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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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Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more

From short scale acoustics to carry-on electrics, we look at the best travel guitars available right now

• Best acoustic
• Larger body
• Best foldable
• For small hands
• Best electric
• Best full scale
• Best offset

Buying advice

How we test.

1. Quick list 2. Best acoustic 3. Best with larger body 4. Best foldable 5. Best for small hands 6. Best electric 7. Best full scale 8. Best offset 9. Best Strat 10. Buying advice 11. How we test

If you’re looking for something compact to take out on the road, or maybe even on holiday to keep on top of your practice schedule, then one of the best travel guitars is the way to go.

From smaller bodied acoustics that take up less space in a car or on a train, to super compact electrics designed to be taken on a plane as hand luggage, the best travel guitars mean that you don’t have to stop playing the moment you leave the house. A good travel guitar can even be great to have around the home – something with more compact dimensions can sometimes be really comfortable. 

The best travel guitars come in all shapes and sizes, and are available in both electric and acoustic formats. Here, we’ll look at what’s on offer, and provide our picks for both categories.

Though this might be on the larger side of a travel guitar, it is still more compact than all of Lowden’s other offerings. Simply put, the Wee Lowden is one of the best sounding smaller-bodied acoustic guitars on the market.

Read more below

Not Taylor’s smallest offering, but definitely one of their better sounding compact instruments, the GS Mini has proven to be a hit with all manner of guitarists. You’ll even see pros use them on the biggest stages in the world.

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. 

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. 

Blackstar’s Carry On range aims to provide players with quality instruments that are easy to take on planes so that you don’t have to skip your practice sessions when you’re traveling.

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. 

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it.

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. 

Best acoustic traveler

1. Lowden WL-35 Wee Lowden

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

It’s incredibly bold and punchy, with superb note definition and clarity. Its dimensions are smaller than that of a more traditionally sized acoustic guitar, but the projection that it delivers would have you fooled – this guitar is loud when you push it. It also reacts beautifully to playing dynamics, offering all the shades of quiet and loud that you’d want.

Different versions of this guitar are available, but the mahogany back and sides combined with the red cedar top deliver a wonderfully balanced sound. The build quality is absolutely second to none; though of course, at this price point, you’d expect that.

Best with larger body

2. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus

This GS Mini-e Koa Plus sports a solid koa top and laminate koa back and sides which allow notes and chords to ring out with complete clarity and detail. Koa responds really well to your playing – it’s responsive and dynamic so allows you to play with lots of expression. The shaded edge burst finish looks truly incredible and adds a touch of class to the whole thing too. 

This 23.5” scale guitar comes fitted with Taylor’s flagship pickup system as well – the ES-2. This allows you to amplify your guitar through a PA system or amp in a way that’s more dynamic and more natural. It ships with a fantastic Aero Case that offers nearly as much protection as a hard case, but is much lighter.

Best foldable traveler

3. Furch Little Jane

Folding guitars have been done before, but the Furch Little Jane is a folding guitar that actually sounds very, very good. This acoustic travel guitar is made from all solid woods – a solid red cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, giving it a beautiful, mellow and warm sound. It’s harmonically rich, and has some of that parlor-style punch in the midrange. It’s also extremely dynamic, projecting when you want it to, but responding nicely to softer playing. 

It’s extremely well designed. The body, neck and headstock are all separate when packed down, but it’s very quick to construct when it’s time to play. The clever locking mechanism keeps the neck in place, adding the right tension to the strings, and even retaining tuning somewhat between sessions. The Furch Little Jane even comes with its own padded backpack so you can take it on your travels right away.

Best for small hands

4. Martin LX1E

Probably one of the most popular compact six-strings ever made, the Martin LX1E has truly earned its place on our list of the best travel guitars. It’s around a 3/4 size, with a 23” scale. Players who are already accustomed to a full size guitar might get along with this particularly well as the neck width is about the same, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut.

Solid spruce sits atop a high pressure laminate mahogany back and sides creating a balanced but fairly bright tone. There is a touch of that boxy sort of sound you often get with smaller acoustics (though nowhere near as much as some cheaper models), and there aren’t tons of low end frequencies, but that’s if we’re being picky. Overall, the projection and tone of the LX1E is excellent. 

It is available without (Martin LX1), but this is equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup. The controls are easily accessible and it’s very much a case of plug in and play, making it one of the best travel guitars for potentially gigging with. If you’re navigating public transport to get to shows, then this is definitely one to consider. 

Best electric traveler

5. Blackstar Carry On Travel Guitar

Cheaper versions of this are available, but the flagship Carry On model has a number of features that make this one of the best travel guitars on the market. Made in partnership with the master luthiers at Gordon Smith, this compact instrument has a one-piece okoume body, set neck and a coil-splittable humbucker. This gives you a range of amazing tones, as well as bags of sustain. 

It stays in tune well, and the intonation is just right. It’s really compact, but it plays more like a full size guitar, so you don’t lose much of the feel you’d normally get with a bigger instrument. It also comes shipped with a quality gigbag, so you’re ready to hit the road as soon as you get it.

Best with full scale length

6. Traveler Guitar Electric Ultra Light

A travel guitar doesn’t necessarily always have to be short scale, and this is a case in point. The Ultra-Light Travel Guitar boasts a full 24.75” scale length, but the entire thing measures just 28”. They say that it’s actually 28% shorter and 68% lighter than your average electric guitar . The lap rest detaches when not in use too, making it extremely portable. 

It’s fitted with a single dual rail humbucking pickup that delivers punchy but articulate tones. It’s not the most versatile instrument in the world, but that’s not really the aim here. Still, you can probably tackle most styles of music with it. The tuning pegs are also built into the body which obviously gets rid of the necessity for a headstock, and they actually work very well too.

If you’re flying a lot, or maybe space is at a premium in the car and you want to take this and maybe a battery powered amp with you, then this makes for a fantastic travel guitar. 

Best traveling offset

7. Squier Mini Jazzmaster

A 3/4 size guitar is smaller all over – smaller scale length (22.75” in this case), smaller body, neck, headstock etc. You might have to adjust your playing somewhat to accommodate these shrunken features, but most players can become accustomed to it. The short scale also lends the guitar a really nice slinky feel, so you might find yourself playing a little differently to normal, which can spark creativity. 

This fantastic looking offset is fitted with a pair of quite high output, punchy sounding humbuckers. So, if you’re seeking a portable guitar for rocking big riffs and ripping solos, then this is absolutely one to consider. 

It’s also well priced. Maybe you’re just seeking a guitar to take out occasionally, enabling you to leave your main instrument at home. This is of a good enough standard to do the job well, and it means that you’re not having to throw your more expensive guitar in the back of a car or van etc.

Best for Strat fans

8. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

This effectively cuts the body of a Strat down to just its scratchplate, reducing its size dramatically. The 6-in-line is then reduced to 3+3 making a further size reduction. All in all, it’s about the size of a regular Strat, minus the headstock, making it altogether a lot more portable. 

You’re not having to sacrifice anything in terms of tone here. The Travelcaster has three single-coil pickups and a five-way selector, giving you all the chimey, glassy tones that you’d expect from this kind of configuration. The tremolo works nicely too – again, something you don’t have to sacrifice. 

What’s particularly great about this model is that it has the full 25.5” Strat scale length meaning that your fretting hand won’t have a clue it’s playing on a travel guitar. Chords, scales and licks will feel as they do on a full size guitar, though you might just have to slightly accommodate for a different neck profile. 

What Do We Mean By Travel Guitar?

You can trust Guitar Player. 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.

When we’re talking about the best travel guitars, we’re looking for instruments that are physically easier to travel with. Size and weight play a huge part, so the above choices will all be smaller than your regular full-size guitar, which in turn, will make them lighter. 

Some might just have slightly reduced dimensions when compared to a full size, making it a little more practical to take out on the go. Others might have completely different designs that render them suitable for taking on planes as hand luggage. How small you want it completely depends on your wants and needs.

Electric Or Acoustic?

Of course, one of the main considerations when shopping for the best travel guitar is whether to go electric or acoustic. Acoustics, by their very nature, tend to be a little bigger with deeper bodies, but you don’t need an amp to get the most out of it. If you’re playing live, then you’ll need some amplification, but for playing on your own or with friends, you’re fine with just the guitar.

An electric travel guitar can be played without an amp, but you’ll get more from it if you plug it into something. There are some great portable amps on offer, but there’s that, plus cables, to then consider. 

On acoustic travel guitars, you’ll find that some of them have a pickup fitted and some of them don’t. If you’re after a compact instrument to travel to and from shows, then having a pickup installed can be really useful. If you’re just after something to take on holiday or camping perhaps, then a pickup isn’t necessary. Buying one without a pickup will probably save you a bit of money too. 

Of course, with an electric, the pickup plays a very important part in shaping your sound. You’ll find the best travel guitars are fitted with various different pickup configurations. If you’ve found a model that you like but it’s got a single coil instead of a humbucker, for example, it’s always worth checking to see if other versions are available. 

Scale Length

It’s likely that a travel guitar will have a shorter scale length. Reducing this can allow the makers to produce a physically smaller guitar. It’s worth considering how that might feel for you to play, though. If you’ve got bigger hands, you might find squeezing your fingers into frets, particularly the ones higher up, more difficult. Look at the scale length, alongside the number of frets – 18 frets spaced over 23” for example, will give your fingers more space than 22 frets over the same scale.

That said, there are travel guitars that have a full length scale. They can reduce the size of the instrument in other ways, so if you know that you’re after a full scale travel guitar, then you don’t have to compromise.

At  Guitar Player , our team of writers aren't just music enthusiasts; we're real-life musicians. Our hands-on experience with travel guitars ensures that our reviews and recommendations are backed by practical knowledge and real-world testing.

When it comes to selecting the best travel guitars, we leave no stone unturned. Meticulously evaluating factors like tonal versatility, sonic character, build quality, and value for money, it's only after rigorous testing in a variety of playing scenarios do we choose products for our guides. We stand by our selections, ensuring that every set of strings we recommend is one we'd use ourselves.

Read more on  how we test gear and service at Guitar Player .

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After spending a decade in music retail, I’m now a freelance writer for Guitar Player, Guitar World, MusicRadar and Reverb, specializing in electric and acoustic guitars bass, and almost anything else you can make a tune with. When my head’s not buried in the best of modern and vintage gear, I run a small company helping musicians with songwriting, production and performance, and I play bass in an alt-rock band.

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Best travel guitars: Top acoustic and electric guitars for musicians on the go

Out top picks for practicing your guitar on the move, wherever the road takes you

Best for tone

Best for volume, best for value.

• Best Strat-alike
• Best electric
• Best full-scale
• #1 acoustic-electric

Best for portability

• Best solid wood
• Buying advice
• How we choose

1. The quick list 2. Best for tone 3. Best for volume 4. Best for value 5. Best for Strat players 6. Best electric travel guitar 7. Best full-scale travel guitar 8. Best acoustic-electric model 9. Best for portability 10. Best solid-wood travel guitar 11. Buying advice 12. How we choose products

As guitar players, our passion and joy shouldn’t have to stop the second we leave the house or the practice room. Sometimes, when you’re on the go; whether that be travelling for work or just for fun, you want to be able to take your music with you. That’s where the best travel guitars come in.

Travel guitars are smaller, more compact instruments that are easier to take on the road. If you’re heading out on a road trip, and space in the car is tight, a travel guitar will fit in a much smaller gap than a full-size guitar. Some of them even pack down into a rucksack so you can take them on a plane as hand luggage.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re more into playing acoustic or electric, we’ve picked out the best travel guitars currently on offer to make sure that the music doesn’t have to stop when you hit the road.

Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World and Dawsons Music. Chris has spent years writing about and testing guitar gear for MusicRadar, in addition to nerding out about everything from synths to microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

Best travel guitars: Quick list

Want to cut to the chase and find out exactly which we think are the best travel guitars on the market right now? Below, you’ll find a round-up of our top choices. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

Read more below

The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

The Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the travel guitar bill due to its distinctive size and shape. Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul.

You can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat.

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example.

The Shorty provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

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The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought. The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse.

This handy, foldable acoustic is great for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

This is one for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The best travel guitars right now

MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full and detailed write-ups for each of the best travel guitars in our list.

1. Taylor Baby Taylor

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If the more outlandish styles of travel guitar aren’t for you, maybe the Baby Taylor will be. This ¾-sized dreadnought comes with all the quality and projection you’d expect from one of the acoustic world’s biggest names, just in a size that can be hauled around anywhere without breaking your back. Or, indeed, your wallet. 

The Baby Taylor would be the perfect option as a second (or third) guitar in anyone’s collection, designed to be stashed in the included gig bag and taken anywhere. Players with larger hands may feel a bit cramped navigating the 22.75” scale length, but for the majority of people the Baby Taylor is easy to recommend.

2. Martin Backpacker

We weren’t lying when we said travel guitars can jar a bit visually. The Martin Backpacker has a unique body shape, that’s for sure, but coming from a name like Martin you can rest assured this guitar will perform brilliantly. What surprised us was the volume and projection this little guitar pumps out, thanks in part to the solid mahogany used in the body.

Originally launched in 1992, the Martin Backpacker has carved itself a nice niche in the world of travel guitars, and its exceptional build quality means it will last for many more years to come.

3. Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

While not officially marketed as a travel guitar, the Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe definitely fits the bill due to its distinctive size and shape. The classic Steinberger ‘headless’ design is correct and present, making the same bold visual statement of its more expensive stablemates, yet the decision to use wood over composite materials makes the whole thing more cost-effective and suited for travelling. 

Despite the smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe features a scale length of 25.5”, making the actual playing area larger than that of a standard Les Paul. It’s also pretty rare to find neck-thru bodies at this price point, which all adds up to a decent value instrument regardless of how you end up using it.

Best for Strat players

4. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

It’s called ‘cognitive dissonance’. That conflict you feel when something you know to be right is challenged. The Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe is a relative example; to look at it, you can instantly see those famous Stratocaster outlines of the pickguard, the three single coil pickups and the control knobs. Yet the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed anything on the body that isn’t underneath the pickguard has been shaved away, leaving a guitar which is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a regular Strat. 

Weighing in at only 5 lbs, the Travelcaster Deluxe may take some getting over visually, but in use it provides that same Strat experience, the same 25.5” scale length and the same tonal versatility of those pickups. If you can get over the cognitive dissonance, it may just be the perfect travel guitar for you.

Read the full Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe review

Best electric options

5. Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

This is a short-scale travel electric guitar featuring a single mini-humbucker, two-piece poplar body, bolt-on neck and fairly sturdy tuners. It doesn’t pack down any smaller than it is, though it’s very compact already and if you really needed to, you could always take the neck off, if you were packing it up in a suitcase for example. 

It plays great and the shorter 20.7” scale length doesn’t take long to readjust to - younger beginners might find that they can fret chords and make stretches between frets more easily too. The mini-humbucker covers a lot of ground, so will suit any musical style you can throw at it. Whether you’re playing clean or super distorted, this little thing can really pack a punch! 

There is a more expensive version that’s around double the price with some upgrades, but in terms of value for money, we feel that the Blackstar Carry-On ST is one of the best travel guitars around. 

Best full-scale experience

6. Hofner Shorty travel guitar

The Hofner Shorty has been around since the 1980s, and has long been a favourite for players looking for a portable electric they can travel with. It provides full scale-length familiarity which, when combined with the tiny body, makes for a comfortable playing experience. The single humbucker at the bridge is meaty enough to blast out your favourite riffs, while you’ll feel instantly at home with the classic maple/rosewood combination neck and fingerboard.

Sure, it’s not going to win any awards for tone, and you’re unlikely to see them used on album-of-the-year contenders, but as an inexpensive way to add a bit of portability to your line-up the Hofner Shorty is well worth consideration. 

Best of both worlds

7. Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany

Choosing a travel guitar doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on your needs. The Traveler Escape Mark III comes equipped with plenty in the way of tools and toys, and it all comes in 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought.

The Escape Mark III features tuning pegs within the body itself, which means it has no need for a headstock and is instead strung in reverse. The onboard electronics are both extensive and useful too, with an under-saddle Shadow NanoFlex piezo system, tuner, aux-in and studio headphone out making for quite a comprehensive setup for the traveling player.

8. Journey Instruments PJ410N

This handy, foldable acoustic makes for one of the best travel guitars for players who want something quality but affordable. It’s got a solid spruce top and layered mahogany back and sides. You can get a great tone from it, whether you’re playing with a pick or with fingers. It’s dynamic, and while it might not be as loud as a full size guitar, can still throw out a good amount of volume.

It fits perfectly inside the included padded rucksack, and can be assembled in 20 seconds. Simply put the neck into position, snap it in place and lock it from the back of the body. Then you’ve got a guitar with a 23” scale ready to play. It’s great for experienced players who want something that sounds good while they’re on their travels (the bag will fit under many airline seats), but also makes for a great beginner guitar for kids . 

Best all-solid option

9. Furch Little Jane LJ-10

This is definitely one of the best travel guitars for serious acoustic players. It bears a hefty price tag, but you can get some serious tones from this guitar. Boasting a solid red cedar top and solid African mahogany back and sides, the Furch Little Jane yields a beautiful, rich and balanced tone with a good amount of projection. 

The guitar can be folded down and fit into a rucksack (included). The headstock, neck and body are separate from one another to save space but can be assembled into one piece very quickly and easily. Once the neck is locked into position using Furch’s proprietary assembly system, it’s ready to play and will even go back in tune. 

The included rucksack is well padded and will ensure that it’s protected enough on your travels. Travel acoustic guitars seldom sound this good, and to be fair the price reflects that, but it really is one of the best out there. 

Best travel guitars: Buying advice

What is a travel guitar?

Essentially, a travel guitar is a guitar designed with portability and mobility as its key function. This will usually mean the guitar has a significantly smaller body or weight, and they often boast creative solutions to common issues like tuning or storage. From conception to construction, the travel guitar is designed to be thrown in a bag and transported anywhere, everywhere, and all those places in between. 

Standard-sized guitars can be, as we know, too large, too heavy or too delicate to carry around for long stretches, so travel guitars offer a specialist tool for those specific situations. Realistically, you’ll not find too many studio musicians reaching for the travel guitar to nail that perfect tone, but then that’s not what they’re for. Portability, size and weight are order of the day here, and it helps that there are travel guitars on the market today which also nail that other crucial element; tone. 

What makes travel guitars different?

At first glance, the sight of a dedicated travel guitar can jar a little. Often, they have quite striking aesthetic differences from regular guitars. Like looking at something you know, only quite different. Manufacturers employ all kinds of measures as they seek to reduce the overall size and weight of the guitar, and it’s not uncommon to see guitars without headstocks, or with radically different shaped bodies, or even no body at all. Yet a guitar still has to function, so there is still the need for tuning pegs, a bridge, and other essential components.

What are the key features of travel guitars?

There are two major schools of thought when it comes to travel guitars. One is to take a regular sized guitar and zap it with a shrink ray, keeping the same proportions relatively but in a smaller overall package. This approach ensures the instrument retains its familiarity, and also makes them attractive to younger learners.

The other approach is to redesign the instrument completely, perhaps taking the tuning pegs and installing them in the body. Of course, such radical design changes can create other problems, so you may see these compensated for with the inclusion of detachable arm and leg rests, for example. While these guitars may look unfamiliar, the playing experience should be largely the same as a regular guitar. Scale lengths, fret locations and pitch will be the same, even if the physical form of the guitar is quite different.

Are travel guitars playable?

