RustyB Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 I am considering buying a travel guitar, something small enough to put in the airplane overhead. The only model that I've seen (for sale in stores) is the Martin Backpacker. I've read (and heard) negative comments about the Backpacker, mainly having to do with it's "tinny-not very loud" sound quality. I realize any travel guitar is probably going to have limitations, so I don't really expect too much from one. Other models that I have seen on the internet include: Washburn "Joey" (about $150.00); Go-Guitar (made in San Diego, about $250.00) Montanna (pear-shaped, only about $90.00); Ovation Celebrity Trekker (guitar shaped, priced over $200.00). I'm sure that there are others. If any of the users of this forum (or the editors of the magazine) have compared, or own any of these, or other "travel guitar", please post or e-mail me with your findings or reccomendations. blythevideo@aol.com Thank you very much, Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 For me the Backpacker works fine. It's certainly not a great guitar. But I don't need a great guitar. I have those. I need a small guitar that I can practice on the road or with my family when we travel. I haven't done a lot of comparison. Why waste my time? I used to have The Practice Axx. Good idea, before it's time, but boy did it suck! Never would stay in tune. Just some plywood and strings. Nonetheless I found some use for it. If you find something better I'd be curious. I'm sure there ARE better options. I suppose it depends on your purpose. If you plan to perform on one or rehearse on one it's more crucial. I've actually recorded with the Backpacker more than once. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitr777 Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 I'm faced with the same dilema. I don't want to trust my baby to the baggage handlers (I don't have a good flight case) and I would hate to take the chance that the airline won't let me carry on and stow in the coat closet. I was in Dallas not too long ago, and at the Guitar Center, I saw a 'Pee Vee' - a miniture flying-V that looked like it might do the trick - that is if you're looking for an electric travel guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyB Posted April 4, 2002 Author Share Posted April 4, 2002 Something else that I've actually seen is a very small electric guitar with built in amplifier/speaker. I've seen this thing at Sams's Wholesale Club (a Wal-Mart spinoff). This is a no-name (probably made overseas somewhere), and I think, made for kids. It is quite sturdy, for what it is. This would probably suffice for someones needs, but I'm interested in an acoustic travel guitar. Thanks again for your input. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 There are two wonderful alternatives to the backpacker which sound very good. The Taylor Baby - This guitar sounds wonderful for a miniature body, and was available with an SKB style hard case for around $300 at Mars. They don't stock the hard case version anymore, to my knowledge, but it may still be available. The Tacoma Papoose - This one is absolutely wonderful when properly setup, but I don't know the availability of a hard case. I believe it's designed for tuning to A (standard 5th fret) on the E strings, etc. In March, we travelled from Nashville to Charlotte to Washington DC., to Heathrow, London, England, to Kuwait, to Qatar, to Oman, to Bahrain, to Frankfurt, to Cincinnati to Nashville by commericial jets. We received little flack from the airline representatives, and always found space for the gig bags. (The instruments were: A Gibson 1967 re-issue Flying V, a Hamer Les-Paul-double-cut style, A Fender 5 string bass, and a Roland AX-1 remote keyboard in a guitar gigbag.) The only real trouble is on Boeing 777's. Ironically, these large jets have deep, short overhead bins. Either of the acoustics I mentioned would fit, however. Despite the ability to get the instruments onboard across the globe, the guitarists are considering Steinberger electric guitars for the next tour, because of the size. Now, if they can get Gibson to reopen Steinberger USA so the instruments aren't complete shi... It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binky_dup1 Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Taylor makes a Baby Taylor Tacoma makes the Papoose Tamaha and Ibanez also have 3/4 models. I choose the Traveller, an electric guitar, I have the old version. Use it during commute. I like the full size fingerboard. The thing was difficult to tune as the strings run over the saddle, and over some plasic discs on a 1/4 inch axle too get to the tuners on the backside. All this drag caused the strings to jump up or down in frequency instead of tuning smoothly. Very frustrating to keep jumping from too sharp to too flat. I replaced the saddle with a Graph tech string saver saddle ($5), and added ball bearings (probably not necessary but I like to work on guitars.) to the discs on the axle and the tuning became a lot easier. I Have trouble with the headless design caise the neck weighs zilch, and it feels like it wants to jump out of your hand. Just takes some getting used to. I did add a strap button to the end of the neck and that seemed to help. I also shielded the electromagnetic pup to keep spark plug and alteernator noise out. Only marginally successful as the cheap little amp I have picks it all back up. It has a piezo pup, a electro mag pup(traditional) and a diaphram that allows you to play with no amp, just the included stethascope style headphones. I plan on ripping off a set of airline headphones to use instead at the next opportunity. http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/518700.jpg There is apparantly a new version out. http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/518703.jpg Fernandes makes one too http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/516834.jpg although its not clear how big it is. It does have a headstock which adds length, but may be 3/4 size Squier makes a 3/4 strat http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/510421.