What’s the best Taylor guitar for the money? We know the right answer.
Whether or not you’re aware, I’ll bet you that you’ve heard a Taylor guitar.
Renowned for producing some of the finest guitars on the market, Taylor guitars are played by Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, and Taylor Swift.
Known for their playability and excellent sound, you’ll struggle to find a bad Taylor guitar.
So what is the best Taylor guitar for the money?
Top 5 Best Taylor Guitars:
| Image | Guitar | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Taylor GS Mini-E - Koa (Editor's Choice) | Check Price |
 | Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium | Check Price |
| Taylor GS Mini-E Mahogany | Check Price |
 | Taylor GS Mini-E RW | Check Price |
Taylor GS Mini-E Koa (Editor’s Choice)
Another guitar in the GS Mini series, the Mini-E Koa, was crafted when Taylor started a limited run of premium GS Mini guitars. This model comes with a pair of upgrades to enhance the already superior GS Mini series.
Instead of being made from laminated Sapele, the Mini-E Koa is crafted using exotic veneered Hawaiian Koa. Koa oozes character with lots of curls and dark streaks in the wood, giving a hologram-like effect when turned against the light.
Even with a change of materials, the Mini-E Koa has kept the shrunken Grand Symphony body and delivers a full, rich sound with excellent tonal range to rival most full-sized guitars.
Features
The low action of the Koa makes this guitar versatile and exceptionally playable to any play style, from fingerpicking to heavy strumming. Beginners will produce crisp, clear sounds with minimal string buzz, and experienced guitarists can slide through scales quickly and easily.
The Mini-E Koa is one of the GS Mini series models to be fitted with Taylor’s innovative Expression System 2, with three uniquely placed pickup sensors that reproduce your guitar’s natural tone for the superior plugged-in performance.
It is a great travel or beginner’s guitar, albeit at a price tag that may seem more expensive than other models with similar specs.
A good guitar is worth paying for, though. What you’re getting from the Mini-E Koa is an ultra-portable guitar with the voice of a full-size version and features you won’t find on other guitars, such as the patented NT neck, which guarantees maximum playability. As a result, this is the best Taylor guitar for fingerstyle available on the market at the moment.
Taylor GS Mini-E Mahogany Acoustic-Electric Guitar
The issue with many mini guitars is that it’s challenging to get a rich tone from a smaller body. Build quality often lacks, with manufacturers opting for cheaper materials to further drive down the price, also having a knock-on effect on tonal quality.
What Taylor has succeeded in doing is achieving balance in build quality, size, and sound. They have nearly shrunk the size of their traditional Grand Symphony, keeping that shape to produce a full tone while updating the neck and brace joints.
The GS Mini is a little larger than the Big Baby. That means that adults can play this guitar comfortably while either standing or sitting.
The GS Mini can run circles around other similar-sized guitars in its price bracket and full-size guitars!
The back and sides are made from laminated https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapelesapele. The top is solid Sitka, and Taylor have given the GS Mini a real ebony bridge and fretboard. Ebony is usually one of the first things to go when manufacturers bring down the guitar’s size and cost.
Taylor has produced a guitar that is small but not cheap in terms of build quality. The GS Mini features the same tuners, saddle, and nut materials used on the full-size guitars they make.
Taylor’s move of using the same body shape of the Grand Symphony is why the GS Mini still boasts booming tones. You can play it almost the same volume as most full-size guitars and trumps many other guitars in the tonal range.
Features
If you’re a light strummer or forceful pounder, the GS Mini responds with ample volume. The tone’s warmth can be attributed to the Grand Symphony style body, and the clarity is a product of the high build quality of the guitar.
Taylor guitars are known for their playability, and the GS Mini is no exception. The GS Mini has low action, so experienced players will be able to speed through scales quickly, and beginners will be able to enjoy crisp, clear-sounding notes without string buzz.
The action refers to the size of the gap between the strings and the frets. Low action means the strings are closer and more comfortable to press against the frets.
This guitar is excellent for beginner players. With the low action, smaller body, and excellent sound, you’ll sound right from the get-go. However, if you’re a more experienced guitarist, the GS Mini provides you with a guitar that offers true portability without compromising much on sound. With the ES2 pickup system and onboard tone and volume controls, you’ll be ready for any gig.
There used to be a line dividing entry-level guitars and quality guitars, with the two appearings exclusive. The GS Mini eliminates this line and provides us with one of the best value guitars on the market that feels like much higher-end models.
