Blackbird Rider Steel String Guitar Review

When I started Best Travel Guitars It was really about traveling and finding that perfect guitar to fit the journey. It wasn’t so much about the guitar as I have my old trusty Martin and it fits me well. Despite being old it’s in great condition and I don’t like slopping it all over the place. The solution was a small portable beater…..right?

I thought so but after being giving the opportunity to play a lot of different travel size guitars I find myself in a new predicament. I have a new found appreciation for small pint size guitars and they can hardly be called beaters.

When the Blackbird Rider Steel String arrived (thanks to Joe Luttwak at Blackbird Guitars for letting us DEMO it), my appreciation was never greater. As I pulled the guitar out of the box I was actually giddy. “Oh wow, this is nice”, I thought. Yeah, my mind wasn’t in technical guitar review mode yet and I was thinking like a kid on Christmas. After I settled down a bit, passed the guitar around to some friends this was the consensus among us.

Action, Fit & Finish: First pulling this thing out of the box I was struck with shiny envy.  The body just looked awesome, very sleek and shiny like I was looking at a high end performance race car.  The only complaint anyone had here was the shape, some liked it, some didn’t.  It also only comes in one color -carbon fiber, with a  high gloss polyurethane clear coat.

Being the guitar I played was a demo model there were a few minor cosmetic flaws in the urethane clear coat which could have been buffed out.  I should also note there was no pickguard which makes scratches in the clear coat almost inevitable.   I think earlier versions of the blackbird may have had a pickguard but after noticing some sound dampening qualities they decided to forgo it.  Otherwise, the craftsmanship was excellent.

Setup was pretty much spot on, in-tune and delivering clean crisp notes without any issue.  The action was pretty good overall and intonation excellent up the neck.  I really had to point this out as its been a problem or has become a problem with some small guitars I’ve played.

The rider also stood out in one other crucial area, playability.  I have to admit, the first day I walked around with it strung around my neck as this was immediately comfortable.  I don’t just mean comfortable as in adequate either.  I felt like I could chase my cat down outside while still holding a tune.  Sitting down took a little longer and it tended to slip a bit but once I got the feel of where it should sit in my lap and using the neck-up support it became very comfortable to play.

Features: Being a bunch of backpackers we opted to test the Steel String Rider (No Electronics) to reduce weight.  It’s also a bit  smaller than the Nylon version.  This model don’t have a ton of frills but just a solid design plan that makes up a ton of useful features.

First, the ultra light and ultra strong one piece carbon fiber construction makes it the perfect travel guitar.  This thing can take a serious beating both physically and environmentally.  Also unique to the design is the hollow neck that carries sound up and out a second sound hole near the tuners.  The tuners are Gotoh solid quality.  I never encountered any trouble with tuning or pitch.  Sometimes while fitting the guitar into the tight fitting case I became concerned about the tuning but every time I pulled it out it was fine.  Everything about the guitar speaks high quality, this is no toy.

Sound: If you have any experience with travel guitars you know this is the real test.  This is the bread and butter question,.. how does it sound?  Travel guitars are not known for producing great sounds.  This is because most travel guitars are a diminished interpretation of the full scale guitars we have come to know.   The diminished size does not translate well and often results in poor intonation, weak deficient tones (especially bass) and compromised playability.

This is where the blackbird rider really shines with its full 24.5″ scale and unique innovative design.  The first thing my friend said to me after showing it off a little bit was “wow, its pretty loud”.  Indeed, but it’s not just loud, it resonates with amazing sustain and a full range of warm acoustic tones.  Seriously, this thing sounds better then some full size acoustic guitars I’ve played.

Whatever magic is taking place with the smart hollow neck engineering, unique shape, additional sound hole and carbon fiber construction its definitely working.

Durability: Two words, Carbon Fiber…cmon this thing is military grade!

In the end its unfair to compare the Blackbird Rider up against say, the Martin Backpacker.  The one guitar that strikes me as comparable is the Composite Acoustic Cargo and they are not in business anymore.  Lets be honest, these guitars are in a class of their own when it comes to travel guitars.

