travel size guitar acoustic

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

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 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

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

Originally made famous by Ed Sheeran, the Martin LX1E 'Little Martin' carries all the famous build quality and tonal properties of this legendary guitar maker, in a super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

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.

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.

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 

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.

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! 

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

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. 

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  

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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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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

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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?

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 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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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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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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Best Travel Acoustic Guitars

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The Best Acoustic Guitars for Travel

Music is meant to be shared. There’s a reason we show our favorite songs to our friends and post about new artist discoveries on social media. So what better way to share your music than by bringing an acoustic guitar with you everywhere you go?

There are so many guitars that differ, whether it’s by guitar wood types (mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, solid spruce, mahogany neck, etc.) or sizes and shapes (mini acoustic guitar, full-size guitar, parlor guitar, etc.). The only question is: which guitar do you choose for your travels?

To help you focus on trip planning, we’ve put together a list of the best travel acoustic guitar choices out there.

Why Buy a Travel Guitar?

You may be thinking, “I already have an acoustic guitar. Why do I need an acoustic travel guitar?” While they may not be for everyone, there are many scenarios where buying a dedicated traveling guitar makes sense. For example:

• You don’t want to add extra wear and tear to your favorite home or studio guitar
• You want to keep practicing on vacation but don’t have enough space to pack a full-sized regular guitar
• You often fly or drive long distances to gigs
• You’re a digital nomad who doesn’t want to give up playing guitar
• You prefer a smaller-scale guitar as opposed to a larger regular guitar

Theoretically, any guitar can be a “travel guitar”—big or small. But in most cases, traveling with a scaled-down guitar is more convenient. 

When shopping for a travel size acoustic guitar, look for something compact, lightweight, and easy to play. The best travel guitar fulfills all of these conditions without compromising on sound.

For too long, traveling guitarists have had to settle for thin-sounding guitars. Every musician on the go deserves a travel guitar that’s portable, durable, and sonically impressive. Our top guitars for travel deliver all that in spades.

When you think of rich tone and volume, you probably don’t picture a 3/4-size acoustic guitar. But the Baby Taylor Series packs a dynamic punch well above its weight class.

Its classic dreadnought shape will be familiar to many, but the footprint is reduced to three-quarters of a standard guitar. At just 12-1/2” wide and 3-3/8” deep, the Baby Taylor fits snugly in your car or on the overhead rack of a train.

The reduced scale length (22-3/4”) translates to lower string tension and easier fretboard navigation. The result is a more comfortable guitar experience—you can strum beside the campfire all night long.

For an affordable, no-nonsense workhorse, try the Baby Taylor in Sitka spruce (BT1) or mahogany (BT2) . If you intend to perform live while traveling, the BT1e , BT2e , and BTe-Koa come equipped with an ES-B pickup/preamp combo and onboard tuner. 

Big Baby Taylor

As the name suggests, the Big Baby Taylor (BBT) is larger than the Baby Taylor but not as big as a full-size dreadnought guitar. It’s all the full-bodied sound in a slightly smaller package.

Compare the body of the Big Baby Taylor to that of a standard dreadnought. The BBT is 15 1/10” wide and 4” deep; a full-size Taylor dreadnought measures 16” wide and 4 5/8” deep. The change in size may seem minor, but it can be the difference between fitting your guitar in the tour bus and leaving it behind.

The 25-1/2” scale length, however, is the same as the full-size, helping you feel right at home—even when on the road.

Choose between the purely acoustic BBT and the ES-B pickup-adorned BBTe . Both models feature a Sitka spruce soundboard and a layered walnut body.

The renowned GS Mini Series takes the Grand Symphony body shape and shrinks it down to a more portable size. The GS Mini has long been a favorite of mobile musicians thanks to its refusal to compromise. It may be small, but it’s mighty.

With a body width of 14-3/8” and a depth of 4 7/16”, the GS Mini is built for tight spaces. Add in a super playable short-scale neck (23-1/2”), and it’s no wonder professional musicians and casual travelers alike reach for this guitar. For a beginner guitar player, you can use the dot inlays as position markers for training purposes. 

Options include the GS Mini Rosewood and GS Mini Mahogany , both of which are also available with built-in ES-B pickups. Players looking for a more articulate sound can try the GS Mini-e Koa Plus , complete with upgraded ES2 pickup.

And now, traveling bass guitar players can join in on the fun. The GS Mini basses resonate with a deep, baritone voice, further amplified by an ES-B pickup. The 23-1/2″ neck is especially noticeable—at around 10 inches shorter than a standard bass neck, playing is exceptionally comfortable. For a classic look, there’s the GS Mini-e Maple Bass . If you want to really stand out, go for the GS Mini-e Koa Bass .

The Taylor GT is a revolution in compact guitars. It takes the look and sound of our largest body style (the Grand Orchestra) and makes it travel-sized.

The GT body measures 15” across and 4-1/4” deep—that’s smaller than a standard dreadnought. Smaller-bodied acoustic guitars don’t normally sound so full. But thanks to our new C-Class voicing architecture, the lower frequencies come through without muddying the sound. The 24-1/8” scale neck is slightly longer than a GS Mini’s, but it still delivers on slinky hand-feel due to lighter string tension.

The GTe Urban Ash , with its ES2 pickup for on-the-go gigging, is an ideal travel companion. For those who love to travel in style, there’s the all-koa GT K21e .

Must-Have Travel Accessories

Once you have your travel guitar in hand, it’s tempting to book a next-day flight. But before you go, make sure you have these essential guitar accessories.

A Guitar Case

Just like you wouldn’t drive without your seatbelt, you won’t want to travel with your guitar unprotected. A guitar case keeps your instrument safe from dust, sunlight, moisture, and impacts. It also provides a place to store all your other accessories and can often be locked to prevent theft.

All Taylor guitars come with a case, though many of the guitars listed above include a padded soft case . For longer trips and plane travel, we recommend a hardshell case or a Taylor AeroCase , which is included with certain models.

A Guitar Strap

Spontaneity is one of the best parts of travel. With a guitar strap , you’re prepared to play anywhere—from a campfire jam in Montana to an open mic night in Rome.

While padded straps are more comfortable, they’re also heavier and bulkier. A lightweight GS Mini Guitar Strap will fit perfectly in any case—without taking up valuable space.

Don’t forget the strap locks, either. Strap locks provide an added layer of security, so you won’t have to worry about dropping your guitar on a trip.

A Clip-On Tuner

You never know when you might run into other musicians on the road. Without a tuner, though, you might not be able to jam with them.

Many of the guitars listed here come with an onboard ES-B pickup, which includes a tuner. But if your travel guitar doesn’t have a built-in tuner, a clip-on tuner is small, inexpensive, and will keep you in tune. The batteries last for years, and a bright LED screen lets you tune anywhere—even in the moonlit wilderness.

Extra Strings

Sometimes, bad luck strikes; even a brand new string can snap on the second day of your trip. If you break a guitar string while you’re away, you might not have access to a music store, so be sure to bring extras.

For longer holidays (especially when camping or road-tripping), you may want to restring your guitar sooner than you usually do. Dirt and grime can build up quickly when you play outdoors.

A Hygro-Thermometer

A digital hygro-thermometer works by measuring the temperature and humidity of your environment. Because guitars perform optimally in 45-55% relative humidity, it’s crucial to monitor moisture levels.

Digital hygro-thermometers are handy on any trip, though they’re especially important if you’re traveling somewhere with a vastly different climate. Keep in mind that a hygrometer only measures humidity; to maintain humidity levels, you may need to pack a guitar humidifier. We suggest the D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System.

Take Your Music with You

With a travel guitar, your artistic expression becomes infinitely portable. You can jam with friends around the bonfire, play a set at a roadside cafe, or write songs as you drive cross-country. Even beginners can benefit from a travel guitar—your practice schedule doesn’t have to wait just because you’re on an adventure.

