Guitar for On The Road?

[Wconley]

Originally Posted by DoublTrouble

GiGi has one too!..

When is the "band getting back together?"

Hah! That’s right, I forgot. We should have played together in Borrego Springs.

[kidjedi]

I tried using a Martin Backpacker for a while, but between tone and size, I found I just didn't play as much if that was my only option. I would suggest frequenting pawn shops until you find a decent "lesser" brand (i.e. not Martin, Guild, Gibson, Fender) that plays well, isn't huge, and is "semi-disposable." I have a Yamaha and an Alvarez that are good for travel but I don't need to worry about like my 1968 Gibson or 1972 Guild.

[turk123]

I play electric and acoustical guitar and own two of the travel guitars (one I won on their site). The travelers are OK but will not project sound like an acoustic. The travelers are meant to be plugged into an amp.

What I carry on trips now is the Taylor GS mini Koa. The Koa wood is impervious to moisture and temperature. It just may last forever! It is a smaller guitar and fits on the bed when moving and stands in a corner when camped. It has a soft case and is very light. It sounds wonderful.

They are in the $800 range new, but there are a lot of used ones out there.

Here is a review:

https://youtu.be/n6L54PyA80w

[kidjedi]

Originally Posted by turk123

What I carry on trips now is the Taylor GS mini Koa.

Looks like used ones go for as much or more than new ones! While that makes *getting* one more difficult, it would seem like a testament to the desirability of the guitar.
I like the Taylor tone (usually somewhat bright... which is great for around d a campfire), but I've never owned one. Perhaps this little guy will be my first... if I come across one for a decent price.
In researching them just now, I see Martin also makes a Koa wood smaller guitar for around half the price ($329). While I'm sure the Taylor is a better guitar, I wonder how they compare.

[Caffeinated]

Eastman makes a couple of decent under 1k acoustic guitars, that I think would be a solid choice for travel. The past few years I've been taking a custom uke in the trailer, mainly because of space considerations. Previously I've taken my Collings dread, which sounds spectacular under the stars. This fall we are going cross country to the Bourbon caravan and I'm looking hard at the Eastmans for that trip.

Mike

[turk123]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

Looks like used ones go for as much or more than new ones! While that makes *getting* one more difficult, it would seem like a testament to the desirability of the guitar.
I like the Taylor tone (usually somewhat bright... which is great for around d a campfire), but I've never owned one. Perhaps this little guy will be my first... if I come across one for a decent price.
In researching them just now, I see Martin also makes a Koa wood smaller guitar for around half the price ($329). While I'm sure the Taylor is a better guitar, I wonder how they compare.

The Martin does not have the tuning and amplification electronics, but who needs that on the road! After all, it is a martin, but made in Mexico.

[SteveSueMac]

Hey - we haven’t even talked about pianos.....

Yes - I sometimes bring mine....(Nord P3)

[dstalzer]

I took my UKE last year on a 88 day trip to the Arctic Ocean and Alaska. It is small enough to put almost anywhere and was fun to play.

Dennis

[Eddieb]

Got to have a guitar, I found the Baby Taylors sound pretty good for the size, there's always room for a guitar,

[JohnnyAustin]

Originally Posted by Caffeinated

Eastman makes a couple of decent under 1k acoustic guitars, that I think would be a solid choice for travel. The past few years I've been taking a custom uke in the trailer, mainly because of space considerations. Previously I've taken my Collings dread, which sounds spectacular under the stars. This fall we are going cross country to the Bourbon caravan and I'm looking hard at the Eastmans for that trip.

Mike

Kind of off topic but...

Over 30 years ago I bought a Takamine 12-string but was disappointed in it because it just didn't play well. I took it to Ray Hennig's where Ray directed me to a new luthier who had just opened up a shop a couple of blocks away. When I went in the shop it was absolutely bare except for an old counter in one corner. I left the guitar and for $70 the luthier pulled the frets, milled the neck and reset the frets. It has played beautifully ever since.

When I picked it up, the luthier took me into the back room and showed me the stack of Brazilian rosewood he had just received. He tried to convince me to let him build a guitar for me. Boy, wish I had bought one. It would have been nice to have one of the first Collings guitars.

[mikeoxlong]

Interesting topic!
I’m wrestling with the same...
I currently bring a mando, a uke, and a Martin D-15
I leave the guitar case at home(too big)However, the guitar is pristine, and I wanna keep it that way. Sooo...I’m thinking about an entry level Martin Parlor model. But, haven’t pulled the trigger yet

[EscapePod]

I'm a Martin fan and don't want to risk my vintage one on the road, so I found the Little Martin a good size and decent sound. Made with laminate materials and under $500 it's a great travel, camping, even boating guitar.

[RosenBob]

The Martin Dreadnought Jr is a great travel guitar with padded gig bag keeping it relatively small. You can get these new for $600 without a pickup and there are used ones available for less.

[Nomad518]

Our AS has a space behind the couch that is perfect for a full size acoustic guitar case. When traveling, I normally bring my old Guild D6 and leave my Gibson J185 home. But I have at times brought my PRS S2 Custom and a small battery powered amp. Some campgrounds are very strict about quiet hours. A ranger at Big Sur SP once warned me at 10:05 pm that I would have to stop playing my acoustic (couldn’t hear it outside our site but I didn’t want to test that “I fought the law and the law won” thing).

[Mhphhoward]

Always travel with my cello strapped to the bed. When camping at night cello's in shower, during the day alongside the bed.

[Bobfrapples]

I've played the Backpacker and Martin's. They're good for exercise. Tone, Not so much.
I picked up a great little Gretsch Jim Dandy ($169.00 on Ebay or Reverb) and it plays great! (after set up and fret filing).
Sound good and I wouldn't be homicidal if it got stolen or broken. (Lie!)
Just get something.
The Campground needs you

[Bobfrapples]

Collings may be the best built and sounding guitar out there.
RIP Mr. Collings

[Paprika]

I carry a Lanikai tenor ukulele (acoustic with built-in pickup)--my primary instrument--and an Epiphone Les Paul concert uke (semi-solid electric). Neither is in the Martin/Collings/etc. class, but both sound good to my ears, and they're appropriate for my modest budget and likewise modest skill level. And of course they're compact and easy to stow.

[waltc]

I have the same problem. I bought a Yamaha JR1 and upgraded the tuners to Grovers and changed the strings to Elixers 12 gauge. It comes with a gig bag. Cost less than $200 all together.
A picker in my Silver Strummer group plays the guitar you mentioned. He plugs it in a 3 watt amp for sound. He says tuning the strings is a little awkward but its not a deal breaker.

[jimfa440]

My wife bought me a "Little Martin". I had a backpacker but it was unacceptable. At home I play a Martin HD28V and a 1965 Gibson J45. The Little Martin works ok, true frets but you need size and bracing to imitate a "real" guitar sound.