I’ve been a fan of short scale basses for some time, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to test out the new Taylor GS Mini-e Bass. At 23-1/2-inch scale length, this small-scale acoustic bass is around 10 inches shorter than a standard bass guitar. It has a solid Sitka spruce top and Sepele layered back, and comes with a built-in tuner and the Taylor ES-B system pre-amp with volume and tone control.
According to Taylor, the custom nylon-core strings with phosphor bronze wrap wire were developed especially for this bass by D’Addario and no other strings will work on it. To protect your Taylor bass, it comes with a hard bag, slightly tougher than your average soft case. Per the Taylor specs, it is crafted with high quality materials and double-stitching, and I think offers pleasing aesthetics that you would expect from a Taylor guitar.
I found it that this mini bass was very easy to play; it has a great acoustic tone, good action, and I love the portability. I could easily see myself with one backstage on tour working on some songs or jamming with some friends around a campfire. Although it isn’t as loud as I would like unplugged, but for its size, I think it’s a great travel companion. As a music teacher, I would recommend it to my younger students with smaller hands that might struggle with a full-size bass, and it would also be a good transition from a guitar for a beginner on bass.
Plugged into an amp, it has a great round bass tone; although a little buzzy, I found the sweet spot for me was with the tone dial at around 11 o’clock. I’m not quite sure how it would do in a large live show setting, but definitely for practice, songwriting and recording, this would make a great addition to anyone’s collection – it would get a lot of use from me if it were in mine.
Overall, I found it very enjoyable and would recommend it for guitarists and bassists to try one for themselves!
Taylor GS Mini-e Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar with Gigbag Specifications
- Scale Length: 23-1/2″
- Nut and Saddle: Nubone Nut/Micarta Saddle
- Bracing: GS Mini with Relief Rout
- Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
- Pickguard: Tortoise
- Number of Frets: 20
- Tuners: Chrome (100/200)
- Case: Hard Bag
- Brand of Strings: D’Addario EXP PBB190GS
- Body Length: 20″
- Body Width: 16 1/4″
- Body Depth: 4 5/8″
- Binding: Black
- Top Finish: Varnish
- Back Configuration: 2-piece No Wedge
- Backstrap Finish: None
- Rosette Size: Three Ring
- Bridge Inlay: None
- Back/Side Finish: Varnish
- Armrest Binding: None
- Backstrap Wood: None
- Rosette Material: Plastic
- Stain/Sunburst: None
- Wedge: None
- Neck Width: 1-11/16″
- Fretboard Inlay: 4mm Dot Italian Acrylic
- Fretboard Binding: None
- Heel Cap Binding: Black
- Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
- Neck/Heel: Sapele
- Fretboard Wood: Ebony
- Neck Finish: Varnish
- Heel Length: 3″
- Peghead Finish: None
- Peghead Binding: None
- Peghead Type: Standard
- Peghead Purfling: None
- Headstock Overlay: Lexan
- Peghead Logo: Printed on Headstock Overlay
- Bridge Pins: Black Polycarbonate
- Buttons: Chrome
- Fingerboard Ext: None
- Edge Trim: None
Priced from $699.00.