The mistake that many players make is thinking a travel guitar is a luxury. Don’t think of it as buying a guitar only for traveling; think of it as another guitar to add to your arsenal that you can also travel with. Scaled-down acoustic guitars are affordable, and they make equally great companions in the studio and at home just like a full size guitar.

No matter where your journey takes you, travel in style with Taylor Guitars .  For more tips on how to travel with a guitar, as well as advice on guitar maintenance and technique, like how to fix fret buzz, visit the Taylor blog .

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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)

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.

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).

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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)

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)

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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)

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)

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more

From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now

• Best acoustic
• Larger body
• Best foldable
• For small hands
• Best electric
• Best full scale
• Best offset

Buying advice

How we test.

1. Quick list 2. Best acoustic 3. Best with larger body 4. Best foldable 5. Best for small hands 6. Best electric 7. Best full scale 8. Best offset 9. Best Strat 10. Buying advice 11. How we test

If you’re looking for something compact to take out on the road, or maybe even on holiday to keep on top of your practice schedule, then one of the best travel guitars is the way to go.

From smaller bodied acoustics that take up less space in a car or on a train, to super compact electrics designed to be taken on a plane as hand luggage, the best travel guitars mean that you don’t have to stop playing the moment you leave the house. A good travel guitar can even be great to have around the home – something with more compact dimensions can sometimes be really comfortable. 

The best travel guitars come in all shapes and sizes, and are available in both electric and acoustic formats. Here, we’ll look at what’s on offer, and provide our picks for both categories.

Though this might be on the larger side of a travel guitar, it is still more compact than all of Lowden’s other offerings. Simply put, the Wee Lowden is one of the best sounding smaller-bodied acoustic guitars on the market.

Read more below

Not Taylor’s smallest offering, but definitely one of their better sounding compact instruments, the GS Mini has proven to be a hit with all manner of guitarists. You’ll even see pros use them on the biggest stages in the world.

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. 

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. 

Blackstar’s Carry On range aims to provide players with quality instruments that are easy to take on planes so that you don’t have to skip your practice sessions when you’re traveling.

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. 

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it.

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. 

Best acoustic traveler

1. Lowden WL-35 Wee Lowden

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

It’s incredibly bold and punchy, with superb note definition and clarity. Its dimensions are smaller than that of a more traditionally sized acoustic guitar, but the projection that it delivers would have you fooled – this guitar is loud when you push it. It also reacts beautifully to playing dynamics, offering all the shades of quiet and loud that you’d want.

Different versions of this guitar are available, but the mahogany back and sides combined with the red cedar top deliver a wonderfully balanced sound. The build quality is absolutely second to none; though of course, at this price point, you’d expect that.

Best with larger body

2. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus

This GS Mini-e Koa Plus sports a solid koa top and laminate koa back and sides which allow notes and chords to ring out with complete clarity and detail. Koa responds really well to your playing – it’s responsive and dynamic so allows you to play with lots of expression. The shaded edge burst finish looks truly incredible and adds a touch of class to the whole thing too. 

This 23.5” scale guitar comes fitted with Taylor’s flagship pickup system as well – the ES-2. This allows you to amplify your guitar through a PA system or amp in a way that’s more dynamic and more natural. It ships with a fantastic Aero Case that offers nearly as much protection as a hard case, but is much lighter.

Best foldable traveler

3. Furch Little Jane

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. It’s harmonically rich, and has some of that parlor-style punch in the midrange. It’s also extremely dynamic, projecting when you want it to, but responding nicely to softer playing. 

It’s extremely well designed. The body, neck and headstock are all separate when packed down, but it’s very quick to construct when it’s time to play. The clever locking mechanism keeps the neck in place, adding the right tension to the strings, and even retaining tuning somewhat between sessions. The Furch Little Jane even comes with its own padded backpack so you can take it on your travels right away.

Best for small hands

4. Martin LX1E

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. Players who are already accustomed to a full size guitar might get along with this particularly well as the neck width is about the same, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut.

Solid spruce sits atop a high pressure laminate mahogany back and sides creating a balanced but fairly bright tone. There is a touch of that boxy sort of sound you often get with smaller acoustics (though nowhere near as much as some cheaper models), and there aren’t tons of low end frequencies, but that’s if we’re being picky. Overall, the projection and tone of the LX1E is excellent. 

It is available without (Martin LX1), but this is equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup. The controls are easily accessible and it’s very much a case of plug in and play, making it one of the best travel guitars for potentially gigging with. If you’re navigating public transport to get to shows, then this is definitely one to consider. 

Best electric traveler

5. Blackstar Carry On Travel Guitar

Cheaper versions of this are available, but the flagship Carry On model has a number of features that make this one of the best travel guitars on the market. Made in partnership with the master luthiers at Gordon Smith, this compact instrument has a one-piece okoume body, set neck and a coil-splittable humbucker. This gives you a range of amazing tones, as well as bags of sustain. 

It stays in tune well, and the intonation is just right. It’s really compact, but it plays more like a full size guitar, so you don’t lose much of the feel you’d normally get with a bigger instrument. It also comes shipped with a quality gigbag, so you’re ready to hit the road as soon as you get it.

Best with full scale length

6. Traveler Guitar Electric Ultra Light

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. They say that it’s actually 28% shorter and 68% lighter than your average electric guitar . The lap rest detaches when not in use too, making it extremely portable. 

It’s fitted with a single dual rail humbucking pickup that delivers punchy but articulate tones. It’s not the most versatile instrument in the world, but that’s not really the aim here. Still, you can probably tackle most styles of music with it. The tuning pegs are also built into the body which obviously gets rid of the necessity for a headstock, and they actually work very well too.

If you’re flying a lot, or maybe space is at a premium in the car and you want to take this and maybe a battery powered amp with you, then this makes for a fantastic travel guitar. 

Best traveling offset

7. Squier Mini Jazzmaster

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it. The short scale also lends the guitar a really nice slinky feel, so you might find yourself playing a little differently to normal, which can spark creativity. 

This fantastic looking offset is fitted with a pair of quite high output, punchy sounding humbuckers. So, if you’re seeking a portable guitar for rocking big riffs and ripping solos, then this is absolutely one to consider. 

It’s also well priced. Maybe you’re just seeking a guitar to take out occasionally, enabling you to leave your main instrument at home. This is of a good enough standard to do the job well, and it means that you’re not having to throw your more expensive guitar in the back of a car or van etc.

Best for Strat fans

8. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. All in all, it’s about the size of a regular Strat, minus the headstock, making it altogether a lot more portable. 

You’re not having to sacrifice anything in terms of tone here. The Travelcaster has three single-coil pickups and a five-way selector, giving you all the chimey, glassy tones that you’d expect from this kind of configuration. The tremolo works nicely too – again, something you don’t have to sacrifice. 

What’s particularly great about this model is that it has the full 25.5” Strat scale length meaning that your fretting hand won’t have a clue it’s playing on a travel guitar. Chords, scales and licks will feel as they do on a full size guitar, though you might just have to slightly accommodate for a different neck profile. 

What Do We Mean By Travel Guitar?

You can trust Guitar Player. 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.

When we’re talking about the best travel guitars, we’re looking for instruments that are physically easier to travel with. Size and weight play a huge part, so the above choices will all be smaller than your regular full-size guitar, which in turn, will make them lighter. 

Some might just have slightly reduced dimensions when compared to a full size, making it a little more practical to take out on the go. Others might have completely different designs that render them suitable for taking on planes as hand luggage. How small you want it completely depends on your wants and needs.

Electric Or Acoustic?

Of course, one of the main considerations when shopping for the best travel guitar is whether to go electric or acoustic. Acoustics, by their very nature, tend to be a little bigger with deeper bodies, but you don’t need an amp to get the most out of it. If you’re playing live, then you’ll need some amplification, but for playing on your own or with friends, you’re fine with just the guitar.

An electric travel guitar can be played without an amp, but you’ll get more from it if you plug it into something. There are some great portable amps on offer, but there’s that, plus cables, to then consider. 

