Mini Acoustic Comparison - Taylor, Martin & Maton | Better Music

Better Music's Brodie 'Brodes' Schumann takes a look at a selection of our mini acoustics and gives you the rundown on what to look for and what to listen for, as well as giving his opinion on our best mini acoustic.

0:00 Intro/Taylor GS Mini
0:21 Overview
0:38 Martin LX1E Ed Sheeran
1:42 Maton EML6
3:03 Taylor GS Mini
4:32 Wrap up

Check out these guitars online!

Used in this video:
Roland R26 portable recorder

Miktek C5 (matched pair)

GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition Music

[zvonimirtosic]

Taylor GS Mini in new Koa version sounds pretty remarkable..

[BandaDivinaLuz]

Very good! The Wrap up in the end is very important! Tx!

[colaboytje]

It would have been more fair to use the Taylor Baby

[AlexParadiseMusic]

Having as I do a Walden all-solid guitar that started in perfect intonation and has drifted over the ten years I've had it, the adjustable truss rod on the Taylor is a big point...

[tdunster]

My findings testing these three were that the Martin sounds ok but plays very nicely.  The Maton has a more  open and balanced sound than the Martin but factory setup is absolutely woeful.The GS Mini is louder than the Maton but can also sound a little crude at times.hence why I chose a Maton EMM-6.  It literally blows this lot out of the park and is well worth the extra dollars.

[ajbrown]

Even Maton admits the Mini isn't meant for unplugged / mic'd performances. The magic is when it is plugged in.

[KM-oy]

The Maton comes into its own when plugged in. Ive had a Taylor 317e and couldn’t take to the ES2 pick up, when I bought a Maton performer it sounded fantastic plugged in with no adjustments

[MrSitemaster]

Another thing to remember about Ed Sheeran''s guitar is that it's not just built for its sound it's built to take a beating. As Ed uses it as a drum kit in his live performances. He beats it with his knuckles, fist, fingers or the palm of his hand to get different drum sounds which are then repeated via a loop pedal.

[HenryYeguitarcover]

The mini maton sounds real sweet on the treble, the gs mini is a bit muffled on the treble but definitely has bigger volume. Would be glad to have both 😂

[sectorrottation]

I think you should tell us the strings you've used on these guitars. I think the maton has Elixer nanoweb 52. That's why it's brighter.

[leighsaunders]

Maton sounds full & rich & will only get better over time.

[LosLurvos]

I actually think the maton sounds a lot better than the taylor, although its lacking a bit in fullness compared to the taylor the maton has such a nice tight sound. The taylor seems really jangly, or sloppy, maybe. I don't know, i do think the maton sound a ton better, though.

[rockersun]

Nic video.. is Maton Mini is same size with Baby Taylor BT, and not GSMINI :)

[setphaser]

you’re playing liz payne! i love that track! rocket. was the band…

[c.atkinson]

I'm an Aussie so I'll go with maton

[awesomebarnes]

I love the way the ed sheeran looks but i havnt had any luck finding one anywhere and im torn between the taylor and the martin any opinions.

[mctruckdriver]

The microphone sounded a bit muffled, was it turned off or possibly needs better placement.

[Art_Of_Sound]

Only trying to help...using any type of stereo micing is going to catch the movement of arm strumming etc. Use an MS set up so you get centre focus but can adjust the room...much tighter focus. A wider variety of playing would help greatly to highlight each guitar strength. I ended up with a Chinese Caraya solid (all) mahogany for a third of the price and intonation is great. The GS has the best intonation by far, of those 3.

[inakicafferameidana]

dove hummingbird aj 220sce or martin lx1?? ( the martin is just acoustic). I need a versatile guitar to play blues, indie, rock, funk.. i know the martin has a lower volume but it would be great if you can advise me knowing that i also play together with a piano.. thaks a lot

[pacificnwse]

Sound comparisons don’t give much away as to how a guitar feels or responds to the player. I’ve owned and played Taylors, and they feel “loud”; a lot of noise from my fretting hand, not as much nuance as I would like (but of course the “playability” is great).

The Mini Maton has solid back and sides. It feels great and responds well to subtleties in my playing.

The Martin is pretty dead. Wouldn’t buy or recommend one. Too bad because I own a solid wood Martin and love it, but these mini M’s want to be plugged in to a pedalboard.