Taylor GS Mini-E Mahogany

109
summer 2016 Guitarist
reviewTRAVEL GUITAR ROUND-UP
FAITH NOMAD MINI-
NEPTUNE ELECTRO
PRICE: £439 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Indonesia
TYPE: 12-fret mini jumbo non-
cutaway electro-acoustic
TOP: Solid mahogany
BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany
MAX RIM DEPTH: 92mm tapering
to 82mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 346mm
NECK: Mahogany
TUNERS: Chrome enclosed
with large buttons
NUT: Graph Tech NuBone
FINGERBOARD: Indian rosewood,
m-o-p ‘F’ at 12th fret, 406mm
(16”) radius
FRETS: 20, medium
BRIDGE: Macassan figured ebony
ELECTRICS: Faith CnR-3 System with
under-saddle pickup, rotary volume,
treble, middle and bass slider EQs,
phase switch and onboard tuner
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.81/3.99
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: The other current
Nomad is the downsized dreadnought
Mini-Saturn electro (£429)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISH: Natural satin
Barnes & Mullins
01691 652449
www.faithguitars.com
VINTAGE ‘VIATOR’
USB PAUL BRETT
SIGNATURE
PRICE: £259 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: 12-fret, small body non-
cutaway travel electro-acoustic with
USB output
TOP: Solid Sitka spruce
BACK/SIDES: Laminated sapele
MAX RIM DEPTH: 90.5mm tapering
to 74.5mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 284mm
NECK: Nato with customised ‘V’
shape and slotted headstock
TUNERS: Nickel-plated Grover
open-gear
NUT: Graph Tech NuBone
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood with
dot inlays
FRETS: 18, small
BRIDGE: Rosewood with
compensated Tusq saddle
ELECTRICS: Fishman Sonitone
USB with under-saddle pickup
and soundhole placed volume and
tone rotary controls and USB
recording output
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.35/2.98
LEFT-HANDERS: No
OPTIONS: The acoustic Viator
costs £209
RANGE OPTIONS: Other Paul Brett
signatures include the Viaten Tenor
Guitar (£229). The Vintage VTG100
Acoustic Travel guitar costs £169
(inc gigbag) and is available left-
handed. A 12-string version will be
available shortly, retailing at £329
FINISH: Natural Antique
JHS
01132 865381
www.jhs.co.uk
PROS Hang onto your seat, this is an
evocative ride and a real corker
CONS The low E is too close to the
’board edge; too tame plugged in
PROS Economy unplugged, but the
electro sound is a free upgrade
CONS Acoustic sound isn’t our
favourite; it needs some playing in
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TAYLOR GS MINI-E
MAHOGANY
PRICE: £645 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Mexico
TYPE: 14-fret, ‘modern day parlour’
non-cutaway electro-acoustic
TOP: Solid mahogany
BACK/SIDES: Layered
(laminate) sapele
MAX RIM DEPTH: 102mm tapering
to 83mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 365mm
NECK: Sapele
TUNERS: Chrome enclosed
NUT: Graph Tech Tusq
FINGERBOARD: Ebony, 406mm
(16”) radius, with 5mm dot inlay
FRETS: 20, small
BRIDGE: Ebony with compensated
Tusq saddle
ELECTRICS: Taylor ES-2 with
shoulder-mounted volume,
treble and bass controls
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.8/3.98
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: Other current GS
Mini models include the acoustic GS
Mini (with spruce top, £553) and the
GS Mini (with mahogany top, £600),
both can be retrofitted with the
ES-Go soundhole pickup, plus the
electro GS Mini-e Rosewood (£645)
and GS Mini-e Koa (£738)
LEFT-HANDERS: Yes, to order
(no upcharge)
FINISH: Natural varnish
Taylor Guitars
[phone]
www.taylorguitars.com
MARTIN LX1E
LITTLE MARTIN
PRICE: £449 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Mexico
TYPE: 14-fret, ‘Modified 0-14 Fret’
electro-acoustic
TOP: Solid Sitka spruce
BACK/SIDES: Mahogany high-
pressure laminate (HPL)
MAX RIM DEPTH: 94mm tapering
to 75.5mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 316mm
NECK: Rust birch laminate with
Standard Taper Modified Low Oval
TUNERS: Martin logo’d chrome
enclosed
NUT: White Corian
FINGERBOARD: FSC Certified
Richlite, 406mm (16”) radius,
FRETS: 20, small
BRIDGE: FSC Certified Richlite with
compensated White Tusq saddle
ELECTRICS: Fishman Isys T with
under-saddle pickup and side-
mounted preamp, with soundhole-
placed preamp with rotary volume
control, push switch contour and
phase, plus onboard tuner
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.73/3.81
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: Other current
Little Martins include the acoustic
LX1 (£379), LXK2, LX Black and the
LXM (all £349), plus the electro
LXME (£429)
LEFT-HANDERS: Yes (no upcharge)
FINISH: Natural hand rubbed
Westside Distribution
0141 248 4812
www.martinguitar.com
PROS Business class by design –
simple, but everything you need
CONS Some may fi nd it a bit austere,
but it functions perfectly
PROS In build, fi nish and sound,
this is a fi rst-class ride, no question
CONS Quality comes at a price;
is it a little dark sounding?
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