Still, for anyone that has to consider cost this is probably not going to be your best option.  The Blackbird Rider comes with a price tag of around $1600 which is a serious investment for some folks.  At the same time, we would expect to spend this much for a nice notebook computer or serious camera so why should we skimp out on our music.  If you bought one today I would bet in 10 years you would still have a great functioning innovative guitar.  I can’t say that about a computer.

The Blackbird Rider Steel String is a Good Solid Investment and its not a stretch to say it’s the Best Travel Guitar.  Our votes in, whats yours?

Blackbird Rider Steel String Guitar Features:

• Compact 2/3 size acoustic
• Durable and stable Carbon fiber construction
• Resonance-driving hollow neck and head with sound port
• Ultra-light at 2.75 lbs and not neck-heavy
• Full 24.5″ scale length

Aria Sinsonido Travel Guitar Review

I travel all over the world for work as a cinematographer (www.dancoplan.com) and for vacation. I’ve suffered guitar withdrawal enough that I decided it was time to find a travel-friendly instrument. I needed something light, compact, relatively indestructible, and quiet enough so I could play anywhere without disturbing other people. I also wanted something fairly inexpensive but still good enough quality that I wouldn’t regret the purchase. I’ll save you the details of my exhaustive search but I ultimately chose the Sinsonido by Aria (www.adirondackguitar.com/electrics/aria/as-100.htm).

Licensed by SoloEtte (soloette.com), the guitar is nearly identical yet less than half the cost. The main part of the guitar consists of a single block of wood including neck and body, minus the upper and lower bouts. The headstock and tuners are built into the base which saves inches off the length while maintaining full size playability. This single piece, similar to an Irish hurley (a field hockey-style paddle used in hurling) is all you need to play, though this would be awkward without the upper and lower bouts to rest against your body. Three lightweight metal rods covered in foam padding fit into the body and form the guitar’s body shape. Compact, lightweight, rugged – perfect! This also makes for a great conversation starter because it looks so unique.

A pickup is built into the bridge and a standard 1/4” jack lets you plug in to an amp or with headphones. An easily accessed 9V battery on the back supplies power to the jack. This is perfect for playing at volume without bugging anyone. Controls include volume and tone.

The guitar plays really well. I had to dial in the action at the bridge (thumbwheels on bass and treble side – easy peasy) and tweak the truss rod (allen wrench included!), but the neck and frets feel great and sometimes I don’t even put on headphones – I just pluck and strum away, satisfying my 6-string fix. The tuners are plastic – not the best quality, but for less than $20 I replaced these with a metal set that fit the peg slots and mounting holes perfectly. The volume and tone knobs are pretty cheap as is their functionality, but they work well enough. For the cost, travel-friendliness, and the way the guitar plays I’m willing to accept this as a compromise. Finally, I find the tone to be a bit twangy, but I’m willing to forgive juicy tone just to be able to put a guitar I feel good about in my hands while traveling.

The Sinsonido includes a pair of fold-up headphones with the proper 1/4” plug adapter, an allen wrench to adjust the truss rod, and soft padded carrying case. I’ve literally taken this thing all over the world and played in airports, on buses, boats, trains, on hikes, and countless other places where a standard guitar would be too cumbersome. As far as travel guitars are concerned, this one gets high marks.

Dan Coplan is a Los Angeles based cinematographer and staff writer for www.sharemyguitar.com. He can be reached through his website mentioned at the top of the article or at dancoplan@sharemyguitar.com.

Aria Sinsonido Travel Guitar Features:

• Back and Sides Mahogany
• Fingerboard Rosewood
• Hardware Black
• Neck Material Mahogany
• Nut Width 1 11/16″
• Frame Aluminum encased in soft rubber
• Pickups Soloette Original made of two stereo condenser
• microphones
• Controls Volume, Tone
• Controls Stereo, Built In
• Includes Includes headphones and free Aria gig bag.

