We all know a guitar player; perhaps it’s you! At some point in the life of a musician, it’s inconceivable that they are parted from their instrument. I’ve seen guitars on planes and busses with their own seats.
Guitars are light but cumbersome and can be quite a demanding travelling companion. Musicians who are often on the move may want to look into buying the best travel guitar for them. Portable, light, and compact, transporting a guitar has never been easier for travelling musicians.
Travel guitars come in a few varieties. There are ½ and ¾ size scale versions of the classic acoustic and electric guitars, but recently we have seen some interesting and creative developments.
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This article will explore the ten best, from big brands to the smallest travel guitars; we have you covered and help you narrow down your search.
Our Top Ten:
- The Baby Taylor BT-2
- Martin Steel String Backpacker
- Cordoba Mini M Travel Acoustic Nylon-String Guitar
- Hohner HAG250P 1/2 Sized
- Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe
- Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar
- Voyage-Air VAOM-02G2 – Acoustic Travel Guitar
- Martin LXK2 Little Martin KoA
- Luna Safari Series Muse Mahogany
- Fender CT-60S
The Baby Taylor BT-2
It’s hard to begin any discussion about travel guitars without a nod to the one that set the standard, the Baby Taylor. The BT-2 is a ¾ scale travel acoustic guitar, and as soon as you hear it played, you realise it is not a toy.
Despite being less than 4″ deep and only 12.5″ at its extremities, it has wonderful warm tones. This is nothing short of a classic guitar in appearance and sound.
Order your Baby Taylor BT-2 here.
Martin Steel String
The Martin Steel String, or Backpacker as it is known, has all the requirements for travel. Its slender design of solid wood is only 24″ long.
The lightweight and sleek design are not delivered at any compromise to the sound, which reflects the solid wood construction in its warmth.
Get your hands on one on Amazon.
Cordoba Mini M Travel Acoustic Nylon-String Guitar
This is another guitar that doesn’t exceed 24″. The solid rosewood and mahogany build with nylon strings combo give a loud resonant timbre.
This little guitar is especially suited to a jazzier sound than its steel stringed rivals.
Buy it here.
Hohner HAG250P 1/2 Sized
This ½ sized classical guitar is great for both kids and travelling adults (but only for those of us with small hands). The price is a big bonus, and if it’s only a travel guitar, then it’s easier to justify than the bigger budget options.
Again the nylon strings give an excellent loud sound, and while the body is solid, it is prone to be easily dinged and scratched. Still, I included it mainly for the value-for-money aspect as some travel acoustic guitars are more expensive than the full-sized versions we have to leave at home.
Buy one from Amazon.
Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe
So to our first travel electric guitar — a sawn-off fender! It has a shorter headstock, tucked-in tuners, and a trimmed-down body with what seems like no loss in performance.
This guitar only weighs 5 lbs but is 33.5″ long. It also comes with a nicely padded travel case.
Get yours from Amazon here.
Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar
Another short electric guitar with a trimmed-down body, but to be honest, it lacks both the balance and aesthetic of the fender.
It was a brand favoured by the great Paul McCartney, and this model retains that lovely rich sound associated with Hofner.
A 3\4 scale electric always made more sense to me for travelling, but some players value the retention of the fretboard over the body, so for them, this guitar is the answer!
Check it out on Amazon.
Voyage-Air VAOM-02G2 – Acoustic Travel Guitar
This one really has the emphasis on travel! The fold-down neck on this makes it the ultimate on the road companion.
The ‘OM-Style’ body shape is the only traditional part of this full-size acoustic design.
My main concern would be the strength of the neck, but by all accounts, it is solid and reliable. It is not a gimmick; the sound is a professional standard acoustic guitar!
Pick one up from Amazon here.
Martin LXK2 Little Martin KoA
Martin Guitars are a top-level brand, which for me, gives one of the most beautiful and classic acoustic sounds.
This is not a budget travel guitar, but it remains excellent value for money as the sound belies its small 23″ size. The only drawback for me here is the laminate that it’s made from, but to be honest, that’s a personal taste issue, as the sound is almost perfect. Again this would be ideal for a young teen to learn on.
Find yours on Sweetwater’s online store.
Luna Safari Series Muse Mahogany
This ¾ size mahogany body and rosewood fretboard acoustic guitar is beautiful and delivers a great sound.
Luna always puts great detail into their designs, but a shortened fretboard takes a bit of getting used to. However, with a bit of creative tuning, you will find a setup that you are comfortable with in no time as this warm, sounding guitar has a great feel.
These ¾ scale guitars are also great for the smaller adults as some of the larger dreadnoughts can be hard work on small hands!
Find your perfect one on Amazon.
Fender CT-60S
A superb guitar from a renowned brand. The balance between price and quality of sound is perfect. By that, I mean the sound is pretty much spot on to me, warm and crisp, and the sub $200 price tag means that as a travel guitar, it’s not an outrageous investment.
The only improvement I would make is a personal preference — I like the aesthetic of a cutaway body — but this is a beautiful looking and sounding guitar.
Check Amazon for this beauty.
Maybe trying to find the best travel guitar is just another excuse to sit in music shops and play, but hey, that’s ok by most of us!
