I knew going into this that it doesn't have a second strap button (grr, I hate tying off at the headstock) and that this would be a smaller neck, shorter scale. So I can't fault the guitar for those things, especially when a strap button is a quick add. I do blame Graphtec for making a 42/43mm nut with 35mm spacing from low e to high E. A major chords are very tricky if not impossible to chord cleanly with this narrow spacing, including barre chords using the a major shape, which restricts what I can get out of this guitar. People with smaller, thinner fingers may be fine.
I like the scoop cutaway, but can only get to the 18th fret comfortably (as opposed to the 16th on a non cutaway acoustic without some finger finagling). I can reach the 20th on the B and high E thanks to the scoop. But I was hoping for full access at this scale length. Maybe with a second strap button?
I actually don't like the comfort arm rest. It flips the guitar toward me, the way Ovation's rounded backs can. Most acoustic guitars I've played have some kind of beveling on the binding, and I'm never bothered by this even after 2 hours or more of playing. You may like the arm rest better.
No fret sprout, no high or low frets, could be polished but don't really need it, truss rod works. I seem to be getting some unwanted overtones on certain bends, like cello wolf tones?
It does have a good, mellow tone, which I do think will improve despite the guitar being all laminate construction (I do like that it's mostly all wood, as I really don't like plastic or abalone, but it's also pretty obviously laminate up close in person). Which brings me to the elephant in the room.
Is it really Hawaiian koa? Or is it Australian koa? Or east Asian koa? I think guitar companies are going to have to start making that distinction, that it's Hawaiian koa, in the same way they do solid vs. select. Because Hawaiian koa is extremely expensive, even laminate. And this just doesn't really look like it.
By comparison, this Washburn is nearly identical to the guitar found at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Islander-String-Acoustic-Guitar-AS-MG/dp/B07KD1871Z
Same exact gig bag too (just different stitched branding). But in that guitar's description, it says acacia wood back and sides. Yet look at the pics; does that look very different from this Washburn's koa?
To me it doesn't. Is that a problem? Not really at Washburn's price range, but it could be disappointing to some. Acacia as a species is still a nice wood; koa is part of the species, which is why other woods can look like it/sound like it, and are being used as cheaper koa alternatives. But Hawaiian koa is the most desirable, in the same way Brazilian rosewood or Adirondack spruce is. They are the best of the best and sadly rare from over logging.
Still, whatever the wood, the review for the other guitar isn't lying when it says that guitar was made by perfectionists; Washburn's was obviously made alongside it by the same perfectionists who take pride in doing an excellent job.
If you're looking for a travel guitar, you can probably stop here, especially if you find it used. Just don't expect it to be anything it isn't. Would be amazing for beginners.
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From the manufacturer
Acoustic Travel Guitar
Travel Size Body, Full Size Sound
The Comfort Series G-Mini 55 Koa sounds much larger and far more musical than its smaller 7/8 size (23.25” scale) would lead you to believe. Crafted with premium materials, it makes an excellent recording or travel guitar.
Mini Grand Auditorium Shape
Grand Auditorium shape combined with a solid Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany body, and quarter sawn scalloped Sitka Spruce bracing delivers a rich and resonate tone.
