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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Montana | Hi, I'm considering getting a Traveler guitar and as usual there are none available locally to try out so I;m looking for some advice regarding the different models and pickups. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Basically there is a piezo only Ultralight model, a piezo only Escape model with onboard preamp, the Pro Series that has a piezo + single coil w/o preamp; and Speedster etc models with only humbuckers. So questions:
Does the piezo model sound OK w/o preamp? I thought that generally piezos really need a preamp to sound good.
The Pro Series looks attractive as it looks like you can blend the piezo and single coil PUs - kind of a poorman/gypsy's VXT. Does this work and sound good?
Any comments regarding single coils vs humbuckers? How is the noise with just one single coil?
Thanks for your help! |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Hi Scott, I have a Traveler Escape MkII. This is an electric acoustic (as opposed to an electric) guitar, so is a travel substitute for an acoustic not an electric.
I mainly use mine when travelling, hence I am listening to it through the headphones, not plugging into an amp. At home I have a wonderful Adamas, why would I touch anything else?
The sound through the headphones is not brilliant, but is good enough to listen to and certainly good enough to hear what you are playing and whether you've made mistakes. For me the Traveler is something to practice on when I'm away from home, not a substitute instrument for touring.
As a practice instrument which is easy to cart around, it is brilliant. An on board tuner would have helped, but I found a tiny, pick sized tuner which weighs almost nothing, so no biggies. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I have a Pro. Basically, it's just a guitar for traveling. I keep a Pandora PX4 in the bag and play though that most of the time, although the sound from the included stethoscopic headset isn't half bad, but I find the stethocope gets real uncomfortable after only a few minutes. You can't "blend" the piezo and the single coil, but you can have them both ON. As far as a preamp, if you need to massage the sound that much, you need a different solution. The piezo seems cine, but I've never once plugged it into my acoustic amp. I use it mostly for different flavors when i'm goofing around with different amp models and effects on the PX4. I mostly use mine when I'm on the road and usually dial it in single coil mode with a simulated blackface amp. Except in airplanes, where the giant metal cigar tube you're in make the mag pickup scream like a banshee. But to be honest, don't overthink the electronis too much. It's a practice/travel guitar, and that's what it's good for. Light, compact, full size fretboard with pretty good quality all around. If you're looking for a tone monster, look someplace else. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I've got the Traveler Pro Deluxe, which is all maple with gold hardware. Like Bobbo, I prefer the single coil to the piezo. I run mine through a small multi-effects unit and use headphones while traveling, never through the factory stethoscope. I've also used it with a small practice amp and it isn't half bad. When changing strings, it is critical to spread some graphite on the bridge rollers that wrap the strings under the body to the tuning pegs. Otherwise, the rollers can stick and tuning can become an issue. I also believe the controls are more complicated than they need to be. These things are very convenient to carry around on airplanes, pack on a motorcycle, or use when space is at a premium. I'm going to have to try a Px4 someday. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Montana | Thanks! I greatly appreciate the feedback. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | "feedback" is often a good thing, unless its coming from your sound equipment on stage.
it is one of those schizoid, multi-personality words. i saw this thread's title and figured it was about how to stop the feedback from your traveler guitar... ;)
still got the viper, scott? |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 160
Location: Montana | Hi Randy. Yes! The Viper rocks and I'm having a ball. I was always a cowboy chord guy, strictly rhythm but I started taking lessons, learning barre and jazz chords, scales etc and it's really fun.
I'm finishing up a new sailboat (been working on it for 7 years!) and now I'm looking for a boat guitar ... |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | sailboats in montana? doesn't seem to jive. nevertheless, i have a truck load of sailboat fuel for sale if you know anybody lookin' for some. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Hey Randy, is that spare sailboat fuel hot by any chance? |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by TAFKAR:
Hey Randy, is that spare sailboat fuel hot by any chance? Probably scented too!  |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Ooh, I didn't need that thought. Thanks Iffy. |
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OT Traveler Guitar feedback
