Best travel guitars: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance

Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move

  • The quick list

Best overall

Best acoustic, best electric, best for metal, best for kids, more options....

  • Buying advice
  • How we choose

A Martin LX1E Little Martin travel guitar on a blue background

1. The quick list 2. Best overall 3. Best acoustic 4. Best nylon string 5. Best electric 6. Best for metal 7. Best for kids 8. More options... 9. Buying advice 10. How we choose products

We guitarists are supremely lucky – we already play an instrument that we can take and play anywhere with us. Let’s face it, drummers already look at us with envy at our relative portability. However, the best travel guitars enhance and refine that concept further to offer the ultimate in portability without compromising on tone and playability. From travel-size stalwarts from Taylor and Martin to fascinatingly unexpected options from Blackstar and Yamaha, there’s something here for everyone. 

Whether you’re constantly on the move and need a travel companion to satisfy your musical urges, perhaps your office has to hear your progress with Eugene’s Trick Bag, or maybe you want something a little comfier for the couch. If so, we’ve selected the very best travel guitars for you and they’re a surprisingly varied group – from full-scale electric guitars to 3/4-size acoustic electrics.

There’s a good reason for this variety; a travel guitar needs to be portable, of course, but how it achieves that can be decided by several factors. We’ve taken them all into consideration with our choices for the best travel guitars you can buy right now. You can find our top picks below, and if you need any further guidance, head straight for our buying advice section at the bottom of the page.

Rob Laing

Rob is the Guitars Editor for  MusicRadar , handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar, he worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including as Editor of Total Guitar. He's currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with his own songs and is enjoying playing covers in function bands.

Best travel guitars: The quick list

Best travel guitars: Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

Despite being released in 2010 the Taylor GS Mini-e is still one of the best implementations of travel guitar design ever. A solid top and excellent pickup make it the perfect travel guitar.

Read more below

Best travel guitars: Martin LX1E Little Martin

Originally made famous by Ed Sheeran, the Martin LX1E 'Little Martin' carries all the famous build quality and tonal properties of this legendary guitar maker, in a super compact format.

Best travel guitars: Yamaha SLG2000N Silent Guitar

For the nylon string players out there, this fast-playing and unusual-looking electro-acoustic features a removable upper bout, making it easy to transport anywhere.

Best travel guitars: Blackstar Carry-On

There aren't loads of options for electric players when it comes to travel guitars, but the Blackstar Carry-On is a fantastic choice.  The body is tiny, giving you a 'proper' size neck to play on.

Best travel guitars: Traveler LTD EC-1

A marriage between ESP and the Traveler Guitar company, this mini metal guitar features locking tuners, an active humbucker, and the distinct looks of a full-size ESP LTD EC-1000.

Read more below 

Best travel guitars: Epiphone Power Player SG

With its cute colors, tiny build, and fantastic tone, the Epiphone Power Player SG is a great guitar for budding guitarists, whilst also being small enough to go wherever they do.

The best travel guitars available today

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Here you'll find full writeups and reviews of all the best travel guitars we rate. The majority of these have been tested first hand by our writing team, so you can rely on our recommendations.

Best travel guitars: Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

1. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Taylor’s GS Mini was ahead of most of the pack when it launched in 2010, and it still stands up as a masterful design from the company’s design wizard Andy Powers. It’s a benchmark example of a guitar that sounds far fuller than its dimensions – aided by the slight arch of its back. Although over a decade old, due to its continued success, fantastic playability, and many attempted iterations we have honored it as our number one pick. 

With spruce and mahogany options proving popular, the Koa stands out for the visual clout of its dramatic figuring. A solid top, layered back and sides, Sapele neck, and ebony fingerboard provide a rich tonal recipe here. 

Taylor’s Expression System preamp system (including a handy tuner) and the high-quality included gigbag round out a superb package for one of the company’s best-value models. Left-handed models are available too – yay! 

Best travel guitars: Martin LX1E Little Martin

2. Martin LX1E Little Martin

A firm favorite of Ed Sheeran – although he has made a move to Lowden in recent years – the Martin LX1E is Martin's pint-sized offering (and one of our top picks for the best 3/4 acoustic guitars ), delivering the outstanding built quality you’d expect from the acoustic giant and a quality amplified sound. 

This guitar is made with a solid Sitka spruce top and high-pressure laminate back and sides, as well as a composite neck. It may not have the elegant looks of the D-28 or HD-35, but it is incredibly strong and damn near indestructible. This mighty little guitar will undoubtedly handle any of the harsh conditions bestowed upon it. 

Read our full Martin LX1E Little Martin review

Best nylon string

Best travel guitars: Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar

3. Yamaha SLG200N Silent Guitar

The Silent Guitar is an unusual proposition with a detachable frame for folding down. It’s also designed to be plugged in for amplification or via headphones – it makes very little acoustic sound of its own. This has the advantage of quiet practice but the Silent Guitar’s SRT and pickup blend system also shines via a PA or acoustic combo live for surprisingly organic tones to mimic a real acoustic being mic’d. 

Its low action and slim neck will suit electric guitar players if they can accept its untraditional looks. The onboard chorus and reverb are reminiscent of the Transacoustic series and further enhance the SLG200N’s usability as a traveling companion. 

When it comes to traveling, the SLG200N can be partly disassembled as the bass side of the body screws off. This allows you to slot the guitar in the Yamaha-branded gig bag like you're carrying around a laptop. Easy peasy. 

Best travel guitars: Blackstar Carry-On

4. Blackstar Carry-On

Blackstar have made a guitar!? Yes indeed, the guitar amp company joined forces with fellow Brits Gordon Smith Guitars on a down-sized electric; 20.7-inch scale with a ukulele -sized body is certainly compact but the result stacks up comfortably well with a full-size neck.

It’s a one piece body and neck design to aid resonance and we really like design touches like the tortoiseshell-like plastic binding and the playing comfort of the matt neck, sides and back. It’s also great to see a coil-split on the humbucker pickup for tonal versatility through an amp – you can even buy the Carry-on as a package with Blackstar’s Fly3 mini amp.  

Read the full Blackstar Carry-On Deluxe Pack review  

Best travel guitars: Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

5. Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

Another collaboration between two successful guitar brands, Traveler already have a formidable reputation for electric travel guitars and ESP build some of the finest guitars for heavy rock and metal around with its EC series; the LTD EC-1 is the combination of those skills.

The full-scale singlecut model first surfaced in 2016 and is now available in Vintage Black with gold hardware – a Traveler design calling card is to cut down on overall length by placing locking tuners within the body design. The pickup here is an ESP-designed active humbucker, so it’s ideal for higher gain tones and cutting lead work with the inbuilt headphone amp. It even features a bevelled cutaway for higher fret access. 

Best travel guitars: Epiphone Power Players SG

6. Epiphone Power Players SG

Although Epiphone’s Power Player series has a strong appeal to a young beginner, it also presents a fantastic option for some traveling humbucker bite. The SG variant comes in three awesome finishes – Lava Red, Ice Blue, and Dark Matter Ebony – and the included Epiphone branded gig bag almost begs you to take one on your next trip. 

Far from being just another beginner guitar, this SG is equipped with a set of 650R/700T ’buckers which will satisfy any cravings you may have when parted from your beloved housebound axe. Although you’ll have to bring some kind of amplification to utilize the guitar fully, a pocket-friendly headphone amplifier like the fantastic Fender Mustang Micro will have you covered. 

The Slim Taper D neck profile and contoured neck heel help with playability, and we found that the string spacing feels natural enough not to mess with our muscle memory. Also, if you aren’t a fan of the slightly off-kilter feel of an SG, there’s a Les Paul variant if that’s more your thing. So, if you’re after a viable travel size option to rock out on the road, check out the Power Players, you won’t be disappointed. 

Read the full Epiphone Power Players review

Best travel guitars: Yamaha CSF3M

7. Yamaha CSF3M

A firm favorite of Ed Sheeran – although he has made a move to Lowden in recent years – the Martin LX1E is Martin's pint-sized offering (and one of our top picks for the best 3/4 acoustic guitars ), delivering the outstanding build quality you’d expect from the acoustic giant and a quality amplified sound. 

Best travel guitars: Guild Jumbo Junior

8. Guild Jumbo Junior

Guild knows a thing or two about acoustic guitars, specifically the jumbo-bodied variety having produced them since the ’70s. Here, we get Guild’s iconic jumbo but shrunk down to a more portable format. It’s got a solid Sitka spruce top, and mahogany back and sides – the former arched to aid resonance and projection. 

Adding to this, the JJ comes equipped with a Guild/Fishman GT-1 system so you can plug in for gigs and quick recording. Tonally, it’s a punchy little strummer with a sweet high end and you can always rely on Guild for providing a smooth playing experience. 

Guild is going for the GS-mini’s throne and although it certainly gets you in that ballpark at a more affordable price, it does lack the pronounced low-end of Taylor’s version. However, we’re splitting hairs here and the Jumbo Junior gives you classic looks from an iconic brand at a very attractive price.

Best travel guitars: Yamaha APXT2

9. Yamaha APXT2

This is the third entry for Yamaha on this list, but we felt it needed to be included. Yamaha has taken their ever-popular APX and shrunk it down to create the APXT2. This 3/4 sized acoustic is one of the smallest on this list, measuring in at only 34 inches, and will happily fit in most traveling situations. 

The onboard pickup is surprisingly good on the APXT2 and offers a tone far greater than the unplugged sound. The preamp also comes with a handy built-in guitar tuner , meaning you don't have to pack any extra gear. The satin finish not only looks great but is very smooth to play. In fact, the whole neck is very familiar, and if you have played Yamaha guitars in the past, then you'll get on with how this feels. It also comes in a range of different colors, just like its big brother, the APX500. 

So if you are a fan of the APX series or are looking for a unique-looking travel guitar, then it's worth checking these out. 

Best travel guitars: Sheeran by Lowden S03

10. Sheeran By Lowden S03

Whatever you think of Ed Sheeran’s music, he has great taste in luthier’s. George Lowden actually designed the Wee Lowden travel-size guitar for the songwriter and their friendship blossomed into a full series of guitars in 2019.

The S03 had a refresh in 2021 – the ‘S’ stands for small body and the latest 24.8-inch scale model features a solid cedar top but with a rosewood and mahogany layering at the back and sides this time. An impressively full sound is matched with the quality of the LR Baggs VTC system for plugging in, and with the cutaway design this is one of the best travel-size acoustics for live performance. 

Read the full Sheeran By Lowden SO3 review  

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

Blackstar Carry-on guitar leaning against wall, with Blackstar fly behind.

Should I get an electric or an acoustic travel guitar?

One of the initial choices you’ll have to make when purchasing a travel guitar is between electric and acoustic. Both have their pros and cons, so deciding what will work best for you is the most important.

With an electric travel guitar, you’ll be able to practice quietly, with the assistance of a headphone amp, so if you don’t want to bug anyone in your vicinity, an electric one may be the better option. Also, it’s far easier to record with an electric travel guitar on the move; if you have your laptop and a small audio interface then hey presto, you can record the next platinum-selling album on your bus to work. However, needing additional pieces of hardware, like a headphone amp, may put people off getting a travel electric. If you want to travel with the least faff possible, an acoustic may be the better option.

Although acoustic travel guitars don’t need additional amplification, they will be slightly deeper than their electric cousins. This depth does come with an advantage, it will project the sound a lot further and you will get a much louder sound out of an acoustic travel guitar.

What makes a great travel guitar?

A travel guitar’s portability can be due to a smaller body, lighter weight and shorter scale (this is the distance from the guitar’s nut to its saddle) but a guitar can still be great for carrying around with you and have a full-scale. 

Having said that, acoustic travel guitars tend to have a shorter scale and smaller bodies to be portable, but they will still be tuned and play like a regular guitar. Indeed, the best travel guitars we have selected in this guide all shine for their playability as well as tone so they don’t take much getting used to. 

Electric travel guitars can usually plug into guitar amps and PAs but some have their own inbuilt amps to use headphones with, making them all-in-one practice tools. 

Can I gig with a travel guitar?

Absolutely, and many acoustic travel guitars include inbuilt pickups and preamps to allow for this. Ed Sheeran is one of the most famous living guitarists on the planet and uses a small-scale travel guitar onstage and in the studio. He likes them so much he’s even got his own series of them now.

Even electric travel guitars designed for headphone practice can be used with amps if you wish, so they could be a great choice for travelling to jams or impromptu gigs with. 

What string gauge should I use for a travel guitar?

Due to their shorter scale length, the strings on a travel guitar usually feel pretty slinky and a lot bendier. This can throw some players off, particularly if your playing style includes a lot of note bends or if you’re a little heavy-handed. A way to combat this can be with a heavier string gauge. Heavier strings will compensate for a short scale length and using a set of 0.012s on a travel guitar will feel more like a set of 0.010s on a full-sized guitar. So if you’ve had trouble with super slinky strings on your travel companion go for a thicker set of strings, it should hopefully solve your issue.

How we choose the best travel guitars

Here at  Guitar World , we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar and bass related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best travel guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best travel guitars on the market right now.

Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly  how we test  each product.  

Related buyer's guides

  • The best acoustic guitars for beginners
  • Freshen up with the best acoustic guitar strings  

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Rob is the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar , handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar, he worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including as Editor of Total Guitar. He's currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with his own songs and is enjoying playing covers in function bands.

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10 Best Travel Guitars (Acoustic & Electric)

Do you miss your guitar when you are traveling? Or hate trying to get your guitar on a plane ?

Then you need a travel guitar. Yes, they exist, and no I’m not talking about guitars for children. I’m talking about amazing guitars by premium brands, which were specifically designed to be portable and travel-friendly.

In this review, I will show you both acoustic and electric travel guitars, as well as a couple of versatile options. No matter what you are looking for, there is something here for you.

At A Glance: Our Top Travel Acoustic & Electric Guitars

  • BEST ACOUSTIC TRAVEL GUITAR Journey Instruments OF660 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar Jump To Review
  • Best Lightweight Guitar Yamaha GL1 PB Guitalele Jump To Review
  • BEST ELECTRIC Traveler Guitar 6 String Travelcaster Deluxe Jump To Review
  • Most VERSATILE Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Jump To Review

All of the travel guitars featured in this review are praised by happy owners and rated highly on dozens of websites. Find out which travel guitars are the best travel guitar options for you!

Top Product Overview

Top 10 travel guitars, martin steel string backpacker travel guitar.

Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag

The Martin travel acoustic guitar features a  t op made from solid spruce and sides made from tonewood. It has a 24” scale length and features  15 frets, which is not that much less than the usual 19. And it  comes with both a strap and a case , so traveling with it is going to be very easy.

In fact,  you can actually fit this guitar in overhead bins in planes.  Some airlines will make you pay extra for it, but you shouldn’t usually have any issues if you call or email the airline beforehand. Just give them the dimensions of the bag and you’ll be fine.

Oh, and you can put some extra clothes in the bag – not only will this make your other suitcase lighter, but it will also protect your travel guitar.

The Backpacker travel acoustic guitar is very lightweight at only 2.4 lbs. Meaning that it’s super easy to carry anywhere and that it won’t weigh you down one bit.

Martin is known for making backpacker guitars, and this one is one of their best-selling models. That is because it is  insanely portable , but also because the sound quality is really good.  You will lose some volume, but that’s expected considering the size of this guitar.

And it has  a great price tag  on it. It is by no means the cheapest travel guitar out of the bunch, but it is far away from being the most expensive one.

  • Reasonably priced acoustic guitar
  • Very portable and lightweight
  • Comes with a strap and gig bag
  • Doesn’t always stay put on your body

Product Information

  • Dimensions: 4.72” x 36.22” x 9.45”
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs
  • Bag Included: Yes

Journey Instruments OF660 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar

Journey Instruments Carbon Fiber Travel Guitar – OB660 Traveling Acoustic Bass Guitar with Collapsible Patented System – Portable Backpack Case and Pickup

The Journey Instruments travel guitar comes with a really high saddle, which means the action is also really high. But, it also comes with a shorter saddle, which will give you lower action. And you can always adjust that until you find your perfect setup. It has 20 frets and 6 strings, and the sound quality is just as good (if not better) than your normal guitar.

What makes this acoustic guitar amazing for travel is the collapsible neck. You can disassemble it in less than a minute and pack it in its travel backpack. The backpack is carry-on sized and features a TSA-friendly laptop compartment,  so it is an excellent addition to this amazing travel guitar.

The OF660 has  a body made from carbon fiber,  which is reinforced with fiberglass on the back and sides. What that means is that you  never have to worry about humidity  with this acoustic guitar – you can leave it out in pouring rain, and there won’t be any consequences. Plus, it makes the guitar look very elegant and sleek.

The price of this travel guitar is a pretty big downside. In fact, this is the most expensive travel guitar that I found, and it is definitely not for everyone’s budget. But, you are paying for the amazing sound, portability, and quality of the build.

Another thing that could be improved is the weight. This guitar is a bit bigger than most others I’ve shown you, and it’s also heavier. While that doesn’t impact its portability too much, it does mean that it’s not going to be as convenient to carry around as some of the ones that weigh less than 2.5 lbs.

  • Collapsible neck
  • Amazing sound quality
  • Excellent quality
  • Very expensive
  • A bit heavy
  • Dimensions: 4.64” x 35.5” x 12.5”
  • Weight: 4.1 lbs

Yamaha GL1 PB Guitalele

Yamaha GL Series GL1 TBS Guitalele, Tobacco Sunburst

The Yamaha GL1 is  a cross between a guitar and a ukulele (something Hawaii is known for ) . It has the size of a baritone ukulele (17” scale), but it also features  6 strings,  just like a guitar. But the  strings are nylon  – that’s neither the best quality nor sound you can get out of a travel guitar. However, nothing is stopping you from cutting them off and putting regular metal strings on the GL1.

What you will love about these acoustic travel guitars are the size and weight. The Yamaha guitar was designed specifically for travel,  and you will be able to take it anywhere you want. And you will get  a soft gig case  with the guitar. Plus, it is a great option for kids to play – even though it wasn’t designed as a children’s guitar, its size makes it more than suitable for the little ones.

This travel guitar is also  feather-light, at only 2.65 lbs.  That means that the GL1 traveler guitar weighs less than most laptops, which you are carrying to work every single day and not complaining. And that is one of the things that makes the Yamaha an amazing option for travel. You could even call it a backpacking guitar.

