Martin Backpacker

I won't repeat what others have said.

It is what it is. And I like it a lot.

I'm in the minority on this topic. I actually bought the Backpacker because I loved the sound.

It is warm, mellow, honest, rustic, incredibly responsive on bends and vibrato. The unique sound is as cool as the look of this guitar.

It does not sound like a typical guitar, and I'm not comparing it to one. I think it stands on its own as a distinct instrument, to be used for distinct purposes where it can do what it alone can do.

Action is way too high for me. Will be adjusting it as soon as I can. But that will only make me love it - and use it - more.

From what I've read in these reviews, it can take far more of a beating than I'll ever give it.

Never dealt with Martin

Playing 35 years. Own a Martin M36, Ovation 1111-1, Yamaha APX 9-12 12 String, a 1970's Strat, a 1963 Gibson SG, and a Kramer Pioneer Series Bass.

The Backpacker adds a whole new range of sound options to my "arsenal"

And yes, I will definitely be travelling with it

2008 Martin Backpacker Steel String with serial number up in the 187Ks. All details at www.mguitar.com. For what it is designed for, excellent! It is very hard to play without wearing the strap and wearing it short, so I would think a removable arm rest of some type might be a good addition -- but then again it's simplicity, portability, and durability that we are after here.

It sounds like a Martin Backpacker -- not like a D-28. I bought it at Guitar Center while on vacation in Florida after deciding NOT to bring along one of my other guitars. I immediately slid into guitar withdraw and had to do something about it. I played a Baby Taylor, a Little Martin, several other 3/4 scale models, and a Traveler Guitar Ultralight (every "travel" guitar they had in stock). I didn't like the feel of the 3/4 scale guitars -- they just sounded small and felt funny/too short. The Ultralight actually required an amp to be heard... I kept coming back to the Backpacker for its unique sound and feel. Actually, this little instrument has its own rustic, folksy soul. You get the familiarity of an (almost) full-scale fingerboard (24" scale) with a very unique, friendly tone. I did tune it down 1/2 step, which makes it feel very elastic and warms it right up. (Try it!) While it is clearly a guitar, its tone reminds me most of my octave mandolin -- very cool indeed! Clearly, you can't buy this and compare it to a full-scale, world-class acoustic guitar. Enjoy it for what it is.

Very well made. The action is slightly high but completely usable. The neck is chunky (I assume to make it tougher/better for travel). As others have mentioned, the wood is unfinished and the instrument just smells fantastic!

So far, so good. It seems very solid.

No need.

I have played for 20 years and own a wonderful Gibson Songwriter Deluxe acoustic, an old Simon & Patrick acoustic, and teles and strats. I also own a Peterson Octave Mandolin and a cheap offshore mandolin. I tend to take the mandolin on trips and wanted a guitar that I could do the same with. Now I have one!

This is the nylon string version, so I find that the strings last a bit longer, is easier on the fingers if playing for a long time but the sound quality is a bit less. It only has 15 frets, but that is all you need for a traveller. But you buy this guitar for the portablility. Its small, has a unique sound and look.

Don't expect much from this guitar. It is very much for personal use or sitting around a campfire with a few friends. The sounds isn't that loud. The tone is a bit higher than normal acoustics, but it does give it a unique feel.

The set up out of the box is fine for my playing. I can see if it was the steel string you would want to adjust it a bit, the action was a bit high.

One tough nugget.

The reason you but this guitar is so you can pick it up, take it on a plane, throw it in the boot of your car and take it away to the mountains. Its perfect for all those 'I wish I had my guitar but it was too big/bulky too carry' moments.

This is a 2007 model. Specs are well stated in the other reviews. The tuners are good & do not need upgrading and I'm on the side of those who find the neck very playable. Fret work fine.

I waited 4 months to review. I am on my second set of D'Addario EZ900 Extra Lights (.010.-.050), which I like better than the Martin originals.
As stated by others, bass is not it's forte. It is overall, balanced in terms of design i.e well defined midrange and somehat bright treble. Sound analogies seem common with this gtr. & it sometimes reminds me of a banjitar/ or a well made tenor ukuele but it mostly sounds like a short scale gtr :)
More importantly, it is sounding better as it ages.

Set up/quality control was good out of the box. Action a little high, but not enough to be bothersome and I haven't pulled the saddle. Was supposed to be a blem from M/F but I found none. I suspect they ran out of blems & sent me a new one.

