martin travel size guitar

• Date: June 28, 2021
• Posted In: Acoustic Guitar

Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar Review (Hands-On & In-Depth)

• By Brian Lamacraft

This Martin Backpacker review takes a look at this fun travel-sized guitar from Martin. This is an amazing guitar that you’ll want to own if you travel a lot or want a small-sized instrument.

Martin has a wide range of acoustic guitars to choose from, and the Backpacker fits a specific role. The guitar offers the player expanded portability because of its small size and nice tone compared to other travel guitars .

Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar

If you like what you see in this Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar review, you can order the Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar on Amazon.

SEE PRICE ON AMAZON

I’ve played many acoustic guitars, but I always come back to Martin because they sound great. The backpacker is no exception, and it has the added bonus of being small, compact, and affordable. Let’s have a look at this amazing guitar.

Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic Guitar Buyer’s Guides

• Best Acoustic Guitars
• Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars
• Best Resonator Guitars
• Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars
• Best Classical Guitars
• Best Travel Guitars
• Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars
• Learn More About Acoustic Guitars

Martin Backpacker Review: About the Martin Backpacker

This Martin Backpacker review is all about this little travel guitar. The Backpacker has an odd shape, but don’t let that fool you. The guitar has a great tone, and it’s easy to take with you wherever you go. Here’s a little more about it.

The body is made from select hardwoods, and the top is made from spruce wood for a great tone and resonance. The body shape reminds you of the guitars from the Renaissance era. The guitar fits comfortably in your lap.

It’s easy to play standing or sitting as there are two strap buttons for your strap, so feel free to play the guitar how you like. It’s got a standard soundhole and bridge with end pins to hold down the strings.

The neck features 15 frets which are smaller than the 21-22 fret standard acoustic, but this is more than enough room to play some great guitar. The neck is made from select hardwoods. The neck has a 24″ scale length.

The headstock is standard with six machine heads, the Martin guitar logo, and fretboard markers at various positions along the neck .

Other Parts

The saddle is made from Corian, and the nut is Micarta. The guitar has standard machine heads to stabilize the tuning. You get two strap buttons to hold your guitar strap.

This guitar ships with a handy gig bag for your Backpacker so you can take it with you wherever you go. The guitar is small enough to fit into cramped spaces.

Acoustic Guitar Accessories

Pros & Cons

Martin backpacker review: my experience with the martin backpacker.

When I was younger, I worked in a music shop where I checked all of the guitars. I had to play them all and give them a stamp before they were sold. Martin was one of our top brands, and I played quite a few Backpacker guitars.

I thought the Martin Backpacker looked odd, and I was curious about it. When I played this guitar, I was quite impressed with the guitar’s overall tone and feel. It plays like a regular acoustic, yet it’s portable.

Order the Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar

This is the ideal guitar for camping or those trips where you don’t have the room to lug around a full-sized guitar. It projects a good sound, and it stays in tune well without having to be fiddled with.

Martin Backpacker Review: The Sound

This is a basic guitar, yet it has a decent tone. It’s fine for playing chords and strumming campfire tunes . The guitar has a solid spruce top, which improves the tone of this small travel guitar.

Chords in the open position sound nice and full. It plays pretty well, considering its small size. You’re not going to record with it, but it will get the job done when you want to strum some chords or play simple melodies.

This guitar is capable of fingerstyle as well. The instrument is lightweight and small, so it may be easier for some to fingerpick with it when compared to larger-sized guitars.

While this guitar sounds great, the action is a bit high, so make sure you lower it. Take the guitar to a guitar shop and have them work on the guitar until the action is how you like it. The guitar plays nicely with a setup.

The neck is quite thick, and there’s no truss rod. It’s thick to ensure neck stability and to keep it straight. Only the action on the guitar can be adjusted.

Use a lighter gauge of string for this guitar. It’s not recommended to use medium gauge strings. I find it sounds best with a lighter gauge. You’ll have less tension on the neck with light strings.

See more: Best Acoustic Guitar Strings Buyer’s Guide

Spend some time with the guitar. You may need to adjust your playing a bit as the guitar body is quite small. It may feel a bit odd at first, but you’ll soon get used to it.

Make sure you try different picks and strings to find a setup that you like. It’s fun to experiment with this little guitar as it’s got so much going for it.

Martin Backpacker Warranty

The warranty will depend on where you bought it from. Check with the online store or your local shop about guitar warranties before you order.

Should I Buy a Martin Backpacker?

Whether you decide to buy this guitar is up to you. The best part about it is that it’s portable. It’s easy to take it hiking, camping, to lessons, or on a longer trip. The guitar is lightweight and comes with a carrying case.

The Martin Backpacker has a decent tone for the size. The guitar is well suited for chords, strumming, and simple lead lines. This is not a guitar for acoustic lead guitar, and the neck is too small.

If you need a small guitar for practicing or don’t like playing a full-sized acoustic dreadnought, this little guitar can be ideal. It’s also a good choice if you want to strum some chords from time to time.

The guitar does have a moderate price range, but you’re getting a solid guitar that you can use for many purposes. In my opinion, it’s well worth the price you pay for it.

What Are the Drawbacks to the Martin Backpacker?

In this Martin Backpacker review, it was important to include some of the drawbacks to his guitar, so you know what you’re getting. It should be noted that this is a basic practice or travel guitar .

The Backpacker doesn’t come with a built-in pickup or any electronics. You’ll probably want something else if you want to record with your guitar or play live. This guitar isn’t built for that purpose.

Some people may not like the small size since it takes some getting used to. You’ll need to play the guitar a bit until you’re comfortable with it.

The neck only has 15 frets, so it’s not a guitar built for fast acoustic lead playing. It’s fine for chords, strumming, and some fingerpicking, but it’s not designed for lead guitar playing.

Where to Buy the Martin Backpacker

There are a few places where you can buy a Martin Backpacker. I prefer to shop online because there’s a wide selection of products to choose from, fast shipping, and you don’t have to deal with traffic and other hassles.

Amazon is my first stop for online shopping. They always ship my products fast, and the selection is always good. I’ve been very satisfied with the customer service, and I like reading the product reviews before ordering my music supplies.