Specs
- Koa top, back, and sides
- Satin Mahogany neck with 2-way truss rod
- Quarter sawn scalloped Sitka Spruce bracing
- Ebony fretboard and bridge
- Graphtech Nubone nut (1-11/16" nut width) and saddle
- 23-1/4" scale
- D'Addario EXP-16 light set phosphor bronze
- Gold tuners with Ebonite buttons
G-Mini 55 Koa Key Features
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Ultimate Playing ComfortBound in Walnut, it features a rounded-over 'Binding Relief' underneath the player’s forearm area also called a comfort bevel. |
Comfort Carve-Away'Comfort Carve-Away' at the upper shoulder allows for superior access to the higher frets and a unique design element. |
Premium Features
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Tanglewood TW2T Mahogany Travel Size Acoustic Guitar Bundle with Gig Bag, Clip-on Tuner, Strap, Strings, Picks, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD. And Polishing Cloth
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| Customer Rating | (28) | (97) | (221) | (607) | (791) | (26) |
| Price | $379.00 | $179.99 | $349.00 | $179.00 | $159.99 | $159.99 |
| Sold By | GearNuts | GearTree | GearTree | My Music Life | Amazon.com | Austin Bazaar |
| Back Material Type | Koa | Ovangkol Wood | koa | Agathis | Mahogany | Mahogany |
| Body Material | Mahogany | Wood, Ovangkol | Sitka Spruce | Agathis | Wood | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material Type | Ebony | Rosewood | Richlite | Rosewood | Rosewood | Techwood |
| Hand Orientation | Right | Right | Ambidextrous | Right | Ambidextrous | Right |
| Item Dimensions | 20 x 8 x 50 inches | 34.9 x 14.25 x 7.25 inches | 6.3 x 38.58 x 18.11 inches | 14.96 x 3 x 35.43 inches | 35.5 x 16.25 x 4.75 inches | 37 x 5 x 16 inches |
| Neck Material Type | Mahogany | Okoume Wood | Natural Stratabond | Nato Wood | Nato Wood | Mahogany |
| Number of Strings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Top Material Type | Koa | Rose Wood | Koa | Agathis | Spruce | Mahogany |
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
I like the scoop cutaway, but can only get to the 18th fret comfortably (as opposed to the 16th on a non cutaway acoustic without some finger finagling). I can reach the 20th on the B and high E thanks to the scoop. But I was hoping for full access at this scale length. Maybe with a second strap button?
I actually don't like the comfort arm rest. It flips the guitar toward me, the way Ovation's rounded backs can. Most acoustic guitars I've played have some kind of beveling on the binding, and I'm never bothered by this even after 2 hours or more of playing. You may like the arm rest better.
No fret sprout, no high or low frets, could be polished but don't really need it, truss rod works. I seem to be getting some unwanted overtones on certain bends, like cello wolf tones?
It does have a good, mellow tone, which I do think will improve despite the guitar being all laminate construction (I do like that it's mostly all wood, as I really don't like plastic or abalone, but it's also pretty obviously laminate up close in person). Which brings me to the elephant in the room.
Is it really Hawaiian koa? Or is it Australian koa? Or east Asian koa? I think guitar companies are going to have to start making that distinction, that it's Hawaiian koa, in the same way they do solid vs. select. Because Hawaiian koa is extremely expensive, even laminate. And this just doesn't really look like it.
By comparison, this Washburn is nearly identical to the guitar found at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Islander-String-Acoustic-Guitar-AS-MG/dp/B07KD1871Z
Same exact gig bag too (just different stitched branding). But in that guitar's description, it says acacia wood back and sides. Yet look at the pics; does that look very different from this Washburn's koa?
To me it doesn't. Is that a problem? Not really at Washburn's price range, but it could be disappointing to some. Acacia as a species is still a nice wood; koa is part of the species, which is why other woods can look like it/sound like it, and are being used as cheaper koa alternatives. But Hawaiian koa is the most desirable, in the same way Brazilian rosewood or Adirondack spruce is. They are the best of the best and sadly rare from over logging.
Still, whatever the wood, the review for the other guitar isn't lying when it says that guitar was made by perfectionists; Washburn's was obviously made alongside it by the same perfectionists who take pride in doing an excellent job.
If you're looking for a travel guitar, you can probably stop here, especially if you find it used. Just don't expect it to be anything it isn't. Would be amazing for beginners.
Verified Purchase
Quality instrument, laminate top, but is it really Hawaiian koa?