Well made, no apology needed instrument. Made in Mexico. You might recall they've been making guitars for awhile.

1 year warranty didn't inspire me to send the card in.

I initially had a love/hate relationship with it. Playing it a lot one day & letting it sit a day. Not noted yet, it will rest on a standard gtr.stand. I leave it right by my chair & play it whenever the mood strikes. A great latenight player if you live in an Apt. I wish it had at least a decal - quasi rosette to spice up the plain soundboard. I've used it with a Schaller 'Oyster' pick up but could not find a satisfactory sweet spot on the small body & being amped neither enhanced nor detracted from its sound. It is not a toy. It is a Martin and delivers the inherent quality you expect from this brand, within its specifically designed parameters.

Fascinating instrument: looks like a luthier's project to test what they can do. Unfinished woods. Thing resembles a kayak paddle, which makes it hard to hold due to small size (but that's the idea). Neck isn't the longest I've seen. Neat gig bag came free with it, as did shoulder strap. Doesn't really compare to other guitars, as it is so different

Sellers had told me to not bother with this guitar, as it sounds like a banjo. I don't agree. It doesn't have the bass of a dreadnought, but it does have a reasonable bass, and Martin have made the thing crisp in sound. Sounds better than most full bodied acoustics for the same price (though I do own a dreadnought, which is of course a step up - but then it cost 5 times as much and is 4 times the size)

Guitar arrived in post with almost no string tension, but once tightened it was all fine for what I wanted. The woodgrain isn't the finest, including a little variation, but I'm happy with that

I think for a guitar that weighs almost nothing, it seems very solid, which comes down to a great design. The finish is 'unfinished', which I could probably remedy with some lemon oil or something, but won't. Happy for it to look like a balsa wood project

n/a

I've got tonnes of guitars and owned even more, but this has its own special place like the mini has next to the ferrari and lamborghini. I don't think you can really comapre it to other guitars: it stands on its own

Mine is a 2006 MIM new style Backpacker. It is a light satin finish, one piece hardwood body and neck with rosewood fingerboard. The tuners appear to be Shallers or mini-grovers that work just fine.
With the bridge shaved, the action should improve.

Surprisingly loud for the small body; sounds more like a ukelele than a guitar, but not unpleasant.

Action fairly high out of the box; the bridge is not glued in, I will probably have a luthier friend shave a 1/16" of an inch from it to lower the action

The guitar seems well built for it's size. The finish seems pretty thin and will probably wear pretty quickly. The guitar is very light, and the strap buttons seem to hold it securely. The strap is a must; I play it standing up as I have not found a comfortable sitting position with it yest

Have not dealt with Martin; this is my first Martin product.

I have been playing for 40 years. I currently own a number of acoustic and electric guitars; the acoustic list includes a Taylor 414CE, Baby Taylor, Taylor T5, Alvarez 12 string, and an old Epiphone FT550. I bought this guitar to take on vacation to Mexico; I didn't want to risk my Baby Taylor as not being able to carry on.
The Backpacker was meant to be; it fit nicely in the overhead, and even with the high action, was fairly easy to play. We got hit by the end of a tropical storm, and I played in our hotel tiki bar/shelter for a couple of hours and entertained about 40 people and 2 bartenders who stuck out the storm. It was well worth the money for just this one "gig" only! I would definitely replace it if lost or stolen, at $150.00 it is a bargain for what it does.

Um...just like whatever the last guy said.. Hey - free case!

When I first got it (it was a gift), I was really disappointed with how it sounded. Virtually no bass- very bright. But then again, what can you expect? It sounds a lot like my daughter's jr. size Fender 6-string. But it's small and travels well, so I've actually played it quite a bit. This guitar has grown on me. It's also made be appreciate how good my full size acoustic sounds.

Very good

I have travelled a lot with this thing, and even in the cheap bag it comes in, it has been great.

When I first got this guitar - I hated it. It has grown on me. A co-worker told me that he would give me $50 for it. I said no - because then I'd have to turn around and buy another one for $200. It's no Baby Taylor, but it is so darn small, that if it ever got stolen, I would replace it right away.

I've owned or had temporary guardianship of several of these, in electric, nylon and non-electric steel. My current BP is a relatively early version with a s/n just under 11,000 and the smallest body size made. I'm rating the Features at 7 because the electric has no volume pot and after all, it's a basic guitar, no trem, etc.