Another reason why you will love the Guitalele is the price. It’s  very affordable, especially considering who makes it – Yamaha is a brand known for manufacturing quality everything, from motorcycles to survival bows .

Obviously, you can’t expect this to sound just like a full-sized guitar, but it is going to sound amazing for its size. This means that it is going to be perfectly suitable for practice on the go or for entertaining your friends on the beach. A great all-around acoustic travel guitar!

  • Very affordable
  • High quality
  • Remarkably lightweight
  • Not entirely a guitar
  • Nylon strings
  • Dimensions: 26.75” x 12” x 4”
  • Weight: 2.65 lbs

Martin LXK2 Little Martin Guitar

Martin LXK2 Little Martin Koa Pattern HPL Top with Padded Gigbag

Little Martin is  the smallest guitar from this amazing brand,  and it’s definitely a contender. It features  Koa-grained high-pressure laminate on its top, sides, and back, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge . The neck of this guitar is carved out of Stratabond.

Even though this guitar is tiny, it produces great sound and is fun to play. With 6 steel strings and 20 frets , this is going to sound fairly close to your favorite guitar. But the Little Martin has the advantage that you can take it anywhere you want –  it weighs only 3.4 lbs and it is a very small guitar, which makes it perfect for the road.

And this guitar is great not just for travel, but also for children and adults with small hands.

The durability of Little Martin is another amazing thing about it. It is  built to survive road trips, children, and all kinds of weather.  Especially if you regularly carry it in the gig bag that comes with it. Which has an exterior made from ballistic nylon, and an interior lined with plush.

It also features backpack straps and a front zipper compartment, for any other items you want to keep close.

And the price of this guitar is not too bad either. It’s not among the cheapest options, but it is also not ridiculously expensive either. It is a little pricier than most other travel guitars in this review, but it’s undoubtedly worth it, considering the quality of both sound and build.

  • Very small and portable
  • Great sound
  • High quality gig bag
  • A bit pricey
  • Action is quite high
  • Dimensions: 6.3” x 38.58” x 18.11”
  • Weight: 3.38 lbs

Cordoba Mini M Travel Guitar

Cordoba Mini M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String Guitar with Gig Bag

Cordoba has a series of mini guitars, and the M Travel Guitar is their most popular model. The main difference between them is the wood combinations -the M features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The Mini M is also the best value for money – it is a high-quality guitar with a very affordable price tag ,  and it’s perfect if you’re on a tight budget.

The downside is that this small guitar comes with nylon strings,  so you’re not getting amazing sound out of the box. But that’s a replaceable part of the guitar, and should not be a deal-breaker. And if you normally prefer nylon strings, then the Mini M is going to play perfectly as is.

What could be a deal-breaker is that this is a right-hand guitar.  The others that I showed you were either ambidextrous, or you could choose between right and left hand. With the Mini M, you get no such choice.

And there’s nothing else bad about it. The acoustic guitar weighs a mere 2.5 lbs,  which makes it perfect for travel. It is  small enough that it easily fits into overhead compartments in airplanes , and it comes with a really solid gig bag.

It doesn’t sound like a full-sized guitar, but it definitely sounds like a guitar and not like a ukulele. It has a scale length of 20”, a nut width of 1.96”, and a total of 18 frets,  which not only feel familiar but also make it sound more like a traditional guitar.

  • Very lightweight and portable
  • Sound is great for its size
  • Fits in overhead compartments on airplanes
  • Right hand guitar
  • Dimensions: 30.5” x 10” x 3.25”

Traveler Guitar 6 String Travelcaster Deluxe

Traveler Guitar Guitar 6 String Travelcaster Deluxe Electric, Right, Gloss Black/Black, Full (TCD BKG)

Traveler Guitar is a brand that makes some insanely portable guitars, both acoustic and electric. So, I will show you several options from them in this section, starting with the Travelcaster Deluxe . It is a  full 25.5” scale travel guitar with 14:1 gear ratio turners.

This means that the playable area of the guitar is the exact same size as a full-size guitar –   only its body is smaller.

The Travelcaster features an overall length of 33.75” and weighs a mere 5.2 lbs.  It comes with a soft gig case for ultimate portability –  the entire case and the guitar only weigh 6.8 lbs.  What’s even better is that you are not sacrificing playability for portability – Traveler Guitar is proud of how all of their guitars sound, and we have no complaints either.

In fact, you can check out the demo of this Traveler guitar right here:

This electric guitar comes with 3 single-coil pickups – 2 tone controls, 1 volume control, and a 5-way pickup selector.  It also has a  2-point fulcrum tremolo for better and more stable tuning , as well as steel saddles for excellent playing tone.

The guitar boasts  a poplar body with a maple neck and a maple fretboard with bone nut,  which not only sound great but also look pretty good. And you can  get it in three colors  – the black gloss option is unique because it features a catalpa fretboard with a bone nut.

  • Very portable
  • Reasonably priced
  • A little heavy
  • Dimensions: 33.75” x 1.75” x 9”
  • Weight: 5.2 lbs

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Black

Back to Yamaha –  the APXT2 is an excellent choice if you want a versatile guitar.  It is both  acoustic and electric , with a gorgeous exterior and an affordable price tag. This guitar features  a spruce top, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge , for great appearance and sound.

It is a 3/4 sized guitar, and it is pretty much just a smaller version of the APX500III. It is equipped with an  ART-based preamp, system 68 contact pickup, and an onboard tuner,  which give you a full-bodied acoustic tone when you plug it in. And you can also tune the guitar without having to plug it in any extra gear, which is convenient and great for travel.

One downside to the Yamaha guitar is that  its orientation is right-handed  and there are no other options. So, it is definitely not going to be a good fit for all of you.

An upside is that you get a gig bag with the Yamaha, so you can really carry it anywhere. And it  weighs just a little over 5 lbs , which is pretty good for a versatile guitar. It is not the lightest option you have, but it is great for a guitar that is capable of so much.

Meaning that the APXT2 is not just a good option for travel, but also for kids learning to play, as well as petite adults that find regular guitars too big.

  • Acoustic and electric
  • Built-in tuner
  • Excellent build quality
  • Neck edges are pretty sharp
  • Right handed
  • Dimensions: 33.1” x 2.9” x 11.8”
  • Weight: 5.29 lbs

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Solid-Body Electric Guitar

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Guitar for Travel | Portable and Headless Electric Acoustic Guitar | Full 24 3/4' Scale | Antique Brown Travel Guitar with Custom Gig Bag and Removable Lap Rest

This is the  smallest full-scale electric guitar  you can get your hands on, and it is perfect if you’re looking for something ultra-portable. And at  only 3.1 lbs,  this is also the lightest electric travel guitar out of the bunch. It also comes with a  detachable lap rest , for easy transport.

Obviously, this travel guitar doesn’t have a proper headstock. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t tune it – in fact,  the tuning system is included in its body, and it features a dual-rail humbucker pickup .

The chrome tuning machines feature a 14:1 ratio, for extremely precise tuning. This means that you can have almost the same playing experience on this guitar, as you have on a full-bodied electric guitar that weighs a lot more.

One great thing about this guitar is that you have options –  you can choose from four colors, three wood types, and also your hand orientation . And that means that it is going to be very easy for you to pick out a guitar that is perfectly suitable for you.

It  comes with a lightweight gig bag  that easily fits into overhead compartments in airplanes. Meaning that this guitar is just perfect for transport. You can carry it wherever you want, and you can fit some extra gear in the  front pocket of the gig bag. 

Other things worth noting are that this guitar features a  standard 1/4” output  and that it features a one-piece neck-through-body design.

  • Remarkably lightweight and portable
  • In-body tuning system
  • Removable lap rest
  • Lacks balance
  • No volume control
  • Dimensions: 31.2” x 5.25” x 2”
  • Weight: 3.1 lbs

Leo Jaymz 24.75" Single Cut Curved Top Electric Guitar

The Leo Jaymz guitar features some rather  stunning and unique decals on the body . I know that alone is not reason enough to buy it, but it sure is nice to see something other than a solid color body. It is an excellent option if you want  something unique that plays extraordinarily well . It features a  mahogany body with a smooth rosewood fingerboard and a maple neck.

This travel guitar comes with 6 (stainless steel) Jaymz strings that are excellent quality and overall, it is a very compact and lightweight guitar. And  you also get an extra set for spare parts,  which is rather generous from the brand.

It features  original Grover machines that help with stable tuning , as well as  two volume and two tone switches . This electric guitar also comes with  a soft gig bag that has a front pocket for your additional gear.

While I really love the general design and quality of the Leo Jaymz guitar, I am not impressed with its portability. Compared with the other travel electric guitars in this review, this is one of the least portable ones, because of both its size and weight.

However,  if you want something that plays and feels just like a proper electric guitar, but that ultimately is more portable than one, then I think this is the right choice for you.

  • Beautiful decals on body
  • High build quality
  • Some shipping issues
  • Not the most portable option
  • Dimensions: 34.48” x 16.12” x 3.2”
  • Weight: 12.5 lbs (shipping weight!)

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

I know this looks a lot like the previous Traveler Guitar I showed you, but there’s one huge difference – this one is  both acoustic and electric.  It has an  in-body tuning system  just like the other Traveler Guitar, and it comes with  a detachable lap rest.  But this one is lighter, more portable, and more versatile, making it one of my top choices.

And you get to choose which type of wood you want in your guitar, just like , you can choose whether you want right or left-hand orientation. 

It doesn’t have a headstock, so it is going to take some time to get used to this travel guitar. But once you do, I’m confident you will love it and carry it anywhere – you will get the full-scale playing experience but in a much smaller package.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light features an under-saddle Piezo pickup , for amazing acoustic sound. And the  standard 1/4” output  allows you to plug this in the regular or headphone amp you already have.

Bear in mind that even though this guitar is going to sound amazing, it is going to be  rather quiet in acoustic mode.  Which is great for practice, but not that useful for showing off. You are compromising on that, but in return, you are getting an instrument so portable you will want to take it wherever you go. And I think that is still a really good deal.

  • Detachable lap rest
  • Versatile guitar
  • Extraordinarily lightweight and portable
  • Very quiet in acoustic mode
  • Takes some getting used to
  • Dimensions: 28” x 2” x 5.2”
  • Weight: 2.9 lbs

What To Look For

Acoustic or electric.

The main thing you should know is whether you’re looking for a travel acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. Obviously, you should get the one that you prefer playing.

The review is divided into two sections – the first section features the 5 best travel acoustic guitars, and the second section shows the 5 best electric travel guitars. So, there’s something for you regardless of what you’re looking for.

And if you’re looking for both, you might not need to buy two guitars – there are some acoustic-electric guitars, and you will find them in the second half of the review.

What Kind Of Portable Do You Need?

There are loads of ways in which a guitar can be portable. Some of them are  nearly full-sized but insanely lightweight . And there are guitars that aren’t too lightweight, but that has a really tiny body with a very small soundhole. This usually means that the sound is not nearly as good as it is on your normal guitar.

There is also a guitar that has a collapsible neck  – this is a feature patented by  Journey Instruments , and it is one of the best guitars in this entire review. You can remove the neck from the body of the guitar and easily pack it in a backpack, for ultimate portability. However, this feature is unique to this guitar, which happens to be very expensive.

Some guitars also have a pretty short neck, which also means fewer frets and weaker sound . But those are also  very portable , and a great option for air travel since they are usually treated as carry-ons.

In general, you should figure out which kind of portable suits your needs best. And  which aspect of the guitar you are not willing to compromise on . I’ve shown you enough variety, and I’m pretty sure that at least one of the guitars you’ve seen in this review is what you are looking for.

Hand Orientation

The ideal guitar for you depends on which hand you play with.  Most of the guitars that I’ve shown above are either ambidextrous or feature a choice of hand orientation.  However,  some of them are only for right-handed people, and you can see that info in the “cons” boxes below each product.

If you don’t see anything about hand orientation in the pro/con boxes, you can assume that the guitar is available in both options.

Price Range

Travel guitars are usually more expensive than regular guitars.  They are designed specifically to be lightweight and portable, and that’s going to cost you.  The usual price range of these guitars is between $150-300,  but you will find some that are much more expensive than that.

Whenever a guitar is pricier than the expected price range, it will be listed in the cons boxes. I haven’t really found any really cheap guitars – I don’t consider those to be the top guitars for travel that are available.

Our Favorite Choices For Travel Guitar

Not sure which of these travel guitars is the right option for you? That’s okay – go for one of our top choices and you will not be disappointed!

The best travel acoustic guitar is undoubtedly the one by Journey Instruments .  It is an amazing guitar that is perfect for pros, and it actually  sounds better than some full-sized guitars.  It also has a unique feature patented by Journey Instruments – a collapsible neck.  You can assemble and disassemble this guitar in just a few seconds, which is perfect for playing on the go.

  • FINALLY A FULL SIZE GUITAR THAT'S EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU - Our mini travel folding bass guitar with patented collapsible neck system allows you to quickly assemble and disassemble it in around 20 seconds, so you can carry it with you at all times.
  • STURDY CARBON FIBER FOR PIECE OF MIND - This collapsible acoustic bass guitar has quality pre-impregnated carbon fiber fabrics on all core components making it stable and durable, so you can enjoy transfer of energy and significantly longer sustain. Whether you are performing for yourself, small crowd or a huge gig, your Journey Instruments Guitar is ready to deliver an epic performance.

My favorite electric guitar for travel is the Travelcaster Deluxe ,  which comes with a soft gig case. It is a full-scale guitar that not only sounds amazing   but also looks pretty cool . It features three single-coil pickups, two tone controls, and one volume control, which is everything you need to sound amazing. Well, in addition to your talent – but that’s a given.

  • Full 25 1/2" Scale Guitar
  • 5 lbs. 3 oz. And 33 3/4" long

The most versatile guitar for travel would have to be the Traveler Guitar Acoustic/Electric option .  It is remarkably lightweight, it has an in-body tuning system and it sounds really good no matter how you play it thanks to the Piezo pickup. Sure, it’s not going to be as loud as regular acoustic guitars, but all you need to do to get volume is plug it in. And you get the standard 1/4” output for that.

  • BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Ultra-Light is a portable and travel-friendly version of your favorite at-home guitar that you can take anywhere and everywhere you go. Weighing 2 lbs 14 oz and measuring 28”, this will be your steadfast road companion.
  • PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System eliminates the need for a headstock by relocating standard tuning machines into the body. Even though it’s small, it’s still crafted with a full 24 3/4" scale experience with 22 frets.

Head over to Amazon to see the prices of all of the best travel guitars featured in this review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do travel guitars sound good.

Some guitarists swear that travel guitars do not sound as good as full-sized guitars. Others say that although they sound different they have a place in your guitar collection.

What is a travel sized guitar?

Travel guitars are usually smaller than full-sized guitars so that they are lighter and easier to transport.

What size guitar is best for Travelling?

Many travel guitars are 3/4 sized which makes for a good compromise between size, weight and sound quality.

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7 Best Travel Guitars of 2024

by Allison Johnson May 11, 2023, 7:15 pm

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

There are so many perks to owning a travel guitar. They're so lightweight and easy to transport.

Whether you're taking multiple trips to the rehearsals each week, travel to and from different cities often, or simply like the convenience of being able to play on the fly, a travel guitar is a great investment.

We recommend travel guitars for players of all levels. We included some picks for guitar students to take to and from practice, an acoustic guitar for gigs, and electric and bass guitars for rehearsals and gigs as well.

Traveling with a full-sized guitar everywhere can be a pain due to the weight, plus, you don't want to take your pricey guitars everywhere, you know?

A quality backup guitar can be a great option to bring on vacations for impromptu practice and songwriting.

Our favorite on this list has to be the Martin LX1E Little Martin . It's ideal for gigs! It has amazing playability, is lightweight (about 3 pounds), and sounds amazing.

A small, travel-friendly guitar will be your favorite investment yet. Here are 7 of the best travel guitars for everyone.

Quick Summary of the Best Travel Guitars

  • Martin LX1E Little Martin (Best Travel Acoustic Guitar for Gigs)
  • Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag (The Best Travel Acoustic Guitar for Practice)
  • Fender CD-60S Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (Best Lightweight Dreadnought)
  • Fender Squier by Fender (Best Lightweight Electric Guitar for Beginners)
  • Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric (Best Lightweight Electric Guitar)
  • Gibson SG Standard '61 Sideways Vibrola - Vintage Cherry (A High-End Lightweight Electric Guitar)
  • Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar (Best Travel Bass)

Best Travel Guitars

1. best travel acoustic guitar for gigs – martin lx1e little martin.

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 3.3 lbs
  • Pickups: Fishman Isys T pickup system
  • Included Accessories: Gig bag

This is a popular guitar for travel. While it's compact and lightweight, it's still a great guitar for taking on stage. The sound quality is rich and balanced. It has a solid Stika spruce top giving it fantastic resonance and projection. The tone is warm, and you may also like using this guitar in the studio.

You'll be able to use an amplifier or sound system for gigs without external mics or pickups thanks to the Fishman Isys T pickup system.

If you're mainly looking for a lightweight guitar for comfortable playability, you're going to enjoy the fret body shape and low-profile neck. It has a short scale length that's easy to navigate.

A player said it's easy to play with arthritic hands, so if you're prioritizing comfort, you'll love this guitar.

Overall, Martin is a great guitar brand, and they're known for creating reliable instruments. This guitar checks all of our boxes, so consider this as your new favorite acoustic guitar for travel.

Interested in Buying a Guitar Stand? See the Best Guitar Stands Here

2. The Best Travel Guitar for Practice – Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 5 lbs
  • Pickups: No

To no surprise, another Martin guitar made the list. This itty bitty acoustic guitar is the ultimate travel guitar. If you're serious about only taking along a practice-style guitar on the road, then this is a guitar to consider.

The Martin travel guitar features a solid spruce top, solid tonewood back and sides, a unique contour neck shape, and a 24-inch scale length and 15 frets for easy playability.

This travel guitar will fit in backpacks and carry-on luggage. It's a great guitar for college students looking to practice in their dorms, beginner guitarists, or even experienced guitarists that like having a small guitar nearby. Keep it in the living room, or bedroom, or take it just about anywhere.

Considering the size of the acoustic guitar, it definitely won't have the same volume and projection as a full-sized guitar. However, if you're just looking for something lightweight for practice and cozy casual playing, it's perfect.

Guitarists say it's louder than they expected though. It's definitely not a toy, so if you need something small for creativity, this is everything you could want in a travel guitar.

3. Best Lightweight Dreadnought Travel Guitar – Fender CD-60S Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

amazon travel guitar

  • Included Accessories: Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Strings, Picks, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

The Fender CD-60S is a solid option for a variety of reasons: it has a solid spruce top for excellent sound and projection. The dreadnought body shape also makes it versatile and sound super full. If you're looking for a balanced tonal response with lots of volume and bass, this is great. Consider it for fingerpicking and strumming.

As for playability, it's designed for those looking to prioritize comfort. The C-shaped neck profile allows for easy fretting. Overall, it's a great lightweight Fender acoustic.

Guitarists love how nice it looks in person and say you get the best bang for the buck! It's under $240, great for anyone on a budget.

It's lightweight and has a fantastic build. Fender is known for solid construction and making guitars that last long for years of touring.

4. Best Lightweight Electric Guitar for Beginners – Fender Squier by Fender

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 7 lbs
  • Pickups: Three single coil pickups
  • Included Accessories: Cable bundle available

Fender has a cool lightweight electric guitar for beginners to learn, but it also makes a great travel guitar for seasoned players looking to make trips hassle-free in airport security or even on the road.

The mini Strat has the Stratocaster shape we all know and love. The comfortable neck profile makes it a great pick for long rehearsals without fatigue. The shorter scale length makes it easy to navigate the fretboard, and this makes it a favorite amongst players will smaller hands. Kids will love it!

If you're low on space or simply like the 22.75'' string scale and downsized 3/4 body, traveling with this mini guitar is a good idea.

Overall, guitarists think it's a great travel guitar and say it's a great compact and lightweight guitar for petite players.

This travel guitar comes in 4 different colors, metallic orange and surf green really stand out.

5. Best Lightweight Electric Guitar – Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 3 lbs
  • Pickups: Dual-rail hum bucker pickup

Looking for something truly built for travel? This is exactly what you need. Travel Guitar makes guitars for busy musicians, they know how to build guitars that make traveling less stressful for guitarists.

The portable electric guitar is small enough to fit into travel bags and overhead bins on planes. If you fly often, this is a good fit for your lifestyle. Even though it's small, it still has a full-scale length of a regular guitar.

A nice feature that makes it a great portable guitar is the detachable lap rest frame. It'll provide stability while playing.

Guitarists are raving about the tone and say it exceeded their expectations.

The guitar is made from sturdy materials -- it features a maple body and a maple neck. You can pick from 5 designs and pick between left and right-handed options.

6. A High-End Lightweight Electric Guitar – Gibson SG Standard '61 Sideways Vibrola

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 8 lbs
  • Pickups: 60s Burstbucker (neck) & 60s Burstbucker (bridge)
  • Included Accessories: No

If you're set on getting a high-end guitar for travel, look no further than the SG Standard '61. This compact guitar is lighter than most electric guitars. It's a guitar that won't make you feel fatigued during long sets.

The guitar has a comfy and fast-playing neck profile. It also has a slim-tapered neck with a smooth fretboard for easy navigation. Overall, it's the playability gets a 10/10.

The 60s Burstbucker pickups recreate the sound of the 1960s-era humbuckers. We love the tones for all genres! So whether you play blues, rock, or metal you're going to love gigging with this guitar.

The guitar is beautiful. It has a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish and nitro finishes to look vintage.

7. Best Travel Bass – Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar

amazon travel guitar

  • Weight: 7.72 lbs
  • Pickups: Ibanez Dynamix pickups

The compact bass guitar has a smaller body and shorter scale length compared to standard bass guitars. This is a great bass guitar for kids, petite adults, or for traveling musicians looking for a lightweight and affordable bass guitar for the road.

Ibanez says this is a great bass guitar for beginner and intermediate players, but also think professional players will find the size great for ease of use. It features a poplar body, maple neck and jatoba fingerboard for comfort and playability.

It sounds great too, thanks to the Ibanez Dynamix pickups, which provide a range of tones suitable for various genres and playing styles. Great for deep, punchy tones or bright and articulate sounds.

Ibanez is one of the best guitar brands out there, so if you're stuck between brands when guitar shopping, just know you'll have a well-built guitar if you go with Ibanez.

Best Travel Guitar Buyer's Guide

There are many factors to consider other than size and weight. Below, we'll dive into sound quality, build quality, playability, and a few more considerations before picking out a travel guitar.

Size & Portability

You'll want to make sure your guitar has a small body shape. Think of something that can fit into a small gig bag you wouldn't mind carrying through an airport. If it sounds like it'll be a pain, it's likely not a great option for travel.

Build Quality

You want to make sure it's a durable guitar made of materials that can handle travel. A durable guitar can handle some bumps on the road, along with temperature changes in vehicles or airports. If it can handle humidity, even better.

Sound Quality

Make sure it sounds good. Solid top and decent resonance are key.

Playability

Check the neck shape and make sure it'll feel good in your hands. Features like adjustable truss rods will allow you to fine-tune the action and intonation.

Electronics

Onboard pickups and preamps are great so you can connect an amp or PA system. This is great for gigs and rehearsals!

Make sure you invest in a quality travel guitar. Even though it might not be your go-to option for every gig, you want it to last and be durable. This means paying more for quality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ideal weight for a travel guitar.

Try to keep it under 5-10 lbs! This is a great size for travel, especially if you'll be carrying your guitar for long periods in airports or at venues.

Are travel guitars comfortable to play?

It depends on your playing stying, be sure to look at the fretboard radius and make sure it has adjustable truss rods to customize the playability to your liking.

Can travel guitars be amplified?

Yes, built-in electronics like pickups and preamps allow for amplification.

How much should I spend on a travel guitar?

You can budget for under $500 on a great travel guitar, but if you're looking for a compact guitar for gigging or recording, you may end up paying around the normal price of a guitar or high-end guitar.

Are travel guitars suitable for beginners?

Yes! They are great for beginners on the go. If you're a beginner and practice away from home often they're a great investment.

Final Thoughts

Shopping for a travel guitar can mean something different for all guitarists. For professional musicians, some want an affordable and lightweight guitar for gigging or rehearsals, for some, that means a tiny guitar small enough to fit in an airline-friendly bag.

We rounded up options for many scenarios, but if you're looking for a good lightweight acoustic to take on the road, you'll love the Martin LX1E Little Martin for gigging.

If you're a musician who can't stop writing songs, even when you're supposed to be relaxing, you need something like the Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar . Plus, you can play small gigs with it, think parks, beaches, and coffee shops.

If you want small lightweight electric guitars and bass guitars, consider the Fender Squier by Fender and the Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar . Fender and Ibanez, both brands with great brand reputations! You'll get an amazing instrument, just smaller and easier to take on the road.

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Home » Guitars » 17 Best Travel Guitars in 2024 (All Price Ranges and Styles)

17 Best Travel Guitars in 2024 (All Price Ranges and Styles)

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If you’re a musician that’s always on the move, you know how difficult it can be to carry a full-size guitar along all the time. Bumpy roads and crammed flights can damage precious instruments in a single unfortunate moment. Instead of risking your primary guitars, taking a more compact travel guitar is a great option that all musicians should consider.

Best Travel Guitars (Featured Image)

Travel-friendly guitars not only sound and play like regular guitars, but are compact, lightweight, and are far easier to travel with on road trips than full-sized guitars. If you’ve been thinking of getting yourself a travel-sized guitar but are unsure which one to pick, then you’ve come to the right spot.

I’ll start this article by reviewing the best travel guitars at each price point, but if you want to learn more about them before reading reviews, I’ve included some information about travel guitars at the bottom of the page. In this article, I’ll cover all the different styles of travel guitars so you can find the one to best suit your needs!

Here Are the Best Travel Guitars

1. martin lx1 little martin acoustic guitar (best overall acoustic).

Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar

Shop on Sweetwater

Check Amazon Price

My Review: When it’s a Martin, you can rest assured that it is going to be a top quality guitar. The iconic American brand is well known for crafting some of the greatest sounding acoustic guitars around. The Little Martin is a testament to the saying that good things come in small packages. Built with solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany high-pressure laminate back and sides, this small wonder produces the same resonant, loud projection akin to top-of-the-line Martins and comes with a padded gig bag.

Overall Build and Size: We are in awe of Little Martin’s smart design which has delivered a great guitar that belies its 23” scale and 15” length. This wonderful sounding model is extremely sturdy and very easy to play, making it a perfect travel companion as well as a great pick for beginners. Little Martin is a popular choice when it comes to a travel guitar as it packs comfortably into overhead compartments of most airlines. This natural golden-brown, small-bodied acoustic comes equipped with a black Micarta bridge with compensated white Tusq saddle and chrome small-knob tuners.

Overall Sound Quality: Little martin’s powerful projection and a well-balanced tone set it apart from other miniature parlor guitars. It delivers a pretty bright and resonant sound and scores high on versatility. Take it along with you on your next trip to the hills and let the magic unfold.

Body and Neck Wood: This Martin LX1 boasts of a solid Sitka spruce top with a warm satin finish which gives it classic look. The back and sides are made up of Mahogany high-pressure laminate. The guitar has a hand-rubbed rust birch laminate neck which has a modified low oval shape with standard taper making it extremely comfortable to play. The use of sustainable wood in some of its parts has made us fall in love with this beauty all the more.

Key Features:

  • Solid Sitka spruce wood top
  • Big on tone, quality, and versatility
  • Perfectly travel-sized and easy to carry
  • Eco-friendly construction using sustainable wood parts
  • Affordable for a Martin guitar

2. Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar (Best Value Acoustic)

Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar

My Review: If you are looking for a pocket-friendly 3/4 acoustic travel guitar with a good tone and easy playability, the small and portable Yamaha JR1 FG might be worth looking at. The natural Spruce top and the rosewood fretboard offers great playability and a bright tone, while locally sourced tonewood adds a reliable durability to the overall body. Compact, light, and bearing the time-trusted Yamaha brand legacy, this travel guitar is lightweight without compromising on the sound quality. Overall, I would say this is the best travel acoustic guitar for the money.

Overall Build and Size: The JR1 FG is a well designed 33 1/4-inch medium-sized dreadnought that strikes a good balance between value and quality. Despite being originally positioned as a beginner guitar for children, we found it to be quite a good option for adults looking for a reliable travel guitar as well. What we like about this model is that it doesn’t let its compact size come in the way of offering a great tone.

The build is of good quality with a rosewood fretboard and a sturdy mahogany neck which offers a comfortable playability. This makes it a great fit for most guitarists – from young students just starting out to someone looking to play an impromptu gig by the bonfire.

Overall Sound Quality: Thanks to the Spruce wood top, players get a nice resonant tone that amplifies lower tones surprisingly well – normally you wouldn’t really expect a guitar this compact to have such an impressive low end. Because of this quality, this will work well when playing in intimate settings with a small audience. Its sound is great right out of the packaging, without any tweaks needed. You’ll also see that the brand offers quite a comfortable action on it already.

Body and Neck Wood: The Luna uses a Spruce wood for its top, locally sourced tonewood for the body and sides, and rosewood for the fretboard which makes it long-lasting and durable. The neck is sturdy, but not too wide, which gives it an easy feel when playing, especially for kids or someone with smaller hands. It is well-balanced, and, when played sitting down, fits quite comfortably as you play.

  • Compact, well-designed body
  • Spruce wood top
  • Amplifies lower tones remarkably well for its size
  • Affordably priced

3. Taylor Baby Taylor BT1 Walnut Acoustic Guitar (Editor’s Choice Acoustic)

Taylor Baby Taylor BT1 Walnut Acoustic Guitar

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My Review: Thinking of getting yourself a travel guitar which is an all-rounder? Look no further than Baby Taylor BT1. Manufactured by Taylor, a brand renowned for carefully crafted, high quality, and great sounding acoustic guitars packed with playability enhancing features, Baby Taylor BT1 fits this definition to a T. The small-bodied guitar is made with a premium tonewood combination of Spruce/Walnut and comes with an X-braced top, die-cast chrome tuners and a Micarta Saddle. In addition to being a great choice for travelers, this little wonder will make for a perfect starter guitar for young players.

Overall Build and Size: Baby Taylor BT1 is a trimmed down, sleek ¾ dreadnought and great for traveling players who prefer smaller instruments. This dread may be small but offers the same features that make this iconic American brand so legendary. The guitar has a solid spruce top which works well in enhancing resonance as well as capturing nuances and dynamics. The layered walnut body offers resilience from temperature and humidity and gives it an aesthetically pleasing look. The acoustic sports an elegant, natural look with a varnish finish.

Overall Sound Quality: Don’t be fooled by its small size- Baby Taylor BT1 delivers a surprisingly bold and loud sound for a scaled-down dreadnought. Thanks to the bright sounding spruce wood top and walnut back and sides. The guitar’s tonewood pairing works well in creating a warm and resonant tone with great definition.

Body and Neck Wood: The BT1’s top wood is expertly crafted with solid Sitka Spruce wood and teamed with a layered walnut body and a glossy smooth ebony fretboard. The sleek Maple neck feels familiar and very comfortable when held. There is no doubt that you will have an absolute blast playing this great little guitar wherever you decide to take it.

  • Perfect Travel Buddy for all guitar enthusiasts
  • Scaled-down dreadnought with short maple neck, easy to play
  • Solid high-quality tonewoods used- Spruce top, Walnut body
  • Taylor hard bag included

4. Travelcaster Deluxe Electric Guitar (Best Overall Electric)

Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe

My Review: Fender has always been known to push the envelope for quality and player-friendly features, and they’ve done it again with the neat little travelcaster deluxe. This innovatively designed electric guitar retains a full scale length, but cuts down the body design in an innovative fashion. Weighing extremely light, you can enjoy the quintessential tele sound even when on the move, thanks to its high quality single coil pickups and a delicious vintage tremolo. If you’re looking for the best travel electric guitar and are willing to spend the money, this is one of my top recommendations.

Overall Build and Size: Weighing only 5 lbs, the travelcaster scores high when it comes to portability, especially for an electric guitar. We’re quite impressed with its innovative design that retains the essential contours of an electric guitar’s S-shaped body while cutting out the rest to make it travel-friendly. Its adjustable 2 point fulcrum bridge adds even more customizability, while chrome tuning machines let you tune your strings to perfect precision. This allows you to enjoy a full scale length with a guitar that can easily fit into a cramped car space or overhead compartment of a plane.

Overall Sound Quality: This is perhaps the best part about this little wonder – unlike some other travel guitars that may sacrifice certain elements of playability or tone, the travelcaster deluxe offers the same crisp, snappy, high quality tone and sound quality that Fender is famous for, even in this compact setup. This has been made possible because of the three high quality ceramic single coil picks, and a 5-way pickup selector that lets you mix and match to zero in on the perfect tone. Finally, the vintage style tremolo lets you squeeze out a fabulous variety of sounds and sustains, so there’s nothing that holds you back from expressing your creativity, even on a travel guitar.

Body and Neck Wood: The lightweight of the travelcaster deluxe has been made possible thanks to its poplar body, which keeps the overall setup extremely portable and nimble. The maple neck and fretboard allow for butter-smooth playability anytime, anywhere.

  • High quality ceramic single coil pickups
  • Vintage style tremolo for more creative possibility
  • 5-way pickup selector for tone customizability
  • Extremely lightweight at 5 lbs
  • Full scale-length

5. Traveler Guitar 6 String EG-1 Custom (Best Full Scale)

Traveler Guitar 6 String EG-1 Custom

My Review: If you are scouting for a full-scale electric guitar which is also light enough to travel along with, look no further- The Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom fits the bill. The single-cut guitar’s alder body makes it compact and lightweight while also giving it a strong, clear, and full-bodied sound. It features Traveler’s proprietary 4-channel in-built headphone amplifier, an in-body tuning system, and an aux-in jack, making it perfect to jam privately or rock out.

Overall Build and Size: The Traveler Guitar EG-1 retains the full scale 24.75” and 28.5” length of a standard-sized guitar while weighing less than 5 pounds and packs effortlessly in an airplane overhead bin. It has been cleverly designed without a headstock and built from a lightweight yet top-notch Alder, making it compact yet ideal for those unwilling to compromise on a scale as well as playing experience. It comes in a classic glossy black color.

Overall Sound Quality: The EG-1 Custom’s alder body and mahogany neck give it a rich and balanced tone with a great playing experience. It is equipped with Traveler’s custom onboard headphone amps which allow you to choose from clean, boost, overdrive, and distortion tones using the custom tone knob push-pot. With this travel guitar, you are not only getting a full-sized feel but also a world-class quality sound, thanks to the chromatic Shadow E-tuner built right into its Alnico Humbucker 9K pickup.

Body and Neck Wood: The snazzy travel guitar is crafted from premium tonewoods with an alder body, an African mahogany neck, and a walnut fingerboard. It features some fantastic aesthetically pleasing appointments such as a white-black-white binding on its glossy black Alder body, a gold humbucker with cream pickup ring, and black dish knobs with Gold caps.

  • Full scale and ergonomically designed travel guitar
  • Crafted from top-notch hardwood
  • Built-in headphone amp with 4-channels
  • Aux-in for riff learning and jamming to your favorite songs
  • Chromatic E-tuner on pickup ring
  • Comes with a compact, custom gig bag

6. Martin Steel-String Backpacker Travel Guitar

Martin Steel-String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag

My Review: Martin Guitar Co.’s Backpacker has been innovatively designed to be the perfect travel mate for you. This well-built acoustic is a steal considering it has a solid Spruce wood top and is priced within an affordable range of $300. It’s incredibly fun to play and can act as a great backup guitar when your primary one is not around. This popular travel guitar was launched more than 25 years ago in the mid-nineties and we’ve only heard great things about it since. This is easily one of the best travel guitars for backpacking and trips where you just can’t bring a larger guitar.

Overall Build and Size: Martin’s Backpacker is an incredibly light and compact guitar making it easy to stow away and take along on treks or trips without a worry in the head. Although designed to be easy to carry, weighing less than 2-1/2 lbs., nowhere does it compromise in the sturdiness and durability department. Built with a solid Spruce wood top and Mahogany back and sides, it has a beautiful natural hue and a matte finish.