On acoustic travel guitars, you’ll find that some of them have a pickup fitted and some of them don’t. If you’re after a compact instrument to travel to and from shows, then having a pickup installed can be really useful. If you’re just after something to take on holiday or camping perhaps, then a pickup isn’t necessary. Buying one without a pickup will probably save you a bit of money too. 

Of course, with an electric, the pickup plays a very important part in shaping your sound. You’ll find the best travel guitars are fitted with various different pickup configurations. If you’ve found a model that you like but it’s got a single coil instead of a humbucker, for example, it’s always worth checking to see if other versions are available. 

Scale Length

It’s likely that a travel guitar will have a shorter scale length. Reducing this can allow the makers to produce a physically smaller guitar. It’s worth considering how that might feel for you to play, though. If you’ve got bigger hands, you might find squeezing your fingers into frets, particularly the ones higher up, more difficult. Look at the scale length, alongside the number of frets – 18 frets spaced over 23” for example, will give your fingers more space than 22 frets over the same scale.

That said, there are travel guitars that have a full length scale. They can reduce the size of the instrument in other ways, so if you know that you’re after a full scale travel guitar, then you don’t have to compromise.

At  Guitar Player , our team of writers aren't just music enthusiasts; we're real-life musicians. Our hands-on experience with travel guitars ensures that our reviews and recommendations are backed by practical knowledge and real-world testing.

When it comes to selecting the best travel guitars, we leave no stone unturned. Meticulously evaluating factors like tonal versatility, sonic character, build quality, and value for money, it's only after rigorous testing in a variety of playing scenarios do we choose products for our guides. We stand by our selections, ensuring that every set of strings we recommend is one we'd use ourselves.

Read more on  how we test gear and service at Guitar Player .

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After spending a decade in music retail, I’m now a freelance writer for Guitar Player, Guitar World, MusicRadar and Reverb, specializing in electric and acoustic guitars bass, and almost anything else you can make a tune with. When my head’s not buried in the best of modern and vintage gear, I run a small company helping musicians with songwriting, production and performance, and I play bass in an alt-rock band.

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Travel & Small-Body Guitars

Our family of compact acoustic guitars offers an authentic guitar-playing experience in a package that’s perfectly sized for travel, young players or casual jams.

Built for convenience, portability and playing comfort, Taylor’s small-body acoustic guitars pack a serious musical punch into a fun-sized frame. Perfect for the new learner or young player in need of an accommodating guitar that will encourage regular practice and play, these guitars are also ideal for hitting the road thanks to compact designs that can easily fit into cars and airplane storage compartments. Yet despite their smaller dimensions, these guitars don’t sacrifice on the Taylor tone you love—every model is built with a solid-wood top, and some (like our U.S.-made GT guitars) feature all-solid tonewoods. Whichever size and shape you choose, expect a clear, bold and well-balanced voice that can perform across styles and genres, with a hand-friendly feel that makes each guitar as playable as it is portable.

Keep reading to learn about travel-size and small-body guitars from the Baby and Big Baby Series , or the super-popular GS Mini Series .

Featured Small Body/Travel Guitars

Hawaiian Koa

Urban Ironbark

Indian Rosewood

Tropical Mahogany

Tasmanian Blackwood

Layered Sapele

Layered Koa

Layered Walnut

Layered Maple

Layered Rosewood

Honduran Rosewood

Sitka Spruce

Lutz Spruce

Neo-Tropical Mahogany

Big Leaf Maple

Western Red Cedar

Sinker Redwood

Adirondack Spruce

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Top 14 Best Mini & Travel Acoustic Guitars (2021 Review)

In this article we’re going to be discussing what the 14 best travel and mini acoustic guitars are, that exist in 2021.

Before we go straight into talking about each product featured in the list, we’re firstly going to address what a travel acoustic guitar is, and the different types of mini acoustic guitars on the market.

So without further ado, let’s talk travel acoustic guitars.

What is a Travel Acoustic Guitar

A travel acoustic guitar is simply an acoustic guitar that is smaller in size than a standard-sized acoustic guitar, usually around 3/4 or 1/2 of the size. Because of its smaller size, it is more suited for portability, especially for those who are looking to transport it on long trips.

What are the different types of travel acoustic guitars?

There are many different terms that people use to describe the same type of ‘travel acoustic guitar’, as we call it. Some would prefer to call it a ‘travel size acoustic guitar’, others use the term ‘mini acoustic guitar’.

None-the-less, all of these terms describe the same item.

However, as previously mentioned, travel acoustic guitars can come in a range of different sizes. Therefore, knowing the ideal size that suits you, whether or not that be a 1/2 size guitar or a 3/4 size guitar, will be very important in finding the perfect mini travel guitar for you.

I’ve explained the general size measurements that are associated with both 1/2 size, 3/4 size and full-size acoustic guitars below, so feel free to get your measuring tape out!

Again, these will differ from company to company, but we’ve done the research and are certain that the following products featured fall into the specified category, even if the Amazon listing has fleetingly used the term 1/2 size when the guitar actually falls into the 3/4 size category.

• 1/2 Size Travel Acoustic Guitar Size (86 x 30 cm) or (34inch x 12inch)
• 3/4 Size Travel Acoustic Guitar Size (92 x 34 cm) (36inch x 13inch)
• Full-Size Acoustic Guitar Size (100 x 38 cm) (39inch x 15inch)

Below we’ve featured a list of the best travel sized & mini acoustic guitars; The list has been organized based on two main criteria, the primary being the size of the guitar, and secondary based on price.

Best Travel Size & Mini Acoustic Guitars

• Oscar Schmidt OG5 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar Bundle

Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Beginner Acoustic Guitar

Yamaha jr1 steel string acoustic, yamaha jr2 acoustic guitar, ibanez 3/4 mini dreadnought acoustic guitar, luna safari series ‘muse’ acoustic guitar, luna aurora ‘borealis’ acoustic guitar, luna guitars henna paradise acoustic/electric guitar.

• Martin Guitars ‘Little Martin’ LX1R Acoustic Guitar

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

• Luna Guitars Safari Koa Supreme Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Yamaha APXT2 3/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar with Effects

Best Budget Travel Guitars

Oscar schmidt og5 3/4-size acoustic guitar bundle.

Technical features

• Oscar Schmidt Acoustic Guitar created by Washburn
• Includes gig bag, tuner, strap, picks, instructional book, DVD, and polishing cloth
• Catalpa sides and back
• Mahogany Neck
• Chrome Die-Cast Tuners
• Gloss finish
• 4 colors available

The Oscar Schmidt OG5 3/4 acoustic guitar bundle comes in natural, sunburst, blue, and pink colors.

Being priced at just under $130 this really is a budget-priced acoustic guitar bundle, so don’t expect the world. However, for this price, you’re getting a well-constructed guitar, built by none other than Oscar Schmidt in collaboration with the extremely reputable guitar-maker Washburn Guitars.

The maple top with gloss finish gives it a beautiful look.

The guitar also has Catalpa sides and back, this wood is known for being a relatively soft, deciduous wood that is native to North America. It is known for giving an acoustic guitar the balance of warmth and midrange tone for strumming while also providing a rich sound for lead playing and fingerpicking.

The Oscar Schmidt OG5 bundle  has a 4.5/5* rating from over 80 customer reviews on Amazon.

• Great price for a bundle that includes so many accessories
• Aesthetically appealing acoustic guitar
• Selection of fourdifferent colors
• Created by Oscar Schmidt/Washburn (Reputable brands)
• Great for beginners
• For the price and accessories included, there aren’t many drawbacks
• Although this is a great guitar for beginners, if you are an advanced player, you may want to look at a higher end guitar

Although I couldn’t find a video demonstration specifically of the OG5, here is a video demonstration of an unnamed Oscar Schmidt Acoustic Guitar, which should give you a good idea of the sound quality of Oscar Schmidt guitars:

• Created by Fender, an iconic company with a great reputation
• Includes gig bag
• Agathis Top
• Sapele sides and back
• Nato wood neck
• Chrome Tuners
• 3/4 body size
• Ambidextrous design
• Comes in 6 different colors

The Fender Alternative Series are Fender’s beginner guitar line, but, being a Fender, you are still going to get great playability and sound quality.

