00:00 Intro 01:18 Guitar Specifications 04:05 Dimensions 05:40 Hardware and accessories 07:39 Acoustic tone 11:43 With capo 14:11 Plugged-in tone 17:32 Mic and direct sounds blended 18:00 Conclusion
What a great, incredibly detailed, scientific, yet approachable review. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I am considering this guitar for my daughter who is a small statured individual. She tested one today and found the size comfortable for her shorter arms plus the neck and fret spacing manageable for her small hands. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for watching Kevin! The Taka-mini is a good starter guitar for children for younger teens - I actually sold the guitar in the video to a friend of mine who has four children and they are enjoying it!
Bruno I commend you for a truly polished and professional presentation, a standard that should be emulated on RUclips. I don't give this compliment lightly as a professor of business. Good job.
THANK YOU for the review!! One of the BEST guitar reviews I've seen so far! I'm in the market for a practice/travel guitar which you helped so much with this thorough, complete review!!
You're welcome, thanks for watching! If you would like to support the channel please consider signing up to become a patron at www.patreon.com/glbproductions?ty=h Every little bit helps!
Thanks, this is one of the best instrument reviews I have ever seen. I play ukulele and I find with the short scale I have to tune slightly sharp to overcome that problem. Looking at upscaling to guitar and definitely adding this one to the short list after your review.
Thank you for such an informative review. I am now, possibly, your newest subscriber!!! : ) FYI: I am a 5'2" new adult learner and I bought my GX18CE-NS last week mainly because the slim nut, shorter neck, and 3/4 size allow me to play chords that my short fingers are challenged to play on a full size guitar. I hadn't appreciated all the other wonderful features that you brought to light, but I do now! Thanks again...and I'll be listening/watching!
Hello!! This is by far the most complete and yet fulfilling review. Your expertise answered all the questions I had of this guitar. My disappointment with all small bodied guitars is the usage of capo. The tuning seems to go higher as I go up the fretboard. For what I could see the same seems to happen with this guitar as well. Why can’t they just fix this!!! Thanks you again
strange thing! i got the taka mini and has de very same problem with capo, it look like isnt tuned or higher tune. Guess i would have to use my other takamine for those songs with capo
Tried this against the Taylor GS mini and Martin D junior. There's really not a lot in it regards the sound. Loads in it when you compare what you get regards bang for buck in the build though, eg. the Takamine is bound all round, great electrics etc... I went for this guitar, wasn't much sense in buying the GS Mini. I have also put a bone nut in it, upgraded the bridge pins to ebony and fitted a brass bridge protector. The upgrades cost me less than £15 Obviously I did the set up myself low action at the nut .3mm feeler at the 1st fret across all strings. Fixes all tuning issues (bar chords/capo use....on this guitar and others including top of the range Martin's (yes I have a high end Martin too) Taylor's etc..I've tried many in the shops. Some I wouldn't even play or try to due to the nut action being so bloody high! (whatever guitar you have or are buying always get it set up properly) It amazes me how even the most reputable and most expensive guitars that the manufactures don't bother to set the nut action correctly. Think of the nut being a actual fret! so why have in some cases near a 1mm string height between the nut and 1st fret.... no reason in it at all. You wouldn't expect that gap by baring fret 2 and the string was standing off fret 3 one millimeter (1mm) If it was you'd throw the guitar in the trash. Anyway just to reflect, for very little out lay you can make this little beauty a real gem of a guitar. Many will say ohhhh man you can't beat the GS mini or Martin DJ I'd honestly have to say that's BS :)
The GS Mini Isn’t a fair comparison to begin with because it’s not a 3/4 scale small guitar like the Takamine. It’s in a bigger category. The only fair comparison by Taylor would be the Baby Taylor because it actually IS a small 3/4 scale acoustic.
Tried this and GX11 all mahogany... For me the Mahogany wins even if its laminated. Cheaper and arguably sounds better and very warm. Its just sad that there are no reviews about the GX11. Thank you sir. Greetings from the Philippines!
Takamine have some really excellent all-laminate guitars like the EF407 that I reviewed recently. I played the GX11 and found it to have something of a compressed sound which I did not prefer compared to the solid spruce top version. Why don't you do a review of the GX11? If you do let me know!
Chubby Luna I am still planning to buy at JB music store.. Already tried and played it several times. I dont know but I love its sound and looks despite being laminated. Its cheaper though... GLB Productions thank you! I appreciate.. What do you mean by "compressed sound".. Let me know, please? Thank you!
