The Great Little Martin Backpacker
Pros:
easy to carry around, great sound for it's size
Cons:
need strap to play, even while sitting
The Bottom Line:
This is a great guitar for travelers, especially for playing for yourself or small groups.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
In late 1992, Musician Magazine's section on new toys featured a review of the Backpacker. The reviewer seemed pretty impressed. The listed price was $215 for the acoustic model. I didn't really need another guitar, but Christmas was coming up, and I immediately thought of my father. He travels a lot, and he plays guitar a lot.
I copied the page from the magazine and sent a check to my mother. She ordered it through a Martin dealer. It was April before it was in the old man's hands. He loved it. He still takes it with him on the road.
It was nearly a year later before I had a chance to play it. I loved it too.
The action is pretty medium. There is a very natural feel to it for someone who is used to playing electric guitars. The sound is slightly tenor, with good resonance, and surprising volume.
The backpacker's size and shape is as much a plus as a minus. It is easy to carry around, fitting into small spaces, and easy to sling over your shoulder for a camping or biking trip. It even fits in airplane overhead compartments.
There is no resting the Backpacker on your knee as you play. The shoulder strap is required at any posture, except flat on your back. It is louder than one might expect, but not as loud as a standard sized acoustic.
I paid a bit much for this, but it was a fairly new product at the time. The serial number is in the 6000s. The price has come down considerably in the past few years. My father has had offers for his, but he loves it too much.