Blackbird Rider Nylon String Guitar Review

The Blackbird Nylon Rider is my first travel guitar and it has proved to be a revelation.  To my great astonishment it has become my #1 favorite out of my collection of acoustic, electric, steel string and nylon classical guitars; all luthier instruments.  I bought the Nylon Rider for accompanying groups of singers.  This music is from Brazil where nylon guitars prevail so I set out to find the very best electric nylon guitar and this turned out to be a travel size instrument!

I was tipped off about the Rider from a musician’s blog site.  The writer also owned the two nylon electrics which were at the top of my list but he personally recommended the Nylon Rider.  I decided to take the leap and ordered one from Joe Luttwak at Blackbird Guitars.  My Rider has the RMC gold pickups with Polydrive II preamp, I feed this signal into a 96K digital reverb and then into two KRK studio monitors.  The results in sound and playability are simply outstanding.

The Rider has a unique, one piece design with the vented hollow neck incorporated into the body resonance chamber. Also the interior surfaces all face each other at angles.  These design elements reduce the typical lower midrange resonance peak which is the reason most acoustics sound too boomy when amplified.  The ultra fast carbon top articulates the higher harmonic series of each note with an astonishing clarity and purity. Higher notes are warm and pure yet the crisp bass notes are supported with a true fundamental. This harmonic correctness has an ear candy result that really inspires my practice time.

The Nylon Rider’s sustain is superb.  Musical details, chords and polyphony retain clarity even in complex music like Bach.  Plugged-in, the guitar sounds natural and acoustic, not really possible with a solid body design.  This sound can be eq’d very effectively because the usual boxy resonances are not present.  Its like being able to dial in the sound that studio engineers strive for on recording sessions.

The construction of the carbon fiber top and the electronics in the Polydrive have all been specially tuned to eliminate feedback, I have experienced no problems in this area even when supporting over 50 singers.  The Nylon Rider is the most playable nylon guitar I have ever experienced.  The luthier work is excellent.  Carbon fibre construction makes the instrument impervious to temperature and humidity changes.  Perfect action is maintained regardless of season changes and the usual tendency of the bridge to rise due to string tension.  This also makes for more carefree use, I don’t have to worry about leaving the instrument in the car in summer or winter.

Another carbon fiber benefit is pitch stability.  Tuning time is much reduced, I really appreciate this when performing.  The neck is radiused which helps make a steel string player feel at home. Intonation is excellent all the way up the neck.  My Rider came with a neck-up support which is attached by a suction cup so the guitar is always perfectly balanced in my hands.  I am able to play standing up with perfect ease.  It is a featherlight 3.3 pounds; this is so comfortable.  I even practice walking around the house with the guitar strapped on.  In the gig bag I can take it anywhere on my back and I barely notice its weight!

The Rider is so ergonomic that it reduces stress on my body, Previously I had some signs of tendinitis in my left elbow, this has now subsided in a few weeks.  The physical balance is perfect due to the hollow neck.  A light instrument is a real joy but not if it is unevenly balanced to the neck.  In short, the Rider is comfortable and really fun to play!

Most of my hours of playing are practicing and having fun, for this the Rider’s acoustic performance is quite satisfying.  It has less volume than my (very expensive) concert classical, yet I find myself drawn to the tone of the Rider because of its purity.  I would not say this if there was no true fundamental on the low E string.  This is essential for long term playing satisfaction and the Rider delivers, size notwithstanding.

I am very grateful to have received this instrument from Blackbird.  The design is really excellent. The usual trade offs for tradition, marketing schemes and bean counters have been set aside so that all aspects of tone, playability, consistency and durability are optimized.  For example I know they are using the best quality carbon fiber and excellent tuners, these details are not obvious at first but are very important for long term playing satisfaction.

The RMC hex pickups and the Polydrive are the perfect setup for driving a guitar synth.  The Rider’s low action is entirely free of fret buzz so that synth tracking will be consistent.  I really look forward to exploring this exciting possibility.

