best travel electric guitar

10 Best Travel Electric Guitars in 2023

Typically many of us will opt to take a scaled down acoustic on our travels, but for some, the need to plug and play is just too much. Fortunately, many companies have cottoned on to what we want, so today we are reviewing the 10 best travel electric guitars in 2023.

Who hasn't been camping and craved their six-string companion? Who doesn't want to risk hauling their high-end guitar around for the weekend? A travel electric guitar is a sensible solution that won't set you back too much thanks to a saturated competitive market.

Table of Contents

At a glance: Our top 3 picks

1. stewart electric travel guitar, 2. traveler ultra-light travel guitar, 3. traveler guitar spd hrr v2 speedster, 4. shredneck travel guitar - cherry sunburst, 5. anygig age, 6. traveler guitar 6 string acoustic-electric guitar, 7. sing f ltd anygig guitar enhanced, 8. traveler guitar 6 string eg-1 blackout electric, 9. hofner hctshcgo cadillac green travel, 10. traveler guitar full-scale natural electric bundle, what is a travel electric guitar, can i take an electric travel guitar on a plane.

Electric travel guitars are a relatively new trend, though many manufacturers have been marketing ¾ scale or junior models for years. A smaller model, in general, is a quick fix solution but many guitarists can feel clumsy on a smaller sale fingerboard that doesn't allow for fine flourishes. Some companies are a little more on the current than others and are developing some rather genius ways to reduce the size of the guitar without reducing its neck or fret presence.

There are a host of different  travel guitars that provide the vital portability required for rocking out on a road-trip each boasting superiority over the next, or under-cutting one another for prime position on the best -sellers list.

With so many to choose from it can quickly become a tough market to navigate, and often its not clear exactly what each model offers over its competitor. To help make your shopping a little less taxing we are going to compare ten worthy candidates for best travel electric guitars and answer your recent inquiries in our buyers guide section.

• Incredibly compact size for transit.
• Forward thinking design concept.
• Regular guitar with an assemble yourself attitude.

View The Best Travel Electric Guitar Below

First up we have a full-scale electric guitar model which has a completely removable bolt-on neck. It is a little smaller than a Stratocaster, exceptionally well built but a little pricey.

It comes apart with ease and the strings stay attached to the tuning machinery. They neatly hang over the cutaway wings (or horns) of the Strat-like body contours. You then place the neck behind the body at a diagonal angle, so that the whole instrument has a footprint no larger in dimension than the body itself.

Obviously, this is going to mean some fumbling with assembly when you travel to and from places, but the designers have found a way around size issue without compromising on the scale of the instrument, which is neat.

Pros: + Incredibly compact size for transit. + Forward thinking design concept. + Regular guitar with an assemble yourself attitude.

Why We Liked It - It is a rather unusual solution, which undoubtedly impacts the footprint of the instrument, nearly halving it altogether.

For Beginners - Travel guitars can be amazing picks for beginner or advanced guitarists as these instruments make it easy to practice while on the go. These can also serve as introductory instruments if you're still ironing out the basics. Plus, many of these guitars come with a convenient gig bag as a standard.

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Now for a compact light-weight ¾ sized full-scale solid-body guitar. The body shape has been more than halved on this travel guitar, it is shaped sort of like an oar it has two cut outs either side of where the neck meets which house the in-body tuning hardware. This innovative placement eliminates the space required for a traditional headstock. It has a detachable lap rest which makes playing it a little easier.

It weighs 68% lighter than most full-size electric guitars and is 28% shorter. Its unique design and non-typical dimensions mean it needs a tailored carry-case which they have fortunately included in the price.

Pros: + Ultra-compact body. + No head stock. + Premium wood.

Why We Liked It - Its a stylish little travel companion and super lightweight, it holds great intonation and plays well.

Another model from traveler which also features their proprietary tune-o-Matic in-body tuning methods is their Speedster V2. It again features a tiny solid body, but this time incorporates a detachable upper armrest to support your strumming hand, it removes to further reduce the footprint of the instrument for traveling around.

It has a one-piece neck-through design crafted from Easter American hard maple. It offers sonic versatility and features a meaty humbucking pick-up with a coil-split for awesome distortion. It is a little heavier than the Ultra-Light model but still around 58% lighter than the average full-size electric guitar.

It also has an auxiliary output for headphone listening and silent practice, ideal for traveling from hotel to hotel without noise complaints.

Pros: + Compact. + In-body tuning, + Detachable rest.

Why We Liked It - Some of the more radically redesigned solid body travel options just feel too unfamiliar to play for some, the detachable rest brings back the added comfort a full size contoured body gives a guitarist.

Sound Quality - Note that with travel instruments you most likely will be sacrificing some level of sound quality. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, this might not be your "one and only" guitar if you're a sucker for that classic electric sound. These guitars certainly have their purpose although for portability alone.

Next up we have another superb scaled down model its ¾ length is what makes it most suited to being a good traveling option. It has a typical ¾ sized body, so there is no loss in the natural acoustics of the instrument, it is a little streamlined to help with shedding little weight.

It is competitively priced and durably built. It features the familiar contours of a Les Paul and is decked out in a gorgeous cherry sunburst color design that is as appealing as its price-tag . It really is a miniature guitar in appearance but plays mightily enough.

It harbors 2 humbucking pickups and 3-way switching for tone sculpting your sound to your preference. It has a wide maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard with crown inlays. It comes, thoughtfully with a custom gig-bag suitable for its aberrant head-stock

Pros: + ¾ scale model. + Les Paul look. + Double humbucking pickup for heavier players.

Why We Liked It - It is a fab short scale guitar, which for a travel solution is an easy option. It features a familiar form which is comfortable and preferable for many musicians, especially if the unconventional compact models have bodies which don't appeal to you because you find them simply too bizarre.

This is one of two Anygig models we are having a nose at, The AGE model is a pretty awesome take on a travel guitar design. It is remarkably compact in the body department and once again has no headstock. The strings are instead tuned via a tune-o-Matic style system in 3 dedicated sets of 2 tuners located around the top, side, and bottom of the minute maple body.

The neck is u-shaped and also maple, it supports a rosewood fingerboard with a 400mm radius and a 42mm nut width.

They feature a full 24 frets but are around 75-80% lighter than a full-size electric guitar which is pretty astonishing. They come in a full range of bright colors.

It is bestowed with an own brand made in-house Anygig Glow Humbucker pickup which thickens the sound efficiently. The manufacturers have forgone any onboard pre-amp equalization or gain controls to maintain minimum size weight and fabrication costs. Instead, it features a square Les Paul-style output connection.

Pros: + Affordably priced model. + Distinctly compact body. + Tune-o-matic hardware. + Humbucking pick-up.

Why We Liked It - It is another very different take on a travel guitar, it is unbelievably small and the manufacturers have included a detachable rest for extra comfort as these atypical instruments take a little getting used to. It is genuinely mind-boggling how much you can cut out and still get a jam-tastic travel worthy instrument, this little guy weighs just 1.4kgs which is practically unbeatable.

Back to travelers' dynamic range of travel options, this time for a model that in essence matches all of the specs of the original Ultra-Light model, but has seen some refinements in circuitry as well as a trendy new face-lift. It comes in an array of tasty color options and features the same important factors as its progenitor.

It weighs just over 2lbs and sports the same oar-like design shape with a detachable metal leg-rest stand.

The tuning is once again in-body saving on the space a head-stock can hog, and reducing the length of the instrument to around 30% smaller than most ¾ sized full-scale guitars.

It is beautifully machined from solid maple and is a one-piece neck through model like the rest of the gang. It benefits from a black walnut fingerboard. It features an updated piezoelectric pickup for amplification and comes with a gig-bag made especially to fit its curious form.

Pros: + Eye-catching range. + In body tuning. + Updated pickup.

Why We Liked It - Traveler know a thing or two about product innovation and when it comes to a good travel guitar the clue is in the guitar brand name , every aspect of these guys has clearly been designed with traveling in mind from start to finish.

Over to an alternative super-compact model from Anygig guitars travel series. The Sing model is actually even smaller the Traveler Ultra-Light designs. It features on-board body-tuners which are located top and bottom of its tiny body. It is ergonomically designed with a handy comfortable detachable arm rest bone.

It is a 3-piece u shaped neck design all pieces are solid maple. It has great resonance and despite its smaller surface area, plays deceptively well. The company has opted for a sonokelin rosewood fingerboard, it harbors full-scale frets which are dotted for you and it comes with a fully-adjustable carry-bag.

The pickup is an open black Humbucker, directly mounted and it features a square output jack similar to a Les Paul. A noteworthy point is it features no pre-amp controls, opting to go without again reduces the size and weight and ultimately the price tag. It has great natural levels to send and you can shape your tone with most decent amps or maybe plug in via a pedal board if you are pickier.

Pros: + Ergonomic design. + Super-compact body. + No head-stock.

Why We Liked It - This tiny travel buddy weighs even less than the Ultra-Light Travelers we have heavily highlighter in this article coming in with a net weight of just 1.5 lbs which is incredible. We like its extrinsic body style, it actually resembles a large head stock and neck in reverse with no body at all.

The blackout electric is a traveler guitar model that stays true to a more traditional guitar, its body though smaller, by comparison, emulates that early telecaster look, with a hook cutaways for further fret access.

It harbors a proprietary in body tuning system for the same head-stock elimination the smaller lighter models boast. It is definitely on the heavier side but it is a well-built full-size ¾ scale electric guitar with a larger footprint than some of their more unconventional designs.

It produces some exceptionally heavy tones as it is decked out with an awesome high gain Humbucker (Seymour Duncan Devastator) in the bridge position.

The jack-plate sports auxiliary input connections you can connect mobiles and other devices to jam along to tracks with.

Pros: + ¾ size electric guitar without a head-stock. + Devastator high gain Humbucker. + Aux in.

Why We Liked It - We like this as it differs very little from a regular ¾ size guitar, making it an easy transition instrument, the in-body tuning shaves just enough off of its length to keep it within carry-on overhead storage dimensions

Okay, so we have sifted through a tonne of Traveler models, but it is fair to say that Hofner is hot on the heels of some of the best-selling travel models on the market. This model is based on the 1980's shorty model and is ideal for traveling players.

It is one of our lowest priced options, it just about undercuts all of its competitors and is not far off your typical full-size electric guitar. The body has seen a size reduction in comparison to most Hofner models but it features a full-size neck and headstock. This scaling down of its larger parts means nothing else is compromised in the quest for a guitar that can fit in the overhead of a plane.

They come in a range of striking colors this one is an eye-catching Cadillac green. It comes with a gig-bag to handle its humbler proportion.

Pros: + Low price. + Best seller. + Eye-catching.

Why We Liked It - It is an affordably priced classic guitar with pleasing aesthetics a good pick-up that is just small enough to become a travel option.

We are ending todays review section with another Traveler model, it is as lightweight as the other Ultra-Light models we have listed but instead of an Americana piezoelectric single pick-up it is equipped with a delectable dual-rail humbucking pick-up which certainly packs a bit more of a punch.

The rest of the specs don't deviate too heavily from the original conceptual design; it is once again a one-piece solid maple body that houses its tuning hardware within its cut-through bare bones body.

It is priced no higher than the other Ultra-Light series models but caters to those of us who like a grittier vibe.

Pros: + Super compact and lightweight. + Head-stock-less. + Impressive distortion.

Why We Liked It - It provides some authentic vintage rock tones and is one of the most lightweight and innovative models on the current market.

Compact Ampfliers - You'll want to factor in the cost of a compact amplifier into your budget in order to properly use your travel guitar. Luckily, small travel amplifiers are usually super affordable so you won't have to shell out an arm and a leg to complete your electric set up.

Travel Electric Guitar Buyers Guide:

A travel electric guitar is an electric guitar which has been designed with easy transportation in mind, their design concepts will incorporate features created to tackle the drawbacks traveling can have.

Many guitarists feel like their instrument is an innate part of their personality or even an extension of themselves. Sometimes when we are on holiday, relaxing or new people we often wish we had a guitar to pick up and play, but the logistics of carrying a cherished instrument into unknown territory presents us with a tonne of factors to consider.

The places we travel to and the manner in which we travel play a huge part in how much your instrument will need to be capable of enduring. Traveling with a guitar puts it at risk of damage, exposes it to the elements and you also have to face the fact that it could wind up lost altogether. That's if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to cover the excess baggage weight charges.

So how do manufacturers cater to combat all of the above? Often their dimensions will be much smaller to make them more portable, so you may not have as many frets as you are familiar with.

They will also source lighter tonewoods to begin with. They not only shrink the body sizes down but in some cases, the shapes of the solid bodies are changed entirely. Occasionally to a point where they hardly resemble a guitar at all, squares, circles and triangles have all been seen sporting a traditional guitar neck. All in the effort to downsize the weight and footprint dramatically.

Other ways they might have made the product suitable for journeying with include increased durability and reduced production costs for a less expensive price-tag. Let's face it no one wants to invest too heavily in an instrument that is going to have to be able to handle a few hard knocks on its travels.

Some electric travel guitar options are actually semi-acoustic or electric-acoustic options which still have a hollow body, rather than the solid body we generally associate with electric guitars. You will probably find they are ¾ sized or shorter scaled and typically won't have as much of depth, so as to take up less space.

A smaller bodied guitar, unfortunately, resonates less than a roomier model, so travel models for some are close but no cigar, as far as sound superiority goes. Many manufacturers enhance designs to really make the most of the instrument, and constant developmental refinements mean we are actually seeing some awesome travel-worthy electric guitars.

If quality is key you may need to think about amping up your allocated budget we love the seductive Strobel Rambler travel models, which are conveniently designed to fit inside a suitcase. They are exceptionally well built and come in a variety of pretty jaw-dropping designs. These condensed bodies are almost flying V-shaped and their in-body integrated Tune-o-matic hardware is tidily arranged inside of its angular curves.

Unfortunately, we are not in the position to give a definitive answer, as what you can and cannot fly with is always down to individual operators and their policies and regulations will differ from provider to provider. Next, you have to consider the countries you are traveling from and to and their rules too.

There are some airlines which actually allow a guitar as hand luggage, so long as it isn't over the size or weight limitations of the company.

So long as the luggage restrictions don't specify "No Instruments" you should be completely fine, though you will want to ensure it is sufficiently protected to travel in the hold. A good flight case would be a wise investment.

In an effort to keep up with the fast pace of our modern lives, and are always on the go nature, there is an abundance of travel guitar options out there to cater to your needs.

When your shopping for a travel guitar, portability is essential and should come above all else. Unless you are a touring musician needing to tow a guitar about to perform with, then you don't really need to think about the sound as much as you do, its dimensions and durability. Travel guitars are at the end of the day built for weekend retreats, backpacking around Europe, open campfires and kicking back.

The market is changing and manufacturers constantly adapting updating and improving to the point where we are seeing some phenomenally innovative and not to mention interesting design concepts.

What to look for in the best travel guitar for you is really down to how you intend to get about. If you intend to lug it about for a long period of time you will obviously want the smallest and lightest you can find. If it is to be kept in a boot to have at hand you might not need to be so fussy. Consider your needs carefully, keep our buyers guide advice in mind, re-read today's reviews and you should find choosing a model a doddle.

If you do buy a travel electric guitar, you are going to need an amplifier which is easily portable to go with it we suggest looking at some of these little beauts in our 5 Best Small Tube Amps article .

Did you Know

Snap-Dragon make some awesome fold-able electric guitars with necks that simply snap into place to shred with and snap back to a smaller footprint to pack away again.

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Best travel guitars: top acoustic and electric travel guitars for portability and performance

Top travel guitar choices and buying advice for musicians on the move

• The quick list

Best overall

Best acoustic, best electric, best for metal, best for kids, more options....

• Buying advice
• How we choose

1. The quick list 2. Best overall 3. Best acoustic 4. Best nylon string 5. Best electric 6. Best for metal 7. Best for kids 8. More options... 9. Buying advice 10. How we choose products

We guitarists are supremely lucky – we already play an instrument that we can take and play anywhere with us. Let’s face it, drummers already look at us with envy at our relative portability. However, the best travel guitars enhance and refine that concept further to offer the ultimate in portability without compromising on tone and playability. From travel-size stalwarts from Taylor and Martin to fascinatingly unexpected options from Blackstar and Yamaha, there’s something here for everyone. 

Whether you’re constantly on the move and need a travel companion to satisfy your musical urges, perhaps your office has to hear your progress with Eugene’s Trick Bag, or maybe you want something a little comfier for the couch. If so, we’ve selected the very best travel guitars for you and they’re a surprisingly varied group – from full-scale electric guitars to 3/4-size acoustic electrics.

There’s a good reason for this variety; a travel guitar needs to be portable, of course, but how it achieves that can be decided by several factors. We’ve taken them all into consideration with our choices for the best travel guitars you can buy right now. You can find our top picks below, and if you need any further guidance, head straight for our buying advice section at the bottom of the page.

Rob is the Guitars Editor for  MusicRadar , handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar, he worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including as Editor of Total Guitar. He's currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with his own songs and is enjoying playing covers in function bands.

Best travel guitars: The quick list

Despite being released in 2010 the Taylor GS Mini-e is still one of the best implementations of travel guitar design ever. A solid top and excellent pickup make it the perfect travel guitar.

Read more below

Originally made famous by Ed Sheeran, the Martin LX1E 'Little Martin' carries all the famous build quality and tonal properties of this legendary guitar maker, in a super compact format.

For the nylon string players out there, this fast-playing and unusual-looking electro-acoustic features a removable upper bout, making it easy to transport anywhere.

There aren't loads of options for electric players when it comes to travel guitars, but the Blackstar Carry-On is a fantastic choice.  The body is tiny, giving you a 'proper' size neck to play on.

A marriage between ESP and the Traveler Guitar company, this mini metal guitar features locking tuners, an active humbucker, and the distinct looks of a full-size ESP LTD EC-1000.

Read more below 

With its cute colors, tiny build, and fantastic tone, the Epiphone Power Player SG is a great guitar for budding guitarists, whilst also being small enough to go wherever they do.

The best travel guitars available today

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Here you'll find full writeups and reviews of all the best travel guitars we rate. The majority of these have been tested first hand by our writing team, so you can rely on our recommendations.

1. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Taylor’s GS Mini was ahead of most of the pack when it launched in 2010, and it still stands up as a masterful design from the company’s design wizard Andy Powers. It’s a benchmark example of a guitar that sounds far fuller than its dimensions – aided by the slight arch of its back. Although over a decade old, due to its continued success, fantastic playability, and many attempted iterations we have honored it as our number one pick. 

With spruce and mahogany options proving popular, the Koa stands out for the visual clout of its dramatic figuring. A solid top, layered back and sides, Sapele neck, and ebony fingerboard provide a rich tonal recipe here. 

Taylor’s Expression System preamp system (including a handy tuner) and the high-quality included gigbag round out a superb package for one of the company’s best-value models. Left-handed models are available too – yay! 

2. Martin LX1E Little Martin

A firm favorite of Ed Sheeran – although he has made a move to Lowden in recent years – the Martin LX1E is Martin's pint-sized offering (and one of our top picks for the best 3/4 acoustic guitars ), delivering the outstanding built quality you’d expect from the acoustic giant and a quality amplified sound. 

This guitar is made with a solid Sitka spruce top and high-pressure laminate back and sides, as well as a composite neck. It may not have the elegant looks of the D-28 or HD-35, but it is incredibly strong and damn near indestructible. This mighty little guitar will undoubtedly handle any of the harsh conditions bestowed upon it. 

Read our full Martin LX1E Little Martin review

Best nylon string

3. Yamaha SLG200N Silent Guitar

The Silent Guitar is an unusual proposition with a detachable frame for folding down. It’s also designed to be plugged in for amplification or via headphones – it makes very little acoustic sound of its own. This has the advantage of quiet practice but the Silent Guitar’s SRT and pickup blend system also shines via a PA or acoustic combo live for surprisingly organic tones to mimic a real acoustic being mic’d. 

Its low action and slim neck will suit electric guitar players if they can accept its untraditional looks. The onboard chorus and reverb are reminiscent of the Transacoustic series and further enhance the SLG200N’s usability as a traveling companion. 

When it comes to traveling, the SLG200N can be partly disassembled as the bass side of the body screws off. This allows you to slot the guitar in the Yamaha-branded gig bag like you're carrying around a laptop. Easy peasy. 

4. Blackstar Carry-On

Blackstar have made a guitar!? Yes indeed, the guitar amp company joined forces with fellow Brits Gordon Smith Guitars on a down-sized electric; 20.7-inch scale with a ukulele -sized body is certainly compact but the result stacks up comfortably well with a full-size neck.

It’s a one piece body and neck design to aid resonance and we really like design touches like the tortoiseshell-like plastic binding and the playing comfort of the matt neck, sides and back. It’s also great to see a coil-split on the humbucker pickup for tonal versatility through an amp – you can even buy the Carry-on as a package with Blackstar’s Fly3 mini amp.  

Read the full Blackstar Carry-On Deluxe Pack review  

5. Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

Another collaboration between two successful guitar brands, Traveler already have a formidable reputation for electric travel guitars and ESP build some of the finest guitars for heavy rock and metal around with its EC series; the LTD EC-1 is the combination of those skills.

The full-scale singlecut model first surfaced in 2016 and is now available in Vintage Black with gold hardware – a Traveler design calling card is to cut down on overall length by placing locking tuners within the body design. The pickup here is an ESP-designed active humbucker, so it’s ideal for higher gain tones and cutting lead work with the inbuilt headphone amp. It even features a bevelled cutaway for higher fret access. 

6. Epiphone Power Players SG

Although Epiphone’s Power Player series has a strong appeal to a young beginner, it also presents a fantastic option for some traveling humbucker bite. The SG variant comes in three awesome finishes – Lava Red, Ice Blue, and Dark Matter Ebony – and the included Epiphone branded gig bag almost begs you to take one on your next trip. 

Far from being just another beginner guitar, this SG is equipped with a set of 650R/700T ’buckers which will satisfy any cravings you may have when parted from your beloved housebound axe. Although you’ll have to bring some kind of amplification to utilize the guitar fully, a pocket-friendly headphone amplifier like the fantastic Fender Mustang Micro will have you covered. 

The Slim Taper D neck profile and contoured neck heel help with playability, and we found that the string spacing feels natural enough not to mess with our muscle memory. Also, if you aren’t a fan of the slightly off-kilter feel of an SG, there’s a Les Paul variant if that’s more your thing. So, if you’re after a viable travel size option to rock out on the road, check out the Power Players, you won’t be disappointed. 

Read the full Epiphone Power Players review

7. Yamaha CSF3M

A firm favorite of Ed Sheeran – although he has made a move to Lowden in recent years – the Martin LX1E is Martin's pint-sized offering (and one of our top picks for the best 3/4 acoustic guitars ), delivering the outstanding build quality you’d expect from the acoustic giant and a quality amplified sound. 

8. Guild Jumbo Junior

Guild knows a thing or two about acoustic guitars, specifically the jumbo-bodied variety having produced them since the ’70s. Here, we get Guild’s iconic jumbo but shrunk down to a more portable format. It’s got a solid Sitka spruce top, and mahogany back and sides – the former arched to aid resonance and projection. 

Adding to this, the JJ comes equipped with a Guild/Fishman GT-1 system so you can plug in for gigs and quick recording. Tonally, it’s a punchy little strummer with a sweet high end and you can always rely on Guild for providing a smooth playing experience. 

Guild is going for the GS-mini’s throne and although it certainly gets you in that ballpark at a more affordable price, it does lack the pronounced low-end of Taylor’s version. However, we’re splitting hairs here and the Jumbo Junior gives you classic looks from an iconic brand at a very attractive price.

9. Yamaha APXT2

This is the third entry for Yamaha on this list, but we felt it needed to be included. Yamaha has taken their ever-popular APX and shrunk it down to create the APXT2. This 3/4 sized acoustic is one of the smallest on this list, measuring in at only 34 inches, and will happily fit in most traveling situations. 

The onboard pickup is surprisingly good on the APXT2 and offers a tone far greater than the unplugged sound. The preamp also comes with a handy built-in guitar tuner , meaning you don't have to pack any extra gear. The satin finish not only looks great but is very smooth to play. In fact, the whole neck is very familiar, and if you have played Yamaha guitars in the past, then you'll get on with how this feels. It also comes in a range of different colors, just like its big brother, the APX500. 

So if you are a fan of the APX series or are looking for a unique-looking travel guitar, then it's worth checking these out. 

10. Sheeran By Lowden S03

Whatever you think of Ed Sheeran’s music, he has great taste in luthier’s. George Lowden actually designed the Wee Lowden travel-size guitar for the songwriter and their friendship blossomed into a full series of guitars in 2019.