If you’ve never had the chance to play a travel guitar, you may be looking at the best travel guitars in this list and wondering if it’s playable in the same way as a regular guitar. The good news is that yes, absolutely they are playable. In the same way that jumping from the thin neck of an Ibanez RG-style electric to a 50’s style Stratocaster neck may take a bit of readjustment in your technique, so too will the leap from a regular to certain travel-sized guitars. It’s not difficult to adjust though. You may also have to sit differently to accommodate the smaller body, but as these guitars are inherently lighter in weight, this shouldn’t cause too much of a headache. Or, more accurately, backache.

Electric or acoustic?

All of the best travel guitars will either be electric or acoustic. Electrics do tend to be thinner, as the body doesn’t need to resonate as much to get a good sound, although it’s worth remembering that you’ll need an amp to get the most out of it. The body of a travel acoustic will normally be deeper, but as a result of this you can get a fairly loud sound without any amplification.

What do I get when I spend more?

The quality of the best travel guitars does vary, and as you might imagine, it does go up as you spend more money. As the price increases, you’ll likely find better hardware, which can not only help keep the guitar in tune and playing nicely, but can also improve how it sounds too, increasing resonance and sustain.

On electrics, you’ll find better quality pickups - these will be more dynamic and have a wider frequency range so you’ll get more detail and clarity. With travel acoustic guitars, you’ll get better quality, and even solid woods which will give you a better, more responsive and richer sound.

Who might use a travel guitar?

The breadth of today’s range of travel guitars means there is a guitar to suit most playing styles and genres, so the quick answer is that yes, there is a travel guitar for everyone. In terms of scenarios, travel guitars are, as their name suggests, designed to be taken places ordinary guitars cannot reach. 

Small enough to fit on your back as you scale a mountain, or taken on a plane as part of your hand luggage, travel guitars give players the freedom and convenience of being able to play anywhere, at any time. For that, we applaud them. Let’s examine some of the best travel guitar options available today.

Can you buy travel guitars for children?

Travel guitars, as well as being the perfect accompaniment to a musician on the go, can also make for great instruments for children. If you’re looking for one of the best travel guitars to get a kid started on their guitar playing journey, then look for one that has a shorter scale length. This will mean that the notes are closer together and will be easier for small hands to fret. 

Scale length and string gauge

Speaking of short scales, the gauge of strings you use is also worth considering. The strings on a guitar with a shorter scale will feel slinkier - they will be easier to bend and to some players may even feel too loose. One way to combat this is to use thicker strings, so something like 12s on an electric might make them feel a little more like 10s on a full size guitar. Though, if you’re just starting out then the thinner, slinkier strings might be better so they don’t quite hurt your fingertips as much.

How we chose the best travel guitars for this guide

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear 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 musicians, 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.

Find out more about  how we test music gear and services  at MusicRadar.

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Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar and bass gear, to synths, microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.

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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.

REI is one of America’s biggest and most-loved outdoor gear retailers.

Now, for just $30, get a lifetime membership that entitles you to 10% OFF on most items, access to their trade-in scheme and discount rentals .

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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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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Best Travel Guitars (Electric and Acoustic) For Every Adventure

Jean gabriel.

• January 4, 2022
• No Comments

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

PREMIUM PICK

Traveler Escape MK-III Travel Guitar

Cordoba Mini II MH Travel Guitar

Table of Contents

If your guitar is one of your prized possessions, you may not want to risk lugging it around with you when you travel. Yet going without playing isn’t an attractive option either. What to do?

If you often find yourself in this predicament, a travel guitar is a great compromise. Not only can you stay up-to-date on your skills, you can do so without risking your favorite instrument.

With so many models to choose from, however, picking the best travel model is no easy feat. That’s where we come in.

After much consideration, we’ve picked the Taylor BT2 as the best guitar for travel on the market today. Its solid mahogany top sounds fantastic yet its layered sapele frame is durable enough to withstand even the busiest travel schedule.

The BT2 is not your only option, however. The best travel guitars come in different shapes and sizes and we’ve rated nine other guitars as some of the top options out there.

The 10 Best Travel Guitars:

If you’re looking for one of the best travel acoustics that can hold its own in the studio, the practice room or tour bus, you can’t go wrong with the BT2 Baby Taylor.

This acoustic guitar from Taylor offers excellent sound quality and durability. What more could you ask for in a travel guitar?

The BT2 uses a solid mahogany top with a layered sapele back and sides and provides Taylor’s clear, chiming trebles, as well as a sharp mid-range response.

Sapele is a great choice for a travel-sized guitar because it’s sturdy but still supplies a bright, balanced sound. 

Some guitars sacrifice tone for comfort. Not the BT2. The 3/4-size dreadnought body is easy to play and hold yet still offers some of the best tonal variety available in a guitar this size. If you love the booming bass and powerful mid-range of a full-size dreadnought, you’ll find a lot to love here. 

The 22.75-inch scale length , meanwhile, lends a slinky and compact feel to the mahogany neck and ebony fretboard. 

The full package includes a baby Taylor gig bag with backpack straps, so you can easily carry the BT2 wherever you go. 

• Clear, bright tonal profile makes this the best travel guitar for songwriting and recording
• Mahogany top and sapele back and sides provide great resonance and tonal depth
• Plain appearance compared to other travel guitars in its price range
• 22.75-inch scale may feel cramped for players used to a full-size guitar

The Cordoba Mini II MH captures the smooth, mellow sound of a classical guitar in a handy travel size.

It’s a fantastic package for nylon-string guitar players, but the unbeatable value makes it perfect for guitarists on a tighter budget as well. 

This travel guitar offers a full mahogany body, with a C-shape mahogany neck and composite fingerboard.

The fan bracing underneath the top preserves all the articulation and warmth of full-scale classical guitars, while the layered wood construction keeps the body sleek and durable. 

At the other end of the neck, you’ll find a nut measuring 1.78 inches. While it’s wider than most steel-string guitars, it’s comfortable enough to suit both lifelong classical guitar players and those who’ve never touched a nylon-string guitar.

Sonically, the mahogany delivers smooth warmth with a slight emphasis on the mid-range. It’s a great counterpoint to the brash attack of tonewoods like spruce and it’s versatile enough for rhythm, leads and accents.

• Best travel guitar for capturing the warm, glassy vibe of a classical acoustic
• Mahogany body and fan bracing offer authentic tones with modern durability
• Doesn’t project as well as steel-string or electric travel guitars
• Wider neck is comfortable for most acoustic players, but might be too thick for some electric guitarists

Traveler is the top brand in the travel guitar market, and for good reason: the company’s Escape series has redefined just how good a travel guitar can look and sound.

The latest model, the Escape MK-III, offers refined updates while staying true to the popular design.

Unlike most other travel guitars, the Escape offers a full 25.5-inch scale length in a 29.5-inch frame.

This keeps the guitar just as compact as other offerings, but gives it the same playability and feel as a full-size guitar underneath your fingers. That alone makes this Traveler guitar an amazing option for those with a bigger budget.

Rather than sitting at the end of the neck, the tuning pegs are slotted inside the body. As well as saving space, this makes it easy to keep your strings in tune without needing to reach at all. 

If you’re near an amp, you can plug the Escape in for a tone that’s closer to an acoustic electric guitar . It’s got plenty of snap, but the acoustic strings mellow it out for a more traditional strumming sound. If you’re on-the-go, you can also play straight through the onboard headphone amp with its built-in tuner and EQ.

• Onboard headphone amp lets you dial in the perfect tone with effects built-in
• Innovative design provides a full 25.5-inch scale in a compact frame
• Doesn’t project as well as acoustic travel guitars when not plugged in
• It costs more than other travel guitars and short-scale electric guitars

Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar

Yamaha’s SLG200S Silent Guitar offers a sleek minimalist frame that’s sure to turn heads. This guitar offers a lot more than stunning looks, however.

It also provides one of the best acoustic electric guitar sounds on the market. Combined with the collapsible frame, it’s a great pick for discerning players who need a refined feel and tone in a travel guitar. 

The SLG200S offers a mahogany body and rosewood and maple frame. It’s artfully curved, with a central block and wooden pickguard to add heft and visual appeal.

But while the “body-less” frame might seem ultra modern, this traveler guitar also incorporates a few time-honored touches.

The neck measures 1 11/16 inches at the nut, for a compact vintage feel while the rosewood fretboard brings back memories of the classic acoustic guitars of the 1960s. 

The onboard preamp and pickup lets you plug in or play directly through a headphone output. Along with classic controls for volume and EQ, you can also dial in effects like reverb and chorus.

The SLG200S also prevents feedback better than most of its peers. Without a soundhole, this travel guitar performs more like an electric guitar and sounds just as great on stage as it does on a quiet tour bus.

• Eye-catching looks thanks to curved wooden frame and sleek shape
• Onboard pickup and preamp offers plenty of effects to pair with your base tone
• Larger and bulkier than some other travel guitars
• Delicate wooden frame isn’t as durable as some more affordable travel instruments

Traveler Ultra-Light Electric Travel Guitar

If you need the smallest and lightest traveler guitar available, the Ultra-Light Electric axe is one of your best options.

At less than 2.5 feet long and weighing in around three pounds, it packs a full-length neck and scale into a package that’s smaller than most other short-scale traveler guitar models. 

The center block and neck are made with American maple, while the fretboard is black walnut for a sleek, refined look. Instead of a headstock (this is a headless guitar ), the tuners fit inside the frame to save space without sacrificing scale length. 

Near the bridge, you’ll find a humbucker to provide your electric tones.

You can plug into a standard amplifier via the 1/4-inch jack, or go straight to a headphone amp or digital console.

Finally, the Ultra-Light also includes a detachable chrome bar. Not only does it make it easier to balance the guitar in your lap, it snaps off so you can save space whenever you’re not strumming chords.

• Incredibly small and lightweight frame is the best design for frequent travelers
• Included gig bag makes it easy to take protect guitar from damage
• No onboard controls to adjust tone of built-in pickup
• Chrome lap rest bar might feel awkward or uncomfortable for some players

Martin Backpacker Steel String Travel Guitar

Martin is a brand known for its classic body shapes, but the Backpacker travel guitar bucks that trend.

With an unorthodox fan shape and sleek, stripped-back frame, it’s one of the most compact acoustic guitars on our list. The slim shape and comfortable neck make it perfect for strumming at a campfire or using as a practice instrument. 

The Backpacker uses a solid spruce top along with solid wood for the back and sides. The fretboard is Richlite , which provides an even playing surface and captures a smooth and balanced response from the 15 frets. 

For such a small body, the Backpacker projects surprisingly well. It’s brighter and more focused in the trebles, with a warm, loose bass. 

The low end offers a resonant character that shares some characteristics with a washtub bass. It’s perfect for balancing out the clarity in the upper registers and it gives the Backpacker a very unique voice compared to other travel guitars.

• It’s one of the best travel guitars for carrying on your back, thanks to its compact frame
• Solid spruce top and solid wood sides provide outstanding projection and acoustic resonance
• Only 15 frets, which limits your potential for upper-register creativity
• Unorthodox fan shape isn’t comfortable to play when seated

Fender CT140-SE

Fender is known for its electric guitars, but you can also get a great deal on the company’s acoustic travel guitars. The CT140-SE builds on a unique shape and scale length for a distinctive playing experience.

Most other travel guitars take the shape of a dreadnought, or opt for a unique body style to minimize space. The CT140-SE, however, employs an auditorium body with a shortened 23.5-inch scale.

Compared to other travel guitars, the auditorium size is focused and articulate with a bit less rumble yet more touch throughout the low-end. This model uses a solid spruce top with scalloped bracing, so you get even more sustain and resonance from the wood.

The rosewood body and mahogany neck are warm and mellow, which is a nice counterpoint to the bright, sharper tone of solid spruce. The shorter scale length and rosewood fingerboard also give the guitar a smoother feel than full-size competitors. 

Whether you enjoy fingerstyle guitar or just want a more responsive instrument, that smoothness is a major advantage. The CT140-SE also offers an onboard Fishman preamp so you can dial in the perfect acoustic tone on stage or in the studio . 

• One of the best travel guitars for fingerstyle playing thanks to the concert body
• Fishman preamp helps you dial in the perfect tone on stage
• Concert frame doesn’t have the power and low-end boom of a dreadnought shape
• Some users report fret buzz out of the box and a need for professional setup to fix it

Epiphone Lil’ Tex Acoustic Travel Guitar

Epiphone’s lineup of acoustic guitars offers versatile models with storied histories from the brand’s heritage.

The new Lil’ Tex draws on that heritage to make a short-scale travel acoustic that’s still unmistakably Epiphone in both tone and feel.

The Lil’ Tex uses a solid spruce top with a sapele body and mahogany neck. Sapele is similar to mahogany, with a slightly brighter and more balanced finish. It perfectly captures the smooth, vibrant sound of vintage acoustic guitars while also offering a punchy modern response. 

The scale measures just 22.68 inches, which makes it easy to carry by hand or throw in a trunk for practices, jam sessions or outdoor performances.

New guitar players and children might also find the shorter scale useful, because it makes it easier to fret chords with small hands.

The faded cherry finish is another plus. It sits between sunburst and tea burst, offering a warm hue that’s distinctive yet refined.

• Faded cherry finish captures vintage Epiphone character with plenty of flair
• Extra-short scale is perfect for young beginners who need a more comfortable neck and body size
• Small body and scale make it tough for larger players to access upper frets
• Included gig bag doesn’t offer a lot of padding to protect against drops or damage

Martin LXK2 Little Martin

With more than 150 years of history, Martin is one of the most famous acoustic guitar brands in the world.

But despite its storied heritage, the company continues to innovate with affordable models like the LXK2 Little Martin. 

This guitar is made with high-pressure laminate (HPL), a durable material that’s resistant to dings and changes in temperature and pressure.

While many travel guitars might warp or go out of tune on the road, the LXK2 is built to deliver the same tone in any situation.  

To keep it comfortable, the LXK2 uses an auditorium body modeled after Martin’s “0” lineup.

The scale length measures 23 inches, with a 1 11/16 width at the nut. While shorter than full-scale guitars, the measurements are close enough to offer a seamless transition from the travel guitar.

Sonically, this travel acoustic guitar provides a buttery response that’s remarkably balanced across the tonal range. It doesn’t lend significant accents to treble, mids, or bass, which helps it sit comfortably on its own and in stage mixes.

• Laminate body gives the guitar a consistent, dependable voice that fits well in all situations
• Small auditorium body style provides low-end depth while retaining focus and articulation
• High-pressure laminate body isn’t as dynamic as guitars made with solid wood
• Balanced tonal response can feel a bit bland to players who want a distinctive guitar

Yamaha JR1 Mini Folk Guitar

Yamaha’s JR1 condenses the power and articulation of the company’s dreadnoughts into a three-quarter size that’s perfect for travel and practice. If you’re looking for a versatile and durable travel guitar on a tight budget , the JR1 is tough to beat. 

This guitar has a spruce top with meranti back and sides. It’s built for strummers and new guitar players who want a versatile tonal profile. The nato neck and Javanese rosewood fretboard are clean and comfortable, while the 21 1/4-inch scale length is significantly shorter than a full-scale neck.  

The dreadnought shape provides plenty of bass and mid-range, with warmer trebles that don’t overpower the other frequencies. 

Because the neck is so much shorter, it’s a good guitar for young beginners . The tighter distance between the frets makes it easier to grab chords and single notes, while the compact frame is comfortable whether sitting down or standing up.

• Spruce top and meranti back and sides provide balanced tonal profile that can fit in any genre
• Shorter scale length is perfect for young players who need less distance between the frets
• All-laminate construction doesn’t resonate as well as a travel guitar made with solid wood
• 21 1/4-inch scale length is a bit cramped for guitar players used to a full-size acoustic guitar

Are Travel Guitars Worth It?

Some players see travel guitars as an essential tool for keeping their skills sharp when they’re on the road. There are other players, however, that view travel guitars as a poor replacement for their full-scale axe. So, are they worth it?

A travel guitar is an easy way to stay in the groove whether you’re a globetrotter, are on a one-week vacation or travel frequently for work. It’s a great tool to practice skills like songwriting , improvisation and rhythm playing — and you don’t need to worry about damaging your favorite full-scale guitar. 

Lots of touring pros love travel guitars, because they’re smooth and easy to play when you’re away from your favorite full-size instruments. Even if you’re not always on the road, you can still take advantage of a travel guitar. Their small frame makes them great for younger, smaller players. 

If you struggle to fit your hands around a normal neck, or if you want a more compact feel between the frets, a travel-sized guitar could be a good option for you.

When at home, there aren’t many players who would reach for their travel guitar in favor of their full-scale axe. 

Built for portability and durability, many travel acoustic guitars just can’t live up to the sound a traditional model can offer.

Certain styles of music can also be difficult on a travel guitar, thanks to their shorter scales and fewer frets. This can be frustrating for players who want to reach as high as their axe can go, or for lead players who enjoy playing lines high on the neck. 

So, unless you’re on the road a lot and need something easy to transport, your travel guitar might not get much use. 

Are Travel Guitars Easier to Play?

While most players use travel guitars when they’re out of the house, some guitarists do choose to jam with them at home, simply because they’re so easy to play. 

The shorter scale and smaller body size of the best travel guitars make them perfect for beginners and smaller players who need a more comfortable instrument to play with. If you just want more compact frets and a more comfortable frame, you might also find a travel guitar easier to play.

There are some playability issues, however. The fretboard can be a problem for some players because a guitar for travel has only 15-17 frets instead of the usual 18-20. 

The shorter scale length can also make it harder to fret notes at the very top of the scale. If you like to perform acrobatic lines and play chiming licks high on the neck of your guitar, you might struggle with a guitar built for traveling. 

If you need a guitar created for playability, be sure to check out our articles on acoustic guitars with thin necks and guitars with low action . These instruments are built to be as easy to play as possible, and they’re perfect for guitar players of every age and size. 

Travel Guitars vs. Parlor Guitars

Parlor guitars are another small-body acoustic guitar shape. While they share some similarities, there are also a few key distinctions between the two. 

Parlor guitars offer a smaller, thinner body style than acoustic guitar shapes like dreadnoughts or concert models. The bouts are more symmetrical, with some parlor guitars looking almost peanut-shaped.

That body style creates a brash, lo-fi tone with a strong emphasis on the mid-range. The unique sonic signature makes parlor guitars popular in genres like blues, folk and country. If you love to play these genres, then a parlor style might make a perfect traveling guitar for you.

A proper travel guitar is often designed with a different sound in mind. Many of the best travel guitars take larger body styles and shrink them down to 3/4 size or smaller, so you get the same balanced acoustic response, but in a smaller package.

If you want that broad sonic signature in a compact frame, a travel guitar is one of the best solutions. You can also find some electric guitar models in a travel size, which is a good alternative if you prefer to play plugged in. Parlor guitars, on the other hand, only come in acoustic versions.

If you want to learn more about the unique features this style of guitar offers, check out our article on the best parlor guitars . Whether you’re an avid blues player or you’ve never touched a parlor guitar before, you’re sure to find a great model for your needs. 

Bottom Line

Its versatility makes the Taylor BT2 our pick for the best travel guitar. It’s perfect for all types of musicians, from studio artists to touring players to hobbyists who want an easy guitar to pick up and play.

If you want a more compact electric guitar, you might want to try out the Traveler Escape Mk III or Traveler Ultra-Light instead. You can also take a look at the Cordoba Mini II MH for outstanding classical guitar tones in a travel-sized package. 