SOund is great for what it is. I really admire the viola-like tone, though lots of others who pick it up are stuck on "there's no bass to it". Echoing previous, rational reviews - DUH! It has the volume of an oatmeal box, what do you expect?

No fret buzz, hardware noise or weird resonances.

Have no clue on factory set up as I never bought a new one. But I can say that it seems many users over-string this guitar in an attempt to get increased volume. My electric had bronze 11s on it and it was absolutely unplayable. Probably why I was able to buy it for $100. Anyway I've strung it with Super Slinkys (nickel 009s) and Fender 8s, super smooth and IMO a better tone than bronze any day

My early one is older, and has developed a couple cracks in the spruce top alongside/behind the bridge, but it doesn't affect the sound. I'm planning on re-topping it and adding a piezo bridge PU, and maybe even a magnetic PU (and a volume control!)

Yes it has a cheap finish, but adding even a nitrocellulose laquer would reduce the volume and especially the high end resonance. It's OK with me, just re-oil ocassionally (probably why mine developed cracks - bad maintanance)

As far as the ridiculous string angle at the nut (to the E strings), I wind these two in reverse so they come off the machine spindle toward the center. It stays in tune better and there's less stress on the nut and strings this way - try it!

I travel and hike a lot and am NOT nice to these guitars, and they hold up well. The rude finish hides buckle marks and dings, and steaming out a dent is easy as pie.

It is fairly fragile compared to a "real" axe, but it is, what it is.

No idea, don't care. I doubt Martin would continue to market this guitar if it were as big a liability as some reviewers have stated (if you don't like it, SELL IT ON EBAY. I'll be watching)

Been playing for 35+ years. Have a naked blonde Johnson Tele clone, Tama acoustic dread, and red 1965 SG Special. All excellent instruments, or I'd get rid of them. There's no place in my stable for junk - so if it was lost, stolen, or busted, I'd replace it or fix it pronto.

Love the portability, tone, and panache of the weird shape. It's a conversation starter. I've played other travel guitars and still think it's better overall than anything I've tried (in this application-specific niche!).

The scale length takes some getting used to after playing a full size, overbends are almost guaranteed ;-). Shakes-n-bends like nothing else, and for a beginner this would be a great incentive to build finger strength.

'Nuff said everywhere

I tried a few different travel guitars, and some parlours. I like the sound of the backpacker. Yup, there's not a ton of bass - but I get enough tone out of it to make me smile. As someone else pointed out, it's quiet enough that I can get up early and play downstairs without waking my wife or kids. I like it a lot.

To everyone who said this guitar is poorly set up - haven't you hard of having a guitar set up for you? With few exceptions, it's always worth it. I bought mine used, and it had already been adjusted by someone who had the same tastes as me, and I have to tell you, it plays really nice. I like this guitar a lot. Also, it took me about day to figure out how to hold it. Strap on, pulled up a little high so it's not sitting in my lap. I play with my right forearm resting on top of the body, and it doesn't move - it's easier than my dread, in a lot of ways. A little trouble flatpicking the low E sometimes, but other than that, great. I fingerpick a lot. To the guy who said he couldn't play classical - nuts. I play a lot of classical stuff, and write my own pieces, and it's a great guitar. If you were into a lot of heavy strumming, I don't know, but I could care less.

For what it's intended for, it's fabulous. I've had it on a lot of planes, and it fits overhead bins nicely. It's light, and hangs easily from the shoulder when toting lots of other bags. The gig bag has a generous pocked for strings, picks, etc. The one minor niggle I had over finish was that the frets protrude a tad - I'll file them off at some point. The rest of the workmanship is top notch. Excellent set of tuners.

The size and shape take a beating, and it takes heat and cold well. It's made to be toted. And the price is low enough that if it does get destroyed, I can buy another.

Haven't had the need.

Been playing for 35 years. Have a number of guitars, including a dread I love and play daily. I play my backpacker daily, too. I carry it around the house. I play it in the morning. I can sit on any piece of furniture with it and play. I sit with it on watching TV, and play during the commercials. I love the way it plays, and the ergonomics. The only thing I'd like would be some kind of detachable rest for my arm, to give me a bit more room above the strings when flatpicking. But that's minor.

Standard steel string acoustic version

There's a lot of criticism about the sound, but for much of the negative criticism it seems the authors didn't purchase the guitar for it's intended purpose. Of course it sounds tinny off the shelf - if you want a full-bodied sound buy a Dreadnought! I took the bronze strings that came with the guitar, couldn't find any silk & steel to try out, so I put on some slinky top, big bottom electric strings on and it fattened up the sound considerably. For what the guitar is designed for it sounds fine.

