The Squier Mini Strat electric guitar is a surprisingly well-made and comfortable piece of equipment. While it is on the low-end of the price scale and certainly far from the best travel electric guitar out there, its quality genuinely out-performs what you'd expect from the price.

The sound quality of this particular mini electric guitar tends to be very good for what it is, although it may help to have some slight adjustments made to lower the action slightly. While this is possible, it is also something of a hassle and can take considerable time to get just right.Another flaw of the Fender Mini Strat is in the tuning pegs. They seem to be of somewhat lower quality than the rest of the guitar (which is fairly well made for the most part) and do not hold tuning like an experienced guitarist would expect.

The other complaint a guitarist would be likely to have about this guitar is simply the fret size. While many travel electric guitars boast a full size fret board with a compact head and body, the Squier Mini electric guitar actually has a smaller scale and more compact fret board.

The smaller scale also contributes to the issue with keeping this guitar in tune as the shorter length of strings also requires less tension to achieve the same sound, meaning more bending and more frequent tuning. Changing to higher quality tuning pegs will help but you cannot expect the issue to be entirely resolved by this.

The other effect of this more compact frets is that, if you are used to playing a full size guitar or even other travel electric guitars with full size frets, you will likely feel somewhat cramped. This can be a hassle and many experienced players will not appreciate the compact space but, for players with smaller hands and children (for whom, with its economic price, this guitar is perfect) the smaller area can be a blessing.

Likewise, however, experienced guitarists can also appreciate the Fender Squier Mini. Despite its small stature, this mini electric guitar is comfortable to hold and play. Like its larger counterpart, it fits comfortably in your lap or across your body when using a strap. Although the materials are far from perfect, it's generally sturdy and well made. While not the first choice for a serious musician, the Squier Mini Strat is a perfect travel guitar for a person on a budget or a young person just starting to play and lives up well to the Stratocaster name in sound and playability, if on a comparably smaller scale.

Features

• Small-scale neck
• (22-3/4")
• Three single-coil electronic pickups
• Master volume and tone controls
• Maple C-shaped neck
• Rosewood fretboard
• 20 medium frets
• Hard-tail 6-saddle bridge

Stow Away Travel Guitar Review by Janis Kreilis

Custom Red Back Apart

Not long before graduating from college, I got a job offer that I had long dreamed of: a truly jet-set lifestyle which would involve flying to far-away countries that I would never otherwise visit and not staying in one place longer than a couple of months. Still, a problem remained. Reminding myself of all the trouble I had gone through just to bring my full-sized guitar across the Atlantic once a year, I kept thinking, does this mean that I would have to give up playing the guitar?

This is where the Stow-Away from Stewart Guitars comes in. The key thing about this guitar is Woody Stewart’s patented clip-joint system which allows you to easily remove the neck of the guitar without taking the strings off. Once detached from the body, the neck can then be stored into a special slot inside the guitar’s body. The whole procedure is remarkably easy and takes about five minutes to learn, as Woody provides great directions for assembly and disassembly. After that, putting the guitar back together is a matter of seconds. Disassembled, the guitar—even when put in the well-padded bag that comes with every Stow-Away—is small enough to fit in your average carry-on. I have never had an easier time bringing a guitar back to Europe (mind you, though, that the airport security might be curious—I had to open my bag in Germany).

What separates the Stow-Away from other travel guitars is that it is not really travel-sized when assembled. The guitar features a standard-scale (25½") neck with rosewood fingerboard and 22 medium frets, and the alder body is only slightly smaller than that of a standard Strat. Having no headstock means that the tuners can be found at the bottom of the body—while it felt slightly unusual at first, I got used to tuning the guitar with my right hand in no time. The Stow-Away comes equipped with three single-coil alnico pole magnet pick-ups, a five-way pick-up selector, a volume knob, and two tone knobs.

Now for the subjective part. It has been two months since I got this guitar, and I love it (to the point that I haven’t picked up my good-old LTD). I have tried it with my 5W all-tube amp as well as the little travel-sized VOX that I bought for my future hotel-room practice sessions, and the guitar sounds amazing. With the treble up, the pick-ups give you a crisp and punchy sound both in clean and overdrive, but playing with the tone controls will bring out the mellower part of the guitar’s character. Each pick-up has a very distinctive sound, so this amazing instrument has a lot to offer. The sustain is amazing—especially given the slot in the body and the unusual build.

The Stow-Away feels and looks great as well. You can clearly see that Woody Stewart pays great attention to every little detail and his guitars are of the highest quality. The sleek neck feels great when playing, and the frets have given me no problem for now. My Stow-Away is black with a pearloid pickguard (other variations are available), and the dark chrome finish on the output jack and strap buttons only adds to the elegant look. For me, Stow-Away is way more than a “substitute” travel guitar: it feels and sounds like a great “regular” guitar, and I wouldn’t even think twice about bringing it on stage.