The S03 had a refresh in 2021 – the ‘S’ stands for small body and the latest 24.8-inch scale model features a solid cedar top but with a rosewood and mahogany layering at the back and sides this time. An impressively full sound is matched with the quality of the LR Baggs VTC system for plugging in, and with the cutaway design this is one of the best travel-size acoustics for live performance. 

Read the full Sheeran By Lowden SO3 review  

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

Should I get an electric or an acoustic travel guitar?

One of the initial choices you’ll have to make when purchasing a travel guitar is between electric and acoustic. Both have their pros and cons, so deciding what will work best for you is the most important.

With an electric travel guitar, you’ll be able to practice quietly, with the assistance of a headphone amp, so if you don’t want to bug anyone in your vicinity, an electric one may be the better option. Also, it’s far easier to record with an electric travel guitar on the move; if you have your laptop and a small audio interface then hey presto, you can record the next platinum-selling album on your bus to work. However, needing additional pieces of hardware, like a headphone amp, may put people off getting a travel electric. If you want to travel with the least faff possible, an acoustic may be the better option.

Although acoustic travel guitars don’t need additional amplification, they will be slightly deeper than their electric cousins. This depth does come with an advantage, it will project the sound a lot further and you will get a much louder sound out of an acoustic travel guitar.

What makes a great travel guitar?

A travel guitar’s portability can be due to a smaller body, lighter weight and shorter scale (this is the distance from the guitar’s nut to its saddle) but a guitar can still be great for carrying around with you and have a full-scale. 

Having said that, acoustic travel guitars tend to have a shorter scale and smaller bodies to be portable, but they will still be tuned and play like a regular guitar. Indeed, the best travel guitars we have selected in this guide all shine for their playability as well as tone so they don’t take much getting used to. 

Electric travel guitars can usually plug into guitar amps and PAs but some have their own inbuilt amps to use headphones with, making them all-in-one practice tools. 

Can I gig with a travel guitar?

Absolutely, and many acoustic travel guitars include inbuilt pickups and preamps to allow for this. Ed Sheeran is one of the most famous living guitarists on the planet and uses a small-scale travel guitar onstage and in the studio. He likes them so much he’s even got his own series of them now.

Even electric travel guitars designed for headphone practice can be used with amps if you wish, so they could be a great choice for travelling to jams or impromptu gigs with. 

What string gauge should I use for a travel guitar?

Due to their shorter scale length, the strings on a travel guitar usually feel pretty slinky and a lot bendier. This can throw some players off, particularly if your playing style includes a lot of note bends or if you’re a little heavy-handed. A way to combat this can be with a heavier string gauge. Heavier strings will compensate for a short scale length and using a set of 0.012s on a travel guitar will feel more like a set of 0.010s on a full-sized guitar. So if you’ve had trouble with super slinky strings on your travel companion go for a thicker set of strings, it should hopefully solve your issue.

How we choose the best travel guitars

Here at  Guitar World , we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar and bass related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best travel guitars available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best travel guitars on the market right now.

Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly  how we test  each product.  

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• The best acoustic guitars for beginners
• Freshen up with the best acoustic guitar strings  

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Rob is the Guitars Editor for MusicRadar , handling news, reviews, features, tuition, advice for the strings side of the site and everything in between. Before MusicRadar, he worked on guitar magazines for 15 years, including as Editor of Total Guitar. He's currently set aside any pipe dreams of getting anywhere with his own songs and is enjoying playing covers in function bands.

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Home » Guitars » 17 Best Travel Guitars in 2024 (All Price Ranges and Styles)

17 Best Travel Guitars in 2024 (All Price Ranges and Styles)

If you’re a musician that’s always on the move, you know how difficult it can be to carry a full-size guitar along all the time. Bumpy roads and crammed flights can damage precious instruments in a single unfortunate moment. Instead of risking your primary guitars, taking a more compact travel guitar is a great option that all musicians should consider.

Travel-friendly guitars not only sound and play like regular guitars, but are compact, lightweight, and are far easier to travel with on road trips than full-sized guitars. If you’ve been thinking of getting yourself a travel-sized guitar but are unsure which one to pick, then you’ve come to the right spot.

I’ll start this article by reviewing the best travel guitars at each price point, but if you want to learn more about them before reading reviews, I’ve included some information about travel guitars at the bottom of the page. In this article, I’ll cover all the different styles of travel guitars so you can find the one to best suit your needs!

Here Are the Best Travel Guitars

1. martin lx1 little martin acoustic guitar (best overall acoustic).

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My Review: When it’s a Martin, you can rest assured that it is going to be a top quality guitar. The iconic American brand is well known for crafting some of the greatest sounding acoustic guitars around. The Little Martin is a testament to the saying that good things come in small packages. Built with solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany high-pressure laminate back and sides, this small wonder produces the same resonant, loud projection akin to top-of-the-line Martins and comes with a padded gig bag.

Overall Build and Size: We are in awe of Little Martin’s smart design which has delivered a great guitar that belies its 23” scale and 15” length. This wonderful sounding model is extremely sturdy and very easy to play, making it a perfect travel companion as well as a great pick for beginners. Little Martin is a popular choice when it comes to a travel guitar as it packs comfortably into overhead compartments of most airlines. This natural golden-brown, small-bodied acoustic comes equipped with a black Micarta bridge with compensated white Tusq saddle and chrome small-knob tuners.

Overall Sound Quality: Little martin’s powerful projection and a well-balanced tone set it apart from other miniature parlor guitars. It delivers a pretty bright and resonant sound and scores high on versatility. Take it along with you on your next trip to the hills and let the magic unfold.

Body and Neck Wood: This Martin LX1 boasts of a solid Sitka spruce top with a warm satin finish which gives it classic look. The back and sides are made up of Mahogany high-pressure laminate. The guitar has a hand-rubbed rust birch laminate neck which has a modified low oval shape with standard taper making it extremely comfortable to play. The use of sustainable wood in some of its parts has made us fall in love with this beauty all the more.

Key Features:

• Solid Sitka spruce wood top
• Big on tone, quality, and versatility
• Perfectly travel-sized and easy to carry
• Eco-friendly construction using sustainable wood parts
• Affordable for a Martin guitar

2. Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar (Best Value Acoustic)

My Review: If you are looking for a pocket-friendly 3/4 acoustic travel guitar with a good tone and easy playability, the small and portable Yamaha JR1 FG might be worth looking at. The natural Spruce top and the rosewood fretboard offers great playability and a bright tone, while locally sourced tonewood adds a reliable durability to the overall body. Compact, light, and bearing the time-trusted Yamaha brand legacy, this travel guitar is lightweight without compromising on the sound quality. Overall, I would say this is the best travel acoustic guitar for the money.

Overall Build and Size: The JR1 FG is a well designed 33 1/4-inch medium-sized dreadnought that strikes a good balance between value and quality. Despite being originally positioned as a beginner guitar for children, we found it to be quite a good option for adults looking for a reliable travel guitar as well. What we like about this model is that it doesn’t let its compact size come in the way of offering a great tone.

The build is of good quality with a rosewood fretboard and a sturdy mahogany neck which offers a comfortable playability. This makes it a great fit for most guitarists – from young students just starting out to someone looking to play an impromptu gig by the bonfire.

Overall Sound Quality: Thanks to the Spruce wood top, players get a nice resonant tone that amplifies lower tones surprisingly well – normally you wouldn’t really expect a guitar this compact to have such an impressive low end. Because of this quality, this will work well when playing in intimate settings with a small audience. Its sound is great right out of the packaging, without any tweaks needed. You’ll also see that the brand offers quite a comfortable action on it already.

Body and Neck Wood: The Luna uses a Spruce wood for its top, locally sourced tonewood for the body and sides, and rosewood for the fretboard which makes it long-lasting and durable. The neck is sturdy, but not too wide, which gives it an easy feel when playing, especially for kids or someone with smaller hands. It is well-balanced, and, when played sitting down, fits quite comfortably as you play.

• Compact, well-designed body
• Spruce wood top
• Amplifies lower tones remarkably well for its size
• Affordably priced

3. Taylor Baby Taylor BT1 Walnut Acoustic Guitar (Editor’s Choice Acoustic)

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My Review: Thinking of getting yourself a travel guitar which is an all-rounder? Look no further than Baby Taylor BT1. Manufactured by Taylor, a brand renowned for carefully crafted, high quality, and great sounding acoustic guitars packed with playability enhancing features, Baby Taylor BT1 fits this definition to a T. The small-bodied guitar is made with a premium tonewood combination of Spruce/Walnut and comes with an X-braced top, die-cast chrome tuners and a Micarta Saddle. In addition to being a great choice for travelers, this little wonder will make for a perfect starter guitar for young players.

Overall Build and Size: Baby Taylor BT1 is a trimmed down, sleek ¾ dreadnought and great for traveling players who prefer smaller instruments. This dread may be small but offers the same features that make this iconic American brand so legendary. The guitar has a solid spruce top which works well in enhancing resonance as well as capturing nuances and dynamics. The layered walnut body offers resilience from temperature and humidity and gives it an aesthetically pleasing look. The acoustic sports an elegant, natural look with a varnish finish.

Overall Sound Quality: Don’t be fooled by its small size- Baby Taylor BT1 delivers a surprisingly bold and loud sound for a scaled-down dreadnought. Thanks to the bright sounding spruce wood top and walnut back and sides. The guitar’s tonewood pairing works well in creating a warm and resonant tone with great definition.

Body and Neck Wood: The BT1’s top wood is expertly crafted with solid Sitka Spruce wood and teamed with a layered walnut body and a glossy smooth ebony fretboard. The sleek Maple neck feels familiar and very comfortable when held. There is no doubt that you will have an absolute blast playing this great little guitar wherever you decide to take it.

• Perfect Travel Buddy for all guitar enthusiasts
• Scaled-down dreadnought with short maple neck, easy to play
• Solid high-quality tonewoods used- Spruce top, Walnut body
• Taylor hard bag included

4. Travelcaster Deluxe Electric Guitar (Best Overall Electric)

My Review: Fender has always been known to push the envelope for quality and player-friendly features, and they’ve done it again with the neat little travelcaster deluxe. This innovatively designed electric guitar retains a full scale length, but cuts down the body design in an innovative fashion. Weighing extremely light, you can enjoy the quintessential tele sound even when on the move, thanks to its high quality single coil pickups and a delicious vintage tremolo. If you’re looking for the best travel electric guitar and are willing to spend the money, this is one of my top recommendations.

Overall Build and Size: Weighing only 5 lbs, the travelcaster scores high when it comes to portability, especially for an electric guitar. We’re quite impressed with its innovative design that retains the essential contours of an electric guitar’s S-shaped body while cutting out the rest to make it travel-friendly. Its adjustable 2 point fulcrum bridge adds even more customizability, while chrome tuning machines let you tune your strings to perfect precision. This allows you to enjoy a full scale length with a guitar that can easily fit into a cramped car space or overhead compartment of a plane.

Overall Sound Quality: This is perhaps the best part about this little wonder – unlike some other travel guitars that may sacrifice certain elements of playability or tone, the travelcaster deluxe offers the same crisp, snappy, high quality tone and sound quality that Fender is famous for, even in this compact setup. This has been made possible because of the three high quality ceramic single coil picks, and a 5-way pickup selector that lets you mix and match to zero in on the perfect tone. Finally, the vintage style tremolo lets you squeeze out a fabulous variety of sounds and sustains, so there’s nothing that holds you back from expressing your creativity, even on a travel guitar.

Body and Neck Wood: The lightweight of the travelcaster deluxe has been made possible thanks to its poplar body, which keeps the overall setup extremely portable and nimble. The maple neck and fretboard allow for butter-smooth playability anytime, anywhere.

• High quality ceramic single coil pickups
• Vintage style tremolo for more creative possibility
• 5-way pickup selector for tone customizability
• Extremely lightweight at 5 lbs
• Full scale-length

5. Traveler Guitar 6 String EG-1 Custom (Best Full Scale)

My Review: If you are scouting for a full-scale electric guitar which is also light enough to travel along with, look no further- The Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom fits the bill. The single-cut guitar’s alder body makes it compact and lightweight while also giving it a strong, clear, and full-bodied sound. It features Traveler’s proprietary 4-channel in-built headphone amplifier, an in-body tuning system, and an aux-in jack, making it perfect to jam privately or rock out.

Overall Build and Size: The Traveler Guitar EG-1 retains the full scale 24.75” and 28.5” length of a standard-sized guitar while weighing less than 5 pounds and packs effortlessly in an airplane overhead bin. It has been cleverly designed without a headstock and built from a lightweight yet top-notch Alder, making it compact yet ideal for those unwilling to compromise on a scale as well as playing experience. It comes in a classic glossy black color.

Overall Sound Quality: The EG-1 Custom’s alder body and mahogany neck give it a rich and balanced tone with a great playing experience. It is equipped with Traveler’s custom onboard headphone amps which allow you to choose from clean, boost, overdrive, and distortion tones using the custom tone knob push-pot. With this travel guitar, you are not only getting a full-sized feel but also a world-class quality sound, thanks to the chromatic Shadow E-tuner built right into its Alnico Humbucker 9K pickup.

Body and Neck Wood: The snazzy travel guitar is crafted from premium tonewoods with an alder body, an African mahogany neck, and a walnut fingerboard. It features some fantastic aesthetically pleasing appointments such as a white-black-white binding on its glossy black Alder body, a gold humbucker with cream pickup ring, and black dish knobs with Gold caps.

• Full scale and ergonomically designed travel guitar
• Crafted from top-notch hardwood
• Built-in headphone amp with 4-channels
• Aux-in for riff learning and jamming to your favorite songs
• Chromatic E-tuner on pickup ring
• Comes with a compact, custom gig bag

6. Martin Steel-String Backpacker Travel Guitar

My Review: Martin Guitar Co.’s Backpacker has been innovatively designed to be the perfect travel mate for you. This well-built acoustic is a steal considering it has a solid Spruce wood top and is priced within an affordable range of $300. It’s incredibly fun to play and can act as a great backup guitar when your primary one is not around. This popular travel guitar was launched more than 25 years ago in the mid-nineties and we’ve only heard great things about it since. This is easily one of the best travel guitars for backpacking and trips where you just can’t bring a larger guitar.

Overall Build and Size: Martin’s Backpacker is an incredibly light and compact guitar making it easy to stow away and take along on treks or trips without a worry in the head. Although designed to be easy to carry, weighing less than 2-1/2 lbs., nowhere does it compromise in the sturdiness and durability department. Built with a solid Spruce wood top and Mahogany back and sides, it has a beautiful natural hue and a matte finish.

Overall Sound Quality: The Backpacker has a robust and impressive sound for a guitar its size. It may not give out the rich tone rendered by a typical dreadnought but don’t let that make you think that you’ll be sacrificing in the tonal quality with this little travel buddy. The guitar has been crafted from high-end hardwood which lends it an unamplified projection, making it perfect for travel.

Body and Neck Wood: This travel guitar has a solid Spruce top and Mahogany back, sides, and neck giving it the classic Martin acoustic sound. It has a narrow body with 15 frets and a flared lower bout making it extremely easy to carry. Just sling it over the shoulder and you are good to go!

• Ultra-compact and extremely light
• Made from high-end spruce and mahogany hardwood
• Narrow body, easy to carry
• Unamplified and consistent sound
• Comes with a padded gig bag and chrome tuners

7. Luna Safari Series 3/4 Size Travel Guitar

My Review: This 3/4 size dreadnought is a part of Luna’s pocket-friendly Safari series. The brand has a reputation for crafting great-looking guitars. This model features a solid mahogany top, back, and asides and has an eye-catching Celtic laser etching around the soundhole. This beautifully handcrafted guitar is lightweight but packs in a punch with its powerful tonal quality. Luna Muse Safari comes with a branded gig bag which makes it easy to carry it when you are on the go.

Overall Build and Size: This stunning acoustic has a scale length of 22.5” and weighs just shy of 4 lbs., making it an incredibly light and ultra-compact travel companion. All panels of this 3/4 sized dreadnought have been crafted with mahogany. It also comes with a 19-fret rosewood fingerboard and bridge and chrome-colored hardware. The tuning machine is sealed die-cast and the nut and saddle are Graph Tech BC6115. The charming reddish-brown shade of mahogany makes this guitar a real treat to the eyes.

Overall Sound Quality: The Mahogany body and dreadnought structure of Luna Safari Muse ensures that players enjoy a rich and articulate sound. It may not be too low-end heavy, but with its delightfully bright sound and a pocket-friendly price tag, it sure is a steal!

Body and Neck Wood: Luna Safari Muse has been entirely made out of Mahogany which is a popular tonewood known to produce and sustain a well-balanced tone. The C-shaped neck makes for a breezy playing experience. The warm natural satin finish and the mother of pearl moon phase inlay on the fingerboard give it a classy and mystical look.

• A travel-sized dreadnought with laser engraved Celtic rosette
• Fun and easy to play, ideal for younger players
• Rich and articulate sound
• Perfect for left as well as right-handed players
• Budget-friendly with most websites offering it under $200

8. Traveler Guitar Mark III MK3 MHG Acoustic-Electric Guitar

My Review: When an entire company is dedicated to building top-of-the-line travel-friendly guitars, you know you cannot go wrong when you opt for one of theirs. The Traveler Mark III MK3 Acoustic-Electric is a full scale, unique looking guitar with a Mahogany body. Like other Travelers, it too features an in-built Shadow headphone amp, an aux input for jamming, and a proprietary in-body tuning system. With a standard tuning system, this travel guitar does not need a special set of strings and works perfectly with any standard acoustic strings you prefer.

Overall Build and Size: Measuring around 30” in length while weighing less than 5 pounds, this Mahogany guitar has a minimalistic body which makes it portable and player-friendly. The in-body tuning system eliminates the need for a headstock, making it sleek and travel-sized while offering a full-scale playing experience. The Escape Mark III comes equipped with a Shadow NanoFlex piezo under-saddle pickup which produces the authentic acoustic sound while the standard ¼” output jack lets you effortlessly switch to the electric mode. The control plate allows you to adjust the volume and tone directly from the guitar.

Overall Sound Quality: The Electric-Acoustic has been cleverly built to produce exceptional electronics as well as the authentic acoustic style sound. The choice of hardwood used lends it a resonant, well-balanced tone which is carried through even when you plug in the guitar and use it as a semi-electric.

Body and Neck Wood: The Escape Mark III has a natural finish mahogany body with a cutaway for access to higher frets, and a bolt-on mahogany neck. To top it off, it has a Rosewood fretboard which is the most commonly used fretboard owing to its warm and rich tones and the ability to even out the high-end harshness.

• Full scale, versatile guitar
• Stows away comfortably in overhead bins
• Built-in headphone amp with clean, distortion, boost, and overdrive tones
• High quality, plush gig bag included
• Built-in chrome tuner

9. Cordoba Mini M Nylon String Guitar

My Review: Cordoba has a well-earned reputation for making traditional Spanish guitars with a modern twist. The brand is an innovator and leader in high-quality nylon-string guitar and the model we are about to review here is no exception.

Cordoba’s Mini M is a travel-sized traditional looker. With a mahogany body and a spruce top, it has an incredibly rich tone and a full, bright sound. The brilliant combination of its ultra-compact body and a full-sized 1.96” nut width makes it very easy to play and an ideal companion for your vacations or road trips.

Overall Build and Size: Mini M is an extremely lightweight,18-fret, nylon string parlor with a beautiful rose pattern etched out along its rosette. A short 20” scale length and full 1.96” nut width makes it an ideal travel sized guitar while retaining the string spacing and the overall feel of a full-sized guitar. The natural satin finish gives it a gorgeous sheen without betraying its woody feel. The guitar comes with a custom Aquila string set, tuned to A but can be tuned to standard E tuning with a thicker gauge. The Minis also come in three different wood combinations-spruce/mahogany, spruce/rosewood, and all ovangkol.

Overall Sound Quality: Despite its easy on the pocket price tag, Cordoba’s commitment to quality and sound with Mini M is truly admirable. It has a lightweight body with an impressively loud sound thanks to its smart design and the quality tonewoods used.

The solid spruce wood top offers a blend of clear, rich, and complex sound which is backed by a powerful tonal foundation owing to its mahogany back and sides.

Body and Neck Wood: With Mini M you get a solid Spruce wood top guitar without hurting your pocket. A solid wood top is an unbeatable vis a vis laminate or select wood, as it not only gives out a great tone but also lasts for longer. The mahogany body enhances the sturdiness property and clubbed with spruce wood top and rosewood fretboard contributes to the deep richness and resonance of this guitar. Mini M’s solid and heavy Mahogany U-shaped neck enhances the sustain and captures every nuance and detail, beautifully.

• Affordable, lightweight guitar with an impressive sound
• Solid top and body made from quality tonewoods
• Comfortable U-shaped Mahogany neck
• Includes a gig bag

10. Fender CT-140SE Travel Acoustic-Electric Guitar

My Review: Perfect for all guitar enthusiasts- whether professional or hobbyists, The CT-140SE acoustic-electric is undeniably one of the finest travel bodied guitars made by Fender. Compactly built with solid Rosewood and a spruce top, it features a sophisticated Fishman Presys pickup and preamp system, which ensures an authentic sound is reproduced even when plugged in. The solid high-end components and a hardshell case all priced under $400, make this Fender a great value and should definitely be explored when picking out a guitar for serious beginners or simply for your travel needs.

Overall Build and Size: Traveling with CT-140SE is a cakewalk thanks to its compact dimensions. An auditorium shaped travel body has been scaled down to 23.5” to ensure it fits well into cramped spaces and overhead airline compartments. With premium hardwood used through the body as well as Fishman pickups and preamp system, rolled fingerboard edges, players can expect an easy to play high-quality guitar that’s quite sturdy in its design. CT-140SE comes with two color options- Natural and Sunburst with a glossy finish and equipped with chrome-plated hardware.

Overall Sound Quality: CT-140SE offers high-quality Fender sound at a reasonable price. The spruce wood top renders a powerful sound and detailed dynamics while the rosewood body & fretboard delivers rich overtones. The scalloped, X bracing design also plays a vital role in enhancing this bolder, richer tone as well as its harmonic output.

Body and Neck Wood: The Acoustic-Electric has a solid spruce top is a popular choice of wood for acoustic tops as it offers unparalleled durability and a full, bright, and versatile sound. The rosewood body and neck mellow down the bright punch delivered by the spruce wood. All in all, you get a well-balanced tone that responds well to any style of playing, from hard strumming to fast or delicate picking.

• Top-notch fender quality with a great value
• Solid Spruce top & Rosewood body delivers a rich, balanced tone
• Scalloped, X bracing design
• Easy to play neck with rolled fretboard edges
• Sophisticated Fishman Presys pickup/preamp
•  Hardshell case included

11. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

My Review: This next guitar comes from the extensive heritage NY-based brand “Steinberger”. These guitars for their distinctive shape, and high-quality construction, having been used by likes of Geddy Lee (Rush), and Sting (The Police), back in the day to more modern day artists such as Arif Miradolbaghi (Protest the Hero). They feature a headless design, and a compact size playable even on an armed office chair. The GT-Pro brings the same quality and aesthetic to a more affordable line of travel guitars.

Overall Build and Size: The original Spirit was one of the most popular attempts at making a body-less travel guitar in the 80s, and the modern Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe has some unique features to match! Featuring a full 25-½ scale length, and a tight fretboard radius, the Spirit is quite easy to handle, play and travel with. Keeping it simple with one volume and one tone knob, and including a tremolo bridge and the locking tuners make for a stable and well-tuned guitar, even without a headstock.

Overall Sound Quality: The deluxe model features a humbucker pickup on the bridge and neck, with a single coil in the middle. The twin humbuckers designed by Steinberger and perfected by Epiphone, make the Spirit sound fat and round while reducing the tinny signals to a minimum. The 5-way pickup selector also makes the guitar versatile and comfortable across a large selection of amps and amp plugins. Perfect for both the Stage pro, and the couch pro !

Body and Neck Wood: The original Spirit guitars designed by Ned Steinberger, were made from a composite of carbon-fiber, however, the new Spirit GT-Pro eschews that for a completely maple body and neck. In such a small guitar, this resonant wood makes for a big jump in playability and sustain. The Spirit is able to hold its own against full bodied guitars while delivering the same resonance and exceptional output!

• Classic Steinberger design
• Hyper compact
• Gibson (Epiphone) construction, reliability, and warranty
• Bridge and Neck Humbuckers for a well-rounded rock/metal/blues sound

12. Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar

My Review: Are you someone who doesn’t want to be away from their guitar even when traveling? Then the Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar has to be one of your top choices. It offers a full-scale length while being ultra-compact which enables you to take it along with you wherever you go. Fitted with a single Hofner open humbucker pickup, and volume and tone knobs, the Shorty is designed with no flashy bits except for its curious design.

