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#1
04-30-2017, 06:47 PM
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Very short-lived NGD
I was intrigued by the concept of a Traveler Ultralight guitar. It's a tiny bodied, headless silent guitar that is built to acoustic specs. The neck geometry is very close to my Taylor so I thought it might be a cool practice guitar to throw in a suitcase.
I got an open box model and it arrived today. The neck and action felt good and it was comfortable in that regard. I will say, the design is very clever. It truly did tune and hold tuning well and had reasonably good intonation. The fit and finish were mediocre and the UST pickup was very harsh. The design however was very unpleasant for me. I simply could not play anything on it. Without having a guitar body to hold on to and cradle while playing it just flopped around. Imagine just playing a neck only. I found it very frustrating. I re-sold it for a teeny loss, boxed it up already and am writing it off as a $20 test drive. 
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Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" Taylor GC7, GA3-12, SB2-C, SB2-Cp...... Ibanez AVC-11MHx , AC-240 
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#2
04-30-2017, 06:49 PM
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Been there, done that. I totally relate to your experience.
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Furch Little Jane Limited 2020 LJ-LC (Czech Rep.) Alpine/Cocobolo Furch Little Jane LJ 10-SR (Czech Rep.) Sitka/EIR Hex Sting P300 (Indonesia) Sitka/Lam.Sapele
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#3
04-30-2017, 06:52 PM
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Me, too. Couldn't figure out how to hold it.
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"Militantly left-handed." Lefty Acoustics Martin 00-15M Taylor 320e Baritone Cheap Righty Classical (played upside down ala Elizabeth Cotten)
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#4
04-30-2017, 06:52 PM
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Interesting read.
I have considered these as well. They have one at the local GC, but I have not plunked on them. Perhaps I will. The idea of something this portable is intriguing. Good to have an actual perspective.
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#5
04-30-2017, 07:15 PM
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I assume the metal frame inserts into the lower body, so I wonder if a metal top frame (to sort of make it look like a Strat body) would provide suitable structure to make it more playable. If not, it seems like it would be easy enough to fabricate one to try it out. It won't be me doing it though.
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Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs
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#6
04-30-2017, 07:19 PM
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I've seen those but never tried one. Can you play it with a strap?
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#7
04-30-2017, 07:29 PM
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Quote:
My right hand also could not find a place properly. The whole thing was awkward to me. Really awkward.
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Fazool "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter" Taylor GC7, GA3-12, SB2-C, SB2-Cp...... Ibanez AVC-11MHx , AC-240
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#9
04-30-2017, 07:39 PM
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No harm done, put it down as a guitar experience.
One of those cases where the wand just didn't fit the wizard. I've bought cheap strings that were so bad they made they laugh.
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Brucebubs 1972 - Takamine D-70 2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone 2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo 2012 - Dan Dubowski#61 2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo 2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200 2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird
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#10
05-01-2017, 05:49 AM
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I'm wondering if these guitars are actually designed to be played using a strap. I like the concept, however, have never tried one.
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Maton CE60D Ibanez Blazer Washburn Taurus T25NMK
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#12
05-01-2017, 06:16 AM
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I had a little stick shaped electric guitar a bit like that, years ago, I can't remember the make (Tacoma , maybe ?) Had a cute soft case, like a rifle bag.
Anyhoo, yeah, same problem , neck heavy, just couldn't balance it or hold it without a strap and even then it was pretty useless IIRC.
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#13
05-01-2017, 06:25 AM
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I just went through a similar process with an all koa classical guitar
After 4 days, it went back... Only cost me $22 for shipping at GC. $22 to test drive a guitar at home for 4 days.
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2003 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2019 Cordoba C-12 Cedar 2016 Godin acoustic archtop 2011 Godin Jazz model archtop
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#15
05-01-2017, 07:48 AM
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My Traveler experience...
I was intrigued by the premise. I checked a couple GCs while we were traveling - they didn't have one in stock. In Las Vegas, I called the GC in the shopping center at the southern end of the Strip, and was told they had several. When we went in to try one out, the first one didn't work with the headphones. The next one worked with the headphones, but sounded more like an electric on overdrive. When I said that to the salesman, he took the guitar, put on the headphones and started rockin' out. After watching him wale on that guitar for about 5 minutes, we waved good-bye and left.  I don't think he noticed.My brief time with it: it was clumsy to hold, the "acoustic" model didn't sound acoustic.
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