Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus electro-acoustic guitar

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus — Compact Acoustic-Electric with Hawaiian Koa Tone

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus brings Hawaiian koa's visual and tonal character to Taylor's celebrated scaled-back GS Mini body. A solid koa top pairs with layered koa back and sides, producing a warm, punchy voice with shimmering top-end detail that belies the instrument's compact size. This model is the right choice for players who want a portable, stage-ready acoustic-electric with the unmistakable look of all-koa construction.

What Sets This Model Apart

At the heart of the design sits a solid Hawaiian koa top — a tonewood prized for combining the warmth of mahogany, the depth of rosewood, and the sparkling character of ebony. The Expression System 2 (ES2) pickup system uses three individually calibrated behind-the-saddle sensors to capture the top's dynamic vibration with unusual fidelity, designed with audio pioneer Rupert Neve. Introduced in 1999, the patented Taylor Neck anchors the playing experience with stable intonation.

Body Construction and Tonewoods — Compact Body, Layered Stability

The GS Mini body shape scales down Taylor's Grand Symphony design into a comfortable, travel-friendly footprint without sacrificing tonal body. A solid Hawaiian koa top delivers projection and articulation, while layered koa back and sides add visual depth and resist humidity changes during travel. A matte finish lets the natural grain of the koa speak for itself.

• Top Wood: Solid Hawaiian Koa — warm, articulate voice that opens up over time
• Back and Sides: Layered Koa (2-Piece) — durable, humidity-resistant for travel
• Matte finish across top, back, sides, and neck showcases the natural grain
• Body Binding: None — clean, minimalist aesthetic

Neck and Fingerboard — Effortless Fretting in a Compact Frame

The patented Taylor Neck design supports a stable playing feel and easy setup adjustments. Tropical Mahogany forms the neck shaft, topped with an ebony fingerboard marked by 4mm Italian acrylic dot inlays. At 597 mm (23-1/2"), the scale length gives the instrument a slinky, easy-fretting feel for fingerstyle and strumming.

• Neck Wood: Tropical Mahogany — stable, comfortable playing surface
• Fingerboard: Ebony with 4mm Italian Acrylic Dot Inlays — smooth and durable
• Scale Length: 597 mm (23-1/2") — shorter scale for relaxed string tension
• Nubone nut and Micarta saddle deliver articulate attack and balanced tone

Electronics and Hardware — Stage-Ready Plug-and-Play

The Expression System 2 electronics set this "Plus" model apart from the standard GS Mini-e Koa, which uses the ES-B system. Three behind-the-saddle sensors capture top and string vibration, with onboard tone controls for shaping the amplified signal. Taylor-branded nickel tuners with an 18:1 ratio keep tuning stable, and the included AeroCase weighs roughly one-third of a hardshell case.

• Electronics: Expression System 2 (ES2) — three behind-the-saddle sensors designed with audio pioneer Rupert Neve for natural amplified tone
• Tuners: Taylor Nickel, 18:1 ratio — smooth, accurate tuning adjustments
• Bridge: Ebony with Black Bridge Pins — solid coupling for sustain and clarity
• Factory strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Medium (.013 - .056)
• Lightweight AeroCase included — protective and roughly one-third the weight of a hardshell

Who This Guitar Suits

This model is the right choice for traveling players, worship-team musicians, and couch-songwriters who need a compact instrument that still sounds full. Its smaller body and 23-1/2" scale suit players with smaller hands or anyone seeking a relaxed fretting feel, while the ES2 electronics handle amplified situations from open-mic nights to studio sessions. Hawaiian koa's visual beauty and evolving tone make this a daily companion.

Taylor Guitars — Koa as a Signature Tonewood

Taylor has long championed Hawaiian koa as one of the most expressive tonewoods in acoustic guitar building, sourcing it through responsible forestry partnerships. The GS Mini line scaled Taylor's Grand Symphony voice into a portable format that has become a favorite of traveling musicians. The Koa Plus variant elevates that platform with a solid koa top and the upgraded ES2 electronics.