Do you use a travel guitar for playing on the road? Are there other models that you think should have made our best travel guitars list? Let us know in the comments below.

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• Acoustic Guitars

The 10 Best Travel Guitars for 2024 [Backpacker’s Guide]

Our Pick: The Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar perfectly sums up all the qualities a traveler’s acoustic guitar should have. It offers great portability and its size is just perfect for any travelers who are always on the go. Though it may lack some volume, the guitar’s playability with its low action perfectly compensates it. And oh, about the price? It is one of the main reasons why travelers prefer this over other travel guitars out there.

You need a smaller and more portable guitar not because you are small, but because you find the benefits of owning one.

The best travel guitars aren’t the smallest, they are the ones that have a balance between smaller profile and tonality. In this article, I’m going to reveal to you my top 10 favorite travel guitars.

It’s not that I travel with different guitars , it’s just that I find the need to make this list and to give you more choices. I don’t want to force you to like what I like, so I will give you the freedom to choose what’s best for you .

Of course, I’ll also provide a simple guide on the factors to consider before buying your next travel guitar .

Here are the Best Travel Guitars in 2024

Martin steel-string backpacker, traveler guitar ultra-light, yamaha apxt2, fender ct-60s, martin lxk2 little martin, taylor gs mini mahogany, composite acoustics cargo carbon fiber acoustic guitar, stewart electric travel guitar, shredneck travel guitar, washburn ro10tb rover.

Designed to take on the rigors of camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, the Martin Steel-String Backpacker will surely be your new travel companion. It’s a 24-inch guitar made of solid spruce top and solid mahogany for the neck, back, and sides. It has a unique contour neck shape that will help you access the upper frets without a problem.

This small and lightweight guitar offers a big projection. It comes with enclosed chrome tuners which are reliable to keep the guitar in tune even when frequently used. Stock strings are of good quality and sound great.

• Sounds phenomenal, which is perfect for fingerpicking
• Though it loses some volume, it still has great projection
• Action is perfect and low, no need for any adjustment
• Still awkward to play even with a strap
• The neck is heavier than the body, so more weight on your left hand
• High E-string is almost close to the edge of the guitar

Probably the smallest and the lightest electric travel guitar on the market, yet, Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light is still a full-scale guitar. It has a 24.75-inch scale length made of Eastern American Hard Maple neck-through-body. Though it’s small, it’s no less than a regular electric guitar because it’s equipped with a high-output dual-rail humbucker.

The detachable lap rest is a good add-on to this guitar. Although you’re playing a very tiny electric guitar, with the lap rest you can play it like a normal guitar and detach it when not in use. This guitar has an overall length of 28-inch weighing only over three pounds — not a noticeable add-on weight to your luggage.

• No setup required, the action is spot on
• The sound output is amazing, though it doesn’t have volume and tone controls
• Compact guitar, but with a standard scale length
• Might still be lacking when playing seated even with the lap rest
• Doesn’t hold the tune too well

If you have played the famous Yamaha APX500III , then your choice for the best travel guitar will surely be the Yamaha APXT2 . The latter is just a ¾ version of the former, featuring an ART-based pickup system and Yamaha’s very own proprietary tuner. Hence, you’ll enjoy great sensitivity and accurate tuning, respectively.

This acoustic-electric guitar is made of spruce top, Meranti back and sides, and rosewood fretboard. As a Yamaha product, you are assured that it’s well-built. So, this compact guitar will surely be a good companion on the road and wherever you go.

• Yamaha’s pickups are just great to deliver the best results
• More modern cutaway design for easier access to upper frets
• Definitely low action for great playability
• Tuning machines are of poor quality
• Fret edges aren’t rounded and tend to be sharp
• Since the action is very low, there’s fret buzz on the low E string

Isn’t it amazing to have a guitar with you every time you are summoned by Apollo to make music? With the Fender CT-60S , you’ll be able to bring an acoustic guitar anytime, anywhere. It’s a scaled-down travel guitar with Auditorium shape and 23.5-inch scale length.

It’s made of solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fretboard. The easy-to-play neck profile and the rolled fretboard edges are the two major features I like about it. Weighing at only 11 pounds, it’s easy to carry around during your travels. Since it’s designed with X-bracing, you know you get the sound you love from Fender.

• Quality is remarkable for the affordable price tag
• Notes are rich, full and balanced
• Very easy to play with good intonation
• Slight adjustment of the truss rod is necessary
• Action is a bit high out of the box

Martin has a lot of travel guitars, and they are all good. However, I’ll just mention the second Martin that has captured a lot of guitarists all over the world, the Martin LXK2 Little Martin . This is a modified 0-14 guitar with a 23-inch scale length and Natural Stratabond modified low-oval neck.

Made with the same craftsmanship of high-end Martin, this one comes with Koa-grained HPL (high-pressure laminate) top, back, sides, and headstock. It has a rosewood fretboard and Natural colored Stratabond, which make it very easy to play. This is a perfect practice companion, and travel buddy, as well.

• Tone is balanced and more focused on mid-range
• Fretboard is flawless and no sharp fret edges
• Made with excellent material, slow to wear and tear
• Good for fingerstyle, but not so much with strumming
• Action is quite high out of the box

The best travel guitar list won’t be complete without the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany on it. It’s a Grand Symphony made of solid mahogany top, layered Sapele back and sides and Sapele neck. It’s a scaled-down guitar with only 23.5-inch scale length and has 20 frets distributed on its Genuine African Ebony fretboard.

Something is interesting in the GS Mini that made everyone fell in love, not just beginners. When you play the GS Mini, it’ll reveal an impressive powerful tone, like a full-size guitar. Hence, the combination of portability, playability, and musicality makes this guitar too hard to forget.

• Well-built and the Mahogany gives a beautiful appearance
• The rich and smooth tone for such small guitar
• Action is great and you can easily play barre chords
• The thin neck might be very vulnerable to breakage
• Due to the small scale, the first three frets are kind of tight

In need of a sturdy and durable travel guitar? You won’t surely be disappointed with the Composite Acoustics Cargo Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar . It’s not made of wood, but of carbon fiber , so it’s really very expensive — the priciest on the list. But, before moving into the next product, learn about this guitar first.

It boasts a 000 body shape with a single-cutaway. Probably the shortest in this list in terms of scale length as it only has 22.75-inch with 21 total number of frets on its reinforced polymer fretboard. Though its small, full-size sound and great projection are guaranteed.

• Highly resistant to climate changes and natural wear and tear
• Impressive durability with a very smooth fretboard
• Tone is good with great sustain
• If you need a loud tone, this isn’t the one for you
• Very expensive, especially for beginners

How about a full-scale guitar, but with a removable neck? If you think it’s interesting, try to take a look at the Stewart Electric Travel Guitar . It’s made of a solid Alderwood body with a 25.5-inch scale length and 22 medium frets.

The headless tuning system allows Stewart to make this guitar compact and even collapsible to meet airline policy in overhead storage restrictions. Since it’s an electric guitar, it has three single-coil pickups with the position switch, volume, and two-tone controls.

• Plays well and sounds amazing
• Easy to assemble and reassemble
• Stays in tune very well, with a smooth and fast neck
• Not all are interested in the stowaway design
• Still pricey for a travel guitar

Now, we’re down to the last guitar in this list, but the Shredneck Travel Guitar is in no way the least. It’s a ¾ scale guitar made of Nato body with Cherry burst finish over Flamed maple photo top. It has a 23.25-inch scale length with a 22-fret rosewood fretboard.

Since it’s an electric guitar, it’s equipped with two humbuckers, Master volume and tone controls, and a three-way toggle switch. Now you can play anytime with this great-sounding, stunning travel guitar.

• Has the great sound quality
• Performance is on par with regular electric guitars
• The finish is beautiful and stage-ready
• There are fret buzzes and needs truss rod adjustments

Planning to get a travel guitar that best fits the airline overhead storage? Washburn RO10TB rover is the one you need. It’s a full-scale guitar with a 24-inch scale length and has a lot of finish options. It’s made of solid spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fretboard.

The RO10TB features quality geared tuners for quick tuning to easily achieve sounds pleasing to the ears. This travel guitar is perfect for fingerstyle and flat-picking. With a deluxe gig bag and compact size of the guitar, it’s easy and safe to transport.

• Tiny body, but has great sound
• Narrower neck, so barre chords and bends are effortless
• Has excellent fit and color finish
• You’ll definitely need a guitar strap when playing
• Has a very high bridge out of the box

What to Consider When Buying a Travel Guitar

Of course, a travel guitar should be smaller than your regular guitar. Unless you are bringing your regular full-scale guitar when you travel, that could be your travel guitar. But, for most musicians and those who are passionate about guitars, travel guitars are handy, and portable yet has a great voice.

You already know the 10 best travel guitars on the market, but maybe you’ll ask how did I come up with the list? Very simple. I have a few considerations before jumping into the market and scavenging on what’s available. Here they are as follows:

This should be the first thing you have to consider. You know that if you are traveling, you aren’t in full control of the situation. You might bump your guitar or it’ll suddenly fall because you have a lot of baggage.

Make sure that your guitar can resist bumps and knocks. Check the wood used and the finish. Also, check the neck — very important. What’s the use of a durable body when the neck is weak?

Acoustic Guitar vs Electric Guitar

There are lots of travel acoustic guitars that are down-sized for that specific purpose. Moreover, you can also see electric guitar beginning to emerge either a scaled-down or full-sized with a detachable neck.

If you want an acoustic guitar, no problem with that. You can see a lot of small-bodied acoustics out there ready to make music anytime and anywhere. However, if you are an electric guitarist, you will always crave something an acoustic guitar can’t give you.

You can also have an electric guitar, but the first thing that you should secure after the guitar is a portable amp. An electric guitar is not as good as an acoustic guitar in the wilderness without an amp. The advantage of electric guitars is you can play it silently, using your headphones, so you won’t disturb others.

For more in-depth guides, check out our  best acoustic travel guitar  and best electric travel guitar for more info.

Full-Sized fretboard vs Scaled-Down Guitar

This depends on your preferences and how frequently you travel. If you want a guitar that feels like your regular guitar, have a guitar with the full-sized fretboard. However, if you often travel and don’t want to feel that extra weight in your luggage, get a scaled-down guitar, like the 3/4s.

One thing to remember, though, guitars with reduced fretboard have a different feel than your regular guitar. Not all guitarists are at home to this fretboard, some just hate it.

Don’t just pick it because it’s small and a good travel guitar. Make sure that you will be happy with the guitar that you choose. After all, what’s the use of the guitar when the neck is just awkward to play?

Small-Bodied vs Removable Neck

From the list, there are a lot of small body guitars , but there’s only one with a removable neck. Now, ask yourself whether you need to bring a full-scale guitar or a small travel guitar will do?

Having a small-bodied guitar won’t give you the kind of volume you need, but they are lightweight and very easy to carry. On the other hand, with the guitars with a removable neck, you can bring your regular guitar anywhere. The fear of having to detune and retune the guitar has now finally been given a solution.

If you aren’t ready to welcome a travel guitar in your life, it’s okay. Here’s a video that will help you make sense of the different guitars on the market and their sizes . Additionally, you can also explore more types of guitars – classical , acoustic, and electric.

The search is finally over and my ultimate choice for the best travel guitar is the Martin Steel-String Backpacker . It’s a scaled-down guitar with 23.5-inch scale length and 20 frets. It’s made of a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides — a common tonewood combo of affordable guitars .

It’s unbelievably affordable for a Martin that offers rich, full, and balanced tone coming from a small-bodied guitar . The craftsmanship is excellent and the playability is unmatched. So, there is nothing that can beat this Fender as the best.

Related posts:

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• Taylor 214ce Review 2024 – Is it Worth Buying?
• Fender T-Bucket 300CE Review (2024)- Balanced Guitar With Laminated Perfection
• Orangewood Brooklyn Live Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review (2024)

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• Date: December 19, 2020
• Posted In: Acoustic Guitar

10 Best Travel Guitars (2021 Buyer’s Guide)

• By Brian Lamacraft

If you’re on the go all the time, you may be looking for a travel guitar. These are smaller versions of full-size instruments. They’re ideal when you have limited space, such as on an airplane.

Quick Look: Best Travel Guitars

★ #1 Best Travel Guitar Overall: Traveler EG-1   ★

• Best Travel Guitar for Beginners: Dean FLY NYL
• Best Intermediate Travel Guitar: Washburn RO10
• Best Travel Guitar for Professionals: Traveler Viabrant Deluxe
• Best Cheap Travel Guitar: Johnson JG-TR3
• Best Travel Guitar Under $1,000: LAVA ME 2
• Best Travel Guitar Under $500: Alvarez LJ2E
• Best Electric Travel Guitar: Traveler EG-1
• Best Acoustic Travel Guitar: Washburn RO10SK
• Best Acoustic-Electric: LAVA ME2
• Best Collapsible Travel Guitar: Journey Instruments Collapsible
• Best Hiking Travel Guitar: Martin Backpacker

SEE THE FULL LIST

This guide to the best travel guitars should help you find something that works for your needs. I have reviewed several different instruments so you can find a guitar to take with you on that next trip.

• Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic Guitar Buyer’s Guides

• Best Acoustic Guitars
• Best Acoustic-Electric Guitars
• Best Resonator Guitars
• Best Semi-Acoustic Guitars
• Best Classical Guitars
• Best Travel Guitars
• Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars
• Learn More About Acoustic Guitars
• What Is a Travel Guitar?

A travel guitar is essentially a smaller version of a regular guitar . They come in both acoustic as well as electric versions. Many top manufacturers now make travel-size guitars, so you have something to play when you’re on a trip.

Some instruments collapse down, meaning you can take the neck off of them, while others don’t offer this feature. They may have more stripped-down controls or not as many frets as a regular guitar.

• What Types of Travel Guitars Are There?

There are several different types of travel guitars that you need to know about. Here are the basic types that you might want to consider purchasing.

Electric Travel Guitar

The electric travel guitar is a stripped-down version of a regular electric guitar. The instrument may have an odd shape compared to a regular electric guitar that you have to get used to, but they offer the same basic functions.

Acoustic Travel Guitar

An acoustic travel guitar offers you more options. This is because a lot of manufacturers make smaller size instruments designed for students. These would make excellent travel guitars.

Some manufacturers also make what are called “baby instruments.” These are smaller versions of regular brand name guitars. For example, both Taylor and Martin offer baby instruments, such as the Little Martin or Baby Taylor .

Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

An acoustic-electric travel guitar is a regular acoustic guitar with a pickup system . This gives you both the sound of an acoustic guitar and electric guitar in one portable package.

Collapsible Travel Guitar

A collapsible travel guitar is a guitar where you can take off the headstock. This makes it the best guitar for airline travel since you can take it apart.

Backpacking Travel Guitar

When you’re on travels, you might want to go hiking or backpacking. It’s difficult to take a guitar with you if you want to play after your hike. This is where a backpacking travel guitar is beneficial.

A backpacking travel guitar is a small portable guitar that you can take with you. They offer great sound as well as tone in one compact package.

• 10 Best Travel Guitars Overall

As a guitarist and guitar teacher for many years, I’ve personally had the opportunity to play these travel guitars and countless more. Here’s my list of of the best travel guitars on the market today.

1. Traveler EG-1

• Scale length: 24.3
• Pickup type: Humbucker
• Body shape: Travel size
• What’s Included in the B0x: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Walnut, alder, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that want the tone of a humbucker

I like the Traveller EG-1 because it gives you the big tone of a humbucking pickup. This guitar also has a built-in amplifier with various effects, so you don’t have to lug an amplifier with you on your travels.

Why I Recommend It The EG-1 Is a great-sounding traveler guitar. It has an excellent pickup, a nice neck, a headphone amplifier, and an output jack, so you can jam along with your favorite tracks. It comes with a gig bag , so it’s ready to go.

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2. Dean FLY NYL 6-String Nylon Travel Guitar

• Scale length: 22″
• Pickup type: N/A
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation
• Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, satin finish
• Best for: Beginners that want a simple travel guitar

The Dean FLY NYL is a simple nylon string guitar . I like this model because it’s made of solid mahogany wood, so it has an excellent tone. This the best beginner travel guitar thanks to its easy playability.

Why I Recommend It The Dean FLY NYL is a good choice if you’re a beginner and want to travel with your guitar. It’s made of solid wood, has a decent tone, and it’s small enough to pack away in tight locations while you’re traveling.

3.  Taylor Mini-e Guitar

• Scale length: 24.3″
• Body shape: Dreadnought travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Spruce, rosewood, laminate satin finish
• Best for: Beginners or intermediate players that want a reliable acoustic for traveling

The Taylor Mini-e is ideal for anyone on the go who wants a simple acoustic travel guitar. It has an excellent tone, easy playability, and comes with a gig bag, making it one of the best travel acoustic guitars you can buy.

Why I Recommend It

I like the Taylor Mini-e since it’s a well-built guitar that sounds great. It has a great pickup, an excellent neck, a great finish, and the smaller size means it’s perfect for traveling.

4. Alvarez LJ2E Little Jumbo

• Scale length: 24″
• Pickup type: Undersaddle
• Body shape: Travel jumbo dreadnought
• Material & finish: Sitka spruce, rosewood, mahogany, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that want a good dreadnought style guitar

The Alvarez LG2E is a nice dreadnought jumbo style travel guitar. I like this model because it comes with a pickup, a built-in tuner, and has an excellent tone. It’s ready to go with a gig bag for your next travel adventure.

This guitar is a great choice for any traveler because it comes with a pickup, tuner, and excellent tone. I like the solid wood construction and easy-to-play neck. This is the ideal guitar for any intermediate player.

5. Traveler Guitar Viabrant Deluxe

• Scale length: 25.5″
• Pickup type: 2 x humbucking 1 x single-coil
• Body shape: Electric travel size
• Material & finish: Maple, alder, ebony, gloss finish
• Best for: Shredders that want to rock during travels

The Traveler Viabrant Deluxe is one stunning travel guitar. The instrument has two humbucking pickups and one single-coil pickup for a big tone. It also has a 24 fret guitar neck, so it’s perfect for any shredder.

The Traveler Viabrant Deluxe is quite a treat for a travel guitar. It has a huge tone with an amazing pickup combination. This is the best electric travel guitar for those into rock guitar.

6. LAVA ME 2

• Scale length: 23.62″
• Tremolo: N/A
• Pickup type: L2 pickup
• Body shape: Dreadnought
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, case
• Material & finish: Carbon fiber
• Best for: Advanced guitar players looking for a unique travel guitar

The LAVA Me 2 is a unique guitar for anyone traveling. It has a built-in pickup and effects, so you don’t have to use an amplifier. It’s made of carbon fiber for added tone and easy playability.

The LAVE ME 2 is a modern take on the travel guitar. This instrument has a well-rounded tone, and I like the fact that you can play it with or without an amplifier. This is one of the best travel guitar options on the current market.

7. Martin Backpacker

• Frets: 15 frets
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gig bag
• Material & finish: Spruce, select tonewoods, satin finish
• Best for: Hikers or when space is limited

If you want to hike and want to play guitar, the Martin Backpacker is a great choice. It has excellent tone and sound in a small compact package. It’s the best backpacker guitar you can buy because it has that famous Martin tone.

The Martin Backpacker is a guitar you want to take with you on your travels. It’s easy to play, and its small size makes it portable for almost any situation. It’s one of the best travel guitars for airplanes or wherever you are.

