I Googled "African ziricote" and everything that came up was about this guitar, which isn't on Taylor's own website. I'm familiar with ziricote because it's what Richard Thompson's guitar (by Lowden) is made with, but it's a Central American wood.
I was privileged to play an African Ziricote GS Mini recently and the sound was unique and beautiful. I was eventually seduced by the looks and tone of a shaded edge burst all mahogany but I occasionally think I should have bought the African Ziricote because of the sparkle and chime....
I got my Ziricote GS-Mini 2 weeks ago. Visually it sort of resembles the Black Limba GS-Mini, and you are right that typically Ziricote is just the opposite looking of what these look like. The Ziricote is #16 in my GS-Mini collection (each of the 16 a different wood combination) and despite them all being laminate I can confirm 100% that come GS-mini's sound very different from each other. Some not as much as others, but some very much. The Ziricote model does sound different although I'm not sure how to describe it.
Which one is your favorite sounding GS-mini? I'm wanting to buy one for my first guitar but not sure which one is the best sounding. I'm really leaning towards the GS Mini-e koa plus
@@Alex_1995 IMO, it depends what you are going for and if it's your first guitar the subtle differences won't matter yet. Get the guitar you like the look of most. That's the best advice I can give. The GS-Minis are great guitars, hold value well and should feel the need to "upgrade" it's a guitar that is great to leave out and/or keep as your travel guitar (what it is for me). But yes, for your first guitar don't overthink it. The differences will be subtle to your ears (heck probably most people) so far better to get something you love the look of more because the differences are not drastic and are personal. Some like a more booming guitar and others like myself like a "warmer" sound generally associated w/ mahogany. When you get better you'll learn what you want out of a guitar and what sounds better to you.
@@RogerThat902 Thank you, that's great advice and I went ahead and ordered the GS mini e koa plus! I know it's going to take a long time and a lot of practice to be able to play how i want to.. looking forward to it though.
@@Alex_1995 Congrats! my very first decent guitar was actually a Koa laminate I loved the look of. All these years later I still have it. Just keep playing and you'll get there eventually. Remember everyone started out sounding terribly and not being able to transition from chord to chord easily but eventually we all go it. Also, I'd say the first few months are the hardest. So just promise to stick your head down and try not to compare yourself to anyone. Progress will come quickly and breakthroughs will just seem to happen like magic. One day you'll have the hardest time and think it impossible and then the next day you somehow have worked out how to do it seemingly in your sleep. I still remember having trouble holding the pick and wondering how anyone did it. Then one day I realized I didn't have any trouble holding the pick for weeks and forgot it was even once a problem lol. A lot of things solve themselves (especially early on) by playing. I wish you luck!
Hi, I have a question, I am trying to buy GS mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric then I happened to watch this video. Can you recommend best GS mini acoustic-electric ? or GS mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric VS GS Mini-e Ziricote acoustic-electric ?
Very cool looking guitar and I love the fact that they’re using ebony appointments as well. If I pull the trigger on a mini series it’ll have to be one like this or similar. Thanks for all the great feeds guys, I love your channel 🤙
Chris, at about 7:51 I hear a thumpy string twang, and wonder if that was the guitar or the string brushing against a fret or something. A turban would be a nice touch while making a prognostication, foretelling one's future with the guitar reviewed. A back that looks like a hadrosaur would be a great one to tour Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, MT) with. 🤔(Would I be allowed to tour the Gibson factory if they knew I was traveling with a Taylor or Breedlove?) Breedlove factory tour is in the works this summer (since my daughter and family live there, I'll have a reason to park there for several days). 🤠 (having the same thoughts as Tex Haines...)
Had a GS mini Koa plus, played for 3 weeks and never enjoyed playing it. Sold on eBay for a loss of £300 just to get shot if it. Bought the Martin dreadnought junior, what a fantastic little guitar.
Did Andy modify the bracing with that Ziricote? Bracing is modified on other Taylor's for different tone woods. Still like my GS Mini Koa and grandchildren Still like their GS Mini. Thanks Chris, Cooper.
It would be nice if you could link to the specific guitar that you demo. The link is too general and it's challenging to find the one that is featured.
My GS Mini is cool but is hard to play. The action is so high that it’s painful to play longer than 20 minutes or so. I’ve set the action to the lowest it goes - still too high.
Your action shouldn't be high. The guitar is either over humidified, in need of a neck angle adjustment or has too much relief in the neck or any combination of those. I would advise taking it to a dealer for inspection and adjustment. The great thing about Taylor's NT neck is the additional adjustments that many other guitars don't have. - Chris
Wouldn't you rather switch the back and top? I love the look of figured woods (layered koa, African mahogany, you name it) and that would be more captivating and visible from the front. 'Course, one might be tempted to quit playing, and just dance with and smell the guitar.
He means that it would be more exciting to have the front look beautiful like the back does that way you and your audience could see how special the wood is while you're playing.
Looks great but sounds exactly as every other GS Mini, because, as even Bob Taylor admits, the laminated back and sides has little effect on the tine quality- simply a marketing exercise to make money.
