Been meaning to ask but it slipped my mind, I saw in one of
your pictures a backpacker type guitar slung over your shoulder. What
make, price and how does it sound? Been wanting one, but haven't seen
one in any of my local shops to try out, so I may be going in blind
and getting one from Musicians Friend.- Hide quoted text -
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It is a Martin Backpacker.
http://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/...p?p=m&m=Steel%...
The reason I got it was although it only has 15 frets, they are close
to full size and distance as my full size guitars, great for
practicing scales. It weighs 2 1/2 lbs and has a very light finish so
it can breathe out moisture. I carry it for the boat or anywhere I go,
it is to be with me in my casket when I go... Sound on mine is pretty
good for such a small body (I mean, it IS a Martin afterall) but they
can be a little tinny. I played a bunch of them and expected a little
more edge but I really lucked out and got a nice piece of wood, it is
very full for a tiny guitar. You can get them at Guitar Center for
about 160, since I bought mine however there is a version with a
thinline pickup under the bridge (electric acoustic) style but it is
pretty expensive. I just use a Dean Markley acoustic pro (transducer
type pickup) to plug into an amp.
http://deanmarkley.com/Pickups/Artis...hor-More-47857
that I stick to the body of the guitar and plug in. Great little
picnic guitar, you should go ahead and grab one if you can, they are
great...
I also have one of these, a tiny little belt held Marshall amp:
http://www.activemusician.com/item--EM.MS2
Just for fun...- Hide quoted text -
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Going to check one out this weekend. Friday night (Nationwide) and
Saturday night (Sprint) racing at the Lady in Black.....
That's the way racing should be!- Hide quoted text -
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I did a lot of research before I bought mine. Most if not everyone
that I read that played it seriously took down the bridge a bit before
even playing it. Well, maybe a plink or two you will see. I took mine
out of the slot and took it down between 3/64ths and a 16th if I
remember correctly. You can get new bridge pieces if you mess up, or
you could always shim it if you go too deep, the slot would hide it
nicely. I hit mine just right, love it. I run Martin Phosphor Bronze
extra light .010-.047s which I think are stock on them factory iirc.
Drawbacks/tradeoffs for a guitar you could get rained on and maybe
save if you dried it slow, and glue together if you roll over on it in
the tent
a
15 frets
flat neck so your other capo won't fit
small body leaves a little edge to the b and sometimes the high e
depending on weather and such.
Not very loud
should not try to up the ultra light strings for structural reasons.
Advantages:
2 1/2 pounds
can get wet and survive
cheap if wrecked
and of course, best of all.....
It's a Martin..
so when the humidity and your fingers are just
right, it rings.
And of course, um, It's a Martin...
There are two versions of the acoustic version, Metal strings for
picking, nylon for finger picking.. However, I use my metal strings
version for both. Having set it up my self and using ultra-light
strings, I can't see anyone needing to go to the nylon string version
to finger pick... Mine is a very light touch setup, just for home.
Again, I can't stress enough the idea of either getting the one with
the thinline pickup built in (about 100 bucks more) or what I did with
the DM transducer noted above. Also I should note that if the thinline
version was out, I would have probably paid the price for it to be
able to plug in.
Drawbacks of the DM acoustic transducer is the chord to it is as
sensitive as the pickup itself (which sticks to the guitar with a
white clay like substance which in my opinion is kind of klumky) and
if you move around or touch the cable, the amp picks it up. You can
however lay down a neat drum beat with your knee if you stand just
right..
Anyway, play the one with the thin line version (factory built in
pickup) if you get a chance, I have never played one... Remember, the
setup is easy once you get it home if the action seems high. I bet
they do it on purpose so there is enough bridge material for anyone to
set it up. From hard players to soft players like myself..
Good luck let me know if you get one...
and of course, best of all.....
It's a Martin..
so when the humidity and your fingers are just
right, it rings.