Chubby Luna P16,065 if pull payment... But just an advice..... Wait for "himig lakas" sale.. Thats gonna happen on October... would be worth the wait. You might get a 20% off... i am also waiting. :)
I have changed the strings. Now using a daddario 0.10 gauge string. Playing smooth though the boominess has reduced a bit. My question is- if the piezo pick up gets distinct is there any way to change it?
Yes, any competent guitar technician can replace the pickup in this guitar - it's a simple under-saddle system and not the much more complex palathetic pickup found on the Japan models.
Thanks. I enjoy your clips. A couple days ago I was watching one of your clips on SRT system. Thanks a lot to you for making such clips with painstaking details.
Good review ... I just ordered one off the web (with a 14 day return policy). It's unfortunate ... (I just turned 67) ... that many local guitar shops in smaller towns have closed in recent decades. They can't compete with the internet (is why). It's obviously 'best' to play a guitar first before buying, but these days, what can you do? I know I can't drive 50-100 miles to sample guitars. So that return policy is an insurance policy (so to speak). As Bruno mentioned, Takamine doesn't have many specs on their site. But quite ironically ... (and helpful!) ... they have info on their neck profiles = the shape of the neck where your thumb goes. It is virtually *impossible* to find this info on *any* guitars! Which is very important for me because of how my thumbs are 'made' (so to speak). They don't bend back. The result is that I simply can't play thick necks and guitars with any type of V-profile. Takamine neck profiles are 'asymmetrical' with a bit less wood at the top. That is, toward the low E string. This allows you to more easily use your thumb to play the low E for chords. They say their necks are "slim" ... but don't say how slim. For me, the slimmer the better. I actually can't do that because my thumbs are exceptionally long (too long for that) ... while my fingers are slightly short. Thus, the smaller guitar + the fact that I have arthritis. Some of my 'standard' sized guitars 'tax' my fingers a bit too much (resulting in pain and swelling). The thing about it going out of tune with a capo. I noticed you (Bruno) used a Kyser, which have a set ... (and quite strong) ... tension on them. I use a Shubb, where you can adjust tension. It's much better for keeping the guitar in tune. For this reason, I rarely use my Kyser. Also, fret wear and/or fret irregularities can make guitars go out of tune with a capo on. Even capo placement can effect tuning. Re-tuning after putting on the capo, well, I always do that ... (as recommended by the lead guitarist and leader of the first band I was in back in the 90s. It was 'standard operating procedure' for him). One other thing you (Bruno) didn't cover was the truss rod ... and where you make adjustments. (But most people likely could tell it's inside the sound hole, since there is no truss rod cover on the headstock). As something of an aside, but important is: I've read that nickel wound strings are better than bronze for playing plugged in, what seeing as nickel strings have a 'magnetic pull' to them, while bronze strings do not. (Yet it may not make much difference on this guitar, since it only has a piezo). I may experiment with lighter strings (but only with the treble and mid-range strings, to 'even out' the sound). I got my Takamine (brand new) for $479 USD, which is the going price in the USA (as of 2/21/23). Overall excellent review, definitely better than most! and I have the feeling I'll really like my new guitar (due in this Saturday). Thank you, Bruno!
Thanks for the comment Rick, hope all is well with your new guitar 😊 Yes the truss rod adjustment for Takamines is inside the soundhole - I believe the G-series take a 4mm Allen wrench, the Japanese made models a 5mm. And yes good point about the Kyser having quite a strong spring action! I shall try a Shubb-style model and see what difference it makes.
@@GLBProductions Bruno, I just want to say Thanks Again for your review! I've had the guitar for almost 2 days now and really like it. I likely would not have bought it if not for you! It *does* sound great for its size. I didn't see it at first, but there was an Allen wrench in the gig bag. (I haven't measured its size). The action is low enough for 'Cowboy Chords' (the first 3 frets). But for other styles of playing, it should be be a tad lower (at least for my taste). This slightly high action could cause it to go out of tune ... (up the neck and/or with the capo on). The neck profile doesn't have a noticable 'asymmetry' to it. It is comfortable and doesn't have thick shoulders (at both E strings). I'm going to let the guitar 'settle in' for a couple weeks, then will probably file down the nut slots just a bit. The saddle may need to be lowered a tiny bit too. (I have experience doing this and would advise taking it to a luthier for anyone who is inexperienced or uncomfortable making these kinds of adjustments ... "a basic set-up"). Anyways, to cover every single detail in a video would maybe take an hour or longer. But you did a great job covering the essentials in your video! Take Care of You and Yours. P.S. Oh. Shubb capos aren't very expensive and are durable ... but I wore 2 of them out (one six-string, one 12-string, after about 25 years)!!! If you get one and think about it, let me know how you like it.