I just came from guitar center and played a Rosewood/Spruce, Mahogany and Koa side by side and they all sounded very different. That may have more to do with the solid top woods but it’s absolutely noticeable.
@@xThreeFiveSeven If that's your experience then fine...but as you've identified it is the tops that make the difference. In the end it is the guitar you like that is the guitar you play- laminate or solid wood- I have both and like them both.
Isn't going to change a thing just because you removed my friends post he's been playing guitar 50 years and knows what he's talking about I grew up with him and his sister the Taylor is no better than the Gretche Rancher falcon Jumbo electric acoustic people don't buy into the BS anymore that you sales people still try to shove in our faces
Punctuation can be your friend. It's funny, there's videos on Gibson guitars elsewhere on RUclips where you pop up to slag off Gibson. As a one off, it's something that can be just notched up to coincidence. But now here you are on a video about Taylor guitars and suddenly you have an axe to grind about Taylors. Looks like a troll. Sounds like a troll. Smells like a troll.
I just got mine today. As a life long memory of my mum That just past away. I allready love This gs mini. So good to play and sounds amazing.
I have a real love hate relationship with these videos. I have a guitar problem and I just bought this off your website.
They should make that all ziricote, with a solid ziricote top
Right, that’s what I was thinking too!
I Googled "African ziricote" and everything that came up was about this guitar, which isn't on Taylor's own website. I'm familiar with ziricote because it's what Richard Thompson's guitar (by Lowden) is made with, but it's a Central American wood.
I was privileged to play an African Ziricote GS Mini recently and the sound was unique and beautiful. I was eventually seduced by the looks and tone of a shaded edge burst all mahogany but I occasionally think I should have bought the African Ziricote because of the sparkle and chime....
Awesome review of the GS mini.
From Northern Ireland here love your videos just bought myself a gs mini African ziricote ltd can’t wait for it to be delivered and play it!!
Never seen a guitar with artisan grilled cheese baguette back and sides before.
Just bought mine yesterday. Can only say WOW. My personal taste; I would go for a tortoise pickguard or even without it.
I got my Ziricote GS-Mini 2 weeks ago. Visually it sort of resembles the Black Limba GS-Mini, and you are right that typically Ziricote is just the opposite looking of what these look like. The Ziricote is #16 in my GS-Mini collection (each of the 16 a different wood combination) and despite them all being laminate I can confirm 100% that come GS-mini's sound very different from each other. Some not as much as others, but some very much. The Ziricote model does sound different although I'm not sure how to describe it.
Which one is your favorite sounding GS-mini? I'm wanting to buy one for my first guitar but not sure which one is the best sounding. I'm really leaning towards the GS Mini-e koa plus
@@Alex_1995 IMO, it depends what you are going for and if it's your first guitar the subtle differences won't matter yet. Get the guitar you like the look of most. That's the best advice I can give. The GS-Minis are great guitars, hold value well and should feel the need to "upgrade" it's a guitar that is great to leave out and/or keep as your travel guitar (what it is for me). But yes, for your first guitar don't overthink it. The differences will be subtle to your ears (heck probably most people) so far better to get something you love the look of more because the differences are not drastic and are personal. Some like a more booming guitar and others like myself like a "warmer" sound generally associated w/ mahogany. When you get better you'll learn what you want out of a guitar and what sounds better to you.
@@RogerThat902 Thank you, that's great advice and I went ahead and ordered the GS mini e koa plus! I know it's going to take a long time and a lot of practice to be able to play how i want to.. looking forward to it though.
@@Alex_1995 Congrats! my very first decent guitar was actually a Koa laminate I loved the look of. All these years later I still have it. Just keep playing and you'll get there eventually. Remember everyone started out sounding terribly and not being able to transition from chord to chord easily but eventually we all go it. Also, I'd say the first few months are the hardest. So just promise to stick your head down and try not to compare yourself to anyone. Progress will come quickly and breakthroughs will just seem to happen like magic.
One day you'll have the hardest time and think it impossible and then the next day you somehow have worked out how to do it seemingly in your sleep. I still remember having trouble holding the pick and wondering how anyone did it. Then one day I realized I didn't have any trouble holding the pick for weeks and forgot it was even once a problem lol. A lot of things solve themselves (especially early on) by playing. I wish you luck!
Hi, I have a question, I am trying to buy GS mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric then I happened to watch this video. Can you recommend best GS mini acoustic-electric ?
or GS mini-e Koa Acoustic-electric VS GS Mini-e Ziricote acoustic-electric ?
I just upgraded this guitar whit Taylors Ebony bridge pins.
Sounds so full and warm now. Great and cheap upgrade 😀
Wow, beautiful!!
