While size is an important factor when choosing a travel guitar, durability is equally important. This is the reason that many musicians prefer the composite acoustics cargo travel guitar.  Winner of Acoustic Guitar's bronze player's choice award in 2008's "Guitar of the Year" category, this guitar is well, lets just say it...  Nothing short of astounding.

The Composite Acoustics Cargo is built mainly of carbon fiber (also known as “composite”). This is done with the same skill the company uses to develop their full-size, impressive-sounding instruments.

Why the composite acoustic guitar is special

The Cargo is resonant, light-weight, very sturdy, and ideal for travel, whether it is stored in a cargo hold, a car trunk, or a crowded airplane. It can also handle extreme temperatures and harsh treatment that have ruined more fragile instruments.

This company is well-known for the unique design and outstanding tone of its instruments, portraying carbon fiber in a new light. It also developed a super-deep cutaway extending along the back of the guitar that provides easy access along the neck, and integrated bracing. At the same time, while the guitar’s design is practically flawless and a bit futuristic, the rough interior surfaces are clearly visible through the sound-hole, and this is common in the process of manufacturing carbon fiber.

Composite acoustics cargo travel guitars are very appealing because of their “playability,” and there is very little change in the setup once they leave the factory. Its intonation is outstanding, and this is especially impressive on a short-scale guitar. The composite fingerboard creates a spacious feeling on the fret-board that enhances certain techniques, and this instrument’s response and tone are particularly well-suited to finger-style playing. The Cargo can also deliver extremely colorful sounds and a vast spectrum of overtones because of its versatility, but it should also be noted that vigorous strumming can interfere with its over-tone rich capability.

This guitar’s bass-rich quality can be difficult to control when it is amplified, and you may experience some feedback at high volume. At the same time, electronics aren’t the main issue when it comes to travel guitars, and their addition makes the Cargo more versatile than the rest.

Some of the outstanding features of the composite acoustics cargo travel guitar include the following:
● The fact that it easy to play and extremely responsive makes it a good investment.

● It is a truly travel-ready instrument that has remarkable tone, dynamics, and color.

THE SPECS (credit goes to Acoustic Guitar issue #198)

• Carbon-fiber top, back, sides, and neck. Composite fretboard, bridge, nut, and saddle.  Integrated carbon-fiber bracing. 22.75-inch scale. 1 / -inch nut width. 2 / -inch string spacing at the saddle. High-gloss finish. Gotoh tuners. Active L.R. Baggs Element undersaddle transducer with volume control. Elixir Nanoweb strings. Made in USA.

• THIS IS COOL Superb, travel-ready guitar with excellent color, tone, and dynamics.

• WATCH FOR Bass frequencies tend toward feedback when amplified.

• PRICE $1,798 list/$1,478 street.

• MAKER Composite Acoustics: (337) 233-4119; compositeacoustics.com.