#1
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My Two New Guitars
So I’ve been back at this guitar learning for about a month now. I started by borrowing my stepdaughter’s guitar, but it just didn’t feel like mine. I got my first new guitar to take on a trip with my wife. It’s a Martin Backpacker. I know they don’t get a lot of love here but it’s fine for what it is. I can also quietly pick patterns fingerstyle while we watch tv and it doesn’t bother my wife.
While we were on the trip I took with my wife, while she was at her conference during the day I visited the Music Guild in Danbury, CT. Really cool shop albeit a bit ramshackle. Found a Guild D4 from about 1997. It’s in great shape. I picked it up for $500 which appears to be an okay deal, I’d say better than average due to this guitar’s condition, which I would call excellent.
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Guitars: Waterloo WL-K Iris AB 1990 Guild GF30 Bld Maple Archback Alvarez AP66 Baby Taylor G&L ASAT Tribute T-style |
#2
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One of those is a real nice looking guitar, the other is a Backpacker.
Nice find with that Guild.
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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 |
#3
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Yeah I was really psyched about the Guild. I was born in Westerly and grew up in southeastern Connecticut with lots of cousins in Westerly. We were all really proud of Guild guitars in this area. It’s nice to have a very playable piece of local history
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#4
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Backpackers are cool. Be a rebel.
Someday in the far future a rock star will record a hit playing one, and the handful that still exist will become more valuable than '59 LP Bursts. Mark my words... |
#5
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I enjoy my backpacker - no, it doesn’t have as rich of a tone as any full size guitar or even the Taylor GS mini, but try taking any of these on the tiny regional planes like the Embraer jets - only the backpacker can truly fit in the overhead compartment. They are also very well made.
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Larrivees: SD-40R Moonwood, SD-40 Moonwood, SD-40 All-Hog, SD-40, D-03 Yamahas: F310, FS820 (kid’s guitar) Alvarez AD30 PRS SE P20E Parlor Martin Backpacker |
#6
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Yesterday I was in the acoustic room at Guitar Center and a guy started playing a Backpacker. There was no mistaking it for a full-sized instrument, but I was surprised by how satisfying it sounded.
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1955 Gibson ES-125 1956 Fender Champ lap steel 1964 Guild Starfire III 1984 Rickenbacker 330 1990s Mosrite (Kurokumo) Ventures 2002/2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele [TL-62-66US] 2008 Hallmark 60 Custom 2018 Martin Custom Shop 00-18 slot-head 1963 Fender Bandmaster (blonde blackface) 1965 Ampeg Gemini I 2020 Mojotone tweed Champ kit build |
#7
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Quote:
It is small. The top has very little promise of much vibration. The materials are chosen for practicality and economy. How much can you expect? If it meets an individuals requirements for travel then so be it. I don't have a Backpacker. I don't travel by air enough to justify having one. If I did travel by air frequently I might consider the model. |
#8
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Congratulations! I like that Guild! The Backpacker looks cute.
For travel, I really love the Cordoba Mini that I have. It is tuned A-A, has nylon strings, and has a completely different tonal palette from my steel strings. I think Ibanez makes a cheap "piccolo" steel string tuned A-A. Southwest Air allows regular sized guitars, so I'll take my OO next plane trip.
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Eastman E1SS-CLA-LTD Eastman E1OOSS-LTD Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CE Cordoba SM-CE Mini Classical Acoustic Ibanez Blazer 21 MIJ Stratocaster 2 Yamaha PSR-SX900 keyboards I play professionally Roland FP-90 digital piano I play for pleasure with piano VSTs. |
#9
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The Backpacker has been around 25 years - longer than most Taylor (and other manufacturer's) guitar model/designs - and it remains, what it was designed for - a truly great backpacking guitar. Anyone complaining about the tone or volume didn't buy the right instrument. I would take one over a ukulele anytime (disclosure: I don't own either) .
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#10
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I had a Backpacker. Sure beat not having anything to pick on--and it's unique shape brought other players out of the woodwork. Just sitting down, in a café, was often enough to start an impromptu open mic'. They're pretty durable/forgiving too. I like grabbing inexpensive offerings, and redistributing.
Great score on the Guild. Congrat's, and enjoy.
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'05 Larrivée 0M-03 Custom (bear claw/hog), '13 Kronbauer TDK 285 MJ Custom (koa), '94 Froggy Bottom Custom (koa) dread', '08 Seagull Artist (EIR), '19 Gnome Blues Custom (EIR/T13? redwood), '78 S. Yairi 726 (hog), '84 K Yairi AR377, 1905 Vega parlor (hog), 60's Stella,'94 Saudi Tele', '79 Epi Genesis "Your sound is in your hands ... ... more than it is the amp or the guitar you use." - SRV |
#11
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Nice finds and you're covered for a variety of playing environments! Enjoy!
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#12
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Here is a link to the Piccolo Guitar: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...n-pore-natural
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Eastman E1SS-CLA-LTD Eastman E1OOSS-LTD Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CE Cordoba SM-CE Mini Classical Acoustic Ibanez Blazer 21 MIJ Stratocaster 2 Yamaha PSR-SX900 keyboards I play professionally Roland FP-90 digital piano I play for pleasure with piano VSTs. |