Overall Build and Size: The Hofner Shorty has a basswood top and back, a neck made from maple, and a fretboard made from rosewood. Basswood is a lightweight wood which produces a good sound and works especially well with Hofner’s open humbucker pickup. Considering the price range, the craftsmanship and the materials used to make this guitar are of a better-than-expected quality. The black finish gives it a slight rock and roll feel. The shape of the guitar can feel a bit strange in the beginning with its short body, long neck and the headstock, but you soon get used to it. Overall, the Shorty Electric is a sturdy little guitar that needs some time to adjust to its style and shape.

Overall Sound Quality: Without amplification, the guitar sounds quiet, and is suitable for a quiet day of practice. Once amplified, the sound produced is bright, trebly, and strong. The volume and tone controls work very well and you can get a range of tones from this little guitar from clear to dirty. The action on this guitar might need a touch of adjustment.

Body and Neck Wood: The basswood body and maple neck make for better playability when playing standing up. Its small, neck-heavy body makes it a little awkward to play, which is also compounded by there being no place to rest the playing arm.

• Compact size
• Considerably lightweight
• Strong sound when amplified
• Crisp, clean tone
• Durable gig bag included
• Good bang for the buck

13. Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III

My Review: Looking for a guitar which can hold its own during travel and on stage? Look no further! The Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III offers a full-scale 25.5” while being small enough to fit into the overhead compartment in an airplane. This acoustic-electric comes packed with a plethora of features – from an in-body tuning system, a headphone output to a Shadow under-saddle pickup – that helps you stay on top of your game. This is a great lightweight option for a performer or even for a student who wants to up his game. The Escape Mark III also comes with a deluxe gig bag that keeps it protected when not in use. Overall, I would say this is one of the best travel guitars out there.

Overall Build and Size: The Escape Mark III is just 30” despite boasting a full-scale at 25.5” and has a compact mahogany body, back, and top with a bolt-on mahogany neck. The natural satin finish gives it a refined feel. The single cutaway gives the player access to the higher frets while also giving it a tasteful look. The full-sized scale has a comfortable, familiar feel to it while playing. The relatively thin body needs some getting used to and it can be difficult to rest your arm while playing, but the overall balance of the guitar is excellent. Despite being quite lightweight at 4.5 lbs, it does compromise on the quality, durability, or sturdiness of the piece.

Overall Sound Quality: When not plugged in, the Escape Mark III sounds like any other unplugged electric guitar, but once plugged into an amplification system, produces a sound that emulates a steel-string acoustic guitar. This guitar has a clean, warm, mellow sound and is not disturbed in the slightest by string hum or any other problems. The premium quality mahogany used in the guitar allows for greater resonance and a better sustain. Altogether, the way the Escape Mark III is crafted makes for a truly exceptional auditory experience.

Body and Neck Wood: This guitar features a mahogany body and neck which adds sturdiness to the piece, and the black walnut fretboard gives it a smooth feel while playing. The headstock has been removed from its traditional place and added to the body itself which gives it a different, non-traditional appearance. The In-Body tuning system is sturdy and reliable, and the tuners are protected from outside interference.

• Mahogany wood body
• Full-scale fretboard despite the compact size
• Warm, mellow sound, great resonance
• Shadow under-saddle pickups and In-Body tuning system
• Cutaway to reach higher frets easily
• Lightweight, highly portable
• Great choice for multi-city gigs

14. Voyage Air VAOM-02G2

My Review: Traveling with a guitar, be it a regular sized guitar or that of a travel variety, is awkward due to their long, thin necks. But, with the Voyage Air VAOM-02G2, its manufacturers have found an ingenious solution to that age-old problem – a patented hinge which lets you literally fold the guitar in half! It comes with its very own deluxe Voyager case in which you can stow the guitar when not in use. For someone who doesn’t want to compromise on the dimensions or the size, this is a great fit!

Overall Build and Size: The Voyage Air is a full-sized acoustic dreadnought guitar. The body is made from mahogany as are the back and the sides and has a single-ply laminate spruce top with bracing. The fingerboard and the bridge are crafted from laurel – a soft-colored, brown wood that is almost identical to rosewood. It has a high-gloss protective finish which gives it a soft look. The foldable neck-hinge has been tested under pressure and is very dependable. The build of the guitar is quite sturdy, no matter how strange it might seem to fold and unfold the guitar each time. The only thing to keep in mind is that the strings need to be slackened off before folding!

Overall Sound Quality: Despite being a travel guitar, the Voyage Air is a full-sized acoustic guitar with a full, rich sound and a good deal of projection. The full-scale fretboard offers comfortable playability and adapts to any playing style, be it fingerpicking or strumming.

Body and Neck Wood: The body and the neck are both crafted from mahogany as are the sides and the back. The top is made from a single-ply laminate spruce which can be a letdown for some people. The fretboard is made from laurel as is the bridge on the guitar.

• Foldable design for better storage and transport
• Full-size guitar that can be easily carried around
• Mahogany and spruce laminate body
• Full, rich sound like a regular sized acoustic guitar

15. Cordoba Mini II M, Mahogany, Small Body, Nylon String

My Review: The Cordoba Mini II MH travel guitar is a handsome ½ size guitar. Whether it be an impromptu performance or a relaxed practice session while camping, you won’t hesitate to bust out this beauty. It has a delightfully warm, full, well-balanced tone that seems more like a guitar than a ukulele. The Cordoba Mini II Mahogany is a beauty that ticks all the right boxes in looks, sound quality, playability as well as price!

Overall Build and Size: The small body of the Cordoba makes this an ideal choice for a travel guitar. Being a ½ sized guitar, it is easier to carry along on trips than other bigger guitars. The satin polyurethane finish gives it a more sophisticated look than other guitars in this category. Despite a slightly cramped scale at 22.8”, the guitar tunes perfectly to a standard E and the fingerboard offers overall comfortable playability. Guitar players who have slightly smaller hands will certainly find this to be a more manageable instrument than a full-sized acoustic guitar. The build of this guitar speaks of quality and a solid body that can take the pain of travel.

Overall Sound Quality: The Cordoba Mini II promises to sound more like a full-sized guitar than a ukulele – and delivers! It has a nuanced, full-bodied tone that is mellow and full of warmth. Compared to some other travel guitars, this one has a deeper body that projects the sound well. Even though it isn’t particularly loud, it has enough volume for a lonesome practice session or small, intimate performances.

Body and Neck Wood: The layered mahogany body and neck, and the Morado fretboard (with 19 frets) are instant visual hooks that draw you to this little fellow. There is a single action truss rod inside the neck. Even though this guitar doesn’t feature a full-size scale, the fretboard offers good playability and is easy to adapt to.

• Layered mahogany body and satin finish
• ½ sized guitar easy to carry along
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Warm, full tonality
• Pocket-friendly price
• Ideal for kids and players with smaller hands

16. Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

My Review: The Traveler Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric is marketed as the smallest, lightest full-scale travel guitar on the market, and it certainly delivers on all these counts. The compact design of the guitar without a headstock is unique, yet offers a full-scale playing experience that one gets on a full-sized acoustic. The piezo pickup delivers a bright acoustic sound when plugged into an amplifier. Despite being a higher-priced guitar, the Traveler Ultra-light Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar is certainly worth a try.

Overall Build and Size: This Traveler Ultra-light guitar really lives up to its name. Weighing in at only 3 pounds, it is one of the lightest travel guitars on the market. At only 24 ¾”, it can even fit into some suitcases and is easy to carry around. Made from a single piece of maple wood with a regular-sized fingerboard made from ebony wood, it comes with an adjustable truss rod. Despite the guitar’s shape, the detachable lap-rest makes it comfortable to play sitting down, although the different designs might take some getting used to. The overall build is quite sturdy and can easily be taken along on your travels and even stowed in the overhead bin on a flight, thanks to its detachable lap-rest. The range of satin finishes it comes in allows you to choose the color you feel the most comfortable with.

Overall Sound Quality: This Traveler guitar comes with a ¼” jack socket and a built-in acoustic piezo pickup which can be used to amplify its sound. The piezo pickup gives it a bright, crisp tone once plugged into an amplifier. This one is a silent guitar and only finds its voice through an amplifier. Given this little fact, it can’t be used to strum a few chords around a campfire but can come in handy when looking to practice quietly. It is also well-suited to live performances where there is an amplification set up at hand.

Body and Neck Wood: The body and neck of the guitar are crafted from a single piece of Eastern American Hard Maple. The full-size fingerboard is made from ebony wood and has 22 frets which are easy to adapt to from a conventional acoustic guitar. The satin finish on top gives it a smooth, hand-friendly feel while playing.

• Extremely compact build
• In-body tuning system
• Bright, crisp, articulate sound
• Piezo pickup for amplification

17. Washburn RO10 Rover Steel String Travel Acoustic Guitar

My Review: Washburn guitars have been consistently delivering guitars crafted with extreme care and quality since the 1880s. The Washburn RO10 Rover features a mahogany wood body, back and sides, a solid spruce top, and a full-size neck which makes for good playability. This guitar produces a sound that emphasizes the treble without being too loud or resonant, which makes it suitable for different playing styles – whether flat-picking or playing finger-style

Overall Build and Size: The Washburn Rover is a visually appealing 33.5” long acoustic guitar, with a beautiful mahogany body and a solid spruce top which enhances its look and overall feel. It has a rosewood fingerboard and a full-size neck which feels like a regular-sized guitar and needs no time to get used to. The fingerboard also makes for good playability. The overall build of the guitar is sturdy and robust and makes for a good, albeit heavier travel guitar. The Washburn is available in a natural finish as well as a blue finish. The deluxe gig bag, included with the instrument, makes sure that no harm comes to the guitar when carrying it around with you.

Overall Sound Quality: The Washburn isn’t made to produce a loud sound, but taking into account its compact size, the sound is quite impressive, if a little more treble-y than usual. For a travel guitar with a full-size neck, the Washburn RO10 Rover lives up to its potential.

Body and Neck Wood: The Washburn is made from a mahogany body and the fretboard is crafted from rosewood. The solid spruce top gives the guitar a nice resonance, although the wood used and the full-sized fretboard makes the guitar a tad heavier than expected.

• Robust, well-built guitar
• Full-sized neck
• Solid spruce top
• Versatile, good playability for multiple playing styles
• Moderately priced

Choosing the Right Travel Guitar (Buying Guide)

Adding a travel guitar to your collection means you can take your 6-string pal along on road trips without a worry. And as you can see from our top 17 list, there are several great options to choose from. What matters is that you pick a type of guitar that you’d prefer – be it playability, size, or tone quality. If you ask us, then our pick for the travel guitar with the most impressive sound quality would be the Baby Taylor BT1 for acoustic and the Travelcaster Deluxe for electric. Be it an intimate impromptu gig or a long road trip, this beauty sounds like a dream and is so compact to travel with.

If you ask us for a great affordable option for a 3/4 travel guitar, then the Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 Size Acoustic is worth exploring for those on a budget. Finally, for those looking to strike a balance between the top of the line quality as well as not spend a bomb then you should check out the Washburn RO10 Rover Steel String. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun and having a portable companion that gives you the freedom to strum along wherever you are. We hope this list gave you all the information you need to take your pick. Bon voyage!

What Is a Travel Guitar?

Simply put, travel guitars or travel-sized guitars are a more compact, lighter version of a full-sized guitar. You’ll find both acoustic travel guitars and electric variants in the market, depending on your needs.

Most travel guitars have the same or almost the same scale length (distance between the nut and the guitar’s bridge) as regular guitars so that you get a more compact guitar without compromising the playability of the instrument. On the other hand, you also have travel guitar options that have 3/4, 1/2, or even 1/4 scale length as full-size guitars.

Travel guitars have smaller body and neck, which makes them lighter and easier to carry with you wherever you go – be it a month-long cross-country tour, a weekend road trip, or even a backpacking hike to the mountains!

Why Should You Buy a Travel Guitar

Whether you’re a hobby guitarist or an experienced player, there are so many good reasons to get yourself a travel guitar either way. Here are a few for you to go through:

• Light & Portable: Travel guitars are far easier and hassle-free to carry with you when traveling. This is thanks to their compact size and lightweight that lets them easily fit on flights or a vehicle.
• Great Backup Option: they work great as a backup guitar for musicians who don’t want to take their primary guitars on a trip where they’ll be roughing it out.
• Strum On the Road: Inspiration can strike a musician anytime, especially when you’re traveling! Having a travel guitar lets you flesh out your song ideas as and when you think them up – even when you’re out on the road or on vacation.
• Take Up Less Space: If you’re packing up your van for a long road trip, you’ll find that travel guitars take up far lesser space than traditional guitars do, freeing up more storage space for other things that you’d want to carry along.

What to Look For In A Travel Guitar

With several options for travel guitars available in the market, it’s crucial to know what to look for when sizing each option up. Here are the key features you should consider when comparing travel guitars and making your decision:

Full-sized scale-length vs. Reduced Scale Length

Many travel guitars come with a full-size or almost full-size scale length (around 25.5 inches). When making such travel guitars, the manufacturers choose to make them compact by reducing the size of the guitar’s body, instead of the fretboard size or length. These guitars feel like you’re almost playing a regular guitar, just more compact and more portable.

On the other hand, you also find one-half (1/2), three-quarters (3/4), or even as small as one-quarter (1/4) sized guitars. These have smaller fretboards than regular guitars. So consider the scale length you’ll be comfortable playing on when taking your pick.

Overall Size

Even amongst travel guitars, you will find options of all sizes to choose from. While some travel guitars are only slightly smaller than full-size guitars, others are extremely compact. Most full-size guitars are 38 inches in their overall size.

On the other hand, travel guitars So do consider how compact a guitar you’re looking for and look at the measurements when taking your pick.

Tone Quality

As you already might know, the wood used in the guitar’s construction affects its tone and sound quality. Woods like Maple, Spruce, Sitka Spruce, and Rosewood produce a bright, higher, slightly treble-heavy tone and sound.

On the other hand, woods like Mahogany and Koa have a richer, warmer tone that is mid to low-range in its character. So it’s all about deciding what type of sound works best for your playing and style, and going with it.

Quality of Wood Used

As is the case with full-size guitars, do consider the type of body, neck, and fretboard wood used on your potential travel guitar. The better the quality of wood used, the sweeter and richer the sound and the more durable the construction. You can choose from a wide variety of woods such as mahogany, maple, spruce, walnut, and more, depending on the look and sound you prefer.

Overall Shape and Design

Travel-friendly guitars come in a wide variety of shapes and designs. Some travel guitars are more compact versions of the classic shapes like a dreadnought, concert, or auditorium style guitars. However, you will also find extremely futuristic and innovatively-designed travel guitars as well, that are foldable, triangular-shaped, and even ones with barely any guitar body!

I know of buddies that would love a triangular-shaped travel guitar, but also know a few who wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing! So it’s all a matter of personal taste. This is why it’s important to see the shape and design that you will be comfortable playing with and carrying, and choosing accordingly.

Last but never least, it’s a good idea to have a budget in mind when browsing through options. Travel guitars are available in a wide price range – from affordable, budget-friendly options under $200, mid-range options between $200 to $400, and higher-end travel guitars that are in the $400 plus range.

Do make it a point to check the features and wood quality that you’re being offered at any price point. While very low-priced travel guitars may seem enticing at first, you may end up shelling out more in its repairs in case the instrument is not well-built. So it’s important to pick an option that is value for money, no matter its price.

My name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.

I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and am an avid collector. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all.

I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. With my engineering experience, I’ve developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community.

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Home » Gear » best travel guitars

12 Best Travel Guitars • A BARGAIN Buyer’s Guide for 2024

Traveling the world and playing the guitar are my two greatest passions. But, unfortunately, they don’t seem to go hand-in-hand, do they? Traveling requires minimalism, and guitars are big, awkwardly shaped and are not fun to haul around in airports and buses.

For years I had to make the tough decision –  to either travel  without a guitar, or to painfully drag my oversized acoustic around the world. Both options sucked, and after years of this, I needed something different.

So finally, I bought myself one of the best travel guitars and my life literally changed forever.

As a guitarist of 15 years, and a non-stop world traveler of 10, I know exactly  what is needed from a travel guitar.

With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to easily know which of the best travel guitars is perfect for you and your style of music and travel. We’re going to cover a whole scope of six-stringed sweeties in this post: travel acoustic guitars, travel electric guitars folding neck guitars. Something for every homeless musician out there!

Get excited because here are some of these best traveling guitars and they are  epic!

Unfortunately, as I was researching which travel guitar to buy, I realized there are hundreds of travel guitars… and a ton of them suck.

Which is exactly why I wrote this epic guide to the best travel guitars.

Quick Answers – The Best Traveling Guitars

The best traveling guitars mega-list: acoustics, electrics, and a few bass guitars because why not, the best travel acoustic guitars, best travel electric guitars, the best folding guitar for travel, time for some other stringed travel instruments, traveling with a guitar – what to look for, faq about the best travel guitars, closing thoughts on the top travel guitars.

• Best Travel Acoustic Guitar – Ultra-Light Classical 6-String Guitar
• Best Travel Electric Guitar – Traveler Guitar Travel Guitar
• Best Folding Travel Guitar – Journey Instruments OF660M
• Best Travel Bass Guitar – Traveler Guitar TB-4P
• Best Travel Budget Guitar – Yamaha GL1 Guitalele

Today, we’re cutting straight to the goodies because goodies are delicious! First, we’ll round up the most portable guitars just built for travel and worldwide escapades. After that, I’ll get to the no less delicious goodies on choosing the right travel guitar for your needs.

Are you ready? Ok, you sexy shredder; let’s do this! The best guitars for travel that most certainly do not weep.

Ultra-Light Classical 6-String Guitar

• > Great action

Baby Taylor BT2

• > Taylor-made

Yamaha Guitalele

• > Vibrant classical tone

Yamaha GL1 Guitalele

Hohner HAG250P 1/2 Sized

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Travel Guitar

• > Humbucker pickups

Hofner 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar

• > 0.176 ounces
• > Gig bag included

Best Travel Electric-Acoustic Guitar

• > 2lbs 14 oz
• > Great neck

Journey Instruments OF660M Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar Matte

• Best Folding Travel Guitar > $$$$$
• > Great for professionals

Traveler Guitar TB-4P Electric Travel Bass

• Best Travel Bass Guitar > $$$
• > 6 lbs 8 oz

Kala Teak Tri-Top Concert Acoustic-electric Ukulele

• > Level-10 Portability

For the natural earthy sound. The downside of the portable guitars is the sound isn’t so rocking as an electric baest. The upside?

…Well, you don’t need an amp.

These are the travel guitars you can bring to the campfire or out at the hostel at night to the sneak into the hearts (and pants) of wayward travelers around the globe. Sexy and swooning.

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Best Travel Acoustic Guitar #1 –  Ultra-Light Classical 6-String Guitar

If you are looking for the best travel acoustic guitar, do yourself a favor and stop right here because this creature is as good as it gets.

This compact travel guitar is an extraordinary instrument and they have accomplished the goal of creating an affordable yet high-quality travel acoustic guitar.

In TBB fashion, you get only the best of the best! A solid mahogany top, a unique fret design, and a 24-inch scale length mean that you’ll never have to sacrifice quality to have an amazing travel guitar.

This guitar was designed for lightweight travelers in mind. The guitar and strap only weigh a total of 2 lbs. 14 oz combined, making this our smallest travel guitar. And when placed in the included protective bag, the two combine to weight a total of 3lbs. 12oz!

• Removable lap rest
• Only 2 lbs 14 oz – the perfect small travel guitar
• Shape can be awkward or uncomfortable to some
• Very small – not ideal for professionals
• Leg rest is a bit slippy

While I clearly think this guitar is the cream of the crop… I don’t recommend it for everyone.

This traveling guitar is for backpackers; perfect for those who love to travel with their guitar but aren’t trying to do anything too hardcore with their music career. Why?

In an effort to make this mini guitar as travel-friendly as possible there is a detachable leg rest, whilst this is amazing meaning you can get the benefit of playing a full-size guitar sat down, I have found it to be a bit slippy on my pants! I’ve remedied this by wrapping a cloth around it but it’s not the ideal solution.

Bottom line:  If you are a traveling professional musician, this might not be the guitar for you. Everyone else – if you can afford it – this tiny Guitar is literally as good of a travel guitar you can get. Click the button below to see the best price.

Best Travel Acoustic Guitar #2 – Baby Taylor BT-2

Taylor guitars are one of the most reputable acoustic brands on the planet and this guitar is an incredible example of why.

The Taylor Baby BT-2 is not technically a travel guitar; it’s just one of the best 3/4 guitars out there. This means that it’s 25% smaller than a normal-sized acoustic guitar, and many 3/4 guitars are made for kids.

But obviously one can see why 25% less guitar would be very beneficial for travelers. An extra 25% of the guitar means an extra 25% weight off your back and the ability to stow this guitar on tons of flights.

Plus, along with a smaller size, you also get everything else that is amazing about Taylor guitars – solid wood, ebony fretboard, and a beautiful sound that resembles a choir of glowing angels.

• High quality and long term durability. This guitar will purr
• Great for traveling professionals
• Come with a gig bag
• Almost weighs 8 lbs with the case
• Probably too big for lightweight backpackers
• 19 frets might still not be enough for some

What you’ve got to love about this guitar is that for a 3/4 guitar’s size, it almost sounds exactly like a full-sized acoustic guitar. That’s why it’s easily one of the best travel acoustic guitars on the market. Typically 3/4 guitars sacrifice sound for size but with this Taylor, the tradeoff is barely noticeable.

Taylor has earned their reputation, and this compact guitar is another sterling example. If you don’t mind dishing out a bit more cash, you’ll be very pleased with the tone and sound of this instrument.

Bottom line – The Baby Taylor BT-1  delivers a phenomenal sound and long term durability all of which comes at 3/4 the size of a regular acoustic guitar. If you are looking for an ultralight travel guitar, look elsewhere. But if the quality is your number one concern, you may have found the mini travel guitar of your dreams.

Best Travel Classical Guitar #1 –  Yamaha Guitarlele

What happens if you cross a guitar with a Ukulele? The Yamaha Guitalele is what! This is a masterpiece of instrumental engineering, and could quite possibly be the best travel guitar ever made!

With a solid spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, and a gorgeous mahogany body, this classical guitar is stunning in that sexy classical fashion like a finely produced oil painting. Yamaha clearly invests a lot of time in design, and this travel classical guitar is one of the best examples of that.

And thankfully it sounds as good as it looks! This classical, nylon string Guitar-Ukulele is well-reviewed, giving warm and bright tones. This ensures it delivers the best sound for its size and build.

• Nylon strings for the nylon lovers
• Gorgeous looks and sound
• Comes with gig bag
• If you prefer steel strings,then this is not the guitar for you

It ain’t too pricey and it ain’t too big – good things come in compact and affordable packages! You are getting an extremely well-designed and beautiful acoustic classical guitar that is built just for travelers.

Bottom line – Whether you are a professional or casual musician – if you are looking for a travel classical guitar, this is a fantastic option at a good price.

Best Cheap Travel Guitar #1 –  Yamaha GL1 Guitalele

I’ve gone through a ton of guitars in my life, but one of the best, most durable acoustics I ever owned was a $200 Yamaha. Did it have the rich sound of a Martin? Obviously not. But it played well, had great action, and was so durable I was convinced it would survive a nuclear apocalypse.

This is exactly why the Yamaha GL1 Guitalele is my pick for the best cheap travel guitar!

Yamaha makes solid guitars for low prices, and the GL1 Guitalele is a perfect example. Well reviewed and affordable, this was an easy pick for the best budget travel guitar.

• Super affordable and well-reviewed!
• Yamaha’s products are always durable
• A cool fusion of a guitar and ukulele and their A/D/G/C/E/a tuning ensures you get a great sound
• It’s still cheap, but for $75 more you can get something significantly better
• Alternate tuning might dissuade some
• Nylon strings may not be ideal for others

Something to consider is that this is technically NOT a travel guitar . As the name would suggest, this is a hybrid between a ukulele and an acoustic guitar. To accomplish this fusion in the best way possible, Yamaha strings this guitar up to the 4th in the tuning of A/D/G/C/E/a.

If this scares the crap out of you – don’t worry! It just means due to its smaller size, this guitar sounds best with a non-standard E/A/D/G/B/e tuning. Since this is a great cheap travel guitar, this also makes for a great traveling gift !

Bottom line – If an alternate tuning doesn’t scare you and you are on a budget, then this is the best budget travel guitar. A cool guitar-ukulele-combo, the Yamaha Guitele is a solid choice for a traveler looking to save a bit of money on their instrument without compromising too much on quality. It also just happens to be the best guitalele – go figure!