Overall Sound Quality: The Backpacker has a robust and impressive sound for a guitar its size. It may not give out the rich tone rendered by a typical dreadnought but don’t let that make you think that you’ll be sacrificing in the tonal quality with this little travel buddy. The guitar has been crafted from high-end hardwood which lends it an unamplified projection, making it perfect for travel.

Body and Neck Wood: This travel guitar has a solid Spruce top and Mahogany back, sides, and neck giving it the classic Martin acoustic sound. It has a narrow body with 15 frets and a flared lower bout making it extremely easy to carry. Just sling it over the shoulder and you are good to go!

  • Ultra-compact and extremely light
  • Made from high-end spruce and mahogany hardwood
  • Narrow body, easy to carry
  • Unamplified and consistent sound
  • Comes with a padded gig bag and chrome tuners

7. Luna Safari Series 3/4 Size Travel Guitar

Luna Safari Series Muse Mahogany 3/4-Size Travel Acoustic Guitar

My Review: This 3/4 size dreadnought is a part of Luna’s pocket-friendly Safari series. The brand has a reputation for crafting great-looking guitars. This model features a solid mahogany top, back, and asides and has an eye-catching Celtic laser etching around the soundhole. This beautifully handcrafted guitar is lightweight but packs in a punch with its powerful tonal quality. Luna Muse Safari comes with a branded gig bag which makes it easy to carry it when you are on the go.

Overall Build and Size: This stunning acoustic has a scale length of 22.5” and weighs just shy of 4 lbs., making it an incredibly light and ultra-compact travel companion. All panels of this 3/4 sized dreadnought have been crafted with mahogany. It also comes with a 19-fret rosewood fingerboard and bridge and chrome-colored hardware. The tuning machine is sealed die-cast and the nut and saddle are Graph Tech BC6115. The charming reddish-brown shade of mahogany makes this guitar a real treat to the eyes.

Overall Sound Quality: The Mahogany body and dreadnought structure of Luna Safari Muse ensures that players enjoy a rich and articulate sound. It may not be too low-end heavy, but with its delightfully bright sound and a pocket-friendly price tag, it sure is a steal!

Body and Neck Wood: Luna Safari Muse has been entirely made out of Mahogany which is a popular tonewood known to produce and sustain a well-balanced tone. The C-shaped neck makes for a breezy playing experience. The warm natural satin finish and the mother of pearl moon phase inlay on the fingerboard give it a classy and mystical look.

  • A travel-sized dreadnought with laser engraved Celtic rosette
  • Fun and easy to play, ideal for younger players
  • Rich and articulate sound
  • Perfect for left as well as right-handed players
  • Budget-friendly with most websites offering it under $200

8. Traveler Guitar Mark III MK3 MHG Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Traveler Guitar Mark III MK3 MHG Acoustic-Electric Guitar

My Review: When an entire company is dedicated to building top-of-the-line travel-friendly guitars, you know you cannot go wrong when you opt for one of theirs. The Traveler Mark III MK3 Acoustic-Electric is a full scale, unique looking guitar with a Mahogany body. Like other Travelers, it too features an in-built Shadow headphone amp, an aux input for jamming, and a proprietary in-body tuning system. With a standard tuning system, this travel guitar does not need a special set of strings and works perfectly with any standard acoustic strings you prefer.

Chris Schiebel reviewing a Traveler Guitar Mark III

Overall Build and Size: Measuring around 30” in length while weighing less than 5 pounds, this Mahogany guitar has a minimalistic body which makes it portable and player-friendly. The in-body tuning system eliminates the need for a headstock, making it sleek and travel-sized while offering a full-scale playing experience. The Escape Mark III comes equipped with a Shadow NanoFlex piezo under-saddle pickup which produces the authentic acoustic sound while the standard ¼” output jack lets you effortlessly switch to the electric mode. The control plate allows you to adjust the volume and tone directly from the guitar.

Overall Sound Quality: The Electric-Acoustic has been cleverly built to produce exceptional electronics as well as the authentic acoustic style sound. The choice of hardwood used lends it a resonant, well-balanced tone which is carried through even when you plug in the guitar and use it as a semi-electric.

Back view of the Traveler Guitar Mark III

Body and Neck Wood: The Escape Mark III has a natural finish mahogany body with a cutaway for access to higher frets, and a bolt-on mahogany neck. To top it off, it has a Rosewood fretboard which is the most commonly used fretboard owing to its warm and rich tones and the ability to even out the high-end harshness.

  • Full scale, versatile guitar
  • Stows away comfortably in overhead bins
  • Built-in headphone amp with clean, distortion, boost, and overdrive tones
  • High quality, plush gig bag included
  • Built-in chrome tuner

9. Cordoba Mini M Nylon String Guitar

Cordoba Mini M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String Guitar

My Review: Cordoba has a well-earned reputation for making traditional Spanish guitars with a modern twist. The brand is an innovator and leader in high-quality nylon-string guitar and the model we are about to review here is no exception.

Cordoba’s Mini M is a travel-sized traditional looker. With a mahogany body and a spruce top, it has an incredibly rich tone and a full, bright sound. The brilliant combination of its ultra-compact body and a full-sized 1.96” nut width makes it very easy to play and an ideal companion for your vacations or road trips.

Overall Build and Size: Mini M is an extremely lightweight,18-fret, nylon string parlor with a beautiful rose pattern etched out along its rosette. A short 20” scale length and full 1.96” nut width makes it an ideal travel sized guitar while retaining the string spacing and the overall feel of a full-sized guitar. The natural satin finish gives it a gorgeous sheen without betraying its woody feel. The guitar comes with a custom Aquila string set, tuned to A but can be tuned to standard E tuning with a thicker gauge. The Minis also come in three different wood combinations-spruce/mahogany, spruce/rosewood, and all ovangkol.

Overall Sound Quality: Despite its easy on the pocket price tag, Cordoba’s commitment to quality and sound with Mini M is truly admirable. It has a lightweight body with an impressively loud sound thanks to its smart design and the quality tonewoods used.

The solid spruce wood top offers a blend of clear, rich, and complex sound which is backed by a powerful tonal foundation owing to its mahogany back and sides.

Body and Neck Wood: With Mini M you get a solid Spruce wood top guitar without hurting your pocket. A solid wood top is an unbeatable vis a vis laminate or select wood, as it not only gives out a great tone but also lasts for longer. The mahogany body enhances the sturdiness property and clubbed with spruce wood top and rosewood fretboard contributes to the deep richness and resonance of this guitar. Mini M’s solid and heavy Mahogany U-shaped neck enhances the sustain and captures every nuance and detail, beautifully.

  • Affordable, lightweight guitar with an impressive sound
  • Solid top and body made from quality tonewoods
  • Comfortable U-shaped Mahogany neck
  • Includes a gig bag

10. Fender CT-140SE Travel Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Fender CT-140SE Travel Acoustic-Electric Guitar

My Review: Perfect for all guitar enthusiasts- whether professional or hobbyists, The CT-140SE acoustic-electric is undeniably one of the finest travel bodied guitars made by Fender. Compactly built with solid Rosewood and a spruce top, it features a sophisticated Fishman Presys pickup and preamp system, which ensures an authentic sound is reproduced even when plugged in. The solid high-end components and a hardshell case all priced under $400, make this Fender a great value and should definitely be explored when picking out a guitar for serious beginners or simply for your travel needs.

Overall Build and Size: Traveling with CT-140SE is a cakewalk thanks to its compact dimensions. An auditorium shaped travel body has been scaled down to 23.5” to ensure it fits well into cramped spaces and overhead airline compartments. With premium hardwood used through the body as well as Fishman pickups and preamp system, rolled fingerboard edges, players can expect an easy to play high-quality guitar that’s quite sturdy in its design. CT-140SE comes with two color options- Natural and Sunburst with a glossy finish and equipped with chrome-plated hardware.

Overall Sound Quality: CT-140SE offers high-quality Fender sound at a reasonable price. The spruce wood top renders a powerful sound and detailed dynamics while the rosewood body & fretboard delivers rich overtones. The scalloped, X bracing design also plays a vital role in enhancing this bolder, richer tone as well as its harmonic output.

Body and Neck Wood: The Acoustic-Electric has a solid spruce top is a popular choice of wood for acoustic tops as it offers unparalleled durability and a full, bright, and versatile sound. The rosewood body and neck mellow down the bright punch delivered by the spruce wood. All in all, you get a well-balanced tone that responds well to any style of playing, from hard strumming to fast or delicate picking.

  • Top-notch fender quality with a great value
  • Solid Spruce top & Rosewood body delivers a rich, balanced tone
  • Scalloped, X bracing design
  • Easy to play neck with rolled fretboard edges
  • Sophisticated Fishman Presys pickup/preamp
  •  Hardshell case included

11. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

My Review: This next guitar comes from the extensive heritage NY-based brand “Steinberger”. These guitars for their distinctive shape, and high-quality construction, having been used by likes of Geddy Lee (Rush), and Sting (The Police), back in the day to more modern day artists such as Arif Miradolbaghi (Protest the Hero). They feature a headless design, and a compact size playable even on an armed office chair. The GT-Pro brings the same quality and aesthetic to a more affordable line of travel guitars.

Overall Build and Size: The original Spirit was one of the most popular attempts at making a body-less travel guitar in the 80s, and the modern Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe has some unique features to match! Featuring a full 25-½ scale length, and a tight fretboard radius, the Spirit is quite easy to handle, play and travel with. Keeping it simple with one volume and one tone knob, and including a tremolo bridge and the locking tuners make for a stable and well-tuned guitar, even without a headstock.

Overall Sound Quality: The deluxe model features a humbucker pickup on the bridge and neck, with a single coil in the middle. The twin humbuckers designed by Steinberger and perfected by Epiphone, make the Spirit sound fat and round while reducing the tinny signals to a minimum. The 5-way pickup selector also makes the guitar versatile and comfortable across a large selection of amps and amp plugins. Perfect for both the Stage pro, and the couch pro !

Body and Neck Wood: The original Spirit guitars designed by Ned Steinberger, were made from a composite of carbon-fiber, however, the new Spirit GT-Pro eschews that for a completely maple body and neck. In such a small guitar, this resonant wood makes for a big jump in playability and sustain. The Spirit is able to hold its own against full bodied guitars while delivering the same resonance and exceptional output!

  • Classic Steinberger design
  • Hyper compact
  • Gibson (Epiphone) construction, reliability, and warranty
  • Bridge and Neck Humbuckers for a well-rounded rock/metal/blues sound

12. Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar

Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar

My Review: Are you someone who doesn’t want to be away from their guitar even when traveling? Then the Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar has to be one of your top choices. It offers a full-scale length while being ultra-compact which enables you to take it along with you wherever you go. Fitted with a single Hofner open humbucker pickup, and volume and tone knobs, the Shorty is designed with no flashy bits except for its curious design.

Overall Build and Size: The Hofner Shorty has a basswood top and back, a neck made from maple, and a fretboard made from rosewood. Basswood is a lightweight wood which produces a good sound and works especially well with Hofner’s open humbucker pickup. Considering the price range, the craftsmanship and the materials used to make this guitar are of a better-than-expected quality. The black finish gives it a slight rock and roll feel. The shape of the guitar can feel a bit strange in the beginning with its short body, long neck and the headstock, but you soon get used to it. Overall, the Shorty Electric is a sturdy little guitar that needs some time to adjust to its style and shape.

Overall Sound Quality: Without amplification, the guitar sounds quiet, and is suitable for a quiet day of practice. Once amplified, the sound produced is bright, trebly, and strong. The volume and tone controls work very well and you can get a range of tones from this little guitar from clear to dirty. The action on this guitar might need a touch of adjustment.

Body and Neck Wood: The basswood body and maple neck make for better playability when playing standing up. Its small, neck-heavy body makes it a little awkward to play, which is also compounded by there being no place to rest the playing arm.

  • Compact size
  • Considerably lightweight
  • Strong sound when amplified
  • Crisp, clean tone
  • Durable gig bag included
  • Good bang for the buck

13. Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III

Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III

My Review: Looking for a guitar which can hold its own during travel and on stage? Look no further! The Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III offers a full-scale 25.5” while being small enough to fit into the overhead compartment in an airplane. This acoustic-electric comes packed with a plethora of features – from an in-body tuning system, a headphone output to a Shadow under-saddle pickup – that helps you stay on top of your game. This is a great lightweight option for a performer or even for a student who wants to up his game. The Escape Mark III also comes with a deluxe gig bag that keeps it protected when not in use. Overall, I would say this is one of the best travel guitars out there.

Overall Build and Size: The Escape Mark III is just 30” despite boasting a full-scale at 25.5” and has a compact mahogany body, back, and top with a bolt-on mahogany neck. The natural satin finish gives it a refined feel. The single cutaway gives the player access to the higher frets while also giving it a tasteful look. The full-sized scale has a comfortable, familiar feel to it while playing. The relatively thin body needs some getting used to and it can be difficult to rest your arm while playing, but the overall balance of the guitar is excellent. Despite being quite lightweight at 4.5 lbs, it does compromise on the quality, durability, or sturdiness of the piece.

Overall Sound Quality: When not plugged in, the Escape Mark III sounds like any other unplugged electric guitar, but once plugged into an amplification system, produces a sound that emulates a steel-string acoustic guitar. This guitar has a clean, warm, mellow sound and is not disturbed in the slightest by string hum or any other problems. The premium quality mahogany used in the guitar allows for greater resonance and a better sustain. Altogether, the way the Escape Mark III is crafted makes for a truly exceptional auditory experience.

Body and Neck Wood: This guitar features a mahogany body and neck which adds sturdiness to the piece, and the black walnut fretboard gives it a smooth feel while playing. The headstock has been removed from its traditional place and added to the body itself which gives it a different, non-traditional appearance. The In-Body tuning system is sturdy and reliable, and the tuners are protected from outside interference.

  • Mahogany wood body
  • Full-scale fretboard despite the compact size
  • Warm, mellow sound, great resonance
  • Shadow under-saddle pickups and In-Body tuning system
  • Cutaway to reach higher frets easily
  • Lightweight, highly portable
  • Great choice for multi-city gigs

14. Voyage Air VAOM-02G2

Voyage Air VAOM-02G2

My Review: Traveling with a guitar, be it a regular sized guitar or that of a travel variety, is awkward due to their long, thin necks. But, with the Voyage Air VAOM-02G2, its manufacturers have found an ingenious solution to that age-old problem – a patented hinge which lets you literally fold the guitar in half! It comes with its very own deluxe Voyager case in which you can stow the guitar when not in use. For someone who doesn’t want to compromise on the dimensions or the size, this is a great fit!

Overall Build and Size: The Voyage Air is a full-sized acoustic dreadnought guitar. The body is made from mahogany as are the back and the sides and has a single-ply laminate spruce top with bracing. The fingerboard and the bridge are crafted from laurel – a soft-colored, brown wood that is almost identical to rosewood. It has a high-gloss protective finish which gives it a soft look. The foldable neck-hinge has been tested under pressure and is very dependable. The build of the guitar is quite sturdy, no matter how strange it might seem to fold and unfold the guitar each time. The only thing to keep in mind is that the strings need to be slackened off before folding!

Overall Sound Quality: Despite being a travel guitar, the Voyage Air is a full-sized acoustic guitar with a full, rich sound and a good deal of projection. The full-scale fretboard offers comfortable playability and adapts to any playing style, be it fingerpicking or strumming.

Body and Neck Wood: The body and the neck are both crafted from mahogany as are the sides and the back. The top is made from a single-ply laminate spruce which can be a letdown for some people. The fretboard is made from laurel as is the bridge on the guitar.

  • Foldable design for better storage and transport
  • Full-size guitar that can be easily carried around
  • Mahogany and spruce laminate body
  • Full, rich sound like a regular sized acoustic guitar

15. Cordoba Mini II M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String

Cordoba Mini II M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String

My Review: The Cordoba Mini II MH travel guitar is a handsome ½ size guitar. Whether it be an impromptu performance or a relaxed practice session while camping, you won’t hesitate to bust out this beauty. It has a delightfully warm, full, well-balanced tone that seems more like a guitar than a ukulele. The Cordoba Mini II Mahogany is a beauty that ticks all the right boxes in looks, sound quality, playability as well as price!

Overall Build and Size: The small body of the Cordoba makes this an ideal choice for a travel guitar. Being a ½ sized guitar, it is easier to carry along on trips than other bigger guitars. The satin polyurethane finish gives it a more sophisticated look than other guitars in this category. Despite a slightly cramped scale at 22.8”, the guitar tunes perfectly to a standard E and the fingerboard offers overall comfortable playability. Guitar players who have slightly smaller hands will certainly find this to be a more manageable instrument than a full-sized acoustic guitar. The build of this guitar speaks of quality and a solid body that can take the pain of travel.

Overall Sound Quality: The Cordoba Mini II promises to sound more like a full-sized guitar than a ukulele – and delivers! It has a nuanced, full-bodied tone that is mellow and full of warmth. Compared to some other travel guitars, this one has a deeper body that projects the sound well. Even though it isn’t particularly loud, it has enough volume for a lonesome practice session or small, intimate performances.

Body and Neck Wood: The layered mahogany body and neck, and the Morado fretboard (with 19 frets) are instant visual hooks that draw you to this little fellow. There is a single action truss rod inside the neck. Even though this guitar doesn’t feature a full-size scale, the fretboard offers good playability and is easy to adapt to.

  • Layered mahogany body and satin finish
  • ½ sized guitar easy to carry along
  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Warm, full tonality
  • Pocket-friendly price
  • Ideal for kids and players with smaller hands

16. Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

My Review: The Traveler Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric is marketed as the smallest, lightest full-scale travel guitar on the market, and it certainly delivers on all these counts. The compact design of the guitar without a headstock is unique, yet offers a full-scale playing experience that one gets on a full-sized acoustic. The piezo pickup delivers a bright acoustic sound when plugged into an amplifier. Despite being a higher-priced guitar, the Traveler Ultra-light Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar is certainly worth a try.