Order Online

Sweetwater and Guitarcenter are two other locations where you may want to purchase your Martin Backpacker guitar. They have a great selection, fast shipping, and plenty of products to choose from.

Your Local Store

Your local music store may stock the Martin Backpacker, but not every store will have it in stock. You may have to wait a long time for it to arrive if it’s out of stock or special order it.

Thank you for reading my Martin Backpacker review. This is an excellent guitar from Martin and perfect for beginners, travelers, or those that only want to strum a few chords.

This guitar is portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go, and it ships with a handy gig bag. It’s got a decent tone and is quite easy to play due to its smaller size.

Please like, share, or leave a comment on this article. What do you think about the Martin Backpacker? I think this is a great guitar that serves a specific purpose for today’s guitar player.

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Martin Backpacker Review – Travel Acoustic Guitar

Brand/Model: Martin Steel String Backpacker

Number of Strings: 6

Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous

Body Material: Mahogany/Spruce top

Neck Material: Mahogany

Fretboard Material: Richlite

Price Range: Under $300

Our Rating: 8.4/10

Martin Backpacker Travel Acoustic Guitar Review

We’ve seen some funky travel guitars over time, so we can say that the Martin Backpacker is red carpet-worthy.

Travel guitars typically have a very slim body and small-scale size that’s suitable for being on the road, and we’re glad to see that Martin helps the Backpacker to fit in with the travel guitar field without getting too crazy on the body.  Let’s explore where Martin has done it right!

The obvious benefit is the low price.  Some of the best travel guitars will plunge you into price ranges of $400 and higher.  The other side of this winning coin is that it’s a Martin – you have a brand-name guitar from one of the world’s most highly recognized and respected guitar manufacturers.

The acoustic guitar is solid tonewoods: spruce top, mahogany back, sides, and neck, and it sports a Richlite fingerboard and bridge.  Even with solid wood construction, the entire instrument is lightweight, weighing approximately 2.4 pounds.

The Martin guitar also has the Backpacker neck shape, neck taper, and body size.  It’s a customized travel guitar built for the road and crushing jams on the fly.

The FSC Certified Richlite fingerboard has 15 frets with white plastic dot inlays on the 5th and 12th frets.  Although you have solid construction and tonewoods, the hardware is stock quality.  It has a compensated white Tusq saddle, white plastic bridge pins with plastic black dots, solid headstock, and enclosed chrome gear heads.

 It won’t be as loud or rich as other Martin guitars, but as a guitar to chill in a hotel room or wait for your connecting flight, the Backpacker can deliver the goods.  Thanks to the solid tonewoods, there will be distinct warmth and note definition – the results of a combination of mahogany and spruce!

• Solid tonewoods
• Travel size/compact
• Lightweight
• Martin brand
• Odd shape/balance

Martin Backpacker Reviews

We do admit that some travel guitars are just so quirky in body shape that it may be hard to get used to.  But, unless you’re buying the Martin Backpacker blind, you already have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

The guitar itself is going to be top-heavy with the mahogany neck and small-scale body.  You’ll want to use this guitar with a shoulder strap during use, and a wall hanging mount is definitely the way to go.

As already mentioned, the sound isn’t anything to woo a concert crazed audience, but it does its job for recreational use at home, during travel, and while out with friends.  Its size is going to project tone and sound similar to a banjo.

Many buyers happen to like the pop and twang that adds unique character to an already unique guitar!

• Solid Spruce Top
• Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
• Unique Contour Neck Shape

Travel Acoustic Guitar Alternatives to Consider

If you don’t mind the quirkiness of a travel guitar, and in fact, it’s the reason you want to stand out from the strumming crowd, the Traveler Guitar Pro Series will be the appropriate buy.  It’s not a traditional acoustic guitar since you can plug this baby in and expect some serious amplification.

However, if seeing a Martin guitar for such a low price was why you strummed by the Backpacker in the first place, you might want to check out the LX1E Little Martin Travel guitar .  It’s an acoustic electric git with a solid spruce top and Fishman pickups.

But, staying true to the acoustic field and ditching the electronics, the LX1 Little Martin acoustic guitar might fit the bill the best.  It will push you out into the next budget class over, but the sound projection and quality might be worth it to you if you’re into the traditional aesthetics and intonation of a guitar.

Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Acoustic Guitar FAQ

Does the backpacker travel guitar come with any accessories.

The travel guitar does come with a gig bag case for travel and storage.  However, it seems a shoulder strap may or may not be included depending on the seller you purchase from.

Can a Compact Martin Guitar be taken on an Airplane?

Yes!  The small-scale dimensions of the guitar allow for it to be taken onboard to be stored in an overhead compartment during flight.

What are the Backpacker’s Size Dimensions?

The guitar is approximately 34″ long from headstock to base.  It’s also approximately 8.5″ wide and 2″ thick.

Does Martin’s Backpacker have Low Action?

The guitar should come with low action, however, there is no built-in truss rod for adjustment.  Therefore the neck is relatively thicker for a travel size guitar.

What Strings are on the Martin’s Backpacker Guitar?

The Martin guitar comes pre-strung with Acoustic 80/20 Bronze Extra Light (M170) strings.  It’s not recommended to put medium to heavy gauge strings on the guitar as it may cause strain.

However, if you’re wanting to increase full sound, taking your guitar in for a professional setup to change out some of the strings may be the best option.

Where is the Martin Backpacker Guitar made?

The Backpacker Travel guitar series are manufactured in Mexico.

Hardware/Electronics You’ll Need

Buying a Martin guitar usually means you don’t get anything else in the buy.  This is also true of many other high-end guitars from brand name manufacturers.  But, this travel guitar does come with a gig bag and maybe a shoulder strap in the buy.

To complete your accessories and equipment collection, see our compiled list of guitar essentials in one place.

But, here’s a few suggestions to get you started!

• Extra steel strings
• Quality Guitar Humidifier
• Capo (optional)
• Metronome (optional)
• Stringwinder (optional)

Standout Features of the Martin Travel Acoustic Guitar

• Compact and travel size
• Martin brand under $300

Our Verdict on the Martin Backpacker Guitar

To strum it up, the Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar is true to its name.  It’s ideal for travel and packing it on the go for any event that demands the presence of your talent.  Plus, it’s a Martin – how do you go wrong with that?  You can’t.  It sounds like a win-win!