Best Budget Travel Guitar #2 –  Hohner HAG250P 1/2 Sized

OK, before I continue, I should clarify: this is absolutely, without a doubt, 100% a toddler guitar. This is, however, one of the best inexpensive guitars you’ll find.

It’s small, not of the highest quality, and won’t last a lifetime… And that’s exactly why it’s the best budget travel guitar on this list! A bargain guitar this cheap means all feelings of love and affection go out the window: throw, bang, and transport this instrument on buses in Asia to your heart’s content… unless you get attached.

But we’re travelers; we don’t go in for that attachment nonsense anyway.

Think of it this way… have you ever been to a hostel and they have that small, beat up, classical guitar sitting in the main room? Or have you ever been to a beach party, and some dude with dreadlocks busts out a nylon-stringed guitar that looks like it was made in 1953 for a hobbit?

That’s exactly what this guitar is. It won’t win you a grammy, but it’s cheap, and you better believe that it will play… albeit maybe slightly out of tune.

• It’s a cheap guitar… don’t get your hopes up

The Hohner 1/2 Sized is for anyone looking for a cheap travel guitar to buy online. Simple as that.

Bottom line – This is the ‘I’m on a shoestring budget backpacking through Southeast Asia . I’m going to party on beaches and all I want is a throwaway guitar I can play some Sublime singalongs on in between cheap beers in hopes of getting laid’ choice. If this sounds like you, then look no further.

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Do you want to power those chords properly? Whammy those sustains? Really get that cheap meaningless sex at hostels in Thailand?

Then here we are: the best electric travel guitar. Something with a bit more shazam for the busker in all of us .

Best Travel Electric Guitar #1- Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Travel Guitar

While not the most creative company name, Traveler Guitar has put together some pretty impressive traveling instruments and this was an easy pick for the best travel electric guitar.

Amazing design and stellar reviews make this electric guitar one of the coolest travel guitars on the market. The Traveler Ultra-Light comes with dual rail humbuckers and packs an impressive sound. Depending on your amp and pedals setup, this electric should be able to get whatever sound you need out of it.

The Ultra-Light guitar is 28% shorter and 68% lighter than a typical electric guitar all the which while retaining 100% of its size between the nut and the bridge. This means that while this guitar is not going to feel 100% like a full-sized electric… it’ll come close. Plus, you shed all of that weight in the process.

• 68% lighter than a standard electric guitar
• Humbucker pickups
• A gig bag is included
• Lap rest is included as well
• Might not be enough for professional traveling musicians
• Mixed reviews on comfort of detachable lap rest (and overall balance in general)

This travel electric guitar is perfect for super lightweight travelers who need an electric guitar with them at all times. But unfortunately, the lightweight build comes with some sacrifices. And the sacrifice here is the balance.

By eliminating 68% of the weight, some reviews claim the guitar is difficult to balance, or that it’s too light to play or solo on comfortably. Others claimed this was easily overcome with a couple days’ practice. Regardless, if you are considering purchasing, expect a bit of discomfort and imbalance at first, but don’t worry: you’ll be rocking that Red Hot Chili Peppers cover in no time  😉

Bottom line –  Maybe not the best choice for professional musicians but this is still a great travel size electric guitar for someone who loves to shred while they journey. While the balance might take a bit of getting used to, there is simply no better-designed travel electric guitar on the market.

Best Travel Electric Guitar #2 –  Hofner 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar

Just like the Ultra Light Travel Guitar, this model is unique in its design. But unlike its sibling, Traveler Guitar looked at the Hofner as an opportunity to give you a full electric experience while still trimming as much weight as possible.

To accomplish this, they’ve basically cut out everything in the body apart from a tiny area roughly the size of a pick guard on a regular guitar!

By cutting out the majority of the body, Hofner has created an electric guitar that is 14% shorter and 35% lighter than a typical electric guitar. And the impressive part? All of that is done while still keeping the guitar 100% at scale from the bridge to the neck!

• Full electric experience, but 14% shorter and 35% lighter
• Awesome for traveling professional musicians
• Gig bag included
• Too large for casual musicians
• Won’t play like a Strat (please don’t expect it to)
• Mixed reviews on its playability out of the box – might take some tweaking to get desired the feel and sound

Aside from its innovative design, this kickass travel electric guitar comes with 3 single-coil pickups, 1 volume knob and 1 tone knob.

While this compact electric guitar is highly recommended, you will still have to accept that its bold design can cause some complications.  While this travel electric attempts to mimic a full-sized electric – don’t expect it to feel exactly like a Strat or Tele. It comes close, but you can’t expect the same feeling (especially when sitting down).

Truthfully, if you are looking for one of the best electric travel guitars, there aren’t tons of well-reviewed options and Hofner is the only company putting out quality products.

Bottom line –  If you are a traveler looking to shed a few pounds off your electric guitar – this is a kickass option. The Hofner was meant to be lightweight while sacrificing as little playability as possible… Highly recommended for a professional who isn’t sure if the Ultra-Light can make the cut for them.

Best Travel Electric-Acoustic Guitar –  Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric

Welcome back Traveler Guitar! Lemme make you a tea; you’re welcome anytime as long as you keep pumping out the grade-A stories.

With their third product on this list, I have to say I’m impressed by Traveler Guitar’s commitment to their niche. This product is one of their best!

It’s 100% full scale from the nut to the bridge, but 31% shorter and 43% lighter than a typical acoustic guitar. In particular, this guitar has a nice aesthetic and a gorgeous finish. Reviews claim the neck is smooth and that the guitar is durable and stays in tune very well.

• 43% lighter than a typical acoustic guitar
• Great finish – well-reviewed neck
• Gig bag comes included as well
• Too niche – only recommended for those who ALWAYS plug in their acoustic (or record acoustic)

But where I think their other products are more versatile… I would only recommend the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric for a very specific person.

Simply put – this guitar only sounds great when it’s plugged in. Why?

Well, think about it. This guitar has no body (aka – where an acoustic gets that warm, vibrant, reverb-y sound from). In the pursuit of lightness, Traveler Guitar made an instrument that only sounds good when plugged into an amplifier – which can totally work for the right person!

When it is plugged into an amp it sounds delicious! But otherwise, it’s basically just another electric guitar that gives much less when unplugged. It’s good for recorders, buskers traveling with an amp, and people gigging… and that’s about it.

Bottom line – Look at the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic-Electric as an electric-acoustic guitar, and ONLY as an electric-acoustic guitar. If you love to record acoustic while you travel, or play a ton of live shows – this could be your axe. Everyone else – look elsewhere.

You could get a mini guitar that carries on your back… or you could just get one that folds in half completely! Holy folding guitars, Hendrix! Lookout virtual reality and simulated blowjob machines – the future is here!

In all seriousness, a folding guitar is a supreme traveling instrument. Easy to carry, stow on planes, and you’re not so likely to snap the neck. Trust me: nothing breaks your heart quite as much as a broken guitar neck.

To be fair – in terms of quality, this is absolutely the best travel guitar that money can buy. It’s the best sounding travel guitar, it’s got a gorgeous make, and it packs up real nice.

But here’s the con – it’s ridiculously expensive. Like, I peed myself a little when I first saw the price tag.

But if you have no problem dropping a bit more money, this is a guitar that will not only be your primary travel guitar… it will be your primary guitar – period. Made from carbon fiber, the Journey OF660M is a modern, durable, sexy looking axe. This guitar gives a super warm, bright and rich tone, and is extremely versatile.

• The best travel guitar on the market
• Rich sound – every note rings
• Carbon fiber is the real deal, making this guitar super-durable (important for travel!)
• Most expensive guitar on the list
• 10lbs means what you gain in quality, you lose in travel convenience

Old school guitarists might not like the new school design or the fact that it’s made of carbon fiber, but I must disagree… While I think carbon fiber is an amazing material for any guitar, it’s especially perfect for traveling guitarists!

Traditional wood guitars need to be kept out of humidity and heat to keep them from warping. In contrast, carbon fiber means you can bring your guitar in any weather and travel to any climate stress-free. While I respect the traditionalist view, carbon fiber has proven to be a durable material for guitars, while also providing the guitar with a modern, cool look. No warping, no fear of heat or humidity; this is a huge factor to consider for any traveler guitar.

Bottom line – If you have the budget, don’t need something super-light, and are looking for the best sounding travel guitar money can buy, you’ve found your match.

Everyone and their mom knows how to play the guitar! Well… that’s quite true. It would be fairer to say that everyone and their mom knows how to play a C, G, Am, and F chord. So let’s branch out… starting with a travel bass guitar.

Bass players are sexy. Have you seen their fingers? Think of the things they could do with those fingers…

The Best Travel Bass Guitar – Traveler Guitar TB-4P Electric Travel Bass

Another Traveler Guitar? Seriously? What can I say: this company does it right!

Similar to their travel guitars, this awesome travel bass guitar is designed to feel as much like a standard bass, while trimming as much of the weight as possible.

The Traveler Guitar TB-4P is well reviewed and well designed. It weighs in at 25% lighter than a standard bass – which you will definitely appreciate while traveling – an also measures at 22% shorter than a standard bass. Slap that sucker across all seven continents!

• 25% lighter and 22% shorter than a standard bass!
• Well designed – innovative wrap around tuning design
• Balance might be an issue for some
• Not going to sound as chunky as a standard bass

The Traveler Guitar Travel Bass comes with volume controls, tone controls, and the standard electronics to get your bass rigged up to any pedal or amp you need! A cool side-perk is they also include a 1/8 inch headphone jack. This means that while you are at your accommodation, you can still pop some headphones in and really jam out!

Remember though, the sound will be nice, but not as full as a typical bass. Duncan pickups help this bass to deliver some great tones but don’t expect to sound exactly like Flea.

Bottom line –  This is the best travel bass guitar money can buy. Like all of the best travel guitars, you are definitely going to sacrifice some tone for the sake traveling lighter,  but if light is what you need, then Traveler Guitar TB-4P Electric Bass got you covered.

Annnnd the Ukulele – Kala Teak Tri-Top Concert Acoustic-electric Ukulele

C’mon, you had to see this coming. It’s the quintessential rookie-backpacker move. Buy a uke, learn the aforementioned C, G, Am, F, ‘ Somewhere over the Rainbow’ and ‘I’m Yours’ , strap your new companion to your backpack , and you’re officially that guy!

I’m taking the piss. I adore ukes! …In the hands of someone who actually plays the ukulele. Once you learn the chord variations up and down the fretboard and some scales, they’re actually quite darling.

So, what’s the best ukulele for travel? Well, that’s the beauty of ukes… they all are! They’re all small enough to go as carry-on on a plane and they strap nicely to most backpacks.

So what’s the best ukulele? Well, probably not this one; I imagine the best ukulele was crafted by an ancient Hawaiian God and is sitting lodged in a rock at the bottom of some volcano somewhere waiting to be exonerated by the chosen one. Otherwise, though, there’s this one!

• Electric-acoustic so plug in for an even sweeter sound
• Built-in tuner
• Unique shape and design
• The intonation isn’t perfect for a connoisseur’s ear
• Excellent for beginner’s and a great intermediate uke but experts may seek elsewhere

It’s a sexy uke that sounds pretty. The built-in tuner is a massive plus and plugging to an amp is really gonna make this bad-boy shine (yes, I did just refer to a ukulele as a “bad-boy”). Kala make good gear and they’re not just in the ukulele space either.

Also, the Kala Teak Tri-Top Concert Acoustic-electric Ukulele just looks mega-pretty. Koa, mahogany, walnut, and a seductive satin finish to seduce the park hippies (and South Asian men) with.

All in all, if this is just you following the stereotypical first-time traveler route, there are cheaper ukuleles you can spend your money on and that’ll do the job right. But, if you’re upgrading from that phase, or are just genuinely interested in learning the ukulele it’s a fine choice.

Bottom line –  Well, my mom says ukes are cool! Actually, she hates them but she has to put up with me anyway. This may not be the best travel guitar but it’s certainly a good deal lighter and smaller than any portable guitar you’ll find.

Protip: Try finding nylon guitar strings that fit the gauges (it’s super doable) and putting them on to swap that high G out for a low one; a uke with a bass not – yum!

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

As an avid traveler and musician, I can tell you that buying a great travel size guitar was one of the most important decisions I ever made. I can now easily transport a guitar anywhere I go in the world, meaning never have to be without a guitar again!

When it comes to the best travel guitars, there are a few things, in particular, you want to keep an eye out for. Here are some important things to consider when you are trying to pick your personal travel guitar.

1.  Do you need a top quality travel guitar?

The guitars on this list are certainly some of the best travel guitars on the market… but some are certainly higher quality than others. Keep an eye out for prices. Yes, we are all trying to save money with our broke backpacking ways , but sometimes spending the extra $50 can be the difference between a just-ok travel guitar that will get you by or an exceptional travel guitar that will literally change the game.

This is especially true if you are a traveling professional musician. Do not try and get something cheap – it will quickly come back to haunt you.

Backpackers looking for a travel-friendly guitar that they can just jam on, have a bit more leniency in their choices.

2. How many frets for your travel guitar?

Something I overlooked was the fact that travel guitars don’t always have the standard amount of frets! Obviously it makes sense as the smaller the neck, the more travel-friendly the guitar. Consider your guitar playing style. Do you prefer to shred solos high up the neck? Or are you just looking for something to jam out with beachside, and play some zombie chords?

If you don’t need the additional frets, you’ll find that your options are better and the portable guitars to choose from will be much more compact.

3. What about the length and weight of your travel size guitar?

The first thing you need to consider is your travel style. Are you a fast traveler or slow traveler ?

If you travel the world spending a month at a time in AirBnb’s , you won’t be as concerned about the size and weight of the guitar. If you blitz from hostel to hostel, then you should seriously consider purchasing one of the lighter and more compact travel guitars.

4. Remember this one important fact…

Here’s the deal…

The standard guitar is literally a miracle. It’s a perfectly crafted instrument. Over the past 500+ years the guitar has slowly been tweaked to perfection. With the modern-day guitar, the size, shape, and build of a standard guitar ensures that you get the absolute best comfort, sound and durability from this amazing instrument.

This is where traveler guitars screw the proverbial pooch.

Ultimately, travel guitars are smaller, and because they are smaller they aren’t going to sound as good as a standard guitar. There is no way around this. If you want a smaller guitar, you are going to have to make some other sacrifices. To get a guitar smaller, lighter, and more travel-friendly means sacrificing a few other important things (like possibly sound, comfort, balance).

Don’t worry- the best travel guitars sound amazing! Just don’t expect it sound like a song from ‘Eric Clapton Unplugged’ … Because it won’t.

But I promise you, whatever travel guitar you choose it will sound awesome, it’ll be lightweight, and it will accompany you around the world  🙂

Can a travel guitar replace my primary guitar?

The easy answer – absolutely.

The more complicated answer… well, it depends on your needs.

If you are more of a casual guitar player (like I am these days) then you will be stoked to know that a travel guitar can absolutely replace your primary guitar (especially if you don’t mind spending a bit more). The selections from Cordoba, Martin, and Taylor on this list are truly epic instruments, and if you don’t need to worry about gigs, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised that your travel guitar can absolutely become your primary guitar.

But people that are truly invested in their musical journey, possibly even at the sake of their world-wandering journey, a travel guitar, long-term, isn’t going to cut it. Eventually, the lack of frets, or the lower quality sound, or some other aspect is going to wear thin.

Eventually, in your world-wandering journey, you’re going to stumble across a truly magnificent instrument and that’s when your mini guitar built for travelers isn’t going to feel so special anymore.

Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

Can you fold guitars?

Not all of them are foldable, but there are some cool options. One of them is the Journey Instruments OF660M , that can literally fold in half.

Should you get a travel guitar if you don’t know how to play?

Hell yeah, why not? Spend those long hours waiting for flights or buses by learning how to play on your cool travel guitar and impress your friends once you’re back home.

What should you look for in a travel guitar?

Keep these key-features in mind: 1. Does it have to be top quality? 2. The number of frets 3. Packability and size

What is the best affordable travel guitar?

The best budget travel guitar is the Yamaha GL1 Guitalele. It’s super durable and offers a great sound as well.

Our GREATEST Travel Secrets…

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There you have it! The 10 best travel guitars (plus two extras).

I know that with the help of this epic buyer’s guide, you’ll easily be able to identify and buy the travel guitar of your dreams. Get out there and find your baby.

Treat her well too. It’s a lonely road and there may come a night in the future where it’s just you and her alone under a bridge in the storm. Trust me, on that day

Is there anything I missed? What’s your favorite travel guitar? Comment below! It’ll help other travelers know which guitar is best for them – safe travels!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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You need to look into the Furch Little Jane travel guitar. It will blow you away with it’s design, looks and most importantly sound. There is also a LR Bagges pickup option if you need to be plugged in. Check the company out.

You must consider the Stow-Away by Stewart in the best travel guitar list. It clearly is the best option for an electric travel guitar.

I am a resophonic guy. My 1975 Dobro 33, metal bodied has traveled all over. Altbough many reso players are strictly slide and open tuning, I prefer standard and play many genres. I’d like to see a metal bodied resophonic that truly is travel friendly and works well in standard tuning. Metal bodies, like carbon fibre tend to be highly durable, but tend to weigh alot. Still, reso is loud enough to be a busking or session guitar in a multitude of situations.

Why are, we reso players always the stepchildren of these attempts to find the holy grail of travel instruments?

Traveler makes several other travel guitars with actual small guitar bodies which include preamps and other settings, yet have full sized fretboards. You might want to take a look at them. Yamaha makes an excellent travel model too, but it’s expensive. Also, you might include a comment about their ultra-light models being good for quiet practice in those hostels and places where noise is a factor. With a small preamp, you can use headphones to get the big sound you want without disturbing others. All useful factors for a travel guitar! And remember, some of us are classical guitar players and have no interest in “jamming”, but want a full fingerboard to play/practice on. I looked up the website on the eo guitars and, as you said, there is no information on how to buy one, the price, availability, etc, nor any reviews on the quality of build or the sound. The only way to get further information is to e-mail them which is not a plus for their marketing. It looks very interesting, but it’s too much of an unknown to pursue.

Damn, Mr Rogers- those are some hot tips! Next time I update this article (which should hopefully be before too long), I’ll 100% look into Traveler and Yamaha’s model. And you’re right: quiet practice in a hostel is definitely much-appreciated. I’ve gotten told on more than once for getting too carried away hahah! But I do certainly hope some classical guitar players still wanna jam. The more the merrier 🙂

Great site! I’d like to make you aware of my folding guitar which is the smallest travel instrument in the world yet with a full size neck and scale length. Patented robust joint mechanism allows the neck to fold to be only 42 cm long and weighs <1.5kg. The ultimate portability. With integral headphone amp. Play while you stray! eo-guitars

S’up Ken!

I am most certainly aware of the eo-guitar now – I love what it’s about! Small, light, innovative, and sexy. This post will need an update eventually, however, it’d be nice to get the eo-guitar in it in the future. As it stands though, info and feedback on the guitar online is pretty sparse.

It also seems like the only way to purchase one is through your email listed on your website. It’d be great to see this being sold in some online marketplaces, and we’d love to feature your guitar once it’s more readily available. The possibility of a hands-on review might be cool too, but it’d be better if you got in direct contact for discussing that.

For anyone reading these comments though, the eo-guitar is one to keep your eye on!

I am gobsmacked you haven’t reviewed the Furch little jane. I can only assume you haven’t come across it. If you had, the others would not even come into contention.

Thanks for your comment; I took a little squizz at the Furch Little Jane and you’re right – she’s a sexy beast! Although, she’s a pretty pricey gal and a bit chunkier than a lot of other travel guitars on the market.

This post got an update not so long ago, but it’s overdue for another. As far as I know, I’m the only muso on the team, so when the world is a bit less smashed and I got the time, I’ll be updating this review. You can almost definitely expect the Little Jane to feature then 🙂

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EQUIP BOARD GEAR REVIEWS

8 best travel guitars: guitars on the go.

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Best Travel Guitar for Most People

Martin Steel String Backpacker

The Martin Backpacker has a good sound, and its neck feels like a full-size guitar, which is ideal for practicing & playing. Its non-traditional body shape makes it super-portable on airplanes and beyond.

If you’re a guitar player you know how much of a hassle it can be to take your guitar anywhere. Aside from the fact that airlines have a well documented history of being jerks to musicians the world over, guitars are really just kind of awkward to travel with. It’s even worse if you’re primarily an acoustic musician.

Thankfully, crafty manufacturers have developed a solution to this problem. That’s right folks; today we’re going to be talking about how to select the best travel guitar for your needs. So if you’ve ever wanted a travel guitar but are overwhelmed with all the options you’ve come to the right place.

What is a Travel Guitar?

Simply put, a travel guitar is a guitar that’s small enough to be easily transported. Generally for acoustics a travel guitar is smaller than a parlor guitar but still features a full scale neck (that’s not to say that shorter scale guitars are uncommon). For electrics a travel guitar is still generally full scale (a neck as long as a standard guitar) but features some other space-saving feature, like tuning pegs below the bridge or in the body.

What Should You Look for in a Travel Guitar?

Above all, we would focus on portability when looking for a travel guitar. When it comes to acoustic travel guitars you’re not going to get the same bass-heavy, rich tone as you will from your full-sized dreadnaught. Jumbo style guitars have a lot of bass because of their size. Likewise, travel guitars will generally sound thinner, quieter, and less resonant than their full sized counterparts because they're built with portability in mind as opposed to just tone.

Electric travel guitars rely on their electronics so in general they'll sound pretty good. Sure, maybe not quite the same as your Les Paul or Strat - after all if a company puts in the highest quality materials it leads to an expensive guitar, and travel guitars are generally priced much lower than standard instruments. Definitely make sure to consider the pickup components when selecting your travel electric guitar to make sure you'll be able to achieve the tone you're looking for.

Finally, pay attention to the scale length. It's an important component to a travel guitar, since it deals with the area of the guitar where your hands operate. Two guitars can be totally different sizes, yet have a similar scale length. It's important that the scale length is not too dissimilar from your main, full-size instrument. Technique is honed with repetition, so practicing on a travel-sized instrument with a vastly different scale length from what you normally play might be less effective.

Types of Travel Guitars

The category "travel guitar" really just means that it's portable, and easier to bring aboard an airplane. Within the travel guitar category you'll encounter several different styles:

» Acoustic Travel Guitars (Standard Shape)

This is probably the most common travel guitar sub-category. Acoustic guitars are classified based on their body shape and size (you can review the different sizes here . There are Jumbo acoustics on the larger end, dreadnaughts in the middle, and parlor on the smaller end. Acoustic travel guitars are a step smaller than parlor. This won't be the most portable option because there is still a relatively large resonant body, but it's the most familiar to acoustic guitar players.

» Acoustic Travel Guitars (Non-standard Shape)

The Martin Backpacker is the best example of this. It looks more like an oar than it does a guitar. It can be a little awkward to play a non-standard shape acoustic guitar, so often a strap is required. The greatly reduced body size makes these guitars extremely portable, but the concession is the sound; it simply won't sound as deep and rich as a standard shape acoustic.

» Electric Travel Guitars

This is an interesting segment because there honestly isn't that much to choose from. You'll find something like a Squier Mini Stratocaster, which is quite simply a Strat that has been shrunk. Then there are more innovative options like those from Traveler Guitar, which is a re-imagined electric guitar purpose-built for travel. Perhaps this market segment is smaller because electric guitars are already pretty thin and a little easier to travel with than acoustics. Also, a travel electric guitar needs to be amplified eventually, so you'll be burdened to travel with some kind of amp.

» Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitars

Essentially a standard shape acoustic travel guitar with onboard electronics so that it can be plugged in and amplified. Martin, for instance, makes the Martin LX1 which is acoustic only, and the LX1E which is the exact same thing with the addition of a Fishman Sonitone preamp system. The Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar also fits into this category.

If you travel around and perform live, an acoustic-electric travel guitar is essential so you can plug into a venue's PA system and be heard no matter the size of the venue.

» Classical Travel Guitars

Travel-sized versions of nylon-string classical guitars.

Top 8 Travel Guitars

Established in 1883, Martin is inarguably one of the most prestigious manufacturers of acoustic guitars the world has ever seen. Though the Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar is a different animal compared to Martin's more well-known instruments, it benefits from the brand's cachet and is a great little travel guitar.

Interestingly, the Backpacker features a solid spruce top. It’s hard to say how much this benefits the guitar considering its dimensions, but it still increases the volume and tonal response to at least some degree considering the effect that solid wood has on an instrument.