8. Johnson JG-TR3 Travel Guitar

• Material & finish: Spruce, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that need a cheap guitar

The Johnson JG-TR3 is the ideal choice if you’re looking for the best cheap travel guitar. This instrument has a nice neck, easy playability, and its small size means you can take it with you wherever you go.

This is one of the best cheap travel guitars on the market. It has a decent tone, easy playability, and it ships with a gig bag. The guitar comes in at under $200, so it’s a great investment.

9. Journey Instruments Collapsible Guitar

• Scale length: 24.5″
• Pickup type: Transducer
• Body shape: Collapsible dreadnought
• Included in the box: Guitar, case, documentation
• Material & finish:  Mahogany, ebony, satin finish
• Best for: Those whose space is at a premium

The Journey Instruments Collapsible is an excellent guitar because it collapses right down into a small package. You can take the neck off to carry it with you on an airplane. It has a great tone, a nice finish, and easy playability.

This is the best travel guitar for airplane travel. It folds down into one nice compact package. The guitar itself has a decent tone and easy playability. I also like the solid wood construction and the pickup that it comes with.

10. Washburn Rover Spruce Top

• Scale length: 23″
• Material & finish: Spruce, mahogany, satin finish
• Best for: Beginners or intermediate players that want a reliable travel guitar.

The Washburn Rover is an excellent travel guitar. It has a great sound, a nice playing neck, and it’s suitable for backpacking because of its small size. It comes with a bunch of extras, such as a tuner, a guitar strap, and a gig bag.

The Washburn Rover is the perfect instrument for traveling. It can deal with tight spaces. Its small size means you can take it backpacking if you want. It has a great tone and is perfect for many situations.

• What Are the Best Travel Guitar Brands?

There are several travel guitar brands that you might want to buy your instrument from. All of these manufacturers make some of the best travel guitars on the market today. Here is a rundown of the best ones.

One of the better companies for travel guitars is Traveler. They have constructed travel guitars since 1992. Some of their guitars have a unique design where the tuning pegs are located in the guitar’s body and the neck is headless.

Since 1974, Taylor has been making musical instruments. They produce the excellent Baby Taylor guitar, which is their travel or student size guitar model.

Martin has been producing instruments since 1833. They have a couple of excellent travel-size guitars. Two of their better models include the Martin Backpacker and the Little Martin Guitar.

Since 1887, Yamaha has been making a wide range of musical instruments and other products. They offer several student size guitars, which make excellent travel guitars.

Washburn offers several different travel guitars. Their model is called the Rover, and it’s one of the better acoustic travel guitars on the market. This company has been in operation since 1883.

• What Are the Best Beginner Travel Guitars?

A beginner travel guitar is a basic instrument that you can take with you when you’re on-the-go. Don’t expect the best tone or sound of these instruments. You’ll have something basic to help you practice when away from home.

• Washburn Rover Spruce Top : This guitar is an excellent choice for beginners as it has a great neck, easy playability, a great finish, and it’s portable.
• Johnson JG-TR3 : This is a simple travel guitar. It has an excellent neck, easy playability, great tone, and a nice finish.
• Dean FLY NYL : This is an excellent guitar for beginners as it has nylon strings, easy playability, a great wood construction, and it comes in at a low price.
• What Are the Best Intermediate Travel Guitars?

At the intermediate level, you’ll have more options available to you in terms of travel guitars. These instruments are made with better wood, have a better tone, and are more reliable than a basic instrument.

• Traveler Lightweight Acoustic-Electric : This guitar has a nice tone and easy playability. It comes with a pickup and is easy to take with you no matter where you are.
• Martin Backpacker : This Martin guitar is one of the best travel guitars because it has a small size and a great tone. It’s made with solid wood and has a nice finish.
• Washburn RO10 : This instrument is perfect for backpacking. It has a great tone, easy playability, and it won’t take up much room no matter where you are.
• What Are the Best Travel Guitars for Professionals?

At the professional level, you’ll find an instrument that sounds amazing, has great playability, and gives you all the options you want. The instruments listed below are some of the best guitars for professionals.

• Traveler Viabrant Deluxe : This guitar has excellent pickups, a great tone, and is everything that a professional would want in a high-quality electric travel guitar.
• Tayor GS Mini-e: This instrument has the sound you expect from Taylor with a nice neck, great tone, pickup system, and wonderful finish.
• LAVE ME 2 : This instrument can be used with or without an amplifier. It has a great tone, nice neck, and unique design, making it an excellent travel guitar.
• What Are the Best Cheap Travel Guitars?

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a travel guitar, you can still find many options that don’t cost a lot of money. Here are some of the best cheap travel guitars that you might want to consider.

• Johnson JG-TR3 : This instrument is portable and has a nice sound and good finish It comes with a gig bag, and, more importantly, it has a low price tag.
• Cordoba Mini II M : This instrument has a small size, a solid wood construction, easy-playing nylon strings, and a great tone for any beginner.
• Yamaha JR-1 FG : This guitar is a nice 3/4 size instrument with a nice tone, a smooth finish, and easy playability, making it perfect for any student or traveler.
• What Are the Best Kids Travel Guitars?

If you have small children, you may want to pick up a travel guitar for them to take with you on your vacation. Here are some options below that would make excellent travel guitars for younger kids.

• Tanglewood TW2T : This travel-size guitar kit includes an excellent guitar, strings, picks, a tuner, and everything else that a young beginner needs.
• Ibanez EWP140PN : This travel guitar features a cutaway, an excellent tone, a smooth finish, and easy playability for any small child.
• Hofner Shorty Guitar : Great electric travel guitar for kids with a good pickup, easy-playing neck, and an excellent tone.
• What Are the Best Electric Travel Guitars?

For those who don’t want to play an acoustic but prefer electric, you’ll find a wide range of electric guitars suitable for travel. Here are three of the top choices in this category, including the best electric travel guitar on my list.

• Traveler EG-1 : This guitar has a classic look, a great humbucking pickup, smooth neck, and a cutaway so that you can access all of the higher frets with ease.
• Hofner Shorty : This electric travel guitar is easy to play, and it has a comfortable neck and a great pickup. It’s suitable for beginners or intermediate players.
• Traveler Guitar Viabrant : This instrument features excellent pickups, a great tone, a smooth playing neck, and everything else you could want in an electric travel guitar.
• What Are the Best Acoustic Travel Guitars?

There are quite a few acoustic travel guitars available on the market. Here are some top choices that you might want to consider picking up.

• Washburn RO10SK : This instrument has a great tone, a nice finish, excellent tuning machines, a tuner, a strap, and it ships with a gig bag to protect your guitar.
• Cordoba Mini II M : This instrument has easy-to-play nylon strings, a solid wood construction, a great tone, and easy playability.
• Journey Instruments PJ410N : This acoustic instrument is collapsible with a smooth finish, an excellent tone, and great convenience for traveling.
• What Are the Best Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitars?

When looking for the best travel guitar, you may want the best of both acoustic and electric sounds. There are several acoustic-electric guitars on the market to choose from. Here are three choices you might want to consider.

• Traveler AG-105E : This instrument has a nice finish, comfortable neck, built-in pickup, tuner, and headphone jack. It’s one of the best travel guitars under $500.
• LAVA ME 2 : This guitar has a smooth finish, easy playability, a great tone, a solid construction, and you can play it with or without an amplifier.
• Cordoba Mini EB-CE : This guitar has a smooth finish, an excellent pickup system, easy playability, and it’s easy to take with you as it’s only 1/2 size.
• What Are the Best Collapsible Travel Guitars?

When you’re traveling, you don’t have a whole lot of room for your guitar. In this case, you’ll want one that collapses down. Here is a guide to several that are the best collapsible travel guitars you might want to go with.

• Journey Instruments OF66OR1M : This instrument has an exceptional tone, easy playability, a great neck, and it collapses down into one easy-to-carry package.
• Cross Guitar 1.0 : Offers a full acoustic guitar neck, easy playability, great tone, and it folds down so you can take it with you.
• Journey Instruments OF312 : This instrument offers an exceptional tone, has a great finish, comes with a pickup, and collapses down so you can take it with you.
• What Are the Best Backpacking Travel Guitars?

When you’re on the go and don’t have a whole lot of room to spare for your guitar, you might want to consider a small backpacking instrument. Here are a few of the best backpacking guitars you might want to pick up.

• Martin Backpacker : One of the best instruments for backpacking is the Martin Backpacker. This guitar has a great tone, easy playability, a solid construction, and you can take it with you anywhere.
• Washburn Rover 6 : This small backpacking guitar has a great tone and excellent playability. It comes with a gig bag and is easy to take with you.
• Cross Guitar 2.0 : This guitar is simple to take with you as it folds down, and it has a great tone and playability.
• Things to Consider When Choosing a Travel Guitar

There are several things that you want to consider when choosing a travel guitar. Below are the options that you should keep in mind before you make your purchase.

• Budget: Have an idea of the budget you have to spend on your instrument. You can spend anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to close to $1,000 on a travel guitar.
• Acoustic or electric: You have to decide whether you want an acoustic or an electric guitar. You could also buy an acoustic-electric guitar , so you have the best of both worlds.
• Wood: The wood choice for a travel guitar can make a difference. Some of these instruments aren’t made with the best materials, while others use solid wood in the construction.
• Playing level: If you’re new to playing guitar, you probably want an instrument that’s easy to play. If you have more experience, then you can probably go with a more complex travel guitar.

Level of Experience

You’ll find a travel guitar whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an advanced player. What you decide to buy will all depend on your various needs. Here are some of the things you can expect at different playing levels.

Beginner Travel Guitars

At the beginner level, you can expect to find basic instruments. They’ll probably cost you only a couple of hundred dollars. They’ll have a basic tone and playability. They’re perfect for anyone that’s just starting.

Intermediate Travel Guitars

At the intermediate level, there are more options available to you. For example, you might want to go with an electric guitar as your intermediate travel instrument. These guitars cost more but use better wood and have a better sound.

Professional Travel Guitars

If you’re a professional player, you can pick something that will work for your individual needs. Whether you’re an acoustic or an electric player, there’s an option out there for you.

Some travel guitars have a full-length guitar neck, while others have a length that’s a bit shorter. You can also get instruments that are 1/2 or 3/4 size. These smaller student guitars are also perfect travel guitars for adults.

There are various types of wood used in guitars. Here are some of the options you can expect to see when you make your purchase:

• Mahogany: This word is often used in the top and sides of acoustic guitars. It has an excellent tone and resonance.
• Maple: This wood is durable and is often used in the construction of guitar necks for electric instruments.
• Spruce: Acoustic guitar tops are often made of spruce wood as it has a great tone and reliability.
• Rosewood: Fretboards of acoustic instruments as well as electric instruments are often made of rosewood. This wood is smooth and easy on the fingers as you play.
• Alder: This wood is often used to make the bodies of electric guitars as it’s reliable, long-lasting, and sounds great.
• Laminate: Some instruments are made with a combination of wood called laminate wood. This is usually used on lower-cost instruments.
• Shellac: This is used on guitars because it’s durable and long-lasting.
• Oil and wax: Some acoustic instruments are finished with oil and wax, as they bring out the wood’s natural shine.
• Nitrocellulose lacquer: This is a common finish used on modern instruments because it has an excellent shine, great durability, and it helps protect the guitar.
• Polyester: This is another common finish used, as it offers great durability and is long-lasting.

Travel guitars come in various colors. Common colors include natural, white, black, and so on. There are not as many color options for acoustic instruments, but electric ones tend to have more color options.

The Overall Tone & Sound

You want a travel instrument that has a decent sound and tone. If you can spend a little bit more on your travel guitar, it’s certain that higher-cost instruments will have the best sound.

Travel guitars come at various price ranges. Here is what you can expect when you make your purchase.

Budget Travel Guitars

At the budget level, you can expect to pay between $75 and $200. You should try to spend at least over $100 on your guitar. Instruments on the lower end of the spectrum don’t tend to be all that great.

Midrange Travel Guitars

You can expect to pay from $200 to $400 for your instrument at the mid-range or intermediate level. You’ll get better wood, better sound, and an instrument that has better playability at this price.

Top-End Travel Guitars

At the professional level, you have the most options available to you. These instruments cost anywhere between $400 and up. They have the best sound, the best tone, and the reliability you want in a professional instrument.

New vs Used

If you have some experience playing guitar, you can buy a used travel guitar if you want. If you’re new to guitar and want a travel instrument, it’s best to buy it new as you won’t have any problems.

• What’s in a Travel Guitar Box?

You can expect to find several things inside the box when you get your guitar home. Here are some of the things that are commonly found in a guitar box.

Documentation/Checked-by Tag

In the guitar box, you should find a manual or some sort of documentation. You should find a checked-by tag. This ensures that the instrument has been inspected at the factory or at the music store where it was sold.

Accessories

If you buy a guitar kit, you may have several accessories inside the box. This may include a cable, picks, strings, a guitar strap, and other related accessories that came with the package.

Hardshell Case/Gigbag

If your instrument includes a gig bag or hardshell case, you’ll find this in the box.

You may find a few tools in the guitar box. This might include allen wrenches to adjust certain aspects of your instrument.

Whenever you buy a guitar, there are a few extras that you might want to pick up. You were some of the common ones:

• Lesson books
• Guitar stand/chair
• Travel Guitar Brands to Avoid

Try to avoid low-cost guitar kits. This is anything that is under $100 or so. These instruments don’t tend to be made to a high quality. It’s far better to go with a brand name and spend a little extra on your instrument.

• Travel Guitar Parts & Accessories

There are several different parts of travel guitars. This will cover both acoustic as well as electric instruments.

The headstock is where the tuning pegs of the guitar are located. This also includes the string slot and nut. Some travel guitars don’t have headstocks, and the tuning pegs are located in the body.

The neck of a travel guitar is where you’ll find the frets. The neck is attached to the body of the guitar. The neck and headstock are usually one piece of wood.

The travel guitar body is where you’ll find the bridge and electronics if the instrument is electric. You may also find the tuning pegs located here on some guitars, such as the Traveler brand of instruments.

Strap Buttons

Most traveler guitars have two strap buttons. Some of them only have one, so you’ll have to install an extra one for your guitar strap.

Electronics

Electric and acoustic-electric guitars have electronic systems. These include pickups, tone control, volume control, input jack, and some guitars have built-in speakers.

• Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some frequently asked questions about travel guitars that you need to know.

How Much Do Travel Guitars Cost?

There are various price ranges for travel guitars. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or more advanced player, there’s a travel guitar out there for you. The basic costs are:

• Beginner: $75-$200
• Intermediate: $200-$400
• Advanced: $400+

What Are the Best Travel Guitars?

The three instruments listed below are what I consider to be the best travel guitar that you can buy. These are suitable for all skill levels and needs.

Traveler Viabrant Deluxe: Best for Advanced Players

The Vibrant Deluxe is an excellent instrument for advanced players. This guitar features a combination of humbucking and single-coil pickups. It produces an amazing tone in one compact package.

Martin Backpacker: Best for Intermediate Players

You get the great tone and reliability of a Martin guitar in one small compact size. This instrument has excellent machine heads, a great tone, a smooth finish, and easy portability.

Dean FLY NYL: Best for Beginners

This instrument is easy to play for beginners as it features nylon strings. It has a solid wood construction, a nice neck, and it comes in at a very attractive price.

Where Are the Best Travel Guitars Made?

Most of the best travel guitars are made in the United States. Several companies offer excellent instruments, including famous brand name companies such as Taylor and Martin.

What Is the Best Sounding Travel Guitar?

The Traveler EG-1 is an excellent travel guitar because it features a great sounding humbucking pickup . I like the neck on this guitar and the fact that it has a classic electric guitar feel.

What Is the Best Guitar for Backpacking?

The Martin Backpacker is the best guitar for backpacking. It’s a small instrument, so you can take it with you no matter where you go. This guitar has a great tone, sound, and playability.

Where to Buy Travel Guitars

There are several places where you might want to pick up your travel guitar. You’ll have to decide whether you want an acoustic, electric, or an acoustic-electric combination. There’s a guitar available for everyone, no matter your level.

Amazon is probably the best place to buy your instrument. You can return it for your money back, read customer reviews, and they have attractive prices. Amazon often has specials so that you can get great deals.

Guitar Center

Another place to purchase online is Guitar Center. They have a huge selection and an excellent guarantee, so you’re sure to find something that meets your needs.

Your Local Music Store

You can always shop at your local music store. This might be an option if you have a location near you. Take someone with you that understands musical instruments if you’ve never bought a travel guitar before.

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In Conclusion

This concludes my guide to the best travel guitars. There’s a wide range of different instruments for you to choose from depending on your skill level and requirements.

Please leave your questions and comments about travel guitars, as I want to hear from you. Have fun on your next travel adventure and enjoy playing your travel guitar.

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Home » Acoustic Guitars » 10 Of The Best Travel Guitars – Acoustic & Electric (2022 Guide)

10 Of The Best Travel Guitars – Acoustic & Electric (2022 Guide)

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Here Are Some of the Best Travel Guitars Out There!

Heading out on the open road, traveling by airplane, or going hiking and camping? Whether you want to practice while on the road and/or have the ability to jam out with others, travel guitars (often known as backpacker guitars) are a great – and often necessary – addition to your journey.

There are loads of nice travel guitars out there – from super compact guitars to smaller, 3/4 guitars that are more durable and easier to lug around. The grand challenge can be choosing the best travel guitar for you.

Our guide breaks down what a travel guitar is, the different travel guitar options, and looks at which ones are the best travel guitars you can buy. From the Martin backpacker travel guitar to folding travel guitars and other top 3/4 size guitars, here’s a detailed breakdown of the best travel guitars.

Table of Contents

10 of the Best Travel Guitars

If you know you want a travel guitar and are just itching to start looking, you’ll find our top three travel guitars below.

These models – a Taylor, a Martin, and a Washburn – are at the top based on a combination of factors like personal experience, reviews in the guitar space, and their overall function, reliability, and quality.

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 17:45

Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar

• "Body Body type: Taylor Grand Symphony Mini Cutaway: No Top wood: Solid Mahogany Back & sides: Layered Sapele Bracing pattern: GS Mini With Relief Rout Body finish: Matte 2.0...
• "There's something undeniably inviting about the Taylor GS Mini's scaled-down size, yet a single strum reveals the impressive voice of a full-size guitar
• Features: Mahogany top and sides, closed tuning pegs, 20 frets
• Pros: Excellent sound in a smaller body, comes with a sturdy padded bag
• Cons: Much more expensive than other guitars on this list

From a name like Taylor, the GS Mini is widely considered to be among the best 3/4 guitars on the market.

This popular Taylor travel guitar is known for its sound and its versatility as more than “just a travel guitar”. It’s a 3/4 guitar that could be your main guitar if you’d like.

Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar

• Solid Spruce Top
• Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
• Features: The classic backpacker guitar with a unique, stripped away body
• Pros: Lightweight guitar, comes with a hard bag
• Cons: 15 frets might be a little short for some, might be awkward to play given the body shape but it comes with a guitar strap

When it comes to small guitars, the Martin Steel String is kind of known as the original portable guitar to take with you.

With a wildly unique body shape and from a brand like Martin, the Backpacker travel guitar is among the best small body guitar on the market.

