"Real" Travel Guitar

[TDavis]

I'm thinking about buying a "real" travel guitar...but although I love my Martin Dreadnought Jr. and I'm a fan of the Taylor GS-Mini, both of those use solid wood (especially in the case of the all-solid wood Martin) and have at least some negative reaction to low humidity as well as high humitidy. So...I'm thinking about a composite guitar of some kind, one that's an 0/00 size body and is virtually impervious to natures ups and downs.

I know about Rainsong carbon fiber & glass resin guitars...but I don't really want to spend what they cost. I'd like to stay in the $400-600 range but I want something that actually sounds like a guitar, you know?

Any ideas?

[rob2966]

I think you are hard pressed to beat the Journey OF660 for the ultimate CF travel instrument.

Later
Rob

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by davistld01

I'm thinking about buying a "real" travel guitar...but although I love my Martin Dreadnought Jr. and I'm a fan of the Taylor GS-Mini, both of those use solid wood (especially in the case of the all-solid wood Martin) and have at least some negative reaction to low humidity as well as high humitidy. So...I'm thinking about a composite guitar of some kind, one that's an 0/00 size body and is virtually impervious to natures ups and downs.

I know about Rainsong carbon fiber & glass resin guitars...but I don't really want to spend what they cost. I'd like to stay in the $400-600 range but I want something that actually sounds like a guitar, you know?

Any ideas?

Hi davidstid01

Sure - the Voyage Air VAOM-04 is a full sized OM with a normal neck which fits into a backpack which will go in an overhead bin.

Mine is pushing 8 years old now, and it goes all over the country with us in RV, planes, SUV etc. Solid top, laminate back/sides, and sounds and plays awesome.

It does have a 1¾" nut and a fairly slim neck profile.

[rmoretti49]

Originally Posted by rob2966

I think you are hard pressed to beat the Journey OF660 for the ultimate CF travel instrument.

Later
Rob

+1 on this. I'm really happy with mine. But for what you want to spend, it isn't a consideration. The wood version with solid top, laminate back and sides, OF410, is in your price range. I owned one and liked it, but I like the carbon fiber OF660 better.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by davistld01

...I know about Rainsong carbon fiber & glass resin guitars...but I don't really want to spend what they cost. I'd like to stay in the $400-600 range but I want something that actually sounds like a guitar, you know?

Any ideas?

Nothing new in carbon fiber at the $400-$600 price range that I am aware of, but if you could push your budget to say a $800 to $900, you might find a nice pre owned example.

[woodbox]

Yes, VoyageaAir!!

I have an 06 (very similar to the 04 ljguitar mentions above)
and an 02 which is ALL LAMINATE.

Although the 04 and 06 sound a bit richer with thier solid tops, I keep my 02 because the top is less likely to crack if exposed to abrupt humidity and/or temperature changes. ( well, that's the story I tell myself )

My 02 goes everywhere...camping, to the beach, to Zion last month, and Europe in March.

They are well made, sturdy, sound good, and fold into a small backpack package. Not as small as a Journey Overhead, but I prefer the feel and tone of the VA.

I've had a lot of "travel guitars", and VoyageaAir is my informed and experienced choice.

[The Bard Rocks]

If you want it to sound like a guitar, Voyage Air is the only travel guitar in that price range.

[rmoretti49]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

If you want it to sound like a guitar, Voyage Air is the only travel guitar in that price range.

Others might want to hear the Journey 410 before accepting this as gospel. The online videos provide good examples.

[email4eric]

If you're set on CF, you'll have to look really hard for used and that price range will be difficult. If you can wait and save or stretch your budget a bit, the two CF Journey offerings (OF660 and RT660) should be on your short list. The difference between the two being slightly different in size and whether or not the neck is easily or less easily removed for travel.

[woodbox]

I've had two Journey 410's and six Voyage Air's.

The fullness of the VA is instantly apparent,
as is the boxy limitations of the Journey.

The Manzer wedge on the Journey models helps to fill in some low end,
but the full OM body of the VoyageAir guitars is the clear tone winner.

This has been my experience over many hours of comparison.

[rmoretti49]

Originally Posted by woodbox

I've had two Journey 410's and six Voyage Air's.

The fullness of the VA is instantly apparent,
as is the boxy limitations of the Journey.

The Manzer wedge on the Journey models helps to fill in some low end,
but the full OM body of the VoyageAir guitars is the clear tone winner.

This has been my experience over many hours of comparison.

I don't doubt that these two guitars sound very different. Guitars of very different size usually do. The OP said he was looking for a travel guitar in the 0/00 size range, and the Voyage Aires are obviously larger than that.

[jessupe]

http://alpacaguitar.com/alpaca-carbo...travel-guitar/

799 list

[TDavis]

Originally Posted by jessupe

http://alpacaguitar.com/alpaca-carbo...travel-guitar/



799 list

Interesting...and ugly.

[printer2]

They need to do a 0 Voyage Air.

[rmoretti49]

Originally Posted by printer2

They need to do a 0 Voyage Air.

I've always wondered why they haven't.