although keep in mind with lower tuning there’s still a lot to consider, but good tuners help as well) the smaller scale guitars sometimes can slip out of tuning just based on their neck scale and the string tensions, but for $200 more I’ll be ok with tuning up; plus if you take care of your acoustics by using some type of humidifier in your case or wherever you’re planning to store it, it well very rarely lose its tune from sitting in its case when not in use. Now the reason why I picked the koa Mini after all is because it’s tone (despite have that plastic shell mounted into the body for the electronics) sounded a tad bit brighter and better ( I thought) than the koa plus. I also didn’t mind the $200 difference to what basically amounts to a darker (possibly thicker) finish, better tuners (although that doesn’t make or break a guitar for me) and a different case. The Mini gig bag that comes with the koa Mini is pretty solid and I feel is comparable to (if not slightly better than) roadrunners soft shell cases. So my verdict is if you’re in the market for a Mini/travel (as their called now) guitar than the koa Mini is a VERY nice choice; although if you got the extra $200 the plus is a good option if you want to say you have the latest model with the bells and whistles; although for me, the beauty is in simplicity. A guitar having a laundry list of upgrades isn’t going to make the person a better player.
I like them both, I do think $200 is not a bad price for the upgrades, sound wise, I can hear no difference, so for me the choice is whether I want the different case (the original one is great), the tuners are a nice upgrade, the finish (personal preference), they both look great, I don't know which one, also the rosewood one keeps calling my name😎
I played all the minis and came out with the acoustic/electric mahogany. That guitar sounded the best to my ears. More full. The Koa had a “hair” more sparkle but i couldn’t justify spending more.
i don't understand why they would sound different if they have he same body, construction and koa top wood, just a different finish, tuner and pickup. shouldn't they theoretically sound identical, or do we get that richer, fuller more beautiful sound from the Aerocase?
Agree. After using the Baby Taylor for over two years on my videos, using the Koa Plus is a breath of fresh air and is a welcome addition to my collection.
I prefer the GS M KP..... the Koa seemed brighter but the mids got jumbled and it lacked the rich bass of the KP. But I am a bare skin finger stylist so I could work with either.
What I have learned is that whether it's Koa, Mahogany or Spruce, each can sound different even in the same wood species. I played at least 25 GS minis and ended up buying a spruce top with rosewood back and sides. I would never buy another guitar online. Each should be played by you before you buy.
I played the Rosewood, mahogany, koa and the koa plus. After an hour of going back and forth the koa plus was a clear winner. I actually loved the original koa wood look better but it just didn’t sound anything near as smooth as the plus. I purchased and love it! Once I plugged in loved it even more! Sounds dreamy 😍
Not a bad choice there. I have an original as well and still love her. They sounds very similar and the differences are really the finish, the ES2, and the new aero case. Enjoy that GS of yours!
@@CasinoGuitars is the ES2 a better pickup altogether? I'm considering a purchase of either in the next month or two. Just curious because there is a $200 difference. Is the aero case really better, also? Thanks.
Guitars are hard to find lately I ordered the gs rosewood mini without really playing one. Went to another store and found a gs taylor mini koa . I fell in love with it So now I'm in a quandary. I just hope I'm not disappointed in the rosewood after playing this one. I didn't even recognize it on the shelf. They were bigger than what I thought
I was worried about this with my fingers and went to a local guitar store and played GS Minis, Martin DJr-10ce and PRS E20. The neck on the PRS felt the best (like an old Martin baseball bat neck) but I was looking for a carry-around guitar and the PRS was a little to nice and shiny. The Martin DreadJr has the largest feeling neck but I just didn't like the sound of it. I ended up bringing home a GS Mini Koa. I actually find the different scale length and the distance my arm stretches to be the more challenging adjustment for me when I go back and forth between my full size guitars and the GS Mini. Short answer - go to a music shop and try them out!
Great demo. One thing though, the ES-B tuner/preamp does not use "little tiny watch batteries" it uses 2x 2032 Lithium Batteries (same type as a computer mother board). The output from the preamp is very high and batteries do last a long time. The tuner also works great.
I just purchased the eKoa + for my son for his 11th birthday (Don't worry, I'll be playing it also!) and I'm so excited for him to get this. He's been playing for a couple years now and it's time for him to upgrade from the Baby Taylor that he's been using. I like that this guitar has the slightly smaller nut width for his smaller hands, upgraded tuners and the AeroCase so he won't damage it. Thanks for the review. Honestly, they both sounded the same to me and you played them both masterfully.
I have a beautiful gs mini koa so I can do without the new finish. The Aerocase is a great idea. However since I travel a lot and already have an SKB case it may not be worth spending the money on the new case. I may do it for my 214CE if I decide I dont want a regular hard case. Still deciding though. First world problems. :)
Sounds like you are perfectly sorted with your current setup! The new aeropause is great and I highly recommend her for your 214ce. Thanks for sharing and for watching!
Just this week, I decided i would buy one of the Koa GS Mini models. I found a brand new GS Mini-e Koa for $799 at my local mom and pop music store (a Taylor dealer). I also found a used GS Mini-e Koa Plus on my local Craigslist for $750, which included the Aerocase. I took a chance and checked out the Koa plus, which was described in the ad as "mint". When I met the seller, he told me that he played bass (owns a GS Mini Koa bass) and won the guitar in a contest and, essentially never played it. Damn right it's mint! Happy new guitar day to me...