The FA-15 has 6 different color options, including natural, black, blue, red, moonlight burst, and green.

Being priced at just under $170 this really is a budget-priced acoustic guitar bundle. However, for this price, you’re getting a well-constructed guitar, built by none other than Fender, the legendary company that brought you the Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster ( you can read our article about best pickups for Telecasters here ).

This guitar has an agathis top, which is a type of wood that has been compared to mahogany, although it is cheaper than mahogany, and may not compare to the great tonal qualities of mahogany.

The FA-15, however, also has sapele sides and back. Sapele has also been compared to mahogany, and more favorably so than agathis. As a result, you can expect a warm, neutral tone that is balanced enough to sound good for both rhythm and lead playing.

The all-laminate construction makes it both strong and resistant to cracking from humidity changes.

Overall, the Fender FA-15 is a terrific choice for a beginner 3/4 size guitar.

The Oscar Schmidt OG5 bundle has a 4.7/5* rating from over 25 customer reviews on Amazon.

• Great price for a well-built guitar with great sound
• Selection of sixdifferent colors
• Created by Fender (Reputable Brand)
• Only includes a gig bag, so you will have to buy other accessories separately

To learn more about the FA-15 and how it sounds, take a look at the review and demonstration video below:

• JR1 Travel Acoustic Guitar built by Yamaha
• Meranti back and sides
• Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge
• Includes a Gig bag, Martin Guitar Strings, Strap, Picks and String Winder

The Yamaha JR1 is their attempt to replicate the premier sound of the Yamaha FG series within an acoustic travel guitar. As for if they were successful, well you only need to look below at the reviews, as they speak for themselves.

The Yamaha JR1 has a 4.8/5* rating from 29 customer reviews on Amazon.

This mini acoustic guitar comes with a multitude of items and so you don’t need to purchase any additional items before your travels. This includes a gig bag, another set of strings, a guitar strap, guitar picks and a string winder. Although it must be said, some of the reviews say that the guitar case that comes with this guitar is very soft, and so if you are indeed travelling for a long period of time, and plan to take this guitar with you, we advise upgrading the case.

Similarly to previous guitars mentioned, the JR1 has a spruce top, known to be very soft to the touch but maintains a good overall density for strength. This spruce top enables the guitar to produce a lot of resonance, maintaining low, mid-range and high frequencies with plenty of attack.

The guitar also has Meranti back and sides; This wood is generally quite inexpensive to buy, but considerably helps to preserve tonal qualities.

The neck is made from Nato wood, which is usually an inexpensive replacement for Mahogany. None-the-less, it too is also commonly used for making guitars within this price-range and helps keep a pronounced mid-range to the guitar’s tone; Which is highly important for acoustic instruments.

• Fantastic price (considering the bundle)
• Comes with plenty of accessories (Case, Martin Guitar Strings, Strap, Guitar Picks & String Winder)
• Almost none
• We advise that you get a case (especially since you’re most likely travelling). We’ve linked to our recommended soft case here – Link to Amazon

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Yamaha JR-1 in action directly below:

• JR2 Travel Acoustic Guitar built by Yamaha
• Mahogany back and sides
• Includes a Gig bag, Guitar Strings, Plectrums, String Winder, Instructional Video, Polishing Cloth and Guitar Tuner

The Yamaha JR2 in Natural is the replacement for the older JR1. Yamaha’s aim is to attempt to replicate the premier sound of the Yamaha FG series within an acoustic travel guitar. Now from customer reviews alone, they clearly got it right with the JR1, but did they succeed with the JR2? As for if they were successful, well you only need to look below at the reviews, as they speak for themselves.

The Yamaha JR2 has a 4.3/5* rating from 65 customer reviews on Amazon.

This mini acoustic guitar comes with a multitude of items and so you don’t need to purchase any additional items before your travels. This includes a gig bag, a set of guitar strings, guitar picks, a string winder and a guitar tuner.

This is a really good selection of accessories supplied! We’re particularly impressed with the inclusion of a guitar tuner, as guitar tuner pedals alone can cost between $20 – $100.

Similarly to the JR1, the JR2 has a spruce top, known to be very soft to the touch but maintains a good overall density for strength. This spruce top enables the guitar to produce a lot of resonance, maintaining low, mid-range and high frequencies with plenty of attack.

The JR2 really distinguishes itself from the former JR1 in its upgraded ‘Mahogany’ back and sides. With Mahogany being more expensive because of its ability to provide more presence and a better sound for acoustic guitars.

• Mahogany Back and Sides
• Comes with plenty of accessories (Case, Martin Guitar Strings, Strap, Guitar Picks & Guitar Tuner)
• Decent quality guitar case
• Don’t worry, we’ve linked to Amazon’s best selling acoustic guitar straps here – Acoustic Guitar Straps

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Yamaha JR-2 in action directly below:

• 3/4 Mini Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Built by Ibanez
• Mahogany, Top Back and Sides
• Includes a Gig bag

Although you may know Ibanez for its impressive lineup of electric guitars, Ibanez also does a good job of building low and mid priced acoustic guitars. The Ibanez 3/4 Mini Dreadnought is Ibanez’ entry into the beginner guitar market, competing with the likes of the Fender FA-15 and the Yamaha JR1 and JR2.

The 3/4 Mini Dreadnought has a full mahogany body, with the premium wood making up the top, back, sides, and neck. Mahogany is known to give a rich, warm sound that provides a good balance of rhythm and lead capability. Like many other guitars in this price range, don’t expect to get full body sound in a miniature body.

However, in terms of quality of sound for the value, this is a good guitar if you are a beginner and want to get your first acoustic. Personally, I love Ibanez’ electric guitars and I have only ever owned Ibanez electrics. However, I would likely look at the Yamaha beginner acoustic lineup as my recommended choice, but you should certainly look into this, as everyone has different tastes!

The Ibanez 3/4 Mini Dreadnought has a 4.5/5* rating from 29 customer reviews on Amazon.

One thing I will say that is a strong positive feature is that the Ibanez 3/4 Mini Dreadnought manages to provide an all-mahogany body in a price range that it is rare to see it in.

• Great price for a mahogany body guitar
• High quality sound in this price range
• Doesn’t feel or sound as good as the Yamaha lineup in this price range
• Acoustic Guitar Straps
• Acoustic Guitar Strings
• Acoustic Guitar Case

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Ibanez 3/4 Mini Dreadnought Acoustic in action directly below:

• ‘Safari Series Muse’ model –  Travel Acoustic Guitar built by Luna
• Designed by Alex Morgan
• Mahogany Top, Back and Sides
• Satin Finish
• Celtic Laser Etching Design around the sound hole
• Steel Strings

Luna is a guitar manufacturer renowned for it’s incredibly unique and genuine acoustic guitar designs. Not only this, but they have created a trustworthy brand image for themselves not only for their guitar designs, but for the incredible sound too.

The Luna Safari Muse acoustic travel guitar is another one of Luna’s unique designed guitars.

Designed by Alex Morgan, the guitar has a wonderfully warm looking Mahogany front, back and sides and a laser etched henna design around the sound hole. This henna design is subtle enough to not distract your audience whilst you’re playing, but certainly, it will make them appreciate your lovely looking guitar.

As for how the Luna Safari Muse acoustic guitar sounds? As we’ve mentioned, we know that Luna usually knock the ball out of the park when it comes to sound; And although we can talk all day about how good their products sound, we’d much rather you see for yourself…

Therefore we’ve featured a demonstration video below, and a link to all of the customer reviews.

The Luna Safari Muse  has a 4.2/5* rating from over 90 customer reviews on Amazon.

• Beautiful design with bespoke features
• Wonderful sounding acoustic guitar
• Acoustic Guitar ‘Clip-on’ Tuners

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Luna ‘Safari Muse’ in action directly below.