The goal is for the Mini to be a modern-day Parlor guitar, a smaller, more portable instrument that offers tone and playability comparable to a full-size guitar.
Overall, the Taylor GS Mini eliminates the line between “entry-level guitar” and “quality guitar” by producing one of the best-valued guitars that feel, play, and sounds more like guitars twice the price. It’s definitely the best value Taylor guitar for the money!
Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium Guitar
Widely regarded as the affordable gateway into Taylor’s range of instruments, the 200 series are well-balanced guitars with beautiful tones and exquisite playability. The 200 is designed with aesthetic constraint, appealing to a more classical, less glamorous guitar.
The 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium boasts a fully-glossed body, rather than the glossy top with a satin back and sides you’ll find with the non-deluxe versions.
One of the main features that sets it apart from the older models is in the electronics, which have received a massive upgrade to the Expression System 2. The system comes with many of Taylor’s higher-end guitars, while the lower-end instruments like the 100 series have the ES-T.
Features
The popular body style of the Grand Auditorium helped define the signature acoustic sound Taylor is known for. A versatile guitar, you can enjoy high volume even in response to light fingerpicking. However, if you’re strumming or flat-picking, the 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium delivers a balanced and precise sound across the board.
Sitka spruce is the most widely used guitar top material. It balances stiffness and elasticity to provide the guitar with a broad tonal range with a crisp, articulate sound. The rest of the guitar is layered or laminated with rosewood.
Laminated guitars offer a reliable, sturdy platform for the guitar. In addition, it is less affected by temperature and humidity changes, which can alter the solid construction guitar’s tone.
Plugged in, the Taylor starts to move ahead of the pack. It reproduces the guitar’s natural tone seamlessly and is a testament to Taylor’s innovation in acoustic guitar amplification.
Taylor tells us that the soul of the ES2 is the patented behind-the-saddle pickup, featuring three precisely positioned pickup sensors. The unique location of these sensors increases the dynamic range of the guitar the pickup can capture.
This guitar sits comfortably at the top of Taylor’s 200 Series. With exceptional build quality, high-end sound, style, and durability, the 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium is a fantastic entry point to one of the world’s most celebrated guitar manufacturers.
Taylor 150e – Dreadnought 12 String Guitar
The Taylor 150e Dreadnought is undoubtedly one of the most playable 12-string guitars on the market. However, 12-strings have a low reputation because many users experience playability and intonation issues. None of those affect the Dreadnought, a famous and affordable guitar in the Taylor 100 series.
The Dreadnought is made with laminated Sapele, an African wood similar to mahogany, opting for a cost-effective material. The bonus of having a layered construction is that the guitar is less sensitive to fluctuating temperatures and humidity changes. In addition, varnish is applied to unfilled wood, giving the instrument a much more organic feel.
The Dreadnought isn’t a flashy guitar, by any means, but it is tastefully designed. In addition, the finishing on this guitar is every bit as good as it is on some of Taylor’s more expensive guitars, like in the 800 and 900 series.
Features
The 150e Dreadnought delivers a satisfying sound. Like many other Taylor guitars, the guitar has an excellent tonal range and responsiveness, accommodating gentle and challenging strummers with equal merits. As a result, you can enjoy this versatile instrument, whether your favorite playing style is fingerpicking or strumming.
Don’t get me wrong. The 150e is excellent without the use of electronics. But the signature Expression system boosts the plugged-in performance and adds an extra dimension to the way you can play. It’s the same system that you’ll see on many high-end Taylor models and incorporates a preamp with volume, bass, and treble controls mounted on the upper bass bout.
The Expression System eliminates the artificial sound that lots of acoustic guitar pickups produce. Instead, this patented system by Taylor works to simulate the warm, woody sound of your acoustic as if it were in front of a microphone. The only thing the Dreadnought lacks in the sound department is the projection you’d expect from a dreadnought body.
But for the price, balance, tonal warmth, and playability, you won’t be able to find a better 12 string guitar on the market, I promise you.
Taylor GS Mini-E RW Guitar
The Taylor GS Mini- RW is one of the latest additions to the hugely popular GS mini family. As the name suggests, this guitar is made from a smaller body and is entirely car, airplane, and couch friendly. It’s a go-anywhere type of guitar, great for travelers and those who love to play outdoors.
The Mini-E RW takes the body, and bold tones of the Grand Symphony guitars then condenses them into a much more affordable and playable instrument. Scaling down usually means not only on size but on quality too.
That is not the case with the GS Mini-E RW. Instead, it looks nothing like what you’d expect from a ‘travel guitar.’ Although the Sapele and satin finish gives the GS Mini-E RW a simple appearance, the three-ring rosette and three-layer purfling are all characteristics of much higher-priced guitars.
Features
Big sounds come from this small guitar. The deep body and full-sized sound hole make the GS Mini-E RW sound and feel like a full-size guitar. Whether you lightly strum or give it your all, you will hear a response that perfectly matches your efforts. The notes are articulate and crisp across the entire tonal spectrum, whether you’re playing fast-paced fiddle tunes or jazz chords.
The extreme playability of the GS Mini-E RW is primarily down to the low factory-set action, allowing beginners to play without hearing the string buzz and experienced players the ability to slide through the scales quickly and effortlessly. However, if you have a more aggressive playing style, then I would suggest raising the action.
The GS Mini-E RW has the added feature of Taylor’s Expression System 2, a genius pickup system that reproduces the guitar’s natural, woody sound rather than a more artificial sound typical from many guitar pickups.
The sonic versatility, excellent playability, and affordability make this the perfect first guitar for anybody just starting. It equally serves as a quality travel guitar for those who love playing in a whole manner of different places but don’t want the inconvenience of dragging around a full-size instrument.
How to Pick the Best All-Around Taylor Guitar
It’s essential to do some research on the guitar you’re planning to buy, as every guitar is slightly different. Guitars will satisfy each musician’s various needs, depending on their size, body style, and material.
We’re providing you with the main characteristics to consider so you can purchase the right guitar for your needs. Why is that so important? Because if you buy a not-good guitar for your purpose, you probably won’t be playing it for long.
That’s one reason why so many people who learn to play the guitar don’t stick with it. So here are some things to consider when picking the best Taylor guitar for you.
Size
Smaller guitars offer increased portability, great for outdoor types and guitarists that often travel, saving you the hassle (and cost) of transporting a full-size guitar. They’re also excellent beginner guitars, appealing to younger or less experienced guitar players. On the other hand, full-size guitars offer a more powerful, more affluent, and louder sound.
Purpose – Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric?
An acoustic-electric guitar should be considered if you are playing in a band, busking, or taking your guitar to public events. They are fitted with pickups and a preamp, letting you hook them up to sound systems and amplifiers without ruining that typical acoustic sound or limiting your mobility while playing.
Not plugged in, they sound the same as regular acoustic guitars. Although typically a little more expensive, acoustic-electric guitars can significantly expand your playing options.
Materials
The type of wood used in the construction of a guitar will contribute to its tone. Lower priced or entry-level guitars are generally crafted using layered wood, which doesn’t mature with age – what it sounds like now will be the same as what it sounds like in five years. Some higher-end guitars are built with solid wood tops and a layered back and sides.
The highest quality guitars are produced of solid wood. These produce a much richer sound. Solid wood matures with age but is more susceptible than layered wood to temperature and humidity changes, altering the tone.
Body Style
- Dreadnought – It’s the first thing non-acoustic guitar players think of when they think of an acoustic guitar. This body style is equally capable in various musical styles, from bluegrass to punk and everything in between.
- Parlor – These are some of the smallest acoustic guitars you can buy, besides the modern ‘baby’ guitars. They are typically used by those who play with a more low-key style in genres such as indie and folk.
- Jumbo – The plus-size models of the acoustic guitar world. These produce a big, bold sound based on the extra space for sound to reverberate around the body. Jumbos are for guitarists who want to be heard.
- Auditorium – This style is almost halfway between the Dreadnought and parlor. With an outstanding balance of playability and comfort, it’s widely used by those who play finger-picking music styles.
- Grand Auditorium – One of the greatest all-rounder guitars, the grand auditorium has an exceptional balance between size, shape, comfort, and volume. One of these guitars was that Taylor Swift played her way from a small-town country artist to global stardom.
Verdict: The Best Taylor Guitar
The Taylor GS Mini-E Koa, in our eyes, takes the title of best Taylor guitar. It appeals to both beginners and seasoned guitarists. While Taylor’s full-size guitars are exceptional in their own right, the GS Mini-E fills a gap that few other guitars do.
The size enables younger or new players to learn comfortably. In addition, seasoned guitar players can get an instrument that they can take and play anywhere.
Travel guitars often take a blow to quality and sound to help drive the price down. However, the GS Mini-E retains that same full-bodied sound and high standard of craftsmanship. In addition, it’s portable and lightweight, easy to use for beginners.
This guitar can even go with you to gigs and deliver a tremendous plugged-in performance. You won’t find a more versatile guitar!