Action: I took about a 16th" off the bottom of the bridge but left the top sloped as-is from the factory. Playability improved tremendously. I can't practice any Satriani solos on it but the action is now between an electric and an acoustic with medium strings.

It seems pretty bullet proof. Unlike most opiners I actually intend to take it backpacking and boating this summer, on airplane trips, etc. I'm teaching my 8 year old to play on it and he hasn't destroyed it yet, so... I'm obsessive about practicing and need a guitar everywhere. I do plan on playing this for a small private family funeral soon, but I have no intentions of playing this for any other type of audience.

Haven't needed it.

I've been playing for 19 years. I also own a Dreadnought and a Les Paul lawsuit. I've also owned a Fender strat.

If it were stolen or lost before my upcoming backpacking trip to Alaska, I would replace it. If after I'd think about it.

Another complaint is that it's impossible to play without the strap - I agree. It's also difficult to play because there's no weight to the body to keep the neck still. I solve that by strining my water bottle to the strap nut at the bottom of the body with around 24oz. in it.

It's all solid wood with a spruce top.It's the newer model with slightly bigger body,sound hole and different headstock.I'm not sure what the back and sides are made of Martin just states solid tone woods.All the woods look of good quality and have a nice grain.It has a 15 fret neck and good quality tuners that keep the guitar in tune.It comes with a Martin gigbag and strap.

I play folky,bluesy,jazzy style music if that makes sense.It is what it is a travel,practice guitar.I'm not going to begin it to compare to my 71 D28.I actually think it sounds very good for it's size.I agree with some other reviews the high e when played open sounds a bit like a banjo.The bass strings get a little dead on the 12th,13th frets but I was told by a luther thats normal for a short scale neck guitar.I put a 11s on the guitar until I realized Martin recomends 10's extra light only so I changed them back.It did sound better with the 11's. My cousin has the older version,the newer version has a bit more projection.My sound rating is based on it's size.

The action I would say would be medium not to high or low.There is enough room on the bridge to bring it down if needed.It has a pretty basic hand rubbed finish.I thought the neck finish was a little rough when I played it so I took 000 steel wool and smoothed it out.
I don't consider this a flaw just not to my liking.I find the first couple of frets a little close and take a little getting used after playing a full size guitar.All the joints and seams are tight.The only flaw is the top is sinking at the sound hole but I brought it from the factory that way pretty cheap.It doesn't effect the sound or playability at all.Like all the other reviews the design takes some getting used to,the guitar is top heavy and you have to play it with the strap.

I think if you really play it alot the finish would wear pretty fast at the sound hole.Everything else besides the finish would hold up pretty well.I think Martin makes quality stuff even it's made in Mexico.I've had a D28 for 35yrs and have little to no problems with it so I'm expecting the same with the backpacker.

They are excellent.I live a couple of hours from the factory so I take a drive with my cousin when I need something done.That is how I got the backpacker. I brought my D28 in to get the action lowered and a bone saddle installed N/C.While I was waiting to take a tour of the factory my cousin and I took a ride over to the original factory.This is where they sell guitar building kits and wood if you want to build your own guitar.They had a backpacker that was a second or a return for $50 so I brought it.Danny who runs the shop there and gives workshops on building guitars tuned it to pitch and checked it out for me before I brought it.They do take the name off the headstock and cross off serial # on the inside label so I'm sure there is no warranty on it.If you ever get a chance visit the factory they re-did the front to look like the original factory and installed a new museum that is pretty amazing.They also have a sound room off the company store that has all there high end guitars for your playing pleasure.Plus the tour is pretty interesting.

I've been playing for about 36yrs.I own a 1971 Martin D28,1983 Ovation Legend,1980 Guild G312,1990 Heritage Les Paul,1980's Fender Squire Bullit Strat.,1990's Cort Yorktown,1953 Gibson ES 140 3/4T,
1970's Dusonic Classical,1980's Harmony Mandolin and the Martin Backpacker. I don't think I would change anything like I said before it is what it is.I wouldn't have brought it if it wasn't $50.I think if you're going to pay $180-$200/new for one you would be better off spending another $60-$70 and getting the Martin LXM or Baby Taylor.
They are traditional shaped smaller guitars that do sound better.
That said it does have a unique design and sound so guess is a matter of preference.

