Martin and Washburn travel guitar comparison by Jana Stanfield

While in Bali, singer/songwriter Jana Stanfield and CK Brown do a side by side visual comparison of two popular travel guitars, the Martin Backpacker and the Washburn Rover. (If you are looking for another option for a travel guitar with a full sound, look at www.go-guitars.com for a handmade travel guitar by Sam Radding, the original founder of Taylor guitars.)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Martin Backpacker
• Washburn Rover
• travel guitar
• comparison
• side by side
• Jana Stanfield
• Bali
• Cheryl Krieger CK Brown
• go guitar

[bonjourtag]

I thought the Martin steel string backpacker was NOT a electric instrument???

I see Amazon has the noe elect. version anyways, for $ 168 ..

The lady in the video showed the bottom of the Martin, and said that she plays the elect version....

Does she mean the LX1E that is shaped nothing like what she is commenting on?? A reg Guitar?

[ckwindsong]

@bonjourtag The Martin backpacker comes with or without the electronic plug in. This particular one in the video does have it. It usually costs about $100 more than the non-electric instrument. The LX1E is mentioned below in response to micmoable's comment about liking the LX1. Although I also have the LX1E, it has nothing to do with the contents of this video review.

[micmoable]

I have played a backpacker but if you really want a nice sounding small guitar get the LX1 Martin Little guitar--has solid top and feels like full size guitar only smaller

[ckwindsong]

@micmoable yes, I also had an LX1E, the little Martin with the plug in electronics, which does have a nice sound. It is a bit larger than these small ones that we reviewed, but still small enough to put in the overhead bin. My favorite has to be the Go Guitar by Sam Radding of San Diego. We haven't had a chance to post a review comparision yet, but it is both a better shape and sound than the Martin Backpacker or Washburn.

[SROD12321]

You put your 'packer in a suitcase & CHECK IT? SMASH! To all reading this, if you are considering this 'packer with the intention of checking it, just bring your full-size guitar. Here's why: if you are playing anywhere there is ambient noise (ocean, wind, party, other instrument) you are NOT going to hear the little Martin. I love my 'packer for hikes AWAY from ambient noise. But for a beach resort, bring your regular guitar (especially if you are going to check your travel guitar anyway).

[ckwindsong]

@SROD12321 I can understand your opinion on this - everyone has seen the "United Breaks Guitars" video on YouTube! However, we've both checked our small travel guitars in PADDED cases, in the middle of drop bottom duffel bags, and traveled around the world - without any problem. These guitars will plug in and sound great. Of course the sound can't compare to a full sized guitar, but for portability for playing at orphanages in Indonesia and Vietnam, for example, they are just right.

[bonjourtag]

Oh, so it is available , the Martin, and looks identical as the Martin shown, but a plug in amp version??

Very, very interesting.... Now knowing that fact, I will dig in a little deeper into purchasing one...

I thought it, the non-elec., looked like the student Martins mini sort of if ya know what I mean...

Thank you for your time for answering me

Scott

[legendsveil]

The Martin went up in price, I remember when I saw it for 180 Dollars

[raleighman3000]

Double-Milf Guitar Jamboree! Love ya!

[1BrknHrtdRomeo]

I had to choose b/t the 2...the Martin was 215 brand new, Washburn was 175 used with a pickup installed.

As much as I love Martin (JM/Clapton fan) and love the sound and tone coming out of it here...but for a travel guitar, it only has 15 frets whereas the Washburn is nearly full scale at 19 frets. I like hitting those higher notes and I want to have a travel guitar that is as close to a full one as I can get it.

So...Washburn won it for me =)

[adaptiveagile]

Cool review.

[guitargeek1122]

martin is epic, washburn sucks!