Further Reading:

• 6 Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars (That Aren’t Junk)
• 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500 (Chosen By Musician)
• Laminate VS Solid Wood Acoustic Guitar: Which Will Be The Right Choice For You?
• Best Acoustic Guitar Under $200 – Our 6 Top Guitars in2024
• 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 In2024

Trent is a music lover, musical instrument player and passionate audio afficionado.

Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more

From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now

• Best acoustic
• Larger body
• Best foldable
• For small hands
• Best electric
• Best full scale
• Best offset

Buying advice

How we test.

1. Quick list 2. Best acoustic 3. Best with larger body 4. Best foldable 5. Best for small hands 6. Best electric 7. Best full scale 8. Best offset 9. Best Strat 10. Buying advice 11. How we test

If you’re looking for something compact to take out on the road, or maybe even on holiday to keep on top of your practice schedule, then one of the best travel guitars is the way to go.

From smaller bodied acoustics that take up less space in a car or on a train, to super compact electrics designed to be taken on a plane as hand luggage, the best travel guitars mean that you don’t have to stop playing the moment you leave the house. A good travel guitar can even be great to have around the home – something with more compact dimensions can sometimes be really comfortable. 

The best travel guitars come in all shapes and sizes, and are available in both electric and acoustic formats. Here, we’ll look at what’s on offer, and provide our picks for both categories.

Though this might be on the larger side of a travel guitar, it is still more compact than all of Lowden’s other offerings. Simply put, the Wee Lowden is one of the best sounding smaller-bodied acoustic guitars on the market.

Read more below

Not Taylor’s smallest offering, but definitely one of their better sounding compact instruments, the GS Mini has proven to be a hit with all manner of guitarists. You’ll even see pros use them on the biggest stages in the world.

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. 

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. 

Blackstar’s Carry On range aims to provide players with quality instruments that are easy to take on planes so that you don’t have to skip your practice sessions when you’re traveling.

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. 

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it.

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. 

Best acoustic traveler

1. Lowden WL-35 Wee Lowden

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

It’s incredibly bold and punchy, with superb note definition and clarity. Its dimensions are smaller than that of a more traditionally sized acoustic guitar, but the projection that it delivers would have you fooled – this guitar is loud when you push it. It also reacts beautifully to playing dynamics, offering all the shades of quiet and loud that you’d want.

Different versions of this guitar are available, but the mahogany back and sides combined with the red cedar top deliver a wonderfully balanced sound. The build quality is absolutely second to none; though of course, at this price point, you’d expect that.

Best with larger body

2. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus

This GS Mini-e Koa Plus sports a solid koa top and laminate koa back and sides which allow notes and chords to ring out with complete clarity and detail. Koa responds really well to your playing – it’s responsive and dynamic so allows you to play with lots of expression. The shaded edge burst finish looks truly incredible and adds a touch of class to the whole thing too. 

This 23.5” scale guitar comes fitted with Taylor’s flagship pickup system as well – the ES-2. This allows you to amplify your guitar through a PA system or amp in a way that’s more dynamic and more natural. It ships with a fantastic Aero Case that offers nearly as much protection as a hard case, but is much lighter.

Best foldable traveler

3. Furch Little Jane

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. It’s harmonically rich, and has some of that parlor-style punch in the midrange. It’s also extremely dynamic, projecting when you want it to, but responding nicely to softer playing. 

It’s extremely well designed. The body, neck and headstock are all separate when packed down, but it’s very quick to construct when it’s time to play. The clever locking mechanism keeps the neck in place, adding the right tension to the strings, and even retaining tuning somewhat between sessions. The Furch Little Jane even comes with its own padded backpack so you can take it on your travels right away.

Best for small hands

4. Martin LX1E

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. Players who are already accustomed to a full size guitar might get along with this particularly well as the neck width is about the same, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut.

Solid spruce sits atop a high pressure laminate mahogany back and sides creating a balanced but fairly bright tone. There is a touch of that boxy sort of sound you often get with smaller acoustics (though nowhere near as much as some cheaper models), and there aren’t tons of low end frequencies, but that’s if we’re being picky. Overall, the projection and tone of the LX1E is excellent. 

It is available without (Martin LX1), but this is equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup. The controls are easily accessible and it’s very much a case of plug in and play, making it one of the best travel guitars for potentially gigging with. If you’re navigating public transport to get to shows, then this is definitely one to consider. 

Best electric traveler

5. Blackstar Carry On Travel Guitar

Cheaper versions of this are available, but the flagship Carry On model has a number of features that make this one of the best travel guitars on the market. Made in partnership with the master luthiers at Gordon Smith, this compact instrument has a one-piece okoume body, set neck and a coil-splittable humbucker. This gives you a range of amazing tones, as well as bags of sustain. 

It stays in tune well, and the intonation is just right. It’s really compact, but it plays more like a full size guitar, so you don’t lose much of the feel you’d normally get with a bigger instrument. It also comes shipped with a quality gigbag, so you’re ready to hit the road as soon as you get it.

Best with full scale length

6. Traveler Guitar Electric Ultra Light

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. They say that it’s actually 28% shorter and 68% lighter than your average electric guitar . The lap rest detaches when not in use too, making it extremely portable. 

It’s fitted with a single dual rail humbucking pickup that delivers punchy but articulate tones. It’s not the most versatile instrument in the world, but that’s not really the aim here. Still, you can probably tackle most styles of music with it. The tuning pegs are also built into the body which obviously gets rid of the necessity for a headstock, and they actually work very well too.

If you’re flying a lot, or maybe space is at a premium in the car and you want to take this and maybe a battery powered amp with you, then this makes for a fantastic travel guitar. 

Best traveling offset

7. Squier Mini Jazzmaster

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it. The short scale also lends the guitar a really nice slinky feel, so you might find yourself playing a little differently to normal, which can spark creativity. 

This fantastic looking offset is fitted with a pair of quite high output, punchy sounding humbuckers. So, if you’re seeking a portable guitar for rocking big riffs and ripping solos, then this is absolutely one to consider. 

It’s also well priced. Maybe you’re just seeking a guitar to take out occasionally, enabling you to leave your main instrument at home. This is of a good enough standard to do the job well, and it means that you’re not having to throw your more expensive guitar in the back of a car or van etc.

