Travel guitar (Page 1 of 2)

That is a nice looking guitar.  I've always wondered how they sound.  Never heard one.

You can get them on amazon (.co.uk) for £39 - I assume they are the Lindo guitars that are advertised on the chordie site.
They are a copy of the Martin Backpacker Guitar which retails at around £200.
The Martin has quite good reviews. I'm not sure about the build quality or sound of the Lindos. They come in black too.
I would suggest Googling around for Lindo Backpacker and reading some of the reviews.
Any guitar with such a small body is going to have a much less "full" sound compared with a standard shape. It is bound to sound thin in comparison. Having said that, the sound produced can be quite attractive if you are looking for a "light" tone.
I was looking for a travel guitar last summer and was interested in the Lindo but decided against it as I was not convinced of the quality.
Instead I went for a Troubadour. You can see one here
http://www.troubadour.uk.com/?page_id=6

Never been sure what travel guitars are for. If you're after less baggage I'd look for a parlour guitar with a proper fitted case. If you're after a quiet practise tool then check Yamaha's silent guitars but since I like to sing and play I can't help but be heard. If you like the cool look then go the whole hog and get a flying V ;-)

Al,

I got a baby Orzak travelling guitar, cost £120 a few years ago. I got it mainly for when I go hillwalking. It is easier to bungee cord it onto my rucksakc than a ful size guitar.
It works great for me and also the sound is very good.
Yep Travel guitars are very good for that.
BUT.
If you are getting it mainly for camping then think a few things through.

If you walk like I do to get to your camping/bothy site then yes get one but if you drive to where you camp then I would say use your full sized guitar as it will always gove a fuller sound. Especially when playing outside, the travel guitars lose a bit of sound as the body is smaller.

Me and 3 mates went walking over the hills on Jura a few years ago. I had the travel guitar and one of my mates had his full sized guitar. He struggled more than me walking in because of his guitar.
When in the bothy and we were going to have a jam, he laughed at the sound my guitar made as he played his.
A few months ago we went to another bothy. This time he had bought a £40 baby yamaha guitar. It looks good but he was a bit miffed when he compared the two guitar sounds. My guitar won, he admitted he was wrong to say it was rubbish when we were on Jura. He now thinks it is superb. He does not like his travel guitar at all.

So my advice is if you are really wanting/needing a travel guitar then spend the time going to a shop to play them. Also maybe spend a bit more on them if it is neccessary. Or go to a shop to see what good ones there are about then bid for one online.

The best travel guitar I have heard without doubt is the Baby Martin guitar. But I could not afford the £300 at the time.

Ken

If it's good enough for Shawn Lane, it's good enough for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENBw9F5kwhA

And Jonas Hellborg...

Jerome I watched a few of his videos and its good enough for me too he is good and gooder

Here here!

Well, I got it! It's pretty cool. It is a Lindo and it sounds OK. Here's a wee video of me showing it off...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOBvtOPfu4E

It holds it's tune quite well. So far anyway, although I think a tuner will be an essential travel accessory.

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. Cheers.

Al,
That look not bad.
Is it quite thick? near the end you nearly turned it on its side and to me it looked quick thickish.

I was going to say with these guitar yer better wearing a strap but I know you know that coz I heard ye say it just when i was thinking it

I am off for a 7 or 8 miles walk tomorrow with my ozark from Corrour station ( previously seen in trainspotting) to Stoeineig bothy.
So this is the last from me til Sunday or Monday

Enjoy yer new baby

Ken

Hey Meggiedude and welcome to Chordie!

Less than £20 for a travel guitar? Bargain! If you get fed up with it, don't burn it, I'll buy it from you for £15 including postage ! Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Hey Jerome! In that Shawn Lane vid, was he smoking a Bidi (Indian cigarette - tobacco wrapped in a bayleaf) or did he need the sunglasses?

My mate Big Bob from Briszle (don't argue!!!) bought himself a Martin Backpacker and let me play it (trust me, I was VERY careful!) I think the volume is much greater on yours Al, but the thing the Martin has is a VERY playable neck.

Hey Ken! I have a friend who works in the travel biz and he said there are many complaints about people going for a quiet walk in the highlands and being annoyed to find the hulls aleeve wi tha soond o' mewzuc; you wouldn't know anything about this, would you?

Brilliant thread! I now know lots more names and styles of travel guitar that I never knew existed! (I thought they were ALL like the Martin Backpacker!)

Good on yer all!

Thanks for that. I did not expect to win it TBH, it was a late night punt after a few glasses of vino.
Of course it will not stop the missues b*ll*cking me when it lands on the doorstep tomorrow :-) but I'm used to that.

OK, I'll stick to the chords then - no fancy fingered stuff.

I could have done with it last week on hols up your neck of the woods - but there's always next time.

I'll let you know what I think of it shortly.

Cheers.

I checked out your you tube post Al.  I think for the money and purpose, it's perfect!  I'm sure it's much easier to play with a strap now too.  Have fun!