This guitar features real wood, mahogany sides and back with a spruce top and is 15 fret.

I bought this guitar for overnight backpacking and trips to the lake and it has served me well on both accounts. This guitar has also come in handy at home as i like to walk around the house while i work on melodies and i can with this guitar without bashing the body or head into door jams.

I also like the fact that i can work out chord voicings late at night without waking the neighbors or wife. At the same time when played with a pick this thing can really project some sound at volume.

This guitar sounds better than i thought it would from looking at it, i was actually pleasantly surprised. The tone is unique and smallish but it is still a quality tone and it has found its way into several recordings that i have done.

The finish is light, which i like. The action is a tad high; i am considering sanding down the nut rather than the bridge because the only area i have issues is the 1rst fret. The neck is awesome! I love the feel of this round neck indeed but it does cause for some serious balance issues with the light body weight. The tuners are great; smoothest i have felt on any guitar under 600.00. The fretboard is nice.

This guitar is in my opinion a fairly durable instrument. I have had it with me through some pretty extreme weather changes in the mountains and it has held up like a champ.

I am a multi instrumentalist who has been playing music for the better part of 20 years. I am a confessed gear whore and generally research the crap out of everything before i buy it and this instrument is no exception. I know that now there are a few other companies making backpacker style guitars that also look good too.

If I were to lose this I would likely re buy it.

This is the perfect guitar to take with me on my backpacking treks.

2004 Martin Backpacker made in Mexico. It is a 15 fret solid top acuostic guitar. Guitar included Martin gig bag and strap.

The sound is exactly what I expected. For the size of the body sounds good. The lower strings E and D are a very full and rich sound. Although the higher B and E strings sound tinny, such as it is coming out of a tin can.

The guitar was set up well. The action came a little high for my taste but I think I will get the bridge sanded professionally. The guitar came in perfect condition.

The guitar is a very solid instrument. I was impressed when I got it that it was all solid wood, no laminants or fakes. The gig bag is ok, it doesn't really supply any protection so im extremely carefull.

I just got this guitar in the mail today. I also have a 1967 Gibson LGO as well as a Ibanez Artcore acoustic/electric. I love playing guitar although I have always wished I could take it everywhere. Planes, in the car, you name it, it comes with a gig bag so you can take it anywhere. The only downside of this guitar is the sound. The sound carries decent for it's size although sounds tangy/tinny. Overall, what more can you ask for with a guitar you can take anywhere.

2003 Martin Backpacker. Steel strings, no electronics. Made in Mexico.
TWO POUNDS!! That's the reason to own this guitar, more or less.
14 Frets
24" scale.
Works only with extra light string sets.
All solid wood. Top spruce, I'm not sure about the rest of it.
Came with a strap (fine), and gig bag (works well enough, one zip pocket).

All here is pretty normal. It's shape lends itself for securement onto a backpack easily.

I like this guitar, but I won't get flowery in this department: I would say it doesn't sound very good at all, and I would be very surprised if others didn't admit that it sounds EXTREMELY different from a full sized acoustic guitar. But it's not supposed to, and I never expected it to.

Overall, it sounds like it looks like it would sound: thin. Reasonably loud for it's size, it's still much quieter than a full sized acoustic guitar. Not a whole lot of sustain. Because of this this is NOT the guitar if you just want something easier to move to your friend's house to jam. It's for things like, oh, I don't know, backpacking, maybe?

On a plus, it definately sounds unique. You could probably use it for effect, if you wanted to. Voicing things higher up on it can get some neat results, and if recorded could probably leave your listener wondering what instrument it is. Then again, with the way it looks, you might get that effect live.

The guitar was in fine condition when I purchased it, with no problems with the fretwork, finish, or anything like that.

This guitar is uncomfortable to play due to it's unusual shape and extremely neck heavy balance. I personally find it's largely unplayable without the strap, even when sitting. That said, once you get over those two issues it plays well enough. The neck is comfortable and the body feels okay. You can work out measures to counterweight the guitar which can help, but I don't bother.

The action, to me, definately seems higher than I would like. Playing slide works more or less. Martin sells replacement bridge saddles to adjust the action, but I don't care all that much as far as this guitar is concerned. This quite possibly improves tone.