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binky_dup1 Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 The Acoustics Yamaha http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/510020.jpg Tacoma Papoose http://img.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/51/510400.jpg Fender http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=020404065609012234233231971407/search/g=home/detail/base_id/42850 Ibanez http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/dt/models/DTMETBL.jpg Allof these except the Ibanez were available thru Musicians Friend. Of the Acoustics, I liked the Taylor best. But It was still a far cry from a full size acoustic. Thats why I got the electric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Great pics! I thought of the Baby Taylor, which is much better than the Backpacker, except it's a little too bulky for the overhead on planes. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlChuck Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Years ago I bought one of those Hohner Steinberger "copies." It worked out very well for taking along on trips, and fit well in the overhead luggage bins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Originally posted by henryrobinett: Great pics! I thought of the Baby Taylor, which is much better than the Backpacker, except it's a little too bulky for the overhead on planes.Au contrare, Henry... (I don't speak French, so I hope that's spelled correctly! ) Read my last post. A Flying V is bulky, yet doable in overhead compartments. A Baby Taylor (preferably in the SKB hardcase) would be easy! Of course, the backpacker is basically a stick, so in comparison... It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted April 4, 2002 Share Posted April 4, 2002 Well yes, the Backpacker is basically a stick, that's why it works and why it doesn't particularly sound great. Baby Taylor and especially the Big Baby are much better instruments. But a lot of flights I've been on require more than one item being stuffed in those overheads, as there are a lot of people with a lot of traveling needs. One guitar taking up an entire overhead compartment might be a bit overbearing. Plus you'd have to get on the plane early enough to claim a compartment for yourself. But if it works, it works. Are you sure it works with the Baby Taylor? I've done a lot of traveling and was successful taking a real guitar on board with me. But two flights, one to Japan and one from Vienna put the fear in me that I was just lucky. Some attendents don't care whether you or your guitar flies or not. So I ended up getting proper flight cases when needed and getting a travel guitar when not. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyB Posted April 4, 2002 Author Share Posted April 4, 2002 Thanks, tons for the information, especially the photos. Something I am strongly considering is the Go Guitar. I'm sure they won't mind my putting the URL here, if you'd like to check it out. http://www.go-guitars.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto Posted April 5, 2002 Share Posted April 5, 2002 I had a Backpacker for awhile and really didn't care for it. Sounded like a banjo and even worse there was no way to anchor it to keep the heavy headstock end from sliding down, down, down. Sold it. On the other hand you might consider just an inexpensive secondary acoustic that wouldn't break your heart if it got injured. Amanda all americana EdithGrove.com www.mp3.com/edithgrove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticsound Posted April 5, 2002 Share Posted April 5, 2002 Originally posted by henryrobinett: I've done a lot of traveling and was successful taking a real guitar on board with me. But two flights, one to Japan and one from Vienna put the fear in me that I was just lucky. Some attendents don't care whether you or your guitar flies or not. So I ended up getting proper flight cases when needed and getting a travel guitar when not.Good advice. Our problem was, we had only enough G-bats to cover the gear minus the instruments. Literally, they had to fly as carry-on. It worked with full size instruments. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroguitarist Posted April 6, 2002 Share Posted April 6, 2002 the fernandes nomad is awesome. it works for me, i bring it in the van with my bands with a danelectro honeytone mini amp and that is awesome, hook it up to a danelectro pastrami overdrive and u gota good tone, if u like electric, i say go with the nomad. if u want a acoustic, check this out http://www.tommyhawk.com/gifs/fbth.jpg that is nice, it costs between 800-1200 bucks cause they aren't standard. the guitarist of pink floyd had asked him to make him a mandolin of it. the guy makes his own and i think it was gibson, im not sure bought the rigts for mass production of those. im gonna get him to make me one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroguitarist Posted April 6, 2002 Share Posted April 6, 2002 the fernandes's are nice, when my band is on tour and we have all our stuff in the trailer and we are in the van i got my nomad in the back seat with me and the honey tone amp and my pastrami overdrive making new songs or perfecting songs or when we get bored of listenening to cds we just make up things and sing rediculous things, our other guitarist owns a nomad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroguitarist Posted April 6, 2002 Share Posted April 6, 2002 http://www.fernandesguitars.com/images/nomaddlx.jpg that is mine and that little acoustic im gonna get it in red he can do it, considering he made on in blue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted April 6, 2002 Share Posted April 6, 2002 Originally posted by RustyB: Thanks, tons for the information, especially the photos. Something I am strongly considering is the Go Guitar. I'm sure they won't mind my putting the URL here, if you'd like to check it out. http://www.go-guitars.com/ Jeez, throw a neck on a cigar box. That's what you got. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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