• ‘Aurora Borealis’ model –  Travel Acoustic Guitar built by Luna
• Available in Black, Pink, Teal and White
• Basswood Top, Back and Sides
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Black Walnut Bridge
• Black Pearl Finish

The Luna Aurora Borealis acoustic travel guitar is one of the brand’s more minimalistically designed guitars; And for some this may certainly be an attractive feature.

The guitar is mainly made up of Basswood, with the Body and Top being made up of this. The Neck is made from Mahogany, and the fret board and Bridge are made from Black Walnut. Finally, the Aurora Borealis has a Black Pearl finish, really setting it apart from other acoustic guitars.

As for how the Luna Aurora Borealis acoustic guitar sounds? We could talk about the sound all day, but the best way in which we can communicate this is in demonstrating! Hence we’ve featured  a demonstration video below, and a link to all of the customer reviews.

The Luna Aurora Borealis  has a 4.7/5* rating from over 70 customer reviews on Amazon.

• More minimalistic design for Luna, may be appealing for some!
• 4 different colors to choose from
• Great sounding (refer to demonstration video)

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Luna ‘Aurora Borealis’ in action directly below.

Luna Safari ‘Bamboo’ Acoustic Guitar

• ‘Safari Bamboo’ Model –  Travel Acoustic Guitar Built by Luna
• Available in Bamboo and Vintage Design
• Bamboo Leaf Laser Etching Design Around the Sound Hole
• Bamboo Top, Back and Sides
• Walnut Fretboard & Bridge
• Natural Satin Finish
• Comes with Clip-on Chromatic Tuner, Gigging Bag, Guitar Strings, Instructional DVD, Polishing Cloth, Guitar Picks and a Guitar Strap.

The Luna Safari Bamboo is a very unique travel acoustic guitar; Mainly because, as the name suggests, it’s made from Bamboo… Or at least the Guitar’s Top, Back and Sides are. As you can see and hear from the video demonstration below, it gives the guitar a beautiful aesthetic appearance, and a lovely sound quality.

The front of the guitar also has a Bamboo leaf etching, which has been laser etched around the sound hole of the guitar, really giving it a unique look.

Therefore we’ve featured a demonstration video below, and a link to all of the customer reviews (although there aren’t may reviews, the video demonstration really displays how good this guitar sounds)

The Luna Safari Muse  has a 4.0/5* rating from 1 customer reviews on Amazon.

• Unique visual appearance
• Fantastic sounding
• Nice price considering it’s uniqueness

Best Mid-Range Travel Acoustic Guitars

• ‘Henna Paradise’ model – Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar built by Luna
• Designed by UK henna artist Alex Morganthe
• Includes Built-In Pickup With Tuner
• Bundle Includes Guitar Stand, Clip-on Tuner, Guitar Strap, Extra Set of Strings, Total Music Source Polishing Cloth
• Can Plug Into Amp Or Guitar Audio Interface
• Mahogany Fingerboard & Bridge
• Gorgeous Henna Design

The Luna Henna Paradise acoustic-electric guitar is certainly a spectacle from both a visual and tonal point of view. This guitar boasts a beautiful and unique henna design, and is sure to turn heads and start conversations.

This bundle includes pretty much everything you need to get started, including a guitar stand, clip-on tuner, guitar strap, extra set of strings, and total music source polishing cloth.

As for how it sounds, we know that Luna usually knock the ball out of the park when it comes to sound; And quite simply, although there aren’t many reviews for this specific model, over the years, Luna has built a strong reputation in the travel guitar category.

The Luna Safari Tribal has a 4.4/5* rating from 10 customer reviews on Amazon.

Additionally, the Luna Henna Paradise comes with a built-in preamp, so that you can plug it into an amp or into a guitar audio interface . It also has a built-in tuner, so you don’t need to worry about keeping in tune!

• Beautiful design with stunning features
• Comes with a built-in preamp and tuner
• Comes with plenty of accessories
• Nothing major, except the unique design might not be to everyone’s taste (I find it to be beautiful, though)

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Luna ‘Henna Paradise’ in action directly below. This video demonstrates the sound quality for both playing it using an external acoustic mic and using the built in preamp.

Martin Guitars Little Martin LX1R Acoustic Guitar

• LX1R Natural ‘Little Martin’ Model by Martin
• Natural Color
• Features a Sitka Spruce Top
• High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Back And Sides
• Spruce Neck
• Includes a Gig Bag

Martin is definitely one of the the Creme-de-la-Creme of Acoustic Guitar manufacturing. They simply know what works and how to make their acoustic guitars sound incredible! This is why they can charge a premium price.

The LX1R ‘Little Martin’ is an impressive travel acoustic guitar, with an HPL back and sides, alongside a premium-quality, hand-finished Sitka Spruce Top for both high-quality sound quality and a lovely visual appearance.

The fretboard/fingerboard is created from rosewood, helping provide that well-known, Martin-associated warm sounding tone.

How does the LX1R ‘Little Martin’ sound? Well, due to the solid spruce top, the LX1R is one of the best-sounding travel acoustic guitars on this list… But don’t just take our opinion on it, have a look at the customer reviews below, and then take a look at the demo video below.

The LX1R Natural ‘Little Martin’ has a 4.5/5* rating from 25 customer reviews on Amazon.

• World-Class Engineering from Martin
• Absolutely one of the best sounding travel acoustic guitars on this list due to the Sitka Spruce Top
• Really Positive Customer Reviews
• Comes with a Gig Bag
• $399+ is rather costly, but you’re paying for high-quality construction and Martin’s engineering finesse

Also, check out the video demonstration of the LX1R ‘Little Martin’ in action directly below.

• BT2 “Baby Taylor” Acoustic Guitar By Taylor Guitars
• 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar
• Natural Mahogany Color
• Features a Troptical Mahogany Hardwood Top
• Layered Sapele Back and Sides
• Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge
• Includes a High Quality Padded Gig Bag

In the same stratosphere as Martin, Taylor is also considered to be the Creme-de-la-Creme of Acoustic Guitar manufacturing. They have been building high quality guitars since 1974 and they know a thing or ten about making great sounding, great playing guitars! Of course, this will also come with a higher price tag than the average travel or beginner guitar.

The “Baby Taylor” was created by Taylor Guitars as a travel or beginner guitar that combines the portability of a travel-size acoustic guitar, with the engineering and quality craftsmanship that Martin uses to create their superior sound quality.

All-in-all, this is certainly a guitar that you’ll love to play everywhere you go, but, like the Martin guitars, also one which you’ll want to look after carefully.

We’ve talked up Taylor guitars quite a bit, but how do you know it lives up to the hype? Well, take a look at the reviews and you’ll see confirmation from customers. Then, take a look at the demo video and you’ll see why this is one of our favorite guitars on this list.

The BT2 “Baby Taylor” Acoustic Guitar has a 4.7/5* rating from 181 customer reviews on Amazon.

In addition this awesome guitar, you also receive a high quality padded gig bag, so that you can keep your Baby Taylor protected throughout your traveling journey.

• World-Class Engineering from Taylor
• Awesome Sound Quality
• Comes with a Padded Guitar Case

Also, check out the video demonstration of the “Baby Taylor” in action directly below:

Luna Guitars Safari Koa Supreme 6 String Acoustic/Electric Guitar

• ‘Safari Series Koa Supreme’ model – Travel Acoustic Guitar built by Luna
• Koa “A” Grade Top and Back
• Morado Fingerboard & Bridge
• Built-in preamp
• Pearl Moon Phase inlays
• Natural Finish
• Laser Etching Design around the Soundhole

Types of Guitar Pedals Explained

The Luna Safari Koa Supreme acoustic-electric travel guitar is another one of Luna’s fantastic travel guitars.

The Koa Supreme is a mid-range priced guitar that looks and plays really nice for its price. This guitar features Koa “A” grade top and back, mahogany neck, and morado fingerboard. This gives it a rich, high quality sound for a small guitar.

The built-in preamp means that you can perform for all your fans by plugging this travel guitar into an amp if you so desire.

This specific model doesn’t have any reviews yet, but the regular Luna Safari Supreme Model get good reviews on Amazon.