The Blackbird Nylon Rider is a true synthesis of intelligent design, high technology and dedication to quality.  It is a really cool guitar!  Finally I can say that dealing with Joe Luttwak has been a real pleasure.

BlackBird Rider Nylon String Features:

• Carbon Fiber strength and environmental stability
• Body cutway to reach the higher frets
• 3 lbs. among the world’s lightest guitars
• Resonance-driving hollow neck and head with sound port
• 25.6″ (650mm) Scale Length
• RMC string saddle MIDI compatible pickups available
• Optional Guitar Support for enhanced comfort

Baby Taylor Travel Guitar

The Baby Taylor travel guitar is exactly what it says. This small three quarter dreadnought size acoustic guitar is made for the road. Its light weight and sturdy build make it ultra portable, and it comes with a gig bag instead of a hard case, so it fits easily in airplane carry-on, or the back seat of a car. As is true to the Taylor name this guitar is well built, with back and sides of sapele mahogany laminate, and choice of a solid sitka spruce or mahogany front. The spruce lends itself to a quite, simple eloquence, while the mahogany flaunts a darker, richer beauty. With their satin finish both guitars are nice looking little instruments.
The Baby Taylor, like the full size Taylor guitar is quality made. It has 6 Elixir® light gauge string with NANOWEB® coating, an ebony fret board with inlayed pearloid dots, and an ebony bridge. The neck of the guitar is tropical American mahogany. The tuning machines are enclosed, die-cast and chrome plated, and the sound hole rosette is laser etched. It is easy to see that Taylor used the same fine attention to detail when designing this baby guitar as they do with their full scale models.
This baby guitar has remarkable volume, tone, and versatility for its size. Naturally some of the sound is sacrificed to the smaller dimensions, however; of the baby guitars on the market, the Taylor definitely takes the cake. It can be difficult to get a travel guitar that compares to the sound of a full size, especially in the base end, but the Baby Taylor performs well. The mahogany is especially proficient at producing richer bass tones. This guitar is also versatile; it can be played high strung, with a capo or a slide and in alternate tunings. However, keep in mind that because of its smaller fret size capo use can be limited, and finger picking past the third fret can be more of a challenge for adults.
The Baby Taylor travel guitar is not just for adults, but also makes a wonderful starter guitar for children. Its small size lends itself to smaller hands, and is not as intimidating as a dreadnought. It also holds its value and can be used as a trade in on a larger guitar. It sounds much better than a cheaper $75 guitar, yet is still affordable at $275-$300. So, with this guitar a child can gain true appreciation for finer music, but on an instrument that’s just right for them.
Though the Baby Taylor travel guitar is not considered a specialty instrument for recording or performing, it is completely appropriate for more informal settings. It’s a wonderful instrument to take on those weekend family getaways, or as a child’s first guitar. It holds up well, has a lasting value, and best of all, because it’s a Taylor it comes with great customer service.

Taylor Baby Taylor Mahogany Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Features:

• Solid mahogany top
• 3/4 scale
• Sapele arched back and sides
• Ebony fretboard and bridge
• Lexan headstock veneer
• Laser-etched rosette
• Enclosed die-cast tuners
• 22-3/4″ scale
• 1-11/16″ nut width
• Taylor gig bag

Whats your opinion?  Cast your User Star Rating **

Applecreek Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

The Applecreek acoustic-electric travel guitar is a great little instrument, provided that you are looking for a very basic practice or travel guitar. It is conveniently light weight and has a much quieter sound than the typical guitar, which is great for opportunities to practice without disturbing the entire household. As a fairly low priced model, the Applecreek acoustic-electric travel guitar is not terrible durable, and the company has received low marks from other users who have had some minor problem or another with their new instrument and were unable to obtain any reasonable warranty support from Applecreek. However, as with most consumer goods, you get what you pay for, and the Applecreek acoustic-electric travel guitar is a perfectly acceptable guitar to have around as a back up instruments. It is also an ideal choice for new musician who is looking for a guitar with a decent sound but not dedicated enough to make a serious investment in an upscale instrument.