My backpacker, did, unfortunately, get damaged. It has a crack in the wood running about 2" from the soundhole towards the bridge, vertically and along with the grain. I didn't see this happen to the guitar, so I have no idea what caused it and if it can really be blamed on the instrument. This, however, was after a summer as a camp counselor doing some intensive backpacking in the mountains.

Overall, it actually seems pretty hearty. The backs and sides are quite strong, and have taken plenty of blows without apparent damage.
I purchased my backpacker after seeing another counselor's backpacker go through some pretty extreme abuse, including getting rained upon, and it weathered through fine.

I honestly don't usually bother with customer support. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that the damage to my guitar is not Martin's fault. I haven't contacted them.
I think the warrenty is for 3 years, but I don't remember.

I've owned this guitar for about a year now, but I honestly played it intensively for two months while working as a counselor at a wilderness backpacking camp, and have shelved it since. I'm going back for work so I'm busting it out again and getting it repaired.

You can take this guitar where you can't take other guitars. That's what it was designed for, and it doesn't cost too much. I personally go backpacking with this guitar, where weight and form factor matter a lot. At two pounds it's a pretty minor burden for what is essentially a luxury item. Once it gets to it's destination, it works as a guitar. The other option is not having a guitar at all. That's why this guitar is a nice thing to have. Other travel guitars are usually not really as light, small, or inexpensive. It does pay for those qualities by sounding pretty thin, but when I need it, I honestly don't care. Great for small campfires and stuff.

Made In Mexico. 15 Frets. Solid Top. With Gig Bag & Strap

It suits me for what I bought it for. Has a mid-range sound. I bought it today because I am sick of having to drag my Alvarez out when I go to play at friend's house around the kitchen table. Which is the main reason I bought it.

Action on guitar is high, but instructions come with guitar (bought new) on how to either set brige for higher or lower action.

Live it can withstand a beating, though I never beat any guitar.
Hardware is just as good as any other in this price range.
Strap buttons are solid.
Again I can depend on it for what I bought it for.
I most likely will use the Alvarez for gigs, yet may pull it out and play something on it. Needs either a lavalier type pickup or just a mic.

I have been playing for 20 years, and besides the Alvarez Dreadnought, I play a Peavey Wolfgang, Samick Radio 10, 2 mandolins (one dates back to 1886), a cheap Harmony Nylon Classical.
If stolen or lost...Yeah I'd buy another.
What I love about it is it's portability. What I hate is it's body style, yet I am used to guitars such as Steinberger's Brooms, so I have adapted to it quickly without the strap.
I compared it to a couple other travel guitars, and granted they may be shaped like a dreadnaught, the sound was weak compared to the Martin. So I chose the obvious.
The guy who states you can't play it in a classical style is WRONG. I played Randy Rhoads' "Dee", Tesla's "Love Song", and a few other more classical pieces effortlessly. Granted other songs you would know such as Dave Matthews 'Satellite' is a tad rough with the action, but I just got the guitar today and after a while will adjust the action down.
I play mandolin, and the reviewer who compared it to mandolin must be tone deaf. There is a fuller sound from the guitar than on a mandolin, and this is not to knock the reviewer but I do have 2 mandos and 2 ears.
Yes if you want the "Real Deal Martin Sound" go buy a full sized Martin. But again I played a couple other travel sizers and they just didn't sound good at all.
If you are not used to the shape of the body, besides the WINGZ thing this guy mentioned, there are other manufacturers that make these add on sides that make it easier to handle.
Only other beef I have with computer rating sites is that you always get bad reviews from people who may or may not know diddly about what they are talking about. My advise is always try out the instrument and see if you like it, if you don't move on to something you do like.
Don't go by what I say or anyone else for that matter.
It does the job for me, so that is all that is important. And it will hold me for a few more years til I get a Martin as a present from my wife for being a stay at home dad.
Just trust yourselves people ... If you're interested in a certain guitar find one to try out. I never buy without playing it first, regardless of what review is made on any instrument. Each person is unique, as is guitars.

