Taylor GS Mini vs Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitars

The Taylor GS Mini and Martin LX1 Little Martin are both considered travel-size guitars, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end between these two acoustics.

These two guitars look, feel and sound very different from one another, so in this article I’ll be directly comparing them to help you decide which is the most suitable.

The Key Differences

The Taylor GS Mini has a larger body and longer scale length compared to the Martin LX1 Little Martin. The GS Mini has a louder and fuller tone with more bass and clarity compared to the Little Martin. Both guitars have solid tops, laminate back and sides, X-bracing and 20 frets.

FeatureTaylor GS MiniLittle Martin
Scale Length23.5”23”
Body Width14.38”12”
Body Length17.63”15”
Body Depth4.44”3”
Nut Width1.69”1.69”
Fretboard Radius15”16”
Top WoodSolid Spruce Solid Mahogany
Solid Koa
Solid Spruce Layered Koa
Back and Side WoodLayered Sapele
Layered Koa
Layered Maple
Layered Rosewood
Layered Mahogany
Layered Rosewood
Layered Koa
Neck WoodSapeleBirch
Fretboard WoodEbonyRichlite
PickguardYesNo
Differences between the Taylor GS Mini and Martin Little Martin

Taylor GS Mini

Martin LX1 Little Martin

Images link to Amazon

Check out my in-depth comparison between Taylor and Martin acoustic guitars.

Comparing the Tones

The different body shape and scales of these two guitars has an effect on the tone which can be broken down into three main parts:

  • Volume
  • EQ balance
  • Sustain

First of all, the Taylor GS Mini is a louder guitar compared to the Little Martin because it has a larger body. This means there is more air inside the guitar and hence the sound is amplified more. You can get electronic versions of both guitars though, so if you are using them only whilst plugged in, this won’t make much of a difference.

Secondly, let’s discuss the EQ balance. By this, I mean the balance between the treble, mids and bass frequencies which affect the overall tone and how warm and bright it sounds.

The GS Mini offers broader tonal frequencies which means that it has both a better bass and treble response. The result is a fuller tone with more clarity. This is due to both its larger body size and longer scale length.

In short, the GS Mini sounds more like a full-size guitar as it has a better overall tone. The Little Martin on the other hand sounds a bit warmer and duller with less clarity and note separation.

Finally, the GS Mini offers more sustain, which means the notes will ring out for longer. This is in part due to the fact that the GS Mini offers more bass response.

The Taylor GS Mini and Little Martin are both available with a few different wood options. These also have an impact on the tone, however these guitars have laminate wood on the back and sides which means the different species has less of an impact on the sound compared to if they used solid wood.

One other aspect to mention is the pickup in the electric-acoustic versions. In my opinion, the pickup in the Little Martin has more clarity and produces a better overall tone compared to the pickup in the GS Mini which sounds a bit muddier.

Check out this YouTube video to hear both guitars in action.

Feel and Playability

Despite both being in the “travel” acoustic guitar category, these two acoustics feel very different to each other. This is mostly due to the body size and scale length.

The GS Mini has a larger body compared to the LX1. For adults, the GS Mini typically feels better as it sits more comfortably in the lap, whereas the Little Martin can feel a bit too small. However, younger children may prefer the LX1.

Body DimensionTaylor GS MiniMartin LX1
Body Width14.38”12”
Body Length17.63”15”
Body Depth4.44”3”

Secondly, the GS Mini has a 23.5″ scale length whereas the Martin LX1 Little Martin has a 23″ scale length. The scale length refers to the distance between the nut and bridge.

The longer scale length on the GS Mini means you have to stretch slightly further to reach the lower frets, however this is not usually a problem for teenagers and adults.

The scale length also affects the string tension. The longer scale of the Taylor GS Mini puts the strings under more tension meaning they are a little harder to fret and bend compared to on the Little Martin. You can overcome this by putting thinner strings on the guitar though and lowering the action.

The necks on both guitars are both low-profile and easy to manage, but the GS Mini’s feels a little fuller. They have the same nut width, but the Little Martin has a flatter fretboard due to the larger radius (16″) compared to the GS Mini (15″). A flatter fretboard makes bending strings easier but can make chording more challenging. However, the difference here is minimal.

The final notable difference in terms of playability, is that the GS Mini has fretboard inlays on all its variants, whereas the Little Martin only has inlays on the LX1R variant and the standard version has no inlays. The inlays on the GS Mini are very useful for beginners in particular so its a shame most Little Martin guitars don’t feature them.

Similarities

Despite the numerous differences between these two guitars, they also share some similarities. Here’s a list of the key features shared by the GS Mini and Little Martin:

  • Solid tops
  • Laminate back and sides
  • X-bracing pattern
  • 1.69″ nut width
  • 20 frets
  • Chrome tuning machines
  • Padded gig bag included
  • Electronic versions available

Full Specification Comparison

Here is a full list of the specifications for each acoustic guitar. If you want to check the current prices, here are links to Guitar Center for each model and variant.

FeatureTaylor GS MiniMartin Little Martin
Body ShapeConcertConcert
Scale Length23.5”23”
Body Width14.38”12”
Body Length17.63”15”
Body Depth4.44”3”
Nut Width1.69”1.69”
Fretboard Radius15”16”
Fret Number2020
Fret InlaysYesOnly on LX1R variant
Bracing PatternX-Bracing (Non-Scalloped)X-bracing (Non-Scalloped)
ElectronicsES-B Pickup/ PreampFishman Sonitone
Top WoodSolid Spruce
Solid Mahogany
Solid Koa
Solid Spruce
Layered Koa
Back and Side WoodLayered Sapele
Layered Koa
Layered Maple
Layered Rosewood
Layered Mahogany
Layered Rosewood
Layered Koa
Neck WoodSapeleBirch
Fretboard WoodEbonyRichlite
Neck HeelYesYes
PickguardYesNo
FinishVarnishNone
Tuning MachinesChromeChrome
NutNuboneCorian
StringsPhosphor Bronze MediumPhosphor Bronze Medium
CasePadded Gig BagPadded Gig Bag
Taylor GS Mini vs Martin LX1 specifications

Check out my comparison between the Taylor GS Mini and Big Baby.

Heather

Hey, I'm Heather. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24.

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