• Extremely ‘full-body’ sounding
• Koa “A Grade Top, Back and Sides
• Slightly pricey compared to other Luna Guitars.

To get a good idea of how this guitar sounds, check out the video demonstration of the Luna ‘Safari Koa Supreme” in action directly below.

Best Premium Travel Acoustic Guitars

• APXT2 3/4 Acoustic-Electric Guitar built by Yamaha
• Built in pickups
• Pearl Die-Cast Tuners

The Yamaha APTXT2 is an upscale acoustic-electric guitar built by Yamaha. Yamaha’s aim is to attempt to replicate the premier sound of the full-size Yamaha APX500II series within a 3/4 size acoustic travel guitar.

Judging by how it sounds and by customer reviews, they certainly seemed to have gotten it right with the APXT2.

The Yamaha APXT2 has a 4.5/5* rating from over 470 customer reviews on Amazon.

Similarly to another popular and well-reviewed travel guitar, the Yamaha JR2 (which is also on our top travel guitar list), the APXT2 has a spruce top, known to be very soft to the touch while still maintaining a good overall density for strength. This spruce top enables the guitar to produce a lot of resonance, maintaining low, mid-range and high frequencies with plenty of attack.

One difference between the APXT2 and the JR2 is the APXT2 has meranti back and sides versus the higher quality mahogany back and sides of the JR2. However, this disadvantage is offset by the fact that the APXT2 has built-in pickups, allowing you to plug the guitar into your amplifier or guitar audio interface .

The neck is made from a combination of nato wood and mahogany.

Unfortunately, one other difference between the APXT2 and the JR2 is the price. Currently, the APXT2 is priced even higher than the Taylor and Martin beginner guitars. However, I personally do love the sound and playability of the APXT2.

• Beautiful design
• Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
• Great sound for a budget guitar
• Built-in pickups to plug the guitar into an amp
• Meranti back and sides are a bit of a downgrade from mahogany on the Yamaha JR1 and JR2

Also, check out the video demonstration of the Yamaha APXT2 in action directly below:

LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar with Effects 36 Inch Acoustic Electric Travel Guitar

• “LAVA ME 2” by LAVA Guitars
• Unique Unibody Design With Super Airsonic (Carbon Fiber Composite) Top, Back, and Sides
• High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Neck And Fretboard
• Built In Pickups
• Built In Speaker With Reverb, Delay, Chorus Effects!
• Ultra-light, weighing just 3.7 lb (1.7 kg)
• Weather Resistant To Play In A Variety Of Weather Conditions
• Black Finish
• Includes Sturdy Gig Bag

We saved the most unique travel acoustic guitar on our list for last. The LAVA ME 2 is truly a different take on what a travel guitar should be. Everything from its weight, design, materials used, and technology sets it apart from the traditional travel acoustic guitar.

It is very light, weighing in at 3.7 lb (1.7 kg), which is lighter than many laptops.

It is also weather resistant, adaptable to temperatures between -4°F to 176°F and humidity from 10% to 90%.

How does it manage to be this light, but also this weather resistant? That would be due to the carbon fiber unibody design that makes up most of this guitar. This is very different than the traditional wood or laminate materials you see most acoustic guitars are made of.

Like a few other guitars on this list, the LAVA ME 2 has a built in pickup so you can plug it into an external amplifier.

Unlike any guitar on our list, however, this guitar also has a built in speaker, with reverb, chorus, and delay effects to boot! That means you can play this for a small audience without having to plug it into an external amp!

The LAVA ME 2, not surprisingly, is the most expensive travel acoustic guitar that we’ve featured on this list, but that’s no why we’re featuring it. We are giving this the attention it deserves because of its truly unique nature. There simply is no other guitar on our list that is like this.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out the reviews on Amazon, and also take time to check out the video demonstration below.

The LAVA ME 2 has a 4.4/5* rating from 412 customer reviews on Amazon.

• Unique unibody carbon fiber design
• Extremely light, but highly durable in most weather conditions
• Built in pickup to plug into an external amp
• Truly unique built in speaker to play loudly without plugging into an amp
• Significantly more expensive than other models
• The unique design might not be pleasing to traditionalists

Also, check out the in depth review and demonstration of the LAVA ME 2 directly below.

In Conclusion, What is the best travel acoustic guitar?

Ok, so before making our recommendations, we’d just like to clear something up,  if you have average to large sized hands, you may want to choose a model from one of the 3/4 sized acoustic travel guitars that we’ve featured.

Only we would imagine you’d struggle to handle the 1/2 size guitars.

With that being said, we’ve segmented our recommendations based on numerous factors that we think would be important to our readers, i.e Price, Features, Size, Value for Money, etc.

Therefore, we sincerely hope that you feel confident in knowing which is the right guitar for you, once you read our recommendations.

Although quite honestly, from all of the guitars that we’ve featured in this list. They’re all the top 1% when it comes to customer review satisfaction, so you really cannot go wrong with any.

However, we also know personal preference plays a part here, so don’t just take our opinion, look at all of the video demonstrations.

Value for money

Yamaha JR2 Acoustic Guitar – $$ – Budget Priced

Luna Aurora Borealis Acoustic Electric Guitar -$$ – Budget Priced

Luna Henna Paradise Acoustic Electric Guitar – $$$ – Mid Range Priced

Lava ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar With Effects – $$$$ – Premium Priced

Premium Sound Quality

Martin LX1R Little Martin – $$$ – Mid Range Priced

Unique Material

Luna Safari ‘Bamboo’ Acoustic Guitar – $$$ – Mid-Range Priced

Luna Aurora ‘Borealis’ Acoustic Guitar – $$$ – Mid-Range Priced

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Six String Acoustic

Different Sizes of Acoustic Guitars – EXPLAINED (Your Easy Guide)

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Not everyone is well versed in the different types and sizes of acoustic guitars that are available. So when they set out to buy one, they end up buying the wrong fit .

The most important things to note when looking at different acoustic guitar sizes are the playability and sound qualities.

While smaller guitars are easier to travel around with, bigger acoustic guitars, are louder with different tonal characteristics.

Table of Contents

Why do acoustic guitars have different sizes, guitar body width/depth vs. playability, acoustic guitar sizes chart, travel guitars, concert guitar (0), grand concert (00), auditorium (000/grand performance), grand auditorium (0000/m), grand symphony, dreadnought, grand orchestra, our favorite guitars, tips for determining the right acoustic guitar size for you, electric guitar, acoustic guitar.

• Classical Guitar 

Why Have Just One Guitar?

Final thoughts.

Acoustic guitars come in various sizes due to historical evolution and practical considerations around sound production and playability. Smaller-bodied guitars like parlors first emerged in the 19th century as “parlor guitars” for more intimate home music making. Jumbos and dreadnoughts appeared in the early 20th century to project louder volume for performance settings.

Different shapes also suit various playing styles – fingerpickers may prefer narrow-waisted auditoriums while aggressive strummers lean towards boomy dreadnoughts.

Why Size Matters

Larger-bodied guitars like dreadnoughts and jumbos tend to be louder and project sound more efficiently thanks to their greater surface area. Their bigger size produces stronger bass notes and allows aggressive strumming styles. 

However, small-bodied guitars like parlors have a focused, articulate tone perfect for fingerpicking. Their compact shape makes them easier to hold and play for long periods without fatigue. Ultimately, guitarists must balance sound projection and ergonomic design based on their playing style, musical needs, and physical attributes. Someone with small hands might find wide nut widths uncomfortable while fingerstylists prefer a responsive top. Testing different sizes directly can clarify preferences. 

Remember, there are always trade-offs – light guitars offer portability but may lack acoustic power and sustain. By understanding how size impacts volume, tone, and comfort, guitarists can discover their ideal fit.

Wider-bodied guitars like jumbos and dreadnoughts may prove challenging for smaller players to handle. Their expansive lower bouts stretch the fretting hand’s reach and their substantial rib cages can fatigue strumming arms during prolonged playing. Conversely, narrow-waisted parlors and Auditorium styles feel more maneuverable.

