Martin Backpacker

FIRST let me say that I think the Martin Backpacker is the toughtest, smallest, most affordable Travel guitar available...especially with their newly designed model. Although it's only slightly larger it sounds much better at virtually the same carrying size.
I've had my Backpacker for about 5+ years and I really disliked playing sitting down ...without a strap. Now that I've read all these reviews I realize I'm not the only one. I've devised what I call "Wingz" that attach via some hand crafted, polished Brass brackets with the original strap button screws and holes. One the Brackets are in place the "Wingz" go on and off in SECONDS! Now it's a JOY to play my B'packer stitting down OR standing with the strap. The "wingz" locate my arms the in same place my "regular" guitar would. I've designed them in various Acoustic sizes plus there's even a "Strat" shape. I hope you'll check out the photos I've posted at Web Shots...

Hey, it's a travel guitar, loud enough to fill a small room or entertain your friends around a campfire...yet quiet enough to play without rousing your family or the people on the other side of that hotel room wall...unless your into LOUD singing! Their newest Mandolin style neck design is much louder.

Action, a little high, but those extra lights aren't too hard to press down. If you're like me, you'll play this in MANY different weather and humidity conditions, it's nice to have a little "clearance room".

The sideas and back are tough as nails, which is nice when you bang it around as I have. I think the extra thick B & S make it more stable, too.

Purchased in Jan 2002 for travel use. I'm an airline pilot who likes to practice while holed up on layovers. This is THE ULTIMATE in portability, as it's about the size of a soft rifle case. In fact, most people think it's a gun when I tote it thru airports (in my pilot uniform)!

Beautiful wood....flawlessly smooth seams and surface. Beginning to darken in spots from skin oils.

Sounds like a banjo on a.m.-radio. This guitar is NOT about sound. It's for travel, convenience, and practice. If you're looking for a real sound, get real.....HOW can this thing sound good.....look at it!

Adequate sound for its purpose.

Action a little high. A few snaggy-edged frets. Guitar will buzz easily if not fingered perfectly. Since it is "unforgiving", it is actually a great practice tool....helps refine your fingering teqhnique.

Great quality wood, fit, and finish. Stays in tune.

Seemingly durable. Will last, and appearance (wood) is improving with age.

n.a.

Excellent overall as a decently-playable practice guitar. Takes a few weeks getting used to holding it while strumming, picking, etc......it requires its own unique technique.

Worth much more than price paid.

Mine is a 2002 model. I've had it about three weeks. Unique body. Takes some getting use to. I immediately had the action lowered a bit and went with ultra light strings. Very playable. The tone is a bit "tinty" sounding, but afterall it is a small guitar. Seems to be solidly made. I bought it to take to Aruba for a work assignment the end of December. It should keep my fingers in shape. Overall, I'm quite pleased with it.

Bright, but no low end due to small size. The sound is about what I expected.

The fit and finish are very good. I had the action lowered and went to ultra light strings to make it a bit easier to play.

Don't know about the reliability, but it seems to be built very well and I think it will be durable.

N/A

I don't know if I would replace it, but I probably would if it were stolen or damaged. I have been playing for over 30 years.

Feature I guess are that it's small, solid, and would make a great canoe Paddle. Frankly, I am shocked Martin puts their name on this instrument. It's kind of a fun toy but not for the cost. Taylor Baby's are real guitars, these Packers are amusing at best and I am at a loss for why people give it the higher marks on here, especially in the sound area.

Sounds like a Baseball bat with strings. no tone or resonating sound. It is great to keep around for kicks I guess while watching TV and trying to stay loose fingered.

Action is high but playable. Finish is great.

VERY durable and reliable. Like I said, you could use it as a canoe paddle, and frankly it'd probably play between strokes!

N/A

I finger style and own Baby Taylor's, Godin, Washburnd, Yamaha... If someone stole a backpacker off me, I'd miss it because it is unique and good to practice fingering to keep loose. I wish it had sound though. Compared to a Baby Taylor it no contest, it loses but it is cheaper and it has the Martin name, so you can say you own a Martin. The Taylor Baby has the portability this has and for a few extra dollars, you get a real guitar with a gig bag that's a 10.

I bought the nylon string backpacker new while on travel in CA. I bought it because I couldn't stand being away from my guitar while on the road. Gig bag is fine and so is the strap. It travels VERY well and easily fits in airline overhead compartments. The gig bag hangs nicely over your shoulder and the guitar is light, even if you are hauling suitcases behind you!