I don't know. much of the chordal strumming sounds out of tune while the arpeggiated parts sounded good . I played one briefly and really wanted to like it - but when I played a GS-mini immediately after it - I was more impressed with the Taylor. I think a lot of the difference in volume and tone was due to the heavier strings (fresh Elixirs) on the Taylor. But the Taylor comes with 13's also - so I.m wondering if the store had put extra lights on the Taka-mini . Anyway - Nice Job ( ! ! ) / and I'll watch the comparison. Just wondering if you think the Takamine might benefit from a setup with heavier strings, since the scale length is a lot shorter than the GS mini's ?
+OneyedSon I know exactly what you mean - there is always this nagging feeling that the guitar is not perfectly in tune when playing chords. Of course this is generally true for most guitars most of the time :P The Taka-mini ships with lights so unless somebody broke a string there's no reason why there would be extra-lights on it. It would be an interesting experiment to try mediums, although you might do some damage in the process, given that the guitar is not designed for that string gauge. You would also need to modify the nut, making it more difficult to change back to lights after that.
Takamine has always made amazing acoustics so i wish i would have given this a try before buying my Yamaha APXT2EW 3/4 scale acoustic electric. In fact, id actually like to do a comparison of the two in person. Just by your demo i can hear the Takamine sounds better unplugged but sounds terrible plugged in. The Yamaha sounds amazing plugged in because it has a specially designed INTERNAL pickup system for a bigger, more natural sound instead of a cheap sounding piezo pickup in the bridge like the Takamine. So i’d say if you want the one with the best unplugged sound, get the Takamine but if you want one that sounds amazing plugged in, get the Yamaha. Also, the Yamaha is only $199.00 for their spruce top model and $245.00 for the exotic top wood model. Both are much less expensive than the Takamine.
just bought one $600 nz $1000 for gs mini here. great review man. you should be reviewing for takamine or someone you sold it to me, and people say you cant sell me anything, I dont even like buying food man, but I believe you man you could sell lolly wrappers to the starving.
is this good for a beginner player? i am looking a guitar for my sister , she ha small body and hand or do you have any for recommend? Sorry for my poor english 😥
Thanks for the great detailed review! I'm getting a mini travel guitar this weekend and contemplating between the takamini and little martin Lx1e. Inputs pls! Thanks in advance for your prompt reply!
Thx for thorough review. On the capo issue, so I correct in that it illustrates the limitations of the tuners? Have you replaced your own? What would you recommend if I where to do so?
Great review. I don't understand the capo method, does that mean this particular guitar would be best to use with open chords and the barre chords would be out of tune?
There are a couple of issues with the tuning on this guitar: 1. The tuning machines are not the best and do not hold pitch very well - I can often hear the tuning start to drift after only a couple of songs. 2. The further up the neck you the go worse the intonation, so it depends where you play your barre chords. Normal chords in first position all sound fine.
+Cris Valk Thanks Chris, always appreciate your support and feedback :) No I would never consider myself an electric guitar player! I started out as a classical guitarist and then learned steel string - electric is practically a different instrument in my opinion.
Did you find it harder to lower the action on this guitar due to the under saddle pickup? Im thinking of getting this guitar but I do need it to have a low action. Thank you!
There are some issues with lowering the action on this guitar - I suggest that you try the stock action and see if it suits you. If you need it lower than that I would look elsewhere.
Hi Lauri, I think it sounds ok as a travel guitar - you cannot compare this to any full-sized guitar: the acoustic sound is very compromised and although it sounds good plugged in there are still other challenges such as the short scale length and the quality of the tuners. I actually sold the guitar in the video many years ago - I will use my Taylor GS mini for times that I really need a travel guitar.
Josh if you already own this guitar, it doesn't matter what I think - enjoy it and make beautiful music! If you are considering this guitar, try it and make up your own mind - my opinion is just that and you don't have to agree with it ;)
Thanks for the review. Just bought my granddaughter a Taylor GS Mini(non electric spruce top). Didn't know this was available. Any idea how they compare disregarding price? JimE
@@GLBProductions which one is better from your perspective? From the appearance rosewood looks more soft compared to the laurel. Do you know about the playability and durability? Thank you so much for your answer
Should i get this over the gs mini? Im worried about negative comments about the gs mini like the "weak" construction of bridge and very sensitive to humidity. I am living in the Philippines, a tropical country.
Well for the price of $395, the look of the guitar is amazing! And the sound is heavenly, with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. And the preamp is so good i really enjoy plugging it in. the takamine was an upgrade frm my first guitar the yamaha f310, so im still quite new to different tones in guitar but im happy with my purchase :)
Not as good in my opinion - that guitar is all-laminate and as a result I find that it has a very compressed sound which does not sound nearly as nice as the spruce top version.