Best for Strat fans

8. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. All in all, it’s about the size of a regular Strat, minus the headstock, making it altogether a lot more portable. 

You’re not having to sacrifice anything in terms of tone here. The Travelcaster has three single-coil pickups and a five-way selector, giving you all the chimey, glassy tones that you’d expect from this kind of configuration. The tremolo works nicely too – again, something you don’t have to sacrifice. 

What’s particularly great about this model is that it has the full 25.5” Strat scale length meaning that your fretting hand won’t have a clue it’s playing on a travel guitar. Chords, scales and licks will feel as they do on a full size guitar, though you might just have to slightly accommodate for a different neck profile. 

What Do We Mean By Travel Guitar?

You can trust Guitar Player. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

When we’re talking about the best travel guitars, we’re looking for instruments that are physically easier to travel with. Size and weight play a huge part, so the above choices will all be smaller than your regular full-size guitar, which in turn, will make them lighter. 

Some might just have slightly reduced dimensions when compared to a full size, making it a little more practical to take out on the go. Others might have completely different designs that render them suitable for taking on planes as hand luggage. How small you want it completely depends on your wants and needs.

Electric Or Acoustic?

Of course, one of the main considerations when shopping for the best travel guitar is whether to go electric or acoustic. Acoustics, by their very nature, tend to be a little bigger with deeper bodies, but you don’t need an amp to get the most out of it. If you’re playing live, then you’ll need some amplification, but for playing on your own or with friends, you’re fine with just the guitar.

An electric travel guitar can be played without an amp, but you’ll get more from it if you plug it into something. There are some great portable amps on offer, but there’s that, plus cables, to then consider. 

On acoustic travel guitars, you’ll find that some of them have a pickup fitted and some of them don’t. If you’re after a compact instrument to travel to and from shows, then having a pickup installed can be really useful. If you’re just after something to take on holiday or camping perhaps, then a pickup isn’t necessary. Buying one without a pickup will probably save you a bit of money too. 

Of course, with an electric, the pickup plays a very important part in shaping your sound. You’ll find the best travel guitars are fitted with various different pickup configurations. If you’ve found a model that you like but it’s got a single coil instead of a humbucker, for example, it’s always worth checking to see if other versions are available. 

Scale Length

It’s likely that a travel guitar will have a shorter scale length. Reducing this can allow the makers to produce a physically smaller guitar. It’s worth considering how that might feel for you to play, though. If you’ve got bigger hands, you might find squeezing your fingers into frets, particularly the ones higher up, more difficult. Look at the scale length, alongside the number of frets – 18 frets spaced over 23” for example, will give your fingers more space than 22 frets over the same scale.

That said, there are travel guitars that have a full length scale. They can reduce the size of the instrument in other ways, so if you know that you’re after a full scale travel guitar, then you don’t have to compromise.

At  Guitar Player , our team of writers aren't just music enthusiasts; we're real-life musicians. Our hands-on experience with travel guitars ensures that our reviews and recommendations are backed by practical knowledge and real-world testing.

When it comes to selecting the best travel guitars, we leave no stone unturned. Meticulously evaluating factors like tonal versatility, sonic character, build quality, and value for money, it's only after rigorous testing in a variety of playing scenarios do we choose products for our guides. We stand by our selections, ensuring that every set of strings we recommend is one we'd use ourselves.

Read more on  how we test gear and service at Guitar Player .

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After spending a decade in music retail, I’m now a freelance writer for Guitar Player, Guitar World, MusicRadar and Reverb, specializing in electric and acoustic guitars bass, and almost anything else you can make a tune with. When my head’s not buried in the best of modern and vintage gear, I run a small company helping musicians with songwriting, production and performance, and I play bass in an alt-rock band.

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Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar Review

There is a better way to travel and stay in practice at the same time. With the steel string Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar you can keep your fingers in practice and your full size guitar safe for your trip. However if you’ve never tried one of these travel guitars, you might be thinking that their sound quality or action is poor. I can assure you that the sound quality of the Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar is amazing and the action almost identical to that of a full size guitar. Plus these travel guitars are sturdy but beautiful, containing the traditional Martin workmanship that one has come to expect from the Martin brand.

These compact guitars have become one of my favorite parts about sitting around a campfire in the summer. It has truly become a wonderful companion to the many trips I take, both backpacking and camping. I would strongly recommend this steel string Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar to anyone who is a serious musician. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys playing music on camping trips or when traveling. Whether or not you are a serious musician, you can have some serious fun with this compact, durable Martin guitar.

Don’t take a chance by bringing your full size guitar with you on a trip. There’s just too much that can possibly go wrong. Instead invest in one of Martin’s backpacker guitars to take with you instead. You will love the size and weight of this wonderful traveling guitar. Plus you will keep you fingers limber so you won’t miss a note when your vacation ends!

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Best travel guitars 2024: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance

Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move

• The quick list

Best overall

Best acoustic, best electric, best for metal, best for kids, more options....

• Buying advice
• How we choose

1. The quick list 2. Best overall 3. Best acoustic 4. Best nylon string 5. Best electric 6. Best for metal 7. Best for kids 8. More options... 9. Buying advice 10. How we choose products

We guitarists are supremely lucky – we already play an instrument that we can take and play anywhere with us. Let’s face it, drummers already look at us with envy at our relative portability. However, the best travel guitars enhance and refine that concept further to offer the ultimate in portability without compromising on tone and playability. From travel-size stalwarts from Taylor and Martin to fascinatingly unexpected options from Blackstar and Yamaha, there’s something here for everyone. 

Whether you’re constantly on the move and need a travel companion to satisfy your musical urges, perhaps your office has to hear your progress with Eugene’s Trick Bag, or maybe you want something a little comfier for the couch. If so, we’ve selected the very best travel guitars for you and they’re a surprisingly varied group – from full-scale electric guitars to 3/4-size acoustic electrics.

There’s a good reason for this variety; a travel guitar needs to be portable, of course, but how it achieves that can be decided by several factors. We’ve taken them all into consideration with our choices for the best travel guitars you can buy right now. You can find our top picks below, and if you need any further guidance, head straight for our buying advice section at the bottom of the page.

