Hey there travel enthusiasts and welcome to my post where we will check out my three best guitars for travel and some musical fun this year. This may sound like a strange one, but for some when it comes to travel, a guitar holds distinct importance.
It’s a tool that bridges the gap between cultures, a way to relax or even a means to earn some extra cash whilst on the road. However as we know, normal guitars can be bulky – which is where a guitar built for travel comes in.
So for those of you in the market for a guitar to to suit your travel adventures, I have had a good look around and come up with three decent options below. Let’s check them out…
My Three Recommended Guitars for Travel
I will review these in more detail below. Still, if you want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience:
What are travel-friendly guitars?
Travel guitars are compact, lightweight instruments tailored for musicians on the move, striking a balance between playability, sound quality and convenience. They’re designed to accommodate travelers‘ unique needs, featuring collapsible elements for enhanced portability and durability to withstand changing conditions.
While their smaller size may raise sound quality concerns, modern travel guitars incorporate innovative features like specialized bracing and materials to maintain respectable tonal output, enabling musicians to creatively practice and perform while exploring the world.
What Should You Be Looking For?
The following factors should be considered as you look around for a good guitar to suit your travel needs.
- Portability and Size
- Durability and Build Quality
- Sound Quality
- Electronics
- Additions
Portability and Size
Guitars for travel are meticulously crafted with reduced dimensions and lightweight construction, enabling effortless portage for musicians on the go. The compact design facilitates hassle-free storage in confined spaces such as overhead compartments on planes or even the backseat of a compact car, making them ideal companions for globetrotting musicians.
Some models boast collapsible frames or detachable components that are engineered to fit snugly into travel cases or backpacks. Others are simply built a little smaller without compromising musical output.
Durability and Build Quality
A sturdy construction, bolstered by robust materials, ensures that guitars for travel can endure the various challenges posed by different climates, modes of transportation and unforeseen physical impacts.
Guitars for travel then often feature reinforced bracing patterns and resilient tonewoods where the focus isn’t solely on protection, but also on maintaining consistent playability and sound quality over time.
Sound Quality
In essence, the sound quality of a guitar is the culmination of its materials, construction, components, and the external environment in which it’s played. Firstly, the type of wood used and its treatment can greatly affect the sound. For example, solid wood tends to produce a richer and more resonant sound than laminate. The species of wood, be it mahogany, spruce, or rosewood, also imparts distinct tonal qualities.
Beyond the guitar’s construction, the type and gauge of strings used can shape the sound. Heavier gauge strings often result in a louder and fuller tone, while lighter gauges might offer more brightness and ease of playability.
And finally, hardware components such as the saddle, bridge and nut which are sometimes made from materials like bone, synthetic composites or metals, can affect sustain and tonal clarity.
Electronics
The electronics in guitars for travel, often comprising pickups and preamp systems, empower musicians to project their melodies to larger audiences without compromising the guitar’s portable nature.
The inclusion of volume and tone controls on guitars, including those designed for travel, serves to provide players with the ability to adjust and shape their instrument’s sound to suit their preferences and musical context. These controls are typically found on electric guitars, including those intended for travel, as acoustic guitars generally do not have built-in electronics.
Additions
Other potential additions include:
- Earphones: Many travel guitars come equipped with built-in electronics, including pickups and preamps, allowing you to plug in headphones directly into the guitar. This is a fantastic feature for practicing on the go without disturbing others. Look for a travel guitar that offers a headphone jack and controls for volume and tone adjustment. This feature allows you to enjoy your playing experience in private, making it ideal for hotel rooms, public transportation or any situation where you want to keep your practice sessions to yourself.
- Hand orientation: It’s crucial to choose a travel guitar that matches your hand orientation to ensure comfortable playing. If you’re right-handed, a right-handed guitar will be the standard choice. However, if you’re a left-handed player, make sure you select a left-handed travel guitar. This consideration is vital for your playing comfort and overall experience, as playing a guitar that matches your hand orientation is essential for proper technique and ease of use.