Overall Build and Size: This Traveler Ultra-light guitar really lives up to its name. Weighing in at only 3 pounds, it is one of the lightest travel guitars on the market. At only 24 ¾”, it can even fit into some suitcases and is easy to carry around. Made from a single piece of maple wood with a regular-sized fingerboard made from ebony wood, it comes with an adjustable truss rod. Despite the guitar’s shape, the detachable lap-rest makes it comfortable to play sitting down, although the different designs might take some getting used to. The overall build is quite sturdy and can easily be taken along on your travels and even stowed in the overhead bin on a flight, thanks to its detachable lap-rest. The range of satin finishes it comes in allows you to choose the color you feel the most comfortable with.

Overall Sound Quality: This Traveler guitar comes with a ¼” jack socket and a built-in acoustic piezo pickup which can be used to amplify its sound. The piezo pickup gives it a bright, crisp tone once plugged into an amplifier. This one is a silent guitar and only finds its voice through an amplifier. Given this little fact, it can’t be used to strum a few chords around a campfire but can come in handy when looking to practice quietly. It is also well-suited to live performances where there is an amplification set up at hand.

Body and Neck Wood: The body and neck of the guitar are crafted from a single piece of Eastern American Hard Maple. The full-size fingerboard is made from ebony wood and has 22 frets which are easy to adapt to from a conventional acoustic guitar. The satin finish on top gives it a smooth, hand-friendly feel while playing.

  • Extremely compact build
  • In-body tuning system
  • Bright, crisp, articulate sound
  • Piezo pickup for amplification

17. Washburn RO10 Rover Steel String Travel Acoustic Guitar

Washburn RO10 Rover Steel String Travel Acoustic Guitar

My Review: Washburn guitars have been consistently delivering guitars crafted with extreme care and quality since the 1880s. The Washburn RO10 Rover features a mahogany wood body, back and sides, a solid spruce top, and a full-size neck which makes for good playability. This guitar produces a sound that emphasizes the treble without being too loud or resonant, which makes it suitable for different playing styles – whether flat-picking or playing finger-style

Overall Build and Size: The Washburn Rover is a visually appealing 33.5” long acoustic guitar, with a beautiful mahogany body and a solid spruce top which enhances its look and overall feel. It has a rosewood fingerboard and a full-size neck which feels like a regular-sized guitar and needs no time to get used to. The fingerboard also makes for good playability. The overall build of the guitar is sturdy and robust and makes for a good, albeit heavier travel guitar. The Washburn is available in a natural finish as well as a blue finish. The deluxe gig bag, included with the instrument, makes sure that no harm comes to the guitar when carrying it around with you.

Overall Sound Quality: The Washburn isn’t made to produce a loud sound, but taking into account its compact size, the sound is quite impressive, if a little more treble-y than usual. For a travel guitar with a full-size neck, the Washburn RO10 Rover lives up to its potential.

Body and Neck Wood: The Washburn is made from a mahogany body and the fretboard is crafted from rosewood. The solid spruce top gives the guitar a nice resonance, although the wood used and the full-sized fretboard makes the guitar a tad heavier than expected.

  • Robust, well-built guitar
  • Full-sized neck
  • Solid spruce top
  • Versatile, good playability for multiple playing styles
  • Moderately priced

Choosing the Right Travel Guitar (Buying Guide)

Adding a travel guitar to your collection means you can take your 6-string pal along on road trips without a worry. And as you can see from our top 17 list, there are several great options to choose from. What matters is that you pick a type of guitar that you’d prefer – be it playability, size, or tone quality. If you ask us, then our pick for the travel guitar with the most impressive sound quality would be the Baby Taylor BT1 for acoustic and the Travelcaster Deluxe for electric. Be it an intimate impromptu gig or a long road trip, this beauty sounds like a dream and is so compact to travel with.

If you ask us for a great affordable option for a 3/4 travel guitar, then the Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic is worth exploring for those on a budget. Finally, for those looking to strike a balance between the top of the line quality as well as not spend a bomb then you should check out the Washburn RO10 Rover Steel String. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun and having a portable companion that gives you the freedom to strum along wherever you are. We hope this list gave you all the information you need to take your pick. Bon voyage!

What Is a Travel Guitar?

Simply put, travel guitars or travel-sized guitars are a more compact, lighter version of a full-sized guitar. You’ll find both acoustic travel guitars and electric variants in the market, depending on your needs.

Most travel guitars have the same or almost the same scale length (distance between the nut and the guitar’s bridge) as regular guitars so that you get a more compact guitar without compromising the playability of the instrument. On the other hand, you also have travel guitar options that have 3/4, 1/2, or even 1/4 scale length as full-size guitars.

Travel guitars have smaller body and neck, which makes them lighter and easier to carry with you wherever you go – be it a month-long cross-country tour, a weekend road trip, or even a backpacking hike to the mountains!

Why Should You Buy a Travel Guitar

Whether you’re a hobby guitarist or an experienced player, there are so many good reasons to get yourself a travel guitar either way. Here are a few for you to go through:

  • Light & Portable: Travel guitars are far easier and hassle-free to carry with you when traveling. This is thanks to their compact size and lightweight that lets them easily fit on flights or a vehicle.
  • Great Backup Option: they work great as a backup guitar for musicians who don’t want to take their primary guitars on a trip where they’ll be roughing it out.
  • Strum On the Road: Inspiration can strike a musician anytime, especially when you’re traveling! Having a travel guitar lets you flesh out your song ideas as and when you think them up – even when you’re out on the road or on vacation.
  • Take Up Less Space: If you’re packing up your van for a long road trip, you’ll find that travel guitars take up far lesser space than traditional guitars do, freeing up more storage space for other things that you’d want to carry along.

What to Look For In A Travel Guitar

With several options for travel guitars available in the market, it’s crucial to know what to look for when sizing each option up. Here are the key features you should consider when comparing travel guitars and making your decision:

Full-sized scale-length vs. Reduced Scale Length

Many travel guitars come with a full-size or almost full-size scale length (around 25.5 inches). When making such travel guitars, the manufacturers choose to make them compact by reducing the size of the guitar’s body, instead of the fretboard size or length. These guitars feel like you’re almost playing a regular guitar, just more compact and more portable.

On the other hand, you also find one-half (1/2), three-quarters (3/4), or even as small as one-quarter (1/4) sized guitars. These have smaller fretboards than regular guitars. So consider the scale length you’ll be comfortable playing on when taking your pick.

Overall Size

Even amongst travel guitars, you will find options of all sizes to choose from. While some travel guitars are only slightly smaller than full-size guitars, others are extremely compact. Most full-size guitars are 38 inches in their overall size.

On the other hand, travel guitars So do consider how compact a guitar you’re looking for and look at the measurements when taking your pick.

Tone Quality

As you already might know, the wood used in the guitar’s construction affects its tone and sound quality. Woods like Maple, Spruce, Sitka Spruce, and Rosewood produce a bright, higher, slightly treble-heavy tone and sound.

On the other hand, woods like Mahogany and Koa have a richer, warmer tone that is mid to low-range in its character. So it’s all about deciding what type of sound works best for your playing and style, and going with it.

Quality of Wood Used

As is the case with full-size guitars, do consider the type of body, neck, and fretboard wood used on your potential travel guitar. The better the quality of wood used, the sweeter and richer the sound and the more durable the construction. You can choose from a wide variety of woods such as mahogany, maple, spruce, walnut, and more, depending on the look and sound you prefer.

Overall Shape and Design

Travel-friendly guitars come in a wide variety of shapes and designs. Some travel guitars are more compact versions of the classic shapes like a dreadnought, concert, or auditorium style guitars. However, you will also find extremely futuristic and innovatively-designed travel guitars as well, that are foldable, triangular-shaped, and even ones with barely any guitar body!

I know of buddies that would love a triangular-shaped travel guitar, but also know a few who wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing! So it’s all a matter of personal taste. This is why it’s important to see the shape and design that you will be comfortable playing with and carrying, and choosing accordingly.

Last but never least, it’s a good idea to have a budget in mind when browsing through options. Travel guitars are available in a wide price range – from affordable, budget-friendly options under $200, mid-range options between $200 to $400, and higher-end travel guitars that are in the $400 plus range.

Do make it a point to check the features and wood quality that you’re being offered at any price point. While very low-priced travel guitars may seem enticing at first, you may end up shelling out more in its repairs in case the instrument is not well-built. So it’s important to pick an option that is value for money, no matter its price.

Chris from Guitar Lobby

My name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and am an avid collector. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all.

I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. With my engineering experience, I’ve developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community.

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Best travel guitars: Top acoustic and electric guitars for musicians on the go

Out top picks for practicing your guitar on the move, wherever the road takes you

Best for tone

Best for volume, best for value.

  • Best Strat-alike
  • Best electric
  • Best full-scale
  • #1 acoustic-electric

Best for portability

  • Best solid wood
  • Buying advice
  • How we choose

A pair of travel guitars against a wall

1. The quick list 2. Best for tone 3. Best for volume 4. Best for value 5. Best for Strat players 6. Best electric travel guitar 7. Best full-scale travel guitar 8. Best acoustic-electric model 9. Best for portability 10. Best solid-wood travel guitar 11. Buying advice 12. How we choose products

As guitar players, our passion and joy shouldn’t have to stop the second we leave the house or the practice room. Sometimes, when you’re on the go; whether that be travelling for work or just for fun, you want to be able to take your music with you. That’s where the best travel guitars come in.

Travel guitars are smaller, more compact instruments that are easier to take on the road. If you’re heading out on a road trip, and space in the car is tight, a travel guitar will fit in a much smaller gap than a full-size guitar. Some of them even pack down into a rucksack so you can take them on a plane as hand luggage.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re more into playing acoustic or electric, we’ve picked out the best travel guitars currently on offer to make sure that the music doesn’t have to stop when you hit the road.

Chris Corfield author pic

Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World and Dawsons Music. Chris has spent years writing about and testing guitar gear for MusicRadar, in addition to nerding out about everything from synths to microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

Best travel guitars: Quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out exactly which we think are the best travel guitars on the market right now? Below, you’ll find a round-up of our top choices. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

Taylor Baby Taylor

This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

Read more below

Martin Backpacker

The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

The Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the travel guitar bill due to its distinctive size and shape. Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul.

Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

You can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat.

Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example.

Hofner Shorty travel guitar

The Shorty provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

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Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany

The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought. The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse.

Journey Instruments PJ410N

This handy, foldable acoustic is great for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

Furch Little Jane LJ-10

This is one for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The best travel guitars right now

MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full and detailed write-ups for each of the best travel guitars in our list.

Best travel guitars: Taylor Baby Taylor

1. Taylor Baby Taylor

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If the more outlandish styles of travel guitar aren’t for you, maybe the Baby Taylor will be. This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

The Baby Taylor would be the perfect option as a second (or third) guitar in anyone’s collection, designed to be stashed in the included gig bag and taken anywhere. Players with larger hands may feel a bit cramped navigating the 22.75” scale length, but for the majority of people the Baby Taylor is easy to recommend.

Best travel guitars: Martin Backpacker

2. Martin Backpacker

We weren’t lying when we said travel guitars can jar a bit visually. The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

Originally launched in 1992, the Martin Backpacker has carved itself a nice niche in the world of travel guitars, and its exceptional build quality means it will last for many more years to come.

Best travel guitars: Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

3. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

While not officially marketed as a travel guitar, the Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the bill due to its distinctive size and shape. The classic Steinberger ‘headless’ design is correct and present, making the same bold visual statement of its more expensive stablemates, yet the decision to use wood over composite materials makes the whole thing more cost-effective and suited for travelling. 

Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul. It’s also pretty rare to find neck-thru bodies at this price point, which all adds up to a decent value instrument regardless of how you end up using it.

Best for Strat players

Best travel guitars: Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

4. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

It’s called ‘cognitive dissonance’. That conflict you feel when something you know to be right is challenged. The Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe is a relative example; to look at it, you can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat. 

Weighing in at only 5 lbs, the Travelcaster Deluxe may take some getting over visually, but in use it provides that same Strat experience, the same 25.5” scale length and the same tonal versatility of those pickups. If you can get over the cognitive dissonance, it may just be the perfect travel guitar for you.

Read the full Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe review

Best electric options

Best travel guitars: Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

5. Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example. 

It plays great and the shorter 20.7” scale length doesn’t take long to readjust to - younger beginners might find that they can fret chords and make stretches between frets more easily too. The mini-humbucker covers a lot of ground, so will suit any musical style you can throw at it. Whether you’re playing clean or super distorted, this little thing can really pack a punch! 

There is a more expensive version that’s around double the price with some upgrades, but in terms of value for money, we feel that the Blackstar Carry-On ST is one of the best travel guitars around. 

Best full-scale experience

Best travel guitars: Hofner Shorty

6. Hofner Shorty travel guitar

The Hofner Shorty has been around since the 1980s, and has long been a favourite for players looking for a portable electric they can travel with. It provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

Sure, it’s not going to win any awards for tone, and you’re unlikely to see them used on album-of-the-year contenders, but as an inexpensive way to add a bit of portability to your line-up the Hofner Shorty is well worth consideration. 

Best of both worlds

Best travel guitars: Traveler Escape Mark III

7. Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany

Choosing a travel guitar doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on your needs. The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought.

The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse. The onboard electronics are both extensive and useful too, with an under-saddle Shadow NanoFlex piezo system, tuner, aux-in and studio headphone out making for quite a comprehensive setup for the traveling player.

Best travel guitars: Voyage Air VAOM-02G2

8. Journey Instruments PJ410N

This handy, foldable acoustic makes for one of the best travel guitars for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

It fits perfectly inside the included padded rucksack, and can be assembled in 20 seconds. Simply put the neck into position, snap it in place and lock it from the back of the body. Then you’ve got a guitar with a 23” scale ready to play. It’s great for experienced players who want something that sounds good while they’re on their travels (the bag will fit under many airline seats), but also makes for a great beginner guitar for kids . 

Best all-solid option

Best travel guitars: Furch Little Jane LJ-10

9. Furch Little Jane LJ-10

This is definitely one of the best travel guitars for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The guitar can be folded down and fit into a rucksack (included). The headstock, neck and body are separate from one another to save space but can be assembled into one piece very quickly and easily. Once the neck is locked into position using Furch’s proprietary assembly system, it’s ready to play and will even go back in tune. 

The included rucksack is well padded and will ensure that it’s protected enough on your travels. Travel acoustic guitars seldom sound this good, and to be fair the price reflects that, but it really is one of the best out there. 

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

Voyage Air VAOM-02G2 travel guitar in folded configuration

What is a travel guitar?

Essentially, a travel guitar is a guitar designed with portability and mobility as its key function. This will usually mean the guitar has a significantly smaller body or weight, and they often boast creative solutions to common issues like tuning or storage. From conception to construction, the travel guitar is designed to be thrown in a bag and transported anywhere, everywhere, and all those places in between. 

Standard-sized guitars can be, as we know, too large, too heavy or too delicate to carry around for long stretches, so travel guitars offer a specialist tool for those specific situations. Realistically, you’ll not find too many studio musicians reaching for the travel guitar to nail that perfect tone, but then that’s not what they’re for. Portability, size and weight are order of the day here, and it helps that there are travel guitars on the market today which also nail that other crucial element; tone. 

What makes travel guitars different?

At first glance, the sight of a dedicated travel guitar can jar a little. Often, they have quite striking aesthetic differences from regular guitars. Like looking at something you know, only quite different. Manufacturers employ all kinds of measures as they seek to reduce the overall size and weight of the guitar, and it’s not uncommon to see guitars without headstocks, or with radically different shaped bodies, or even no body at all. Yet a guitar still has to function, so there is still the need for tuning pegs, a bridge, and other essential components.

What are the key features of travel guitars?

There are two major schools of thought when it comes to travel guitars. One is to take a regular sized guitar and zap it with a shrink ray, keeping the same proportions relatively but in a smaller overall package. This approach ensures the instrument retains its familiarity, and also makes them attractive to younger learners.

The other approach is to redesign the instrument completely, perhaps taking the tuning pegs and installing them in the body. Of course, such radical design changes can create other problems, so you may see these compensated for with the inclusion of detachable arm and leg rests, for example. While these guitars may look unfamiliar, the playing experience should be largely the same as a regular guitar. Scale lengths, fret locations and pitch will be the same, even if the physical form of the guitar is quite different.

Are travel guitars playable?

Close-up of Traveler Guitars Travelcaster

If you’ve never had the chance to play a travel guitar, you may be looking at the best travel guitars in this list and wondering if it’s playable in the same way as a regular guitar. The good news is that yes, absolutely they are playable. In the same way that jumping from the thin neck of an Ibanez RG-style electric to a 50’s style Stratocaster neck may take a bit of readjustment in your technique, so too will the leap from a regular to certain travel-sized guitars. It’s not difficult to adjust though. You may also have to sit differently to accommodate the smaller body, but as these guitars are inherently lighter in weight, this shouldn’t cause too much of a headache. Or, more accurately, backache.

Electric or acoustic?

All of the best travel guitars will either be electric or acoustic. Electrics do tend to be thinner, as the body doesn’t need to resonate as much to get a good sound, although it’s worth remembering that you’ll need an amp to get the most out of it. The body of a travel acoustic will normally be deeper, but as a result of this you can get a fairly loud sound without any amplification.

What do I get when I spend more?

The quality of the best travel guitars does vary, and as you might imagine, it does go up as you spend more money. As the price increases, you’ll likely find better hardware, which can not only help keep the guitar in tune and playing nicely, but can also improve how it sounds too, increasing resonance and sustain.

On electrics, you’ll find better quality pickups - these will be more dynamic and have a wider frequency range so you’ll get more detail and clarity. With travel acoustic guitars, you’ll get better quality, and even solid woods which will give you a better, more responsive and richer sound.

Who might use a travel guitar?

The breadth of today’s range of travel guitars means there is a guitar to suit most playing styles and genres, so the quick answer is that yes, there is a travel guitar for everyone. In terms of scenarios, travel guitars are, as their name suggests, designed to be taken places ordinary guitars cannot reach. 

Small enough to fit on your back as you scale a mountain, or taken on a plane as part of your hand luggage, travel guitars give players the freedom and convenience of being able to play anywhere, at any time. For that, we applaud them. Let’s examine some of the best travel guitar options available today.

Can you buy travel guitars for children?

