Which Saddle for Your Taylor GS Mini?

The saddle required for your Taylor GS Mini will depend on your guitar’s model and year. The GS Mini was first introduced in 2010 and various versions have appeared, including Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood Sapele, and Koa back and sides models, as well models with or without a pickup.

Your GS Mini may have a forward line B compensated or a wave compensated saddle. Please compare your current saddle’s compensation pattern to the images below. If you’re unable to tell which compensation pattern that your saddle has, please contact us and we can assist.

Forward Line B Compensated Saddle

This saddle compensation pattern puts all strings at the front of the saddle, toward the soundhole, except the B string, which sits further away from the soundhole, and closer to the bridge.

Bone Saddle – Fits Many Taylor Guitars – B Compensation – Standard Height Angle
B Compensated Saddle for Many Taylor Guitars

Slanted Bass Wave Compensated Saddle

The slanted bass wave compensation saddle has flowing lines for a wavelike appearance. Similar to the forward line B compensated saddle, the treble E and G strings will appear forward, with the B compensated to the back. However, with the wave compensated saddle,  there is a progressive backward slant for the D, A, and E  strings. 

Bone Saddle - Fits Many Taylor Guitars Wave Compensated Angle
Slanted Bass Wave Compensated Saddle for Many Taylor Guitars

You might be tempted to replace your forward line B compensated saddle with a wave compensated saddle. However, we advise against this. First, the wave compensated saddle is a bit shorter in length than the forward line B compensated saddle is. 

Second, additional compensation for the bass strings does not necessarily produce better intonation, and somewhat ironically, can negatively affect your intonation. Guitar builders factor in bridge saddle slot angle, scale length, and string diameter to determine saddle compensation pattern. Putting a wave compensated saddle with the addtional bass compensation could lengthen your bass strings too much and negatively affect your intonation. 

Let’s look down at the top of a forward line B compensated saddle and a slanted bass wave compensated saddle to see where the strings would sit. The below images have a three degree saddle angle. The blue line shows approximately where each string would sit on the saddle’s top.
Taylor B Compensated Saddle Top Down View
Top Down View of a Forward Line B Compensated Saddle
Top Down View of a Wave Compensated Saddle

The treble E, B, and G strings sit in a similar position. However, there’s progressive backward compensation for the D, A, and bass E strings. This increased string length is not necessarily an improvement and could have a negative affect on your intonation.  

Undersaddle Pickup?

Does your Taylor GS Mini have an undersaddle pickup? If so, you may need a shorter saddle height to account for the ribbon thickness. Undersaddle pickup ribbons typically run about 1 mm in thickness.

Bleached or Unbleached Bone?

Unbleached bone is a slightly harder material and is a bit more difficult to work with, but many people prefer the tone. Unbleached bone does have inconsistent color, though. 

Please visit our saddle offerings for Taylor Guitars or view or article on How to Find the Right Saddle for Your Taylor Guitar for more information.