how to build a backpack guitar?

[GOG427]

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?

[jbkim]

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.

[jbkim]

I just remembered the Afri-can guitar that KeithHowell posted awhile back here. Perhaps you can derive some inspiration from that .

[soapbarstrat]

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 "

[soapbarstrat]

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

[GregP]

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.

[soapbarstrat]

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

[KeithHowell]

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

[GregP]

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.

[soapbarstrat]

Or, if you have an old Martin or Gibson acoustic, you can do this :

http://www.baden-net.ch/marcoguitars/makea.htm

[weezerboy]

that rocks..the thing is, i have a guitar i can do that to without worry....travel guitar here i come!

[soapbarstrat]

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.

[weezerboy]

do you want me to chop the headstock off???

no??? then shhh

[soapbarstrat]

Post some pics and make a poll

[weezerboy]

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'

[soapbarstrat]

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 "

[weezerboy]

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

[soapbarstrat]

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

[GOG427]

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...

[jbkim]

If that's the case, an electric with a headphone amp would be another option.

[GOG427]

i dont want battries nether...

[Guntemar]

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.

[Guntemar]

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

[ibreakemineedtobuildem]

Where do you put the straps?

[syxxstring]

soloette

Ive always liked these as travel gutiars.