Every travel guitar trades some size for portability. The Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa trades less than most. It’s a 7/8-size “Mini” Grand Auditorium body, not a 3/4 or half-size mini, and it’s finished in koa rather than the usual spruce, mahogany or sapele. It costs from around £395, and it’s worth knowing about as a close alternative to the Taylor GS Mini.
The GS Mini is the better-known name for the “closer to full-size sound in a smaller body” idea. The Washburn doesn’t have Taylor’s reputation, but it solves the same problem: a small-bodied acoustic that still sounds and feels like a proper guitar rather than a shrunk-down toy.
How it compares to the Taylor GS Mini
One owner of both a Taylor GS Mini and this Washburn put it plainly: the two are close in size, but the GS Mini has the fuller, more refined sound and the Washburn costs a lot less. That’s a fair summary of where this guitar sits. It isn’t a Taylor-beater. It’s a genuine, comparably sized alternative for roughly two-thirds of the price.
The size comparison matters more than it might sound. Most “mini” or “3/4” guitars are built around being small first and sounding good second. The G-Mini 55’s 7/8 Grand Auditorium body is a different proposition, a real reduction from full-size rather than a token one, which is exactly why buyers keep reaching for the GS Mini as the natural comparison rather than a headless travel electric or a collapsible-neck design.
What the “Comfort” body actually does
Washburn’s Comfort Series isn’t just a marketing name on this model. The body has a rounded-over “Binding Relief” under the player’s forearm, so the top edge doesn’t dig in the way a square-edged body does after twenty minutes of playing, and a “Comfort Carve-Away” cut into the upper shoulder that gives your fretting hand better access to the higher frets without needing a full cutaway. Neither feature affects how portable the guitar is. Both affect how it feels to actually sit and play for a while, which is a detail a spec sheet doesn’t capture.
Specs that matter
- Body: koa top, back and sides, quarter-sawn scalloped Sitka spruce bracing, walnut binding
- Body size: 7/8-size “Mini” Grand Auditorium, 23-1/4in scale length, 1-11/16in nut width
- Neck: mahogany, ebony fingerboard with dot inlays
- Bridge and headstock overlay: ebony, with a GraphTech black NuBone nut and saddle
- Tuners: 18:1 gold die-cast machines with ebonite buttons
- Rosette: maple and mahogany parquet, 3-ring
- Finish: satin
- Electronics: none, acoustic only
- Case: gig bag included
- Price: From around £395
- Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5 from 41 ratings
The real downside
A few things are worth knowing before you buy.
First, a spec note: some product copy describes a “solid spruce top, and mahogany back and sides”. Washburn’s official product page confirms koa on the top, back and sides, with spruce used only for the internal bracing.
Second, a playing-condition downside reported by a UK owner: they found the finish near the soundhole showed wear after regular use and thought a pickguard would have helped protect it, since this guitar doesn’t come with one fitted. If you play with a pick and strum hard near the soundhole, a clear pickguard is a cheap, sensible addition. A few other reviewers separately note the tone can turn boxy under a heavy strumming attack, which tracks with any smaller-bodied acoustic and isn’t a flaw unique to this one.
FAQ
Is the Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa actually a travel guitar?
It’s sold and marketed as part of Washburn’s travel-friendly Comfort range, and its 7/8-size body is genuinely more compact and lighter than a full dreadnought. It’s not as small as the headless or collapsible-neck designs elsewhere on this site, so it suits someone who wants a real reduction in size without giving up as much tone, rather than someone who needs the smallest possible case.
Does the Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa have a pickup?
No. This is an acoustic-only instrument with no built-in electronics. If you need to plug in, our Yamaha APXT2 review covers a similarly sized acoustic-electric alternative.
What wood is the body actually made from?
Koa on the top, back and sides, confirmed against Washburn’s own product page. Spruce is used only for the internal bracing.
How does it compare to the Taylor GS Mini?
The GS Mini has the fuller, more refined sound according to buyers who’ve played both, and it’s the better-known name. This Washburn is a comparable size for a lower price.
Does it come with a case?
Yes, a gig bag is included. If you want a hard case instead, our guide to travel guitar cases covers the options.
Will it fit as hand luggage on a flight?
Its 7/8-size body gives it a reasonable chance, but no guitar has guaranteed cabin space on every airline. Check our guide to flying with a guitar in the UK before assuming it’ll fit.
Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa or Taylor GS Mini, which should I buy?
If the price gap doesn’t bother you, buy the GS Mini first. It’s the more accomplished instrument by most accounts. If you want a comparably sized guitar for meaningfully less money, the Washburn is a legitimate alternative.
Where to buy it
From around £395. Buy the Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa on Amazon UK.
