PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

They've piqued my curiosity a little lately. I almost bought one off ebay (the 'speedster') but then I realized it wouldn't have been a very practical purchase.

How about this - a guitar that is playable, but has next to no body, and no pickup? I'm thinking something that doesn't really have much purpose except for practicing.

The thing is that these guitars aren't that cheap. The closest thing I've found to my description above would be the Ultra Light Steel - http://www.travelerguitar.com/products/ultra-light/ultra-light-steel/ but at $300 and a piezo pickup it's not really what I'm interested in.

What do you think?
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randyc · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Eureka, CA

I have the Martin Backpacker. It's a charming little thing with nice wood but very high action. Rather than lowering the action by filing the bridge and nut slots, I decided to live with it and use it for bottle-neck (dropped D tuning). Has a nice, whiney sound like a very mellow Dobro. Here's a photo beside my 1928 Weissenborne - grandfather of the Dobro:

cheers,
randyc

Jens · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:35 pm Post subject:

I did think about getting a steinberger for this purpose? But I never checked the price?

Jens
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JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

planetguy · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 284

these days my "travel guitar" is a '77 Epiphone BG-440 mando! Laughing

say randy...if you ever plan on doing another widespread review, this time of that Weissenborne and are looking for reviewers to send it to....put me AT THE TOP OF THE LIST!!!
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randyc · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Eureka, CA

Gorecki · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:09 am Post subject:

Don't know if you've looked into it but I got a lot of use from one of the little mini strats. A battery powered micro amp and you be jammin.
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JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

randyc · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Eureka, CA

Ah-Ha !

Now I see why there is little interest in the Martin - the focus is TINY LITTLE SOLID-BODY ROCK GUITARS, LOL. In the spirit of cooperation, I think that there are also tiny little (Chinese-manufactured) Marshalls, appropriately sized for those instruments.

A reminiscence concerning travel guitars: many years ago, a company located in Long Island, NY (American Technical Ceramics) wanted to hire me (who knows why?) and sent me the all-expenses-paid-round-trip-deal-San Francisco-to-New York City. So I flew back there after booking an accompanying seat for my new accoustic 12-string (I was in love) and a one week layover in Virginia so that I could visit my Mom.

Nice trip except for the brief airplane switch at O Hare (Chicago) when the Hare Krishnas spotted me with my 12-string, ha-ha-ha. "Oh wow, man, that's so cool, we have this book that you just GOTTA buy and 'cause you're a musician you can have it for next to nothin'. "

Sheesh, bunch of bald morons !

Cheers,
randyc

Gorecki · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:23 am Post subject:

PaulD · Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 1130 Location: Chicago

Well, this is not a travel guitar, but...I travel 4 days a week these days and always bring this cheap Ovation along. It's literally been all over the world with me. I check it in as baggage when I fly and as you can see, the case is held together by duct tape and has seen better days, but the guitar is still in perfect shape.

What I'm really interested in are the Voyage-Air folding guitars

http://www.voyageairguitar.com/how.htm

They are supposed to fit in the overhead on a plane. Has anyone tried one?

Paul

JakeJew · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 2192 Location: Boston, MA

Pierrot · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 32 Location: A Coruna, Spain

Hi,

This is my Savannah travel guitar:

1.- It is very cheap. (80€ here in Spain).
2.- I don't worry about its appearance.
3.- Sound is enough (quantity AND quality) for the bucks. I'd say that it delivers much more than its price... (I got it strung with Roto Sound nickel strings 011-48, changing the original non wound 018 third for a wound 022)
4.- It is really the smallest expression of a guitar.
5.- Though, scale length is full (25,5") (By the way, very comfy neck, with appropriate low action)
6.- I had a Benedetto h6 P.U. (more expensive than guitar itself, hu hu...)and decided to mount it as an experiment on this guitar....with optimal result.!!! (of course not a big jazz mamma, Cool

but still very good)
7.- I use it actually when travelling, by car, train, and plane, with no regrets if it suffers from sun, heat, hits, or whatever could happen.
8.- I use it too when a lot of friends of mine and I meet at some party, at carnival time for example, even when it is easy to shock the guitar, after "some" alcoholic drinks...
9.- It is an "all purpose" instrument, very light with its nylon bag.
10.- I'm very happy with it Embarassed

.

Yeah! Very Happy

randyc · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Eureka, CA

Pierrot:

In my opinion, your travel guitar WINS ! Nicest looking one I've seen, great price too. (As for sound, one must be willing to accept compromises.) Where is the instrument manufactured?

Thanks for the photos of a VERY interesting guitar,
randyc

sunflower · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 581

[quote="JakeJew"]