The only other one I've tried is the Martin LX1 but this competes more with the the Baby Taylor than the GS Mini. There is no other 3/4 sized acoustic I know of that has the power and projection of the Taylor.
Takamine Guitars has factories in Japan, Korea and China. G-Series i.e. their more affordable line (cheaper production costs and materials used), is made in China. Better models are made in Korea, and their Top of the Line models are made in Gifu, Japan. Their Gifu line guitars are VERY Expensive (trust me....I've seen them in stores in Japan). But sadly, most of the cost is based on the cosmetic appearances. However, their preamp systems are the BEST of the BEST when talking about Acoustic Electric Guitars.
+Gio Tam There is actually a very substantial difference in the volume of the two guitars which does not really come across on video. But yes I agree that the Taka-mini is definitely better value for money given the package that you are getting.
Takamine is a Japanese company but they have factories in both Japan and China. The G and D-series guitars are made in China, everything else is made in Japan.
00:00 Intro
01:18 Guitar Specifications
04:05 Dimensions
05:40 Hardware and accessories
07:39 Acoustic tone
11:43 With capo
14:11 Plugged-in tone
17:32 Mic and direct sounds blended
18:00 Conclusion
What a great, incredibly detailed, scientific, yet approachable review. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I am considering this guitar for my daughter who is a small statured individual. She tested one today and found the size comfortable for her shorter arms plus the neck and fret spacing manageable for her small hands. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for watching Kevin! The Taka-mini is a good starter guitar for children for younger teens - I actually sold the guitar in the video to a friend of mine who has four children and they are enjoying it!
Bruno I commend you for a truly polished and professional presentation, a standard that should be emulated on RUclips. I don't give this compliment lightly as a professor of business. Good job.
Thanks Tony, I appreciate that 🥰
THANK YOU for the review!! One of the BEST guitar reviews I've seen so far! I'm in the market for a practice/travel guitar which you helped so much with this thorough, complete review!!
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
If you would like to support the channel please consider signing up to become a patron at www.patreon.com/glbproductions?ty=h Every little bit helps!
Thanks, this is one of the best instrument reviews I have ever seen. I play ukulele and I find with the short scale I have to tune slightly sharp to overcome that problem. Looking at upscaling to guitar and definitely adding this one to the short list after your review.
You're welcome, thanks for watching.
Thank you for such an informative review. I am now, possibly, your newest subscriber!!! : ) FYI: I am a 5'2" new adult learner and I bought my GX18CE-NS last week mainly because the slim nut, shorter neck, and 3/4 size allow me to play chords that my short fingers are challenged to play on a full size guitar. I hadn't appreciated all the other wonderful features that you brought to light, but I do now! Thanks again...and I'll be listening/watching!
Great to hear that, welcome to the channel 😊
Nice and informative review. Love it. I just ordered the guitar. Can't wait to see it....🙂🎸🎵🎶
Thanks Deena, hope you enjoy the guitar!
Fantastic review, the best I've ever heard, thank you
You're welcome Barry, thanks for watching :)
Hello!! This is by far the most complete and yet fulfilling review. Your expertise answered all the questions I had of this guitar. My disappointment with all small bodied guitars is the usage of capo. The tuning seems to go higher as I go up the fretboard. For what I could see the same seems to happen with this guitar as well. Why can’t they just fix this!!! Thanks you again
strange thing! i got the taka mini and has de very same problem with capo, it look like isnt tuned or higher tune. Guess i would have to use my other takamine for those songs with capo
Tried this against the Taylor GS mini and Martin D junior. There's really not a lot in it regards the sound. Loads in it when you compare what you get regards bang for buck in the build though, eg. the Takamine is bound all round, great electrics etc... I went for this guitar, wasn't much sense in buying the GS Mini. I have also put a bone nut in it, upgraded the bridge pins to ebony and fitted a brass bridge protector. The upgrades cost me less than £15 Obviously I did the set up myself low action at the nut .3mm feeler at the 1st fret across all strings. Fixes all tuning issues (bar chords/capo use....on this guitar and others including top of the range Martin's (yes I have a high end Martin too) Taylor's etc..I've tried many in the shops. Some I wouldn't even play or try to due to the nut action being so bloody high! (whatever guitar you have or are buying always get it set up properly) It amazes me how even the most reputable and most expensive guitars that the manufactures don't bother to set the nut action correctly. Think of the nut being a actual fret! so why have in some cases near a 1mm string height between the nut and 1st fret.... no reason in it at all. You wouldn't expect that gap by baring fret 2 and the string was standing off fret 3 one millimeter (1mm) If it was you'd throw the guitar in the trash. Anyway just to reflect, for very little out lay you can make this little beauty a real gem of a guitar. Many will say ohhhh man you can't beat the GS mini or Martin DJ I'd honestly have to say that's BS :)
Thanks for the contribution!