I received m;y steel stringed backpacker in December, 03, for my birthday, and I love it. It is made in Mexico, and is beautiful to look at-made of mahogany and spruce. I have some classical guitars, such as a Yamaha and a Takamime, which sound beautiful. However, I needed a travel guitar to take to nursing homes, where I volunteer, and tonight I took it to a birthday party for someone who just turned 100--she loved the sound of it. It is very light, with a great padded bag, which features a large zippered compartment for picks, tuner, etc. The only challenge I encountered was getting used to playing a guitar with steel strings, since I'm used to playing nylon strings, so it really hurt my fingertips at first, but am now getting used to it--trying to build up callouses. I'd love to know how the nylon stringed classical version of the Backpacker sounds, in comparison to the steel stringed version. However, all I see in my local music stores are the steel stringed ones, so I have no basis for comparison. A suggestion to Martin Co.: to actually have the sounds of each type on their site, which we can hear (via realplayer, etc.) so we can make a more informed decision in deciding whether to purchase the steel or nylon stringed version. (I recently went to a harp website and could hear the sounds of their various harps). My backpacker's sound is great for its size, and with a strap, feels very comfortable to play. It has a very distinct personality, and I enjoy playing it.

It suits my folksinging style very well, and it complements my voice.

The action is very good, and it seems to stay in tune for a long time.

It looks very sturdy and seamless in design. All the pieces fit together so beautifully. Of course, no instrument should be abused, and so this one should be handled responsibly.

So far, no customer support was needed.

I've been playing guitar for over 30 years. Own a Yamaha, and a great Takamimi. Since this guitar was a birthday gift, I didn't have much choice in whether it would be accoustic or steel stringed. I wish that Martin Co. or other guitar site would install the technology in their site to allow potential buyers the chance to actually hear how the steel stringed backpacker sounds in comparison to the nylon stringed, classical version. I would buy it again if lost. Tonight, I played it for a party for a lady who just turned 100; last week I played it for a big party for nursing home residents, who also loved this guitar. Because it is so compact and light, I now take it with me, where before, I usually left my big guitars home. I love its shape--very artistic looking, like some ancient instrument, love the wood, smoothness, color, feel of it. It is unique, and sounds different from my other guitars, which I like as it has a quaint, almost harpsichord like sound--very haunting, unique, and beautiful. A very good buy for the price. I just have such a special feeling for it--and as some other backpacker wrote, he gave his a name! What would I name mine? Sheba?

Features are fine for a travel guitar. Very basic but useful.

All the a-holes that are complaining about the sound need to wake up and realize what they are reviewing. It's a TRAVEL guitar and it's very inexpensive. Duh? It's not going to sound like even a low-end Nartin or Taylor dreadnaught. Rate it on what it is.

Construction is very good considering the price. Unlike many other reviewers I find the action almost too low. But as the old saying goes "It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools."

The guitar does seem like it is kinda fragile. I'm not sure I'd feel confident tossing it the overhead bin on an airplane.

Martin Backpacker- the biggest embarrassment that company has ever made. If I were them, I'd drop that line & concentrate on building decent full size guitars that dont crack & require neck sets all the time. Poor tone, short scale, built for extra light strings only that play like wet noodles, thin finish allows wood to absorb moisture, non radiused fretboard, poorly fitted bag. I cant find one good thing to say. Try a real travel guitar by contacting Sea to Sky Travel Instruments - www.travelinstruments.com

What sound? short scale, extra light only strings= no sound

Lets start with orienting the grain on an angle on the back so they can save wood. Then we leave the grain open to absorb moisture. The headstock shape requires the strings to meet the nut at a ridiculous abgle.

With oiled finish- thiese things just arent durable

The best customer support they could offer would be to take this crap off the market

Dont bother & dont try & convine yourself its good because its a martin.

You can read the other posts in this thread for this info.

My comment:
People have been posting a lot of negative things about the tone of the guitar, like it is too high, and not enough "low end"
That is correct, because of the "SMALL SOUND HOLE"!!!
If people want more "low end" sound, play in a lower tunning, and put some nylon or silk&steel strings on it. Just remember to buy a "very" light gauge like Martin Co. recommends.

Action was a little bit too high, so I had to sand down the saddle a bit. I think that is the reason why Martin Co, does that is because some people like higher action then lower...
The finish is light, Martin Co says that the owner can put Johnston wood floor paste on it to seal it better, but I'll be leaving mine the way it is, for now.
The only negative thing that I can say about the guitar, is that the way it is shaped you have to wear a guitar strap. and if you are sitting down, the guitar it more likely to tilt foward and away from you. Someone told me that you can stop this by placing small been bags in the guitar itself, but haven't got around to look for bean bags. :-)

Rock soild, travel guitar, yes..

Martin Co, is a GREAT company. I wanted to buy some extrra saddles from the local (way overpriced) music store where I live. They wanted to charge me a WICKED high price, plus shipping, just for some small wedges of wood. I called up Martin Company and talked to one of the sales managers. She sent me like 5 bridges free, because of my trouble. THAT is GREAT customer service.

