Travel/Smaller Guitar: Pros & Cons

[joeguam]

It seems there are a lot of new threads seeking information on the different smaller (3/4, parlor, etc.) or travel (voyage air, GO, etc.) guitars on the market. As we all know, a perfect guitar for one person may not be so perfect for the next. Let's see if we can have one thread that compiles all the opinions of these types of guitars into a "one stop shop" for those seeking information.

Maybe just one simple rule for posting in this thread?
For each opinion, include the following information:

BRAND & MODEL:

PROS:
-

CONS:
-


I hope this thread helps someone, somewhere, sometime!

...
Joe

[joeguam]

I'll go first.

BRAND & MODEL: Taylor GS Mini

PROS:
- Big, full, loud tone
- Comfortable action
- 3/4 size body
- Comes with Taylor Hard Bag (not the regular Gig Bag)
- Available in hog top

CONS:
- 1-11/16" nut width
- Small scale neck (23-1/2")
- Unique endpin that requires customization for pickups not readily built

...
Joe

[Ed422]

BRAND & MODEL: Go, Grande Mahogany

PROS:
All solid wood.
Great tone for such a small guitar.
Customization options (when ordered new); nut width, spacing at bridge, neck profile, special woods
Excellent gig bag
Inexpensive
Excellent for hiking and camping.
-

CONS:
Difficult to hold without strap
Poor quality tuners (out of the bag)
-

Ed

[Ed422]

BRAND & MODEL: Voyage Air, VAMD-04BK

PROS:
Solid top
Great tone. Sounds better than its price.
Feels like a regular guitar.
Excellent gig bag, back pack style.
Inexpensive
Slightly short scale (24.75")
Great for travel where vehicles are involved.
-

CONS:
Nut width only available in 1 11/16 in this model.
Finger spacing at bridge. It is as though they took a dread design, put it in a CAD program and shrunk everything. Of course, it is billed as a 15/16 (or 7/8?) size dreadnaught so I should have anticipated it.
-

Ed

[steamfurnace]

I would echo all of Ed's sentiments on my Voyage Air VAOM-04, except mine is full size OM with 1 3/4" nut spacing.

[imwjl]

Comments on our family guitar.

BRAND & MODEL: Little Martin (the basic laminate and composite neck model)

PROS:
-size
-quality
-price
-best sounding kitchen counter laminate I've ever heard
-gig bag carries a book, iPad, accessories and can work riding a bike

CONS:
-none considering the price and purpose of the instrument


We do not submit our Little Martin to abuse but it has stood up to parties at the beach, birthday cake, sun block, and temperature extremes you would not give to a quality wood guitar.

My daughter and I are considering a CA Cargo but question spending 4x more after taking the Little Martin on a recent ski trip.

[revive]

I think it's difficult to find all of your travel/beater/small guitar needs filled by one guitar. As your post implies, every guitar has its own pros and cons.

So instead of targeting just one guitar for these purposes, how about a combination of 2 or even 3 guitars? Like stock investing, buy a portfolio instead of a single stock.

Here's an example...

I personally own a VAOM-06, Taylor GS Mini Mahogany and Yamaha JR1. They take care 100% of all of travel/beater/small guitar needs.

My VAOM-06 is the go-to guitar for air trips and cruises. Since it's also an excellent OM guitar in its own rights, the VAOM-06 (equipped with LR Baggs Anthem) is also my main gigging guitar, while at home it serves as back-up to my main player (an a-mayes-ing Mayes).

The Taylor GS Mini lives in my car. I use it mainly for impromptu practice during breaks. It's also my go-to guitar when we go to the parks, camping, roadtrips, etc. It also satisfies my occasional craving for small guitar / short scale.

The Yamaha JR1 lives in the closet and is not used regularly. Instead, it's my beater whenever the needs arise. It's also the guitar that I let my young kids (toddlers) use when they want to jam with me. So basically this guitar sits 99% of the time, but gets beat pretty good during the other 1%. I really don't mind because it's very inexpensive. Because it's built like a tank, it's also held up pretty well with surprisingly only a few dings.

All these 3 guitars can be had for much less $ than a carbon fiber guitar.

[joeguam]

Originally Posted by revive

...how about a combination of 2 or even 3 guitars?

Great point revive, you have a guitar for every specific need. This is exactly the intention of this thread, to provide the pros and cons of each model into a "one stop shop" so that people can read and make their purchase based on their specific need. Thanks for your input, it's great to know that your VAOM-06 is good enough to gig with, I have GAS for one of those which I hope to get in the next 6 months!

...
Joe

[pcutt]

For me, a travel guitar is not so much a guitar as it is a replacement for no guitar.

I'm in the market for something to put in the trunk with luggage while on roadtrips and haven't settled on anything yet, but I certainly understand the tradeoffs I'll have to make.

[Ed422]

Originally Posted by joeguam

Great point revive, you have a guitar for every specific need. This is exactly the intention of this thread, to provide the pros and cons of each model into a "one stop shop" so that people can read and make their purchase based on their specific need. Thanks for your input, it's great to know that your VAOM-06 is good enough to gig with, I have GAS for one of those which I hope to get in the next 6 months!

...
Joe

I guess I will go back and edit my descriptions. In short, the VA is better for traveling in a vehicle and the GO is better for things like camping.

Ed