Travel guitar recommendations?

[dogberry]

I'm going on a family trip this summer with the family, including two adolescent daughters :roll: :roll: and I'm going to need a guitar to play to stave off insanity, so I'm thinking about a travel guitar. Anyone have any recommendations? My parameters:

1. It needs to fit into an overhead storage bin on the plane. Checking a guitar of any kind seems like asking for kindling on arrival.

2. Playability and tone. Not much use in bringing it along if it's impossible to play or sounds dead. I'm not expecting it to sound like a grown up guitar, but a half way decent sound would be nice.

Anyone have any experience with Martin Backpackers? Washburn Rovers? Other options? A friend suggested a Baby Taylor, but I don't think it would fit in an overhead. Thanks.

 

[killdeer43]

I'm going on a family trip this summer with the family, including two adolescent daughters :roll: :roll: and I'm going to need a guitar to play to stave off insanity, so I'm thinking about a travel guitar. Anyone have any recommendations? My parameters:

1. It needs to fit into an overhead storage bin on the plane. Checking a guitar of any kind seems like asking for kindling on arrival.

2. Playability and tone. Not much use in bringing it along if it's impossible to play or sounds dead. I'm not expecting it to sound like a grown up guitar, but a half way decent sound would be nice.

Anyone have any experience with Martin Backpackers? Washburn Rovers? Other options? A friend suggested a Baby Taylor, but I don't think it would fit in an overhead. Thanks.

D'Berry

The tough part of this is finding one that fits in the overhead and still has a "decent sound."
I've owned and sold the Backpacker and the Baby Taylor, and even tried to find the middle ground with a Big Baby....just didn't like the sound enough to hang on to them, even for the intended purpose of a travel guitar.
So, I tend to take my Masterbilt 000 and hope for the best.
So far, so good. :|

Joe

 

[dogberry]

D'Berry

The tough part of this is finding one that fits in the overhead and still has a "decent sound."
I've owned and sold the Backpacker and the Baby Taylor, and even tried to find the middle ground with a Big Baby....just didn't like the sound enough to hang on to them, even for the intended purpose of a travel guitar.
So, I tend to take my Masterbilt 000 and hope for the best.
So far, so good. :|

Joe[/quote]
Do you check the Masterbilt? I just have images of baggage handlers tossing a hardcase onto the runway and everything turning to splinters.

 

[killdeer43]

D'Berry Do you check the Masterbilt? I just have images of baggage handlers tossing a hardcase onto the runway and everything turning to splinters.

Loosen strings, lots of padding inside the case, "Fragile" stickers both sides, three long velcro strips to keep it all together (used to use duct tape--pre Homeland Security).
Being anal is sometimes acceptable.

I prefer a good road trip where I can take one or two of the big boys.

Joe

 

[jgmaute]

I recently played a Republic Parlor it really sounds good and is small enough to fit in most overhead bins (37" length), if not you would gate check it. the only thing I didn't like about it was the neck was pretty substantial, thick from front to back but for a travel guitar I could live with that. A nice feature is that it comes with a hardshell case so IF you have to gate check it it is in a substantial case.

Another option is to get a beater that sounds good but you really won't care if the airlines wrecks it. I just got a beater/beach guitar off the bay for $54. It's an old Applause that sounds fine now that I put on some new strings on...but I got it as a spare beach guitar so it doesn't have a case that I could use to check it on a plane. You could get a beater that fit in one of your existing hardshell cases. Even when traveling with a full size guitar, I still take it through security and have them gate check it so it doesn't have a trip down the conveyors and through the airport. With most airlines charging for checked luggage going with the overhead bin makes a lot of sense for many reasons.

I've also read good reviews on other forums about the A&L Ami Parlor. I played a Little Martin, I liked it better than the backpacker but haven't played the Taylors for comparison.

I recently got a Luna Muse Parlor for a friend and was amazed at the sound, looks, and feel for the money. Luna makes a smaller parlor, the Gypsy, 3.7 x 14 x 39 inches ; 4 pounds that comes with a gig bag.

You really have a lot of options and I'm sure others will have some suggestions for you but ultimately it will probably just take some time at a local store playing and comparing (if you've got a store with some you can play)

let us know what you end up with and how it works for you, jgm

 

[bluepen]

I haven't played an Art&Lutherie Ami (folk/parlor) but I do have an A&L dread and I think they are the best "budget" guitars around. I spent a lot of time demo-ing other $200-$400 gits and thought the A&L was by far superior.

They can be found used on eBay for next to nothing, if you are patient.

http://www.artandlutherieguitars.com/specs.htm

Mine came with a "puffy" plastic rosette, which I think is very cheezy. It pulls off easily. It's a shame, because everything else about these guitars is top-notch.

They're made by Godin (as are Seagulls).