The shape of the Backpacker is admittedly jarring at first - it looks like a very skinny triangle, and looks-wise has more in common with an oar than it does traditional acoustic guitars! The beauty of it is how portable it is while still maintaining standard dimensions for the string spacing and 24" scale length. This will make the transition from the Backpacker back to your main instrument (and vice versa) much less dramatic than it would otherwise be. Take note that it only has 15 frets as opposed to the 20+ more common to full sized guitars, which is an issue if you frequently solo that far up the neck.

The hardware on this guitar is also impressive for the price, utilizing a compensated white TUSQ saddle, white plastic bridge pins, enclosed chrome finished gear tuners, and a white corian nut (corian is a white acrylic polymer, with tonal qualities that fall somewhere between bone and plastic). It comes strung with high quality Martin M170 Extra-Light 80/20 Bronze strings. The action on the one we got was nice and low.

So, what are its downsides? Obviously the sound of the Backpacker isn’t going to be like a full-sized dreadnaught, but that can and should be forgiven considering it's purpose-built for being a road warrior - camping, hiking, airplanes, etc. More significant is the fact that you cannot play this guitar on your lap like you could a traditional acoustic; a strap is necessary. Your playing position will take a little getting used to. We initially found the Backpacker slightly awkward to play since we have muscle-memory queues from holding a dreadnaught-sized acoustic guitar, but it's nothing a couple hours with it didn't fix.

With that out of the way, this is an awesome choice for a travel guitar. Once you get used to the unique body shape, you'll love how much the neck feels like a full-size guitar, which means your muscle-memory will transfer perfectly as you practice and play. The build quality is exactly what you'd expect from a brand like Martin, and it is priced really well given the brands' premium craftsmanship.

Available new on

Available used on

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor

Taylor ranks amongst the top echelon of acoustic guitar manufacturers, so it's exciting to see an offering from them for a smaller, travel-sized guitar offered at a very attractive price-point.

The Baby Taylor definitely checks the box for portability. It's 3/4 dreadnaught, with a 22.75" scale length and 33.75" overall length. It has a respectable choice of materials all around, with a Tropical American Mahogany top and neck with a matte finish, layered Sapele back and sides, and ebony fingerboard.

This is an extremely light guitar and is a joy to pick up and play. The Baby Taylor's small size might pose a problem if you have particularly large hands. Aside from that, it's hard to think of any shortcomings.

It would make a perfect travel companion for any adult, and it's also a perfect size for kids. It of course is not going to project like a full-size acoustic guitar, but the sound it does produce is surprisingly good, rich, and resonant - it's a Taylor, after all.

Martin LXM Little Martin

Taylor has the Baby Taylor, and rival Martin has their own travel-sized offering, the LXM Little Martin. These two guitars are very similar in terms of sound, fit, finish, and price, so your choice might just come down to your brand allegiance!

We decided the LXM is a better fit for a travel guitar recommendation over the LX1. The LX1 features a solid spruce top, and while that's the more desirable option in terms of tonewood, it requires more maintenance and is more susceptible to the elements. The LXM has a high pressure laminate (HPL) spruce pattern top, so you don't need to worry as much about climate factors like temperature, humidity , and let's face it... pets and kids. And speaking of kids, it's a very good sized guitar for smaller kid hands.

The Martin LXM is nicely appointed and ours had a good setup, strung with Martin MSP7100 Phosphor Bronze strings and low action with minimal buzz.

This guitar has 20 frets, a 23" scale length, and 34" overall length - that's within a quarter inch of the Baby Taylor. The two guitars feel very similar in terms of playability. Even though the LXM is a fraction of the price of a flagship Martin dreadnaught, you can definitely tell that Martin warmth and richness is there in the tone - slightly less bright and sparkly than the Baby Taylor.

Overall, a fantastic travel guitar option, and resistant to the elements due to its laminate top. Don't let the low cost fool you - it's worthy of the Martin name.

Fender CT60S

Fender doesn't have the same pedigree as Martin and Taylor when it comes to acoustic guitars, but they know a thing or two about building quality instruments that musicians love to play. The Fender CT-60S is part of their "Travel" line of acoustics, and is a great option with a very attractive price tag.

It features a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back & sides. Scale length is a portable 23.5". A nice touch are the rolled fretboard edges , which makes sliding up and down the neck a little more kid and/or beginner friendly.

A good way to think about this guitar is Fender's rival to a Baby Martin or Baby Taylor, over $100 less expensive, and thus slightly less fancy appointments. For example, the saddle and nut are plastic (of course upgrading those is an easy change you can make relatively cheaply).

This all begs the question - if the Fender CT-60S looks nice, is portable and travel-worthy, and is a joy to play and listen to (which it is), do the small appointments really matter? To us, it's not critical. Fender on the headstock might not mean as much as seeing Taylor or Martin up there, but if you're more comfortable spending closer to $200 as opposed to $400, this might just be your best bet.

Cordoba Mini M

If nylon string classical guitars are more suitable for you, the Cordoba Mini M should be on your short list.

One thing to note is it's tuned from A to a (ADGCEa) - as if you put a capo on the 5th fret of a standard tuned guitar. You can retune to E if you want.

It has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. Scale length is 20" and the nut width is 1.96", so it has the feel of a full-size classical guitar (overall length is a nice and compact 30.5").

For its diminutive size, it's got a big tone. Nice and rich. The appointments are nice as well especially given its budget price, like a bone nut and saddle, and silver tuners with black buttons.

If you're a relatively new player and haven't yet built up your calluses from steel strings, or if your primary instrument is a full-size classical guitar, the very affordable Cordoba Mini M fits the bill perfectly for your travel guitar needs.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Guitar

Entrepreneur Leon Cox, founder of Traveler Guitar, set out to design a guitar for the sole purpose of being ultra-portable. While the design of the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Guitar is a far cry from a traditional guitar, rest assured this portable instrument doesn't feel all that much different.

This mostly comes down to the scale length. The 24.75" scale length means Les Paul and SG players should feel right at home . The overall length of the guitar is 28", so it should fit in most airline overhead compartments with relative ease, and it can easily be stowed in a large travel suitcase should you go that route. It weighs a measly 3 lbs.

The guitar is similar in specs to the majority of guitars in this price range. The pickup is a dual-rail humbucker, so expect results similar to that of a Duncan designed pickup. The guitar features a 1/4" output on the rear of the body when you're ready to plug in.

The hardware quality is solid. The tuners also function just as well... except they are in the guitar's body, eliminating the need for a headstock!

Unlike the Martin Backpacker, the Traveler Guitar comes with a leg rest. It’s just a thin metal frame, so it has a tendency to be a bit slippery.

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric Guitar is a great option for musicians looking for an ultra-portable electric guitar that replicates the feel of a full-sized one.

Washburn Rover

Think of the Rover as Washburn's budget offering to rival the Martin Backpacker. The two guitars are very similar in terms of size and feel.

In terms of tonewood you get a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The scale length is 23.75". The sound you get out of it is a "sit around the campfire" volume as can be expected, with a little less warmth than the Martin Backpacker.

It suffers the same playability problem as the Martin, that is you either need to use a strap to get it in a comfortable playing position, or prop it up on your thigh at a high angle.

In our experience, the set up wasn't quite up to snuff. The action was a bit high, so some truss rod adjustment was needed as well as some sanding of the saddle (luckily it comes with two saddles, in case you mess up). With a decent setup job, the playability is quite nice.

For the outdoorsman who wants a guitar to hook up to their backpack and take to the beach, hiking, camping, etc. the Washburn Rover is an ideal option with a very friendly price tag.

Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar

The Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar is a very innovative and interesting instrument. It's an acoustic-electric guitar , meaning it has onboard electronics which allow you to plug into an amp, mixing console, or headphones so you can hear yourself play. Because of this, be warned it's one of the pricier options when it comes to travel-friendly guitars.

Because there's no deep wood body, unplugged this guitar is whisper quiet. This is great if you just want to practice late-night when the family is asleep, but not so good around the campfire.

The SLG200S is geared more towards recording, and even more so to acoustic guitar performance. Plugging it into a speaker is where it truly shines.

The onboard controls include a tuner which works decently well, a volume knob, and a blend knob so you can choose how much of the sound comes from the piezo under-saddle pickup vs. SRT Powered sound (which is Yamaha's clever modeling system from recording acoustic guitars in a studio environment). Treble and bass knobs are helpful to sculpt your sound in a pinch, and you can choose to have one of three available effects active - room reverb, hall reverb, or chorus.

The I/O is pretty comprehensive. You can output straight to headphones, or plug into a mixing console, PA, amp, etc. There's even an AUX input which allows you to jam along to whatever other sound source you want (an awesome practice tool).

For portability, it's great. It has a 25" scale length and 22 frets on a rosewood fingerboard. The body of the SLG200S breaks down to fit in the included gig bag and should easily fit in overhead compartments on a plane.

Sound-wise, it's very nice. We played it through Apple earbuds, Beyerdynamic studio headphones, and plugged it into an audio interface into some JBL studio monitors. It sounds great, more or less like a mic'd acoustic guitar.

Overall, this is a very unique guitar. It solves the problem of being on stage with an acoustic guitar and dealing with feedback. Its looks are striking, which can be a good or bad thing (you get to decide). It's not a great portable guitar if you're looking for something to take to the beach or a hike - for those applications we suggest going purely acoustic. But if headphones, effects, amplification, and live performance are your needs in addition to portability, take a close look at the SLG200S.

About the authors

Mason is a freelance music gear writer that contributes to Equipboard, Reverb, TuneCore, Music Aficionado, and more. He plays the guitar and mandolin and resides in Wyoming. Read more

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The 25 Best Travel Guitars (Acoustic, Electric) In 2024

It is not easy to find the ideal travel companion as a musician as guitars are designed to perform instead of traveling. They are heavy, fragile, and sometimes too expensive to travel with and play on the go, which is always a shame as you can not play your guitar at perfect moments.

Luckily, now there are acoustic and electric guitars designed with on-the-go musicians in mind. They allow you to travel with them easily, thanks to their compact sizes, lightweight designs, and extra added durability for any case.

So here are 25 of the best guitars that can be the ideal travel companions for guitarists.

Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2

• 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top
• Layered Sapele Back
• Sides - Natural
• Neck Width 1-11/16 inch
• 6-String 3/4 Size Dreadnought
• Layered Sapele back and sides
• Tropical American Mahogany top
• Laser-Etched soundhole rosette 
• Tropical American Mahogany neck
• Ebony Fretboard
• Ebony Bridge
• Tusq Nut/Micarta Saddle 

Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2 is a compact dreadnought guitar with its 3/4-scale yet full voice. The portable guitar has a warm and sweet tone like a full-scale guitar, and it shines with its versatility for different playing styles, from strumming chords to playing with alternative tunings. 

It comes with a solid mahogany top, layered Sapele sides and back, mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard. The mahogany body gives an excellent mid-range punch and an attractive dark color. This mid-range punch is often called the bluesy edge, as mahogany guitars shine with their bluesy mid-range tones, which are ideal for genres like blues and classic rock.

Furthermore, the looks and the feel of the guitar are also amazing again, thanks to the great quality mahogany wood on the neck and the body.

Washburn Rover

• Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, matte finish
• Travel size/mini body
• Quarter sawn scalloped Sitka Spruce bracing
• ABS Rosette, Mahogany neck with 18 frets and offset dot inlay
• Solid Spruce top
• Mahogany back, sides, and neck
• Engineered wood fingerboard
• 1-11/16″ Nut Width

Equipped with a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, a full 23.75″ scale length, engineered wood fingerboard, and different color finish options, Washburn Rover is an excellent blend of feel, sound, and great looks.

Furthermore, it comes with a deluxe gig bag for safe transport. The guitar is lightweight, the smooth finish feels great in the hands, and the guitar’s sound is quite powerful and balanced. The compact guitar has 18 frets on the fretboard, which is quite enough to play on the go.

Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber

• ♫ A TASTE OF CARBON FIBER - Carbon Fiber may have become a buzzword in...
• ♫ WHY CARBON FIBER - Nova Go is made of carbon fiber composite material,...
• ♫ SOLID BUILD & EASY TO PLAY - The body of Nova Go is 1/2 sized (35 in.),...
• ♫ ZERO FRET - Also, the "Zero Fret" feature is added to this acoustic...
• 1/2 sized (33 in.) body, molded all in one piece
• “Zero Fret” feature is added to this acoustic guitar for smoother tuning
• Fret ends are polished to round edges for a more comfortable hand feel
• Comes with an EVA case, custom-made

Carbon Fiber guitars may be a topic of huge discussion, but there is no denying that they are perfect for traveling with. Often carbon fiber guitars are pretty expensive, but Enya Nova Go Carbon Fiber is an exception. The guitar is lightweight, it also feels and sounds great, but also it is pretty affordable for a carbon fiber guitar.

Carbon fiber guitars are perfect choices if you do not want to worry about temperature, humidity, or impacts. They are highly durable and resistant, so you can travel as you’d like, and this guitar will follow you without any issue.

Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo

• Piccolo cutaway style EW body Ovangkol top Ovangkol back and sides Rosewood...
• Smaller scale instruments have increased in popularity over the past few...
• From the on-the-go businessperson who needs a guitar that can fit in a...
• The EWP14OPN is a 1/3-size, steel string Piccolo acoustic guitar
• Cutaway Tenor Style EW body
• Solid Ovangkol top
• Ovangkol back & Ovangkol sides
• EWP Okoume neck
• Purpleheart fretboard
• Maple dot inlays
• Abalone Soundhole Rosette
• Chrome Die-cast Tuner machines

Ibanez EWP14OPN is a very compact instrument that has the ⅓ size of a traditional guitar. It is somewhere between a guitar and a Baritone ukulele (17”). Plus, it has an EW-style cutaway body made from Ovangkol wood, like the top and back. The EWP Okoume neck and Purpleheart fretboard also feel great in hand.

For travelers, children, and beginners, Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo is a great choice. If you are looking for a small guitar to play while on the road, you should check this one.

Journey Instruments OF660M Overhead Carbon Fiber

• The guitar can collapse into a compact size with a unique removable neck system.
• It can fit into any luggage and overhead compartment on the planes when folded.
• The carbon fiber is temperature and humidity-resistant to prevent cracks and warps.
• The Low C profile neck and 24.5” scale fretboard is a highly playable instrument.
• Easy access to all 20 frets on the fretboard thanks to the scoop away function
• Under-saddle transducer pickup provides greatly amplified tones
• Bone nut and saddle, along with the ebony bridge pins, give extra sustain, stability, and tonal richness 
•  It comes with a travel backpack with a TSA-compliant laptop foldout

Journey Instruments OF660M Overhead is another great carbon fiber guitar built for traveling musicians. It has a unique removable neck system, allowing you to assemble and disassemble the guitar in a few minutes. When disassembled, the guitar fits into a small bag that can accommodate a car’s small trunk to an airplane’s overhead compartments.

The bag is specially designed for TSA regulations, and the airport security can scan the panel on the bag, so you would not even need to open the bag.

The guitar has a peculiar shape with a deeper depth than a dreadnought. This way, the guitar delivers a powerful sound like a full-scale guitar with its small body. The offset soundhole also helps the resonance to be more powerful. Also, the proprietary bracing also gives the tone fantastic clarity.

Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey

• Solid Spruce Top w/ Laminated Maple Back & Sides, Midnight Sapphire Color...
• 25" Scale Standard "U" Maple Neck w/ Rosewood Fingerboard
• Built-In Chromatic Tuner w/ On/Off Switch, Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble...
• Rosewood Bridge & Deluxe Die-Cast Tuners
• Highly playable parlor-style acoustics for powerful volume
• Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup provides great tones and volume
• Basswood body with supported X-bracing for enriched tones
• Walnut fretboard with a 24-inch scale
• Walnut bridge with synthetic bone saddle
• Vintage frets, open-gear die-cast tuning machines, and pin strap

One of the earliest instruments of Gretsch was the Gin Rickey from their Roots collection. This reissue of the vintage guitar is an excellent instrument with the smooth walnut fingerboard and 24-inch scale nato neck. Thanks to the classic parlor-style design and Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup, the volume is amazing for the size.

The compact and lightweight guitar is a great travel companion and delivers a big, bold, and full sound for live performances, practices, or recording on the go.

Cordoba Mini II M

• Comfortable 1/2 size guitar, with standard tuning
• Layered Mahogany top, back and sides
• Nub one nut, 1. 875" Width
• C-profile Mahogany neck; 22. 875" Scale Length
• Layered Mahogany top, back, and sides
• Nub one nut, 1. 875″ Width
• C-profile Mahogany neck; 22. 875″ Scale Length
• Satin polyurethane Body and neck finish

This guitar is light and portable for those on the move or for younger learners. It has the feel of a guitar but with the sound of a ukulele. It is a well-made instrument with a good tone.

The neck is quite wide for a small guitar, and there are some limitations with regard to the range of tones that the Cordoba Mini can produce. Nevertheless, it will be ideal for use at open mic nights or on trips away with the walking group. Not so sure about the strings that came with it, though. The fourth string is already on its way out, and it has been less than a month since I purchased the instrument. 

Taylor GS Mini-e

• Great looking and sounding solid koa top
• Excellent tones with the Hawaiian Koa back and sides
• Comfort and high playability with Sapele neck and ebony fingerboard
• Great koa grain patterns on the body without a pickguard
• Good ES-B pickup
• 5mm Dot fretboard inlays, chrome tuners, and 3-ring rosette accent

One of the best and most popular travel guitars is the GS Mini-E model of the great Taylor Guitars. The guitar is inspired by the Taylor’s Grand Symphony (GS) body shape but built with portability in mind. It offers great playability in comfortable travel size and fantastic sound with a full-voiced and tonally rich sound palette.

The guitar features an Expression System-B that uses a proprietary pickup behind the saddle instead of under-saddle piezo transducers. The custom-designed preamp system delivers a hotter signal up to %25. The overall sound is very natural, rich in dynamic range, and highly responsive, thanks to these innovative approaches from Taylor.

Luna Safari Acoustic-Electric

• Design by Alex Morgan
• Body: 3/4 Travel
• Top: Select Spruce
• Outstanding performance and looks for a great price
• Great artistic design made by lasers
• Dynamic and expressive spruce top
• Rich mahogany back and sides
• Comfortable 3/4-sized Dreadnought body style

Luna Safari is yet another great travel-size acoustic-electric guitar made from high-quality woods such as dynamic spruce and mahogany. The dreadnought 3/4 size body is quite comfortable to hold and sounds good with enough punch, balance, and overall output volume.

One of the most significant aspects of this guitar is its looks. Luna Safari has great artistic touches made from a laser and luna Pearloid dots on the fretboard. It also has a nonboard preamp with 3-band EQ, master volume, and phase controls. Plus, the onboard tuner is convenient on the stage or in the house.

Martin Backpacker

• Solid Spruce Top
• Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
• Unique Contour Neck Shape
• Features 24-Inch Scale Length
• Features 15 Frets

Martin Backpacker is a trendy travel guitar thanks to the Martin quality and reliability. The compact guitar features a solid spruce top and solid tonewood back and sides. The rich and warm sound of the high-quality woods makes it one of the best-sounding travel guitars.

Furthermore, it is very light, around 2.5 lbs, and the guitar comes with a great padded-back gig bag for safe traveling and a Martin woven strap. It only has 15 frets with a 24-inch scale, but the sound is so fantastic you will not be looking for the extra frets.

Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

• Built-in headphone amp with clean, boost, overdrive, & distortion
• Aux-in for jamming with your mobile device
• Active ESP designed humbucker
• Carved top and beveled neck heel
• Built-in conjunction with ESP LTD
• 24.75″-scale guitar in a 28.5″ frame
• Compact design to fit in a luggage
• Resonant mahogany body
• ALH-200B active humbucker
• Built-in headphone amplifier with onboard distortion
• 1/8″ auxiliary input

Traveler Guitar’s LTD EC-1 shines with its full scale and handy features that you’d expect from an ideal guitar on the road. The compact body with a full 24.75″-scale, an active humbucker, onboard headphone amp , and aux input are great touches for versatility. Plus, the guitar can easily fit anywhere from a piece of luggage to airplane overhead compartments.

The looks of the guitar are also pretty sleek. It is small but does not feel small in hand. It is one of the greatest innovative travel guitar designs ever made.

Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH

• 100% Designed by Fender
• Thin and lightweight body
• Dual humbucking pickups
• Sealed die-cast tuning machines
• 3/4-size Jazzmaster guitar, perfect for young and-or entry-level players
• Great humbucker pickups
• Real maple neck and fingerboard
• Comfortable slim “C” neck profile and 22.75-inch scale length
• Chrome hardware
• Hardtail 6-saddle bridge

Jazzmaster Squier Mini Jazzmaster HH might be ideal for you if you want a smaller version of an iconic guitar to travel with. It comes with a HH pickup layout with great-sounding two humbucking pickups. The sound is much bigger than the compact guitar’s size and instantly gets you ready to rock n’ roll.

The 3/4 sized guitar comes with a three-way toggle switch, single volume knob, and single tone knob layout. Plus, it has a short 22.75-inch scale making the barre chords and long stretches easier for beginners and small-handed players. The mini C-shaped neck is highly comfortable and playable, while the maple neck feels great and smooth.

PRS SE Parlor P20E

• 6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Mahogany Top
• Ebony Fingerboard - Pink Lotus
• Mahogany Neck
• Compact parlor sized acoustic-electric guitar.
• Made from the solid mahogany top, back, and sides for a rich and warm tone
• Fishman GT1 under-saddle pickup system 
• Mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard
• Great looking herringbone rosette and accents
• Bone nut and saddle for enriched tone support

PRS SE Parlor P20E is ideal for players looking for a parlor-sized yet full-sounding acoustic-electric guitar. The guitar has an eye-catching look with its traditional acoustic appearance combined with modern adornments and embellishments. The construction quality is impressive with the solid mahogany top, X-brace/classical hybrid bracing, herringbone rosette and accents, and a bone nut and saddle. 

The electronics also perform great as the Fishman GT1 under-saddle pickup system delivers powerful tones. The crystal-clear sound and ample projection are great features to go with the PRS SE Parlor P20E, along with its comfortable neck, easy-to-pack, and travel with system.

Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe

• Travel-size compact guitar with a full-scale and S-style body
• Made of poplar and maple wood
• 3 single-coil pickups layout
• Vintage type tremolo
• 5 lbs weight and 33.75 inches long
• Comes with a padded gig bag

As the name suggests, Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe was created with mobility in mind. The 25.5-inch scale length, solid body from poplar, maple necks, fingerboard, and 5 lbs weight make the guitar great for playing on the road with the sound of a traditional guitar.

The 3 single-coil pickups design and traditional controls give you good versatility and make it feel like playing a Strat. The vintage-style tremolo gives extra sustain and control. Finally, it comes with a padded gig bag, and its compact size can fit most luggage and overhead airplane compartments.

Martin LXK2 Little Martin

• Koa Wood Pattern HPL Textured Finish
• Natural Stratabond neck
• Richlite fingerboard material
• Rosewood bridge
• Padded gig bag

Another great travel guitar by Martin is the Martin LXK2 Little Martin model. The guitar features a Koa wood pattern high-pressure laminate on the body, top, back, sides, and headstock. The fretboard and the bridge are made with rosewood, while the neck is created from natural Stratabond. The great Martin workmanship can be felt all over the instruments as the guitar sounds quite fantastic.

The instrument is highly durable and comfortable to play. The pick-up-and-play design makes it highly easy to play the guitar, and the padded gig bag gives extra safety for the road. 

Journey Instruments FP412 FirstClass Parlor

• FINALLY A FULL SIZE GUITAR THAT'S EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU - Our mini travel...
• QUALITY SOUND SYSTEM TO AMAZE THE CROWD - Traditional sound-hole boasts a...
• BACKPACKER’S HEAVEN - Fit our premium TSA compliant carry-on backpack on...
• LIFETIME WARRANTY - Your satisfaction is guaranteed! Our stainless steel...
• Travel-ready, collapsible acoustic-electric delivers outstanding tone and playability.
• Patented collapsible neck system that lets you detach and reattach the guitar neck with just a few simple clicks and turns
• It easily fits inside its included travel backpack and into overhead bins on planes.
• Solid spruce top and solid Sapele body for exceptionally rich acoustic tone
• A proprietary under-bridge transducer pickup system delivers stellar amplified acoustic tone.
• Ovangkol Bridge and bone nut and saddle add to the rich tone.

When you need portability and great tone, the FP412 FirstClass Solid Sitka/Sapele Parlor acoustic-electric from Journey Instruments is an amazing instrument that truly has to be experienced to be believed. The FP412 features Journey Instrument’s patented collapsible neck system that lets you detach and reattach the guitar neck with just a few simple clicks and turns, letting you easily fit the FP412 inside its included travel backpack and into overhead bins on planes.