As far as the individual features of the guitar, the Applecreek acoustic-electric guitar comes out of the box ready to go with very nice action and fit. Although it won’t win any beauty contests, it is still a very nice looking instrument made entirely out of good wood with a pleasant, lightly glossed finish and a light spruce top to the body. If you have not played or seen a true travel guitar before, be aware that they are do have a rather oddly shaped body that looks like a cross between a ukulele and an acoustic guitar. However, the instruments still manages a very authentic guitar sound with tones that are perfect for playing down-home music such as blues or folk. The unique size and shape also make the Applecreek acoustic-electric travel guitar a great companion instrument to take on trips where a regular sized instrument would be far too awkward, such as backpacking, camping or hiking. The guitar comes with its own gig bag so that you are ready to hit the pavement as soon as you have her tuned up.

As far as flaws go, the Applecreek acoustic-guitar just doesn’t have the big sound that you need to play some music, especially rock. Also, the odd shape of travel guitars in general make them look a little silly when performing anything that requires much of a macho stage presence. The strings that come with the new guitar definitely are not the best on the market either, but this can be addressed by picking up an extra set of higher quality. Lastly, although the sound and fret board are similar enough to a regular guitar to make it a decent first instrument for a new player, I’d be a little concerned about the player becoming accustomed to the smaller shape of the body and having trouble adjusting to a normal body when he or she is ready to move up to a normal model.

Applecreek Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

Applecreek Acoustic Travel Guitar

The Applecreek Acoustic Travel Guitar has been a really nice lightweight solution to a very bulky and heavy guitar problem. I go camping and backpacking a lot and I have often wished that I had a way of bringing a guitar with me that I don’t fear for its safety.  My full-sized guitar is just too cumbersome to carry and I’m constantly worried that its going to get ruined.  The other brands of travel guitars that I had seen before were much too expensive for my budget. The Applecreek guitar was much more economical, but it has all the features of all of those other travel guitars.

I am really pleased with how durable my new guitar is, as there have been several times when my climbing skills have let me down and though I was afraid it would be broken when I dropped it, I opened up its case and it was fine.  Although, I have to say, I’m using a high quality hard shell case of my own.  Not the gig bag it came with.

I will admit that the Applecreek acoustic travel guitar is pretty quiet on its own, but I don’t need high volume for what I play. The guitar doesn’t feature a really deep sound, but more of a mellow tone. I’m not Sammy Hagar, I’m more James Taylor, so it suits my needs. I don’t think I will be playing any high profile arenas with my Applecreek, but it can’t be beat for friendly sing-alongs around the campfire!

I don’t really mind that the action of the guitar is a little higher than some others that I’ve played, or that the neck is fairly wide. My hands are used to playing a much larger instrument, so those things aren’t much of a consideration for me. The only thing that’s been just a little difficult for me to get used to is the smaller size of the guitar because I’m used to my full-sized model at home. The neck is almost regular size, but the body is quite small and slightly odd shaped. However, it has been so convenient on my trips that I can overlook its small stature.

I did eventually change the strings from what came standard on the guitar, though, to a lighter weight string to compensate just a little bit for the higher action. That changed its playability quite a lot.  I found mine on eBay and paid under 70 bucks total which is a steal, I’ve seen them listed for a lot more. I know there is an electric-acoustic version of this guitar as well.  I thought about buying that one but at the time the ones on eBay were like 30 dollars more but the price just seem to vary.

In the end I know the Applecreek Acoustic doesn’t compare to some of the more expensive models in any shape or form.  It doesn’t sound as good, it don’t look as good, and it sure as hell ain’t built like a martin but it fills the bill.  Its perfect for campfires, backpacking and situations where I just need a beater that won’t cause me to much grief if I get to drunk and leave it out in the rain.