By A Photographer on April 14, 2021
I knew going into this that it doesn't have a second strap button (grr, I hate tying off at the headstock) and that this would be a smaller neck, shorter scale. So I can't fault the guitar for those things, especially when a strap button is a quick add. I do blame Graphtec for making a 42/43mm nut with 35mm spacing from low e to high E. A major chords are very tricky if not impossible to chord cleanly with this narrow spacing, including barre chords using the a major shape, which restricts what I can get out of this guitar. People with smaller, thinner fingers may be fine.By A Photographer on April 14, 2021
I like the scoop cutaway, but can only get to the 18th fret comfortably (as opposed to the 16th on a non cutaway acoustic without some finger finagling). I can reach the 20th on the B and high E thanks to the scoop. But I was hoping for full access at this scale length. Maybe with a second strap button?
I actually don't like the comfort arm rest. It flips the guitar toward me, the way Ovation's rounded backs can. Most acoustic guitars I've played have some kind of beveling on the binding, and I'm never bothered by this even after 2 hours or more of playing. You may like the arm rest better.
No fret sprout, no high or low frets, could be polished but don't really need it, truss rod works. I seem to be getting some unwanted overtones on certain bends, like cello wolf tones?
It does have a good, mellow tone, which I do think will improve despite the guitar being all laminate construction (I do like that it's mostly all wood, as I really don't like plastic or abalone, but it's also pretty obviously laminate up close in person). Which brings me to the elephant in the room.
Is it really Hawaiian koa? Or is it Australian koa? Or east Asian koa? I think guitar companies are going to have to start making that distinction, that it's Hawaiian koa, in the same way they do solid vs. select. Because Hawaiian koa is extremely expensive, even laminate. And this just doesn't really look like it.
By comparison, this Washburn is nearly identical to the guitar found at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Islander-String-Acoustic-Guitar-AS-MG/dp/B07KD1871Z
Same exact gig bag too (just different stitched branding). But in that guitar's description, it says acacia wood back and sides. Yet look at the pics; does that look very different from this Washburn's koa?
To me it doesn't. Is that a problem? Not really at Washburn's price range, but it could be disappointing to some. Acacia as a species is still a nice wood; koa is part of the species, which is why other woods can look like it/sound like it, and are being used as cheaper koa alternatives. But Hawaiian koa is the most desirable, in the same way Brazilian rosewood or Adirondack spruce is. They are the best of the best and sadly rare from over logging.
Still, whatever the wood, the review for the other guitar isn't lying when it says that guitar was made by perfectionists; Washburn's was obviously made alongside it by the same perfectionists who take pride in doing an excellent job.
If you're looking for a travel guitar, you can probably stop here, especially if you find it used. Just don't expect it to be anything it isn't. Would be amazing for beginners.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
For more playing comfort and for people with shoulder issues, use with a "POYOLEE Leather Guitar Neck Strap Button Guitar Headstock Strap Tie, Black/Anti Copper." The loop takes the pressure off the left shoulder. The only drawback is the strap can start sliding down your back. But-- a small price to pay for pain-free guitar playing.
Verified Purchase
Match made in instrument heaven...
By Meredith Y on July 4, 2020
I am so so so happy with my Washburn. I was looking for a quality midpriced guitar that was smaller than the full size. I am more kid sized than adult sized. I noticed the difference in playing the 7/8th guitar size immediately. I no longer had pain in my hand and the chords rang true with minimal effort. The sound on this guitar is impressive for its size. It was worth the extra $200 (over my Jasmine full-sized) guitar to buy this beauty. My only complaint is that my fingernails are wearing down too fast because I can't stop playing it. =) I have switched over to using a pick and now it is much louder which is good for me and bad for my family. I don't regret purchasing this fine instrument.By Meredith Y on July 4, 2020
For more playing comfort and for people with shoulder issues, use with a "POYOLEE Leather Guitar Neck Strap Button Guitar Headstock Strap Tie, Black/Anti Copper." The loop takes the pressure off the left shoulder. The only drawback is the strap can start sliding down your back. But-- a small price to pay for pain-free guitar playing.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
JavierCharu
Beautiful and comfortable travel guitar
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2021Verified Purchase