Washburn Rover Steel String Travel Acoustic Guitar

• Full size 24" scale
• Solid spruce top, Mahogany body and neck Rosewood fingerboard
• Features: A small, compact travel guitar with a full-scale neck
• Pros: All wood construction but with a durable body, comes with a solid bag
• Cons: The neck is heavy and the body lacks mids and lows for sound quality but it’s for playing quiet or in an intimate setting (like at a campfire) anyways

The Washburn Rover Travel guitar is another very popular travel guitar option. It makes a great camping guitar because it is quite a bit smaller (the body is slim and tapered) but still has a full-scale length neck and produces a decent sound.

Yamaha APXT2 Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge
• Features: A reliable 3/4 scale guitar with nice curves and a cutaway
• Pros: Pickup and tuner built-in, comes with gig bag
• Cons: Model depending, laminate construction can feel cheap to some

Those looking for a Yamaha travel guitar will find a winner with the APXT2. This 3/4 scale guitar is acoustic-electric which can allow you to have the best of both worlds.

Luna Aurora Borealis Acoustic Guitar

• Luna Guitars' Aurora line offers the perfect beginner guitar, especially for young players
• A student guitar line that pairs affordability with Luna's characteristic easy-to-play design features
• Features: An affordable 3/4 scale all-acoustic travel guitar
• Pros: Choice of tonewood is decent for sound quality, pretty detailing
• Cons: Acoustic only so no chance at pickups and an amp, no bag comes with it

LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar

• Unibody Acoustic Electric Guitar: With little to no gluing, LAVA ME 2 guitar offers a wide frequency range, producing resonant, dynamic sounds. At just 3.7 lb, it's compact...
• Versatile L2 Preamp: With FreeBoost Technology, the L2 Preamp uses the guitar back as a speaker, allowing you to shape sounds with reverb, delay, and chorus effects. It also...
• Features: A unique, unibody travel guitar with built-in amp/effect
• Pros: Durable materials make the guitar able to withstand varying conditions, comes with a bag and charging cable
• Cons: The materials might not resonate (for your liking) like real wood, comes at a higher cost

If you want a full-scale travel guitar that is built like a tank, check out the LAVA ME 2. Sporting an unconventional design and futuristic look, the LAVA ME 2 is light to carry and able to take whatever you throw at it when it comes to travel.

Traveler Guitar 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Ultra-Light is a portable and travel-friendly version of your favorite at-home guitar that you can take anywhere and everywhere you go. Weighing 2 lbs 14...
• PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System eliminates the need for a headstock by relocating standard tuning machines into the body. Even though...
• Features: A sleek, minimalist guitar with a full 3/4 scale neck and gig bag
• Pros: Very lightweight, made of real wood, pickup and output installed
• Cons: The lap rest and/or overall design might take a while to get used to

The Traveler Guitar is the ultimate name in light, minimalist travel guitars. With reduced body lengths and a unique tuning system and no headstock, these guitars are super lightweight and made to be packed away nice and small.

The Traveler acoustic-electric also comes in a Pro Series and in an ultra-light solid body electric guitar .

Cross Guitar 2.0: Foldable Classical Nylon Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

• Built-in pickup system with headphone jack 3.5mm Aux-in, 3.5mm Headphone, and 6.35mm main output to enhance your playing experience.(Must plug in headphone or cable for the...
• No assembly nor footstool needed
• Features: A minimal, collapsible travel guitar made of real wood (maple)
• Pros: A very compact guitar, built-in pickup system
• Cons: So small that it may be awkward to get used to

The Cross Guitar 2.0 might be taking travel guitars a step too far – but what a fantastic concept!

With a unique cross and folding design, the Cross 2.0 might be the smallest travel guitar available. The above version is for nylon strings but there’s also a Cross Guitar 2.0 with steel strings .

Kmise Guitarlele (Mini Travel Guitar Ukulele)

• SEALED 18: 1 GEAR TUNING MACHINE: In the higher gears, the guitalele string can be tuned more precise, keep ukulele stay in tune better than 15:1 gear tuning pegs, ensures you...
• ADJUSTABLE ACTION: Each guitalele come with 1 original Allen wrench which can help you adjust the action freely based on your habit. Turn Clockwise loosen strings and turn...
• Features: An affordable guitarlele with a number of great accessories
• Pros: Very lightweight, much smaller than a full-scale acoustic, closed tuners, comes with gig bag
• Cons: Not quite a guitar, not quite a uke… some people either love it or hate it

If you think a guitarlele will fit the bill as your travel guitar, the Kmise guitarlele is for you. Merging the best of both worlds – a small 6 string guitar on a baritone ukulele body – this hybrid instrument makes a unique choice for those seeking out a travel guitar.

Cordoba Mini II M Nylon String Guitar

• Comfortable 1/2 size guitar, with standard tuning
• Layered Mahogany top, back and sides
• Features: A great mini 1/2 scale nylon string guitar from a top brand like Cordoba
• Pros: Beautiful all-mahogany construction, compact scale size
• Cons: Nylon strings over steel might not produce the sound you’re looking for

If you know anything about Cordoba, you’ll now they know classical guitars. Their Mini II is a slightly larger take on their popular Mini M – one of a number of short-scale guitars designed for travel.

The 1/2 size might make for a good little guitar depending on your needs. This mini travel guitar is also a great nylon string travel guitar (with more of a classical feel) if that’s what you’re looking for.

What Is A Travel Guitar And Why You Need One

If you know you want a travel guitar, you might not need an explanation. If you’re new to the concept, then a brief overview of what a travel guitar is – and how it differs from other guitars – might be super handy.

A travel guitar is much like the name sounds. It is a guitar that is meant for travel. Generally, this means the guitar is smaller in overall size and often more compact in shape than a full-sized guitar.

Some travel guitars even strip away unnecessary body material or are foldable for an extra small overall guitar footprint.

Since it’s often expected that they are meant to be moved about and potentially run into bums and scratches, travel guitars are often made from denser materials than just solid tone woods and usually come with a bag or soft case.

Travel guitar are used for a variety of things: from playing on the road, and entertaining with campfire tunes on a camping trip to personal usage for practicing. Travel guitars come in all acoustic, acoustic-electric, and even full-electric versions – each with their own pros and cons.

Most types are travel acoustic guitars because it’s more likely that you’ll be unplugged and so an acoustic body is needed to produce your sound.

However, a battery-powered electric travel guitar used with an amp (or your headphones) isn’t out of the question if you are using your guitar for simple practicing while on the road.

The Different Types of Travel Guitars

If you’re in the market for a traveling guitar, there are a few different variations for what people consider “travel guitars”.

Aside from these different variations listed below, travel guitars often feature the versatility of playing unplugged but having the option to amplify the sound plugged in.

So, many travel guitar models end up being acoustic-electric. You can definitely find just acoustic travel guitar models or just electric travel guitars if you are seeking out one. Let’s dive into the different types of guitars considered suitable as travel guitars.

A popular, go-to option for a travel guitar is simply buying a 3/4 size guitar. This is a smaller guitar that is 3/4 the scale and size of a full acoustic guitar.

Essentially, 3/4 scale guitars are just mini guitars. They are smaller than a classic dreadnought and easier for travel because they are physically smaller.

A pro of using a 3/4 guitar as a travel guitar is that they sound more like a full-sized dreadnought with a large, complete body. A con is that they are not as compact as other true “travel guitars” you might find on this list.

A great example of a 3/4 guitar is the Taylor GS Mini or the Luna Aurora Borealis  for a more affordable option.

It should be noted that 3/4 guitars are not just great as a travel guitar. These guitars are also good for beginners, people with smaller hands, and kids who are looking for their first guitar. Their “scaled-down” size makes 3/4 guitars easier to play.

Now, not all travel guitars are good for kids, nor are all kids guitars great as “travel guitars” so watch out for this distinction. This list is all about travel guitars and we’ll write about kids guitars and other 3/4 size guitars soon.

“Minimalist” Travel Guitar

Another kind of travel guitar are those that fall in the category of minimalist guitars.

These instruments come in two main kinds: those guitars with a much smaller body shape and/or size OR those guitars with much of the non-essential materials stripped away (like body and headstock).

Both types of guitars feature full-scale or 3/4 scale necks – it’s really the body size that is reduced.

Some examples of travel guitars that have a “complete” body but are just reduced in body size are the Washburn Rover or the Martin Steel String Backpacker . A classic example of the “stripped away” guitar leaving only the essential parts needed to play and create sound is the Traveler Guitar .

These minimalist travel guitars come in both acoustic, hybrid a/e and fully-electric. A pro of these guitars is that they weigh very little (even compared to a 3/4 sized guitar). They might make for a great backpack guitar since many of them will fit inside their case and slip inside a larger backpack.

A con to these guitars – more so the stripped-down version – is that they only have the bare bones for what you’d need to play. This means these guitars don’t always produce sound like a full-bodied acoustic.

Sound volume and quality also depend on if you are plugging it into an amp. Often, these guitars can be used for practicing since they are much quieter unless plugged into an amp or heard through headphones.

Also keep in mind not to confuse these guitars with practice/pocket guitars. These minimalist guitars are fully functional guitars while pocket guitars are practice aids.

Foldable/Collapsible Guitar

Another variation of the travel guitar that isn’t just a smaller guitar or a very minimalist guitar is the foldable travel guitar.

Also known as a collapsible travel guitar, these guitars do exactly what you’d expect – they come apart in one or two places, usually at the neck joint where the neck meets the body. This smaller overall size makes foldable guitars come with a special case or bag which is much easier to travel with.

Depending on the model of foldable guitar you buy, it may be able to play acoustically or it may have little to no resonating body so you have to plug it in to hear the sound.

Now, the pros of the collapsible travel guitar are that they are certainly smaller than a one-piece 3/4 guitar. You also have the benefit of a larger body to create a better sound compared to other foldable guitars that lack much of a body.

A con to these guitars is that more joints/moving parts creates room for structural issues down the line. Another con is the materials used to construct guitars that fold may affect sound quality when they are put back together.

You might look at the Cross Guitar 2.0 , the Journey Instruments OF660M Overhead (made from carbon fiber), or the Furch Little Jane as a higher-priced (but very reliable) foldable guitar that is made from solid wood. The fact that there is a solid wood collapsible guitar is pretty awesome.

Carbon Fiber Guitar

Another type of travel guitar that we haven’t already mentioned is something like the LAVA ME 2 . This is a full-scale guitar so you don’t compromise sound or size. So, what makes a full-sized dreadnought a prime candidate for travel? The material it’s made out of is super durable.

In fact, the LAVA ME 2 is an injection-molded carbon fiber guitar. This composite material that is not wood makes the guitar strong but also far more resistant to scratches, dents, impact, and temperature changes.

A pro of this kind of guitar – a guitar made from a different, more durable material – is that it’s simply more durable. This can b a great asset when it comes to traveling with an instrument. A con is that while it might be light, it’s still physically large to haul around.

One final type of travel guitar you might consider isn’t technically a guitar at all – it’s a guitarlele! Technically speaking, the guitarlele is a hybrid instrument consisting of a guitar and a ukulele. We actually talked about these instruments briefly in our post on types of ukuleles .

A guitarlele is a six-string ukulele. It’s actually the same size as a larger baritone ukulele but it plays more like a guitar with a wider fretboard and more strings. Basically, you get the six strings of an acoustic fit into the chassis (to borrow a car term) of a baritone ukulele.

In terms of tuning, the guitarlele is tuned to A-D-G-C-E-A (or a 4th up). This is the same as a regular guitar with a capo on the 5th fret. This means you can play the same acoustic guitar chord fingerings on it… they just sound higher (they are pitched up).

An obvious pro to the guitarlele is that it’s small and more compact to play and travel with. It’s good for people with smaller hands and/or people who want an instrument with a full body to create a nice round. If this interests you, check out the Kmise Guitarlele or Yamaha GL1 Guitarlele .

A con is that it’s not actually a guitar and usually has nylon strings on it. Depending on the guitarlele you get, you may be able to swap them out for steel strings to mimic more of an acoustic guitar tone.

3 Benefits Of Using A Travel Guitar

There are a number of benefits of owning and playing a travel size guitar. Below, you’ll find them outlined and explained in detail. This way, if you are on the fence about buying a travel guitar, you can gather all the necessary information to help you decide.

Compact Size/Weight

An obvious first benefit of having a travel guitar is its smaller size and lighter overall weight. This makes it ideal for packing and taking with you if you are going hiking/camping or heading to the beach for the day.

As for the mode of transportation, the smaller travel guitars make traveling on an airplane easier since some of them fit inside an airplane overhead bin. Be sure to check with any individual airline you are flying with for the size and weight dimensions of their carry-on bags.

If you end up traveling by car, these smaller guitars are easy to pack among other items and don’t take up nearly as much room as a full-sized acoustic.

One element of any guitar intended for travel – besides the compactness – is its relative durability. Short of slamming the guitar against a surface or object, you can expect most travel guitars to hold up against a little more wear and tear.

Some guitars above are made of carbon fiber while others are made from a combination of other materials. Guitars with composite material bodies and necks are meant to be even more durable but every material has its breaking point/temperature.

You can find some guitars with a mix of wood and HPL (high pressure laminate) which is a more durable material that still resonates well and has a nice tone. Compared to solid wood, HPL is generally stronger and less susceptible to dings and dents while still being a lighter material overall.

Affordability

The last benefit to buying a travel guitar is that – generally speaking – they can be priced lower than most full-sized acoustic or electric guitars. This is usually because some travel guitars are just 3/4 the size.

A smaller price tag also makes a travel guitar a good secondary guitar in your guitar arsenal. It can do the heavy lifting and traveling while your more expensive, primary guitar, gets played at other times.

That said, a Taylor GS Mini (shown above) isn’t “cheap” by any means. With a higher price tag, that particular guitar would be more of an investment. However, for that price, you get an excellent quality travel guitar with great sound quality from a top acoustic guitar maker!

5 Things To Consider In A Good Travel Guitar

There are a few different styles of travel guitar – and numerous different models within a style – to choose from. However, there are a few key things you should look for/consider when buying a travel guitar.

Overall Function/Size

When buying any kind of travel guitar, the function of the guitar is pretty important. Every guitar is going to (hopefully) be able to play music and allow you to play on the road. However, does the overall function of the guitar work for you?

Just because a backpacking guitar collapses into a small case the size of a flute – doesn’t mean you have to buy it. If you prefer a fuller-bodied but smaller 3/4 guitar because that’s what you’re used to then go for it.

If you want a smaller travel guitar that you can take camping to entertain friends, then don’t grab a 3/4 guitar when a more compact Washburn Rover or the Martin Steel String Backpacker might work best.

Along with the concept of function is practicality. Does this guitar work for you based on where you are taking it? Are you planning a road trip or are you taking the collapsible guitar in your carry-on luggage on an airplane?

Are you going on a multi-day canoe trip with the travel guitar? These scenarios for usage are important to consider when you pick a travel guitar for you.

Related to function, the overall shape of the guitar is something to consider in a good travel guitar. The actual shape of the body – whether a classic figure-8 or a minimalist guitar body – will affect both the sound quality and the way you hold/play the guitar.

Sound quality is something that you can always try to modify with different strings. However, how comfortable you feel playing the guitar is something that is hard to change once you buy the guitar. Some people don’t love the Martin Backpacker because it’s too odd of a shape for them.

For others, the weight, shape, and feel of the LAVA ME 2 is strange. It really comes down to personal preference, previous playing experience, and your ability to be open-minded and potentially adapt to something different.

Overall, the body shape affects the likeability of the guitar. This is critical. If it’s awkward for you to play, you’re not going to pick up that guitar over other guitars to jam on (given the option).

When buying a good travel guitar, you’ll want to have a think about the materials used in the construction of the guitar.

Of course, strength and durability are important – but travel guitars also need to balance this need for durability with the ability to still have good intonation and nice overall sound quality.

Some guitars are made from denser, composite materials like high pressure laminate (HPL) which can take more scratches and bumps over its lifespan compared to solid tone wood. However, these “less than wood” materials can affect sound quality.

On the other end of the spectrum, the LAVA ME 2 is made from a carbon fiber material that is super durable and even waterproof. However, this material can produce a duller, more flat sound when you play (compared to all wood).

If you really care about sound quality (see below), there are some really nice 3/4 guitars with excellent sound quality. Some of these guitars have a healthy mix of all worlds with a laminate back and sides for more durability but a solid wood top which helps the guitar to sing a bit brighter.

Sound Quality

Speaking of sound quality, it’s an important aspect to consider when buying a travel guitar. We mentioned body materials and how they affect sound quality so you need to consider that.

You can modify the sound – to a degree – with your choice of strings but overall the sound of the travel guitar isn’t going to change that much.

Again, there are some really good travel guitars with good sound quality. Travel guitars might not “sing” as beautifully as a full-bodied acoustic but you’re going to find some excellent tones coming off of these smaller guitars.

Another aspect to sound is whether you want an acoustic or electric travel guitar. Many models give the option for both – so they are acoustic-electric.

However, if you are backpacking in the woods, the ability to plug into an amp is highly unlikely so you can’t really rely on the fact that you can plug in as a potential fix to your sound quality and/or volume.

Price/Quality

Last, but certainly not least, the price of the travel guitar should be a buying consideration. To a degree, the overall price can be something that dictates which travel guitars are better than others. Price is often an indicator of overall quality – but not always.

That said, you don’t necessarily need to go out and spend just shy of $1000 on a travel guitar. You can find some excellent, well-built, nice-sounding travel guitars by guitar brands – usually top acoustic brands – that you can trust for a few hundred dollars.

Like with any guitar purchase, you might look at them as an investment. Sure, a cheap travel guitar might be more affordable in the beginning… and it might work well for a while.

But if the quality doesn’t hold up, you can run into a number of problems like poor intonation and even structural issues. Replacing or repairing this guitar is money you could have put into a better travel guitar in the first place!

And there you have it – a rundown of some of the best travel guitars out there today. In the end, there are a number of other really good travel guitars that might suit your needs.

This article was intended to bring together some of the best so you can get a solid understanding of the travel guitar options, styles, and prices. Enjoy whichever guitar you choose to hit the road with!

As always, Happy Strumming,

The 3 Best Travel Guitars – Buyer’s Guide & Review (2022)

A travel guitar is a guitar with a much smaller frame that makes it ideal for easy travel. In my articles on flying with a guitar and taking a guitar camping, I often recommend people get a travel guitar because of their convenient size.

Another nice feature of travel guitars is that they tend to be very affordable – it’s quite rare to see one for more than $500, and at that price point you’re getting one of the highest quality builds on the market.

Combining budget, size, functionality, and ease of transport, a travel guitar is a must-have for every guitarists’ collection – even if it’s just to have in a pinch for your campfire or roadtrip.

But that said: what’s the best travel guitar out there? As always, it depends what you’re looking for. In the section below I try to give a travel guitar for each occasion: an acoustic-electric, a backpacking guitar, and a smaller-size, but regular-shaped guitar. Check it out below!

1. The Martin LX1E or “Little Martin” (Bag Included)

As you’ll know if you’ve checked out my recommended premium guitars , Martin Guitars are perhaps the most legendary manufacturer of acoustic guitars out there, and my all time favorite brand. The Martin LX1E (on Amazon) or “Little Martin” is the smallest guitar they make, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in tone and playability.

The Martin LXIE features a solid sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a very attractive warm satin finish. It’s size and versatility makes it a great budget acoustic guitar for travel, student practice, or jamming out around the campfire. If you get it off Amazon it even includes a travel bag.

Martin LX1E (on Amazon) Standout Specs:

• Solid sitka spruce top
• Martin quality and craftsmanship
• Ideal for travel
• Ideal for young guitarists, small hands, etc

The size of this guitar is actually an awesome advantage – it stows perfectly in your trunk or in overhead airplane compartments. It is one of the best guitars for air travel, or frequent travel in general. The shorter scale length also makes it ideal for young guitarists, or those with weak or small hands.