Guitar Ergonomics

Before purchasing an acoustic, analyze your arm span, sitting position, and hand size. Smaller players often favor compact parlor, concert, and Auditorium shapes. These narrower guitars with tapered rib cages reduce stressful over-stretching, promoting fluidity. Their slimmer necks also assist in forming basic chord shapes for shorter fingers. Bulkier players tend towards plus-sized dreadnoughts and jumbos suiting their sturdier builds. Try diverse body shapes and trust your comfort. An ergonomically mismatched guitar inhibits progress through discomfort and fatigue. Discover your ideal balance of sonic power and playing ease guided by your unique physicality.

Player Experience

Avoid over-burdensome mass and scale. Nimble freedom empowers creativity, inspiring practice. Seek tonal bloom, not just brute force volume. Even small concert frames produce rich tones when expertly crafted.

There are some other more bizarre sizes and shapes but these are the most common ones.

Note that it’s hard to categorize guitar sizes and shapes into tight categories because each brand’s sizes and shapes are subtly different.

This post is mostly focused on Martin and Taylor shapes – most other shapes mimic these shapes.

Guitar sizes 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 : Smaller than Full Size

Guitar sizes 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 are indeed smaller than full-size guitars. These fractional sizes are commonly used by younger players or individuals with smaller hands.

These fractional-sized guitars are designed to provide younger or smaller players with a more comfortable playing experience by reducing the overall dimensions of the instrument. This allows for easier reach and better control over the fretboard and strings.

It’s important to note that while smaller guitars can be suitable for beginners or those with specific needs, as players progress and grow, they typically transition to full-size guitars to accommodate their developing skills and physical attributes.

Mini Guitars

These Half- and 3/4-size guitars are designed specifically for children so they’re very small . They’re quieter and less full sounding than full-sized guitars but also cheaper . They’re perfect for children beginning to learn to play guitar.

They can also be good as travel guitars if you’re looking for a more traditionally shaped travel guitar.

Our Top Pick Mini Guitar

• 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top
• Layered Sapele Back
• Sides - Natural
• Neck Width 1-11/16 inch

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

These are the smallest and cheapest acoustic guitars available, ideal for those players who travel around a lot and need to play in different places. Travel guitars weigh around 3 pounds and have a thin sound .

If you don’t need volume and a full tone and just want something to hack around on that’s easy to travel with then a travel guitar might be an option.

Our Top Pick Travel Guitar

• Full 24 3/4 Scale acoustic-electric travel guitar
• Fits in airline overhead bins. Only 2 lbs. 15 oz. & 28 Long!
• One-piece Eastern American hard Maple neck-through-body design
• Features a Traveler piezo pickup with standard 1/4 Output
• Includes Gig

Full-Size Guitars

A full-size acoustic guitar, also known as a standard-size guitar is designed for adult players and is typically considered the most common size for guitars. It is the largest size available and is intended to provide optimal playability and sound for adult musicians.

The dimensions and specifications of a full-size guitar can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer but there are general standards that define a full-size instrument. Here are some typical characteristics:

• Length: A full-size guitar usually measures around 36 to 41 inches ( 98 to 106 cm) in total length from the end of the body to the top of the headstock. Although, the Parlor is only 38 inches and still considered a full-size guitar. As you can see measurements here vary as well.
• Scale length: The scale length refers to the distance between the nut and the bridge of the guitar. For a full-size guitar, the scale length is typically around 24.75 to 25.5 inches (63 to 65 cm). Scale length affects the spacing between frets and the overall feel of the instrument.
• Body size and shape: Full-size acoustic guitars often have a larger body compared to smaller sizes, providing a rich and resonant sound. The body shape can vary, with popular designs that I will dive into deeper in a moment.
• Fretboard size: The width and thickness of the fretboard on a full-size guitar are designed to accommodate the hands of adult players comfortably. The frets are spaced at regular intervals, allowing for accurate finger placement and easy playing.
• Neck dimensions: The neck of a full-size guitar is typically wider and thicker compared to smaller-sized guitars, providing more space between the strings. This allows for better finger positioning and facilitates techniques such as chords, scales, and bending.

Overall, a full-size guitar is designed to offer a balance between playability, sound projection, and comfort for adult players, making it suitable for a wide range of musical genres and styles.

The parlor-sized guitar is the smallest steel-string guitar size apart from Travel and Mini guitars. This is an old-style size/shape but it’s gained somewhat of a cult following/resurgence in recent times with some guitarists looking for a traditional sound or a unique sound.

Our Top Pick Parlor Guitar

• Solid European spruce top
• Solid Indian rosewood back and sides
• Hand inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Esteso Rosette
• Ebony fingerboard
• Includes Cordoba Polyfoam c

Classical Guitar

Also known as a Spanish guitar and used mostly to play classical music and Spanish-style guitar . This guitar uses nylon strings as opposed to the steel strings used on electric and acoustic guitars and is a smaller size.

The sound quality of these guitars is soft and warm . They are generally smaller than concert guitars and larger than mini-guitars but there are some different types and sizes of classical guitars.

But only go with a classical guitar if that’s the sound you’re looking for or because you like the feel of how it plays.

Our Top Pick Classical Guitar

• Solid red western cedar top
• Dual-source Fishman Presys Blend system
• Custom narrow 48mm neck width
• Handcrafted in Europe
• Deluxe dual-pocketed firmly-padded gig bag with neck supp

Parlors are usually 12-fret models (the neck of the guitar joins the body at the 12th fret).

If you’re unsure about these types of guitars, visit our what is a 12 fret guitar and why get one article!

A concert guitar is part of the 6-string family of acoustic guitars with steel strings. While the nylon strings of classical guitars give them a soft sound quality, the steel strings in this guitar give a brighter, louder sound.

In Martin’s nomenclature, a concert guitar is usually a 0 , depending on the length of the guitar and its thickness. (The rule is that the bigger the guitar, the more 0’s are used to represent it. A 00 is smaller than 000 but larger than an 0).

An 00 guitar (Martin Sizes), or Grand Concert (Taylor Sizes) – style acoustic guitar is larger than the concert guitar and typically more expensive . These guitars are louder than their concert cousins due to their size.

They don’t take as much oomph as louder guitars to get good volume though. For example, if you play softly on a Grand Concert/00, then it will be louder than if you played softly on one of the larger-bodied guitars. But if you try to play loudly, there is a lower volume ceiling – so you will only be able to play so loud no matter how hard you strum.

This size guitar is most suited to finger-style playing . You definitely still can strum and flat-pick but it’s better for the player who would play finger-style more than half the time.

Grand Concerts (00) these days often have the option of coming in a 12-fret or a standard 14-fret model.

These Auditorium (or 000) guitars have a similar shape to Grand Concert guitars but are bigger in size. Martin’s Grand Performance shape could also fit into this size category

These guitars have a thinner body and a more defined waist than the likes of the dreadnought.

These sized guitars tend to have a shape similar to the previous couple of shapes (though, again, shapes and sizes differ between manufacturers).

These guitars are around the same size (or slightly bigger) as a dreadnought in terms of lower bout width and body length but the shape is different with a narrower waist. The more boxy dreadnought has a wider waist so a bigger top (soundboard) overall.

The Grand Auditorium/0000 size is a great all-rounder . They have a big enough sound in terms of being able to play quite loud but they also respond pretty well to a softer touch . They have a balanced tone in terms of emphasis on highs, lows, and mids.  

They are great if you like to strum, flat-pick and finger-pick.

This is Taylor’s second-largest shape , in terms of lower bout width, and is slightly larger than the Grand Auditorium.

Dreadnoughts are the most common types of guitar (though for Taylor the Grand Auditorium is actually their most popular shape), with a large body that gives deep, strong bass notes. A large size, a D in Martin’s system, dreadnoughts are quite loud and not ideal for smaller people.

They favor players who prefer to strum and flat-pick and are less suitable for finger-style. These guitars are great for playing bluegrass .