D jr is all solid tho
The GS Mini Isn’t a fair comparison to begin with because it’s not a 3/4 scale small guitar like the Takamine. It’s in a bigger category. The only fair comparison by Taylor would be the Baby Taylor because it actually IS a small 3/4 scale acoustic.
Excellent review, and very helpful. Many thanks!
You're welcome Tom!
Good teachers are gold Another superb presentation
Thanks again!
love all your videos. please keep them coming!
+Robert Kleiner Thanks for your support :)
Review is really good. Many thanks.
You're welcome Dinith.
Just bought one, happy so far :-)
Thanks for your thorough review :-)
Glad to hear that :)
Tried this and GX11 all mahogany... For me the Mahogany wins even if its laminated. Cheaper and arguably sounds better and very warm. Its just sad that there are no reviews about the GX11. Thank you sir. Greetings from the Philippines!
Takamine have some really excellent all-laminate guitars like the EF407 that I reviewed recently. I played the GX11 and found it to have something of a compressed sound which I did not prefer compared to the solid spruce top version.
Why don't you do a review of the GX11? If you do let me know!
Yes please do a review. I'm thinking of buying one at Lazada. Where did you buy yours?
Chubby Luna I am still planning to buy at JB music store.. Already tried and played it several times. I dont know but I love its sound and looks despite being laminated. Its cheaper though...
GLB Productions thank you! I appreciate.. What do you mean by "compressed sound".. Let me know, please? Thank you!
glen juego How much is it at JB's? In Lazada its 17k plus.
Chubby Luna P16,065 if pull payment... But just an advice..... Wait for "himig lakas" sale.. Thats gonna happen on October... would be worth the wait. You might get a 20% off... i am also waiting. :)
Just bought one a couple of days ago based on your review.
Enjoy your new guitar!
I have changed the strings. Now using a daddario 0.10 gauge string. Playing smooth though the boominess has reduced a bit. My question is- if the piezo pick up gets distinct is there any way to change it?
Yes, any competent guitar technician can replace the pickup in this guitar - it's a simple under-saddle system and not the much more complex palathetic pickup found on the Japan models.
Thanks. I enjoy your clips. A couple days ago I was watching one of your clips on SRT system. Thanks a lot to you for making such clips with painstaking details.
You're welcome, thanks for supporting the channel :)
Good review ... I just ordered one off the web (with a 14 day return policy).
It's unfortunate ... (I just turned 67) ... that many local guitar shops in smaller towns have closed in recent decades. They can't compete with the internet (is why).
It's obviously 'best' to play a guitar first before buying, but these days, what can you do? I know I can't drive 50-100 miles to sample guitars. So that return policy is an insurance policy (so to speak).
As Bruno mentioned, Takamine doesn't have many specs on their site. But quite ironically ... (and helpful!) ... they have info on their neck profiles = the shape of the neck where your thumb goes.
It is virtually *impossible* to find this info on *any* guitars! Which is very important for me because of how my thumbs are 'made' (so to speak). They don't bend back. The result is that I simply can't play thick necks and guitars with any type of V-profile.
Takamine neck profiles are 'asymmetrical' with a bit less wood at the top. That is, toward the low E string. This allows you to more easily use your thumb to play the low E for chords. They say their necks are "slim" ... but don't say how slim. For me, the slimmer the better.
I actually can't do that because my thumbs are exceptionally long (too long for that) ... while my fingers are slightly short. Thus, the smaller guitar + the fact that I have arthritis. Some of my 'standard' sized guitars 'tax' my fingers a bit too much (resulting in pain and swelling).
The thing about it going out of tune with a capo. I noticed you (Bruno) used a Kyser, which have a set ... (and quite strong) ... tension on them. I use a Shubb, where you can adjust tension. It's much better for keeping the guitar in tune. For this reason, I rarely use my Kyser.
Also, fret wear and/or fret irregularities can make guitars go out of tune with a capo on. Even capo placement can effect tuning. Re-tuning after putting on the capo, well, I always do that ... (as recommended by the lead guitarist and leader of the first band I was in back in the 90s. It was 'standard operating procedure' for him).
One other thing you (Bruno) didn't cover was the truss rod ... and where you make adjustments. (But most people likely could tell it's inside the sound hole, since there is no truss rod cover on the headstock).