This traditional parlor acoustic features a solid spruce top and solid Sapele body for a vibrant acoustic tone. A solid Sapele neck with carbon fiber reinforcement is beautifully playable and responsive. When you are ready for the plugin, a Proprietary under-bridge transducer pickup system delivers stellar amplified acoustic tone.

Gretsch G5021E Rancher Penguin 

• Body Body type: Parlor Cutaway: Non-cutaway Top wood: Spruce Solid Back &...
• The G5021WPE Rancher Penguin Parlor Acoustic/Electric delivers classic...
• The Isys III pickup/preamp system provides a modern sonic complement to...
• Elegant look with gold hardware, unique finish, and headstock designs
• Maple back and sides, solid spruce top delivers great sonic performance with a punchy direct tone
• Fishman Presys III pickup system for top-quality sound
• U shaped neck for increased playability and comfort
• Compact parlor body shape for extra mobility

Gretsch G5021E Rancher Penguin is one of the top-quality travel-sized acoustic-electric guitars with its Rancher style from the ’50s. The iconic looks with triangle soundhole and compact design combined with the great sound of the instrument make this one the ideal travel guitar for acoustic guitar lovers.

The unique look of the guitar is pretty elegant and eye-catching. The high-quality wood used in the construction delivers amazing tones, while the Fishman Presys III helps fantastically to amplify the sound when necessary. 

The natural timbre is present without any coloration with the pickup. You can also shape your sound with volume mid-sweep and bass knobs on the control board of the guitar. Plus, it also has a chromatic tuner.

Takamine GY93 New Yorker 

• Solid spruce top, rosewood sides and a stunning three piece rosewood/quilt...
• Slim mahogany neck and 12"-radius bound rosewood fingerboard provide great...
• Split-saddle design of the rosewood bridge provides superior intonation for...
• Maple body, neck and headstock binding
• Parlor-style guitar with a unique tone
• Solid spruce top for the extra resonant body along with X-bracing for extra volume output
• Maple center with 3-piece walnut back for tonal flexibility and high definition
• Mahogany neck with laurel fretboard on top
• 20 frets with dot inlays on the fingerboard
• Gold finished machine heads

When it comes to acoustic guitars, Takamine is one of the most reliable and popular brands on the market. The GY93 New Yorker model shines with its parlor-style construction, compact size for mobility, and high-quality woods such as solid spruce top, maple center, mahogany back and neck, and laurel fretboard. The sound of the guitar is fantastic, just like its pretty look, all thanks to the high-quality wood used in the workmanship.

The neck is highly slim for an acoustic guitar, making it an extremely comfortable and fun-to-play guitar. The 12-inch radius laurel fingerboard has a fantastic feel to it, and the playability is in the sky.

Furthermore, it has a Takamine TK-40D preamp system with a built-in tuner, three-band EQ, gain controls, notch filter, EQ bypass, and a mid contour switch for increased versatility and sound quality.

Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany

• This full parlor guitar is part of our all mahogany Gypsy series which...
• A surprisingly affordable price is paired with elegant features
• Features walnut stringers at the back, Luna's signature moon phase fret...
• This acoustic is ideal for finger-style players who desire a powerful punch...
• Mahogany top, back, and sides
• Mahogany set neck, C profile
• Black walnut fingerboard, 14″ radius, MOP Moon Phase inlays
• 25.25″ scale length, 21 frets
• 1.6875″ nut
• Black walnut bridge
• Chrome sealed die-cast tuners.

Parlor-sized guitars are great for traveling with, as you probably have figured out by now. This one, Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany, is a relatively affordable acoustic travel guitar with a big sound that you would not expect from such a compact body.

The guitar features a great-looking mahogany top, back, and sides, along with blackwood stringers on the backside of the neck. The black walnut fingerboard has a 14” radius and is quite comfortable to play with. Another great detail is the Luna signature MOP moon phase design of the dot inlays.

There is also a Celtic-themed rosette which looks fantastic with the quality tonewoods. The sound is pretty warm and clear, with great mid frequencies. The neck has a C-shaped profile that is great for beginners and small-handed players. For the price offered, Luna Gypsy Parlor Mahogany is a great travel acoustic guitar with its comfortable playability and amazing sonic performance.

Fender PS-220E

• Compact sized parlor guitar from Fender with traditional and modern features combines
• Sitka spruce top and mahogany body for warm and natural sound
• C-shaped mahogany neck with ovangkol fretboard
• Fender-Fishman Sonitone Plus Soundhole pickup system for organic amplified tones
• Ovangkol bridge, ebony pins, open-back tuners for a traditional appearance

If you are after the Fender quality for your travel guitar, Fender PS-220E is a great choice. It is inspired by parlor guitars and combines the traditional features with modern enhancements for amazing looks and sonic performance. The guitar performs and looks fantastic with the mixture of high-quality tonewoods, including mahogany, Sitka spruce, and ovangkol.

The acoustic-electric guitar has a highly resonant tone which is organically reflected by the Fender-Fishman Sonitone Plus Soundhole pickup system. The sound of the natural woody tones gives impressive results, while the volume and blend controls are there to help you shape your tone as you would like. It is a great overall guitar in terms of sound and feel, as you would expect from Fender.

Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor

• The KALA solid Cedar top Parlor guitar is a smaller-bodied guitar
• Its tone is very warm and full-bodied and pleasant without being...
• It is dressed in walnut Binding with herringbone purfling, an ebony...
• Every solid Cedar top Parlor guitar come with a gig bag, making this...
• The solid cedar top 
• Mahogany back and sides 
• Comfortable mahogany neck
• Easy-playing 19-fret ebony fingerboard
• Toneful bone nut and saddle
• Light-diffusing satin finish

Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor is one of the most portable guitars on the list. It is a great choice for recording, songwriting, or performing while on the road with its lightweight and compact design. The guitar features a solid cedar top, mahogany back, sides, and neck, an ebony fingerboard with 19 frets, as well as a toneful bone nut and saddle. The light-diffusing sating finish looks excellent and adds to the elegance of the instrument.

The playability of the guitar is extremely high thanks to the smooth neck, balanced weight, and 19-fret ebony fingerboard. Thanks to the bone nut and saddle, the sustain and tone are increased. 

The price range is also great for this guitar as it can be considered affordable. The small body, big sound, and fantastic looks make this guitar ear, eye, and budget pleasing all at the same time.

Guild P-240 Memoir

• 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Solid Spruce Top
• Pau Ferro Fingerboard - Natural
• Mahogany Back and Sides
• Mahogany back and sides align with solid spruce top
• Outstanding mahogany neck with Pau Ferro fingerboard for increased comfort and playability
• X-bracing for enhanced tone
• 24.75-inch scale length and 19 frets 
• Mother-of-pearl rosette and vintage-inspired Guild script logo on the slotted headstock 

Guild P-240 Memoir is another compact yet big-sounding guitar for singers and songwriters. The parlor size and the lightweight are ideal for traveling with the instrument. The woods used in the construction are mahogany for the back, sides, and the neck, Pau Ferro for the fretboard, and solid spruce for the top. The combination of the woods provides a rich, full and varied tone.

The guitar has 19 frets and a 24.75” scale length which is ideal for fingerpicking and flatpicking. The Pau Ferro fingerboard feels great and plays incredibly well on the 16” radius C-shaped neck profile.

The guitar is one of the best travel guitars for recording as it provides amazing tones with a natural woody touch.

Squier Mini Strat Electric

• Three single-coil pickups
• 3/4-size Stratocaster-style guitar, for the traveler or younger players
• 3 single-coil pickup configuration like a traditional Stratocaster
• Great-feeling maple neck
• Indian Laurel fretboard
• Traditional vintage-style large headstock
• Chrome-finished tuners and hardware
• Hardtail bridge with 6 saddles

The Squier Mini Strat is the perfect choice for guitarists who are after a compact Stratocaster while on the road. It is also a great entry-level guitar for younger players and beginners. Just like a traditional Stratocaster, it comes with three single-coil pickups, tone and master volume controls, a 5-way pickup switch, and the famous great-feeling maple neck of Strats.

The guitar’s sonic versatility is impressive, just like a genuine Stratocaster. You can shape the sound with tone and volume controls and a pickup switcher. Thanks to the real maple neck and Indian Laurel fingerboard, the neck is highly playable and comfortable. 

The guitar also looks great with its vintage design and large headstock. There are multiple color options for different tastes as well. Overall, it is the perfect guitar for kids, small-handed players, and musicians on the move.

Fender Sonoran Mini Acoustic Guitar

• Fender-exclusive Sonoran Mini body shape
• Spruce or mahogany top with scalloped “X” bracing; mahogany back and...
• ¾ body size; 23.3” scale length
• Nato neck with slim-taper "C"-shaped profile; walnut fingerboard and bridge
• Classical acoustic guitar with a vintage design
• Compact sized body for improved playability and comfort
• High-quality mahogany top, back, and sides for warm tones
• C-shaped neck and Walnut fingerboard for increased playability and comfort
• Short scale length for portability and softer string feel

Fender Sonoran Mini is a unique travel-sized acoustic guitar equipped with a scaled-down, all-mahogany body for meaty, beefy, and present tones. The guitar competes with full-scale guitars in terms of sound as its innovative and high-quality design provides impressive tonal versatility and richness. 

The compact size and lightweight are ideal for traveling with this guitar. You can use it on the stage, in the studio, on the street, or wherever you are without any hesitation. Thanks to the C-shaped neck and Walnut fingerboard, the guitar also looks pretty good, and the neck feels great in hand.

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line

• 6-string 3/4-sized acoustic-electric guitar with spruce top
• Meranti back and sides
• Hardwood neck
• The compact version of Yamaha’s iconic and popular APX500 acoustic-electric guitar
• The 3/4 size is perfect for a travel companion instrument
• The high-quality tonewoods deliver natural and balanced acoustic tones
• ART-based preamp and System 68 contact pickup provides amazing amplified sound when plugged in
• Built-in-tuner and volume-tone controls come in handy for tone shaping and getting ready for playing

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-size Thin-line is a versatile travel-sized 3/4 acoustic-electric guitar for musicians on the go. The guitar blends quality, performance, looks, and versatility in one pot, offering one of the best travel companions. It can also be a great choice for small-handed players.

The guitar has the APXT2 with a System 68 contact pickup and active preamp for plugged-in performance, which successfully reflects the balanced and natural tones of the guitar provided by the high-quality tonewoods. Plus, it comes with a great gig bag to carry it around with.

Travel guitars come in so many shapes and forms. They are different in size and style. Whether you need acoustic or electric, there is a lot to choose from. Today, fortunately, companies improved travel guitars a lot, and they are much more functional than travel guitars in the past. Most of them really are pretty inexpensive, and if you travel a lot, buying one is a no-brainer.

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Last update on 2024-04-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I have been playing guitar since 2004. As long as I can remember I always had a huge passion for rock music and I extremely enjoy playing it. Helping people on their rock journey is what drives me to keep on playing. Read More About Me

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The Best Travel Guitars: Top 5 Picks

By: Author Jodie Chiffey

Posted on Last updated: January 31, 2023

Today we’ll be talking through some of our favorite travel electric guitars.

We’ll take a closer look at five of the best models out there, outline the pros and cons of each before giving you an idea of who we think each model best suits. Some of the most common FAQs will also be tackled so read on and you’ll be well equipped to choose your next travel-sized guitar.

For the most dedicated of players, having a trusty guitar with you at all times means you can play to your heart’s content whenever inspiration strikes. Maybe you’re sitting on a beach somewhere or watching the sunset from the top of a mountain when the perfect riff or set of chords pop into your head.

Well, fear not, getting yourself a travel guitar could be the perfect solution!

The travel guitar market is filled with plenty of options to suit all needs and styles of play. From miniature electric guitars right through to shrunken acoustic options and everything in between, there’s sure to be the right option for you.

These bespoke instruments are designed purely with portability in mind, with some incredibly clever designs that allow them to be ultra-compact and lightweight whilst also sounding as good as their larger counterparts.

Before we dive in and take an in-depth look into our five favorite travel guitars, let’s take a look at an overview of what you can expect from each one.

5 of the Best Travel Guitars

What exactly is a travel guitar.

A travel guitar is exactly that, a guitar that is designed to travel easily with. They achieve the desired levels of portability and mobility through a few clever design tricks. Firstly, the overall body is built to a much lighter spec. This usually involves reducing the overall size and using much lighter materials during construction.

Secondly, travel guitars often include a number of clever space-saving solutions, such as inventive tuning methods and well-thought-out storage options. Lastly, travel guitars are designed to be sturdy.

The overall build is much less delicate than your standard instrument as they are designed to be carried around a lot, thrown into the back of vehicles, and manhandled to a much greater extent.

Whilst portability, mobility, and reliability are the name of the game, there are other elements that cannot be overlooked. Who would buy any guitar if it didn’t sound good? That’s right, the key to the success of any travel guitar is to not only nail the travel elements but to nail the tone and overall sound too.

What Makes Travel Guitars so Different?

Due to the manufacturer’s quest for portability, travel guitars can often appear dramatically different from their more traditional counterparts. It is not uncommon to see electric guitars with little or nobody at all and some models even skip the headstock altogether.

Despite the often considerable difference in appearances, there are certain elements that all guitars, whether travel-sized or not, simply must-have. Tuning pegs and a bridge, for example, must be present in all models.

This means that the overall playing experience can differ from what you are familiar with and may take some getting used to. It is imperative that you select a model that will suit your style!

What are the Key Features of a Travel Guitar?

When it comes to the design of these specialist guitars, there are often two ways that the manufacturers go about it. The first is to essentially take a full-sized traditional guitar and shrink it down until it is deemed portable enough.

This approach works well as it allows the guitars to retain an element of familiarity and is often a popular choice for younger players or those who are slightly less experienced musicians.

The second is totally redesign the instrument from the ground up. Doing this often leads to elements of the guitar being totally repositioned and can alter the playing experience significantly.

Don’t be put off though, the company making these types of travel guitars have put millions of dollars into their research and development and often come up with innovative designs that are both portable and, crucially, playable.

Who Uses Travel Guitars?

At their core travel guitars are designed for musicians who want to take their instrument with them wherever they are in the world. They may just be heading off on vacation or planning a 6 month round the world trip but wherever they go, their guitar needs to go with them.

Alternatively, travel guitars have proved to be a popular choice with children who are not yet big enough to play a full-sized instrument. In fact, one of the guitars on our list actually started out as a design specifically aimed at kids!

In terms of style and genres, there is a travel guitar to suit all. The modern range available of electric, acoustic , and acoustic-electric options means no genre and no playing style is left uncatered for.

5 of The Best Travel Guitars Currently Available

Taylor baby taylor acoustic guitar – a classic acoustic design that produces outstanding tones.

The Taylor Baby Taylor actually started life as a guitar designed for children to play. Its compact size but the familiar layout was intended to allow younger musicians to get used to the feel of an acoustic guitar before graduating to a full-sized model.

It turned out that the design and build were so good that even players well suited to using regular-sized guitars found the sound of the Baby Taylor was perfectly good enough for them, far exceeding the expectations of a ‘learner’ model. The logical result was that the Baby Taylor became a very successful and generally well-respected traveler’s instrument.

Its classic dreadnought looks are ¾ of the size of a normal Taylor and the included gig bag makes it ultra-portable whilst being easy on the wallet. If the more outlandish designs aren’t for you then the Baby Taylor could well be a perfect choice.

Specifications

• ¾ sized dreadnought
• Solid Sitka Spruce top wood
• Layered Walnut on the back and sides
• Taylor Standard Baby X-bracing pattern
• Satin varnish finish
• Standard Taylor Baby profile
• 1 11/16-inch (42.8 mm) nut width
• Genuine African ebony fingerboard
• Sapele neck wood
• 22-¾-inch scale length
• Copafera headstock overlay
• Chrome Baby tuners & buttons
• Genuine African ebony bridge
• Micarta saddle & Nubone nut
• Taylor Deluxe Baby gig bag included
• Produces some of the best tones on our list
• Excellent build quality
• Players with larger hands may struggle

Martin Steel-String Backpacker Acoustic Guitar – A Unique Aesthetic That Won’t Appeal to Everyone

With the Martin Steel-String Backpacker , we have the first example of a guitar that has been radically changed and redesigned to fit the portability brief. Although the looks of this travel guitar won’t appeal to everyone, you can be sure that Martin has managed to deliver crisp and clear tones despite the redesign.

The solid Mahogany used in the construction of the body really helps this little guitar kick out a more than the respectable level of volume. With a name like Martin behind this one, you can rest assured you are purchasing a quality product.

This model in particular has been designed with the traveler in mind. By that, we mean that not only has it been shrunk in size, but the construction has also made this model tougher than a lot of the other options on our list.

This means that the Martin Steel-String Backpacker is the ideal choice for those planning on taking their travel guitar away on camping or hiking trips. 

• Mahogany back, neck & sides
• Chrome tuners that are enclosed
• Small, ultra-lightweight size
• Padded gig bag included for portability and protection on the road
• Creates a good level of volume
• Super easy to travel with
• Great tones
• Visually, this guitar won’t appeal to everyone

Travelcaster Deluxe Electric Travel Guitar – A Lightweight Take on a Heavyweight Electric Guitar World

The Stratocaster is an instantly recognizable electric guitar that has been around for decades. But what happens when you want to take yours away on holiday with you? Well, unless you want to be lugging around your full-sized model then you should seriously consider getting yourself a Travelcaster Deluxe Guitar !

Coming in at only 5bls, the Travelcaster is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than its older brother. Despite this difference in size, we found it to provide a pretty good version of the classic Stratocaster experience. If you can get over it visually and need your travel guitar to be electric, this is a pretty awesome one to go for.

For guitarists on the go, there aren’t too many better options. It features three single-coil pickups , one volume control, two tone controls, and a five-way pickup selection.

• Poplar body
• 1.75 inches thick
• 9 inches wide
• Bolt-on construction
• 9.5-inch neck radius
• 1.65-inch width at the nut
• Maple fingerboard
• 22 medium/jumbo frets
• Passive electronics including tone. volume, & 5-way switch
• 3-inch overall depth
• 33.75-inch overall length
• 3 ceramic single-coil pickups
• Gigbag included
• A great option if you need an electric model
• Classic Strat feel and playing experience
• Portable & lightweight
• It may not appeal to everyone. Some may say the original Strat design shouldn’t have changed or tampered with in any way.

Hofner Shorty Electric Travel Guitar – An Electric Travel Guitar That Has Withstood the Test of Time

Originally designed and brought out by Hofner in the 1980s the Shorty Electric Guitar has proved to be a popular choice for the guitarist on the go ever since.

One of the reasons for this is that it provides that full-scale feel and familiarity a lot of players automatically look for. This full-length scale combined with its shrunken body results in one of the comfiest and best playing experiences you can get from a travel guitar.

There’s a classic Maplewood and Rosewood combination on the fretboard and neck whilst the humbucker situated on the bridge is beefy enough to blast even the most demanding of riffs.

The playability of this travel guitar is really why it made our list, along with the price. At such a low price point you really can’t go wrong. There are other models on our list that perhaps sound a little better but the Hofner Shorty is a brilliant choice if you’re not looking to break the bank.

• Basswood top & back
• Rosewood fingerboard
• 24.7-inch (62.8cm) length scale
• 42mm nut width
• Hofner Open Humbucker
• Hofner gig bag included
• Ultra-lightweight & portable
• Good quality for the price
• The overall sound isn’t as good as other options on our list

Traveler Guitar Escape Mark III Acoustic-Electric Guitar – A Full-Scale Option for the Distinguished Guitarist On-The-Go

This is a really cool piece of kit. If you’re looking to take a no-compromise approach to your playing then this could well be the model for you. Featuring internal tuning pegs and extensive onboard electrics, the Escape Mark III allows you to put on a show no matter where you are.

The internal tuning pegs mean there is effectively no headstock at all. Visually this is quite something to get over but it allows for portability whilst sacrificing little to no loss of sound quality.

At 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard electric-acoustic guitar, you’ll have no trouble carrying this thing around whilst the integrated electrics include things like a headphone port, an under-saddle Shadow NanoFlex piezo system, tuner, and aux-in. The overall package is perfect for just about any player.

The only downside with the Mark III is the price. It comes in as the most expensive model on our list in quite some way. Depending on how you intend to use your travel guitar and where you actually intend on traveling with it, it may be worth considering some of the cheaper options.

Of course, if the optimum sound is your thing and budget isn’t an issue then we say go for it! If, however, you’re concerned your portable companion may be exposed to a few more bumps and scrapes than your dreadnought at home then maybe consider a slightly cheaper model.

• Travel body
• Single cutaway
• Mahogany or alder wood back & sides
• Modified traditional bracing pattern
• Natural satin body finish
• 1.75-inch (44.45 mm) nut width
• Black walnut fingerboard
• Mahogany or maple neck wood
• 25.5-inch scale length
• Satin Finish
• Shadow pickup
• The best sounding guitar on our list
• Excellent electronic components
• Rich sounds when amplified
• High-quality materials used
• It’s the most expensive guitar on our list

Question: Do Travel Guitars Sound Different from Regular Guitars?

Answer: Generally speaking, yes. Due to the change in size, you will find that there may be significant changes in sound. This is particularly prevalent in acoustic models as they rely on their large bodies to convey their sounds. However, you can still expect to notice a difference in electric guitars too due to the modifications made to the electrical elements. This is not to say the overall sounds will be any worse, just that they may differ from what you are used to.

Question: Can You Use Regular Guitar Strings in a Travel Guitar?

Answer: Yes, you can. In the vast majority of cases, you are free to put your favorite strings in your travel guitar or replace them as they break. However, it is always advisable to check with the individual manufacturers before you do so just in case.

Question: Are Travel Guitars Good for Beginners?

Answer: Yes, they are perfect for beginners ! Travel guitars make ideal starting instruments as their smaller size makes them generally easier to navigate when starting out. They are often much less complicated than their full-sized counterparts and are therefore easier to play. The problem is when learning you may outgrow a travel guitar pretty quickly. Also worth noting is that due to their size and weight, travel guitars can often be the ideal models for children when starting out.

Question: How Can I Take Care of My Guitar Whilst Traveling?

Answer: There are many things to remember when taking care of your guitar . When we travel with our favorite instruments there are extra things we have to worry about to ensure no harm comes to them.

For example, it is imperative that you invest in a good quality bag that will offer a level of protection as well as portability. Many models will come with a perfectly good bag but it is always worth checking that it will give you enough protection.

Another thing to remember is to loosen your strings whilst in transit. This guards against any nasty surprises when you get to the other side, the pressure and temperature changes often experienced during a flight are well known to regularly damage guitar strings.

The Final Word: Which is The Best Travel Guitar

Choosing your perfect travel companion will come down largely to your budget and where you’re traveling to. If you’re not looking to break the bank and just want to have a little fun whilst you’re away then you can’t beat the Hofner Shorty Electric for the price.

If, however, you’re uncompromising and want nothing but the best whilst on your travels, then the Traveler Escape Mark III could well be your perfect choice.

For us though, when looking through the huge range of choices available to the traveling guitarist we kept coming back to the Taylor Baby Taylor . A classic design and beautiful tonal range married with a price tag that doesn’t instantly put you off did it for us.

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The 8 Best Travel Electric Guitars: The Cream of the Crop

• August 16, 2023

Are you a wanderer at heart, searching for the best travel electric guitar to accompany you on your adventures?

Look no further because we’ve scoured the market to bring you the top electric guitars for traveling. These babies will ignite your musical journey like never before.

So strap on your backpack and get ready to rock because we’re about to unveil the ultimate musical companions for your globetrotting escapades!

Key Takeaways

• Electric travel guitars are compact and lightweight, making them easy to transport.
• They have high-quality pickups and electronics, ensuring professional sound.
• Durability is an essential factor to consider when buying one.
• Electric travel guitars offer versatility and convenience, allowing musicians to play music while traveling.

Table of Contents

What is an electric travel guitar.

An electric travel guitar is a compact and portable instrument that allows you to play music while on the go easily.

The traveler guitar is one popular choice among musicians who frequently travel or perform on the road. It is designed to be lightweight and easy to carry, making it ideal for those who want to take their music with them wherever they go.

The key advantage is its size and weight. Unlike traditional electric guitars, which can be heavy and bulky, a travel guitar is designed to be smaller and more portable. This makes it easier to transport, whether traveling by car, plane, or train.

Another option to consider is an acoustic travel guitar. These guitars are specifically designed for portability and often come with a collapsible or detachable neck for easy storage in a backpack or suitcase.