They have a high volume ceiling so you can play them hard and they will play loud – but if you play with a soft touch it’s harder to get a good sound out of them, than if you were playing a smaller size like a Grand Concert (00).

This is Taylor’s largest-sized guitar . It has a lower bout width of 16 3/4″.

It has a balanced sound for a large guitar though and the guitar has been braced in such a way that you still get a good response from a light touch. So you can play it like a Grand Concert and get good volume from a light touch or you can give it more and the volume ceiling is also high.

Jumbos are largest of all guitar sizes. They have a very loud, powerful sound and are ideal for players with a strong strumming style.

Due to their large size, a Jumbo acoustic guitar may have a 17″ lower bout width, they tend to be more expensive.

They have more of a concert/auditorium style shape with a more defined waist but are considerably larger.

Related: Guitar Reviews by Body Shape/Size

How to Choose the Right Guitar Size?

As you may already know, there are numerous sizes of guitars available on the market. The size of your guitar will mostly depend on your age and height. Children are more likely to play the guitar of a smaller size as this will make the instrument a lot more comfortable to play.

If you’re an adult, a full-size guitar is the best option for you. The size of a full-size guitar is between 36 to 41 inches . This measurement is to be taken from the bottom of the guitar, all the way up its neck to the highest point of the instrument.

There is no standard size set in stone for full-sized guitars so keep that in mind if you’re looking to get one. Depending on the brand of guitar, the total length of the instrument will vary. If you’re unsure which length guitar to get, go into the store to see what is comfortable for you.

• Focus first on assessing your body type and playing style needs. Smaller guitar bodies like parlors suit shorter players desiring mid-range tones and intricate fingerpicking. Bulkier builds gravitate towards booming jumbos and dreads.
• Visit shops to hold diverse acoustic shapes, noting comfort and ergonomics. Move through chord shapes while seated to gauge fretting hand stretch. Strum vigorously across various waist spans monitoring ease. Wider lower bouts strain smaller arms. Determine if straps alleviate or hinder motions.
• Consider your musical goals too. Frequent practice and portability may dictate reduced dimensions while regular public performers require greater projection. Growth matters also – youths transitioning to full size avoid costly intermediary upgrades selecting roomy scales permitting years of progress. Patiently test numerous frames until discover your ideal balance of power, tone, and playing ease.

What Size Guitar Does a Child Need?

When they’re first learning to play the guitar, it’s important to have an instrument that i’s the appropriate size for your child’s height, otherwise they may struggle more than they have to as the guitar could be too small or too big for them to comfortably hold.

As anyone with kids will understand, their attention span is difficult to maintain as it is, so making it as easy for them as possible will mean they’re less likely to give up.

Here are some size guides to help you find the right size guitar for your child:

Expanding your guitar collection allows you to tailor your sound for different musical contexts. The guitars you use in a small jazz combo may differ greatly from a raucous garage rock band or even an acoustic open mic. Each guitar has its own tonal qualities and lends itself to particular genres.

Owning several guitars makes you a more versatile musician, able to adapt your gear to suit the needs of any musical situation. A broader guitar collection also enables you to switch up your practice routine and continue honing techniques on different neck shapes and string gauges.

The shape and size of the guitar that you should choose will depend on a number of factors including your physical characteristics and the style of music you like to play.

As I said before, this post is based mostly on Martin and Taylor shapes.

Finally, visit our how to choose the size of an acoustic guitar help you to decide what type of guitar is best for you depending on your style, ability, and physical size.

Now that you’re familiar with guitar types, may I interest you in ideas for what to name your guitar ?

Acoustic guitars come in various sizes, each with its own unique characteristics and intended use. Here are some common sizes of acoustic guitars: Parlor/Travel Size, 3/4 Size, Concert Size, Auditorium Size, Dreadnought Size, and Jumbo Size. It’s important to note that these size classifications may vary slightly between manufacturers, and there can be additional size variations within each category. It’s always a good idea to try out different sizes to find the one that feels comfortable and suits your playing style.

A 3/4 size guitar is a smaller version of a standard-sized acoustic guitar. While exact dimensions may vary between manufacturers, a typical 3/4 size guitar generally has the following approximate measurements – Overall Length: Around 36 to 39 inches (91 to 99 cm) Scale Length: Approximately 22 to 23 inches (56 to 58 cm). Compared to a full-size or standard-sized acoustic guitar, which typically measures around 40 to 41 inches (102 to 107 cm) in length, a 3/4 size guitar is smaller and more suitable for younger players or individuals with smaller hands. The shorter scale length also makes it easier to reach the frets, making it a popular choice for beginners or those who find a full-size guitar uncomfortable to play.

In general, both acoustic and electric guitars come in various sizes, so it’s difficult to categorize one as universally bigger than the other. However, if we compare guitars of similar size, electric guitars tend to have a slimmer body compared to acoustic guitars. Ultimately, the size of a guitar depends on the specific model and style, rather than whether it is acoustic or electric.

Related Articles:

By Nate Pallesen

Nate is just your average (above average) guitar player. He's no Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page - wait this site is about acoustic guitars (sorry) He's no Django Reinhardt, Chet Atkins, or Michael Hedges, wait? who!? He's no Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton or Ben Harper - more familiar? Anyway you get the point :-)

what is the nut width of farida m 15e elecro/acoustic

I’ve never played a Farida before and from a quick search I couldn’t find that info on the Farida M 15e. Strange that they don’t publish that info on their site – or any where else I looked! It does seem like they tend to either have 1 11/16″ or 1 3/4″ nut widths – but I know that’s not helpful as those are two really common widths and doesn’t give the width of the M 15e. I think you’re quickest answer might be to contact Farida and ask them – http://www.faridaguitars.co.uk/contact/

Hope this helps somewhat

Hello and Thank you for taking my questions. I currently have a parlor guitar. I have scheduled lessons for the new year. My first question is

Is this the best type of guitar to learn on ?

The guitar needs to be restrung,

Steel or Nylon strings?

I currently play the blues harmonica style.

Could the Parlor guitar be the guitar that is a good accompaniment?

Would a 4/4 guitar be suitable for a 10yer old or are we better getting a 3/4 thank you

Thanks for trusting our judgment. Some say that it is better to start tykes out on a full size guitar so they grow into it, while others say the opposite, that they should start with a guitar relative to their size. Either is as true as the other so it is worth assessing just how small your child is and how they might grow into a full size guitar. Hope this helps.

where does an OM size Accoustic come in compared to a Concert

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Luna Safari Series Peace Travel-Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

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Peace begins with a smile. ~Mother Teresa The Peace design on this Safari travel guitar is a very special one for us here at Luna as it embodies a philosophy we hold dear. A laser-cut peace sign at the sound hole is surrounded by the word peace in different languages forming a graceful continuum across the soundboard. Go forth and raise smiles through music: the universal language! SAF PCE Design by Alex Morgan Body: 3⁄4 Travel Top: Select Spruce Back/Sides: Mahogany Scale: 22" Nut: 1 11⁄16" Steel Strings Finish: Satin 34 1⁄2” x 12 3⁄4” x 3 1⁄4” 3.3 lb.

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Customers like the appearance of the guitar. They say it's pretty, nice, and has a beautiful design. Customers also mention that the action, fit, and finish are great.

"...The Guitar: Is gorgeous ! My girl is a peace sign fanatic and I almost fell over when I saw this guitar at Encore Music. The price tag was $250.00...." Read more

" Great little guitar . Exactly what I needed and I love the design and its beautiful message...." Read more

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"...The sound is extremely impressive , I was shocked at the quality when I strummed it out of the box...." Read more

"...lol!!!The intonation is good (meaning it sounds "in tune" when you play all around the neck), the tuners are precise sealed gear..." Read more

" sound really good for its size !!" Read more

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"...The action, fit, and finish are all great and this is perfect for the beginning musician . Definite five stars from me!!!!!" Read more

"...A little smaller than I would like, but this is a good player and projects really well with the medium gauge strings it came with...." Read more

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Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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