Last word about Woody Stewart, the inventor and maker of this ingenious design: you will hardly find better customer service anywhere. I had to get mine on a short notice because I was leaving for Europe, and, despite some delays on the manufacturing side, Woody managed to get one of his Stow-Aways to me on time. He also mentioned that I could always send it back if I didn’t like it. Thanks, but mine is not going anywhere.
Body

• Alder
• Body Size 18 x 12 x 3.5”

Neck

• Neck Wood Maple
• Fretboard Wood Rosewood
• Scale Length 25.5”
• Neck Length 19”
• Number of Frets 22 Medium
• Fretboard Radius 14”

Hardware

• Neck Attachment Clip-Joint™ Neck Connector System
• Bridge Slotted Hard Tail
• Tuners Linear Tuning System
• Pickups Three Single Coils - Alnico Pole Magnets
• Controls Five Position Switch, Volume, Tone, Tone

Thanks to Abraham Wecther’s commitment to providing quality at an affordable price, the Wechter model 1720 Elite stands alone among travel guitars. With a solid mahogany top, sides, and back, it produces a warm, full tone comparable to its traditional sized counterparts.

This model also features a nato neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Plek Pro Setup, a technique which gives each guitar a personalized setup that is accurate as well as perfectly buzz-free. Wechter uses the Plek Pro Setup on all of his guitars.

The Plek Pro machine is computer controlled and has the ability to level frets to .001 mm accuracy. This adds to the guitar’s playability and eliminates problems caused by high string action. Though this feature is not usually offered on an inexpensive travel guitar, Wechter, once again, has proven his commitment to quality.

It is this Plek Pro Setup, which gives the Wechter 1720 Elite a low action. Stated simply, action on an acoustic guitar refers to how high the strings are from the fret. The higher the strings, the more difficult the instrument will be to play.

High action on an acoustic guitar will compromise the playability of the guitar, and can actually be painful for the picker. High action also makes it difficult to keep the guitar in tune.

Because the Wechter Elite is a travel guitar, durability is important. The mahogany wood it is fashioned from is a type of hard wood, used in furniture and boats. This wood’s strength makes it the perfect choice for a travel guitar.

The satin finish, while detracting a tiny bit from the tone, is also an important component when building for durability. It is a given that a travel guitar is going to get knocked about at some point, and the satin finish makes it even more durable.

Though the Elite is among the smallest of Wechter’s guitars, 23.3” scale as opposed to the normal scale of 25.5”, there is not enough difference to make it awkward to switch between the normal sized acoustic and the 1720 elite. That makes it a perfect guitar for professionals to use when practicing or traveling, as well as an excellent first guitar for beginning players.

Overall this is an amazing travel guitar from one of the supreme guitar makers, Abraham Wechter. He brings the same innovation and insight of his high end models to this compact 1720 Elite travel guitar.

Excitement abound - the GS Mini was in at the local store and damn it, I had to buy it.  I'm in no way financially ready for this investment especially with Christmas coming but I couldn't resist.  The powers were to great and my only comfort is holding the beautiful guitar and thinking, "It delivers".

Guitar players looking for a big sound in a deceivingly small package should look no further than the Taylor GS Mini Acoustic - seriously!  Completely different from Taylor's “Baby” guitars, this Mini is a treasure that will not disappoint even the pickiest player.

Small enough to fit into the overhead compartment on a plane, this six string guitar's impressive tone can be taken virtually anywhere to be played at any given time.  Extremely lightweight, this guitar fits comfortably in the my lap, and gives off a rich, full sound when finger picked.

The way the body is designed allows the player's arm to be bent at a less severe angle while playing, which is an extreme advantage to this model. The NT neck makes it easy to play – even for children and people with small hands, and the fret board's ebony inlay makes for a fantastic visual, as well as making it easier to place fingers correctly.

Very few bad things can be said about this guitar, and the biggest complaint is that it does not sound as “bassy” as its larger counterparts; but it isn't supposed to. For its size, price, and design, this GS Mini is everything that it needs to be, and more.

While not designed to reach the far corners of arenas, the tone and volume produced by this instrument's full-sized sound hole are perfect in medium to large rooms.  A deeper body allows the Mini to be tuned to standard, taking away the “high strung” feel and sound from a smaller guitar.

This guitar comes with a hard case bag, which helps to protect the gorgeous back and sides of this guitar – which are made of laminated sapele, and gleam like gold in bright light.

Though most definitely not the same as a full sized guitar, this Taylor Mini offers many advantages to players. From the way that it fits on a player's lap, to the simple, refined look of this model, Taylor has broken the boundary between large and small acoustic guitars wide open.