When considering your options, it’s essential to think about what features are most important to you. Do you prioritize portability? Or perhaps sound quality? By identifying your needs and preferences, you’ll be able to find the perfect guitar that suits your playing style and musical tastes.

Considerations When Buying an Electric Travel Guitar

When shopping for a compact guitar to take on your trips, it’s essential to consider a few factors before purchasing.

Here are four considerations to keep in mind when buying:

• Size of the Guitar: Look for a smaller-sized body that is comfortable to carry and doesn’t compromise sound quality. Compact guitars are designed specifically for traveling and are easier to transport.
• Pickup: Make sure the travel electric guitar has a good pickup system . This will allow you to plug into an amplifier or recording device, ensuring that your music sounds great even on the go.
• Quality of Construction: Check the build quality of the guitar. Look for solid construction and durable materials that can withstand frequent travel without any damage.
• Travel Case: A sturdy and protective case is essential for keeping your guitar safe during transportation. Ensure the case fits properly and protects against bumps and knocks.

What Are the Key Features of an Electric Travel Guitar?

One important feature to consider when choosing a compact guitar for travel is the size of the body. A smaller and lighter guitar will be much easier to carry around, making it ideal for musicians on the go. However, it’s essential not to sacrifice sound quality and playability in favor of portability.

There are many great options available on the market today that cater specifically to traveling musicians. From small travel guitars with full-scale necks to lightweight electric travel guitars designed with professionals in mind, there is something to suit every musician’s needs. Considering these key features, you can find the perfect instrument that allows you to make music wherever your travels take you.

Who Uses Electric Travel Guitars?

Musicians who frequently travel often opt for travel guitars due to their compact size and portability. These small guitars are explicitly designed for musicians on the go, making them an excellent choice for those who want to continue playing while traveling.

Here are some reasons why many musicians choose travel guitars:

• Portability: They are lightweight and easy to carry, making them ideal for musicians who need to pack light.
• Versatility: These guitars offer acoustic and electric capabilities, allowing you to switch between sounds depending on your preference or performance requirements.
• Space-saving: Their smaller size takes up less space than regular-sized instruments, making them easier to fit in cramped spaces like tour buses or airplanes.
• Affordable options: While expensive models are available, budget-friendly options provide excellent quality without breaking the bank.

The Best Travel Electric Guitars

Check out the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light, Stewart Electric Travel Guitar – Stow-Away, Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric, Donner HUSH, and Hofner 6 String Shorty.

These compact and portable instruments are perfect for musicians on the go. Whether traveling for gigs or simply wanting a guitar that’s easy to take with you wherever you roam, these options offer excellent sound quality and convenience.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light is the perfect solution if you’re a traveling musician. This compact electric guitar is substantially shorter and lighter than full-size electrics, making it easy to fit in an airline overhead compartment.

With its one-piece Eastern American hard Maple neck-through-body design and dual-rail humbucker pickup, this guitar offers excellent sound quality and playability. The proprietary In-Body tuning system ensures that your guitar stays in tune, even during travel.

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Ultra-Light is a portable and travel-friendly version of your favorite at-home…
• PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System eliminates the need for a…
• COMPACT TRANSIT: Forget lugging around your full-sized electric guitar and worrying about it getting…

Product Specs:

• Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 32 x 12 x 5 inches
• Scale Length: 24.75
• Fretboard Material: Walnut Wood
• Compact size guitar allows for easy travel and portability
• High-quality build and materials ensure durability
• Dual-rail humbucker pickup provides excellent sound quality
• Limited color options are available
• Some users may prefer a different pickup configuration
• Not suitable for players who require a longer scale length

Stewart Electric Travel Guitar – Stow-Away

The Stewart Electric Travel Guitar – Stow-Away is a convenient option for frequently traveling musicians. With its full-scale collapsible design and backpack travel case, this guitar provides performance quality that feels and plays like your favorite instrument. The patented Clip-JointTM removable neck connection system allows easy assembly and disassembly, making it ideal for packing in tight spaces or carrying on flights.

• Full-Scale Guitar (Collapsible)
• Backpack Travel Case Included
• Patented Clip-JointTM Removable Neck Connection System
• Meets Airline Industry Carry-on Size Restrictions
• Convenient and portable for frequent travelers
• Performance quality comparable to regular guitars
• Easy assembly and disassembly with the removable neck connection system
• Some minor issues with the fret dress at the edge of the neck

Overall, the Stewart – Stow-Away offers convenience, portability, and performance quality for musicians on the go.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric

Another great option is the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric. This compact guitar offers a full 24 3/4 scale and weighs only 3 lbs. 2 oz., making it incredibly portable and perfect for travelers unwilling to compromise on scale length.

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric features a one-piece Eastern American hard Maple neck-through-body design and a dual-rail humbucker pickup, delivering high-output sound quality in a small package.

This guitar comes with a gig bag for easy transportation. It is a popular choice for buskers that travel with limited funds .

• Full 24 3/4 Scale electric travel guitar
• Fits in airline overhead bins, weighing only 3 lbs. 2 oz.
• One-piece Eastern American hard Maple neck-through-body design
• Dual-rail humbucker pickup
• Includes gig bag
• Compact and lightweight design
• High-quality sound output
• Convenient for traveling with its gig bag
• May not have the same feel as a full-size electric guitar
• Some users may prefer additional customization options

Overall, the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric is an excellent choice for musicians who want to take their music on the go without sacrificing quality or playability.

Donner HUSH

The Donner HUSH is a compact, portable guitar with a built-in preamp system for ultra-quiet performance. It’s the perfect choice for musicians on the go who value convenience without compromising sound quality.

With its lightweight design and removable frames, this guitar is easy to transport in the included gig bag. The 9v battery ensures a long usage time, while the anti-phase bottom reduces noise interference.

You can customize your tones with the 2-stage EQ and volume knobs, and the asymmetrical neck design reduces wrist fatigue for enhanced performance. The hidden tuning keys add convenience to your playing experience.

• [Best Partner for Travel] – Donner HUSH portable guitar is as lightweight as a laptop with a…
• [Practice Anytime, Anywhere] – Ultra-quiet -30-45dB LEVEL pizzicato playing, equipped with a preamp…
• [Superior Sound Quality] – The ideal practice guitar is equipped with an anti-phase botton for noise…
• Weight: 7.08 pounds
• Dimensions: 33.5 x 6.7 x 2.2 inches
• Lightweight and portable
• Ultra-quiet performance with preamp system
• Customizable tones with EQ and volume knobs
• May require a professional setup
• Weight distribution and palm placement may be uncomfortable

Hofner 6 String Shorty

Now that you’ve learned about the Donner HUSH let’s move on to another great option for a travel electric guitar: the Hofner 6-String Shorty. This compact guitar is designed with portability in mind, making it perfect for musicians on the go.

The Hofner Shorty features a full-scale neck and a hot humbucking pickup, allowing you to achieve your desired sound while practicing or performing. With a 24.7 scale length and a gig bag included, this guitar is ready to hit the road with you.

Users have praised the Hofner Shorty for its clean and unblemished arrival and its good setup without any buzzing frets or sharp edges. While some users have experienced frustration with balancing the guitar due to its neck dive issue, many still find it enjoyable to play.

• Travel Guitar
• Full Scale Neck
• Hot Humbucking Pickup
• Neck: Full Scale
• Pickup: Hot Humbucking
• Scale Length: 24.7
• Portable and travel-friendly design
• Clean and unblemished arrival
• Good setup without buzzing frets or sharp edges
• Frustration with balancing due to neck dive issue

Overall, if you’re looking for a compact electric guitar that can accompany you on your travels, the Hofner 6 String Shorty is worth considering.

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light is a lightweight and compact option for guitarists who are constantly on the move. With its full 24.75 scale and acoustic/electric capabilities, this guitar offers convenience without compromising performance. Weighing only 2 lbs. 14 oz., it fits in airline overhead bins, making it perfect for travel and beach trips.

Despite its small size, the Ultra-Light delivers impressive sound quality when plugged into the Traveler Amp. The output from the low E string is slightly lower than other strings, but overall the guitar holds its tune well.

In terms of design and durability, this guitar is sturdy and less prone to accidental damage than hollow acoustic guitars. The neck plays like a low-actioned acoustic with easy-to-press strings, making it suitable for learning or playing in hotel rooms without disturbing neighbors.

While there are minor drawbacks, like tuning knob issues and a handle position that could be improved for better weight distribution, the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light offers great value for money and convenience on your travels.

• COMPACT TRANSIT: Forget lugging around your full-sized acoustic electric guitar and worrying about…
• Full 24.75 scale
• Only 2 lbs. 14 oz.
• Piezo pickup with standard 1/4 output
• Fits in airline overhead bins
• Includes gig bag and detachable lap rest
• Lightweight and compact
• Sturdy design
• Easy-to-play neck
• Ideal for travel
• Not as loud acoustically
• Output from low E string is slightly lower
• Tuning knob issues

Traveler Guitar 6 String Pro-Series

The Traveler Guitar 6 String Pro-Series offers a versatile and high-quality option for guitarists who need a portable and compact professional-grade instrument. With its one-piece maple neck-through-body construction and natural satin finish, this guitar looks great and delivers exceptional tone.

The hybrid acoustic and electric setup, featuring piezo and electric pickups, allows you to experiment with different sounds and styles. The included listening Stethophone provides battery-free private listening, while the standard 1/4-inch output ensures compatibility with amplifiers or recording equipment.

Despite its compact size, this guitar maintains a full 24 3/4 scale steel-string acoustic/electric design. It even fits in airline overhead bins for hassle-free travel. Whether practicing at home or performing on stage, the Traveler Guitar 6 String Pro-Series is your ideal companion.

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Pro-Series is a portable and travel-friendly version of your favorite at-home…
• PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: This mini guitar includes a carry-on friendly gig bag with a storage pocket…
• One-piece maple neck through body of the guitar
• Natural satin finish
• Hybrid Acoustic and Electric with piezo and electric pickups
• Includes listening Stethophone for private listening
• Standard 1/4-inch output
• Small, portable, and light
• Sturdy build quality
• Great sounding acoustic pickup
• Unique and visually appealing design
• Good value for the price
• Initial high action (adjustable with truss rod tool)
• Mediocre quality of the stethophone

BLACKSTAR Electric

Last on our list of the best travel electric guitars is the Blackstar Electric guitar; it’s a fantastic option for players looking for a versatile, high-quality instrument. This guitar is truly a gem, with its quality feel to the neck and knobs. The intonation is just about perfect, making it a pleasure to play.

Not only does it look beautiful, but it also delivers on performance. The Blackstar Electric is loved by many customers who appreciate its comfortable playing experience. With super fast delivery and excellent service from the vendor, you can’t go wrong with this choice.

• CARRY ON GTR WHT
• Versatile and high-quality instrument
• Quality feel to the neck and knobs
• Perfect intonation
• Beautifully finished

Matt Francis

Hi, I'm Matt Francis. A digital nomad, blogger, web developer and all-around good egg! I am the brains (and brawn) behind Everyday Ape. My website features a wide range of topics, with a focus on travelling and working online.

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2024 Best Travel Guitar - Acoustic & Electric Guitar On The Road

• March 18, 2024

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

Gives you a taste of Martin's build quality and tone in a backpack-friendly and affordable profile.

• Read Review

Cordoba Mini II MH

Enjoy the sweet tone of nylon strings anywhere you go with this portable nylong string travel guitar.

Washburn Rover Travel Guitar

This super affordable travel guitar sports a compact body, reminiscent of old parlor guitars.

Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

A fully functional travel guitar, with HSH pickups, floating tremolo, and a headless design.

Traveler Guitar Speedster Electric Guitar

A full-scale travel electric guitar with a removable lap rest and a built-in headphone amp.

We’re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

What is a Travel Guitar

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.

• Table of Contents
• Best Travel Guitars - Acoustic

Martin Backpacker Travel Acoustic Guitar

• Best Electric Travel Guitars

Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar

What to look for in a travel guitar, best acoustic travel guitars.

Best Travel Acoustic Guitar

Guitarsite Expert Opinion

For a Martin-branded instrument with top-quality features, the Backpacker is surprisingly affordable. It sports a braced solid spruce top, along with a solid mahogany neck, 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.

Manufacturer: Martin

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

Best Nylon String Travel Guitar

The Cordoba Mini II MH takes the traditional nylon string guitar design, and makes it more compact and portable. This mahogany body acoustic gives you the warm tone and soft feel of nylon strings in a guitar that won’t take up too much space and is very affordable.

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

Best Value Travel Acoustic Guitar

Don’t let its diminutive size fool you; the Rover is a full-fledged travel acoustic guitar with a slightly shorter 23.75″ scale length. It gives you quite the feature for the price, with a solid spruce top, paired with mahogany for the back and sides. If you’re looking for good value, it’ll be hard to top this one.

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

Electric Travel Guitars

Best Full Scale  Travel Electric Guitar

The Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe shows how a stripped-down electric guitar can still provide the same playing experience and tone as a regular electric guitar. This efficiency allows the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe to be lighter and easier to carry, while offering advanced features like an HSH pickup configuration and a locking trem.

Manufacturer:   Steinberger

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

Best Compact Travel Electric Guitar

The Traveler Speedster caught our attention with its full-sized guitar playability, compact profile, and built-in headphone amplifier. And to stay true to its name, this guitar is meant for fast high-gain playing with its dual-rail humbucker with coil split functionality.

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.

Aside from its miniaturized body size, this travel-sized guitar doesn’t stray too far from a conventional single humbucker guitar. This makes it the ideal plug-and-play portable guitar for those who are into the fat open humbucker sound, which works really well with overdrive and distortion.

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

Playability

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.

Full-Scale Length

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. 

Short Scale Length

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.

Portability vs Comfort

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.

Other Considerations

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.

Alexander Briones

Lead Author

Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars | The Results are Epic.

Best cheap acoustic guitars under $200, best acoustic guitar under 300, the best acoustic electric guitar under 500, the best nylon string guitar roundup, the best electric guitar brands, 7 thoughts on “2023 best travel guitar – acoustic & electric guitar on the road”.

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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.

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7 Best Travel Guitars of 2024

by Allison Johnson May 11, 2023, 7:15 pm

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

There are so many perks to owning a travel guitar. They're so lightweight and easy to transport.

Whether you're taking multiple trips to the rehearsals each week, travel to and from different cities often, or simply like the convenience of being able to play on the fly, a travel guitar is a great investment.

We recommend travel guitars for players of all levels. We included some picks for guitar students to take to and from practice, an acoustic guitar for gigs, and electric and bass guitars for rehearsals and gigs as well.

Traveling with a full-sized guitar everywhere can be a pain due to the weight, plus, you don't want to take your pricey guitars everywhere, you know?

A quality backup guitar can be a great option to bring on vacations for impromptu practice and songwriting.

Our favorite on this list has to be the Martin LX1E Little Martin . It's ideal for gigs! It has amazing playability, is lightweight (about 3 pounds), and sounds amazing.

A small, travel-friendly guitar will be your favorite investment yet. Here are 7 of the best travel guitars for everyone.

Quick Summary of the Best Travel Guitars

• Martin LX1E Little Martin (Best Travel Acoustic Guitar for Gigs)
• Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar with Bag (The Best Travel Acoustic Guitar for Practice)
• Fender CD-60S Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (Best Lightweight Dreadnought)
• Fender Squier by Fender (Best Lightweight Electric Guitar for Beginners)
• Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric (Best Lightweight Electric Guitar)
• Gibson SG Standard '61 Sideways Vibrola - Vintage Cherry (A High-End Lightweight Electric Guitar)
• Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar (Best Travel Bass)

Best Travel Guitars

1. best travel acoustic guitar for gigs – martin lx1e little martin.

• Weight: 3.3 lbs
• Pickups: Fishman Isys T pickup system
• Included Accessories: Gig bag

This is a popular guitar for travel. While it's compact and lightweight, it's still a great guitar for taking on stage. The sound quality is rich and balanced. It has a solid Stika spruce top giving it fantastic resonance and projection. The tone is warm, and you may also like using this guitar in the studio.

You'll be able to use an amplifier or sound system for gigs without external mics or pickups thanks to the Fishman Isys T pickup system.

If you're mainly looking for a lightweight guitar for comfortable playability, you're going to enjoy the fret body shape and low-profile neck. It has a short scale length that's easy to navigate.

A player said it's easy to play with arthritic hands, so if you're prioritizing comfort, you'll love this guitar.

Overall, Martin is a great guitar brand, and they're known for creating reliable instruments. This guitar checks all of our boxes, so consider this as your new favorite acoustic guitar for travel.

Interested in Buying a Guitar Stand? See the Best Guitar Stands Here

2. The Best Travel Guitar for Practice – Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar

• Weight: 5 lbs
• Pickups: No

To no surprise, another Martin guitar made the list. This itty bitty acoustic guitar is the ultimate travel guitar. If you're serious about only taking along a practice-style guitar on the road, then this is a guitar to consider.

The Martin travel guitar features a solid spruce top, solid tonewood back and sides, a unique contour neck shape, and a 24-inch scale length and 15 frets for easy playability.

This travel guitar will fit in backpacks and carry-on luggage. It's a great guitar for college students looking to practice in their dorms, beginner guitarists, or even experienced guitarists that like having a small guitar nearby. Keep it in the living room, or bedroom, or take it just about anywhere.

Considering the size of the acoustic guitar, it definitely won't have the same volume and projection as a full-sized guitar. However, if you're just looking for something lightweight for practice and cozy casual playing, it's perfect.

Guitarists say it's louder than they expected though. It's definitely not a toy, so if you need something small for creativity, this is everything you could want in a travel guitar.

3. Best Lightweight Dreadnought Travel Guitar – Fender CD-60S Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

• Included Accessories: Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Strings, Picks, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

The Fender CD-60S is a solid option for a variety of reasons: it has a solid spruce top for excellent sound and projection. The dreadnought body shape also makes it versatile and sound super full. If you're looking for a balanced tonal response with lots of volume and bass, this is great. Consider it for fingerpicking and strumming.

As for playability, it's designed for those looking to prioritize comfort. The C-shaped neck profile allows for easy fretting. Overall, it's a great lightweight Fender acoustic.

Guitarists love how nice it looks in person and say you get the best bang for the buck! It's under $240, great for anyone on a budget.

It's lightweight and has a fantastic build. Fender is known for solid construction and making guitars that last long for years of touring.

4. Best Lightweight Electric Guitar for Beginners – Fender Squier by Fender

• Weight: 7 lbs
• Pickups: Three single coil pickups
• Included Accessories: Cable bundle available

Fender has a cool lightweight electric guitar for beginners to learn, but it also makes a great travel guitar for seasoned players looking to make trips hassle-free in airport security or even on the road.

The mini Strat has the Stratocaster shape we all know and love. The comfortable neck profile makes it a great pick for long rehearsals without fatigue. The shorter scale length makes it easy to navigate the fretboard, and this makes it a favorite amongst players will smaller hands. Kids will love it!

If you're low on space or simply like the 22.75'' string scale and downsized 3/4 body, traveling with this mini guitar is a good idea.

Overall, guitarists think it's a great travel guitar and say it's a great compact and lightweight guitar for petite players.

This travel guitar comes in 4 different colors, metallic orange and surf green really stand out.

5. Best Lightweight Electric Guitar – Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric

• Weight: 3 lbs
• Pickups: Dual-rail hum bucker pickup

Looking for something truly built for travel? This is exactly what you need. Travel Guitar makes guitars for busy musicians, they know how to build guitars that make traveling less stressful for guitarists.

The portable electric guitar is small enough to fit into travel bags and overhead bins on planes. If you fly often, this is a good fit for your lifestyle. Even though it's small, it still has a full-scale length of a regular guitar.

A nice feature that makes it a great portable guitar is the detachable lap rest frame. It'll provide stability while playing.

Guitarists are raving about the tone and say it exceeded their expectations.

The guitar is made from sturdy materials -- it features a maple body and a maple neck. You can pick from 5 designs and pick between left and right-handed options.

6. A High-End Lightweight Electric Guitar – Gibson SG Standard '61 Sideways Vibrola

• Weight: 8 lbs
• Pickups: 60s Burstbucker (neck) & 60s Burstbucker (bridge)
• Included Accessories: No

If you're set on getting a high-end guitar for travel, look no further than the SG Standard '61. This compact guitar is lighter than most electric guitars. It's a guitar that won't make you feel fatigued during long sets.

The guitar has a comfy and fast-playing neck profile. It also has a slim-tapered neck with a smooth fretboard for easy navigation. Overall, it's the playability gets a 10/10.

The 60s Burstbucker pickups recreate the sound of the 1960s-era humbuckers. We love the tones for all genres! So whether you play blues, rock, or metal you're going to love gigging with this guitar.

The guitar is beautiful. It has a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish and nitro finishes to look vintage.

7. Best Travel Bass – Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar

• Weight: 7.72 lbs
• Pickups: Ibanez Dynamix pickups

The compact bass guitar has a smaller body and shorter scale length compared to standard bass guitars. This is a great bass guitar for kids, petite adults, or for traveling musicians looking for a lightweight and affordable bass guitar for the road.

Ibanez says this is a great bass guitar for beginner and intermediate players, but also think professional players will find the size great for ease of use. It features a poplar body, maple neck and jatoba fingerboard for comfort and playability.

It sounds great too, thanks to the Ibanez Dynamix pickups, which provide a range of tones suitable for various genres and playing styles. Great for deep, punchy tones or bright and articulate sounds.

Ibanez is one of the best guitar brands out there, so if you're stuck between brands when guitar shopping, just know you'll have a well-built guitar if you go with Ibanez.

Best Travel Guitar Buyer's Guide

There are many factors to consider other than size and weight. Below, we'll dive into sound quality, build quality, playability, and a few more considerations before picking out a travel guitar.

Size & Portability

You'll want to make sure your guitar has a small body shape. Think of something that can fit into a small gig bag you wouldn't mind carrying through an airport. If it sounds like it'll be a pain, it's likely not a great option for travel.

Build Quality

You want to make sure it's a durable guitar made of materials that can handle travel. A durable guitar can handle some bumps on the road, along with temperature changes in vehicles or airports. If it can handle humidity, even better.

Sound Quality

Make sure it sounds good. Solid top and decent resonance are key.

Playability

Check the neck shape and make sure it'll feel good in your hands. Features like adjustable truss rods will allow you to fine-tune the action and intonation.

Electronics

Onboard pickups and preamps are great so you can connect an amp or PA system. This is great for gigs and rehearsals!

Make sure you invest in a quality travel guitar. Even though it might not be your go-to option for every gig, you want it to last and be durable. This means paying more for quality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ideal weight for a travel guitar.

Try to keep it under 5-10 lbs! This is a great size for travel, especially if you'll be carrying your guitar for long periods in airports or at venues.

Are travel guitars comfortable to play?

It depends on your playing stying, be sure to look at the fretboard radius and make sure it has adjustable truss rods to customize the playability to your liking.

Can travel guitars be amplified?

Yes, built-in electronics like pickups and preamps allow for amplification.

How much should I spend on a travel guitar?

You can budget for under $500 on a great travel guitar, but if you're looking for a compact guitar for gigging or recording, you may end up paying around the normal price of a guitar or high-end guitar.

Are travel guitars suitable for beginners?

Yes! They are great for beginners on the go. If you're a beginner and practice away from home often they're a great investment.

Final Thoughts

Shopping for a travel guitar can mean something different for all guitarists. For professional musicians, some want an affordable and lightweight guitar for gigging or rehearsals, for some, that means a tiny guitar small enough to fit in an airline-friendly bag.

We rounded up options for many scenarios, but if you're looking for a good lightweight acoustic to take on the road, you'll love the Martin LX1E Little Martin for gigging.

If you're a musician who can't stop writing songs, even when you're supposed to be relaxing, you need something like the Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar . Plus, you can play small gigs with it, think parks, beaches, and coffee shops.

If you want small lightweight electric guitars and bass guitars, consider the Fender Squier by Fender and the Ibanez GSRM20-BS GIO SR MiKro Series Electric Bass Guitar . Fender and Ibanez, both brands with great brand reputations! You'll get an amazing instrument, just smaller and easier to take on the road.

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The 10 Best Travel Guitar Options in 2024 [Acoustic & Electric]

The best travel guitar makes a perfect companion for busy, on-the-go guitarists searching for playability that’s built to move. There are electric options, acoustic options, and even hybrid electro-acoustic travel guitars. Whether it’s for practice and warming up, or full-blown gigging and session work, there is a unique portable guitar for every musician.

What Differentiates “Travel Guitars” from Regular Guitars

Portability is the number one feature of the “travel” guitar, which typically comes in the form of shorter scale lengths, smaller bodies, and lighter weight. Some guitars retain a normal scale length, and thus a regular playing  feel, but they’ve been otherwise shrunk down to squeeze into the travel category.