As something of an aside, but important is: I've read that nickel wound strings are better than bronze for playing plugged in, what seeing as nickel strings have a 'magnetic pull' to them, while bronze strings do not. (Yet it may not make much difference on this guitar, since it only has a piezo).
I may experiment with lighter strings (but only with the treble and mid-range strings, to 'even out' the sound).
I got my Takamine (brand new) for $479 USD, which is the going price in the USA (as of 2/21/23).
Overall excellent review, definitely better than most! and I have the feeling I'll really like my new guitar (due in this Saturday).
Thank you, Bruno!
Thanks for the comment Rick, hope all is well with your new guitar 😊 Yes the truss rod adjustment for Takamines is inside the soundhole - I believe the G-series take a 4mm Allen wrench, the Japanese made models a 5mm. And yes good point about the Kyser having quite a strong spring action! I shall try a Shubb-style model and see what difference it makes.
@@GLBProductions
Bruno, I just want to say Thanks Again for your review! I've had the guitar for almost 2 days now and really like it. I likely would not have bought it if not for you! It *does* sound great for its size.
I didn't see it at first, but there was an Allen wrench in the gig bag. (I haven't measured its size).
The action is low enough for 'Cowboy Chords' (the first 3 frets). But for other styles of playing, it should be be a tad lower (at least for my taste). This slightly high action could cause it to go out of tune ... (up the neck and/or with the capo on).
The neck profile doesn't have a noticable 'asymmetry' to it. It is comfortable and doesn't have thick shoulders (at both E strings).
I'm going to let the guitar 'settle in' for a couple weeks, then will probably file down the nut slots just a bit. The saddle may need to be lowered a tiny bit too. (I have experience doing this and would advise taking it to a luthier for anyone who is inexperienced or uncomfortable making these kinds of adjustments ... "a basic set-up").
Anyways, to cover every single detail in a video would maybe take an hour or longer. But you did a great job covering the essentials in your video! Take Care of You and Yours.
P.S. Oh. Shubb capos aren't very expensive and are durable ... but I wore 2 of them out (one six-string, one 12-string, after about 25 years)!!! If you get one and think about it, let me know how you like it.
great review! thank you very much!
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
I don't know. much of the chordal strumming sounds out of tune while the arpeggiated parts sounded good . I played one briefly and really wanted to like it - but when I played a GS-mini immediately after it - I was more impressed with the Taylor. I think a lot of the difference in volume and tone was due to the heavier strings (fresh Elixirs) on the Taylor. But the Taylor comes with 13's also - so I.m wondering if the store had put extra lights on the Taka-mini . Anyway - Nice Job ( ! ! ) / and I'll watch the comparison. Just wondering if you think the Takamine might benefit from a setup with heavier strings, since the scale length is a lot shorter than the GS mini's ?
+OneyedSon I know exactly what you mean - there is always this nagging feeling that the guitar is not perfectly in tune when playing chords. Of course this is generally true for most guitars most of the time :P
The Taka-mini ships with lights so unless somebody broke a string there's no reason why there would be extra-lights on it. It would be an interesting experiment to try mediums, although you might do some damage in the process, given that the guitar is not designed for that string gauge. You would also need to modify the nut, making it more difficult to change back to lights after that.
Takamine has always made amazing acoustics so i wish i would have given this a try before buying my Yamaha APXT2EW 3/4 scale acoustic electric. In fact, id actually like to do a comparison of the two in person. Just by your demo i can hear the Takamine sounds better unplugged but sounds terrible plugged in. The Yamaha sounds amazing plugged in because it has a specially designed INTERNAL pickup system for a bigger, more natural sound instead of a cheap sounding piezo pickup in the bridge like the Takamine. So i’d say if you want the one with the best unplugged sound, get the Takamine but if you want one that sounds amazing plugged in, get the Yamaha. Also, the Yamaha is only $199.00 for their spruce top model and $245.00 for the exotic top wood model. Both are much less expensive than the Takamine.
The Japanese-made Takamines have a far better plugged in sound than the G-series :)
@@GLBProductions Is this GX18CE-NS MINI made in Japan?
No, made in China.
Hello do you know if the gx11me also uses 12 string gauge? Great review btw!
Yes it does. Thanks for watching!
just bought one $600 nz $1000 for gs mini here. great review man. you should be reviewing for takamine or someone you sold it to me, and people say you cant sell me anything, I dont even like buying food man, but I believe you man you could sell lolly wrappers to the starving.
That's great, hope you enjoy the guitar!
is this good for a beginner player? i am looking a guitar for my sister , she ha small body and hand or do you have any for recommend? Sorry for my poor english 😥
Yes it would work well for a beginner player - I actually sold the guitar in the video to a man who was buying it for his children to play.
