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September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I spent alot of time waiting. Normally I carry my Nintendo DS with me and play to kill the time. Im thinking that Id rather brush up on my guitar skills instead of numbing my brain on video games.
So Im in the market for a travel guitar. I need som help deciding what is going to be best. Here are the criteria:
- Has to be somewhat portable, no Jumbos and Dreds.
- Has to be really durable, can take some time in a hot car.
- No scales made for babies. If Im using this for practice, I need it to apply to normal playing technique.
- Has to be cheap .. around $200 give or take a few. I dont want to have to worry about it.
So far I've considered:
* Martin Backpacker
* Applause AA21 AA13
* Traveler Guitar Escape - $$$, but might be worth it.
* Washburn Rover
Are there any others I should take a look at. What is your take on Travel guitars, and do you think that ANY guitar can take being left in the car? ...Travel guitar or not |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12762
Location: Boise, Idaho | The Rover and Martin Backpacker were OK, but didn't put out much sound and are a real pain to hold, since the bodies are so small. The Traveler has a neat folding leg. I got my daughter the AA12. It's big enough to play sitting down without a strap and small enough to fit in a case about the size of a tennis racket. Thin on the sound, but not as bad as the Martin or Washburn. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | T
tegoryZ2385QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem]This
Tacoma Papoose |
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September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | What about the Ovation CC012? ... Since we are O fans after all.
Any experience with one? |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Being the broke person that I am, I've noticed that you can get Applauses and Celebrities for under $200 all day long, from E-baaa or the online stores. (I do NOT recommend music123) I was thinking that an Applause could survive heat...maybe.
Any cheapie guitar will fit in a car... And some 3/4 scales have full-sized fretboards.
My GC057 was around $200 (with s/h), and it looks relatively sturdy. But it is an SSB, so it ain't too loud. But it will fill a car or room with passable sound. But you can take your Cube. And it ain't an Adamas, so if something happens to it... |
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September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Taiwan | I'm eyeing one of those travelers.
The scale is full length, yet overall it's 6" shorter than a backpacker. Plus, for me, a travel guitar is not going to be heard by anyone else (I hope), so headphones are the way to go. (And you can plug it into your Crate!)
I'm thinkin' about the MK-II, as it's got more of a body to it to rest your hand on than the other travelers and a built in headphone amp. But it's $500 - ouch. - but very pretty. Ditto on the electric version. |
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February 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Westchester, NY | I have a backpacker, Sounds light but feels great, particularly for fingerpicking and slide. If you dont need an acoustic, for a few bucks more and a little effort on eBay you might find a hohner (steinberger) copy. I have both the guitar and bass versions. They are great travel guitars. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I have a Traveler. Full size fretboard. Very easy to carry. Seems to be impervious to heat (it has spent much of it's life in my car with no ill effects. Well built. I got mine off eBay for about $200. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Get a TAYLOR , if it breaks down , who cares... ;)
Vic :cool: |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I had been considering a Traveler for ease of packing on a motorcycle or business travel along with a multi-effects box and earphones, but other folks on this forum keep distracting me. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Go for it PBB! I have a Pandora PX4 and earbuds which fit very nicely in the pouch of the Traveler carry bag. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I ordered the Applause AA13 today. I checked out the AA12, which I though was TOO small. The AA12 felt almost like a Uke or manodlin fretboard its so small. I can deal with the extra size of the 13. Its also cheaper than the 12 for some reason. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yak quote-- "Its also cheaper than the 12 for some reason."
Yeah, they do strange stuff like that... Damn Capitalists.
Trying to confuse the masses. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Try the Little Martin [LXM]. I own one and like it very much. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Nevermind ... I noticed that you already made an order. Enjoy your new guitar. |
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September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I liked the Little Martin alot as well. In the end it just came down to price. I coudln't pass up the AA13 for only $149... Which is 1/2 the price of the Martin. To me, $149 is a beater, $300 ...not so much. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My 620 Johnson is a Beater ($66 with case and s/h)
All my others are REAL guitars. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I got the AA13 today, cancelled my order with MF and bought it locally for $5 more because of sales tax. Well im not really sure about this thing, its going to work perfect for its purpose as a guitar I wont have to cry about if it gets scratched.
I think that this is where Ovation my get a bad rap from Joe Public. This thing sounds like.... A plastic bowl with some strings on it....surprised?. I guess for $150 you can't expect a sonic masterpiece. However, the neck feels good and it plays like a quality guitar, just doesn't sound like one. With a credit card sized shim and EJ16's I have the action perfectly at 3/32(E) - 2.5/32(e) with a perfect truss rod.... Just how I like it. Overall Im happy with it.
QUESTION:
Are Light strings (12's) too heavy for this guitar? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12762
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm sure the sound is even weaker on the AA12. I put 12s on my daughter's and it worked fine. There's just not enough bowl to get any sound, but for a campfire/camping guitar it's fine. |
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May 2005
Posts: 120
Location: Gardnerville, NV | Yak, Where did they have one locally? I assume you mean Reno, I've not seen them when I was looking in the past. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | Bizarre Guitar had one AA13 and two AA12's hanging up hidden between two rows of other guitars, right above the books.
It was in marginal shape when I bought it. It must have been hanging for a while and perhaps demoed quite a bit, the fretboard had a bunch of buildup on it and the strings were practically green.
Normally I wouldn't by a guitar in this condition, but I didn't want to wait for the backorder at MF. After a healthy dose of Dunlop 01-02 Fretboard cleaner/conditioner and some elbow grease, Meguitars mist & wipe, and Dunlop 65, the thing is back to factory condition. |
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I need a "beater" guitar...