I thought Koa was endangered . How can Taylor manage to find enough [ although just the tops are solid ] to produce this extremely popular model , now models ?
Look up Paniolo Tonewoods Native Koa Restoration project in Hawaii. Article appeared in Wood & Steel, better management ranch & forest to improve koa growth. Aloha o ka Aina!
I’ve got a Taylor GS mini Koa-E that I bought 4 or 5 years ago that actually has the ES2. Other than aesthetics, is there really anything better that this new GS mini offers?
Hi, Either on GS mini or GS mini plus, can you plug a standart jack in the guitar ? sorry for the stupid question but all the tests I see on RU-vid show ambiant Mic .
TAIEB Frederic If the guitar is the “E” version, equipped with some version of the Expression System, then a standard guitar cable can be plugged into the guitar.
Can't wait for my Koa Plus to arrive tomorrow! nearly bought the original Koa but once I heard the Koa Plus had the better pick up system I went with that, pretty important for a gigging musician!
The koa originals come in such a wide variety of wood colors and patterns, you just have keep an out at places like Sweetwater , where you can see pics of the actual guitar you're interested in. Some of the patterns are simply breathtaking. I am holding out for what Consider the perfect combination of colors. I like my guitars to look unique and special to me.
They both sounded the same acoustically, which they SHOULD since they use the same woods. That said, the biggest difference is in the plugged in tone. I kinda wish we got to hear the difference between the ES-b and ES-2 pickup systems. And for those saying that all pickups are the same....listen to a Fishman Sonitone/Sonicore pickup and compare it to a L.R. Baggs Anthem and you’ll know the difference.
the tuner on the ES-B stinks. the barn door is horrendous. love the shaded edge burst on the plus. $999 is steep, that’s how much 114ce’s used to cost. i gave away my gig bag when i bought the mini a long time, i’d do the same if i bought the mini, which i can’t, bc i will get yelled at
that being said, i’d rather pay $999 for the mini plus instead of the $799 bc the shaded edge burst cost much alone, ES2 is certainly better than ES-B. and with that being said, i’d wish there was an acoustic only option. since i’m dreaming, i wish it was 1 3/4” nut. i know people wish for a solid wood option, but to squeeze the tone, minis have an arched back with medium strings. a small body taylor with lights in solid wood would sound tiny.
I was actually pleasantly surprised after dropping one string size down on mine. The combination turned out to be perfect, and wonderfully easier to play. Sounds amazing still. Highly recommend giving it a go. Worst case…you spend $12 to find out.
the mini i had was incredibly fun, i learned a lot of songs on it. i got rid of it to get a sheeran w03 to teach my child, bc the much smaller body shape and the arm bevel. if i were to buy a guitar at this price point (~1k) for myself, i’d get a sheeran s03. for me, these guitars are my learning and couch guitars, so obviously that’s not everyone else’s needs. but yea, those gs mini plus are enticing!!!!
Neck differences between Sapele and Mahogany? Hey all - this is one of the best discussions on the GS Mini Koa vs Koa Plus! Thanks to Casino for putting up this awesome video and comparison, and to all those who have posted and commented before. I recently picked up a beautiful new Koa (not plus) that looks and sounds great. I got it from Sam Ash and have 45 days to return it. I was able to compare it to a Koa Plus in the shop, and between the two samples the normal Koa was brighter and crisper and louder. The Koa Plus was mellow and and about 3/4 of the volume of the normal Koa (to my ears). I ended up opting for the normal Koa for a handful of reasons and I love mostly everything about it. But after playing it for a while I am noticing that I don't really love the feel of the Sapele neck. I know the Plus has an upgraded Mahogany neck and when I was at the store I didn't really notice that much of a difference. But not that I have it home and I am seeing used Koa Plus models for the same price I paid for my new Koa model, I'm wondering if there is much difference in the neck feel between the two. The sapele neck just feels a little rough under hand. Does anyone else have any thoughts or opinions specifically about the neck material differences between these two? Aesthetically and sonically, I am really enjoying my new Koa, but every time I grab neck I wonder if I should get a used Koa Plus instead and return this one to the shop. Thanks for your thoughts!
When Baxter plays the instrument, it appears to be of a standard size. However, when Greg Koch plays the same instrument, it gives the impression of being a soprano ukulele.
Honestly demoing Taylors without plugging them is a real disservice. Their guitars are designed to be plugged in and that’s where they shine compared to their competitors.
If that's how you compare the sounds,... i would rather just buy a yamaha f310 with or without pick up..... whats the use of electronic system anyway if you dont plugg it....
Dark stain doesn’t appeal to me. Is the original gs mini the natural colour without stain. If so I would prefer the natural color . Also does the stain hide something ? Maybe lower grade koa etc ??
What nobody seems to be pointing out is, that if there is any difference on the electronic side of these mini acoustic guitars. I felt that the non-mini carried sustain better than the Plus. Although I am curious as to the difference between the ES-2 versus the ES-B electronics
Does someone could share the tabs for the little nice piece from Led Zeppelin that he plays? Thank you and nice comparison, I ordered my Koa Plus, I hope I will have it by the end of June.