Very cool looking guitar and I love the fact that they’re using ebony appointments as well. If I pull the trigger on a mini series it’ll have to be one like this or similar. Thanks for all the great feeds guys, I love your channel 🤙
Chris, at about 7:51 I hear a thumpy string twang, and wonder if that was the guitar or the string brushing against a fret or something. A turban would be a nice touch while making a prognostication, foretelling one's future with the guitar reviewed. A back that looks like a hadrosaur would be a great one to tour Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, MT) with. 🤔(Would I be allowed to tour the Gibson factory if they knew I was traveling with a Taylor or Breedlove?) Breedlove factory tour is in the works this summer (since my daughter and family live there, I'll have a reason to park there for several days). 🤠 (having the same thoughts as Tex Haines...)
Can’t decide on this, walnut, or Koa plus but one of those 3 gs minis is 100% my next guitar
Had a GS mini Koa plus, played for 3 weeks and never enjoyed playing it. Sold on eBay for a loss of £300 just to get shot if it. Bought the Martin dreadnought junior, what a fantastic little guitar.
The Martin Dreadnought Jr. doesn't get enough praise, they're great small-bodied guitars. Had mine for 2 years and am very happy with it.
BS!🤣
@@nilsaduran9683 why is it BS, because you can’t afford a GS Koa and bin it.
I wish Taylor would do gs mini ltd with 1 3/4” nut. How much better feeling would a little bit more room would feel.
I got a GTe mahogany to go along with my GS Mini mahogany. Pretty satisfied with that.
Imagine that with the Koa plus top!!!
I would imagine that Taylor makes the layered wood have a pretty good deal of resonance
Did Andy modify the bracing with that Ziricote? Bracing is modified on other Taylor's for different tone woods. Still like my GS Mini Koa and grandchildren Still like their GS Mini. Thanks Chris, Cooper.
Maybe? Idk if laminated guitars really need changing in brace…
@@tillermydudes117 he changes bracing for different top tone woods too. Send him that question for Tuesday Primetime.
African Ziricote OR Rosewood?
Did you wear a turbine for the Karmack process Chris?
Charango next?
It’s an aesthetic thing only because it’s a new way for Taylor to charge a lot for a Spruce top mini
It would be nice if you could link to the specific guitar that you demo. The link is too general and it's challenging to find the one that is featured.
I'm really glad that faux tortoises weren't killed for this. I hear that they are becoming endangered.
I looked on the wood database website and didn't find any mention of African zircote.
That back would look pretty as a top lol
Kinda what I was thinking. I lost interest when it was just the back.
So if I bought a Taylor 722ce Koa I could get that GS mini at reduced price?
Call us 😅
strooooooong opening lmao.
My GS Mini is cool but is hard to play. The action is so high that it’s painful to play longer than 20 minutes or so. I’ve set the action to the lowest it goes - still too high.
then you might have problems about your neck
Your action shouldn't be high. The guitar is either over humidified, in need of a neck angle adjustment or has too much relief in the neck or any combination of those. I would advise taking it to a dealer for inspection and adjustment. The great thing about Taylor's NT neck is the additional adjustments that many other guitars don't have. - Chris
Sound great 👍
What did you mean by the strings are on the wrong side?
Wouldn't you rather switch the back and top? I love the look of figured woods (layered koa, African mahogany, you name it) and that would be more captivating and visible from the front. 'Course, one might be tempted to quit playing, and just dance with and smell the guitar.
He means that it would be more exciting to have the front look beautiful like the back does that way you and your audience could see how special the wood is while you're playing.
That is so pretty it's Brigitte Bardot good good good.
Taylor is just making up wood names now. Cute.
It’s less than 1mm of veneer stuck to the outside of the body…..
Similar to Bocote..
I'm literally watching this 6 months later and I can confirm that you don't have this in stock, according to your website.
I think Taylor has gotten ridiculous. Way too many models. Try to be a small guitar shop and keep Taylor Guitars requirements. Simply, not that good.
They'll make them as long ppl buy them and they're selling fast
Looks great but sounds exactly as every other GS Mini, because, as even Bob Taylor admits, the laminated back and sides has little effect on the tine quality- simply a marketing exercise to make money.
I just came from guitar center and played a Rosewood/Spruce, Mahogany and Koa side by side and they all sounded very different. That may have more to do with the solid top woods but it’s absolutely noticeable.
@@xThreeFiveSeven If that's your experience then fine...but as you've identified it is the tops that make the difference. In the end it is the guitar you like that is the guitar you play- laminate or solid wood- I have both and like them both.
Another overpriced plywood guitar,if it was solid I'd be interested
Isn't going to change a thing just because you removed my friends post he's been playing guitar 50 years and knows what he's talking about I grew up with him and his sister the Taylor is no better than the Gretche Rancher falcon Jumbo electric acoustic people don't buy into the BS anymore that you sales people still try to shove in our faces
Punctuation can be your friend.
It's funny, there's videos on Gibson guitars elsewhere on RUclips where you pop up to slag off Gibson. As a one off, it's something that can be just notched up to coincidence. But now here you are on a video about Taylor guitars and suddenly you have an axe to grind about Taylors.
Looks like a troll. Sounds like a troll. Smells like a troll.
@@rexrathtar3893 I bet you made sure your punctuation was sound in your comment.😁