WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1

    Default Guitar on the AT

    I am planning a thru hike next year and can not imagine not playing guitar for that long. So... I am looking into backpacking guitars. Ive played a Martin Backpacker but frankly its like playing cardboard. Something that sounds better without getting over 2.5-3 lbs would be great (this would make up a third of my pack weight). I would like to hear of any experiences or guitar recomendations.

  2. #2
    Registered User Panzer1's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-06-2005
    Location
    Bucks County, PA
    Age
    69
    Posts
    3,616
    Images
    11

    Default

    TubaMan hiked the trail with a very large bass tuba named Charisma which weighed 30 pounds. It brought his total pack weight to 70 pounds. A gutar is nothing. Go ahead and bring it. But it will probably take a beating. Rain, scratches, drops, cold, heat, ect. I would not bring a "good one" though.

    Panzer

  3. #3
    Registered User neo's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-16-2004
    Location
    nashville,tn
    Age
    65
    Posts
    4,177
    Images
    337

    Default

    i saw a young lady with a backpacker martin this past weekend at stone door
    pretty cool looking neo

  4. #4
    tideblazer
    Join Date
    01-25-2004
    Location
    Roots Farm, Winterville, GA
    Posts
    2,579
    Images
    4

    Default

    Take a look at the Baby Taylor. It's a much better sound than the Martin, though more bulky. I know people who carried both.


    You might want to also google "banjovi" or check out some ukes.

    Pick and grin
    www.ridge2reef.org -Organic Tropical Farm, Farm Stays, Group Retreats.... Trail life in the Caribbean

  5. #5

    Default

    Wookie,

    Ive played the baby taylors and they sound grea I'm not sure how much they weigh. Any idea?

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-30-2005
    Location
    Attleboro, MA
    Age
    56
    Posts
    144

    Default

    great oppertunity to take up the harmonica... or the like. I lost my passion for my guitar during my thru and wouldn't reccommend not taking one to anyone but that weight thing was just too overpowering for me. Do you write? Maybe put effort into some songs, great oppertunity for that too. I would think that a guitar would be hard to "maintain" on the trail for such a long time. It would take a beating for sure.

  7. #7
    Teej

    "[ATers] represent three percent of our use and about twenty percent of our effort," retired Baxter Park Director Jensen Bissell.

  8. #8
    tideblazer
    Join Date
    01-25-2004
    Location
    Roots Farm, Winterville, GA
    Posts
    2,579
    Images
    4

    Default

    Or you could carry a double bass and tell Tuba Man to eat his heart out.
    www.ridge2reef.org -Organic Tropical Farm, Farm Stays, Group Retreats.... Trail life in the Caribbean

  9. #9
    Registered User fuzz's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-07-2004
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Age
    47
    Posts
    19
    Images
    1

    Default

    The baby taylors weigh in at around 2 and a half pounds. I can't remember is that is with or without strings. I'm looking to carry a guitar too. I just wish that taylor made a nylon string model. The Martin Backpacker is a little too light and awkward for me to play with any consistency.

  10. #10

    Default

    Check this out:

    http://www.mimf.com/archives/cookietin_banjo.htm

    I gotta build one of these things someday. I've built a couple full-size banjos, and done some repairs, but this would be a hoot.

    (Don't worry I probably wouldn't bring it on the trail, maybe juust a cellphone instead ha ha )

  11. #11
    tideblazer
    Join Date
    01-25-2004
    Location
    Roots Farm, Winterville, GA
    Posts
    2,579
    Images
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RockyTrail
    Check this out:

    http://www.mimf.com/archives/cookietin_banjo.htm

    I gotta build one of these things someday. I've built a couple full-size banjos, and done some repairs, but this would be a hoot.

    (Don't worry I probably wouldn't bring it on the trail, maybe juust a cellphone instead ha ha )
    Wow- cool banjo. Nice elaphant tin! I wonder how it sounds...
    www.ridge2reef.org -Organic Tropical Farm, Farm Stays, Group Retreats.... Trail life in the Caribbean

  12. #12

    Default

    Ive heard that a backpacker weighs 2 pounds from a few websites. If the Baby Taylor only weighs a half pound more then I will definatly go with it since it sounds sooo much better. Anyone know if Sitka Spruce is stronger than Mahogany? Also I was looking to custom make a protective case. Any good lightweight materials (I was thinking neoprene but it might be a little heavy).

  13. #13

    Default

    BTW, if you're a guitar picker you could build one of these cookie-tin banjos with 6 strings and setup as a guitar; but I have no idea how it would sound!

  14. #14

    Default

    Stronger? Sitka spruce is used to make wing spars for airplanes, it's about the strongest wood for it's weight than you can find. Nice stuff. It is getting harder to find, I've been told that the bulk of it is bought by the Japanese for ceremonial uses. The guitar and airplane folks are small potatotes relatively.

    On the other hand, mahogany is about the most stable wood you can find for making musical instruments. I liken it to "concrete" it just stays the way you cut it. I have yet to see a mahogany neck warp like a maple one does. They often don't even need a truss rod in the neck they are so stable.

  15. #15

    Default

    Thanks Rocky,

    Sounds like either would be a fine choice. I guess I'll go with the spruce, basically because i think it sounds better on the Baby Taylor.

  16. #16

    Default

    Bob I think that's a good choice. I can't be sure, but I would expect a spruce guitar to be a little brighter in tone than a mahogany one in the same way that mahogany banjos are usually more "mellow" sounding than ones made of hard rock maple. I think it has to do with the relative density and strength of the materials.

  17. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    05-21-2005
    Location
    Mariaville, Maine
    Age
    61
    Posts
    1

    Default backpack guitar

    Hi, I was just struggling with the same problem.....martin sound is not very good (the craftsmanship is nice) and the baby taylor is not very baby. The compromise I found is the Montana backpack guitar. It has a tear drop body, is cheaper and better sounding than the Martin. Good luck

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •