The Taylor Guitars 50th Anniversary GS Mini-e Rosewood SB is an acoustic guitar that’s smaller than its name. Okay not really, but this latest anniversary edition to commemorate five decades of Taylor certainly is a mouthful. It’s also an interesting guitar that reflects the interesting approach that Taylor has taken to its anniversary instruments – rather than release one unobtanium-level fancy dan commemorative model, the brand has created an entire range of limited-run instruments that run the gamut from Builder’s Edition instruments and high-end classics through to affordable guitars made in Tecate, Mexico. The GS Mini is one of Taylor’s most popular and affordable instruments, and so it’s a logical choice to get in on the party.
All that is of course present and correct with the LTD model, but it differs from the regular model by sporting a torrefied (effectively baking the wood to remove moisture and make it sound ‘older’) Sitka spruce top with layered Indian rosewood back and sides. Visually, torrefaction tends to colour the wood so another striking difference between a regular GS Mini and this one is the application of a lovely Vintage Sunburst finish on the top – it makes it look more like a guitar that was passed down through your family for generations – so don’t muck it up!
Other cosmetic updates for the big 5-0 include diamond fretboard inlays, gold tuners, firestripe (which looks like ‘angry tortoiseshell’) pickguard, gold side dots (that match the tuners), ebony bridge pins and a Special commemorative label inside the body.
aylor has become widely renowned for its sustainability work and the effort the brand puts into sourcing and cultivating sustainable wood. It’s no surprise that this is a recurring theme throughout the 50th Anniversary range, and here we have a fingerboard of a wood I’ve not encountered before, and likely neither have you – West African Crelicam ebony.
- Top: Abete Sitka massello Torrified
- Fondo e fasce: Palissandro indiano
- Bracing: GS mini
- Manico: Sapele
- Tastiera e ponte: West African Crelicam ebony
- Intarsi tastiera: Diamond 50th
- Tasti: 20
- Scala: 597mm
- Capotasto: 42,9mm
- Materiale: NuBone
- Ponte: Micarta
- Elettronica: Sistema preamp ES-B con Tono, Volume, accordatore e batteria 9V
- Colore: Natural
- Accessori: Custodia semirigida Taylor inclusa
- Made in Mexico