Taylor GS Mini-E Mahogany

108
Guitarist summer 2016
review
TRAVEL GUITAR ROUND-UP
each will add its own voice to any recording
that you happen to be working on.
The GS Mini is our most expensive guitar
on test; you could buy a credible full-size
instrument for its price. But it does include
the best gigbag of our bunch and employs
Taylor’s top-flight ES-2. Reflected in its
lower price and material choice, the Martin
LX1E feels a bit more utilitarian but packs
a very endearing and classic steel-string
punch, both acoustically and amplified.
Our similarly priced but all-solid Faith
has a subtly more electric-like feel and
playability, and while not our favourite on
the quartet unplugged, plugged-in it’s quite
a corker, especially for the modern player.
Which leaves our trimmest-priced Vintage
with its 19th century looks, old-world
acoustic sound and very usable plugged-in
voice. Add in that USB feature and overall
compactness and it’s the no-brainer of the
bunch, especially if you’re into rootsier
styles. Here comes the summer!
4. The Martin’s Fishman
Isys T preamp only
offers a pre-set
Contour switch for EQ,
but with it engaged,
the sound is crisper
and cleaner
5. As with many more
affordable Martins,
the LX1E uses wood
alternatives in some
areas, such as the
bridge and fi ngerboard
– here, they’re both
made of Richlite
6. The Faith’s full-size
tuners do look a little
large on the scaled-
down headstock, but
this is the only all-solid
wood guitar here
7. There are no unsightly
controls to break
the illusion that the
Vintage is a museum
piece, thanks to the
soundhole-mounted
controls of the
Fishman Sonitone
8. The low-profi le
buttons of the Taylor
Expression System
are a hallmark of the
fi rm’s electros; the
Mini uses the ES-2
7
8
4
The Martin
LX1E does feel a
bit more utilitarian
but packs a very
endearing and
classic steel-
string punch
6
5
GIT410.rev_travel.indd 108 7/6/16 7:28 PM