The first chord played on this model will highlight this guitar's ability to stay in tune, carry across a room, and hold its own with the larger models. The fact that this is not a full sized guitar should not be a focal point; in fact this can sometimes be forgotten when concentrating on the way that this Taylor GS Mini looks, handles, and plays.

Bottom Line is I love it and definitely recommend this purchase to anyone with the extra cash.  I know Christmas is coming but it's a great investment.

Want to jam when you get there?  Practice in the hotel?  Jump on stage and play?  Take a Rambler™ Travel Electric Guitar - a full scale professional instrument that breaks down to fit in a briefcase or computer bag. This is a great sounding, great playing instrument perfected for the traveling musician.  The Rambler™ offers unsurpassed quality, playability and resonance.

The Rambler™ travel guitar features locking tuners located on the bottom of the guitar.  The strings are loaded from the top of the neck through the patented StringKeeper™.  Dual humbucking pickups switchable from neck to bridge or both provide a fat full sound and excellent tone. Separate tone and volume controls provide a wide range of equalization.  Intonation and string action is set with a fully adjustable Tuneomatic bridge.  The adjustable nut, a unique feature of the Rambler™, allows string action to also be adjusted at the top of the neck.

Weighing less than five pounds and with an overall length of about 30”, the Rambler™ is a very portable guitar even when assembled.  Scale length is 24-1/2” (Gibson scale) with 20-21 frets. Many travelers prefer to take the guitar apart and place the separated neck and body in their carry on luggage.  To take the guitar apart, loosen a single thumbwheel on the top of the neck and remove the StringKeeper™.  Wrap the strings around the body through the StringCatcher™, tucking the StringKeeper™ between the middle tuners.  Then take off the neck by loosening four thumbwheels.  Simply reverse the process to assemble the guitar.

While playing and sounding like a full size electric guitar, the Rambler™ has a sonic advantage due to the absence of a headstock.  The string energy normally wasted as the strings pass over the nut is channeled back into the neck, providing excellent resonance and sustain.  Neck relief is adjustable with the dual action truss rod, allowing more or less relief as desired.  The Rambler™ Classic has a solid Canadian Maple body, in either Tobacco or Cherry Sunburst.  The Classic comes with a specially designed and embroidered Strobel Guitars gig bag.

Strobel Guitars also offers a Rambler™ Custom Travel Guitar, with choice of tone woods, neck shape, fretboard, inlay and custom colors. Options include coil tapping, on board pre-amp, Piezo bridge, etc.  Strobel Guitars recently introduced the Rambler™ Custom Travel Electric Bass guitar, offering a 34” scale neck with the nut located at the third fret.  Overall length of the Rambler™ Bass is less than 35”.  Both the Rambler™ Custom Guitar and Bass are outfitted with high end Schaller electronics and components.

-Strobel Guitars This is a sweet looking guitar.  Check out their New Website for more information on the Rambler Classic, Custom and Bass models.

Rambler™ Travel Electric Guitar Features

• standard dual humbucking pickups
• separate tone and volume controls
• tuneOmatic bridge
• locking tuners
• custom thumbwheels
• available  in choice of Tobacco or Cherry Sunburst.

The Ovation CC012 Celebrity Trekker is a conveniently priced, round back guitar.  I recently bought one about 3 months ago and have played it consistently ever since.  From the moment you pick the guitar up, you'll notice that it has a very nice feel to it as it's not too big, but it's also not too small.  I'm a pretty small girl so it works for me.  It's length makes it very convenient to take with you on ventures such as camping trips, hence the name of the guitar.

The Trekker has a beautiful finish on it and boast a solid spruce top, walnut bridge and a mahogany neck/rosewood fretboard.  Construction looks pretty good and its definitely a durable little guitar.  Really I think the pictures on most retailers web pages simply don't do it justice.

One downfall of the guitar is if I play while standing I notice a tendency for the guitar to shift against my body.  The front of the guitar starts to point toward the ceiling and you have to fight it a little bit.  I don't know if repositioning the strap button might help or what can really be done.  I think the problem is actually a design flaw in the way the guitar is shaped or something.  I still find it comfortable to play and I don't think its such a issue that it really hinders my ability to play.  It's just something I noticed.

The only other problem I noticed with the guitar was the fact that the stock strings that come with it aren't the greatest in the world.  I'd highly recommend changing them out to Martin Acoustic Strings or D'Addario Acoustic Strings.  I personally found that the strings that come on the guitar sound a bit raspy as if you were plucking metal, but it's nothing that a good pair of 10 dollar strings won't fix.  Don't let these issues deter you away from this guitar as there are so many positive things about it.

