Mini Guitars

[Gee Whiz]

Hey all... am looking to purchase a mini guitar w/ acceptable tone for travel, camping, etc. I've been playing different models. My fave thusfar is the Tacoma Papoose, but, alot of that is based on the size as well as the tone. Would like something really compact. Papoose is 32" in total length & has pretty acceptable tone. Has 21 frets, tho & it gets real tight after 12th fret. Just looking for something to keep nimble fingers when away from home, while having a tone good enough for campfires & parties. I don't know all that much about guitars, but, is there a model w/ less # of frets, so the spacing is more comparable to the traditional fretboard? A 12 fret board would be sufficient for me just to maintain sharpness. My budget is $1,000.00, so, enlighten me people

 

Gee Whiz

[Hudman]

SKip the Papoose and check out the Baby Taylor and Little Martin.

[61gibson335]

i dont like the little martin at all. the top is made of a composite material. normally i like martins better but in this case i would say to go with the baby taylor. excelent guitar.

[bbrunskill]

What about a Mini Maton?

[jsgates]

I'm also in the market for one of these travel guitars. Actually, the Little Martin is available in two variations the LXM & the LX1. The LXM is made out of laminate, but the LX1 is solid wood (spruce top). LXM is $269 & the LXM is $299.99. On the other hand, the Baby Taylor is all wood and is $269. You can get it with the spruce top, or you can get it all mahogany. The Taylor seems to be the better value. You should be fine in your price range. Alvarez & Breedlove also make some nice travel guitars. With your price limit, you might want to look at the Breedlove Passport guitars. They are a bit more, around $400 -500. I have never played one of these. The best sounding travel guitar I have played so far is the Baby Taylor. $269 is still a bit high for me for a travel guitar. I'm considering the Ibanez Daytripper, but still can't decide. Oh well, I have until August. I would stay away from the Washburn & Johnson as they do not have dread shaped bodies. Also avoid the Martin Backpacker. Hope this helps you some. To get some ideas, do a search for "travel guitar" on Musician's Friend. Then narrow it down to the acoustics. This will give you an idea of what is available before you go to try them out at your local music shop. Good Luck!

[guitarist21]

Baby Taylors are great.

 

Ellen

[polynices]

 

Hey all... am looking to purchase a mini guitar w/ acceptable tone for travel, camping, etc. I've been playing different models. My fave thusfar is the Tacoma Papoose, but, alot of that is based on the size as well as the tone. Would like something really compact. Papoose is 32" in total length & has pretty acceptable tone. Has 21 frets, tho & it gets real tight after 12th fret. Just looking for something to keep nimble fingers when away from home, while having a tone good enough for campfires & parties. I don't know all that much about guitars, but, is there a model w/ less # of frets, so the spacing is more comparable to the traditional fretboard? A 12 fret board would be sufficient for me just to maintain sharpness. My budget is $1,000.00, so, enlighten me people Gee Whiz

 

 

try a Martin 5-15 and then report back on how well you like it. http://www.maurysmusic.com/inc/sdetail/6149

[DonK]

IIRC, the Papoose is meant to be tuned to A, whereas the Taylor and Martin use standard tuning (although when Taylor originally introduced the Baby in 1996, they prescribed an F# tuning; this was later changed to standard). When I bought my BT, one reason I didn't consider the Papoose was because I wanted to be able to play in the standard E tuning (and the Little Martin wasn't available yet).

 

I like the Baby and still own one, but I've liked the Little Martin's I've tried too. Play 'em both and then decide.

[MBWendel]

I like the Little Martin. I would also consider a parlor.

[CA1977]

I have a Little Martin, the laminate top version, and it sounds and plays like a normal sized guitar. I do admit, I wish I had gotten the solid top version, but it's still a great guitar. I wish they'd make an all mahogany version like the Baby Taylor M

[Hudman]

 

What about a Mini Maton?

 

 

Are they selling Maton guitars in the USA? I was told that you can't get them here.

[bdegrande]

I have a Baby Taylor and love it, but to me it and similar sized guitars are simply way too big to be considered travel guitars. For that I use a Washburn Rover, which has a tiny body, and sounds only OK,but is really small and cheap and has a cordura case designed to fit in an airline's overhead bin. Unlike the Papoose, it does tune to standard tuning.

[brahmz118]

I used to own a Baby Taylor. It had intonation problems (never tried an F# tuning, though), and it also seemed sensitive to humidity changes. The frets were sticking out a bit when I first got it. I had to retune significantly when using a capo.

 

I might buy an Emerald X5 (http://www.emeraldlife.com) this year. Might still have some intonation issues, but at least I won't have to worry about subjecting it to the elements.

[AK47]

You said "taking the guitar camping." If you are tent camping, back packing, or something where the guitar will be exposed to the elements I would recomend a laminate guitar for greater durability. Even morning dew can give adverse effects. If you are camping in a climate controled camper this changes everything. It would be a shame to buy a baby taylor and have it crack or implode due to exposure. IMHO I think the little martin might be a good choice to face the elements. Try out all your options before you buy.

[TimZ]

I have a Seagull grand (wild cherry body, cedar top) which I like alot, plays comfortably in any position, well almost any. If you want to go smaller check out the Go Guitars at their website.

[spijk]

How 'bout this one:

 

http://www.brunner-guitars.com/outdoor.html

 

Good luck!

[bsman]

Check out Go-Guitars at: http://www.go-guitars.com/

 

I've had a mahogany Go since 2000, and it's been in overhead bins, trunks, backpacks, and my office and been played almost every day of that time with nary as much as a truss rod tweak needed. I very highly recommend this, and I've had literally hundreds of people approach me in my office or an airport, etc. as I'm playing and comment on how nice it sounds. Anyway, solid wood, hand-cut bone nut and saddle, and made in the US for less than $300 - how can you go wrong?

[lapsang2001]

I have just ordered an Emerald X5. It's should be almost bullet-proof and it has a real fretboard (I mean it's not smaller). Check their website.

[maxed]

Alvarez MSD1

 

Got one over 2 years ago for about $250 new.. same size as the Baby Taylor (i also have a Mahagony BT) the MSD1's cost more now, but they're all solid wood and have a traditional set dovetail heeled neck (1.75" at the nut) as opposed to the Baby Taylor bolt-on no-heel necks. Also abalone accents and great tone for its size and light weight! ..and just plain pretty to look at! They even have a bass model with a pickup (MSB1) for you travelling bassists! Never played the bass model, but they look pretty cool.. check 'em out here:

 

http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/AlvarezMSD1.html

http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/AlvarezMSB1.html

[bbrunskill]

 

Are they selling Maton guitars in the USA? I was told that you can't get them here.

 

 

I don't know, but they are very good and it's a pity if you can't get them!

[knockwood]

http://www.stringsmith.com/vagabond/intro.htm

[VengefulTikiGod]

Come on, ain't ya ever heard of one of these?

 

[Greymuzzle]

Do you get Tanglewoods?

 

I have one of the little Tanglewood solid wood 'sapling' travel guitars, Okavangol back and sides, spruce top.Surprising volume. Nice sounding little thing ( especially when played by a friend who swears that it was put on earth solely for him to play Dire Straits 'Brothers in Arms' on) about

[jsgates]

According to their website, there are many US distributors for Maton.

 

http://www.maton.com.au/about-us/distributors.html

 

I would also find it hard to believe that any guitar company would not want to sell in the US. The market for guitars is too big here.