Hi.. What string gauge do you use on this guitar?
The factory strings which are D'Addario EXP16s: .012 - .053 light gauge.
Thanks for the great detailed review! I'm getting a mini travel guitar this weekend and contemplating between the takamini and little martin Lx1e. Inputs pls! Thanks in advance for your prompt reply!
You'll need to play them for yourself but IMO the Lx1e is more of a competitor to the Baby Taylor than to the GS Mini.
Nice factual review. But what does the "-NS" stand for? I was thinking nylon strings but guess not.
I believe it stands for "Natural Satin" referring to the finish of the guitar.
Thx for thorough review. On the capo issue, so I correct in that it illustrates the limitations of the tuners? Have you replaced your own? What would you recommend if I where to do so?
Thanks for watching! Given the price of this guitar I wouldn't bother replacing the tuners unless you have really, really fallen in love with it.
But if the tuners were replaced, will the difference be significant?
Great review. I don't understand the capo method, does that mean this particular guitar would be best to use with open chords and the barre chords would be out of tune?
There are a couple of issues with the tuning on this guitar:
1. The tuning machines are not the best and do not hold pitch very well - I can often hear the tuning start to drift after only a couple of songs.
2. The further up the neck you the go worse the intonation, so it depends where you play your barre chords. Normal chords in first position all sound fine.
Beautiful review,Bruno!I really liked it :)
P.S. No electric's reviews? :D
+Cris Valk Thanks Chris, always appreciate your support and feedback :)
No I would never consider myself an electric guitar player! I started out as a classical guitarist and then learned steel string - electric is practically a different instrument in my opinion.
Too Bad :(
But yes it is indeed a different instrument...same 6 strings and notes but totally different approach...
Did you find it harder to lower the action on this guitar due to the under saddle pickup? Im thinking of getting this guitar but I do need it to have a low action. Thank you!
There are some issues with lowering the action on this guitar - I suggest that you try the stock action and see if it suits you. If you need it lower than that I would look elsewhere.
@@GLBProductions Thanks!
Great video. Thank you, but what is the total length of the guitar for traveling purposes?
This guitar has been sold so I no longer have it available to measure.
yes
Hi. What do you think about the lower frecuencies in that guitar?
Acoustically it has very little bass. Plugged in it sound pretty good.
Does this guitar wiith gigbag fit in an airplane overhead luggage compartment?
In my experience it does, but remember that this depends on the aircraft that you are flying on ;)
Is it still good? Im considering to get one....
Hi Lauri, I think it sounds ok as a travel guitar - you cannot compare this to any full-sized guitar: the acoustic sound is very compromised and although it sounds good plugged in there are still other challenges such as the short scale length and the quality of the tuners. I actually sold the guitar in the video many years ago - I will use my Taylor GS mini for times that I really need a travel guitar.
@@GLBProductions I ordered it! I like touch of Takamine guitars....
And I can play different kind of guitars like 3/4 and minis.....
Hope it works out for you - Takamine make quality products for sure 😄
Can you also make a review on takamine gy11ns? Please
No I won't be reviewing that guitar - I tried it and wasn't impressed with the sound, compared to the spruce top version.
@@GLBProductions how sad to hear that, 😥 how i wish if only you could give some ideas to it.
Josh if you already own this guitar, it doesn't matter what I think - enjoy it and make beautiful music! If you are considering this guitar, try it and make up your own mind - my opinion is just that and you don't have to agree with it ;)
can u plez make a video on different mic placement for different instruments that don't support a jack
You mean how to mic up these instruments for live sound?
Where could I get this in Singapore?
Davis Guitar in Peninsula - give them a call at 63375092 first to check if they have stock. Tell them Bruno sent ya ;)
Thank you Bruno~~ :)
You're welcome Wayne :)
Thanks for the review. Just bought my granddaughter a Taylor GS Mini(non electric spruce top). Didn't know this was available. Any idea how they compare disregarding price? JimE
+Jim E Thanks for watching! Next week I'll be uploading a video comparing the two guitars in detail - stay tuned!
I see from website the finger board is laurel wood now. Is there any different with rosewood?
Yes it's a different wood.
@@GLBProductions which one is better from your perspective? From the appearance rosewood looks more soft compared to the laurel. Do you know about the playability and durability?
Thank you so much for your answer
No I really don't know I'm afraid. I'm suspect that Takamine have substituted Lauren for Rosewood due to the CITES states of the latter.
Is this the same size as the martin dreadnought jr?
