Martin LXM Review

One of the best travel sized guitars on the market, the Martin LXM has the classic looks of a standard Martin guitar and the sound quality to match.  Small and lightweight, this little Martin is a versatile and handy instrument that lends itself to impromptu jams.  Weighing in with a 23 in. scale length the Martin LXM Little Martin is a best sound per pound contender.

A spruce top gives the guitar a bright tone while the mahogany back and sides add a warmer depth to the guitars voice.  Because of its size, the LXM is easy to play and even provides a new approach to guitar playing, enabling you to stretch between notes normally out of reach.  Although small, its unique construction creates a big voice and as a result, the LXM can hold its own against the bigger, standard sized instruments.

Martin have a reputation as one of the finest makers of acoustic guitars in the world and the LXM serves to support that reputation.  Although it is amongst the budget models in the Martin range, the build quality is still exceptionally high with thoughtful additions such as chrome tuning pegs and a textured finish to the spruce top.  The fingerboard is plainly finished and has no dot markers on the frets.  This minimalist design gives the guitar a look all of its own and reinforces the impression that players of this little instrument are looking for a no thrills guitar that delivers.

Another feature that may endear the LXM to players is the inclusion of a strap on the neck and another on the bottom of the body.  This little addition enables the guitar to be a true travel guitar and no doubt conjures up images for many people of being strapped to someone's back as they hitchhike across the globe.

There are many features about the guitar that make it so appealing.  First of all, the inclusion of a gig bag is a nice addition and saves the owner trying to find an appropriately sized gig bag themselves.  The addition of touches such as the strap buttons, chrome tuning pegs and high quality woods for the body make the LMX stand out amongst other models in its class.

Whether you are a serious musician looking for another guitar for your collection or merely someone who wants a small bodied guitar for recreation, the Martin LXM is a guitar worth considering.  Affordable for most budgets yet still part of the prestigious Martin family, this little Martin is fun to play and has a great sound.

Martin LXM Little Martin Acoustic Guitar Features:

• Modified 0-14 Martin body
• Wood-pattern HPL top
• "1-style" Sitka spruce bracing
• Micarta fretboard and bridge
• 23" scale
• Stratabond modified low-oval neck
• Martin's patented neck mortise
• Gotoh nickel-plated tuners
• C.F. Martin script logo on headstock
• heavily padded travel bag

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

Martin Backpacker Steel String Travel Guitar

If you are a musician who enjoys such trips as camping or backpacking and traveling in general, you know how hard it can be to keep your fingers in practice with an instrument like a guitar. Only a few people I've ever known have been crazy enough to take their full size guitar with them on a prolonged trip. Not only is it terribly heavy and difficult to board or carry, but the ever-changing humidity and temperatures can reek havoc on a nice instrument. And if you are thinking about boarding your expensive guitar on a plane, think again. There are way too many people that have horror stories about guitars being broken or badly damaged en route.

There is a better way to travel and stay in practice at the same time. With the Martin Backpacker Steel String Travel Guitar you can keep your fingers in practice and your full size guitar safe for your trip. However if you've never tried one of these travel guitars, you might be thinking that their sound quality or action is poor. I can assure you that the sound quality of the Martin Backpacker Steel String Travel Guitar is amazing and the action almost identical to that of a full size guitar. Plus these travel guitars are sturdy but beautiful, containing the traditional Martin workmanship that one has come to expect from the Martin brand.

These compact guitars have become one of my favorite parts about sitting around a campfire in the summer. It has truly become a wonderful companion to the many trips I take, both backpacking and camping. I would strongly recommend this Martin Backpacker Steel String Travel Guitar to anyone who is a serious musician. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys playing music on camping trips or when traveling. Whether or not you are a serious musician, you can have some serious fun with this compact, durable Martin guitar.

Don't take a chance by bringing your full size guitar with you on a trip. There's just too much that can possibly go wrong. Instead invest in one of Martin's backpacker guitars to take with you instead. You will love the size and weight of this wonderful traveling guitar. Plus you will keep you fingers limber so you won't miss a note when your vacation ends! Browse the wide selection of Martin Backpacker Steel String Guitars before your next big trip.

Martin Steel String Backpacker Acoustic Guitar Features:

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