My three recommendations broken down
So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:
1. Journey Instruments Solid Sitka Travel Guitar
This first option combines quality construction, innovative design and portability to create an instrument that’s tailor-made for traveling musicians. With its exceptional sound quality, easy assembly and compact carrying options, this guitar is a versatile companion for musicians seeking to share their music wherever their journey takes them. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Journey Instruments
- Color: Light Yellow and Dark Brown
- Top Material: Spruce Wood
- Body Material: African Mahogany
- Back Material: African Mahogany
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fret Material: Ovangkol Wood
- String Material: Elixir
- Hand Orientation: Right
- Weight: 3.74 pounds
- Dimensions: 4.06 x 12.2 x 33.58 inches
Other inclusions:
- Lifetime warranty
- TSA-approved carryon backpack
Why have I chosen it?
This natural brown travel guitar features a top made of spruce wood, contributing to its rich and resonant sound profile with a body made of African mahogany which not only enhances the instrument’s durability but also adds warmth to its tonal characteristics. The guitar’s piezo pickup configuration ensures that its sound can be amplified when needed, adapting seamlessly to both intimate and larger-scale performances.
The patented collapsible neck system, which allows for quick assembly and disassembly in about 20 seconds, is one of the guitar’s standout feature and it also comes with a premium TSA-compliant carry-on backpack that fits most airplane overhead bins, ensuring its safety during travel.
1. Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag
With its compact dimensions, comfortable playability and resonant sound, this travel guitar is a reliable and inspiring companion for musicians on the go. Whether you’re an experienced player or just beginning your musical journey, this guitar will provide durability and great sound wherever you happen to be. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Martin
- Colors: Natural
- Top Material: Spruce
- Body Material: Wood
- Back Material: Mahogany
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fret Material: Hardwood
- String Material: Bronze
- Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
- Weight: 5.15 pounds
- Dimensions: 4.8 x 4.5 x 9.6 inches
Other inclusions it has:
- Padded carry bag
Why have I chosen it?
This natural-colored travel guitar boasts a solid spruce top that contributes to its resonant and balanced sound projection with a body crafted from tonewood that further enhances the guitar’s tonal characteristics while adding durability.
The mahogany neck and hardwood fretboard offer a comfortable and smooth playing experience, allowing musicians to seamlessly navigate the 15 frets and the inclusion of bronze strings complements the instrument’s sound profile, providing a warm and articulate tone.
The 24-inch scale length strikes a balance between portability and playability and the design emphasizes simplicity and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced players alike.
3. Donner HUSH-I Guitar For Travel
This third options offers headless construction, removable frames and button tuners that contribute to its portability, while the included gig bag fits easily in airplane overhead bins. The ultra-quiet performance, enabled by a preamp system, also allows for natural acoustic tones through headphones or the 6.35mm output. See its specifications below:
- Brand: Donner
- Color: Natural
- Top Material: Maple
- Body Material: Maple
- Back Material: Maple
- Neck Material: Maple
- Fret Material: HPL
- String Material: Alloy Steel
- Hand Orientation: Right
- Weight: 7.08 pounds
- Dimensions: 33.5 x 6.7 x 2.2 inches
Other inclusions
- Earphones
- Hidden tuning keys
Why have I chosen this?
This guitar is a popular choice because of its lightweight and compact design, emphasized by its headless construction, button tuners and removable frames. And it also comes with a gig bag that easily fits into airplane overhead bins, making it an ideal companion for jet-setting musicians as well.
The guitar’s ultra-quiet performance is facilitated by its preamp system, enabling musicians to enjoy natural acoustic tones through headphones or the 6.35mm port output and the integrated 9v battery delivers extended usage times, providing up to 50 hours of headphone usage or 30 days of speaker usage.
Sound quality is a focal point as well featuring an anti-phase bottom for noise reduction and feedback elimination, contributing to a cleaner and purer sound output. The 2-stage EQ and volume knobs afford players the ability to craft their desired tones, whether they’re strumming chords or exploring intricate solos. Moreover, the HUSH-I’s customized round frets offer a beginner-friendly and comfortable experience, ensuring that players can focus on their practice without worrying about finger discomfort.
conclusion
There you have it; my three best guitars for travel. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual, let me know of your experiences with them.
Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, or corrections or would like me to check anything else out for you.
Until next time.
Have fun
Paul
