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speaking of martins ...


tkris

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Posted

what about the lxm -- the little travel martin. there's one on craigslist here, asking $225 ... kind of tempting. what's a fair price? a good campfire git?

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I've never played one but from what I've heard they ain't all that good. OTOH, I hear that those Go-guitars are pretty good. Probably cheaper too.

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I've played it and to me, it sounds better than my Backpacker, but is still overpriced. A better campfire guitar, IMO, would be any old (or new) Yamaha/Harmony/Washburn/A&L/Seagull/whatever you can find for the same price or maybe even less. I have a Washburn dread that is my primary "campfire" guitar and I got it for about $200 used.

 

...Unless what appeals to you is the size. But the Backpacker is even smaller, if you can stand the sound. I find that I can stand the sound when I need something that fits in an overhead storage thing.

 

Ellen

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I've played it and to me, it sounds better than my Backpacker, but is still overpriced. A better campfire guitar, IMO, would be any old (or new) Yamaha/Harmony/Washburn/A&L/Seagull/whatever you can find for the same price or maybe even less. I have a Washburn dread that is my primary "campfire" guitar and I got it for about $200 used.


...Unless what appeals to you is the size. But the Backpacker is even smaller, if you can stand the sound. I find that I can stand the sound when I need something that fits in an overhead storage thing.


Ellen

 

+1:thu:

 

That pretty well sums it up. My Campfire beater is a mid 80's Laminated Dread....less than $100.00.

 

I also own a 3/4 size all solid wood Sitka over Mahogany guitar much like the Little Martin. With very small sound box and scale length under 23"....these guitars beat all backpack guitars from a sound producing standpoint. They are boxey and thuddy sounding...and some more than others.

 

They are great for the blues and are loud enough....but they are a compromize. Mine is 34.5" overall. $200.00 for a Little Martin isn't too bad.

 

If I was not wanting to take one on a plane, I would not own one. If you are a hiker...maybe they make sense.

 

If you really want a small guitar that sounds better and is only 36" overall, with a 24.84" scale in a 12 fret Parlor...look for a used A&L AMI Cedar.

I have one of those that I just scooped.

 

:thu:

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Posted

I use an early 1970's 3/4 sized Harmony guitar I purchased for around $30. After a quick set-up, it's a fun little guitar to keep around, and because USA Harmonys are quite indestructable, and cheap, I don't have to worry about it like I would a Martin. If you do decide to go the route of an old 3/4 sized Harmony, I would suggest finding one with the fixed bridge, and not one with the floating bridge/tailpiece. The fixed bridges sound so much better.

 

Dan

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Posted

Never tried the Martin but I hated the sound of every other "travel" git I've played.If you want small have a go at Mandolin or fiddle.You might like it.

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Love mine, though I don't use it as a campfire guitar... it's a travel guitar. Sounds awesome for such a small guit. It's also an easy carry-on item for 90% of the planes I fly on.

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