2023 Best Travel Guitar – Acoustic & Electric Guitar On The Road
In this era of mobility, keeping your chops up and working on musical ideas can be challenging if you carry a regular-sized guitar. Here, we’ll help you find the best travel guitar you can conveniently carry and play anywhere.
Martin Backpacker
Cordoba Mini II MH
Manufacturer: Cordoba
Washburn Rover Travel Guitar
Manufacturer: Washburn
Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe
Traveler Guitar Speedster Electric Guitar
Manufacturer: Traveler Guitar
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The most common perception is that a travel guitar should be compact and portable.
But more important than that, travel guitars should feel just as good as regular-sized guitars.
Carrying a portable instrument that’s hard to play can be uninspiring.
Thankfully, different manufacturers have provided quality travel guitars in various styles and configurations.
There are now plenty of good options in the guitar world. This includes full-scale and short-scale instruments that will inspire you to play regardless of where you are.
Travel guitars can be categorized by their type. The first one are acoustic travel guitars.
These journey instruments maintain their true acoustic guitar qualities. You can play them anywhere unplugged.
These travel guitars tend to be bulkier than their electric counterparts because they need a hollow body to create acoustic sounds.
On the other hand, Electric Travel Guitars are precisely what their name implies, travel guitars that you can connect to an amplifier or a guitar headphone amp.
The smaller size required for traveling necessitates these guitars to have distinct shapes.
Most of these have all the essential features of standard electric guitars, with some even featuring a built-in amplifier.
Best Acoustic Travel Guitars
Martin Backpacker
There are now plenty of alternative materials to wood. But wood is still the most commonly used material for guitars, including traveling guitars.
There’s something about resonating wood that tickles guitarists’ ears.
Although reliability may not be on par with modern carbon fiber builds, there’s no replacing wood, according to many players.
As expected, Martin Guitars understand this and have designed a 24″ scale length travel guitar with solid-wood construction.
For a Martin-branded instrument with top-quality features, the Backpacker is surprisingly affordable. It sports a braced solid spruce top, along with sapele, back, and sides, and more importantly, it carries the company’s high-quality standards. For something so small and affordable, this compact guitar will easily exceed your expectations both in of sound and reliability.
Although this Martin guitar won’t match the sound of regular-sized dreadnoughts, this backpacking guitar does capture the sound of parlor-sized acoustics of the past. And as demonstrated in the video, it sounds great for what it is.
There is now more competition from rival brands, like the Baby Taylor. Some of them offer comparable specs; competitors from rival brands, the solid mahogany top with rosewood fingerboard is the Taylor GS mini.
It is widely considered to be one of the best travel acoustic guitars.
- Martin branded travel acoustic with solid Sitka spruce top, nice parlor style tone
- Non-traditional shape, awkward when played without a strap
- Body Profile: Backpacker
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back and Sides: Sapele
- Frets: 15
- Scale Length: 24″
- Nut Width: 1.6875″
- Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
- Total Length: 33″
- Weight: 2.125 lbs
Cordoba Mini II MH
Manufacturer: Cordoba
Nylon strings are known for being comfortable and easy to play. They are ideal for players looking for a relaxing instrument to play while on the move.
Having established its reputation as a classical guitar builder, Cordoba is well-positioned to design and produce quality nylon-string acoustic travel guitars.
The Cordoba Mini II took a spot in this list with its lovely looks, impressive specs, and value for money. While the label says mini, this compact, lighter weight guitar has a surprisingly powerful voice.
This is made possible by its mahogany top with mahogany back and sides. And it’s not just loud because the tone is articulate and warm.
Adding to the many pluses of this instrument is its exotic appeal, thanks to the natural satin finish that better showcases the elegant grains of its mahogany top.
Don’t expect it to sound as full as a regular-size classical guitar. But its trebly yet warm tone has its own distinct appeal.
Other features include a U-shaped neck, a 1 7/8″ nut width, and a 22 7/8″scale length. Check out this one if you’re looking for a nylon string travel guitar.
- Traditional parlor design, easy to play nylon string
- Not as full sounding as a regular size classical guitar
- Body Profile: Miniature/Parlor
- Top: Mahogany
- Sides: Mahogany
- Frets: 19
- Scale Length: 22.875″
- Nut Width: 1.875″
- Bundled with Gigbag: No
- Total Length: 34.37″
- Weight: 2.4 lbs
Washburn Rover Travel Guitar
Manufacturer: Washburn
The Washburn brand is mainly known for its high-octane instruments, which are wielded by virtuosos such as Nuno Bettencourt, Ola Englund, Jennifer Batten, and others.