Best travel guitars: The quick list

Despite being released in 2010 the Taylor GS Mini-e is still one of the best implementations of travel guitar design ever. A solid top and excellent pickup make it the perfect travel guitar.

Read more below

Originally made famous by Ed Sheeran, the Martin LX1E 'Little Martin' carries all the famous build quality and tonal properties of this legendary guitar maker, in a super compact format.

For the nylon string players out there, this fast-playing and unusual-looking electro-acoustic features a removable upper bout, making it easy to transport anywhere.

There aren't loads of options for electric players when it comes to travel guitars, but the Blackstar Carry-On is a fantastic choice.  The body is tiny, giving you a 'proper' size neck to play on.

A marriage between ESP and the Traveler Guitar company, this mini metal guitar features locking tuners, an active humbucker, and the distinct looks of a full-size ESP LTD EC-1000.

Read more below 

With its cute colors, tiny build, and fantastic tone, the Epiphone Power Player SG is a great guitar for budding guitarists, whilst also being small enough to go wherever they do.

1. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Taylor’s GS Mini was ahead of most of the pack when it launched in 2010, and it still stands up as a masterful design from the company’s design wizard Andy Powers. It’s a benchmark example of a guitar that sounds far fuller than its dimensions – aided by the slight arch of its back. Although over a decade old, due to its continued success, fantastic playability, and many attempted iterations we have honored it as our number one pick. 

With spruce and mahogany options proving popular, the Koa stands out for the visual clout of its dramatic figuring. A solid top, layered back and sides, Sapele neck, and ebony fingerboard provide a rich tonal recipe here. 

Taylor’s Expression System preamp system (including a handy tuner) and the high-quality included gigbag round out a superb package for one of the company’s best-value models. Left-handed models are available too – yay! 

2. Martin LX1E Little Martin

A firm favorite of Ed Sheeran – although he has made a move to Lowden in recent years – the Martin LX1E is Martin's pint-sized offering (and one of our top picks for the best 3/4 acoustic guitars ), delivering the outstanding built quality you’d expect from the acoustic giant and a quality amplified sound. 

This guitar is made with a solid Sitka spruce top and high-pressure laminate back and sides, as well as a composite neck. It may not have the elegant looks of the D-28 or HD-35, but it is incredibly strong and damn near indestructible. This mighty little guitar will undoubtedly handle any of the harsh conditions bestowed upon it. 

Read our full Martin LX1E Little Martin review

Best nylon string

3. Yamaha SLG200N Silent Guitar

The Silent Guitar is an unusual proposition with a detachable frame for folding down. It’s also designed to be plugged in for amplification or via headphones – it makes very little acoustic sound of its own. This has the advantage of quiet practice but the Silent Guitar’s SRT and pickup blend system also shines via a PA or acoustic combo live for surprisingly organic tones to mimic a real acoustic being mic’d. 

Its low action and slim neck will suit electric guitar players if they can accept its untraditional looks. The onboard chorus and reverb are reminiscent of the Transacoustic series and further enhance the SLG200N’s usability as a traveling companion. 

When it comes to traveling, the SLG200N can be partly disassembled as the bass side of the body screws off. This allows you to slot the guitar in the Yamaha-branded gig bag like you're carrying around a laptop. Easy peasy. 

4. Blackstar Carry-On

Blackstar have made a guitar!? Yes indeed, the guitar amp company joined forces with fellow Brits Gordon Smith Guitars on a down-sized electric; 20.7-inch scale with a ukulele -sized body is certainly compact but the result stacks up comfortably well with a full-size neck.

It’s a one piece body and neck design to aid resonance and we really like design touches like the tortoiseshell-like plastic binding and the playing comfort of the matt neck, sides and back. It’s also great to see a coil-split on the humbucker pickup for tonal versatility through an amp – you can even buy the Carry-on as a package with Blackstar’s Fly3 mini amp.  

Read the full Blackstar Carry-On Deluxe Pack review  

5. Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

Another collaboration between two successful guitar brands, Traveler already have a formidable reputation for electric travel guitars and ESP build some of the finest guitars for heavy rock and metal around with its EC series; the LTD EC-1 is the combination of those skills.

The full-scale singlecut model first surfaced in 2016 and is now available in Vintage Black with gold hardware – a Traveler design calling card is to cut down on overall length by placing locking tuners within the body design. The pickup here is an ESP-designed active humbucker, so it’s ideal for higher gain tones and cutting lead work with the inbuilt headphone amp. It even features a bevelled cutaway for higher fret access. 

6. Epiphone Power Players SG

Although Epiphone’s Power Player series has a strong appeal to a young beginner, it also presents a fantastic option for some traveling humbucker bite. The SG variant comes in three awesome finishes – Lava Red, Ice Blue, and Dark Matter Ebony – and the included Epiphone branded gig bag almost begs you to take one on your next trip. 

Far from being just another beginner guitar, this SG is equipped with a set of 650R/700T ’buckers which will satisfy any cravings you may have when parted from your beloved housebound axe. Although you’ll have to bring some kind of amplification to utilize the guitar fully, a pocket-friendly headphone amplifier like the fantastic Fender Mustang Micro will have you covered. 

The Slim Taper D neck profile and contoured neck heel help with playability, and we found that the string spacing feels natural enough not to mess with our muscle memory. Also, if you aren’t a fan of the slightly off-kilter feel of an SG, there’s a Les Paul variant if that’s more your thing. So, if you’re after a viable travel size option to rock out on the road, check out the Power Players, you won’t be disappointed. 

Read the full Epiphone Power Players review

7. Yamaha APXT2

This is the third entry for Yamaha on this list, but we felt it needed to be included. Yamaha has taken their ever-popular APX and shrunk it down to create the APXT2. This 3/4 sized acoustic is one of the smallest on this list, measuring in at only 34 inches, and will happily fit in most traveling situations. 

The onboard pickup is surprisingly good on the APXT2 and offers a tone far greater than the unplugged sound. The preamp also comes with a handy built-in guitar tuner , meaning you don't have to pack any extra gear. The satin finish not only looks great but is very smooth to play. In fact, the whole neck is very familiar, and if you have played Yamaha guitars in the past, then you'll get on with how this feels. It also comes in a range of different colors, just like its big brother, the APX500. 