Travel guitars, as well as being the perfect accompaniment to a musician on the go, can also make for great instruments for children. If you’re looking for one of the best travel guitars to get a kid started on their guitar playing journey, then look for one that has a shorter scale length. This will mean that the notes are closer together and will be easier for small hands to fret. 

Scale length and string gauge

Speaking of short scales, the gauge of strings you use is also worth considering. The strings on a guitar with a shorter scale will feel slinkier - they will be easier to bend and to some players may even feel too loose. One way to combat this is to use thicker strings, so something like 12s on an electric might make them feel a little more like 10s on a full size guitar. Though, if you’re just starting out then the thinner, slinkier strings might be better so they don’t quite hurt your fingertips as much.

How we chose the best travel guitars for this guide

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best travel guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best travel guitars on the market right now.

Find out more about  how we test music gear and services  at MusicRadar.

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Chris Corfield

Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar and bass gear, to synths, microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

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Gearank – Music Gear Information for Live Performance or Studio

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The Best Travel Guitars – Electric & Acoustic (2024)

travel guitar

Table of Contents / + show /

Sigma 10mini, gretsch g9500 jim dandy, taylor baby mahogany bt2, martin steel string backpacker, yamaha slg200s silent guitar.

  • Journey Instruments OF660M

Eart GW2 Headless

Traveler ultra-light electric.

  • Size & Weight
  • Playability (Scale Length & Nut Width)

Playing Comfort

Built-in electronics.

  • Methodology – How We Chose Which Guitars To Recommend
  • About the Author & Contributors

Sweetwater

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. • • • • •

Travel guitars are compact instruments that prioritize portability, making them convenient to carry around as you move from place to place.

To shed some of the bulk and weight, most manufacturers utilize smaller and lighter components, while others go for novel streamlined designs that include having parts that collapse or fold.

Here we feature the best travel guitars, divided into mini-acoustic, collapsible, and headless electric guitar models, based on the most recent reviews and ratings data. Each of the featured travel guitars come with detailed descriptions along with important travel-friendly specifications. More importantly, we provide the pros and cons of each one, based on our analysis of actual market responses.

The Best Travel Guitars

*Notes: Gearank = Rating score out of 100. SRC = Sources, number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed to produce a product's Gearank Rating. Further details: How Gearank Works .

Author & Contributors

Alexander Briones

I have been writing about and researching music gear for many years, all while serving as a music director at my local church. I engage in guitar playing and singer-songwriter stints, in addition to mentoring young musicians and teaching guitar and bass.

The Best Acoustic Travel Guitars

  • Body Profile: FG JR1
  • Top: Spruce
  • Back & Sides: Meranti
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 21.25"
  • Nut Width: 1.6875"
  • Electronics: None
  • Body Length: 15.3125"
  • Weight: Not Specified

Most users agree that the Yamaha JR1 is a guitar that is easy to play. Most declare it as a great fit for young students of the instrument, while others even recommend it for older players who just want a compact and comfortable beater guitar. Thanks to its combination of good quality and playability, users are generally pleased with what they got for the money.

Some comment that it sounds thinner than a regular sized dreadnought, but this is to be expected given its miniature size. There are also a few who aren't too happy with the included gig bag.

With Yamaha's reputation for student friendly guitars, the Yamaha JR1 is a great travel guitar option that can double as a reliable student guitar.

amazon travel guitar

Get Price & Reviews @ Amazon

The Sigma 10Mini is a compact and affordable acoustic guitar with solid spruce top, a feature that you won't normally see in its price range.

The guitar's solid top is supported by laminate sapele back and sides, forming a shape that's similar to vintage concert style acoustic guitars, albeit smaller.

The neck is crafted from nato, and topped by a 23.5" scale rosewood fingerboard.

Completing its vintage appeal is its sunburst gloss finish and square headstock shape.

Specifications:

  • Body Profile: Mini Concert
  • Top: Solid Spruce
  • Back & Sides: Sapele
  • Fretboard: 12.6" Radius Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 23.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.685"
  • Body Length: 17.5"

Given that it comes with a solid spruce top, many comment that this guitar is a great buy. For something affordable, it is able to surpass build quality expectations, with users reporting being stunned at the feel and action of the neck. Most users are also pleased at its tone, which is described as balanced with a nice ring.

Some experienced musicians noticed minor imperfections in some parts of the guitar. Some less experienced reviewers report that it lacks low end, but this is due to its smaller body size.

It's hard to top the value that you can get from this compact vintage style travel acoustic guitar.

amazon travel guitar

Get Price & Reviews @ Sweetwater

With its compact parlor style profile, the G9500 is lighter and takes up less space, which in turn makes it easier to carry around.

But it's not just about being travel friendly, because the G9500 is well received for its distinct midrange-focused tone, which works nicely with many musical styles, especially old school blues.

This acoustic is a modern reproduction of '30s era Gretsch Rex guitars, having the same look, vibe and tone - without the extra cost and fragility often associated with older instruments - thanks to modern manufacturing technology and the use of renewable materials.

  • Body Profile: Parlor
  • Top: Agathis
  • Back & Sides: Agathis
  • Fretboard: 12" Radius Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 24"
  • Body Length: 18"
  • Weight: 2.2 lbs

Feedback on the Gretsch G9500's portability is generally positive, but more importantly, users are impressed by how good it sounds given its small size. Its distinct gritty tone and old school appearance get a lot of praise, while others note that the G9500's build quality exceeded their expectations. Being easy to play is another reason why many rate this instrument highly.

Speaking of build quality, there are a few reports of cosmetic flaws. Those who are looking for fuller sounding acoustic tones may not find its mid-emphasized voicing to their liking.

The Grestch G9500 is a compact acoustic guitar that harkens back to the parlor guitar style, highly recommended for both its portability and its distinct tone.

amazon travel guitar

Known for their premium regular size acoustic guitars, Taylor is now doing just as well in the travel and entry level market, thanks to the likes of BT2.

This guitar is essentially a smaller version of the popular dreadnought shape, albeit with Taylor's brand of build and sound quality.

While it was initially designed to be a starter guitar for kids, it made its way into the hands of professionals who appreciate its balance of portability and quality.

This guitar features a solid mahogany top, and layered sapele for the back and sides, a potent combination that complements the midrange'y tone expected of small body acoustics.

  • Body Profile: Dreadnought Baby
  • Top: Solid Mahogany
  • Back & Sides: Layered Sapele
  • Neck: Sapele
  • Fretboard: African Ebony
  • Scale Length: 22.75"
  • Nut Width: 1 11/16"
  • Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
  • Body Length: 15.75"
  • Weight: 8.1 lbs

Sound quality and playability are the top two reasons cited by reviewers for why they love the Taylor BT2. A lot of users appreciate its warm tone, which works well with various musical styles, from folk fingerstyle to strumming. Others are equally pleased with its overall build quality. For the price, many also consider the inclusion of a solid mahogany top in conjunction with the Taylor brand to be a great deal.

There are a few who gave the Taylor BT2 lower scores because of the included gig bag, which some describe as sub-par. Some users also caution that those who are looking for a full sounding acoustic guitar will probably not like the distinctly warm tone of the Taylor BT2.

All in all, the Taylor BT2 is a travel guitar that you won't be ashamed of carrying around.

Popular Option

amazon travel guitar

With its odd compact body shape, the Backpacker easily stands out from among the many traditional style acoustic guitars of C.F. Martin & Co.

The odd shaped body is stripped of much of its depth and width, having a long triangular shape - resulting in a lighter and smaller acoustic.

And while it looks different from the usual Martin guitar, it does retain Martin's penchant for build quality and even sports a solid spruce top.

More importantly the Backpacker is quite affordable for a Martin branded instrument.

  • Body Profile: Backpacker
  • Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
  • Sides: Tonewood
  • Neck: Tonewood
  • Fretboard: Not Specified
  • Total Length: 33"
  • Weight: 2.125 lbs

Many are happy with the Backpacker because it allows them to own a good quality Martin guitar without having to shell out the usual dough. Being portable is another important factor why it continues to be popular. Reviews indicate that it does live up to its brand in terms of build quality and aesthetics, some even turn it into a display peace when not in use.

Understandably, the odd shaped body may not click with fans of Martin's vintage style designs, but it is much appreciated by travelers. Some caution that the body design makes it awkward to play without a strap. Sound projection is limited, as expected from its compact body design.

It's hard to go wrong with a Martin acoustic, well worth checking out if you're not too keen on traditional body shapes.

Collapsible Acoustic Travel Guitars

Here is a couple of acoustic travel guitars that fold up nice and conveniently.

amazon travel guitar

The Silent Guitar from Yamaha is a steel-string acoustic guitar with a detachable body frame.

It doesn't have an actual body to project acoustic sound from, but it has frames in the shape of an acoustic body for supporting your arms. This way it can be as portable as possible while still providing familiar acoustic playability.

Note that its acoustic volume is very low, so it works best when plugged into an amplifier, via its built-in SRT pickup and preamp system. Speaking of preamp, it lets you blend in the sound of "miked" acoustic to the basic piezo sound.

It also comes with reverb and chorus effects built into the unit.

Wrapping up its features include a headphone jack for silent practice, an aux input for jamming along with your favorite tracks, and it has a built-in tuner.

  • Body Profile: Silent Guitar
  • Body: Mahogany (1-Piece Body & Neck)
  • Collapsible Frame: Maple & Rosewood
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fretboard: 15.75" Radius Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 25"
  • Electronics: SRT Pickup & Preamp
  • Body Length: Not Specified
  • Weight: 4.375 lbs

The SLG200S is described as a fun all-in-one travel guitar that's good enough to be both your practice and stage instrument. Having been made by Yamaha, build quality is reported to be exemplary, which results in it being easy to play. Owners are pleased at how easy it is to assemble and disassemble, and many are impressed at how beautifully done the wooden frames are.

Since it doesn't have an actual body, it is not meant to be played unplugged. To make the most out of this guitar, many recommend using it with headphones .

The Yamaha SLG200S is a feature rich travel guitar that takes the acoustic guitar concept beyond what you'd normally expect.

Journey OF660M Carbon Fiber

amazon travel guitar

As the label implies, the Journey OF660M Carbon Fiber does away with traditional wood to turn it into a super reliable travel guitar.

As special as that may be, the carbon fiber body of this guitar takes a second seat to what really makes this guitar special: which is its removable neck system. While removable necks are nothing new, the Journey OF660M has pulled it off in a way that detaching and attaching the neck is convenient and very easy - without straying too far from the familiar acoustic guitar shape.

It even comes with a matching gig-bag so you can safely store the neck and body separately, while keeping the strings in a position where it doesn't break or scratch the guitar.

  • Body Profile: 00 Travel
  • Top: Unidirectional Carbon Fiber
  • Sides: Fiberglass Reinforced Carbon Fiber
  • Neck: Carbon Fiber
  • Fretboard: Carbon Fiber
  • Scale Length: 24.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.75"
  • Electronics: Passive Piezo Pickup
  • Battery: None
  • Total Length: 35.5"
  • Weight: 4.1 lbs

More and more guitarists are becoming fans of the OF660M, and it's not surprising because of its incredible reliability and portability. It has been reportedly put to work in places that would mess up wooden guitars, including beaches, boats, mountain trails and many more. It also impresses guitarists for its sound, which many describe as surprisingly full sounding.

Those who prefer wood over carbon fiber will not find this guitar appealing. There are also some comments about the guitar's lack of acoustic projection, but this is to be expected, given its use of special materials.

If you're willing to make the investment and go beyond conventional acoustic guitar builds, then the Journey OF660M will make a great traveling companion.

The Best Electric Travel Guitars

amazon travel guitar

To get rid of the extra bulk and width of electric guitars, some manufacturers have opted for more streamlined headless designs. Case in point is the Eart GW2, which allows for standard 25.5" scale length playability, while having a travel-friendly small profile.

The guitar's body is crafted from roasted Padauk, a reddish brown wood that's similar to rosewood in terms of durability and looks.

To cater to modern guitarists, the headless neck follows a compound radius profile. And to better handle heavy gauge strings and lower tunings, the neck is reinforced by utilizing 5-pc maple/padauk material.

Giving this guitar its voice are two covered humbuckers, designed to cater to modern cleans and high-gain style playing.

Other features include having a rosewood fingerboard with zero fret, and a fixed hardtail bridge.

Finally, the Eart GW2 Headless comes with a relatively affordable price tag given its unique design.

  • Body Profile: Headless
  • Body: Roasted Padauk
  • Neck: 5-Piece Roasted Maple/Padauk
  • Fretboard: Compound Radius Indian Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 25.5"
  • Nut Width: 1.6417"
  • Electronics: Dual Humbuckers

For an affordable guitar, the Eart GW2 headless is able to meet the playability expectations of modern guitarists. This is reflected in reviews that commend its neck for its fast and comfortable feel. Being friendly to high-gain tones is another big reason why most users rate this highly. And while it plays much like a standard size guitar, users love that it is smaller and easier to carry around.

There are some who feel that the guitar shape and weight/balance takes a bit of getting used to. There are also a few reports of bad parts, along with setup related or quality control issues.

The Eart GW2 is an affordable travel guitar meant for those who are into modern guitar styles. It is also a good entry way into the world headless guitar designs.

amazon travel guitar

Weighing in at just 3.125 lbs and with a total length of just 28", the Traveler Ultra-Light Electric is a light and compact electric guitar that retains full-scale length playability.

It features a 24.75" scale length, similar to many Les Paul style guitars, and a standard nut width of 1.75".

It utilizes the company's distinct tuning system where in the tuners are located in middle of the body, removing the need for a headstock.

It also features a detachable frame that allows you to sit the guitar comfortably on your legs.

Finally, it features a dual rail humbucker that can handle both clean and overdriven tones much like a regular electric guitar.

  • Body Profile: Traveler Ultra-Light
  • Body Tonewood: Maple
  • Neck: Maple Thru-Neck
  • Fretboard: Rosewood 22-Frets 12" Radius
  • Scale Length: 24.75"
  • Pickups: 1 x Dual-Rail Humbucker
  • Bridge: Adjustable Tune-o-Matic
  • Total Length: 28"
  • Weight: 3.125 lbs

The Traveler Ultra-Light Electric guitar appeals to guitarists who are looking for a portable practice axe with similar playing feel as their Les Paul style instrument. Most reviewers commend it for its incredibly light and portable design.

Ironically, there are some who are on the opposite side of the fence, complaining about the body being too light, which makes playing a bit awkward, especially when digging the strings hard in rock, metal and similar music styles. The lack of volume and tone controls also raised a few eyebrows.

Still, if portability is your top concern, the Traveler Ultra-Light Electric should be high up on your list.

Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Guitar

Size & weight, playability (scale length & nut width), best travel guitar selection methodology.

The first edition was published in 2017.

We first made a short list of the most popular and top rated travel guitars, focusing on those that can be readily bought from major US retailers. For this edition, we ended up with a shortlist of 33 guitars, which entailed the gathering of over 8000 relevant reviews, ratings and discussions, including those written recently. All these data were then fed into the Gearank Algorithm, which resulted in rating scores our of 100 that we used to finalize each list above. For more information about our methods see How Gearank Works .

About the Author and Contributors

Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.

Lead Author & Researcher

Drawing from his experience in performing and recording, he teaches guitar and bass and mentors young artists to be better musicians. And when he is not busy playing or tinkering with musical gear, he puts on his entrepreneurial hat, which helps fund his passion for collecting guitars, mecha figures and Gunpla kits.

Contributors

Jason Horton : Editing and Illustrating.

Main/Top Image : Created by Gearank.com using a public domain photograph.

The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.

More Guitar Guides

The Best Beginner Acoustic Guitars

6 thoughts on “The Best Travel Guitars – Electric & Acoustic (2024)”

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Publication of our November 2021 Edition resulted in the following guitars coming off the recommended list above:

  • Cordoba Mini M
  • Martin LX1E
  • Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

Snapdragon guitars are made in the UK, which makes them worth a mention in itself. And they fold. And they’re not the most expensive.

Would think you should add the Stewart Travel Guitar Line.

See the Stow-Away

See the following:

Recent Stewart Review

[Review removed – it was a positive review copied from another website but we don’t have the rights to publish it on gearank.com – Editor: Jason Horton ]

Snapdragon guitars are amazing and very good value too. Converted some of my mates too.

For those interested in the OF660, but not fans of carbon, Journey has collapsible wood models in steelstring and nylon for around $600 with case and pickup.

amazon travel guitar

The 25 Best Travel Guitars (Acoustic, Electric) In 2024

amazon travel guitar

It is not easy to find the ideal travel companion as a musician as guitars are designed to perform instead of traveling. They are heavy, fragile, and sometimes too expensive to travel with and play on the go, which is always a shame as you can not play your guitar at perfect moments.

Luckily, now there are acoustic and electric guitars designed with on-the-go musicians in mind. They allow you to travel with them easily, thanks to their compact sizes, lightweight designs, and extra added durability for any case.

So here are 25 of the best guitars that can be the ideal travel companions for guitarists.

Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar, Mahogany Top

  • 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top
  • Layered Sapele Back
  • Sides - Natural
  • Neck Width 1-11/16 inch
  • 6-String 3/4 Size Dreadnought
  • Layered Sapele back and sides
  • Tropical American Mahogany top
  • Laser-Etched soundhole rosette 
  • Tropical American Mahogany neck
  • Ebony Fretboard
  • Ebony Bridge
  • Tusq Nut/Micarta Saddle 

Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2 is a compact dreadnought guitar with its 3/4-scale yet full voice. The portable guitar has a warm and sweet tone like a full-scale guitar, and it shines with its versatility for different playing styles, from strumming chords to playing with alternative tunings. 

It comes with a solid mahogany top, layered Sapele sides and back, mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard. The mahogany body gives an excellent mid-range punch and an attractive dark color. This mid-range punch is often called the bluesy edge, as mahogany guitars shine with their bluesy mid-range tones, which are ideal for genres like blues and classic rock.

Furthermore, the looks and the feel of the guitar are also amazing again, thanks to the great quality mahogany wood on the neck and the body.

amazon travel guitar

Washburn Rover

Washburn Rover 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, Black, Full...

  • Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, matte finish
  • Travel size/mini body
  • Quarter sawn scalloped Sitka Spruce bracing
  • ABS Rosette, Mahogany neck with 18 frets and offset dot inlay
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Mahogany back, sides, and neck
  • Engineered wood fingerboard
  • 1-11/16″ Nut Width

Equipped with a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, a full 23.75″ scale length, engineered wood fingerboard, and different color finish options, Washburn Rover is an excellent blend of feel, sound, and great looks.