2. Martin Steel String Backpacker Travel Guitar (Bag Included)

If you’re looking to go hiking or backpacking with a guitar, Martin also makes a steel string travel guitar specifically for backpacking (on Amazon) . Again, this one includes a travel bag for your convenience.

Other Standout features include:

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

The Martin Backpacking Guitar (on Amazon) is specifically designed to be light, ergonomical, and backpacking friendly, all while retaining that legendary Martin tone. It’s hands down the best guitar for backpacking. The price is amazing on this one – usually coming in at or around $300, which is crazy for a Martin guitar.

3. The Traveler Guitar, 6-String Acoustic-Electric

Looking to pack even more convenience into your travel guitar? Consider opting for The Traveler Guitar (on Amazon) acoustic-electric – because hey, you never know when a Traveler piezo pickup may come in handy.

The Traveler Guitar (on Amazon) also clocks in at only 2lbs and 15oz – talk about light weight! This makes it perfect for lugging around the wilderness, or storing in an airline overhead bin. Again, a complementary travel bag is included with this one.

• Full 24 3/4″ Scale
• Fits in airline overhead bins
• Only 2 lbs. 15 oz!
• One-piece, Eastern American hard Maple neck-through-body design
• Traveler piezo pickup with standard 1/4″ Output
• Gig Bag included!

Is A Travel Guitar Right for You?

Still wondering whether travel guitars are any good, or worth the money? You’re not alone! I wrote a full guide post on exactly that topic! You can check it out here !

Thanks for reading, and as always, happy picking!

Ready to Get Better at Guitar, Faster?

Whenever you’re ready to take your guitar playing to the next level, check out a few of my favorite resources below:

The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings – A unique polymer coating makes these guitar strings last for months or even years at a time, making for an exceptional value. They provide the perfect mix of boom, range, twang, and brightness that acoustic music is known for. — CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The Best Acoustic Guitar – Beloved by everyone from Paul Simon to Gordon Lightfoot, the Martin D-18 is one of Martin’s most legendary guitars ever… It’s an excellent, premier quality acoustic guitar for bluegrass, country, folk, rock and more. This is also what I play myself — CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Chords, Tabs & Video Lessons for 100 Epic Songs – This free guide that I created for fellow guitarists gives you chords, tabs, and video lessons for the 100 best songs to learn on guitar… I spent many hours putting this guide together to help you get better at guitar, faster. — CLICK HERE TO GET IT FREE

Fingerpicking vs Flatpicking Guitar – Learn which picking style is right for YOU by exploring examples, history, and popular players of each style. Discover essential techniques and pros and cons of each approach. — CLICK HERE TO GET IT FREE

Corbin Buff

Corbin has played guitar for over a decade, and started writing about it on Acoustic World in an effort to help others. He lives and writes in western Montana.

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The 17 Best Travel Guitars in 2024 (Acoustic & Electric)

Table of Contents

Last Updated on December 16, 2023 by AG

The best travel guitar is the ideal instrument for musicians who are constantly on the move and require an instrument that can keep up with their fast-paced lifestyle.

With options ranging from electric to acoustic and even hybrid electro-acoustic models, there is a travel guitar for every musician, whether it’s for practice, warm-up sessions, or full-blown gigs and recording sessions.

The 11 Best Travel Guitars

Traveling guitarists often search for a compact, portable guitar that still offers excellent playability and sound quality. Today, there are several options available for both acoustic and electric players, including a range of traditional, steel-string, and hybrid models.

Taylor Baby Taylor

The Baby Taylor series is a classic choice for beginners and experienced players alike. Its slim neck and range of top wood options, including the option of built-in electronics, make it a versatile choice for travel or practice.

If you prefer a more traditional design for your travel guitar, the Baby Taylor may be just what you’re looking for. This three-quarter-sized dreadnought delivers the superior quality and projection that you would expect from one of the leading names in the acoustic guitar world, but in a compact size that makes it ideal for travel.

Not only is the Baby Taylor portable, but it is also budget-friendly, making it the perfect choice as a secondary or even third guitar in your collection. It comes with a gig bag, ready to be taken with you wherever you go. While players with larger hands may find the 22.75-inch scale length a bit cramped, the Baby Taylor is still an excellent option for most people.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Acoustic (Steel String)
• Scale length: 22.75”
• Body: Sitka Spruce top or Tropical American Mahogany, Layered Sapele or Walnut back and sides (Available in )
• Neck: Sapele
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Bag included: Yes
• Excellent Tone
• High-quality Build
• Not suitable for players with larger hands.

Martin Backpacker

This steel-string acoustic guitar is a standout option for travelers, thanks to its unique body shape and 15 frets with a 24″ scale length. The Martin Backpacker is a one-of-a-kind travel guitar that stands out visually with its unique body shape. Despite its compact size, this guitar packs a punch with its impressive volume and projection, all thanks to its solid mahogany body. Launched in 1992, the Martin Backpacker has established itself as a go-to choice for travelers, and its exceptional construction quality ensures it will withstand the test of time. It is designed with portability in mind and is perfect for anyone who prioritizes convenience.

• Scale length: 24”
• Body: Solid Spruce top, Solid Mahogany back and sides
• Neck: Select Hardwood
• Fingerboard: Select Hardwood
• Portable design
• Excellent tone
• Unusual shape may not appeal to all players

Martin LX1E Little Martin

The Martin LX1E Little Martin is renowned as one of the most popular travel guitars in the market. It has earned its reputation as a top-performing instrument, known for its exceptional build quality and amplified sound. Although Ed Sheeran has recently switched to Lowden, the Martin LX1E was once his go-to guitar.

Built with a solid Sitka spruce top and high-pressure laminate back and sides, the Martin LX1E is designed to withstand the toughest of conditions. Its composite neck adds to its strength, making it nearly indestructible. While it may not have the elegant appearance of the D-28 or HD-35, the Martin LX1E is a formidable instrument that delivers sound and durability.

• Type: Electro-acoustic (Steel String)
• Scale Length: 23” 
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce 
• Back and Sides: Mahogany Pattern HPL Textured Finish 
• Neck: Rust Birch Laminate 
• Fingerboard: Richlite 
• Frets: 20 
• Electronics: Fishman Sonitone 
• Finish: Natural 
• Bag Included: Yes
• Affordable for a Martin brand
• Good pickup system with Fishman Sonitone
• Some players may not like the composite neck material.

The Guild Jumbo Junior

Guild, a renowned maker of acoustic guitars, has scaled down its iconic jumbo model to create a compact and portable instrument. The Jumbo Junior boasts a solid Sitka spruce top and flamed maple back and sides, with an arched top for enhanced resonance and projection.

In addition, the JJ is equipped with a Fishman AP-1 system, allowing you to easily plug in for performances and recording sessions. Tonally, it packs a punch and boasts classic, timeless aesthetics from one of the most respected names in the guitar-making industry.

• Type: Electro-acoustic (Steel String)
• Scale Length: 23.75”
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Back and Sides: Flamed Maple
• Neck Shape: Slim C
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Electronics: Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickup
• Finish: Natural
• Bag Included: No
• Comfortable to play
• Versatile sound
• Limited projection compared to a full-sized jumbo

Traveler Escape Mark III

With familiar electric guitar-style playability and active electronics, the Traveler Escape Mark III is an excellent choice for acoustic players looking for a portable option. It features 22 medium frets with a 25.5″ scale length and has volume, bass, treble adjustments, aux input, and headphone output.

The Traveler Escape Mark III – A High-Quality Electro-Acoustic Solution for On-the-Go. Whether you’re an acoustic musician looking for a portable option, or simply want a guitar that’s both convenient and equipped with the latest features, the Traveler Escape Mark III is a top choice. With a compact design that’s 26% shorter and 10% lighter than a standard dreadnought, this electro-acoustic guitar is packed with features to make your travels more musical.

The innovative design features built-in tuning pegs within the body, eliminating the need for a traditional headstock and resulting in a reversed stringing configuration. Additionally, the Escape Mark III is equipped with advanced electronics, including an under-saddle Shadow NanoFlex piezo system, a tuner, aux-in, and studio headphone out, providing an all-in-one setup for players on the move.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Body: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Black Walnut
• Electronics: Shadow Nanoflex pickup with Active Electronics, 2-band EQ, volume/tone control, phase switch
• Great electronics
• Quality materials
• Rich amplified sound

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa

This mid-range travel guitar is a great choice for serious players, with a big voice and built-in pickup for electro-acoustic playability. Despite its compact size, the Taylor GS Mini-e Koa is a versatile all-around acoustic-electric guitar. 

The GS Mini boasts a sound that surpasses its compact size, thanks to the subtle arch in its back.

The Koa version of the GS Mini is a visual stunner, with its eye-catching figuring, and provides a rich tonal experience with its solid top, layered back and sides, Sapele neck, and ebony fingerboard. The Expression System preamp, which includes a convenient tuner, and the high-quality gig bag make this one of Taylor’s most valuable models.

For left-handed players, the GS Mini-e Koa is also available, providing even more options for those seeking a top-performing travel guitar.

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Scale Length: 23.5” 
• Top: Solid Koa (There are also models with Laminate Koa)
• Back and Sides: Koa Laminate 
• Neck: Sapele 
• Fingerboard: Ebony 
• Electronics: ES-B preamp with built-in tuner
• Finish: Varnish 
• Small yet powerful sound 
• Exceptional build quality from Taylor 
• Superior pickup system and well-equipped gig bag
• Quite expensive in comparison to other travel guitars
• May be difficult to find in some areas

The Yamaha APXT2

The Yamaha APXT2 is the mini version of the popular APX acoustic guitar, designed for travelers and those who want a small but powerful instrument. With a length of only 34 inches, this 3/4-sized guitar is easy to carry and will fit in most travel situations.

The APXT2 is equipped with an impressive pickup system that delivers a sound quality far superior to its unplugged sound. The guitar’s preamp also features a built-in tuner, eliminating the need for extra gear. The smooth satin finish and familiar neck make playing the APXT2 a comfortable and enjoyable experience, especially for those familiar with Yamaha guitars.

This travel-friendly guitar comes in a variety of colors and offers a unique look, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a small guitar that can keep up with their big sound. If you are a fan of the APX series or are searching for a high-quality travel guitar, the Yamaha APXT2 is worth considering.

• Type: Electro-acoustic
• Scale length: 22 13/16″
• Top: Spruce or Meranti with Mango Veneer
• Back and sides: Locally sourced tonewood
• Neck: Locally sourced tonewood
• Electronics: System 68 with ART 1-way Contact Pickup
• Finish: Dark Red Burst, Natural, Black, Old Violin Sunburst
• Plays like an APX
• Nice range of colors
• Feels a little cheap.

The Sheeran By Lowden S03 

Ed Sheeran and luthier George Lowden have a close friendship that resulted in a full line of guitars in 2019, including the S03 model. This guitar was updated in 2021 with a smaller body, featuring a 24.8-inch scale and a solid cedar top. The back and sides are made of a combination of rosewood and mahogany, which give it a rich and full sound. The cutaway design and LR Baggs VTC system allow for effortless playability and excellent amplified tones, making it a great choice for live performances.

• Type: Cutaway Electro-Acoustic
• Scale Length: 24.8”
• Top: Solid Cedar
• Back & Sides: Layered Rosewood/Mahogany/Rosewood/Mahogany
• Electronics: LR Baggs Element VTC
• Finish: Satin
•  High-quality Lowden build from Northern Ireland
•  Comfortable to play
•  Great sound
• Quite expensive in comparison

Yamaha CSF3M

This traditional parlor-style acoustic guitar is similar to those played by traveling guitarists in the early 1900s. The Yamaha CSF3M is more compact than a full dreadnought-style acoustic but still offers excellent sound and playability. 

It is a top-notch solid wood acoustic-electric travel guitar with a built-in passive under-saddle pickup for amplification.

Although Yamaha does not specifically market it as a travel guitar, the company has produced a remarkable short-scale folk electro-acoustic guitar. What sets this model apart from many others is its solid wood construction and compact 105mm body depth.

When playing the Yamaha CSF3M, you’ll experience a rich tonal quality and impressive projection, thanks to its 16-inch radius neck that accommodates both fingerstyle playing and chord work. The Yamaha passive piezo pickup provides a great representation of the guitar’s strengths without the need for an onboard preamp.

To ensure the guitar’s protection during travel, Yamaha includes a sturdy hard case with the purchase of the CSF3M. This instrument is sure to provide years of musical inspiration, whether you’re at home or on the road.

• Scale length: 23.6”
• Back and sides: Solid mahogany
• Electronics: Yamaha passive SRT piezo
• Finish: Vintage Natural, Tobacco Sunburst (pictured)
• Impressive build quality with solid woods
• Easy to play – Great neck for chords and fingerstyle playing
• warm and rich tone
• Limited Versatility

The Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar

The Yamaha SLG200S Silent Guitar is perfect for those who want to practice in silence and also perform live.

With its detachable frame, this guitar can be easily folded down for convenience and can be plugged into an amplifier or headphones, producing little to no acoustic sound. The SRT and pickup blend system allow for a surprisingly organic live sound and the option for headphone practice.

Players who are used to electric guitars will appreciate the low action, 43mm nut width, and slim neck of the SLG200S. And to add to its versatility, it also features onboard chorus and reverb effects, making it the perfect traveling companion.

• Type: Electro-acoustic Collapsible Travel Acoustic
• Back and Sides: Mahogany body with Rosewood/Maple frame
• Fingerboard: Pau Ferro
• Electronics: Fishman AP-1
• Classy Styling
• Not the best choice for purely acoustic use

Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe

The Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe – A Unique Twist on a Classic Design. The Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe is a unique take on the classic Stratocaster design, blending familiarity with innovation. From the recognizable pickguard and single coil pickups to the control knobs, the Travelcaster Deluxe is sure to catch the eye of any guitar enthusiast. However, a closer look reveals a surprising difference – the body has been streamlined, with everything not covered by the pickguard removed, resulting in a guitar that is 35% lighter and 14% shorter than a typical Strat.

Despite its compact size, the Travelcaster Deluxe still boasts a full 25.5” scale length, providing familiar playability, and its tonal versatility remains intact thanks to its three single coil pickups. Weighing in at just 5 lbs, this may take some getting used to, but once you do, the Travelcaster Deluxe may just be the perfect travel guitar for you. Embrace the cognitive dissonance and experience the classic Stratocaster feel in a new and innovative way.

• Type: Electric guitar
• Body: Made of Poplar
• Neck: Made of Maple
• Fingerboard: Catalpa Hardwood
• Easy to play
• Portable and lightweight
• Can’t think of one, but taste is subjective

Blackstar Carry-On ST Travel Guitar JB

Breaking away from tradition, the Blackstar Carry-On ST Travel Guitar JB is a portable and innovative instrument designed for mobility. It features 18 frets on a 20.7-inch scale, a single mini-humbucker with coil-split, and 12-54 gauge strings for a standard scale tension on a compact instrument.

This portable powerhouse was created through a collaboration between Blackstar, the renowned guitar amp company, and Gordon Smith Guitars, a fellow British brand. With a compact 20.7-inch scale and a ukulele-sized body, this electric guitar is perfect for traveling musicians.

Designed for optimal resonance, the Blackstar Carry-On features a one-piece body and neck design. The unique tortoiseshell-like plastic binding and matte finish on the neck, sides, and back provide maximum comfort for players. Additionally, the humbucker pickup with coil-splitting capability offers versatility in tone, allowing you to explore different sound options through an amp.

For even more convenience, the Blackstar Carry-On can be purchased as a package with the Fly3 mini amp, giving you everything you need for your next musical adventure.

• Type: Singlecut Travel Electric
• Scale Length: 20.7”
• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Okoume
• Electronics: Mini Humbucker
• Finish: Gloss Black or White Top
• Excellent One-Piece Design
• Very Portable
• Good Tones for Practice
• Very affordable
• Reduced sustain compared to a big one

The Traveler Guitar LTD EC-1

The LTD EC-1 is the result of a collaboration between two of the most well-known guitar brands, Traveler and ESP. Traveler has a solid reputation for crafting top-notch electric travel guitars, and ESP is renowned for its exceptional heavy rock and metal guitars in the EC series.

First introduced in 2016, this full-scale single-cut model is now available in a stylish Vintage Black with gold hardware. A hallmark of Traveler’s design is the placement of locking tuners within the body, which helps to reduce the overall length of the guitar. The active humbucker pickup, designed by ESP, is perfect for delivering high-gain tones and facilitating sharp lead work. Plus, the included headphone amp allows you to practice without disturbing anyone. The beveled cutaway also provides easy access to higher frets, making this guitar a must-have for metal players on the go.

• Type: Travel-size electric with built-in headphone amp
• Scale length: 24.75”
• Fingerboard: Black walnut
• Frets: 22 jumbo
• Electronics: ESP-designed active humbucker, four-channel headphone amp
• Finish: Vintage Black or Snow White
• Acclaimed ESP design in a compact form
• Full-scale length
• Onboard headphone amp
• No built-in tuner

Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe

First introduced in 1979, Steinberger headless guitars are unique and highly playable instruments. The Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe is a unique and charming electric guitar that can easily serve as a travel guitar. With its distinctive size and shape, the classic Steinberger “headless” design is sure to make a bold visual statement. 

The use of wood instead of composite materials makes this guitar more budget-friendly and suitable for travel.

Despite its smaller body, the Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe boasts 24 frets, a scale length of 25.5″, an HSH pickup configuration, and a tremolo system, making it one of the most versatile small guitars on the market and offering a larger playing area than a standard Les Paul.

The inclusion of a neck-thru-body is also a rarity at this price point, making this instrument a great value, whether you use it as a travel guitar or not.

• Type: Electric Guitar
• Scale length: 25.5 inches
• Body: Maple
• Neck: Maple
• Unique and eye-catching design
• Versatile sound options
• superior tuning stability
• Unfamiliar design

Hofner Shorty Travel Guitar

Hofner Shorties were designed in the 1980s for musicians who never wanted to miss a moment of practice.

It is an affordable choice for musicians in need of a travel-friendly instrument. With a design dating back so many years, it has become a go-to option for those seeking a compact electric guitar. 

The full-scale length (24 frets on a 24.75-inch scale length) offers familiar playing comfort, while the single humbucker bridge pickup provides ample power for riffs. The classic maple/rosewood neck and fingerboard further contribute to the ease of play.

While the tone may not be award-winning, the Hofner Shorty is a cost-effective way to add portability to your collection. It may not be seen on top albums, but it offers a solid choice for budget-conscious travelers.

• Type: Electric
• Scale length: 24.7”
• Body: Basswood
• Comfortable playing experience with full-scale-length familiarity
• Decent build quality for the price
• Limited tone quality

VOX SDC-1 Mini

Rounding out our list is the VOX SDC-1 Mini, a compact travel guitar that’s perfect for beginners, players with smaller hands, or anyone looking for a portable instrument. With 19 medium jumbo frets and an 18.75-inch scale, this mini guitar provides a great playing experience.

• Scale length: 18 3/4″
• Fingerboard: Purple Heart
• Frets: 19 medium jumbo
• Finish: Black, Red, and White
• Compact Size
• Affordability
• Versatile Sound
• Built-in Amp and Effects
• Limited Playability especially for musicians with larger hands.

What Makes a Guitar a “Travel Guitar”? 