However, a closer look at their lineup reveals an extensive line of acoustic instruments, which includes the Rover travel guitar acoustic.
The Washburn Rover is an easy favorite because of its distinctly small body, which makes it easier to store and carry around.
Interestingly, even with its small size, the Rover is a full-fledged acoustic guitar with a scale length of 23.75″. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck.
This combination results in impressive volume and projection for its size. Since the scale length is shorter, the instrument is easier on your hands and requires less stretching.
Returning to your regular guitar, you may have to adjust your technique.
As expected from Washburn, this guitar does not compromise on looks; it comes packed with visual appointments like the elegantly done binding and inlay.
The guitar is bundled with a great-looking carrying padded gig bag designed to fit the typical airline overhead storage.
It has a good projection for a traveling guitar, even with its diminutive size. Although it does lack in the low-end department, as expected.
This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly and practical acoustic travel guitar.
- Distinct design with inlays and bindings, compact body shape, good value for money
- Shape can be a bit awkward when playing in a sitting position, a bit thin sounding
- Body Profile: Rover – Parlor
- Top: Spruce
- Sides: Mahogany
- Frets: 19
- Scale Length: 23.75″
- Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
- Total Length: 35″
- Weight: 2 lbs
Electric Travel Guitars
Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe
Steinberger is known for going against conventional ideas. They focus on more efficient designs and materials in building their instruments.
The company removed non-essential guitar parts to achieve the exotic headless and small body design that has become synonymous with the brand. They distilled all essential elements into a compact design that does not compromise playability and sound quality.
The Spirit GT-Pro embodies Steinberger’s distinct design well at an affordable price point; it is a true professional electric guitar with the traits of a great travel guitar.
Instead of using composite materials like their more expensive models, the Spirit GT-Pro utilizes a traditional solid wood build, sporting a maple neck with neck-through construction.
Aside from the use of solid woods, essential modern features are retained, including the famous Double-Ball tuning system and locking R-Trem. This hardware ensures reliable tuning, incredible sustain, and performance.
Finally, the guitar has a practical folding leg rest for comfortable playing.
- Compact yet full-featured, with HSH pickup configuration and locking tremolo
- Not your traditional guitar, some parts are not where they’re usually located
- Body Profile: Steinberger Headless
- Body Tonewood: Maple
- Neck: Maple Thru-Neck C-Shape
- Frets: 24
- Scale Length: 25.5″
- Nut Width: 1.625″
- Pickups: 2 x Steinberger Humbuckers, 1 x Steinberger Single-Coil
- Controls:5-way pickup selector, Volume, Tone
- Bridge: 40:1 Direct Drive R-Trem Tremolo
- Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
- Total Length: 30.25″
- Weight: 7 lbs
Traveler Guitar Speedster Electric Guitar
Manufacturer: Traveler Guitar
Traveler Guitars offers a wide range of excellent-quality mobile-friendly instruments. The Speedster in particular, caught our attention with its full-sized guitar playability, a compact profile, and a built-in headphone amplifier.
It is also one of their best in terms of looks, sporting a modern design with hints of retro.
It doesn’t slump on the performance end either, with its high-output dual-rail humbuckers with coil split functionality. As the name implies, this guitar is built for speed, complete with a shred-friendly neck profile and comfortable string setup. It would’ve been nice if it had three single coil pickups for more tone versatility, but it’s a bit too much to ask for given the size limitation.
It also provides impressive sustain, thanks to its unique design, where the strings wrap around the body to connect to the tuners at the center of the body.
The Speedster comes with a reliable and resonant neck through body design, and for comfort, it comes with a removable “Teardrop” upper arm support.
New to Speedster v2, the built-in headphone amp adds to its already impressive feature, allowing for silent practice anywhere without the need for a third-party headphone amplifier.
This is easily the best bang-per-buck electric travel guitar, ideal for rock and shreds players who can’t stay in one place.
- Comfortable to play with its removable lap rest. Compact and travel-friendly design with a dual-rail humbucker.
- Limited bridge function, and no pickup switching.
- Body Profile: Speedster with Removeable Lap Rest
- Body Tonewood: Maple
- Neck: Maple Thru-Neck
- Frets: 22
- Scale Length: 24.5″
- Nut Width: 1.75″
- Pickups: Dual Rail Humbucker
- Controls: Volume, Tone
- Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
- Total Length: 28″
- Weight: 4 lbs
Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar
Manufacturer: Hofner Guitars
Mostly known for the bass that Paul McCartney identifies with, Höfner has expanded into electric guitar territory and even has an excellent travel guitar in their lineup, aptly called Shorty.