Sorry I'm not familiar with that guitar.
can i ask if the takamini has a left handed version?
Not that I know of. Check with your local dealer for the most up to date info :)
Does anyone know how to play?
Should i get this over the gs mini? Im worried about negative comments about the gs mini like the "weak" construction of bridge and very sensitive to humidity. I am living in the Philippines, a tropical country.
I live in Singapore and have had no issues with my GS mini bridge.
Do a review on Takamine ED4NC
I'm afraid we don't get the D series in Singapore.
Actually i just got mine at Davis’s.. would love to know your thoughts on it :)
You did? Well then I was wrong, cos Davis is the local Takamine distributor. How are you finding the guitar?
Well for the price of $395, the look of the guitar is amazing! And the sound is heavenly, with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. And the preamp is so good i really enjoy plugging it in. the takamine was an upgrade frm my first guitar the yamaha f310, so im still quite new to different tones in guitar but im happy with my purchase :)
That's great! Yes Takamine is fantastic value for money, much better than the cheaper Yamahas.
Not sure why these would be made in China when the Takamine manufacturing headquarters is located in Japan.
Takamine has factories in both Japan and China - this guitar is part of the G-series which are all made in China.
any sound different GX 11 and 18 what is better choice?
I would choose the GX18 - the 11 doesn't have a solid top and didn't sound as good when I tested both of them.
@@GLBProductions so than why Gx18 is more expensive than Gx11? what is the reason kindly point in detail.
Most likely, but to be sure you'll need to ask Takamine.
@@GLBProductions isn't this GX18 has solid spruce top?
@@yanz_77 Correct, thanks for spotting that, have edited my original comment. The guitar in the video is the GX18.
What guage string?
.012 to .053 Light
how about takamine GX11ME-NS taka mini?
Not as good in my opinion - that guitar is all-laminate and as a result I find that it has a very compressed sound which does not sound nearly as nice as the spruce top version.
GLB Productions thank you very much. great review. it helps a lot
GLB Productions is there any other 3/4 size guitar u think is good? besides taylor gs mini. thx
The only other one I've tried is the Martin LX1 but this competes more with the the Baby Taylor than the GS Mini. There is no other 3/4 sized acoustic I know of that has the power and projection of the Taylor.
GLB Productions thank you very much. i think i will buy takamine then.
How much price in India
Check with your local Takamine dealer.
Thanks you very much
What is the string gauge of that guitar?
The factory strings are .012 - .053.
would you recomend it? or another gauge?
Which is better to buy gx18ce-ns or gn51ce-nat?
Those are two quite different guitars - one is full-sized and one is for travelling. Pick the one that suits your needs best.
GLB Productions uhmm in a band which is better
Both have pickups so will work in a band setting.
But which is better?
And if have a capo which has a better sound
are you from penang?
Singapore ;)
your accent sounds more malaysian than singaporean. :-)
Hello our takamine guitar just like that sounds a little cranky
Ummm i just bought it yesterday
If you just bought it I suggest you take it back to the seller immediately and get them to remedy the problem :)
Takamine is made in Japan!!!
Takamine is a Japanese guitar company but not all Takamines are made in Japan - the G-series is mostly made in China.
Takamine Guitars has factories in Japan, Korea and China.
G-Series i.e. their more affordable line (cheaper production costs and materials used), is made in China.
Better models are made in Korea, and their Top of the Line models are made in Gifu, Japan.
Their Gifu line guitars are VERY Expensive (trust me....I've seen them in stores in Japan). But sadly, most of the cost is based on the cosmetic appearances.
However, their preamp systems are the BEST of the BEST when talking about Acoustic Electric Guitars.
I bought this second-hand guitar for $180 ,but with the condition as new .is it worth it?
Where are you located?
Indonesia
Indonesia
in Indonesia many good guitar factories, like some fender series
This guitar is a winner against Taylor GS MIni, 400 against 650 dollars and no sound difference, plus the takamini electronics and tuner
+Gio Tam There is actually a very substantial difference in the volume of the two guitars which does not really come across on video. But yes I agree that the Taka-mini is definitely better value for money given the package that you are getting.
Türk varsa eğer çevire bilir mi bunu? İyi mi, kötü mü diye.
Evet arkadaşlar bu gitarın şuan sahibiyim ve söylemem gerekir ki; çok iyi bir gitar olduğunu söyleye bilirim. Güvenle alabilirsiniz. 😊
As far as I know Takamine is made by Japan not China
Takamine is a Japanese company but they have factories in both Japan and China. The G and D-series guitars are made in China, everything else is made in Japan.
I see, thank you for the infomation. Now I'm stiil looking for G series in local market, just for fun