GOG427 Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 i always on go annd i cant take a full size guitar with me to alot of place ..so i thought it wood be cool to have a backpack guitar or build one more likly any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I think Martin has(had?) the backpacker... and I seem to recall a Washburn. Let me do a search. Edit: Ah, that was quick http://www.tranjo.com/travelinstruments2.shtml You can probably use some of those as a guide to make one? Someone mentioned using a mandolin truss rod to build a short scale neck, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I just remembered the Afri-can guitar that KeithHowell posted awhile back here. Perhaps you can derive some inspiration from that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I've never heard a decent sounding , small bodied acoustic. The small bodied electrics seem to do fine (steinberger, etc) I found this one quite interesting, until I heard sound-clips of it http://www.etribe.com/guitar/index.html not sure if he/she still has the sound clips on the site Never heard the Martin backpacker. You could check reviews at harmony central How small does it have to be ? A strat makes a pretty good travel guitar, if you take the neck off during the traveling, but if you want it playable during the whole trip, I can understand why you'd want something " steinberger like " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I think Martin has(had?) the backpacker... and I seem to recall a Washburn. Let me do a search. Edit: Ah, that was quick http://www.tranjo.com/travelinstruments2.shtml You can probably use some of those as a guide to make one? Someone mentioned using a mandolin truss rod to build a short scale neck, etc. I'm REALLY interested in this one : http://www.travelerguitar.com/ The way the tuners are in the middle of the body. that is severely cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I was looking at an ad for the Martin backpacker earlier today, thinking, "this might be a fun kind of guitar to build." By looking at it (and I might be wrong about this), it isn't constructed with the usual sides, purfling (?), bracing, etc. that a regular acoustic would be. I don't know any specifics on how it's made, but I imagine even someone without true skill in acoustic guitar luthiery could throw something together. It won't sound any good, but I don't imagine anyone's expecting dreadnought or parlour tone from a wee backpacker guitar. It seems to have similar construction as a thinline-type 'solid body' (I know, that's a contradiction, but I'm just referring to construction technique) guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Heck, why bother building one, when this beauty will only set you back $1500 ? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www...DUTF-8%26sa%3DN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithHowell Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Why don't you make a compact electric and build or buy one off those tiny 1watt amps. Should be louder than an acoustic. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 That's another excellent idea... you can get one of those belt-clippable Marshalls for peanuts. Of course, it all depends on how long you'll be "backpacking" and whether or not you'll be able to carry enough batteries. Then again, batteries don't need to be a big deal: a) I play my electrics without plugging them in all the time anyhow If you hollow out a chamber of some sort, you'll get a BIT of acoustic amplification, anyhow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Or, if you have an old Martin or Gibson acoustic, you can do this : http://www.baden-net.ch/marcoguitars/makea.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezerboy Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 that rocks..the thing is, i have a guitar i can do that to without worry....travel guitar here i come! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 that rocks..the thing is, i have a guitar i can do that to without worry....travel guitar here i come! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!! A well designed "travel guitar" does not have a headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezerboy Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 do you want me to chop the headstock off??? no??? then shhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Post some pics and make a poll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezerboy Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 if its headless, does that mean tuners at the bridge?? this is a noname 3/4size acoustic thats sat in my room for a while...like the 3/4 encore, that awaits..um...'stuff' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 if its headless, does that mean tuners at the bridge?? this is a noname 3/4size acoustic thats sat in my room for a while...like the 3/4 encore, that awaits..um...'stuff' Yeah, tuners at the bridge, because I'm thinking that with a travel guitar you want it as small as possible, and a headstock adds several inches that really don't have to be there, plus doesn't balance well with a downsized body. You're the king of "show me a picture", so I thought maybe you could make a thread about it in the poll section :" should I give this sucker a haircut or not " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezerboy Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 as soon as i get access to a decent digital camera, i'll shove some pics up...got many things that need photographing...but it has to be a decent one that can show off the floorwax neck on the tele well enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 I like the bridge on this one. I figure a wood tail-piece could be made, with threaded metal inserts , then you can get those fine-tuning knobs at an industrial supply place, and drill holes through them, so the strings fit through them. http://www.timtone.com/gallery/the_bigs/Hi...RezT4SButt.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOG427 Posted March 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 well i only care about thr body size..not head stock ..and i'd like acoustic i only want to hear it really don't care about anyone else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 If that's the case, an electric with a headphone amp would be another option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOG427 Posted March 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 i dont want battries nether... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guntemar Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 I have played a Martin backpacker and the sound was not bad considering the size and shape of it. It's by no means a D-28 but it serves the purpose for travelling. It's available from Martin for $274 but you can probably find it somewhere else for less. Musicians Friend has it for $179.00 ($149 for lefties). They also have an electric model available for about $50.00 more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guntemar Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 If you're dead set on building a traveller, I have looked all over the web and can't find any kits available. The closest is StewMac's Army-Navy mandolin. You could modify the peghead and install a small bridge (possibly for a Uke). The only other option is to go the old fashioned way and start from scratch. Either way, you get a custom piece with the satisfaction of "I did it myself" Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibreakemineedtobuildem Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 Where do you put the straps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syxxstring Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 soloette Ive always liked these as travel gutiars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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