The defining feature of a “travel guitar” is its portability, achieved through shorter scale lengths, compact body sizes, and lightweight design. While some travel guitars retain a full-scale length for a familiar playing feel, others are designed to be smaller for ease of transport. So in short travel guitars are compact, lightweight, and portable versions of the classic guitar. 

They offer a convenient solution for musicians who want to play music on the go. They allow you to have your instrument with you at all times, so you can play music wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, a travel guitar can be a valuable tool for your musical journey.

With a travel guitar, you can practice , write songs, or play with friends even when you’re away from home. Additionally, travel guitars can be a great choice for camping trips, beach vacations, and other outdoor adventures, allowing you to bring the joy of music with you wherever you go.

Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Travel Guitar 

When selecting a travel guitar, it’s essential to consider the same factors you would when choosing a regular guitar, such as acoustic or electric design and compatibility with your playing style and needs. Some travel guitars also come equipped with unique features such as built-in headphone outputs for private practice. Ultimately, the best travel guitar for you will depend on your personal preferences and requirements.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Travel Guitar

When shopping for a travel guitar, there are several key factors to consider to find the best option for your needs and preferences. These include:

Size and weight

Size and weight are important considerations when choosing a travel guitar, as you’ll likely be carrying it with you on the go. Look for a guitar that is small and lightweight enough to be easily transportable, but still big enough to produce good sound quality.

Sound quality

Sound quality is just as important in a travel guitar as it is in a full-sized guitar. Look for a guitar that has a good balance of tone, projection, and clarity. Try to play several different travel guitars and listen to each one to find the one that sounds best to you.

Playability

Playability is another important factor to consider when choosing a travel guitar. Look for a guitar with a comfortable neck profile, low action, and well-positioned frets, as this will make it easier and more enjoyable to play.

Finally, consider the price of the travel guitar you’re interested in. While you may want to invest in a high-quality option, it’s also important to choose a guitar that fits within your budget. Keep in mind that many affordable travel guitars still offer great sound quality and playability, so you don’t have to break the bank to find a great option.

Are travel guitars harder to play?

In general, travel guitars are not harder to play than full-sized guitars, but they may feel different due to their smaller size and lighter weight. Some players may need to adjust to the different feel of a travel guitar, but with a little practice, playing a travel guitar can become just as easy as playing a full-sized guitar.  

What Characterizes a Superior Travel Guitar?

The portability of a travel guitar is often achieved through its compact body, lightweight, and shorter scale length (the distance from the nut to the saddle). However, a travel guitar can still possess a full-scale length and be considered a great option for traveling musicians.

Acoustic travel guitars generally have shorter scales and smaller bodies for easy transport, yet they still play and sound like a regular guitar. The travel guitars featured in this guide offer excellent playability and tone, making them effortless to adjust to.

Electric travel guitars typically can connect to guitar amps or PA systems, while some even come equipped with built-in amps for headphone practice.

What Is the Best Travel Guitar for Me?

All travel guitars are portable and offer great playability, but they each excel in different ways. For instance, some are better suited for gigs, while others are ideal for practicing with headphones.

When choosing a travel guitar, it’s important to consider your needs and preferences, as well as the factors discussed above. 

It’s also a good idea to try out several different options to find the one that feels and sounds best to you. With so many great travel guitars on the market, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your needs and style.

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10 Best Travel Guitars (Acoustic & Electric)

Do you miss your guitar when you are traveling? Or hate trying to get your guitar on a plane ?

Then you need a travel guitar. Yes, they exist, and no I’m not talking about guitars for children. I’m talking about amazing guitars by premium brands, which were specifically designed to be portable and travel-friendly.

In this review, I will show you both acoustic and electric travel guitars, as well as a couple of versatile options. No matter what you are looking for, there is something here for you.

At A Glance: Our Top Travel Acoustic & Electric Guitars

• BEST ACOUSTIC TRAVEL GUITAR Journey Instruments OF660 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar Jump To Review
• Best Lightweight Guitar Yamaha GL1 PB Guitalele Jump To Review
• BEST ELECTRIC Traveler Guitar 6 String Travelcaster Deluxe Jump To Review
• Most VERSATILE Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Jump To Review

All of the travel guitars featured in this review are praised by happy owners and rated highly on dozens of websites. Find out which travel guitars are the best travel guitar options for you!

Top Product Overview

Top 10 travel guitars, martin steel string backpacker travel guitar.

The Martin travel acoustic guitar features a  t op made from solid spruce and sides made from tonewood. It has a 24” scale length and features  15 frets, which is not that much less than the usual 19. And it  comes with both a strap and a case , so traveling with it is going to be very easy.

In fact,  you can actually fit this guitar in overhead bins in planes.  Some airlines will make you pay extra for it, but you shouldn’t usually have any issues if you call or email the airline beforehand. Just give them the dimensions of the bag and you’ll be fine.

Oh, and you can put some extra clothes in the bag – not only will this make your other suitcase lighter, but it will also protect your travel guitar.

The Backpacker travel acoustic guitar is very lightweight at only 2.4 lbs. Meaning that it’s super easy to carry anywhere and that it won’t weigh you down one bit.

Martin is known for making backpacker guitars, and this one is one of their best-selling models. That is because it is  insanely portable , but also because the sound quality is really good.  You will lose some volume, but that’s expected considering the size of this guitar.

And it has  a great price tag  on it. It is by no means the cheapest travel guitar out of the bunch, but it is far away from being the most expensive one.

• Reasonably priced acoustic guitar
• Very portable and lightweight
• Comes with a strap and gig bag
• Doesn’t always stay put on your body

Product Information

• Dimensions: 4.72” x 36.22” x 9.45”
• Weight: 2.5 lbs
• Bag Included: Yes

Journey Instruments OF660 Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar

The Journey Instruments travel guitar comes with a really high saddle, which means the action is also really high. But, it also comes with a shorter saddle, which will give you lower action. And you can always adjust that until you find your perfect setup. It has 20 frets and 6 strings, and the sound quality is just as good (if not better) than your normal guitar.

What makes this acoustic guitar amazing for travel is the collapsible neck. You can disassemble it in less than a minute and pack it in its travel backpack. The backpack is carry-on sized and features a TSA-friendly laptop compartment,  so it is an excellent addition to this amazing travel guitar.

The OF660 has  a body made from carbon fiber,  which is reinforced with fiberglass on the back and sides. What that means is that you  never have to worry about humidity  with this acoustic guitar – you can leave it out in pouring rain, and there won’t be any consequences. Plus, it makes the guitar look very elegant and sleek.

The price of this travel guitar is a pretty big downside. In fact, this is the most expensive travel guitar that I found, and it is definitely not for everyone’s budget. But, you are paying for the amazing sound, portability, and quality of the build.

Another thing that could be improved is the weight. This guitar is a bit bigger than most others I’ve shown you, and it’s also heavier. While that doesn’t impact its portability too much, it does mean that it’s not going to be as convenient to carry around as some of the ones that weigh less than 2.5 lbs.

• Collapsible neck
• Amazing sound quality
• Excellent quality
• Very expensive
• A bit heavy
• Dimensions: 4.64” x 35.5” x 12.5”
• Weight: 4.1 lbs

Yamaha GL1 PB Guitalele

The Yamaha GL1 is  a cross between a guitar and a ukulele (something Hawaii is known for ) . It has the size of a baritone ukulele (17” scale), but it also features  6 strings,  just like a guitar. But the  strings are nylon  – that’s neither the best quality nor sound you can get out of a travel guitar. However, nothing is stopping you from cutting them off and putting regular metal strings on the GL1.

What you will love about these acoustic travel guitars are the size and weight. The Yamaha guitar was designed specifically for travel,  and you will be able to take it anywhere you want. And you will get  a soft gig case  with the guitar. Plus, it is a great option for kids to play – even though it wasn’t designed as a children’s guitar, its size makes it more than suitable for the little ones.

This travel guitar is also  feather-light, at only 2.65 lbs.  That means that the GL1 traveler guitar weighs less than most laptops, which you are carrying to work every single day and not complaining. And that is one of the things that makes the Yamaha an amazing option for travel. You could even call it a backpacking guitar.

Another reason why you will love the Guitalele is the price. It’s  very affordable, especially considering who makes it – Yamaha is a brand known for manufacturing quality everything, from motorcycles to survival bows .

Obviously, you can’t expect this to sound just like a full-sized guitar, but it is going to sound amazing for its size. This means that it is going to be perfectly suitable for practice on the go or for entertaining your friends on the beach. A great all-around acoustic travel guitar!

• Very affordable
• High quality
• Remarkably lightweight
• Not entirely a guitar
• Nylon strings
• Dimensions: 26.75” x 12” x 4”
• Weight: 2.65 lbs

Martin LXK2 Little Martin Guitar

Little Martin is  the smallest guitar from this amazing brand,  and it’s definitely a contender. It features  Koa-grained high-pressure laminate on its top, sides, and back, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge . The neck of this guitar is carved out of Stratabond.

Even though this guitar is tiny, it produces great sound and is fun to play. With 6 steel strings and 20 frets , this is going to sound fairly close to your favorite guitar. But the Little Martin has the advantage that you can take it anywhere you want –  it weighs only 3.4 lbs and it is a very small guitar, which makes it perfect for the road.

And this guitar is great not just for travel, but also for children and adults with small hands.

The durability of Little Martin is another amazing thing about it. It is  built to survive road trips, children, and all kinds of weather.  Especially if you regularly carry it in the gig bag that comes with it. Which has an exterior made from ballistic nylon, and an interior lined with plush.

It also features backpack straps and a front zipper compartment, for any other items you want to keep close.

And the price of this guitar is not too bad either. It’s not among the cheapest options, but it is also not ridiculously expensive either. It is a little pricier than most other travel guitars in this review, but it’s undoubtedly worth it, considering the quality of both sound and build.

• Very small and portable
• Great sound
• High quality gig bag
• A bit pricey
• Action is quite high
• Dimensions: 6.3” x 38.58” x 18.11”
• Weight: 3.38 lbs

Cordoba Mini M Travel Guitar

Cordoba has a series of mini guitars, and the M Travel Guitar is their most popular model. The main difference between them is the wood combinations -the M features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The Mini M is also the best value for money – it is a high-quality guitar with a very affordable price tag ,  and it’s perfect if you’re on a tight budget.

The downside is that this small guitar comes with nylon strings,  so you’re not getting amazing sound out of the box. But that’s a replaceable part of the guitar, and should not be a deal-breaker. And if you normally prefer nylon strings, then the Mini M is going to play perfectly as is.

What could be a deal-breaker is that this is a right-hand guitar.  The others that I showed you were either ambidextrous, or you could choose between right and left hand. With the Mini M, you get no such choice.

And there’s nothing else bad about it. The acoustic guitar weighs a mere 2.5 lbs,  which makes it perfect for travel. It is  small enough that it easily fits into overhead compartments in airplanes , and it comes with a really solid gig bag.

It doesn’t sound like a full-sized guitar, but it definitely sounds like a guitar and not like a ukulele. It has a scale length of 20”, a nut width of 1.96”, and a total of 18 frets,  which not only feel familiar but also make it sound more like a traditional guitar.

• Very lightweight and portable
• Sound is great for its size
• Fits in overhead compartments on airplanes
• Right hand guitar
• Dimensions: 30.5” x 10” x 3.25”

Traveler Guitar 6 String Travelcaster Deluxe

Traveler Guitar is a brand that makes some insanely portable guitars, both acoustic and electric. So, I will show you several options from them in this section, starting with the Travelcaster Deluxe . It is a  full 25.5” scale travel guitar with 14:1 gear ratio turners.

This means that the playable area of the guitar is the exact same size as a full-size guitar –   only its body is smaller.

The Travelcaster features an overall length of 33.75” and weighs a mere 5.2 lbs.  It comes with a soft gig case for ultimate portability –  the entire case and the guitar only weigh 6.8 lbs.  What’s even better is that you are not sacrificing playability for portability – Traveler Guitar is proud of how all of their guitars sound, and we have no complaints either.

In fact, you can check out the demo of this Traveler guitar right here:

This electric guitar comes with 3 single-coil pickups – 2 tone controls, 1 volume control, and a 5-way pickup selector.  It also has a  2-point fulcrum tremolo for better and more stable tuning , as well as steel saddles for excellent playing tone.

The guitar boasts  a poplar body with a maple neck and a maple fretboard with bone nut,  which not only sound great but also look pretty good. And you can  get it in three colors  – the black gloss option is unique because it features a catalpa fretboard with a bone nut.

• Very portable
• Reasonably priced
• A little heavy
• Dimensions: 33.75” x 1.75” x 9”
• Weight: 5.2 lbs

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Back to Yamaha –  the APXT2 is an excellent choice if you want a versatile guitar.  It is both  acoustic and electric , with a gorgeous exterior and an affordable price tag. This guitar features  a spruce top, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge , for great appearance and sound.

It is a 3/4 sized guitar, and it is pretty much just a smaller version of the APX500III. It is equipped with an  ART-based preamp, system 68 contact pickup, and an onboard tuner,  which give you a full-bodied acoustic tone when you plug it in. And you can also tune the guitar without having to plug it in any extra gear, which is convenient and great for travel.

One downside to the Yamaha guitar is that  its orientation is right-handed  and there are no other options. So, it is definitely not going to be a good fit for all of you.

An upside is that you get a gig bag with the Yamaha, so you can really carry it anywhere. And it  weighs just a little over 5 lbs , which is pretty good for a versatile guitar. It is not the lightest option you have, but it is great for a guitar that is capable of so much.

Meaning that the APXT2 is not just a good option for travel, but also for kids learning to play, as well as petite adults that find regular guitars too big.

• Acoustic and electric
• Built-in tuner
• Excellent build quality
• Neck edges are pretty sharp
• Right handed
• Dimensions: 33.1” x 2.9” x 11.8”
• Weight: 5.29 lbs

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Solid-Body Electric Guitar

This is the  smallest full-scale electric guitar  you can get your hands on, and it is perfect if you’re looking for something ultra-portable. And at  only 3.1 lbs,  this is also the lightest electric travel guitar out of the bunch. It also comes with a  detachable lap rest , for easy transport.

Obviously, this travel guitar doesn’t have a proper headstock. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t tune it – in fact,  the tuning system is included in its body, and it features a dual-rail humbucker pickup .

The chrome tuning machines feature a 14:1 ratio, for extremely precise tuning. This means that you can have almost the same playing experience on this guitar, as you have on a full-bodied electric guitar that weighs a lot more.

One great thing about this guitar is that you have options –  you can choose from four colors, three wood types, and also your hand orientation . And that means that it is going to be very easy for you to pick out a guitar that is perfectly suitable for you.

It  comes with a lightweight gig bag  that easily fits into overhead compartments in airplanes. Meaning that this guitar is just perfect for transport. You can carry it wherever you want, and you can fit some extra gear in the  front pocket of the gig bag. 

Other things worth noting are that this guitar features a  standard 1/4” output  and that it features a one-piece neck-through-body design.

• Remarkably lightweight and portable
• In-body tuning system
• Removable lap rest
• Lacks balance
• No volume control
• Dimensions: 31.2” x 5.25” x 2”
• Weight: 3.1 lbs

Leo Jaymz 24.75" Single Cut Curved Top Electric Guitar

The Leo Jaymz guitar features some rather  stunning and unique decals on the body . I know that alone is not reason enough to buy it, but it sure is nice to see something other than a solid color body. It is an excellent option if you want  something unique that plays extraordinarily well . It features a  mahogany body with a smooth rosewood fingerboard and a maple neck.

This travel guitar comes with 6 (stainless steel) Jaymz strings that are excellent quality and overall, it is a very compact and lightweight guitar. And  you also get an extra set for spare parts,  which is rather generous from the brand.

It features  original Grover machines that help with stable tuning , as well as  two volume and two tone switches . This electric guitar also comes with  a soft gig bag that has a front pocket for your additional gear.

While I really love the general design and quality of the Leo Jaymz guitar, I am not impressed with its portability. Compared with the other travel electric guitars in this review, this is one of the least portable ones, because of both its size and weight.

However,  if you want something that plays and feels just like a proper electric guitar, but that ultimately is more portable than one, then I think this is the right choice for you.

• Beautiful decals on body
• High build quality
• Some shipping issues
• Not the most portable option
• Dimensions: 34.48” x 16.12” x 3.2”
• Weight: 12.5 lbs (shipping weight!)

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

I know this looks a lot like the previous Traveler Guitar I showed you, but there’s one huge difference – this one is  both acoustic and electric.  It has an  in-body tuning system  just like the other Traveler Guitar, and it comes with  a detachable lap rest.  But this one is lighter, more portable, and more versatile, making it one of my top choices.

And you get to choose which type of wood you want in your guitar, just like , you can choose whether you want right or left-hand orientation. 

It doesn’t have a headstock, so it is going to take some time to get used to this travel guitar. But once you do, I’m confident you will love it and carry it anywhere – you will get the full-scale playing experience but in a much smaller package.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light features an under-saddle Piezo pickup , for amazing acoustic sound. And the  standard 1/4” output  allows you to plug this in the regular or headphone amp you already have.

Bear in mind that even though this guitar is going to sound amazing, it is going to be  rather quiet in acoustic mode.  Which is great for practice, but not that useful for showing off. You are compromising on that, but in return, you are getting an instrument so portable you will want to take it wherever you go. And I think that is still a really good deal.

• Detachable lap rest
• Versatile guitar
• Extraordinarily lightweight and portable
• Very quiet in acoustic mode
• Takes some getting used to
• Dimensions: 28” x 2” x 5.2”
• Weight: 2.9 lbs

What To Look For

Acoustic or electric.

The main thing you should know is whether you’re looking for a travel acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. Obviously, you should get the one that you prefer playing.

The review is divided into two sections – the first section features the 5 best travel acoustic guitars, and the second section shows the 5 best electric travel guitars. So, there’s something for you regardless of what you’re looking for.

And if you’re looking for both, you might not need to buy two guitars – there are some acoustic-electric guitars, and you will find them in the second half of the review.

What Kind Of Portable Do You Need?

There are loads of ways in which a guitar can be portable. Some of them are  nearly full-sized but insanely lightweight . And there are guitars that aren’t too lightweight, but that has a really tiny body with a very small soundhole. This usually means that the sound is not nearly as good as it is on your normal guitar.

There is also a guitar that has a collapsible neck  – this is a feature patented by  Journey Instruments , and it is one of the best guitars in this entire review. You can remove the neck from the body of the guitar and easily pack it in a backpack, for ultimate portability. However, this feature is unique to this guitar, which happens to be very expensive.

Some guitars also have a pretty short neck, which also means fewer frets and weaker sound . But those are also  very portable , and a great option for air travel since they are usually treated as carry-ons.

In general, you should figure out which kind of portable suits your needs best. And  which aspect of the guitar you are not willing to compromise on . I’ve shown you enough variety, and I’m pretty sure that at least one of the guitars you’ve seen in this review is what you are looking for.

Hand Orientation

The ideal guitar for you depends on which hand you play with.  Most of the guitars that I’ve shown above are either ambidextrous or feature a choice of hand orientation.  However,  some of them are only for right-handed people, and you can see that info in the “cons” boxes below each product.

If you don’t see anything about hand orientation in the pro/con boxes, you can assume that the guitar is available in both options.

Price Range

Travel guitars are usually more expensive than regular guitars.  They are designed specifically to be lightweight and portable, and that’s going to cost you.  The usual price range of these guitars is between $150-300,  but you will find some that are much more expensive than that.

