Going on a Roadtrip

[bbl4ck]

I have some time off coming up and have decided to do a road trip for 4 to 5 weeks and visit some old friends around the country that I have not seen in way too long.
I can't be jonesing for a guitar all that time and don't want to drag around one of my nice acoustics.  So, I am looking to pickup an affordable acoustic travel guitar.
I can pickup a used Martin Backpacker for $120, but seriously doubt the sound quality of such a small and odd shaped body. 
Anybody played a Martin Backpacker that can give me some feedback?  I am also open to any other recommendations for acoustic travel size guitars!
I have about two weeks before I leave and would appreciate any suggestions. 
Thanks for your time and  :rock-on:

 

[Cagey]

May be no help as they aren't "backpack size", but I've always been impressed with the degree of quality in sound and workmanship you can get from even the less expensive Yamaha acoustics. You can get a lotta guitar for $150 or so and if it gets beat to death, it's not the end of the world.

 

[swarfrat]

Yup, Yamaha rules the "I need a decent guitar but I got no money" gig. Definitely the Rodney Dangerfield of acoustic guitars.

 

[DangerousR6]

Have a safe trek Bart... :icon_thumright:

 

[bbl4ck]

Thanks for your wisdom of the quality of Yamaha guitars.  One of the reasons I was looking for a travel size guitar was for stashing it away without having a big guitar case visible in the back of my car for the bad guys to break in and steal.  However, the reality is that I pack and travel worse than any five women combined.  I pack more stuff for a weekend excursion than most people would take for a two week vacation.  Because of this affliction, I will have plenty of stuff that I don't need to easily cover a full sized guitar case.  Thanks for the tip and I will check out the used Yamaha's. 
:rock-on:

P.S. Thanks for the blessings Mr. Dangerous.  Not sure if I will be going through Texas, but if I do, I WILL be reaching out to you to share a brew! 

 

[Cagey]

I'm just the opposite - I'll pack less for a 2 week jaunt than most would pack for a weekend. But, I used to travel a lot, so I learned my lessons. The only thing I took along that most would consider unnecessary was an old wind-up Big Ben alarm clock. For some reason, I don't hear the modern "electronic" alarms when I'm sleeping. I need a real bell, or I'll sleep right through it no matter how annoying it may sound in real life. That Big Ben would cut through lack of sleep, sickness, depression, hangover, whatever. You had to stop that miserable noisy thing or you knew you were going to hell. At that point, you're up.

When I first started travelling a lot, I used to take a ton of stuff, which was a real pain. But, then I learned that it was easier to use hotel laundries than to carry two weeks worth of clothes, and sometimes it's easier to just buy more of some things. Socks and underwear come to mind. Most of them are on the verge of needing replacement anyway. Plus, they're not expensive. It's easier to carry money than suitcases. You need few toys - life on the road is enough trouble that you don't have time for them anyway. Plus, there are other things to do. Titty bars, for instance... <grin>

 

[john_p_wi]

Regarding the Martin Backpacker, OK build quality, OK action, and OK sound.  But, how to hold it  and get comfortable???  Maybe it's because I'm old and not flexible, but I could just not bond with it and get comfortable...

 

[swarfrat]

I hear ya on mechanical bells. But nothing but nothing beats a Minitor pager for INSTANT ON right NOW! Not just something you won't sleep through, but instant full mental clarity too.

 

[DangerousR6]

Thanks for your wisdom of the quality of Yamaha guitars.  One of the reasons I was looking for a travel size guitar was for stashing it away without having a big guitar case visible in the back of my car for the bad guys to break in and steal.  However, the reality is that I pack and travel worse than any five women combined.  I pack more stuff for a weekend excursion than most people would take for a two week vacation.  Because of this affliction, I will have plenty of stuff that I don't need to easily cover a full sized guitar case.  Thanks for the tip and I will check out the used Yamaha's. 
:rock-on:

P.S. Thanks for the blessings Mr. Dangerous.  Not sure if I will be going through Texas, but if I do, I WILL be reaching out to you to share a brew!

Sure thing my friend, just give me a shout. Always plenty of beer around... :icon_thumright:

 

[ragamuffin]

They cost a bit more than the Martin, but a buddy of mine has a http://go-guitars.com/ travel guitar, which sounds and plays a lot nicer. I've also played a backpacker in a shop a few times, and it seems passable to get your fix on the go too.

 

[bbl4ck]

They cost a bit more than the Martin, but a buddy of mine has a http://go-guitars.com/ travel guitar, which sounds and plays a lot nicer. I've also played a backpacker in a shop a few times, and it seems passable to get your fix on the go too.

Thanks Mr. Muffin.
Those do look cool and I like the options better as well.  Unfortunately, it is a 3 week lead time for them and I will already be on the road by that time.  I will keep them in mind for future needs! 
:rock-on:

 

[mrpinter]

I don't know if this will be of any interest to you at all, but I used to have a great little travel guitar - only it was electric, not acoustic. Hohner makes a great little instrument called a G3T, which is probably licensed by Steinberger. As you can see it's headless, which saves a lot of space, and it has a little lever that folds out on the lower bout that works well for playing it sitting down. Pair it with a Pignose or other miniature amp or a headphone practice unit like a Zoom, and you're set to rock anywhere. I wish I had mine back again - maybe I'll have to get another one.

 

[Ddbltrbl]

mrprinter beat me to it, but I use an old Steinberger with a pignose driven by a TS-808. It never gets real clean, but it's a lot of fun!  :guitarplayer2:
A distortion+ and a pigtail can be stored inside the Pignose if you turn it just right!  :laughing7:
I've got a black zipper bag for the Steinberger and you should see the looks I get carrying it on to a plane slung over my shoulder!  :toothy12:

 

[Cagey]

Another one worth looking at, if a travel electric is at all usable, is one of these Xavier units. Slightly smaller than the Hohner or Steinberger at 33" long, and dramatically less expensive at $99.

Don't be fooled by the price. It's certainly no Gibson, but it's a lotta guitar for the money. Still a good-sized neck w/ a 24" scale length. One of my brothers has one, and it's a surprisingly nice piece. And for $99, you can afford to beat the hell out of it, forgive it any shortcomings or lose it entirely to misadventure without crying yourself to sleep over it.