So if you are a fan of the APX series or are looking for a unique-looking travel guitar, then it's worth checking these out. 

8. Sheeran By Lowden S03

Whatever you think of Ed Sheeran’s music, he has great taste in luthier’s. George Lowden actually designed the Wee Lowden travel-size guitar for the songwriter and their friendship blossomed into a full series of guitars in 2019.

The S03 had a refresh in 2021 – the ‘S’ stands for small body and the latest 24.8-inch scale model features a solid cedar top but with a rosewood and mahogany layering at the back and sides this time. An impressively full sound is matched with the quality of the LR Baggs VTC system for plugging in, and with the cutaway design this is one of the best travel-size acoustics for live performance. 

Read the full Sheeran By Lowden SO3 review  

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

Should I get an electric or an acoustic travel guitar?

One of the initial choices you’ll have to make when purchasing a travel guitar is between electric and acoustic. Both have their pros and cons, so deciding what will work best for you is the most important.

With an electric travel guitar, you’ll be able to practice quietly, with the assistance of a headphone amp, so if you don’t want to bug anyone in your vicinity, an electric one may be the better option. Also, it’s far easier to record with an electric travel guitar on the move; if you have your laptop and a small audio interface then hey presto, you can record the next platinum-selling album on your bus to work. However, needing additional pieces of hardware, like a headphone amp, may put people off getting a travel electric. If you want to travel with the least faff possible, an acoustic may be the better option.

Although acoustic travel guitars don’t need additional amplification, they will be slightly deeper than their electric cousins. This depth does come with an advantage, it will project the sound a lot further and you will get a much louder sound out of an acoustic travel guitar.

What makes a great travel guitar?

A travel guitar’s portability can be due to a smaller body, lighter weight and shorter scale (this is the distance from the guitar’s nut to its saddle) but a guitar can still be great for carrying around with you and have a full-scale. 

Having said that, acoustic travel guitars tend to have a shorter scale and smaller bodies to be portable, but they will still be tuned and play like a regular guitar. Indeed, the best travel guitars we have selected in this guide all shine for their playability as well as tone so they don’t take much getting used to. 

Electric travel guitars can usually plug into guitar amps and PAs but some have their own inbuilt amps to use headphones with, making them all-in-one practice tools. 

Can I gig with a travel guitar?

Absolutely, and many acoustic travel guitars include inbuilt pickups and preamps to allow for this. Ed Sheeran is one of the most famous living guitarists on the planet and uses a small-scale travel guitar onstage and in the studio. He likes them so much he’s even got his own series of them now.

Even electric travel guitars designed for headphone practice can be used with amps if you wish, so they could be a great choice for travelling to jams or impromptu gigs with. 

What string gauge should I use for a travel guitar?

Due to their shorter scale length, the strings on a travel guitar usually feel pretty slinky and a lot bendier. This can throw some players off, particularly if your playing style includes a lot of note bends or if you’re a little heavy-handed. A way to combat this can be with a heavier string gauge. Heavier strings will compensate for a short scale length and using a set of 0.012s on a travel guitar will feel more like a set of 0.010s on a full-sized guitar. So if you’ve had trouble with super slinky strings on your travel companion go for a thicker set of strings, it should hopefully solve your issue.

How we choose the best travel guitars

Here at  Guitar World , we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar and bass related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best travel guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best travel guitars on the market right now.

Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly  how we test  each product.  

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Rob is the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar , handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar, he worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including as Editor of Total Guitar. He's currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with his own songs and is enjoying playing covers in function bands.

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Guitar Sizes – Essentials You Need to Know

What’s in between a 1/4 and a jumbo guitar? Well, as it turns out, a lot of other guitar sizes. Many brands make unique sizes of guitars, making it hard to shop for the right fit. However, this guide will give you key factors to guide your search.

First, How Do You Measure Guitar Sizes?

There are two main ways you can measure the size of a guitar: by its scale or by its total size. This rule applies to both acoustic and electric guitars because they can follow similar size metrics. But which one is more important?

Measuring Scale Length

Your guitar’s scale length runs from the nut right under the headstock down to the bridge. In simpler terms, it’s where the strings on your guitar are. It’s more important to measure this than anything else because it’s what you’ll be directly using to play music.

Yes, your guitar’s body can make a difference in how comfortable it is. But even the most comfortable guitar body won’t work if the scale length feels awkward to you. Plus, you can have different guitar sizes with the same scale lengths. 

If you want to calculate a guitar’s scale length, lay it flat on a table. Use a ruler to measure from the nut to the bridge for a rough estimate. 

You might notice that some guitar bridges have an angle, which makes measurements uneven. In those cases, try this trick: measure from the nut to the twelfth fret and multiply it by two. So, if you get 12 inches, then your guitar’s total scale size is 24 inches long.

How Does Scale Length Affect Music?

The most apparent way that scale length affects your music is through comfort. To give you an idea of what we mean, larger guitar sizes tend to have the first fret sit much farther away from the body. It can be difficult for a smaller person to properly hold their guitar , if it’s too big.

If you play music while standing up, it can become a challenge to reach and hold it while playing. You might not notice it the first time you play, but it can add up to body pain over a long period.

Beyond comfort, more extended guitars allow for tighter string tension. That produces a more profound, humming sound. They also feature thicker strings, which you might prefer if you’re going for a rounder sound.

Basically, your guitar size directly affects what its strings can do. Before you buy a guitar, you should consider your target genre to get the most of its scale length and body. Later in this article, we’ll cover what some of the most popular genres are for different sizes of guitars.

Measuring Total Length

Even though the total guitar length doesn’t always make a difference in how you play the guitar , it can make a difference for traveling or storage. This measurement captures your guitar’s total size from the end of its body to the tip of its headstock.

When you’re playing a song on your guitar, you never really touch the headstock or below the bridge. So even though it’s good to know the total size of a guitar you’re eyeing, it can be a misleading way to compare two options. 

Regardless, a full-size guitar will typically be around 25 inches. It may be slightly higher or lower depending on what brand you buy from.

What Are the Most Popular Acoustic Guitar Sizes?