I've been play over 10+ years.
This guitar is awesome, you can use it as a travel guitar, OR in a live gig, OR layer it into songs while recording, or solo. Fingerpicking it a real joy as well.
This is a very well built, and inexpensive guitar.
I would recommend ignoring the negative postings about this guitar.
This guitar mics really well. Using a EQ as always, give you more sound options, but isn't that with everything....

Check out the prior reviews for the features since there's no sense in repeating the same items. It comes witb a gig bag. I've got the original version. I've been reading all these reviews for so long I just had to add my two cents before someone else goes out and buys one.

As a minority of previous reviewers mentioned, the sound sucks. That's the only way to describe it. But then again, with the body size and shape it has, what would you expect...a D28 or something? Or a Taylor, maybe? Basically, it does produce sound. You can hear it, it ain't pretty, but it does produce sound. Just keep resisting the temptation to throw this thing into the nearest dumpster til you get home to your real ax.

So what's with these guys who sing the praises of this Backpacker anyway? I'm talking about the ones giving it 8's and 9's in this department. Are they for real? The action is way too high. So besides the lousy sound which goes hand in hand with the shape and size of the body, the action is too high. And even worse...how the hell can you play this thing when all it wants to do is twist and turn because of the shape? It's damn unwieldy to use. In fact, the guitar's many shortcomings discourage you from wanting to take it along on a trip because it's a hassle to play (not to mention the "tone.") Martin's semi-annual newsletter loves to show pictures of supposedly happy owners in exotic places like the Amazon Rain Forest where they get all boingerized playing their Backpackers while some happy-go-lucky indigenous person without a "dime" to his name smiles approvingly. Well, hell, if I were headed to the jungle or some other remote, third world location I'd probably bring my Backpacker, too. Why? 'Cause if I were canoeing on the Amazon and I lost an oar, I could use the Backpacker to row back to shore! Think I'm kidding? Check out the January 2003 edition and you'll see a guy who did just that. But thanks to Martin quality, he was still able to play it without a problem after it dried out. Boing! Praise the Lord and pass the lemon oil!

Oh, and did I mention the weight balance problem? Compounding the unstable body is the neck heaviness. This SOB is just way off balance...all the weight is on the headstock end. And good luck trying to play it without the strap. The only way to stabilize this enough to play is by standing up and playing while the strap is attached. But when I'm in that canoe floating on the Amazon, I'll play it safe and keep seated while I try to belt out a couple of acoustic blues tunes for my local Indian guide. (har dee har har har.)

At least the materials used, while flawed from a design standpoint, seem to be good quality. I always hold my breath when I bring this thing on a plane and stick it in the overhead compartment. I avoid putting in the rear of the compartment since some clown may end up shoving in his oversized and overweight carry-on and crushing my "pride and joy." Assuming no on-board "crush" incidents, the guitar should last a long time. And why shouldn't it? You'll be so disillusioned after a short time, you'll hardly want to play it anymore.

Haven't had the need to contact Martin, so I can't comment on this one.

Hey, all you guys that rate the Backpacker 8, 9, and 10...I want some of what you're all smoking. Is it the classic wackey tobackey, or loco weed, or just good old el jointo from south of the Rio Grande? Whatever it is, youse guys are kidding yourselves. I know it's tough to kick yourselves in the ass after buying this guitar and say you blew it, but there are lots of other travel guitars out there that run circle around the Backpacker. It sounds lousy, it's hard to play, you gotta keep the strap on at all times, etc. About the only good thing I can say is that the shape makes it convenient for stowing away in the overhead compartment on a plane. But that is IT. Nada mas, my friends. My current non-travel guitars include a Taylor 310, Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, Fender Strat (US made), a Fender DG-10 12 string acoustic, and a custom made Mexican acoustic guitar, which I had made when I lived in Mexico City several years ago. I enjoy all of them. The Backpacker? Well, we're all entitled to a mistake now and then. So check out all the other options in travel guitars. If you gotta spring for some additional cash to get the one you want, do it. If you don't, you'll end up like a lot Backpacker owners...trying to convince themselves that they actually like it simply because it's a Martin...and how could anyone dislike a Martin? That's downright un-American! But for those of us who aren't afraid to call a spade a spade, I'll say this: for a guitar, it makes a great canoe oar.

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).