Good luck,
Penner

 

[mcrofutt]

For years I've kept a "beater" 70's Epiphone classical in a regular hardshell case, designated as my travel guitar. Always checked it, never had a problem. If something were to happen it would have been no great loss.
Now, with the airlines charging for second checked bag, I jumped at the excuse to buy a new guitar. I played every travel guitar out there and liked NONE of them. Until I chose the expensive route: the Composite Acoustics Cargo. Worth every penny, plays great, nice wide fingerboard, unbelievable bass response, and a fun, unusual sound. Fits in the overhead, is nearly indestructible, and since I ordered the model with electronics, I use it for the one or two songs per set I play on acoustic with my band.

 

[fungusyoung]

I have a Martin LXM (aka "Little Martin"). It's a fantastic sounding travel guitar that comes with a nice soft padded case which easily fits in any overheads except for those on very small planes where you can't really fit any bags in them.

Bought mine almost exactly 3 years ago on my way to the airport for a trip to Spain, and it has since been all over Europe, Latin America and even to India with me since then. I don't travel as much now, but I can't find a reason to let it go... just in case I need to get on planes regularly again.

I A/B'ed the Martins against the Baby Taylor, and thought it was much better... though tone is subjective :wink:.

If you carry a small bodied full size guitar... like 000 size or whatever on board, you really should check with the airline in advance. I found Southwest to be great within the US. If I carried literally nothing else onto the plane (checked all other luggage), I never had a problem carrying a 000, dread or Tele, etc. with hardshell or soft case on Southwest. Other airlines can really vary even airport to airport and from gate agent to gate agent, but you should never have an issue with a guitar as small as the LXM.

 

[JerryR]

D'Berry Do you check the Masterbilt? I just have images of baggage handlers tossing a hardcase onto the runway and everything turning to splinters.

Loosen strings, lots of padding inside the case, "Fragile" stickers both sides, three long velcro strips to keep it all together (used to use duct tape--pre Homeland Security).

I'm bringing the D35 to Arlington, and although American Airlines say they will allow it as hand luggage, I'm taking all those precautions in case it ends up as hold luggage and keeping my figers crossed :!:

 

[plaidseason]

I"ll second the recommendation for the A&L Ami, but add that you should go with the solid top version. An even better choice would be the Seagull Grand or the Simon & Patrick Parlor.

Of all the guitars I've sold (not counting the Danelectro Convertible lost in a breakup), the Seagull Grand is the only one I actually regret selling. I really miss it. It was so convenient, I brought it on road trips, I brought to work so that I could play play at lunch. I even played it live a few times (with good results).

-Chris

 

[FNG]

http://www.macnichol.com/category/Cargo.html

These are supposed to be pretty sweet, plus they are pretty rugged.

 

[poser]

I have a CA Cargo. It's a nice little guitar with a sound all of it's own. Several friends of mine who have better ears than I have been impressed with the sound. And it is very rugged. I have put it down in the dewy grass at campfire sings with no concern, and no harm to the guitar. Since they're not made out of wood, they can take much rougher handling than most guitars. Extremes of temperature or humidity aren't much of a problem.

I have not tried to take it on a plane, but it should fit in an overhead compartment.

They're a bit more expensive than they were a year ago. Every now an then a used one comes up on the AGF board.

Hope this helps.

 

[amnicon]

I was given a Washburn Rover a few years back as a gift. It does travel very well, but the sound is passable at best. Quite thin and flat. The times I have traveled with it, it takes some adjusting to get used to the sound(tolerate), and then I'm always very happy to get home and play a full size guitar.

 

[dogberry]

Thanks everybody for the helpful feedback. After cruising all the guitar shops within reasonable driving range and playing all the travel guitars on hand (as well as whatever else they had -- it's a dirty job, but someone has to play 'em!) I bought a Martin Backpacker. Got it at the Guitar Center in Tukwila, WA, where they took really good care of me. I found an online price of $170, and Guitar Center matched it. Then, they couldn't find the gig bag, so they knocked another $20 off, so I got a new Backpacker for $150, which is about what used ones go for on EBay. The only small body guitar I played that I thought sounded better then the Martin was a cedar topped Baby Taylor, but it seemed too fragile to travel with, and it costs twice as much. I can imagine taking the Martin backpacking (and I plan to) and couldn't see the Taylor standing up to that abuse.

BTW, at the same Guitar Center in Tukwila, they just took in a beautiful Westerly F-30, sunburst top and in nearly perfect condition. The only flaw is a missing end pin, far as I saw. They're asking $850. I don't know much about what they go for, so I don't know whether that's a reasonable price, but it was a great sounding and playing guitar. GAS struck hard, I have to say. I need to sell my Tacoma before I bring home another guitar, or I may be sleeping outside in the tent.

Thanks again for all the feedback on the travel guitars.

 

[killdeer43]

If you do have to sleep out in the tent, you'll have your new Backpacker for company. It's all good.

Joe

 

[crank]

I have a beater Epiphone model 200D, pretty much just a regular acoustic, not parlour size, not as big as my Guild. I take it on all our vacations including: camping, to the beach, cruising on our 30' sloop, and winter ski trips and the occasional tropical beach resort. I keep it in a gig bag and it does fit in overhead airplane comparments. The thing I don't like about the backpacker guitars is you only get 15 frets. Plus I like having a guitar that is loud enough to jam should I meet other pickers on my travels.