There are plenty of different sizes for guitars. They can come with special strings, materials, or cutaway designs that make each one unique. 

While that can make shopping for it fun, it can also get overwhelming fast. Thankfully, many brands will break down their guitar sizes into four relative options:

• 4/4 (Full) Size

When you look at that, you might think that a ¼ guitar is precisely a quarter of the length of a 4/4. However, that’s not the case.

Companies use these measurements to make it easier for customers to pick their fit. It would get complicated if they only listed each guitar’s exact scale length, especially for new guitarists. 

For that reason, we encourage you to check a guitar’s scale length, even if you’re comparing two ¼ size options. 

If you’ve checked these four sizes but want to know if there are any in between, you’re in luck. Below, you can read about ten different acoustic guitar sizes and their best genres in more depth.

¼ Sized Guitars: The Guitarlele

A guitarlele has a higher-key noise than its larger counterparts but still offers a balanced sound. 

For most adults and teenagers, this will still be too small. But for a child, it can be the right size for their learning stage. A standard guitarlele has a scale length of around 19 inches. 

½ Sized Guitar

These guitars add a few more inches at around 22 inches total. For that reason, they’re still best for younger people or children. A  ½ guitar size is the smallest you could typically go without removing the traditional large acoustic guitar sound.

¾ Sized Guitar

A ¾ sized guitar is a step behind the first full-size option. Petite adults or those with small hands might get this as a comfortable alternative to a traditional dreadnought. These guitars will normally run around 24 inches long at the scale.

The Parlor Guitar

If you don’t want a full size nor a ¾ sized guitar, the parlor meets you in the middle. Many women enjoy this size because it produces a rich, balanced, midrange sound without getting so large it’s uncomfortable. 

You can find parlor guitars with a cutaway shape that makes them suitable to rest on your knee while you’re sitting.

The parlor guitar was famous from the late 19th century to the 1950s. Turn on an older song from the blues , folk, or classical genres, and you’ll probably hear this one in action. 

The only downside is that its size stops you from reaching a deep booming sound. Parlor guitar scale lengths tend to go from 25 inches and lower.

The Concert Guitar

This size of guitar is the parlor’s larger cousin. It offers the same sound but with a slightly richer, more comprehensive range due to its larger body. It’s ideal for finger-style playing and leans toward a scale size of 25 inches that keeps it comfortable.

There’s also the Grand Concert Guitar, a small bridge between this one and the next size. Unlike the larger Auditorium size, though, the Concert guitar tends to have a shallower body.

The Auditorium Guitar

At this stage, your guitar would have a 25-inch scale length on a bulkier body. It can still have a cutaway shape for comfortable knee placement, and it offers more depth for lower range noises.

As the name hints, you could use this for a great sound in live performances. It might be easy to confuse with its smaller counterparts, the Concert and Grand Concert guitars. But listen to their noise to tell the difference. The Auditorium has a more resonant, bass-filled sound than the bright Concert guitar.

The Dreadnought Guitar

The dreadnought guitar has a bulky, hollow body that’s fit for playing deep, lower range sounds. It’s a standard among musicians who play bluegrass songs or folk music, and it weighs about four to five pounds. Today, it’s arguably the most popular guitar body on the market.

Like the auditorium guitar, the dreadnought usually has a scale length of 25 inches. But it has a wider waist, so it’ll fall on your body differently from the others. 

Regardless, the dreadnought has earned a reputation as the “Swiss Army Knife” of guitars. You can use it on stage, in a studio, in a group, or solo. A staple for playing lead guitar , you’ll NEED a dreadnought in your collection. In any use, you can count on it to be crisp and adaptable.

The Jumbo Guitar

The Jumbo guitar is a favorite for country songs , rock n roll, and the blues. Elvis Presley is famous for using jumbos guitars like the 1960 Gibson J-200 with him in some performances.

It’s a great strumming guitar, but it’s also, of course, a jumbo. This is the kind of guitar that might make you consider investing in an attachable strap . On the flip side, if you take a jumbo to travel with you, it’s case size makes it the perfect canvas for world tour patches.

It can run over 25 inches on its scale and have a body around 40 inches. 

Be sure to learn how to clean your guitar strings properly, no matter which size or style you choose!

Why Should I Consider a Smaller Guitar?

Small guitars are best for travel and children. 

If you’re shopping for a kid, though, you might not know what age warrants what size. Use our quick guide below to see how smaller sizes of guitars fit different age groups.

Age to Guitar Size Guide

Even though we’ve covered acoustic guitars, the following guide also works for electric guitars. 

• Ages 3-5: ¼ Size
• Ages 6-8: ½ Size
• Ages 8-10: ¾ Size
• Ages 10-12: ⅞
• Ages 11-12: 4/4 

This rough guide can help start you on your search, but remember that even a ½ in two brands can have different scale lengths. 

For example, a ¼ steel-string guitar tends to have between 483 and 486 millimeters in length. Meanwhile, an electric guitar has a lower range starting from 440 to 486 millimeters. 

Your mileage may vary. Some kids around nine years old are happy to play a full-sized guitar with no problem. That has an added benefit of getting them used to the whole experience early on. 

Some people suggest getting a size larger than what you expect they’ll play. At least that way, they can grow into their size like shoes.

Also, electric guitars often have thinner body depths than their acoustic counterparts. So you can likely get away with a larger electric option while shopping.

Guitars for Travelling

If you’re a musician planning to get on the road, you should know that some companies make guitars specifically for that. For example, the Martin Steel String has a narrow body but keeps a longer scale length of 24 inches. 

Generally, though, travel guitar scale sizes stick to around 22 inches long.

Most travel guitars run between ½ and ¾ sizes. You might worry that that’ll sacrifice the sounds you’d get from your favorite dreadnought or jumbo. But you can find a middle ground with foldable guitars that make it easier to pack without sacrificing body depth.

Are Electric Guitar Sizes Different??

In general, electric guitar sizes follow the same pattern as acoustic ones:

However, the right size for you in an acoustic guitar might not be the same as your size in an electric guitar. Electric guitars have a much thinner body, so they fit more comfortably than, say, a large hollow dreadnought’s body. 

What truly makes electric guitars different is their weight and string count. Since they’re made of solid wood, they feel dense and sturdy.