Furthermore, it comes with a deluxe gig bag for safe transport. The guitar is lightweight, the smooth finish feels great in the hands, and the guitar’s sound is quite powerful and balanced. The compact guitar has 18 frets on the fretboard, which is quite enough to play on the go.

amazon travel guitar

Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber

Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar 1/2 Size Beginner Adult...

  • ♫ A TASTE OF CARBON FIBER - Carbon Fiber may have become a buzzword in...
  • ♫ WHY CARBON FIBER - Nova Go is made of carbon fiber composite material,...
  • ♫ SOLID BUILD & EASY TO PLAY - The body of Nova Go is 1/2 sized (35 in.),...
  • ♫ ZERO FRET - Also, the "Zero Fret" feature is added to this acoustic...
  • 1/2 sized (33 in.) body, molded all in one piece
  • “Zero Fret” feature is added to this acoustic guitar for smoother tuning
  • Fret ends are polished to round edges for a more comfortable hand feel
  • Comes with an EVA case, custom-made

Carbon Fiber guitars may be a topic of huge discussion, but there is no denying that they are perfect for traveling with. Often carbon fiber guitars are pretty expensive, but Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber is an exception. The guitar is lightweight, it also feels and sounds great, but also it is pretty affordable for a carbon fiber guitar.

Carbon fiber guitars are perfect choices if you do not want to worry about temperature, humidity, or impacts. They are highly durable and resistant, so you can travel as you’d like, and this guitar will follow you without any issue.

amazon travel guitar

Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo

Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo Acoustic Guitar Natural

  • Piccolo cutaway style EW body Ovangkol top Ovangkol back and sides Rosewood...
  • Smaller scale instruments have increased in popularity over the past few...
  • From the on-the-go businessperson who needs a guitar that can fit in a...
  • The EWP14OPN is a 1/3-size, steel string Piccolo acoustic guitar
  • Cutaway Tenor Style EW body
  • Solid Ovangkol top
  • Ovangkol back & Ovangkol sides
  • EWP Okoume neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Maple dot inlays
  • Abalone Soundhole Rosette
  • Chrome Die-cast Tuner machines

Ibanez EWP14OPN is a very compact instrument that has the ⅓ size of a traditional guitar. It is somewhere between a guitar and a Baritone ukulele (17”). Plus, it has an EW-style cutaway body made from Ovangkol wood, like the top and back. The EWP Okoume neck and Purpleheart fretboard also feel great in hand.

For travelers, children, and beginners, Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo is a great choice. If you are looking for a small guitar to play while on the road, you should check this one.

amazon travel guitar

Journey Instruments OF660M Overhead Carbon Fiber

amazon travel guitar

  • The guitar can collapse into a compact size with a unique removable neck system.
  • It can fit into any luggage and overhead compartment on the planes when folded.
  • The carbon fiber is temperature and humidity-resistant to prevent cracks and warps.
  • The Low C profile neck and 24.5” scale fretboard is a highly playable instrument.
  • Easy access to all 20 frets on the fretboard thanks to the scoop away function
  • Under-saddle transducer pickup provides greatly amplified tones
  • Bone nut and saddle, along with the ebony bridge pins, give extra sustain, stability, and tonal richness 
  •  It comes with a travel backpack with a TSA-compliant laptop foldout

Journey Instruments OF660M Overhead is another great carbon fiber guitar built for traveling musicians. It has a unique removable neck system, allowing you to assemble and disassemble the guitar in a few minutes. When disassembled, the guitar fits into a small bag that can accommodate a car’s small trunk to an airplane’s overhead compartments.

The bag is specially designed for TSA regulations, and the airport security can scan the panel on the bag, so you would not even need to open the bag.

The guitar has a peculiar shape with a deeper depth than a dreadnought. This way, the guitar delivers a powerful sound like a full-scale guitar with its small body. The offset soundhole also helps the resonance to be more powerful. Also, the proprietary bracing also gives the tone fantastic clarity.

amazon travel guitar

Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey

Gretsch G5021E Limited Edition Rancher Penguin Acoustic Guitar,...

  • Solid Spruce Top w/ Laminated Maple Back & Sides, Midnight Sapphire Color...
  • 25" Scale Standard "U" Maple Neck w/ Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Built-In Chromatic Tuner w/ On/Off Switch, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble...
  • Rosewood Bridge & Deluxe Die-Cast Tuners
  • Highly playable parlor-style acoustics for powerful volume
  • Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup provides great tones and volume
  • Basswood body with supported X-bracing for enriched tones
  • Walnut fretboard with a 24-inch scale
  • Walnut bridge with synthetic bone saddle
  • Vintage frets, open-gear die-cast tuning machines, and pin strap

One of the earliest instruments of Gretsch was the Gin Rickey from their Roots collection. This reissue of the vintage guitar is an excellent instrument with the smooth walnut fingerboard and 24-inch scale nato neck. Thanks to the classic parlor-style design and Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup, the volume is amazing for the size.

The compact and lightweight guitar is a great travel companion and delivers a big, bold, and full sound for live performances, practices, or recording on the go.

amazon travel guitar

Cordoba Mini II M

Cordoba Mini II M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String Guitar

  • Comfortable 1/2 size guitar, with standard tuning
  • Layered Mahogany top, back and sides
  • Nub one nut, 1. 875" Width
  • C-profile Mahogany neck; 22. 875" Scale Length
  • Layered Mahogany top, back, and sides
  • Nub one nut, 1. 875″ Width
  • C-profile Mahogany neck; 22. 875″ Scale Length
  • Satin polyurethane Body and neck finish

This guitar is light and portable for those on the move or for younger learners. It has the feel of a guitar but with the sound of a ukulele. It is a well-made instrument with a good tone.

The neck is quite wide for a small guitar, and there are some limitations with regard to the range of tones that the Cordoba Mini can produce. Nevertheless, it will be ideal for use at open mic nights or on trips away with the walking group. Not so sure about the strings that came with it, though. The fourth string is already on its way out, and it has been less than a month since I purchased the instrument. 

amazon travel guitar

Taylor GS Mini-e

amazon travel guitar

  • Great looking and sounding solid koa top
  • Excellent tones with the Hawaiian Koa back and sides
  • Comfort and high playability with Sapele neck and ebony fingerboard
  • Great koa grain patterns on the body without a pickguard
  • Good ES-B pickup
  • 5mm Dot fretboard inlays, chrome tuners, and 3-ring rosette accent

One of the best and most popular travel guitars is the GS Mini-E model of the great Taylor Guitars. The guitar is inspired by the Taylor’s Grand Symphony (GS) body shape but built with portability in mind. It offers great playability in comfortable travel size and fantastic sound with a full-voiced and tonally rich sound palette.

The guitar features an Expression System-B that uses a proprietary pickup behind the saddle instead of under-saddle piezo transducers. The custom-designed preamp system delivers a hotter signal up to %25. The overall sound is very natural, rich in dynamic range, and highly responsive, thanks to these innovative approaches from Taylor.

amazon travel guitar

Luna Safari Acoustic-Electric

Luna Safari Series Peace Travel-Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

  • Design by Alex Morgan
  • Body: 3/4 Travel
  • Top: Select Spruce
  • Outstanding performance and looks for a great price
  • Great artistic design made by lasers
  • Dynamic and expressive spruce top
  • Rich mahogany back and sides
  • Comfortable 3/4-sized Dreadnought body style

Luna Safari is yet another great travel-size acoustic-electric guitar made from high-quality woods such as dynamic spruce and mahogany. The dreadnought 3/4 size body is quite comfortable to hold and sounds good with enough punch, balance, and overall output volume.

One of the most significant aspects of this guitar is its looks. Luna Safari has great artistic touches made from a laser and luna Pearloid dots on the fretboard. It also has a nonboard preamp with 3-band EQ, master volume, and phase controls. Plus, the onboard tuner is convenient on the stage or in the house.

amazon travel guitar

Martin Backpacker

Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag

  • Solid Spruce Top
  • Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
  • Unique Contour Neck Shape
  • Features 24-Inch Scale Length
  • Features 15 Frets

Martin Backpacker is a trendy travel guitar thanks to the Martin quality and reliability. The compact guitar features a solid spruce top and solid tonewood back and sides. The rich and warm sound of the high-quality woods makes it one of the best-sounding travel guitars.

Furthermore, it is very light, around 2.5 lbs, and the guitar comes with a great padded-back gig bag for safe traveling and a Martin woven strap. It only has 15 frets with a 24-inch scale, but the sound is so fantastic you will not be looking for the extra frets.

amazon travel guitar

Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1 Vintage Black Electric Guitar | Small...

  • BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The LTD EC-1 is a portable and travel-friendly version of...
  • PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System...
  • PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: This electric guitar includes a custom gig bag...
  • UNMATCHED FEATURES: Equipped with an active ESP designed pickup, an aux-in,...
  • Built-in conjunction with ESP LTD
  • 24.75″-scale guitar in a 28.5″ frame
  • Compact design to fit in a luggage
  • Resonant mahogany body
  • ALH-200B active humbucker
  • Built-in headphone amplifier with onboard distortion
  • 1/8″ auxiliary input

Traveler Guitar’s LTD EC-1 shines with its full scale and handy features that you’d expect from an ideal guitar on the road. The compact body with a full 24.75″-scale, an active humbucker, onboard headphone amp , and aux input are great touches for versatility. Plus, the guitar can easily fit anywhere from a piece of luggage to airplane overhead compartments.

The looks of the guitar are also pretty sleek. It is small but does not feel small in hand. It is one of the greatest innovative travel guitar designs ever made.

amazon travel guitar

Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH

Squier Mini Jazzmaster Electric Guitar, Daphne Blue, Maple Fingerboard

  • 100% Designed by Fender
  • Thin and lightweight body
  • Dual humbucking pickups
  • Sealed die-cast tuning machines
  • 3/4-size Jazzmaster guitar, perfect for young and-or entry-level players
  • Great humbucker pickups
  • Real maple neck and fingerboard
  • Comfortable slim “C” neck profile and 22.75-inch scale length
  • Chrome hardware
  • Hardtail 6-saddle bridge

Jazzmaster Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH might be ideal for you if you want a smaller version of an iconic guitar to travel with. It comes with a HH pickup layout with great-sounding two humbucking pickups. The sound is much bigger than the compact guitar’s size and instantly gets you ready to rock n’ roll.

The 3/4 sized guitar comes with a three-way toggle switch, single volume knob, and single tone knob layout. Plus, it has a short 22.75-inch scale making the barre chords and long stretches easier for beginners and small-handed players. The mini C-shaped neck is highly comfortable and playable, while the maple neck feels great and smooth.

amazon travel guitar

PRS SE Parlor P20E

PRS Limited Edition SE P20E Parlor Pink Lotus w/Fishman GT1

  • 6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Mahogany Top
  • Ebony Fingerboard - Pink Lotus
  • Mahogany Neck
  • Compact parlor sized acoustic-electric guitar.
  • Made from the solid mahogany top, back, and sides for a rich and warm tone
  • Fishman GT1 under-saddle pickup system 
  • Mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard
  • Great looking herringbone rosette and accents
  • Bone nut and saddle for enriched tone support

PRS SE Parlor P20E is ideal for players looking for a parlor-sized yet full-sounding acoustic-electric guitar. The guitar has an eye-catching look with its traditional acoustic appearance combined with modern adornments and embellishments. The construction quality is impressive with the solid mahogany top, X-brace/classical hybrid bracing, herringbone rosette and accents, and a bone nut and saddle. 

The electronics also perform great as the Fishman GT1 under-saddle pickup system delivers powerful tones. The crystal-clear sound and ample projection are great features to go with the PRS SE Parlor P20E, along with its comfortable neck, easy-to-pack, and travel with system.

amazon travel guitar

Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe

amazon travel guitar

  • Travel-size compact guitar with a full-scale and S-style body
  • Made of poplar and maple wood
  • 3 single-coil pickups layout
  • Vintage type tremolo
  • 5 lbs weight and 33.75 inches long
  • Comes with a padded gig bag

As the name suggests, Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe was created with mobility in mind. The 25.5-inch scale length, solid body from poplar, maple necks, fingerboard, and 5 lbs weight make the guitar great for playing on the road with the sound of a traditional guitar.

The 3 single-coil pickups design and traditional controls give you good versatility and make it feel like playing a Strat. The vintage-style tremolo gives extra sustain and control. Finally, it comes with a padded gig bag, and its compact size can fit most luggage and overhead airplane compartments.

amazon travel guitar

Martin LXK2 Little Martin

amazon travel guitar

  • Koa Wood Pattern HPL Textured Finish
  • Natural Stratabond neck
  • Richlite fingerboard material
  • Rosewood bridge
  • Padded gig bag

Another great travel guitar by Martin is the Martin LXK2 Little Martin model. The guitar features a Koa wood pattern high-pressure laminate on the body, top, back, sides, and headstock. The fretboard and the bridge are made with rosewood, while the neck is created from natural Stratabond. The great Martin workmanship can be felt all over the instruments as the guitar sounds quite fantastic.

The instrument is highly durable and comfortable to play. The pick-up-and-play design makes it highly easy to play the guitar, and the padded gig bag gives extra safety for the road. 

amazon travel guitar

Journey Instruments FP412 FirstClass Parlor

Journey Instruments Solid Sitka Travel Guitar – FP412 Traveling...

  • FINALLY A FULL SIZE GUITAR THAT'S EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU - Our mini travel...
  • QUALITY SOUND SYSTEM TO AMAZE THE CROWD - Traditional sound-hole boasts a...
  • BACKPACKER’S HEAVEN - Fit our premium TSA compliant carry-on backpack on...
  • LIFETIME WARRANTY - Your satisfaction is guaranteed! Our stainless steel...
  • Travel-ready, collapsible acoustic-electric delivers outstanding tone and playability.
  • Patented collapsible neck system that lets you detach and reattach the guitar neck with just a few simple clicks and turns
  • It easily fits inside its included travel backpack and into overhead bins on planes.
  • Solid spruce top and solid Sapele body for exceptionally rich acoustic tone
  • A proprietary under-bridge transducer pickup system delivers stellar amplified acoustic tone.
  • Ovangkol Bridge and bone nut and saddle add to the rich tone.

When you need portability and great tone, the FP412 FirstClass Solid Sitka/Sapele Parlor acoustic-electric from Journey Instruments is an amazing instrument that truly has to be experienced to be believed. The FP412 features Journey Instrument’s patented collapsible neck system that lets you detach and reattach the guitar neck with just a few simple clicks and turns, letting you easily fit the FP412 inside its included travel backpack and into overhead bins on planes.

This traditional parlor acoustic features a solid spruce top and solid Sapele body for a vibrant acoustic tone. A solid Sapele neck with carbon fiber reinforcement is beautifully playable and responsive. When you are ready for the plugin, a Proprietary under-bridge transducer pickup system delivers stellar amplified acoustic tone.

amazon travel guitar

Gretsch G5021E Rancher Penguin 

Gretsch Guitars G5021WPE Rancher Penguin Parlor Acoustic/Electric...

  • Body Body type: Parlor Cutaway: Non-cutaway Top wood: Spruce Solid Back &...
  • The G5021WPE Rancher Penguin Parlor Acoustic/Electric delivers classic...
  • The Isys III pickup/preamp system provides a modern sonic complement to...
  • Elegant look with gold hardware, unique finish, and headstock designs
  • Maple back and sides, solid spruce top delivers great sonic performance with a punchy direct tone
  • Fishman Presys III pickup system for top-quality sound
  • U shaped neck for increased playability and comfort
  • Compact parlor body shape for extra mobility

Gretsch G5021E Rancher Penguin is one of the top-quality travel-sized acoustic-electric guitars with its Rancher style from the ’50s. The iconic looks with triangle soundhole and compact design combined with the great sound of the instrument make this one the ideal travel guitar for acoustic guitar lovers.

The unique look of the guitar is pretty elegant and eye-catching. The high-quality wood used in the construction delivers amazing tones, while the Fishman Presys III helps fantastically to amplify the sound when necessary. 

The natural timbre is present without any coloration with the pickup. You can also shape your sound with volume mid-sweep and bass knobs on the control board of the guitar. Plus, it also has a chromatic tuner.

amazon travel guitar

Takamine GY93 New Yorker 

Takamine GY93-NAT New Yorker Acoustic Guitar, Natural

  • Solid spruce top, rosewood sides and a stunning three piece rosewood/quilt...
  • Slim mahogany neck and 12"-radius bound rosewood fingerboard provide great...
  • Split-saddle design of the rosewood bridge provides superior intonation for...
  • Maple body, neck and headstock binding
  • Parlor-style guitar with a unique tone
  • Solid spruce top for the extra resonant body along with X-bracing for extra volume output
  • Maple center with 3-piece walnut back for tonal flexibility and high definition
  • Mahogany neck with laurel fretboard on top
  • 20 frets with dot inlays on the fingerboard
  • Gold finished machine heads

When it comes to acoustic guitars, Takamine is one of the most reliable and popular brands on the market. The GY93 New Yorker model shines with its parlor-style construction, compact size for mobility, and high-quality woods such as solid spruce top, maple center, mahogany back and neck, and laurel fretboard. The sound of the guitar is fantastic, just like its pretty look, all thanks to the high-quality wood used in the workmanship.

The neck is highly slim for an acoustic guitar, making it an extremely comfortable and fun-to-play guitar. The 12-inch radius laurel fingerboard has a fantastic feel to it, and the playability is in the sky.

Furthermore, it has a Takamine TK-40D preamp system with a built-in tuner, three-band EQ, gain controls, notch filter, EQ bypass, and a mid contour switch for increased versatility and sound quality.

amazon travel guitar

Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany

Luna Gypsy Muse Parlor Acoustic Guitar, Mahogany

  • This full parlor guitar is part of our all mahogany Gypsy series which...
  • A surprisingly affordable price is paired with elegant features
  • Features walnut stringers at the back, Luna's signature moon phase fret...
  • This acoustic is ideal for finger-style players who desire a powerful punch...
  • Mahogany top, back, and sides
  • Mahogany set neck, C profile
  • Black walnut fingerboard, 14″ radius, MOP Moon Phase inlays
  • 25.25″ scale length, 21 frets
  • 1.6875″ nut
  • Black walnut bridge
  • Chrome sealed die-cast tuners.

