Hi there guys... it's been a while!
There was a lot going on in my life, with the pandemic stuff, a new baby, a new work!
My baby (my second child) as now 10 months, and the first one almost 4 years. It's not easy having free time to my music or the guitars. But we all need to have some time for us... some time on our own and all alone (as GNR said).
Back to the Guitars and to my specific question:
I bought the Harley Benton custom line clgs-10s travel in July 2020.
At first I was really impressed with the guitar: it's really beautiful and very well buildt!
Only the freatboard seemed a little dry, but nothing a good lemon oil session couldn't resist.
I changed the strings (absolutely necessary... but I already knew it) to some god old Elixir, and good God, that girl could sing.
Then in august, we went to the beach with the family ( a very weet weather) and since it's the solid spruce top, the guitar suffured from it.
I was almost glad, because it's the prove that it's a sensible instrument. But in the other hand, maybe it would not be the good one if you intend to travel with it, and take it anywhere without worrying too much. For that, you have the laminated version!
But if you recall, I wwanted a really good guitar. One that could last me long years, and sound great.
And I wanted the Taylor GS Mini... but I coundn't afford it.
But with time, I started to notice the limitations of this guitar. Don't get me wrong. It is a relly nice guitar: bang for the buck.
It sounds awesome in fingerpicking... but indeed not so great in strumming, mostly when strumming hard.
Sometimes, it gets even irritating for strumming. So, I needed to find another solution.
I think I never told you that, but I had a Sigma 000m15+. A really nice looking Mahogany guitar... bought in january 20.
I knew later that the micarta freatboard it was not for me. I cannot even noticed it... but I knew it wasn't real wood, and that really putted me off with time.
And there were some intonation issues.
All in all I realised that I was spending money like a fool, buying low quality guitars, and not goind for the guitar I really wanted.
So I decided to sell those two guitars, and buy... the... TAYLOY GS MINI.
I needed to put wome money of my pocket (even selling the 2 guitars) but it was the right move.
But... BUT... I suddenly realised that that woundn't be an easy decision to make.
When I went to the store to find out wich flavour would be the one for me (spruce, mahogany) I realised some things... the KOA is really impressive... but almost ridiculous expensive!
I liked the spruce top most (in the rosewood version). I guess the Mahogany is cool. With a lot of personnality, but the spruce is more versatile!
But I also realised that the GS MINI doesn't quite sound like a full bodied guitar.
I tried the TAYLOR 114 and sweet God, I was impressed!
So I took the time to thing about it.
I went to the store almost 2 times a week for a month, to try out the guitars: TAYLOR GS MINI Spruce/Mahogany VS Taylor 114 (and even the Taylor Academy... that loses with the other two).
Let me remind you that I have a sore shoulder, and that the GS MINI was easier to play. But I cannot compared the sound with the 114 (that it wans't hard to play by no means).
The sound difference was quite notorious. And so the sound ended up deciding for me.
I went on with the TAYLOR 114. I found a really good option for the Ce version secong hand (with the electronics and a hard case) and it's been my sweetest thing ever then!!!
It's the guitar that I wanted. I learned that if you want something, go for the quality stuff. Wait some time. Save some money. And buy the quality stuff.
But I also learned one thing: I shoudn't have sold the Hayley Benton GS Travel. I really regret it.
It cannot sound as a Taylor (you should not expect that). But it sounds as a really good guitar for what it is: a guitar you can keep around in the living room, and grab it any moment to play with your kids.
And guess what? I definitely will buy another Harley Benton Gs Travel. Maybe a Mahogany to try out. Or maybe the solid spruce top again.
I'm really inlove with my 114 CE. But I can't hide you one thing... and that really ****es me of (and king of ****es of my wife also!!!): sometimes, I still wonder what would be like to have a Taylor Gs Mini!!!
Keep rocking