First introduced in the 80s, it continues to be among the most sought-after small guitar in the market, thanks to its affordable price, efficient design, great playability, and impressive tone.
While it may not have the sonic versatility and added features others offer, its straightforward tone has proven to work well, especially when paired with overdriven amps. Instead of going for extra features, the Hofner Shorty retains a straightforward design.
It does away with the fluff, leaving only the essentials, resulting in a plug-and-play rock machine that costs much less than the competition without compromising sound, feel, and portability.
The scale length is 24.7″, around the same as that of regular-sized humbucker-equipped guitars. It has a unique 18th fret joint, making upper fret access extremely convenient.
Another notable feature is the Hofner branded open humbucker which produces tones you usually expect from bigger and more expensive guitars. This is your best bet if you’re looking for an affordable and practical electric guitar companion for your travels.
- No fluff single humbucker guitar, provides overdrive and distortion friendly humbucker tones
- One trick pony, controls are a bit cramped
- Body Profile: Hofner Shorty
- Body Tonewood: Basswood
- Neck: Maple
- Frets: 22
- Scale Length: 24.75″
- Nut Width: 1.65″
- Pickups: Hofner Open Humbucker
- Controls: Volume, Tone
- Bundled with Gigbag: Yes
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
For serious practice and performance, go for a travel guitar with neck specs similar to your main guitar.
Get one with the same scale length, nut width, and neck shape.
Having the same feel as your acoustic and electric guitars will minimize the need for altering playing technique. This makes for useful practice that translates well when performing.
If you’re main is a popular guitar, it’ll be easier to find travel guitars with similar neck specs. But you’ll have to compromise on specific specs for more exotic necks.
Many travel guitars have full or almost full-scale length necks. This means the neck is as long as a regular-sized guitar, making them less portable.
Manufacturers trim off a big chunk of the body and headstock to improve portability. Some even go for a headless design.
If you want a playable full size guitar for traveling, your options are limited to travel-sized guitars with unusual shapes and headstocks.
Still, it’s best to find one with the same scale length as your main electric or electro acoustic scale length.
With their skeletal body frames, silent guitars can also be considered an alternative to full-scale travel guitars because they offer the same portability and playability.
If you’re looking for a musical companion with a more relaxed playing feel, you can go for a small travel guitar with shorter scales.
The shorter scale length means less string tension, reducing the effort needed to fret and pick strings. This makes the instrument easier to play overall. You’ll be surprised at how easier it is to adapt a new playing style when playing with low string tension guitars.
Short-scale parlor guitars are an excellent example of this. They are easier on the hands and more portable than regular acoustic.
A good travel guitar has to be both portable and playable. But more often than not, you can’t have both.
Some travel guitars may have oddly shaped bodies that can feel awkward to play. In contrast, those with a familiar body shape are often bulkier and have a different playing feel.
You will have to consider what your priorities are when choosing.
If you travel often and portability is critical, you want the smallest possible travel-sized guitar. If playability is your main concern, then size becomes secondary.
Beginner guitarists will appreciate a small body travel guitar.
Another important consideration is reliability. It must be able to handle the rigors of travel and humidity changes.
The case or gig bag you will use will also play a significant role; it has to provide reasonable protection without being too bulky and heavy.
Last but not least, you have to consider your budget. Thankfully, there are plenty of good travel guitar deals at popular retailers.
If you have any questions or feel there’s an excellent travel guitar we’ve missed, please let us know in the comments below.
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Stewart Stow-Away Demo
I have played the guitar for many years ! I also am a frequent traveler. Taking your instrument is very difficult and at the same time it needs to be full scale and play like your other instruments. The Stow-Away is the answer.
Check it out !!!
If you are looking for one of the best travel guitars on the market, you need to look at a Strobel Rambler Professional Electric Travel Guitar. A full scale, great playing, awesome sounding guitar that easily disassembles to fit in a briefcase or computer bag for traveling. Want to jam when you get there? Practice in the hotel? Or jump on stage? Take a Rambler!!
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Having traveled with a washburn rover, I can say that it is very handy for stowing in an aircraft overhead stowage bin. That said, the sound is thin compared to some of the others, and the action isn’t dialed. I was forced to play on this guitar for 4 months straight living abroad, and it is not acceptable for that. For a couple weeks it’s fine, as it will keep you in the game, but for longer trips I wouldn’t recommend.
There is a new electric travel guitar called Lap axe that you should definitely check out. Small enough to carry on and actually play in your seat. Mike Stern has reviewed it and speaks highly of it. They come in a variety of finishes and also in exotic wood tops and fretboards. The web site is cool and there are some good videos of the Lap axe in action.