Once you get a good set of strings on the guitar and have it in tune, you'll find that it comes very close to matching the acoustic sound of other full sized guitars.  In regards to other travel size guitars it definitely beats the martin backpacker hands down.  I'm comfortable saying that other travel guitars in this price range don't compare.  Sure, there is always better and the sound it produces isn't the brightest I've ever heard, but you'd have trouble finding something that sounds any better for any cheaper.

The Ovation CC012 also has a very good neck that will allow you to play anything from slow, mellow music to fast, alternative style rock.  To top it off, the reliability of the CC012 is outstanding.  It stays in tune very well, and intonation up the neck is pretty good.  You'll also find that the body of the guitar feels extremely sturdy.

In short, the CC012 Celebrity Trekker is a steal, priced at under 200 dollars. I'd highly recommend it to any beginner or novice guitar player who is looking for something to take on the road with them or play around the house. Pick one up today, and I promise you that on a budget, you won't regret it!

-Kate

Features

• 6-String Acoustic Trekker
• Body Type: Mini, Center Soundhole
• Top: Spruce
• Bracing: Modified A Brace
• Scale Length: 22-1/2"
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Bridge: Walnut
• Rosette: Ovation Oakleaf
• Nutwidth: 1-11/16"
• Machines: Chrome

The Voyage Air VAOM-06 Travel Guitar is the ideal solution for musicians who want a travel-friendly guitar without sacrificing craftsmanship, durability or sound quality.

Unlike competing instruments, it uses patented design technology, featuring a hinged neck. This feature allows you to easily fold it in half to carry in a backpacker style carrying case, which is included with your instrument purchase. In fact, it boasts such a compact design that it easily meets the carry-on luggage requirements for all commercial airlines.

To be honest this hinged innovative design was the main selling point to me.  I can't believe nobody thought of this before but maybe they thought like I did.  I thought it probably won't stay in tune but I was wrong.  I'm amazed every time I pull it out of the case and open it up because its perfectly tuned.

I'm even more amazed when I start playing because it definitely exceeds my expectations for a guitar priced under $1000 dollars.  It actually sounds better than some other more expensive guitars I've played including a Taylor I own.  You will hear the following comment a lot, "wow, I can't believe how nice it sounds."  It also looks nice.

Featuring a beautiful East Indian rosewood fretboard, chrome plated tuning heads, and a distinctive pickguard, this guitar is perfect for those who don't want to forgo a stunningly designed instrument to obtain portability.

Featuring a bright, clear tone within all regions of the fretboard, it can tackle all genres of music no matter what strikes your fancy.

Constructed of durable African mahogany and a solid spruce top, you can count on the Voyage Air VAOM-06 Travel Guitar to perform expertly for years to come, no matter where your travels take you. This model is perfect for impromptu jam sessions around a campfire, family gatherings, and for those times when inspiration strikes at random moments. With this guitar, you never have to stifle creativity in favor of convenience because it is so easy to tote around that you never have to go without it!

Musicians who have particularly strict requirements regarding instrument playability can rest assured that each model is carefully inspected and expertly set up in the United States. This allows eager musicians to start playing immediately without having to worry about making adjustments to action or fret height.

This guitar is also perfect for touring musicians who must deal with cramped conditions such as tour buses or road vans on a daily basis. As seasoned performers know, instruments that are compact and easy to carry are indispensable.  Still, I wouldn't be surprised if you find yourself at home playing this guitar because you refer to it as your best guitar.

The Voyage Air VAOM-06 Travel Guitar is the ultimate in portability, playability and convenience for musicians with even the highest expectations. If you want an instrument that can exceed your demands while matching your active, globetrotting lifestyle, this is your perfect guitar!

Voyage Air VAOM-06 Features:

• Songwriter™ Series
• Select Solid Spruce Top
• Hand Inlaid 3-ring Soundhole Rosette
• 6-ply top binding
• African Mahogany Back and Sides
• African Mahogany Neck
• Select East Indian Rosewood Fingerboard
• Dot Inlay in Prewar-style staggered sizes
• Compensated Saddle
• Distinctive Voyage-Air pickguard in black
• Proprietary Voyage-Air Captured Nut
• Patented Folding Neck-Hinge System
• 25.5” Scale Length
• Traditional 1 3/4” Nut width
• Chrome Plated Die-Cast tuners .
• High-Gloss finish.
• D’Addario Phosphor Bronze strings.
• Includes Deluxe “Voyager” Carrying Case
• Thoroughly inspected & set-up in the USA

Check out Voyage Air for Additional Information and Guitar Models.  Check out The Perfect Travel Guitar:Voyage-Air Travel Guitar OM6 Songwriter for an additional offsite review by Wesley Lem.

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

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.

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