AndyTravis Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) So, to me the Taylor GS mini bass was a disappointment even though some people have the favourable reviews... I wanted to be excited by a Taylor bass, but I thought the demos were underwhelming and I really wanted them to do a 34" scale bass with a grand symphony or at least auditorium sized body. Guild have stepped in and met me in the middle. I have been looking at uke basses for a while but wanted something a little less toy like. A good bass using the gs format but less expensive. My mate is a guild dealer. So I'm tempted. http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/07/22/guild-introduces-the-jumbo-junior-bass/ I've edited this because Shiraz was the fuel last night and I was being dim witted. Edited July 23, 2017 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazy Bass Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 A very timely post! I came across a Taylor GS mini for the first time yesterday at GAK in Brighton and spent a happy half-hour trying it out. I've tried a number of full scale acoustic basses over the last 10 years or so but never found one I liked, and have been singularly unimpressed by the Uke basses I've played ... but I really liked the Taylor ... acoustically, anyway - the battery was flat so I couldn't plug it in! It's basically the bass I've been looking for for a while - something I can easily chuck over my shoulder for acoustic gigs, open mics, busking etc. Short scale, but not a Uke, and still sounds like a proper bass. The key is the new nylon core strings I think! The Guild looks pretty much identical to the Taylor, and well worth trying out I suspect, at a couple of hundred quid cheaper, although at the moment I can only see it listed at Thomann. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 So pointless for me, completely the wrong sound scale length, just everything.....BUT I WANT ONE! they look like so much fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 [quote name='NJE' timestamp='1500844634' post='3340606'] So pointless for me, completely the wrong sound scale length, just everything.....BUT I WANT ONE! they look like so much fun. [/quote] Yeah. That's my stance. Also, they're doing more variants on the starfire too. A trans green one is on the cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Awful demo of this on here: https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/26019-snamm-17---guild-guitars-jumbo-junior-bass-demo?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SNAMM%20%2717%20Video%20Recap%20ENL%20%231&utm_term=PG%20Weekly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Those look interesting. What's the string tension like on such a short scale? Are they standard strings? Meaning can they be replaced by your own preference strings without losing playability? Might have to hunt one of those down to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted July 25, 2017 Share Posted July 25, 2017 Missed the launch of this, thanks for posting. Having tried the Taylor in Guitar Guitar in Epsom and being quite impressed, I'm looking forward to giving the Guild a blast. As others have posted, my concern is replacing strings, as (like the Taylor) they are probably fundamental to the sound and feel of the bass. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazy Bass Posted July 26, 2017 Share Posted July 26, 2017 The Taylor, and the Guild too, use the new d'Addario nylon core, phosphor bronze wound strings, which I assume have a very different tension to regular bass guitar strings (they certainly felt like it). They are constructed, and feel and play very much like classical guitar strings. And I thought they worked well and sounded great on the Taylor. The manufacturers state that other bass strings can't be used. I assume that the lower tension required for the much shorter scale length would render them unplayable - I'd also guess that the neck construction may not stand up to a higher tension string, even if you could find something suitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1500844817' post='3340610'] ... they're doing more variants on the starfire too. A trans green one is on the cards. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1501523150' post='3345270'] [/quote] Yup. Looks the business doesn't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdLib-3 Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) Eerrmm... I'm really not being contrarian for the sake of it but this sounded pretty weak to me. Even Adele's bassist was struggling to muster too much enthusiasm about its practical application for a bass player and he's the dude endorsing it. The only selling point for me would be the smaller scale and size making it easier to get around (not that standard sized acoustic bass guitars are that difficult to get around compared to lugging a DB,) but then when you do get it to a jam with others you have even less volume, projection and clarity of tone than a standard scale acoustic bass guitar and are left with a muddy, slack stringed sound. I just don't get it, not for me. Edited July 31, 2017 by EdLib-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 [quote name='EdLib-3' timestamp='1501537995' post='3345429'] Eerrmm... I'm really not being contrarian for the sake of it but this sounded pretty weak to me. Even Adele's bassist was struggling to muster too much enthusiasm about its practical application for a bass player and he's the dude endorsing it. The only selling point for me would be the smaller scale and size making it easier to get around (not that standard sized acoustic bass guitars are that difficult to get around compared to lugging a DB,) but then when you do get it to a jam with others you have even less volume, projection and clarity of tone than a standard scale acoustic bass guitar and are left with a muddy, slack stringed sound. I just don't get it, not for me. [/quote] Agreed, but does anyone really use an unamplified acoustic bass for anything other than home noodling / very quiet rehearsal? The Taylor seemed reasonably bright for a short scale job, but sounded great when plugged in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 The GS Mini was forever going to be a disappointment as it's essentially a bass for Taylor fanboys. It's just a "cheap" travel bass with high ticket price and if that wasn't enough, ~£40 for the branded strings was a kick in the teeth! Hahaha A Guild Mini Jumbo would be something to try but nothing I'd set out to buy. IF I was after a shorty acoustic bass, I would sway more towards the uke basses and they're cheaper again and sound good for what they are. I know Bass Direct have Kala uke basses available but another to check out is Bass Centres Ashbory models. http://www.basscentre.com/all-about-that-bass.html Worth a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 I was over in the US recently and tried the Gold Tone mini bass in a shop. Has those weird rubbery strings but it sounded really nice acoustically. Not enough to actually use in earnest but nice for practicing. Was on sale at $399 which I suspect is a lot cheaper than either the Taylor or the Guild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 [quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1502452187' post='3351545'] I was over in the US recently and tried the Gold Tone mini bass in a shop. Has those weird rubbery strings but it sounded really nice acoustically. Not enough to actually use in earnest but nice for practicing. Was on sale at $399 which I suspect is a lot cheaper than either the Taylor or the Guild. [/quote] Those are the strings they tend to use on Uke basses and Ashbory basses. The micro basses tend to be strung with bronze strings and I think a lot of sound and resonance is missing through them because of the tension usually needed by a full scale. Me personally, I'd swing more for a uke bass. Even if it would look out of place on all 6'6" of me, it would sound right more importantly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted August 11, 2017 Share Posted August 11, 2017 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1501524090' post='3345278'] Yup. Looks the business doesn't it?! [/quote] For £1200 it's lost on me. I don't see why they're not competing with the likes of Hofner and Epiphone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted July 23, 2018 Author Share Posted July 23, 2018 (edited) I played one today...finally. Sh*t me, as good if not better than the Taylor. wait for some bits to sell and I’ll be having one. Edited July 23, 2018 by AndyTravis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 (edited) I don’ t think we ever got a picture of the Guild so here it is. Has really nice maple back and for under £500 is reasonably priced. Edited July 24, 2018 by Grahambythesea Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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