Applecreek Acoustic Travel Guitar Features:

Johnson Trailblazer Travel Guitar Review

The Johnson Trailblazer Travel Guitar is a true musician’s friend. Packaged with Martin steel strings and a nylon carrying case, it arrives with everything you’ll need to create music on the go. Its durability, attractive finish, and great sound make it ideal for road performances and everyday practice. It’s now available for southpaws too.

How does the Trailblazer Travel Guitar sound? Featuring 22 frets and a 24 ¾” scale length, it packs a full register into a small body. It’s definitely preferable to short scale travel guitars, which invariably end up having flat intonation and other tuning troubles. The Trailblazer can more easily be interchanged with full-sized guitars when you’re on the road.

This guitar gets above-average reviews for volume. Its volume is stronger than one might expect from a travel guitar, though the small scale design of course has its limits. The Trailblazer’s acoustic strength is perfect for quiet practice or a campfire performance. To boost the sound, just install a pre-amp pickup and plug in. When amplified, the sound can barely be distinguished from that of a full size instrument.

As for fit and finish, the Johnson Trailblazer delivers a lot for a low price. The seamlessness of the neck and body binding far exceeds what one would expect on a travel guitar. The neck has a good feel, is easy to maneuver around, and maintains its tuning unusually well. A small criticism is that the Johnson Trailblazer’s action is a bit high. It’s still a fine instrument for professionals on the move, but it may not be the best guitar for beginners and kids.

The Johnson Trailblazer Travel Guitar gets high marks for durability. Its spruce top, mahogany balance, and high quality nickel-silver frets are forgiving of a traveler’s lifestyle. The guitar’s high gloss finish will glow for years with reasonably good care. Take note though, you’ll need to invest in another case if you’re planning to take this guitar through rough territory. It arrives with a nylon case that’s adequate for a jaunt across town but certainly not fit for more extensive travel.

In all, the Johnson Trailblazer is well worth a small investment.

Johnson Trailblazer Travel Guitar Features:

Montana Backpacker Travel Guitar

I have to say that when I got this Montana Backpacker Travel guitar as a gift last Christmas, I never thought I would actually play it. It was cute, like maybe a kid would play it. But I was attached to my full size Yamaha. How could such a tiny, funny-looking instrument put out great sound like a “real” guitar? I thanked my Mom, who thought I would take it on the backpack trips I went on frequently, but I knew I’d still prefer my “grown-up” guitar.

Then in April, when a friend suggested we go on a weekender in his Ford Escort, there really wasn’t room for my big guitar, so on a whim, I threw in the Montana Backpacker. When we finally settled into the campsite, I pulled it out as a joke. As I began to play, I was pretty surprised. The neck was kind of heavy so it kept wanting to hang down, but the sound was really pretty good. It had a nearly full-size fret board which was really nice. I didn’t really care for the cheap strings or the toy like plastic tuning knobs but when I got home, I decided the portability and convenience of its smaller size made it worth the upgrade to some high quality strings and metal tuners. What a difference that made!

The wood Montana used is acceptable. Nothing very high quality but adequate. It’s a relatively cheap guitar, not as expensive as the Washburn or the Martin Backpacker (another funny-looking shape) but probably not as good, either. It weighs a bit more, around 4 pounds, but that is much lighter than my Yamaha. It came with a carrying case that was adequate, but could have had a few more features. I like to have a pocket for picks and extra strings, but this one didn’t have that. Not a big deal though.

This odd-shaped travel guitar has been to several mountains, a Bahamas cruise, and a family reunion. Everywhere I go, people comment on how cute it is (remember I was the first to call it cute!), then they mention how good it sounds. I even made up a song for my Mom on it.

