Audio & Hi-Fi · Head-to-head
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany vs Yamaha FG800J
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Acoustic Guitars for Beginners: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The GS Mini's short scale and smaller body make it the easiest guitar here to get your hands around, with a solid top and a gig bag included. The FG800J gives you a solid spruce top and a full-size dreadnought sound for far less.
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Buy itA scaled-down guitar with a solid mahogany top, a 23-1/2 inch scale, ebony fretboard and a structured gig bag in the box.
- The 23-1/2 inch scale is the shortest here, which reduces the stretch between frets for smaller hands.
- Taylor lists a solid mahogany top, an ebony fretboard and bridge, and a Nubone nut with a Micarta saddle.
- A structured gig bag is included, and Taylor staff on the product page say the action is fully adjustable.
- It ships with D'Addario XS medium strings (.013 to .056), which are heavier and harder on new fingertips than lights.
- The back and sides are layered sapele, not solid wood.
- The smaller body gives less bass than a full-size dreadnought.
Yamaha FG800J
Buy itYamaha's standard solid-top dreadnought, with scalloped bracing, a 25 inch scale and a 43 mm nut.
- Yamaha lists a solid spruce top with scalloped bracing and says the guitar can be confidently recommended to all beginner guitarists.
- The listed 634 mm (25 inch) scale is shorter than the Martin's 25.4 inch and the Washburn's 25.5 inch.
- Strings are listed as .012 to .052, a lighter set than the Taylor's mediums.
- No case or gig bag is included; Yamaha lists only a hex wrench as an accessory.
- The back and sides are listed as nato/mahogany, with only the top described as solid.
- A full dreadnought body (412 mm wide, 100 to 118 mm deep) can feel bulky for small players.
Side by side
| Taylor GS Mini Mahogany | Yamaha FG800J | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Beginners, younger teens and travellers who want a comfortable small guitar that still sounds full. | Beginners on a budget who want a full-size guitar with a solid top from a maker with a long beginner track record. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany - A scaled-down guitar with a solid mahogany top, a 23-1/2 inch scale, ebony fretboard and a structured gig bag in the box. Choose the Yamaha FG800J instead if beginners on a budget who want a full-size guitar with a solid top from a maker with a long beginner track record.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Acoustic Guitars for Beginners: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).