First, we’ll cover weight. An electric guitar will weigh differently depending on if its body is solid or chambered. 

There are three popular types of bodies: Hollow, Semi-Hollow, and Solid.

Also known as semi-acoustic electric guitars, these instruments have large empty spaces within the wood of their bodies. They produce a clean, warm sound that made it popular for Jazz and blues in the 1930s. 

A full-sized hollow guitar will typically weigh around six pounds. If you size down to a ½, you could be looking at as low as three pounds.

Semi-Hollow

Semi-hollow electric guitars also have chambers, but with a solid block of wood running through the center. 

Don’t confuse this with chambered guitars , which may have holes in the shape of a honeycomb. Both of these relieve weight, but semi-hollow guitars may sound more resonant.

A full-sized semi-hollow guitar can weigh eight to nine pounds.

Solid guitar bodies don’t have chambers, allowing you to amplify them at much higher ranges without feedback issues.

The heaviest electric guitars weigh between nine to twelve pounds, like the Gibson Les Paul. 

String Count

Unlike most acoustic guitars, electric guitars can have between six to twelve strings . Some, like the Gibson EDS-1275 , even come with double necks. The more strings it has, the thicker and more ringing it’ll sound.

When you’re buying an electric guitar, look at these factors alongside its scale size. They can make a big difference in how you play.

What About Bass Guitars?

A standard, full-sized electric bass guitar will have a scale length of 34″. An example of this is on the Fender Player Precision Bass guitar. They can go shorter down to 30″, though.

Bass guitars are unique because their scale length runs down nearly the entire guitar. They often have solid bodies, though some semi-hollow options are available.

You can find electric bass guitars in ¾ and 4/4 sizes. There are ¼ and ½ sizes out there, but they’re rare because most kids start with acoustic guitars. They typically weigh about nine pounds.

Does Hand Length Affect Which Size You Should Pick?

Most adults can enjoy a 4/4 size guitar, regardless of how big their hands are. Even if you have small hands, you can often find a large guitar with a narrower neck to accommodate you. If you’re curious, though, you can measure your hand to see if a smaller size of the guitar will suit you.

Take a ruler, and sprawl your hand out over it. Then, measure the end of your pinky to the end of your thumb. 

If your sprawled hand is under 170 millimeters, you might benefit from using a ⅞ sized guitar. Still, the measurement can be so subtle that you might not notice the difference at all.

What’s great is that there are plenty of guitars for those with small hands , so fear not if yours are on the smaller side!

Does Guitar Size Affect Neck Width?

Yes, to some degree. Most acoustic guitars have a neck width between 41 and 47 millimeters. Electric guitars offer more sizes with thinner necks, running from 41 millimeters and lower.

A narrow neck makes it easier to grab your guitar from any position. The downside is that it can also get crowded for your fingers or make it harder to strum properly . 

With a wide neck, you give yourself more space to grip the right strings. But small fingers will have a hard time reaching across the entire neck.

Overall, there’s less variation in guitar neck width compared to scale length. But it doesn’t hurt to check your guitar’s specifications to see if this size would affect your playing.

Ultimately, picking the right guitar size comes down to what you’re comfortable with. That may sound obvious, but it’s crucial if you’re going to be playing it for a long time. 

If you’re just starting to learn the guitar, the wrong size can discourage or even deter you from continuing. But the problem is in the instrument, not on you.

If you’re experienced, you might still benefit from having more than one size of guitar available. In either case, we encourage you to use this as a comprehensive guide to making an informed choice.

Choose the best online guitar lessons to learn today

Master the basic guitar chords you need to know

Cleaning your guitar – a step-by-step guide

Guitar parts – mastering its anatomy

As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.

Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.

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Introducing the GPCE Inception™ Maple

Martin Guitar is unlocking the sonic beauty of sustainable tonewoods with the all-new GPCE Inception™ Maple . Combining nature and technology, this groundbreaking acoustic-electric features skeletonized scalloped bracing and sonic channels for increased resonance and superior tone – technology that’s purpose-built for this model’s particular tonewoods. It’s a testament to our relentless pursuit of innovation, taking the art of guitar manufacturing to new heights and new sounds.

GPCE Inception Maple:

An inside look, sound test results.

During the final design phase, the GPCE Inception was measured using spectral analysis. By measuring the frequency response of the instrument, we were able to narrow down the sonic impact of its unique design features. In doing so, we proved that skeletonized bracing increases sustain and the sonic channeling increases amplitude. Typically, when you increase sustain, you lose amplitude or vice versa; the unique design features of the GPCE Inception increase both.

Innovation In Every Note

The skeletonized bracing and sonic channels inside the GPCE Inception work together to increase sustain and amplitude, optimize airflow, and reduce the guitar’s mass without losing structural support, making maple sound better than it ever has. It’s also made from a combination of sustainable tonewoods, including an FSC®-certified European spruce top, maple sides, and an eye-catching three-piece back of maple and black walnut, providing a clear, projective, and balanced tone.

GPCE Inception Maple: Behind the Design

So, what does it take to develop and unleash such a groundbreaking instrument? Join the Martin Guitar team and take a journey behind the design of their latest creation, exploring the meticulous craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology that’s been woven into this all-new model. The GPCE Inception not only embodies Martin’s storied legacy but also introduces a new era of sonic excellence. Uncover the artistry and innovation that sets it apart.

Skeletonized Bracing & Sonic Channels

Work together to boost sustain and give maple an entirely new sound.

Black Walnut Wedge

The centerpiece of the three-piece back helps provide some needed warmth.

Domestic Tonewoods

Experience the Martin sound in a guitar made from woods sourced in North America.

Unique Finish

Its satin amber fade sunburst finish is sure to turn heads.

Electronics

LR Baggs Anthem electronics let you reliably play anywhere, at any volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i buy the gpce inception maple, is the gpce inception maple available for left-handed players, does the gpce inception maple come with electronics, where is the gpce inception maple made and manufactured, is the gpce inception maple handmade, what makes the gpce inception maple sustainable, is martin guitar working on developing other sustainable models, does the skeletonized bracing and sonic channels affect the guitar’s structural stability, what is the warranty/return policy, how do i change the strings, what type of strings should i use, remove product, martin backstage.

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