Martin Backpacker

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Sky Blue Lou

Sky Blue Lou

Well-known member
Can pick up an almost new for $120 off Craigslist. I will actually be strapping it on a backpack and hauling it out into the woods in November.

Did a search - not much current. Love 'em - hate 'em? Worth $120 for their intended purpose?

Thanx guys.


lou
 
Yeah, well worth it for the campfire playing etc.
Does it come with a soft shell case?







:cool:
 
You said it--for it's intended purpose. I've got one (the nylon string version) that I bought for some serious expeditions. I needed something light! It has served me admirably for years!
 
Yes - gig bag included. Steel string.

Thanks for the words.


lou
 
I borrowed one for a while and basically hated it. Really uncomfortable to play for me with the tiny body, I never felt like i could play naturally. Your mileage might vary, but if you play it for ten mins you could probably tell whether you would be able to deal with it or not.

Daav
 
I'm really only getting it for camping trips. Sucks big time hauling a full-size a mile or more into the woods. Done that.


lou
 
daav said:
I borrowed one for a while and basically hated it. Really uncomfortable to play for me with the tiny body, I never felt like i could play naturally. Your mileage might vary, but if you play it for ten mins you could probably tell whether you would be able to deal with it or not.

Daav
Click to expand...

Sky Blue Lou said:
I'm really only getting it for camping trips. Sucks big time hauling a full-size a mile or more into the woods. Done that.


lou
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's all relative to the need! Does it feel and play like a big boy guitar? Nope. But it fills the need.

For me, it was going on my back, on top of 40-60 lbs of supplies and rations into the Guatemalan rain forest--on a seven mile hike.

When I was playing it at our base camp, every time I thought about how small or awkward it felt--I thought about how easy it would be to carry out. Yep, a real fair trade-off!
 
I don't understand the hate some folks throw at these things. Geech, buy and use it for it's intended purpose, whydontcha? Although, I must admit, it is inexcusable that Backpackers don't have all the tone of a D-45- what the fuck is wrong with you, Martin?:rolleyes:

I have one. It comes with me on trips in Gale's Miata, or motorcycle trips, or camping trips, etc. Recently traded a bass for a Martin LX1, which was Martin's answer to the Baby Taylor, which was Taylor's answer to... the Backpacker. The LX1 has better tone, 'natch, but for what the BP is, it is terrific.
 
I've played one before - odd, but fun guitars. At this point in my life, yeah, I'd drop $120 on one to take on a couple camping trips if I had one in my future.
 
I find mine "head heavy". Irritably so, sometimes.
I've taken to put a small bag of marbles/ball bearings hanging off the end pin, when I have the strap on, to balance it out. Works great !
 
I got one about ten years ago. Like others have said, they serve their purpose. Last year the bridge split through the middle in line with the pin holes.
 
I pulled a Backpacker gigbag off the curb a couple years ago--works great for my Airline (Supro) lap steel.
 
My dad's got the steel string.

The action's not bad, the tone and volume are a bit lacking compared to a full size acoustic and because of the shape it tend to fall off your knee if you play it sitting down. It is extremely light and compact, and will fit in the overhead locker on a plane so you don't need to check it in. Ideal for sitting in strange motel rooms on business trips and passing the time.

Personally if I was sitting around a campfire I might like something a bit louder to avoid being drowned out by the singer, but it's all down to whether you think that's a sacrifice you can make for the portability, and for the price I'd probably just buy it and then sell it on if I wasn't using it. (Yeah right! How many times have I said that?)
 
JCH said:
I got one about ten years ago. Like others have said, they serve their purpose. Last year the bridge split through the middle in line with the pin holes.
Click to expand...

John, I have both a 12-string (Arbor brand) and a tenor (vintage Harmony) that have both suffered that injury. So far, I have had no resulting problems with the 12, and am playing it like that. The tenor was worse- little pieces of wood were falling off, as there were two cracks, one each through opposites sides of the pin holes, so I super-glued the pieces back in. So far, no worries, but I do have a replacement bridge for the tenor, for the inevitable day... which, based on how long the 12's bridge has been split with no probems, may actually never come. I'll replace the tenor's bridge, eventually, but for now...
 
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IF you want something portable to keep up on your guitar playing get a small acoustic,who cares what brand,but play it first.

IF you just want to play songs on something portable get a ukulele,plays just like a guitar,smaller and a lot more fun.
 
You like ukelele lady
ukelele lady like a you

I picked it up pretty much just for camping. I'm a six string picker. Got it last night and I've put an hour or so on it. It don't suck. It will be perfect for hauling out in the woods strapped on my backpack. Just as advertised.


lou
 
stevieb said:
John, I have both a 12-string (Arbor brand) and a tenor (vintage Harmony) that have both suffered that injury. So far, I have had no resulting problems with the 12, and am playing it like that. The tenor was worse- little pieces of wood were falling off, as there were two cracks, one each through opposites sides of the pin holes, so I super-glued the pieces back in. So far, no worries, but I do have a replacement bridge for the tenor, for the inevitable day... which, based on how long the 12's bridge has been split with no probems, may actually never come. I'll replace the tenor's bridge, eventually, but for now...
Click to expand...

The wound isn't fatal on mine either. Someday I'll probably whittle a new bridge for it. When I first got the thing I used it a bunch. Not so much lately.
 
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