As far as playability, the guitar had me guessing why I ever bought it. Read on...

For its size it actually sounds pretty decent.

It is impossible to play this guitar with any kind of classical styles - so to use it with the intention of keeping up on technique is not possible. You simply need to have your right arm resting on the body of the guitar and resting on your left leg to get into the right position. The Backpacker does not allow you to do this because it pretty much does not have a body to speak of. For strumming, I'll bet that the steel string version is probably OK, but you can't play it without a strap on. For classical players, this is not the practice/travel instrument for you! Fit & finish is quite good. The action is very high, at least on mine.

Seems very road worthy. Seems to go out of tune quickly, though.

none needed or sought.

Had it for 3 years. Bought it, tried it a few times, then it sat because I determined that I COULD NOT STAND THIS GUITAR. Definitely not worth the hassle of transporting it. I just sold this guitar, actually got most of my money back. I guess some folks love it. I'm going to replace it with with either a Baby Taylor or an Ovation Trekker. I've played both of these guitars and they are JUST GREAT (not nylon string of course, but they are very PLAYABLE).

The features have been listed in numerous reviews.

Feature complaints would be configuration of the tuners cause intonation problems on low E string (even wound backwards).
It is also very awkward to hold at first. Using the strap exclusively takes a litte getting used to especially if you play sitting down most of the time. That being said, I still love this instrument.

The guitar probably sounds like a mandolin with 6 strings.
Chords are muddy on the low end due to lack of volume in the bass strings. Capo up a few frets and it sounds better. The Nashville tuning trick mentioned in a review below would sound wonderful. Unfortunately, this reviewer is not talented enough to deal with alt tunings! Ha. This guitar is a wonderful practice/travel instrument. It does NOT sound like a full size guitar. I personally love the sound BECAUSE it is different from my other guitars and have toyed with the idea of using it in specialty situations for a different sound.

I bought mine used, but the action was increadible. Better than some of my electrics and no buzzing. I can bend these strings further than on my semi! It is a joy to play, easy on the fingers. The short scale takes a little getting used to. The size and design are actually quite clever. It fits neatly in overhead compartments, compact car trunks, backseats, backpacks (imagine that), etc.

This guitar will survive just about any thing you can reasonably expect of it. However, the light finish will not. It will start looking rough after a few dings and aggressive picking. It is not an heirloom instrument. This is the one you take when you are afraid to take your treasured guitar.

I have never had to use them.
However, their reputation is second to none.

I've been playing over 20 years. I've played alot of guitars, but never well. This thing is one of the handiest little things I've ever owned. I leave it at work most of the time and jam at lunch.
I take it with me on every trip out of town. I can't express how happy I have been with it.

Purchased new in 2002, 15 frets, solid spruce top. Straight acoustic steel string model. Body and neck are a single piece of mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard. Good quality Martin branded tuners, simple block bridge. Came with case and strap.

THE feature, though, is the extreme portability. I wanted something to replace the Steinberger I have been using as a travel axe - something I could hear. Well, I can hear this.

The sound is way better than I expected out of this bizarre little guitar. I kind of LIKE the tinny bass, for thumping with the thumb in fingerpicked pieces. It is easy to sing with, you can REALLY feel the resonance through your body as it is played. I'm delighted with the sound.

No comparisons, now. That wouldn't be fair. This isn't your daddy's Martin. I give it a 10 here based on what it IS.

It came with lousy setup, with what seem to be medium-light bronze strings. The action was way high, and the tension extreme with the stock strings. A little saddle work and a set of extra light Elixers cured what ailed it - although muting the sound some. The unadjustable neck has near perfect relief. When I wear the frets out - which I will - I'll refret with jumbos. I guess for the price, I couldn't really expect a fine setup - but this was really poor for what the guitar is capable of.

Otherwise, the craftsmanship and finish are gorgeous. I give it an 8 on this, and a 2 on the setup. That averages to a 5, I guess.

Durable and reliable - that pretty much sums this axe up. I've already whacked it and dropped it a few times, with no ill effects at all. The very light rubbed finish picks up dirt easily though, and doesn't seem to clean up. It is going to get ugly as time goes by - but it is going to remain intact.

Don't know, other than reputation.

