Yeah
@PeterSchroeder the mini can be tight, especially if you are not used to it. If I play Griff's 7th chord inversions I have to think ahead to place my fingers for the A7 at the 14th fret, it's tight. I usually do use a different guitar for exercises. The mini is my fun guitar. The thing I notice with my fat fingers is that more detailed finger picking can get tight, and if I'm, not careful sometimes my LH fingernail will rattle against an adjacent moving string. On the flip side, because it is compact I can more easily reach some things to play that on other guitars. Like reaching for notes while chording, playing the "rocking blues" type patterns most commonly done in the open E and A positions where the pinky has to reach, those things are stupid easy. I figure out lots of stuff on the mini, even if I end up playing it on a larger guitar. And, as you observed, it sounds great if you even give it a chance (mine is a Koa, I bought my son a mahogany, either one sounds amazing to me.
When I play an acoustic for something I am trying to do real tidy, like doing exercises or recording something, I use a strap. Even if the strap is slack it helps to index the guitar to a familiar position with respect to my body, and that helps my consistency. Up 'till a couple of years ago I was a "use the strap all the time guy". Now after some inconvenience with my neck and shoulders that resulted in surgery I am more prone to play without the strap if I'm just goofing, noodling and such, playing and relaxing. One thing I notice is that if I play without a strap and get involved in what I'm doing, trying to play something that requires more attention, I end up kinda wrapping my upper body around the guitar. Poor posture, the strap is much better and I end up sliding the strap on to remedy the posture. Just kicked back in the shade in the yard I probably grabbed the mini and even though the strap is always attached it's may or may not be around my neck.
Trying to stand, sing while playing, or record something I use a strap.
Be slow to rule out any on board pickup system. A while back I had my Martin dred as my acoustic. At that time I totally thought that if I want something to plug in I'll just plug in my tele, done! My Taylors changed all that over time. The electrics on the guitar are hardly noticeable and when you want them they are there and ready to go. As I mentioned in another thread, recording an acoustic with a mic or two and using the onboard electrics really gives you lots of options, lots of good ones. Unless you have a way better crystal ball than I do you might be wise to allow that after you get used to a good acoustic, you will play it more. Then you will realize limitations you would not have before.
Size, that is a real personal thing. Folks that actually dig in and evaluate acoustics at least as much as folks do their electrics often find that there are benefits and detriments to various sizes in guitars. How much you flat pick, finger pick, or strum can sure affect your preference. A big dred
(my Martin is built with the D-14 size body, full size Martin dred specs) has a full bass sound typically, along with great volume and projection. I think for playing with an all acoustic group using a dred and trying not to stand in the back of the group would be wise. I don't need that level of output from my guitars acoustically and I do value comfort so the Taylor 314 size (Grand Auditorium size) was a huge improvement in comfort and still has good projection. Arguably more articulate also. I love the Grand Concert size in the 12 fret build! that is the best all 'round acoustic to my preference for tons of reasons, pretty steep ransom on those guitars though.
The mini is the smallest I own and it usually sits somewhere close to where I am. I think my wife actually hangs it up to put it away more often than I do, I'm in change of putting it back in the way after she is done
.
No matter what strap I use or position I assume the dred just feels too big for me these days. My right arm is cocked up to get over the lower bout and I end up shifting my body around to get comfortable playing it. Of course I never was aware of that when the dred was my only acoustic.
Oh yeah, I'm an electric player also and I have a few
very nice electrics. I just find that I do play my acoustic more as time passes. I don't really care for playing along with jam tracks that much (excepting the VJR!) and just sitting a playing it is more fun for me to play a nice sounding acoustic, you have the rhythm, bass and lead all right there all the time, you just have to figure out how to play them - and the guitars always sound good without fiddling with amps or effects and such.
There is way too much info for you, I hope some was interesting or helpful.
One last thought. Taylor has a "new" model out, the GTe. It is between the mini and the GC bodies size wise. I don't even want to go try one (yes I do
) because I'm afraid I might like it too much and it might want to follow me home. I just betcha that is a sweet little guitar!
All the best!