Anyone played a Martin Backpacker?

[matman]

What did you think of them tone/playing wise?

Just sold my 12 string and am on the hunt for a new 6 string acoustic. I'm toying with the idea of completely downsizing and I just got a tempting fixed price offer on the backpacker that was on TM recently.

I could get the Martin and have change left over from the 12 string sale (plus have something I could take to work), otherwise I'd have to pay some extra $ to get the S Yairi S15 that's my fave of the other acoustics I've looked at.

[rocklander]

played my brothers one in the UK.. tone was utter rubbish.. hard to play (cos it sat funny). it's a 'get by when you're on the road and need a fix of some strings under the fingers gadget'. it is not a suitable replacement for an acoustic.

[matman]

Thanks bro - that's exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for...hmmm looks like its back to the drawing board.

[fyrbyrd]

I have one, got off trademe. Agree that it is not a good choice for anything other than keeping your hand in when you can't get to a real guitar. has a thin banjo tone, and you need a strap as it is neck heavy and awkward otherwise. Much better than a toy though, and great for mucking about on.
Cheers

Matt

[Slowy]

In a moment of need, they work quite well as a canoe paddle
or beach tennis bat
or kindling

For $50, I'd buy one just to remind myself how bad things could be.

[electric68]

Had one.

Sold it.


I bought it because I was spending several nights a week in hotel rooms and missed playing; it fits in the overhead bin in a plane and you can satisfy that craving to play. Sounds like cardboard, but you don't buy it for the tone. You have to use the strap even for sitting because of the weird shape. It's ok if you're sitting lonely in a strange city overnight.... makes you realize how good your guitar back home really must be.

[Vince]

It's bigger than a Backpacker but the LXM, the Little Martin guitars... they're very reasonable instruments.