I have been playing for 36 years, in classical, rock, finger-style and jazz. I got what I expected - no surprises. I would certainly replace it if it went away for any reason. I have a wide range of guitars and other instruments, but primarily play steel six strings these days. I love the quirky shape of the Backpacker, the ruggedness, and its ability to get tucked into loaded vehicles that have no more room in them - and I love that I can HEAR it. I compared it to Baby Taylors, Papooses and a couple others. For portability, neck quality, ruggedness and just plain uniqueness, this thing won out even over the Baby.

When I'm not travelling, the Backpacker will live in my office. I'm not the least bit concerned about how it will be affected by humidity, temperature and other conditions there, as I would be about any other decent acoustic instrument.

Nice small affordable instrument. This is my first guitar and it was not what I expected but I have been pleasantly surprised. I could not fiugre out what it sounded like because when I started learning it just didn't sound like a guitar to me. Now that I have read the other reviews I realize it does sound like the child of a banjo, acoustic guitar and mandolin. I don't kow much about guitars but I like it and it came bundled with everything I needed.

I guess the sound is bright, tinny but unique. I like it alot. It is not too loud for my apartment which I like alot.

Seems to get out of tune very easily especially the B and G strings. Being a new guitar student it is real hard for me to keep it sounding good. But what do you expect for $140?

Since this is my first guitar I cannot make any comparisons but it does feel a little awkward playing this instrument at times. Looks to be well made and my guitar instructor thinks the craftsmanship is excellent. He should know he makes his own guitars so he knows what to look for.

So far so good. No problems.

I brought this guitar because I had seen some guy demonstrating one at a wine festival I went to with my fiance. It sounded good to me then. Best of all they had a left handed model for sale on the website I ordered from so that meant I could play it out of the box. This was a big selling point for me! Overall this is a good instrument I would recommend especially for a newbie on a budget. However, because of the non-guitar like sound I will be looking at getting a full sized guitar when I get to be a better player.

Made in '97 or '98 in Mexico.....glad Martin found something good to do with that factory! Solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides. Rubbed urethane finish and backpacker body style....if you're looking you know what that is! Best "feature" is its solid construction and incredible portability so it gets a....

Here is what I don't understand. Does anybidy really expect this thing to sound like a full sized guitar? It doesn't and never will and it's not supposed to! You're supposed to be able to drag it anywhere and practice your chops or perform an impromptu jam session, not play a 5000 seat room with it (although Ani DiFranco does through the miracle of electronics...which can make it sound like pretty much anything). Its very loud, especially for its size and sounds like a, well, small guitar. Therefore it gets a.......

Mine really was set up great. If the action is too high for you, well, that's why you can take that piece of synthetic material they call a bridge out and sand it down to your liking. Trust me, I am really a critical, everything needs to be perfect kind of guy. Seems to have good quality woods and is solid as can be. Frets are great. Yes, holding it does take some getting used to. Don't try to play it without the strap and you'll be ok. Therefore it gets a.......

It is as solid as can be. Use it for whatever you want...just don't expect it to be something its not! Therefore it gets a.......

It is a Martin...enough said!

Been playing on and off froo about 25 years. Not very good, but I do like good quality stuff. I have owned many, right now I also have a D-35, DM, Larrivee LS-10 and a Baby Taylor. The Baby is fun to play, but the intonation is pretty bad on mine and it doesn't have side markers...I'll probably add them. You can throw the backpacker anywhere... it is so easy to tote around! Isn't that what you really want in a travel guitar? IMHO this is the best guitar for the intended purpose, and therefore it gets a resounding......

Made in Mexico, You guys know all the other details. I got the "electric" version. Very cool feature.

This, as many have pointed out, doesn't sound like a full-sized guitar. That's because it's not. Go down to your local shop and play it. If you don't like the sound, then don't buy it. There's not much low-end, for reasons of physics. Thru my Crate VC20 it sounds nice. (please note I'm rating this as a travel guitar, not against full-sized ones. That'd be like comparing a Mercedes to an F1 and rating them on speed. It's just not fair.)

Action blows. No doubt. Way too high. Otherwise, the workmanship is impressive. The finish is rubbed urethane - not "no finish" as reported below. Very durable, or so bowling ball manufacturers think.

Totally roadworthy, in the business trip/weekend hiker way.

I've been playing since '90.
Own a Gibson L series from the '50s.
Fender Bass.
Cheezy electric for when I'm in a rock 'n roll mood.