Many guitar makers offer a Travel Guitar, or small guitar that is compact and user friendly for those wanting to hike, backpack, or simply travel with a guitar. Many are more suitable that others, and have better travel features than others as well.
While this site is dedicated to the discovery of the Martin Backpacker Guitar… we have complied some great reviews and features listed for some of the most popular smaller guitars that we as guitar players think will offer you the best in a travel guitar.
1. Adaptability – This is determined by the overall durability and performance of the guitar with the necessity of packing it around in a travel or hiking scenario. This requires that it stay in tune longer under climate changes, humidity, and exposure to rough conditions that could damage some guitars, and warp the neck and sound body. You will of course need to include a carrying-case of some sort, and while many of these guitars are designed for traveling… some come with a better soft-case or bag that is designed to protect the guitar in these conditions.
2. Size Matters! – While some of you may decide to just take your main jamming acoustic guitar with you on your camping or hiking trip… you will want to be careful to not permanently damage your guitar if it becomes exposed to harsh conditions. Most are much bigger and take up too much room. Another factor is that most normal guitars need to be stored in a constant temperature to remain reliable and play the same every time you pick it up. That is why the Martin Backpacker Guitar is so much different than many of it’s counterparts. It is small but yet the neck and sound body are designed to withstand the elements and still be reliable, each time you take it on a long road trip, beach party, or camping weekend.
3. Big Sound! – When you take a guitar into the great outdoors… you still want to be able to have fun with your friends and family, without sacrificing the bigger sound of a normal acoustic guitar. That is what a Travel Guitar like the Martin Backpacker Guitar will give you. It is a small guitar with a Big Martin Sound! No it’s not a martin you can impress a crowd in Carnegie Hall with, but it will do just fine in any outdoor setting!
4. Great Price! – Martin is a big name with a big reputation in acoustical guitars. Some of the most well known performers have used a Martin Guitar to give us some of the most well known tunes of our time! So while there are some good travel guitars available and some that are affordable for all of us… the Martin Backpacker Guitar is still the Best Travel Guitar for quality and price both!