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Features to Look for in a Travel Guitar

Other features to look for in a travel guitar are pretty much the same as when shopping for a regular guitar. The first distinction will be acoustic, electric, or electro-acoustic based on your playing style and needs. Travel guitars sometimes have features exclusive to the category, such as built-in headphone outputs for practice. In most cases, however, the right guitar for you shouldn’t be too difficult to determine — you know best!

The 5 Best Travel Guitar Options for Acoustic Players

1. taylor baby taylor.

The Baby Taylor series is one of the most popular 3/4-size acoustic guitars ever made. Everything about the design makes it a great choice for beginners because the necks are slim and easy to play. Experienced players can enjoy a Baby Taylor as a travel or practice guitar as well. Options include different top woods and the choice of built-in electronics.

2. Martin Backpacker

The steel-string Martin Backpacker is one of the best examples of an acoustic travel guitar. It has 15 frets with a 24″ scale length, with a uniquely shaped body that cuts away all of the bulk of a traditional acoustic. This is ideal for anyone prioritizing portability.

• RELATED: Martin Special D Review: A Perfect Mid-Level Acoustic?

3. Traveler Escape Mark III

The Traveler Escape Mark III offers familiar electric guitar-style playability in an acoustic package with built-in electronics. Highlights include 22 medium frets with a 25.5″ scale length. Active electronics come with volume, bass, and treble adjustments, as well as an aux input and headphone output.

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4. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is a mid-range travel guitar for serious players. Despite its small size, the guitar’s voice is huge, and even comes with a built-in pickup for electro-acoustic playability. Compact scale length seats this in the travel category, but it’s really just a nice all-around acoustic-electric guitar.

• RELATED: Yamaha APX600 Review: Is This Thinbody Acoustic Worth the Price?

5. Yamaha CSF3M

A travel guitar in the most traditional sense, the Yamaha CSF3M is a parlor-style acoustic similar to those which traveling guitarists played in the early 1900s. While much more compact than a full dreadnought-style acoustic, these guitars are excellent for the studio or the stage, with a built-in passive undersaddle pickup for amplification.

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The 5 Best Travel Electric Guitar Options

1. travelcaster deluxe electric travel guitar.

Ever wanted to know what an S-style guitar looked like if everything around the pick guard was gone? Well, here it is! This is a very cool electric mini guitar with a traditional 25.5″ scale length, three single-coil pickups, 5-way pickup selector, and all the appointments of a standard S-type — with much smaller body!

2. Blackstar Carry-On

Anything but traditional, the Blackstar Carry-On is an innovative instrument and quintessentially made to move. It features 18 frets on a 20.7″ scale, with a single mini-humbucker with coil-split. The guitar is strung with 12-54 gauge strings to recreate standard scale tension on a very short scale instrument.

3. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

Steinberger headless guitars debuted in 1979. At the time, and for many years, there was nothing quite like them. They’re amongst the most playable and versatile small guitars around. The Spirit GT-Pro has 24 frets, a 25.5″ scale length, an HSH pickup configuration, 14″ radius, and a tremolo system.

4. Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar

Hofner Shorties came out in the ’80s, aimed at players who didn’t want to miss a moment of practice. The familiar feel is a major selling point for many guitarists, with 24 frets on a 24.75″ scale length. There is a single humbucker with volume/tone controls, and a simple gig back to take on the road.

5. VOX SDC-1 Mini

Last but not least, we have the VOX SDC-1 Mini. With 19 medium jumbo frets and an 18.75″ scale, it’s perfect for beginner guitarists, players with smaller hands, or anyone looking to take their instrument with them anywhere.

• RELATED: The 10 Best Acoustic Guitar Strings to Consider in 2023

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GEAR EXPO 2023: Classic ranges, signature editions, all-new designs and the Greeny is back… again

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Donner hush-i, ernie ball music man kaizen 6-string, gibson kirk hammett greeny 1959 les paul standard, ibanez ichi00, fender squier sonic series, hagstrom swede and super swede, esp ltd kh-v, sterling by music man st vincent goldie, suhr mateus asato classic t, epiphone jim james es-335.

GEAR EXPO 2023 : What a year 2023 is shaping up to be for the humble electric guitar . We've got new ranges of classic guitars, all-new designs for 2023, plus more signatures than any autograph hunter could ever need in our roundup of the best guitars coming out this year.

It's already an amazing year for electric guitars, and it's just about to get a whole lot better. The biggest names are releasing guitars by the dozen and often with even bigger names stamped on them. 

We've got Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Paul Stanley signature models from Ibanez , an ESP V-Style for Kirk Hammett , all-new ranges from Fender and Ernie Ball Music Man and, plus new releases from Hagstrom, Guild and many, many more. The legendary Greeny even makes a (re)reappearance. 

Here, then, are the guitars to get giddy over in 2023.

The  Guild Surfliner  is a real favourite around here: a new  electric guitar  design that looked like it had been recovered from a 1960s blueprint, and with its HSS pickup configuration it was sonically versatile. Even the list price wasn’t bad. 

For an  electric guitar under £/$500  there was a lot to like. There was, however, one thing missing – a vibrato. 

Well, it looks like Guild agree, and after expanding the Surfliner lineup with a dual-humbucker model, it has released an upscale Deluxe version of the retro offset that comes equipped with a newly designed floating vibrato. 

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The Guild Floating Vibrato Tailpiece (GFVT) features a nylon insert, and has a tension screw that is easily adjusted so the action of the whammy bar is just how you like it. 

As with the neck plate, the unit is embossed with the Guild “G”, giving this a few more heritage points, and proving that a brand with a bit of history can still come up with something totally new for the 21st-century that is wholly in keeping with an old-school aesthetic and design.

The bolt-on neck is fashioned out of roasted maple, the 10” radius fingerboard is bound rosewood, with block inlays giving it a real mid-60s, straight-outta-California mojo. And it arrives in three sweet finishes: Evergreen Metallic, Rose Quartz Metallic, and Black Metallic, each reprised on the headstock.

The sounds on offer remain as versatile as the original Surfliner. In all kinds of ways, this is a crowd-pleasing guitar design, with an appeal that extends being surf rock to indie, alt-rock, grunge, punk, country or jazz.

The Surfliner Deluxe has a satin C profile neck, a 25.5” scale, and the neck is bolted to a body of solid poplar - again, that offset double-cutaway shape is a winner. You will find an Alnico II HB-2 humbucker at the bridge, with DeArmond Aerosonic single-coils at the middle and neck positions. 

A five-way blade pickup selector switch offers plenty of options, with hum-cancelling modes in positions one and four, and lots of in-between tones elsewhere. We often talk about amps as an excellent pedalboard platform, but why not guitars, too? 

The Surfliner Deluxe is a little more pricey than its forebears but at $699 it still looks like a lot of guitar for the money. For more details, head over to Guild .

Fancy a small and light guitar that doesn't make any noise? No, us neither. But wait! Donner Hush-I is an all-new silent guitar that is not only easy to carry around, but is designed for quiet practice and on-the-go playing.

To keep the size to a minimum, Hush-I uses an expandable metal frame system, whereby two extra metal connections increase its size to 'proper' guitar proportions. The tuning knobs are also situated at the bass of the guitar rather than the the top. 

To hear the guitar, you can simply use headphones which are supplied and the regular headphone out connection. A regular 1/4-inch output allows you to connect the guitar up to a standard amp or interface. There's also an Aux In connection so you can play along with audio from the outside world. 

Other controls on Hush-I include Low and High-band EQ, Volume and a Phase switch to cut down on feedback. 

There's a single 9-volt battery on board which will give you 50 hours of headphone output use. 

Hush-I looks like costing around £280 / $299 / €299 and you can get more details and specs from Donner here .

When Ernie Ball Music Man debuted the Tosin Abasi co-designed Kaizen electric guitar last year, it blew a fair few minds because of its wild design and spec. There were the Steinberger gearless locking tuners, the Infinity Radius neck, and the prospect of the custom-wound Heat Treated humbuckers. 

But there was a question: these were all seven-string guitars ? Where were the six-string models?

Well, they are here, and anyone looking for a high-end electric guitar for the 21st-century would do well to check ‘em out.

Shipping in Chalk White, Apollo Black, Mint, Indigo Blue, these share the multi-scale format of their extended-range forebears. And it goes without saying that they all have a top-shelf build and spec sheet. 

First off, that custom-designed body - all angles and pointed edges and yet not explicitly a metal guitar profile - is carved from solid alder, the finish satin smooth to the touch. 

The neck is roasted figured maple, topped with an ebony fingerboard. The aforementioned Infinity Radius fingerboard is designed to offer players a better feel and vantage point. 

The fretboard seats 24 medium-jumbo stainless steel frets, with white dot markers to aid navigation. There is a Heat Treated humbucker at the bridge, and a custom-wound Offset mini-humbucker at the neck. The scale runs from a Gibson-esque 24.75” at the high E to 25.5” at the low E, and this multi-scale design is reflected in the custom multi-scale tremolo unit.

All the top-tier EBMM touches are present and correct. There is the gunstock oil and hand-rubbed wax finish on the neck. The tremolo design incorporates string dampeners and the electrics are shielded to make this a low-noise instrument, even in the sorts of high-gain, high-volume performance scenarios you’ll be wanting to use it in.

Controls-wise, there is a three-way pickup selector, with the middle position a custom split position between both pickups, plus volume and tone knobs. Again, as with the 7-string model, there are those distinctive Steinberger gearless tuners, which of course lock to enhance tuning stability.

The Kaizen six-string is available to order now, priced $3,799. The seven-string will set you back $3,999. See Ernie Ball Music Man for more details. 

The most iconic original Les Paul Standard ever made - arguably the most iconic guitar ever made, then - is the Greeny. This was the guitar once owned by Peter Green - hence the name - during his time in Fleetwood Mac. 

That would be enough for it to hit 'legendary' status, but the guitar was then sold to Gary Moore who kept it for more than 30 years while playing in Thin Lizzy and as a solo artist. Completing the Les Paul's ascendence to God-like status, Moore then sold it onto its current owner, Kirk Hammett. 

So that's one guitar and three iconic owners. 

To experience Greeny, then, it probably helps if you are a guitar player of some stature, and presumably one with a lot of cash. 

However, earlier this year Gibson announced that it was allowing you to experience the essence of Greeny with its new Kirk Hammett "Greeny" Les Paul Standard. As we reported at the time , it was not quite as pricey as the real thing but would still set you back a few dollars – 19,999 of them, in fact.

The good news is that we also reported that Gibson was planning a cheaper version and here it is. 

This latest Kirk Hammett "Greeny” Les Paul Standard is much cheaper, at $3,199, but still sports the features that make the original so iconic. 

The most important of these is that the neck pickup’s polarity is reversed to give you that trademark out-of-phase sound when the pickup selector is in the middle position. The guitar also has a AAA flame maple top, a mahogany body, and Indian rosewood fingerboard. 

You can get more information over at the Gibson website. 

Ibanez has seven new signature guitars for some of the most high-profile guitar players on its artist roster, including four stunning limited edition models for long-time endorsees Joe Satriani , Steve Vai and Paul Stanley, plus new Lari Basilio, Martin Miller and Ichika Nito electric guitars .

Basilio’s is perhaps the least surprising. It has been teased for some time that her LB1 was going to be made available in White. All the other specs are the same, including all the features that make the LB1 a true do-it-all guitar. It has an estimated street price of $2,699.

The new Martin Miller MMN1 takes the MM1’s AZ-N-inspired profile, its Transparent Aqua Blue finish, but reimagines the  S-Style in an HSS pickup configuration.

The guitar has a solid mahogany body, capped with a 4mm piece of flame maple. It has a roasted maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, stainless steel frets, and the same Gotoh hardware as the LB1.

Both Basilio and Miller have gone for a 9” to 12” compound radius ‘board, and both guitars have, of course, Prestige fret edge treatment, Luminlay side-dot markers, and ship with a hard-shell guitar case . The Martin Miller MMN1 has a list price of $3,466.

Ichika Nito’s ICHI00 rounds out the production line models with a guitar based on the Ibanez Talman, the compact electric favoured by the likes of Yvette Young . 

It has a dairy White finish, and some premium appointments such as a roasted maple neck carved into Ibanez’s super-speedy Wizard C profile, Gotoh MG-T locking tuners, and a trio of ICHI-S single-coil pickups.

Nito wanted his nyatoh-bodied bolt-on to be affordable, and with an estimated street price of $699, it is by far the easiest on the budget of Ibanez’s latest range.

And now to the real fancy stuff; four models you’ll have to dig deep for. Let’s start with a guitar that celebrates 35 years of partnership between Steve Vai and Ibanez, the PIA77BON. 

This takes Vai’s signature PIA format and refinishes it in a hydro-dipped multicolour swirl finish, which was newly developed for this limited run. Vai, of course, picked the colour scheme, and it’s one that references some classic JEM and UV models in his collection. The finish is called “Brilliance of Now”, hence the “BON” in the designation. It has an estimated street price of $8,499.

Joe Satriani, meanwhile, gets not one but two new limited-edition JS models. The JS3CR is a JS model that references Satch’s ‘Chrome Boy’ model with a solid basswood body with a metallic mirror chrome finish. It has a DiMarzio Satchur8 humbucker at the bridge and a PAF Pro ‘bucker at the neck. Satch also has a high-pass filter on the volume control, and there’s a coil-tap on the tone pot. Other features include a maple neck, rosewood ‘board, 22 medium frets, Edge tremolo, and top-shelf Gotoh tuners. The JS3CR should street at $5,399.

Satch’s other option is the JS1BKP. It has a similar profile to the JS3CR but is quite a different guitar, with a body of solid alder and a pickup configuration comprising a SUSTAINIAC Driver neck pickup, and a DiMarzio Satchur8 humbucker. It has an estimated street price of $3,499. 

Finally, how about a Paul Stanley Iceman with a Cracked Mirror finish to round things out? With KISS currently circumnavigating the globe many times over for their last ever tour, why not mark the occasion with a PS3CM?

One of the most aggressive and out-there body shapes in the Ibanez catalogue, the PS3CM has an African mahogany body, topped with maple, a three-piece maple neck, an ebony fingerboard with medium frets. The hardware is by Gotoh. The pickups are from Seymour Duncan , with the KISS frontman going for a ’59 and Custom 5 humbucker pairing. The PS3CM has an estimated street price of $6,999.

For more details, head over to Ibanez .

The Fender Squier Bullet range of beginner guitars and electric basses is no more – goodbye Bullet and hello Sonic series. The 'value' tag remain the same but there are plenty of updates on the finish and spec side of things.  

There are new models too: Tom DeLonge-esque single humbucker Strats , an Esquire Tele with a humbucker, short-scale Mustangs with traditional single-coil pickup configuration in addition to the double humbucker spec… a Bronco bass! 

Core tonewoods shared by the range are poplar bodies with maple necks, but let's have a quick overview of the rest of the specs for each model.

The Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT H  (£169.99 / $199.99) has Black (Indian laurel fretboard) and Flash pink (maple) finishes. There's a six-saddle bridge hardtail, C-shape neck profile with satin urethane finish, 9.5" fingerboard radius and Squier ceramic humbucking pickup.

Next up, the Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS (£169.99 / $199.99) has Black and Tahitian Coral (maple fretboard) finishes. It has a C-shape neck with satin finish, a six-saddle tremolo bridge and Squier humbucking bridge pickup, single-coil neck and middle pickups.

The Squier Sonic Series Stratocaster (£169.99 / $199.99) has Black, 2-Colour Sunburst (maple fretboard), Ultraviolet and California Blue (Indian laurel fretboard) finishes. There's a six-saddle tremolo bridge, Squier single-coil pickups and it's also available in Black left-handed model (for £169.99). 

The Squier Sonic Esquire H (£169.99 / $199.99) has Arctic White (maple fretboard), Ultraviolet (Indian laurel fretboard) finishes, a Squier humbucker, and a six-saddle hardtail bridge.

The Squier Sonic Telecaster (£169.99 / $199.99) has California Blue, Torino Red (Indian laurel fretboard), Butterscotch Blonde, and Black (maple fretboard) finishes. There's a six-saddle hardtail bridge and Squier single-coil pickups.

Next, the Squier Sonic Mustang (£169.99 / $199.99) has 2-Colour Sunburst and Torino Red finishes, 24-inch scale, Squier single-coil pickups and a six-saddle hardtail bridge. 

The Squier Sonic Mustang HH (£169.99 / $199.99) has Flash Pink (maple fretboard), and Electric Blue (Indian laurel fretboard) finishes. It has Squier humbuckers, 24-inch scale and a six-saddle hardtail bridge.  

The Squier Sonic Bronco Bass (£189.99 / $209.99) has Arctic White, Tahitian Coral (maple neck), and Black (Indian laurel fretboard) finishes, a short 30-inch scale length, a Squier single-coil pickup, a four-saddle hardtail bridge and 9.5 radius fretboard.

Finally (phew) the Squier Sonic Precision Bass (£189.99 / $219.99) has 2-Colour Sunburst, California Blue (maple fretboard), and Black (Indian laurel fretboard finishes, a split single-coil pickup, 34-inch scale length, and a four-saddle hardtail bridge.

There's more info on the entire range at Fender .

This year's NAMM show saw Hagstrom unveil its revamped Swede and Super Swede guitars. They have 24.75" and 25.5" scale lengths respectively, and each has different Lundgren Designed pickups.

The Swede weighs in with medium output No.2 alnico outputs, while the Super Swede is packing the hotter pairing of No.2 and No.5 Lundgren Designed humbuckers. Both have push-pull coil splits activated by their tone controls.

The bodies here follow a classic single-cut guitar tonewood formula; the Swedes combine mahogany with a 2cm thick Canadian hard maple top and a flamed maple veneer. Both models feature resinator fretboards with 14.4" radius and stainless steel medium jumbo frets.

The Hagstrom locking tuners also take accuracy to new levels with a 19:1 ratio. 

Both revamped models are expected to ship in June, and will retail for £1,375 with a hardcase. There are no left-hand model options as yet, but finish options are Mandarin Burst, Crimson Flame, Dark Storm and Gold. 

More info at  Hagstrom .

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett already has some seriously cool signature guitars in the current ESP and LTD lineup, including variations on his classic S-style available at all price points, not to mention the KH-3 - the ‘Spider’ singlecut that defined The Black Album era. But there was something missing.

Kirk Hammett needed a V-style, and now he has one. Meet the LTD KH-V. 

Hammett has had signature Vs before, most notably from the Gibson Custom Shop, but the KH-V conforms the ESP/LTD design aesthetic, and that means the headstock is sharper, the angles more aggressive, with an asymmetric body profile making for an aerodynamic electric guitar in the shape of an arrowhead.

The LTD KH-V marks over three decades of Hammett as an ESP artist but he admitted that it still gave him goosebumps when he saw it for the first time.

“It was like the perfect hybrid of reality and my vision,” he said. “It’s such a beautiful guitar. I strapped it on and played it later that day; just jamming out with friends for four or five hours. It’s an amazing, amazing guitar.”

The KH-V is available in Black Sparkle, Red Sparkle, and Metallic Gold, with gold hardware on the latter two finish options, black on the former. It looks the bee’s knees.

It should sound good too, with a pair of Hammett’s signature EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers at the neck and bridge positions, seated in a body of solid korina with a full-length neck-through build. 

The three-piece maple neck is carved into ESP/LTD’s preferred profile - i.e. a Thin U with off-the-charts speed - and it is topped with a Macassar ebony fingerboard. There are 24 extra-jumbo frets, curved pearloid wave inlays, reflecting the Hawaii resident and keen surfer’s affinity with oceanic swell.

The KH-V has a longer scale than the Flying V’s in Hammett’s collection. At 25.5”, that’ll give it quite a different feel. ESP/LTD hasn’t actually shared the fingerboard radius just yet but you can bet good money it will be the 350mm of the other models in the range. 

Other features include the string-through Tonepros bridge, LTD locking tuners, and the price includes a deluxe hardshell guitar case. 

Speaking of which, the LTD Kirk Hammett Signature KH-V will set you back £2,063 / €2,260 and should arrive in your local guitar store in June. For more details, see ESP Guitars .

NAMM was a big release show for Sterling By Music Man, who unveiled a string of updates to its mid-priced electric guitar range. It crowned it with the much requested St Vincent Goldie, bringing Annie Clark’s triple-gold-foil electric to the range for the first time.

We’ve had to wait a while for this. Ernie Ball Music Man launched the St Vincent Goldie in 2021 , with St Vincent’s idea behind the model that it would be “the perfect marriage of my quirky old pawn shop guitars and the OG STV model”. Its trio of gold-foil mini-humbuckers were inspired by vintage Firebird pickups and were developed specifically for the model. 

The Sterling By Music Man St Vincent Goldie really does nail the look of the original EBMM model. It has the finishes and the matching headcaps on the reverse headstocks. We’ve got roasted maple for the bolt-on neck, and rosewood fingerboards. The 25.5” scale is faithful to the original. 

There are always going to be a few differences when translating a high-end electric guitar into one offering plenty of change from a grand. Here the angular body is carved from nyatoh as opposed to okoume. The vibrato is a vintage-style unit as opposed to the custom chrome-plated modern tremolo of the original. There are locking tuners to keep everything ship shape.

But this Sterling By Music Man St Vincent Goldie promises to be every bit as versatile, with its five-way pickup switching and volume and tone pots all designed to squeeze every bit of tone out of its trio of gold-foils.

Sterling By Music Man St Vincent Goldie costs $829 and should be available now. More from Sterling By Music Man .

Just in case you are not already full to the brim with signature guitars, here are two more, with Suhr's latest additions to the Mateus Asato Signature Classic Series. Asato has played with everyone from Bruno Mars to Tori Kelly, all after rising to fame on Instagram and amassing over one million followers.  

The two new Classic T signature models are described as "a striking evolution of Mateus’ first Classic T design in 2020", and available in M.A. White. 

Each has an alder body and roasted maple neck to "provide a balanced and resonant foundation for Mateus’ legendary tone", but different pickup systems. 

The SIG-0045 costs $3,849 and has Wilkinson 3-saddle bridge with M.A.T. pickups, while the SIG-0045 ($4,299) features a Gotoh 510 tremolo with Lollar gold-foil pickups.

Suhr says: "with its timeless style and unmatched build quality, it’s a reborn Classic you’ll love playing for years to come."

You can get more info from Suhr's website. 

Finally, Epiphone and Jim James have teamed up for a new signature guitar based on the ES-335 the My Morning Jacket frontman released with Gibson in 2021. 

James’ luxurious Walnut semi-hollow was one of the most exquisite electric guitars of last year, and Epiphone has done what it does best here: nailing the essence of its more high-end sibling at a more approachable £/$899 price point. 

The Epiphone Jim James ES-335 is not a cheap guitar per se, but a lot of guitar for the money. Like its Gibson forebear, this ES-335, has a distinctly ‘70s Walnut finish. 

James’ signature owl decal can be found on the back of the headstock, with his other cosmetic signature touches including a set of vintage-style Kluson Waffleback tuners with metal buttons, and an circle/arrow emblem on the truss rod cover. Single-ply binding has been applied to top, back and neck, just to tie the whole thing together.

The mahogany neck is carved into a Jim James Custom SlimTaper C profile. It is glued to a 5-ply laminated maple body, which, crucially, features a solid centre block of maple to help boost sustain and cut down on feedback when playing at high volume, or when the fuzz pedal is out of its cage.

While the original has a set of Calibrated T-Type pickups, here James has gone for a set of Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers, just like those you might find on the Epiphone Noel Gallagher Riviera . That these are hooked up to CTS pots and Orange Drop capacitors is indicative of the sort of quality these Chinese-made Epiphones sport these days.

Other very pleasing - not to mention retro - touches include the Black Witch Hat knobs with silver inserts. Your pickup controls comprise the typical dual volume, dual tone knob configuration, with a shoulder-mounted three-way pickup selector. 

The dimensions and vital statistics are as you might expect, with the Jim James ES-335 sporting a 12” radius Indian laurel fingerboard, with dot inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets. It has a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and tailpiece, a 43mm nut, and more mojo than any guitar costing £/$899 ought to have.

A hardshell guitar case emblazoned with James’ owl logo is also included in the deal, which is pretty sweet. For more details, head over to Epiphone .

Looking for more great new gear? Get all our round-up, news, features, tutorials, tips and more at our Gear Expo hub page .

Andy has been writing about music production and technology for 30 years having started out on Music Technology magazine back in 1992. He has edited the magazines Future Music, Keyboard Review, MusicTech and Computer Music, which he helped launch back in 1998. He owns way too many synthesizers.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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