Travel or mini guitar

[Chapter3]

I recently had to travel by car during the holiday and did not have enough room to pack a guitar. My return trip was by airplane and as I was boarding I saw someone with what looked like a mini guitar gig bag. Just wondering if anybody has any experience with travel guitars and what I should look for in this type of instrument. thinking about purchasing one later this week. acoustic electric or electric.

[Detman101]

Well, my advice is that if you're going to get one. Spend the money on a good one.
I bought, what I thought was going to be something usable, off of ebay...

Boy was that a big mistake!! It didn't cost me much (2 travel guitars for 20 dollars) but what I got was about as laughable as a streaking clown.

These "Toy guitars" were completely unplayable.
The stock strings that came with it may as well have been thread. And once they were removed/replaced that led to the discovery of the jury-rigged bridge.
The bridge on the guitar was not affixed to it...so once you put on good strings you had to adjust the bridge to get it to intonate right. And then it wouldn't last because after playing it for 2 minutes, the bridge would have moved. The only way to get things rolling for more than 5 minutes was to get the bridge placed right for correct intonation...and then crazy glue the sucker in place.
The tone of the junk "travel guitar" was that of any toy guitar you pick up at the dollar store. It sounded more like a cheap ukelele than a guitar of any sort.
The only difference being that it was made of plywood instead of real guitar wood.

I've heard that Taylor makes a quality travel guitar that has a good sound, but I haven't experienced it.

Dm

[Chapter3]

Thanks thats just the type of info i need, I've heard some of the mini guitars will not stay in tune. I've looked at some travel guitars online at GC. Those seem to be quite expensive $300 and up. I went to GC but they did not have any in the store and havent carried in store for about a year, I wonder why?

[Detman101]

If you would like a good assesment of how the travel guitars sound, check out Youtube. Thats where I saw the one that I wanted...but couldn't afford. It almost looks like a lute. I can't remember the name of the thing though.

Now I just take my $30 Yamaha acoustic everywhere with me. Sounds great, weighs 14 pounds less than the les paul and is a hoot to play.


Dm

[Fenix]

Thanks thats just the type of info i need, I've heard some of the mini guitars will not stay in tune. I've looked at some travel guitars online at GC. Those seem to be quite expensive $300 and up. I went to GC but they did not have any in the store and havent carried in store for about a year, I wonder why?

Probably cuz folks aren't really asking for it. I never saw the need for a travel guitar since i found them uncomfortable and too small for my hands.

[duster]

The best out there is a baby taylor. they are expensive but nothing else comes close. I have a baby taylor and i never regretted that purchase. it doesnt have the sound of a full size guitar but its the closest you will get to it.