Montana Backpacker Travel Guitar Features:

The Amigo AMT-10 Backpacker Travel Guitar

The Amigo AMT-10 Backpacker Travel Guitar is a good buy for the money. Backpacking guitars are really hard to find. The issue is the sound quality that comes out of the guitar. The size is generally reduced. This affects the sound intonation of the guitar. The sound quality is affected as well. The result in most backpacking guitars is poor sound quality. The nicest thing about the Amigo guitar is the sound quality. It is not as full as a full-size guitar obviously; but it is higher than most backpacking guitars. The mahogany wood that the Amigo AMT-10 Backpacker travel guitar is made of is what makes all of the difference in sound quality. The wood that any guitar is made of will affect the sound quality of the instrument. This is true of smaller backpacking guitars. Then the size of the backpacking guitar adds to the complexity of the construction of the instrument. All of these things affect the way the guitar sounds. If you are a real musician it will bother you. This guitar however, is one of the best in it’s class. You are going to like it. In fact, you are really going to enjoy playing it. The sound is full and rich for the size. The price is low as well for those that want to save money.

Another really nice thing about the guitar is the fact that the frets are a bit smaller. If you have trouble playing a full size guitar at all; then this guitar is going to be a pleasure to play. The Amigo AMT-10 backpacker travel guitar also has a durable Rosewood bridge. The top of the instrument is made of Spruce wood. The result is very nice. The size of the guitar is 36 inches; and it has a 24 inch scale body in length. It weighs less than 2-1/2 lb. in size. That’s just about right for hiking or backpacking across the country, with your music in tow. The light weight is just what you need for music on the road. Most of these guitars come with a gig bag as well. The cost is reasonable at most places. This is a low-end backpacking guitar. There are better backpacking guitars; but for the price, and sound quality, it is a good buy for any music on the road. The Amigo AMT-10 Backpacker Travel Guitar is a good buy for the money; and it sounds decent as well.

Amigo AMT-10 Backpacker Features:

Martin Backpacker Nylon String Travel Guitar

To truly appreciate the Martin Backpacker Nylon String Travel Guitar you’ve got to keep in mind what it’s for. Martin designed the instrument to be a rugged, portable, low-cost alternative to taking your classical guitar on the road with you. And by this standard, the instrument succeeds beautifully.

In a package measuring just under a yard and weighing less than 2 1/2 pounds, the nylon-string Backpacker manages to deliver a full 24-inch scale and 15 frets, for almost all the playability of a standard acoustic guitar. The guitar features a braced, solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The neck, too, is a dense piece of solid mahogany, sure to take a beating. It has the traditional wide fingerboard and open peg head you’d expect in a classical guitar. It comes with a strap and a durable carrying bag.

For such small instrument, the Martin Backpacker Nylon String Travel Guitar has a surprisingly warm, sweet, lute-like tone. Any fears that this undersized, nylon-stringed guitar is going to sound like a ukulele quickly disappear at the first strum. While certainly not a concert instrument, the nylon-stringed Backpacker has a clarity and richness that will provide years of delightful practice time, whether in hotel room or campground.

Despite these benefits, there are those who complain that the Martin Backpacker Nylon String Travel Guitar is too unwieldy and too quiet. It is certainly true that the guitar’s balance, with its weighty, rock-solid neck and its undersized body, feels nothing like a traditional classical guitar, and definitely takes some getting used to. And the broad fingerboard will put off many steel-string players who may try out the nylon-string Backpacker as a warmer, richer alternative to the tinny-sounding steel-string Backpacker.

And yes, the instrument is quiet – quieter than a classical guitar, and much quieter than a steel-string acoustic. Players who look at the Backpacker as a way of getting a “real Martin” on the cheap are going to be disappointed with the sound. But sound and balance compromises are unavoidable when you’re designing an instrument that can be slung into an overhead bin. For those classical guitar players who want Martin quality that will stand up to the rigors of travel, the Martin Backpacker Nylon String Travel Guitar undeniably fills the bill.

Martin Nylon String Backpacker Acoustic Guitar Features:

• Solid top
• Mahogany neck, back, and sides
• Enclosed chrome tuners
• Lightweight, small size
• gig bag

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