Parlor-sized guitars are great for traveling with, as you probably have figured out by now. This one, Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany, is a relatively affordable acoustic travel guitar with a big sound that you would not expect from such a compact body.

The guitar features a great-looking mahogany top, back, and sides, along with blackwood stringers on the backside of the neck. The black walnut fingerboard has a 14” radius and is quite comfortable to play with. Another great detail is the Luna signature MOP moon phase design of the dot inlays.

There is also a Celtic-themed rosette which looks fantastic with the quality tonewoods. The sound is pretty warm and clear, with great mid frequencies. The neck has a C-shaped profile that is great for beginners and small-handed players. For the price offered, Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany is a great travel acoustic guitar with its comfortable playability and amazing sonic performance.

amazon travel guitar

Fender PS-220E

amazon travel guitar

  • Compact sized parlor guitar from Fender with traditional and modern features combines
  • Sitka spruce top and mahogany body for warm and natural sound
  • C-shaped mahogany neck with ovangkol fretboard
  • Fender-Fishman Sonitone Plus Soundhole pickup system for organic amplified tones
  • Ovangkol bridge, ebony pins, open-back tuners for a traditional appearance

If you are after the Fender quality for your travel guitar, Fender PS-220E is a great choice. It is inspired by parlor guitars and combines the traditional features with modern enhancements for amazing looks and sonic performance. The guitar performs and looks fantastic with the mixture of high-quality tonewoods, including mahogany, Sitka spruce, and ovangkol.

The acoustic-electric guitar has a highly resonant tone which is organically reflected by the Fender-Fishman Sonitone Plus Soundhole pickup system. The sound of the natural woody tones gives impressive results, while the volume and blend controls are there to help you shape your tone as you would like. It is a great overall guitar in terms of sound and feel, as you would expect from Fender.

amazon travel guitar

Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor

KALA 6 String Guitar, Right, Natural (KA-GTR-PLR_W/BAG)

  • The KALA solid Cedar top Parlor guitar is a smaller-bodied guitar
  • Its tone is very warm and full-bodied and pleasant without being...
  • It is dressed in walnut Binding with herringbone purfling, an ebony...
  • Every solid Cedar top Parlor guitar come with a gig bag, making this...
  • The solid cedar top 
  • Mahogany back and sides 
  • Comfortable mahogany neck
  • Easy-playing 19-fret ebony fingerboard
  • Toneful bone nut and saddle
  • Light-diffusing satin finish

Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor is one of the most portable guitars on the list. It is a great choice for recording, songwriting, or performing while on the road with its lightweight and compact design. The guitar features a solid cedar top, mahogany back, sides, and neck, an ebony fingerboard with 19 frets, as well as a toneful bone nut and saddle. The light-diffusing sating finish looks excellent and adds to the elegance of the instrument.

The playability of the guitar is extremely high thanks to the smooth neck, balanced weight, and 19-fret ebony fingerboard. Thanks to the bone nut and saddle, the sustain and tone are increased. 

The price range is also great for this guitar as it can be considered affordable. The small body, big sound, and fantastic looks make this guitar ear, eye, and budget pleasing all at the same time.

amazon travel guitar

Guild P-240 Memoir

Guild P-240 Memoir - Natural

  • 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Solid Spruce Top
  • Pau Ferro Fingerboard - Natural
  • Mahogany Back and Sides
  • Mahogany back and sides align with solid spruce top
  • Outstanding mahogany neck with Pau Ferro fingerboard for increased comfort and playability
  • X-bracing for enhanced tone
  • 24.75-inch scale length and 19 frets 
  • Mother-of-pearl rosette and vintage-inspired Guild script logo on the slotted headstock 

Guild P-240 Memoir is another compact yet big-sounding guitar for singers and songwriters. The parlor size and the lightweight are ideal for traveling with the instrument. The woods used in the construction are mahogany for the back, sides, and the neck, Pau Ferro for the fretboard, and solid spruce for the top. The combination of the woods provides a rich, full and varied tone.

The guitar has 19 frets and a 24.75” scale length which is ideal for fingerpicking and flatpicking. The Pau Ferro fingerboard feels great and plays incredibly well on the 16” radius C-shaped neck profile.

The guitar is one of the best travel guitars for recording as it provides amazing tones with a natural woody touch.

amazon travel guitar

Squier Mini Strat Electric

Squier Mini Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Dakota Red, Laurel...

  • Three single-coil pickups
  • 3/4-size Stratocaster-style guitar, for the traveler or younger players
  • 3 single-coil pickup configuration like a traditional Stratocaster
  • Great-feeling maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Traditional vintage-style large headstock
  • Chrome-finished tuners and hardware
  • Hardtail bridge with 6 saddles

The Squier Mini Strat is the perfect choice for guitarists who are after a compact Stratocaster while on the road. It is also a great entry-level guitar for younger players and beginners. Just like a traditional Stratocaster, it comes with three single-coil pickups, tone and master volume controls, a 5-way pickup switch, and the famous great-feeling maple neck of Strats.

The guitar’s sonic versatility is impressive, just like a genuine Stratocaster. You can shape the sound with tone and volume controls and a pickup switcher. Thanks to the real maple neck and Indian Laurel fingerboard, the neck is highly playable and comfortable. 

The guitar also looks great with its vintage design and large headstock. There are multiple color options for different tastes as well. Overall, it is the perfect guitar for kids, small-handed players, and musicians on the move.

amazon travel guitar

Fender Sonoran Mini Acoustic Guitar

Fender Sonoran Mini Acoustic Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Natural,...

  • Fender-exclusive Sonoran Mini body shape
  • Spruce or mahogany top with scalloped “X” bracing; mahogany back and...
  • ¾ body size; 23.3” scale length
  • Nato neck with slim-taper "C"-shaped profile; walnut fingerboard and bridge
  • Classical acoustic guitar with a vintage design
  • Compact sized body for improved playability and comfort
  • High-quality mahogany top, back, and sides for warm tones
  • C-shaped neck and Walnut fingerboard for increased playability and comfort
  • Short scale length for portability and softer string feel

Fender Sonoran Mini is a unique travel-sized acoustic guitar equipped with a scaled-down, all-mahogany body for meaty, beefy, and present tones. The guitar competes with full-scale guitars in terms of sound as its innovative and high-quality design provides impressive tonal versatility and richness. 

The compact size and lightweight are ideal for traveling with this guitar. You can use it on the stage, in the studio, on the street, or wherever you are without any hesitation. Thanks to the C-shaped neck and Walnut fingerboard, the guitar also looks pretty good, and the neck feels great in hand.

amazon travel guitar

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line

Yamaha APXT2 3/4 Thinline Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Guitar Old Violin...

  • 6-string 3/4-sized acoustic-electric guitar with spruce top
  • Meranti back and sides
  • Hardwood neck
  • The compact version of Yamaha’s iconic and popular APX500 acoustic-electric guitar
  • The 3/4 size is perfect for a travel companion instrument
  • The high-quality tonewoods deliver natural and balanced acoustic tones
  • ART-based preamp and System 68 contact pickup provides amazing amplified sound when plugged in
  • Built-in-tuner and volume-tone controls come in handy for tone shaping and getting ready for playing

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line is a versatile travel-sized 3/4 acoustic-electric guitar for musicians on the go. The guitar blends quality, performance, looks, and versatility in one pot, offering one of the best travel companions. It can also be a great choice for small-handed players.

The guitar has the APXT2 with a System 68 contact pickup and active preamp for plugged-in performance, which successfully reflects the balanced and natural tones of the guitar provided by the high-quality tonewoods. Plus, it comes with a great gig bag to carry it around with.

amazon travel guitar

Travel guitars come in so many shapes and forms. They are different in size and style. Whether you need acoustic or electric, there is a lot to choose from. Today, fortunately, companies improved travel guitars a lot, and they are much more functional than travel guitars in the past. Most of them really are pretty inexpensive, and if you travel a lot, buying one is a no-brainer.

If you found this article useful, you may want to save this pin below to your Guitar board.

amazon travel guitar

Last update on 2024-05-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I have been playing guitar since 2004. As long as I can remember I always had a huge passion for rock music and I extremely enjoy playing it. Helping people on their rock journey is what drives me to keep on playing. Read More About Me

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Guitar Top Review

Washburn Rover Review: Acoustic Travel Delight (2023)

Washburn Rover Review

Discover the perfect harmony of guitar playing on the go with the Washburn Rover, an exceptional addition to the world of travel guitar offerings. The Washburn Rover line has redefined the concept of portable guitars with its small body and reasonable sound, making it the ultimate companion for musical adventurers.

Whether you’re a wandering troubadour, a globetrotting enthusiast, or simply seeking an instrument to accompany you wherever your journey takes you, the Washburn Rover is designed to cater to your every musical whim.

I am going to introduce you to the budget-friendly Rover RO10SK travel guitar. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll call this instrument Rover or RO10 in our review. Now, keep reading to find out how well RO10 works as a travel guitar at its price point.

amazon travel guitar

Table of Contents

Washburn Rover Travel Guitar Review

In this Washburn Rover review, explore its build, sound, feel, and budget-friendly pricing for an informed decision.

Build Quality

The construction of the Rover guitar is fairly nice, considering the price. In fact, for the money, it was quite a surprise for us to see a solid spruce top. Typically, guitars in this price range are all laminated wood, so the solid top is definitely a plus for the Rover.

The back and sides are made of select mahogany, but they’re not solid, unlike the top.

The solid spruce top may also mature and start to sound better as you play the Rover guitar. This is one of the best traits of solid wood since it can actually start bringing more value for the money down the line.

Also, the Quartersawn X-scalloped Sitka spruce bracing is a game-changer. It not only enhances the sound and projection stability but also delivers beautifully balanced tones.

As for the body, the matte finish gives it a sleek look and a smooth feel. Plus, the guitar comes in four stunning colors – natural, black, blue, and red – so you can choose the one that suits your style.

Washburn Rover Guitar Headstock

Now, let’s dive into the neck. The guitar design features a slim body with a dreadnought style chunky round neck and there’s no heel at all, thanks to that unique tape at the back. A bit odd, but it works!

The satin-finished mahogany neck is attached to the tiny body at the 15th fret. Its engineered wood fretboard boasts 17 full frets, with two more on the treble side, ensuring easy access across the fretboard.

The scale length is 23.75 inches (60.33 cm) which is shorter than a standard acoustic guitar, but still long enough to provide good intonation and tension. The neck also has offset dot inlays for easy navigation.

The nut width is 1.6875 inches (43mm) which is comfortable for most hand sizes. The neck also has chrome diecast tuners that provide smooth and accurate tuning.

One thing to note is that it might feel a bit neck-heavy, but using a strap and attaching it to the headstock solves that issue. It takes a few minutes to get used to for an experienced player, but for some beginners, it may take a longer time and can turn out to be a major issue.

Sound Quality

In terms of tones, you are going to get the warm and punchy sound of mahogany combined with the clear notes of spruce. Nothing spectacular here, though the sound of this guitar is pretty nice for the buck.

With that said, the compact form factor of this guitar affects not only the dimensions – it also affects the sound. High-end travel guitars have a sound that is no worse than in full-size guitars, but this doesn’t apply to cheaper guitars like Washburn RO10. But hey, that doesn’t mean it lacks character.

amazon travel guitar

It’s more in line with what you’d typically find in parlor and travel guitars. The Rover still delivers a clear, twangy, and overall fun sound.

Still, it’s essential to set your expectations right – don’t expect the full, rich tones of a performance guitar. This little gem is more suited for intimate settings like campfires, campus areas, hotel rooms, or even airports, where it shines bright.

If you want good sound at this price point, then you should just purchase a full-size guitar.

When I got my hands on this guitar, the action was a bit high, but I soon learned that it’s intentional to boost the volume. If you’re mainly playing chords from the first couple of frets, it’s perfect. However, if you want to explore more frets, you might need to adjust the action.

All in all, the Washburn Rover may not be the star of the stage, but it certainly has its unique charm and versatility for those on-the-go musical moments.

Compact Size

The highlight and main reason to buy the Washburn RO10 guitar is its size. This guitar is very narrow, which makes it space-saving and convenient for travel. But despite the narrowness, this guitar has a full 23.75-inch scale length – pretty standard for acoustic guitars.

Now, needless to say, you are going to sacrifice some sound quality and range to get such a compact musical instrument . However, if you truly need a travel-friendly guitar, then you’ll have to live with the sound.

Unless you are willing to spend a lot of money on a high-end travel guitar, you will need to sacrifice tone quality. That’s the trade-off of the compact body – there are going to be consequences if you remove material from a guitar and make it smaller.

Finally, another good reason to buy the Washburn Rover travel guitar is its wallet-friendly pricing.

This is a budget guitar, so it’s suitable for those who don’t have the money or just don’t need a spectacular sound. Though the pricing can vary depending on factors like the seller, product condition and availability.

Washburn Rover With Deluxe Gig Bag

From my research, the average price range for a brand-new Washburn RO-10 falls between $249 and $300. Keep in mind that the higher-priced options may include a deluxe gigbag, adding extra value to the package.

If you’re on a tighter budget, keep an eye out for used or discontinued models , which might come with a lower price tag, depending on their quality and rarity.

Pros & Cons

As a recap, here are the pros and cons of the Rover steel-string travel acoustic guitar.

  • Affordable price tag
  • Compact travel-friendly sizing
  • Solid top – will sound better as you play more
  • Boasts the warm tones of mahogany and the clarity of spruce
  • The compact form factor will limit the tonal range of the guitar
  • A little top heavy
  • No electronics

Washburn RO10 Review: Key Specs

  • Model: Washburn Rover 10SK
  • Style: 6-string Acoustic Travel Guitar
  • Body Shape: Miniature dreadnought
  • Top Wood : Solid spruce
  • Back and Sides: Mahogany
  • Neck Material: Mahogany
  • Fretboard & Bridge: Engineered Wood
  • Strings: D’Addario EXP16
  • Electronics: None (no built-in pickup)
  • Overall Length: 35.25 inches (89.54 cm)
  • Weight: Approximately 2.8 pounds (1.27 kg)

Washburn Rover Review: Video Demo

YouTube video

Alternatives Of Washburn Backpacker Guitar

When exploring alternative options to the Washburn Rover, the music industry offers a selection of great sounding and portable travel instruments that cater to the needs of musicians on the go. Two viable alternatives in the same price range are the Martin Backpacker and the Enya NOVA Go.

Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar

Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag

  • Solid Spruce Top
  • Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
  • Unique Contour Neck Shape
  • Features 24-Inch Scale Length

Renowned for their craftsmanship and high-quality instruments, Martin delivers the Backpacker Travel Guitar as a solid contender. This compact acoustic is designed for portability and features a unique shape that easily fits into backpacks.

Despite its size, the Backpacker boasts a surprisingly rich tone, thanks to its solid spruce top. Its slender body enhances resonance, making it a great choice for musicians seeking a balanced and clear sound while traveling.

Enya NOVA Go Carbon Fiber Travel Guitar

Enya NOVA Go SP1 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Electric Guitar with Smart AcousticPlus 35 Inch Travel Acustica Guitarra Starter...

  • ♫ WHY CARBON FIBER - Nova Go SP1 is made of carbon fiber composite material, which means it's impervious to temperature and...
  • ♫ WHERE THINGS GET INTERESTING - The absolute differentiator of this guitar is that it’s equipped with the SP1 pickup system....
  • ♫ A PRODUCTIVITY WORKHORSE - SP1 pickup system not only allows you to have tons of fun unplugged. But if you plug it into an amp...
  • ♫ SOLID BUILD & EASY TO PLAY - The body of this Nova Go SP1 carbon fiber acoustic-electric Guitarra is 1/2 sized (35 in.),...

For those seeking innovation in travel guitars, the Enya NOVA Go stands out as an excellent option. Crafted from carbon fiber, this guitar offers exceptional durability and is impervious to weather changes, ensuring reliable performance in any climate.

Its ergonomic design provides a great feeling while playing, and the combination of carbon fiber and a round edged body contributes to enhanced projection and tone. The Enya NOVA Go’s small body with modern aesthetics and affordability make it an attractive choice for musicians looking for similar items to the Rover RO-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is washburn a good guitar brand.

Washburn appears to be a solid guitar brand to buy from, especially if you are a beginning or amateur player. The brand offers plenty of pocket-friendly guitar options, and its models have universally good feedback online.

Where are Washburn guitars made?

Washburn guitars appear to be primarily manufactured in China. Before 2017, Washburn had its instruments manufactured primarily in Korea – now, it seems that most of its guitars are made in China. This isn’t an issue in terms of quality, but buyers who prefer to buy American-made products may find this problematic.

Final Words

In conclusion, the Washburn Rover is a solid guitar, perfect for convenient transport during your travels. It offers fair enough sound quality, making it ideal for playing finger style or flat picking on the go.

However, if you prioritize fuller tones and space isn’t an issue, opting for a full-size guitar might be the better choice.

About the Author

guitar teacher

Gustavo Gusmão Beroth

Gustavo is a music teacher and classical guitar player from Brazil, currently residing in Dublin, Ireland. He holds a graduate degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the Federal University of Pelotas. In 2020, Gustavo successfully completed a Master's degree in Sound Engineering from the Academy of Sound in Ireland.

  • Gustavo Gusmão Beroth https://guitartopreview.com/author/gustavo/ 20 Essential Guitar Tips Every Beginner Should Know
  • Gustavo Gusmão Beroth https://guitartopreview.com/author/gustavo/ Ovation Applause Balladeer AB24II-5 Review (Update 2024)
  • Gustavo Gusmão Beroth https://guitartopreview.com/author/gustavo/ Harmony In Little Hands: A Close Look At Loog Guitars
  • Gustavo Gusmão Beroth https://guitartopreview.com/author/gustavo/ Pickup Music Review: Unlocking Musical Mastery (Update 2024)

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    Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line is a versatile travel-sized 3/4 acoustic-electric guitar for musicians on the go. The guitar blends quality, performance, looks, and versatility in one pot, offering one of the best travel companions. It can also be a great choice for small-handed players.

  14. Washburn Rover Review: Acoustic Travel Delight (2023)

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