Whenever a guitar is pricier than the expected price range, it will be listed in the cons boxes. I haven’t really found any really cheap guitars – I don’t consider those to be the top guitars for travel that are available.

Our Favorite Choices For Travel Guitar

Not sure which of these travel guitars is the right option for you? That’s okay – go for one of our top choices and you will not be disappointed!

The best travel acoustic guitar is undoubtedly the one by Journey Instruments .  It is an amazing guitar that is perfect for pros, and it actually  sounds better than some full-sized guitars.  It also has a unique feature patented by Journey Instruments – a collapsible neck.  You can assemble and disassemble this guitar in just a few seconds, which is perfect for playing on the go.

• FINALLY A FULL SIZE GUITAR THAT'S EASY TO TAKE WITH YOU - Our mini travel folding bass guitar with patented collapsible neck system allows you to quickly assemble and disassemble it in around 20 seconds, so you can carry it with you at all times.
• STURDY CARBON FIBER FOR PIECE OF MIND - This collapsible acoustic bass guitar has quality pre-impregnated carbon fiber fabrics on all core components making it stable and durable, so you can enjoy transfer of energy and significantly longer sustain. Whether you are performing for yourself, small crowd or a huge gig, your Journey Instruments Guitar is ready to deliver an epic performance.

My favorite electric guitar for travel is the Travelcaster Deluxe ,  which comes with a soft gig case. It is a full-scale guitar that not only sounds amazing   but also looks pretty cool . It features three single-coil pickups, two tone controls, and one volume control, which is everything you need to sound amazing. Well, in addition to your talent – but that’s a given.

• Full 25 1/2" Scale Guitar
• 5 lbs. 3 oz. And 33 3/4" long

The most versatile guitar for travel would have to be the Traveler Guitar Acoustic/Electric option .  It is remarkably lightweight, it has an in-body tuning system and it sounds really good no matter how you play it thanks to the Piezo pickup. Sure, it’s not going to be as loud as regular acoustic guitars, but all you need to do to get volume is plug it in. And you get the standard 1/4” output for that.

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Ultra-Light is a portable and travel-friendly version of your favorite at-home guitar that you can take anywhere and everywhere you go. Weighing 2 lbs 14 oz and measuring 28”, this will be your steadfast road companion.
• PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System eliminates the need for a headstock by relocating standard tuning machines into the body. Even though it’s small, it’s still crafted with a full 24 3/4" scale experience with 22 frets.

Head over to Amazon to see the prices of all of the best travel guitars featured in this review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do travel guitars sound good.

Some guitarists swear that travel guitars do not sound as good as full-sized guitars. Others say that although they sound different they have a place in your guitar collection.

What is a travel sized guitar?

Travel guitars are usually smaller than full-sized guitars so that they are lighter and easier to transport.

What size guitar is best for Travelling?

Many travel guitars are 3/4 sized which makes for a good compromise between size, weight and sound quality.

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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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7 Best Travel Guitars to Bring on the Road (2024)

Being a guitarist and having the travel bug don’t often mix. In fact, traveling with a guitar, especially by air, can be a bit of a nightmare. Luckily for you, travel guitars exist, and if you invest in a good one, these portable instruments may not sound much different than a standard guitar!

In this post, I’ve selected 7 of the best travel guitars. From small portable acoustic to creative electric counterparts, this list will cover all your needs.

This post may contain some partner links, which means I receive a tiny commission – at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry, this partnership doesn’t affect my recommendations whatsoever. It just helps me keep the lights on.

Best Travel Guitars 2024

• Taylor GS-mini Mahogany
• Martin Backpacker
• Taylor BT2 Baby
• Donner HUSH-I
• Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe
• Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany
• Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST

1. Taylor GS-mini Mahogany (Best overall)

• "Body Body type: Taylor Grand Symphony Mini Cutaway: No Top wood:...
• "There's something undeniably inviting about the Taylor GS Mini's...
• That mix of portability and musicality has proven to be a winning...
• It's not too big, it's not too precious, and it's not too expensive
• Top : Tropical Mahogany
• Body : Layered Sapele
• Neck : Mahogany
• Length : 17.8 inches
• Weight : 11 lbs
• # of frets : 20

What’s great

• Fits perfectly in any car, subway, or plane overhead.
• The GS-mini has a big sound for its size, giving you that big guitar feel without the bulk. 
• I loved its slim and comfy neck design, which gave me a smooth playing experience.
• Consists of ES-B, a built-in digital tuner, and easy-to-use tone and volume controls, so you get effortless sound shaping at your fingertips.
• Every GS Mini comes with a gig bag for worry-free travel. 

What’s not so great

• Due to its smaller size, it may lack projection in larger settings.
• The GS-mini has a relatively higher cost.
• I wasn’t impressed with its low-end, which sounded limited compared to larger guitars. Its smaller soundhole is also to blame for that. 
• It may struggle to compete with louder instruments in a band setting.

The GS-mini’s sound is impressive. The mahogany top and layered Sapele back and sides create a warm and full tone. Strumming or fingerpicking it delivers a surprisingly rich sound. It’s not the loudest guitar, but it packs a punch, making it suitable for various playing styles and settings.

Size/Portability

At just over 36″, it’s compact and travel-friendly. It fits easily in overhead compartments and is great for road trips or plane rides. It’s not a folding guitar, but its smaller size makes it a convenient choice for musicians on the go.

In terms of cost, the GS-mini is relatively expensive, but it offers good value for a Taylor guitar. It’s not overly expensive, considering the quality of materials and craftsmanship.

This Taylor travel guitar is pretty sturdy. That said, being a standard acoustic, you will have to be pretty careful with it. It should hold up fairly well to the wear and tear of travel, but it may get some scratches and dents.

Should you buy it?

If you can afford to spend about $700 on a traveling guitar, by all means, you should go for it, as you get the Taylor brand assurance, along with a good sound for a small and portable guitar.

2. Martin Backpacker (Best for volume/loudness)

• Solid Spruce Top
• Solid Tonewood Back and Sides
• Unique Contour Neck Shape
• Features 24-Inch Scale Length
• Top : Spruce
• Body : Mahogany
• Neck : Hardwood 
• Length : 24 inches
• Weight : 5.15 lbs
• # of frets : 15
• The guitar is exceptionally compact. Martin did a good job of designing a portable guitar without making it ugly.
• Despite its small size, the guitar produces a good sound. It’s somewhere in between a banjo and a guitar in terms of tone.
• The lack of a body makes the guitar awkward to play, and the imbalance between the heavier neck and the absent body requires additional effort to hold up with the left hand.
• This travel guitar only features 15 frets.
• The sound of the Martin Backpacker does not meet the standards associated with the Martin brand. The design is a potential cause of the less-than-great sound, described as both a blessing and a curse.

I can vouch for the Martin Backpacker’s impressive volume, but I noticed a minor trade-off in bass resonance, giving it a brighter “tinny” tone. It might not perfectly match the classic Martin sound, but it is something worth considering if you have specific expectations.

This is the best travel guitar for those who want something lightweight and easy to take on the move. One of its standout features is its slender and elongated body, making it lightweight, compact, and super easy to carry on a plane. This is my go-to choice for plane travel. 

Due to the size and sturdy build of this Martin travel guitar, it scores highly by me in terms of durability. The thinner body makes it less likely to get dinged up when in transit and will withstand most small drops.

The Martin Backpacker travel guitar is priced at $300, which is a great price for what you get. You can certainly find cheaper options, but they won’t sound as good or be as easy to travel with as this guitar.

Want more budget guitar recommendations? Head over to my list of the best cheap acoustic guitars .

If portability and volume are your top priorities, the Martin Backpacker could be a solid choice. Its look and feel are very unusual compared to the guitars you must be used to playing, but overall, it’s designed for traveling purposes only.

3. Taylor BT2 Baby (Best overall sound)

• 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top
• Layered Sapele Back
• Sides - Natural
• Neck Width 1-11/16 inch
• Top : Mahogany
• Back : Sapele
• Length : 38 inches
• Weight : 4.4 lbs
• # of frets : 19
• The Taylor BT2 has a high-quality sound, with little noticeable sonic difference from a standard-size guitar.
• Weighing in at just over 4 lbs. and measuring 38 inches in length, the Baby Taylor is highly portable.
• Despite its smaller size, the Baby Taylor delivers a remarkably rich sound that surpassed my expectations.
• I found issues with the guitar staying in tune , requiring frequent tuning adjustments.
• It is a bit more expensive than other options.

Despite its size, the Baby Taylor produces a surprisingly loud sound, making it suitable for acoustic jam sessions and travel. Overall, it offers a wonderful balance of volume, brightness, and clarity. Open chords may sound a bit muddy, but barre chords and riffing sound very clear.

The guitar’s weight of under 5 lbs and its short length makes it ideal for travel. Its compact size ensures ease of transportation, making it a favorable choice for musicians on the move.

Mahagony is an extremely durable wood that can withstand most general wear and tear. Although hollow, this Taylor guitar is pretty tough and will hold up well as a carry-on for flights and other travel situations.

The Taylor BT2 Baby is priced at $449, which is a pretty reasonable cost for a guitar of its quality, comfort, and portability. That said, there are cheaper options out there if you are looking for a budget travel guitar.

Head over to my guide on the best guitars for less than $500 for more recommendations.

If you prioritize comfort, portability, and a rich sound, the Taylor BT2 Baby is a perfect choice. Its compact size and impressive tonal qualities make it suitable for both beginners and experienced players. 

However, you must be aware of reported tuning stability issues and consider whether the aesthetics meet their expectations.

4. Donner HUSH-I (Best budget travel guitar)

• [Best Partner for Travel] - Donner HUSH portable guitar is as...
• [Practice Anytime, Anywhere] - Ultra-quiet -30-45dB LEVEL pizzicato...
• [Superior Sound Quality] - The ideal practice guitar is equipped with...
• [Make Practice More Comfortable] - The HUSH travel acoustic guitar has...
• Body : Maple
• Neck : Maple
• Length : 33.5 inches
• Weight : 7.3 lbs
• # of frets : 21
• Ultra-quiet -30-45dB level pizzicato playing, suitable for silent practice with natural-sounding acoustic tones through headphones.
• Powered by a 9V battery, providing 50 hours of headphone usage or 30 days of 6.35 speaker usage.
• Anti-phase button for noise reduction, 2-stage EQ, and volume knobs for customized tones.
• Neck design offers better performance and reduced wrist fatigue.
• HUSH-I’s asymmetrical neck design may not be for everyone.
• I noticed some scratchiness and static using the aux input.

The Donner HUSH-I pleasantly surprised me with its tonal versatility. The clean tones are crisp and articulate, while pushing it into overdrive yields a satisfying crunch without compromising clarity. 

The dynamics are noteworthy, responding well to nuances in playing style. What’s impressive is that it maintains a quality sound even at higher volumes, making it suitable for various musical genres. 

While not equivalent to a high-end traditional guitar, the sound quality certainly exceeds expectations, given it is a low-cost travel guitar .

Here’s where the HUSH-I truly shines. Designed for travel, it is lightweight and fits in an airplane overhead bin with a compact gig bag.

Weighing in at just 7 pounds and measuring 33 inches in length, this guitar is designed for guitarists who are always on the move.

One issue with this guitar is the build quality. The metal wires that surround the body are not the most durable and may eventually break or loosen over time. While it is a nice touch to include a removable frame, it compromises the durability.

Other than these frames, the guitar is pretty sturdy.

The Donner HUSH-I strikes an excellent balance between cost and quality. It’s a budget-friendly option without skimping on the essentials. For musicians looking for a reliable travel guitar that won’t break the bank, this is a solid choice.

If you appreciate the harmonious mixture of sound quality, portability, and affordability in one guitar, then this definitely wins its place as an ideal companion.

From impressive tones to travel-friendly design and a price tag that won’t give you a headache, I highly recommend this guitar.

5. Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe (Best strat travel guitar)

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Travelcaster Deluxe is a portable and...
• PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Even though it’s small, this guitar...
• PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: This electric guitar includes a custom gig...
• UNMATCHED FEATURES: Equipped with standard volume control, a 5-way...
• Body : Poplar
• Neck : Poplar
• Length : 33.7 inches
• Weight : 3.19 lbs
• # of frets : 22
• The guitar has a travel-friendly design and is compact and lightweight.
• The three single-coil pickups deliver a descent tone reminiscent of classic Stratocasters.
• Maintains a comfortable 25 ½” scale length despite its compact size.
• Comes with a quality padded gig bag for travel protection.
• The whammy bar and strings included with the travel guitar are not very good quality.
• It does not have a very versatile sound.

The Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe has three pickups that provide classic electric guitar tones – think Texas blues or country twang . Even though it’s small, it doesn’t lose that inspiring sound you’d expect from a standard-sized guitar. 

While it’s great for travel and practice, I cannot vouch for its usability for recording and production, as the overall tones are not very versatile.

This guitar is super light, just a bit over 3 pounds., and not too long at 33.75 inches. It’s perfect for fitting into your luggage or backpack. 

The gig bag it comes with is like a bodyguard for your guitar – it keeps it safe wherever you go. Thanks to its poplar body and maple neck, it’s comfortable to play with.

While the design may not look very tough, it is a surprisingly durable build. Essentially a Stratocaster body with 50% less wood, it is definitely strong enough to handle frequent travels.

Travelcaster Deluxe, at a $300 price point, gives you a good deal. It’s not crazy expensive, and you won’t be far off from a full-size guitar experience. This is definitely the best electric travel guitar for the price on the market.

If you’re a musician on the move, the Travelcaster Deluxe could be your go-to companion. It’s ready to play right away. However, I suggest trying it out or listening to videos of other players before buying it to ensure you like the way it sounds.

6. Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany (Best traveling acoustic guitar)

• BUILT FOR TRAVEL: The Escape Mark III is a portable and...
• PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE: Our proprietary In-Body Tuning System...
• PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: This acoustic guitar includes a custom gig...
• UNMATCHED FEATURES: Equipped with an under saddle acoustic piezo...
• Length : 29.5 inches
• Weight : 4.38 lbs
• Has an innovative In-Body Tuning System.
• Despite its size, it retains a full 25.5-inch scale.
• Its mahogany body offers a warm, slightly muted tone with impressive sustain.
• Unlike some travel guitars, it doesn’t fold down, which may be a consideration if you want ultra-compactness.
• It is a bit more expensive than some other travel guitars.

The Traveler Escape MKIII Mahogany is definitely a hidden gem in the guitar world. The mahogany body produces a warm and slightly muted tone that’s truly captivating. While it may not fill the room with booming volume, it still has a well-rounded tone that you can definitely use for practice or small gigs.

The Traveler Escape MKIII may not fold like some travel guitars, but it’s a compact powerhouse. Despite its smaller size, the full 25.5-inch scale ensures a playing experience comparable to a standard guitar.

The absence of a headstock, thanks to the In-Body Tuning System, makes it 26% shorter and 47% thinner than a typical acoustic . Remarkably, it fits seamlessly into overhead compartments on flights.

This travel guitar is a tough, travel-friendly answer to a standard acoustic. It is thinner, with less hollow space, so it is less likely to break or be crushed when traveling. The minimalism of the guitar essentially eliminates any unnecessary risks so that you can carry on with your travels worry-free!

While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, the mahogany build and innovative design justify the cost. It’s a unique instrument that stands out in terms of both aesthetics and functionality. 

The inclusion of a deluxe gig bag enhances the overall value, making it a purchase that pays dividends in quality and style.

MKIII Mahogany’s distinctive sound may not appeal to everyone, but if you like how it sounds, go for it! If you appreciate uniqueness and want an instrument that commands attention, this is one of the best traveling acoustic guitars out there.

7. Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST (Best electric travel guitar)

• Perfect Companion: The Blackstar CarryOn is the perfect companion for...
• Essential Travel Item: CarryOn is an essential travel item for all...
• Portable Size: Using 12-54 gauge strings, this guitar has the feel of...
• Construction: The body is built from a single piece of Okoume and...
• Length : 20.7 inches
• # of frets : 18
• Blackstar Carry-On ST has a small yet durable construction.
• With beautiful aesthetics, especially the blue and yellow versions, this guitar looks pleasing to the eyes.
• Despite its compact size, this petite guitar has impressive sound quality and remarkable versatility.
• Carry-On ST has a stable tuner and is suitable for doodling, composing, and practicing songs for longer periods.

What’s not so great 

• It doesn’t come with a gig bag.

Despite being on the smaller side, the Blackstar Carry-On packs a punch. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound. It’s got this balanced tone that you wouldn’t expect from a travel guitar. 

Overall, it has versatile sonics! Whether you’re into strumming or picking, it’s got your back.

Blackstar designed this guitar with the traveler in mind, making it compact enough to fit into those tight spaces and easy to carry around.

The build quality is solid, which is great for anyone who wants to bring an electric guitar with them on vacay. Plus, it’s quite fun and comfortable playing it, with its neck and fretboard being comfortable and light. 

Despite the affordability of this travel guitar, it is quite sturdy. I don’t really have any complaints in terms of build quality.

This Blackstar travel guitar is priced quite reasonably. For under $200, you get a good return.

In a nutshell, the Blackstar Carry-On Travel Guitar ST is a solid choice for musicians who are always on the go. It’s got the portability, the build, the playability, and the sound.

What makes a travel guitar good?

Think about it! Traveling is not the most convenient or comfortable activity to do. While you’re traveling, regular guitars can be quite a liability, as they are heavy and fragile.

So, having an instrument that is designed specifically for traveling is an excellent choice. When looking for the perfect travel guitar, here are some of the most important factors I considered.

Even though it’s smaller, a good travel guitar should still belt out a sweet sound. It might not be as booming as a big guitar, but it should be good enough for playing anywhere – from your room to the outdoors. Quality construction and materials also contribute significantly to the instrument’s sound.

The size of a travel guitar is one of the most important features to consider. It should strike a balance between being compact enough for easy portability and large enough to provide a comfortable playing experience. Picture this: it’s small enough to carry easily but not so tiny that it’s awkward to play.

A well-designed travel guitar ensures that it is not too bulky, making it convenient for travel, yet retains a playable and ergonomic form.

Affordability is also a key consideration, especially for those who see the travel guitar as a secondary instrument. It should provide value for money without compromising on essential features. Your choice must be such that you get a great deal without skimping on quality.

Since travel involves various environmental conditions and handling, a good travel guitar should be built to endure these challenges. Sturdy construction and reliable materials ensure that the instrument remains in good condition despite the rigors of travel.

A good quality travel guitar is a real treat for any guitarist. Check out my list of the best gifts for guitar players if you want more tips.

Final tips for buying travel guitars

Here are a few additional things to consider when searching for the best travel guitar.

Try Before You Buy

Test the guitar firsthand and strum a few chords to feel its vibe. Make sure it’s comfortable and resonates well with your style. I suggest you make this purchase offline or at least visit the store and try different options, and then go for the best deal, whether online or offline.

Stick to Trusted Brands

Opt for brands with a solid rep . Check online reviews and go for those known for quality instruments. A trusted brand often ensures a better musical journey.

Explore Your Options

Don’t settle too quickly. Explore different models and brands. Whether it’s acoustic or electric, find the one that fits your musical groove.

What is a good size for a travel guitar?

Most people find travel guitars, which are 3/4 times the size of a regular guitar, as the ideal size, which is generally 40 to 30 inches (100 to 76cm) long. However, your preferences may be different, so choose accordingly. 

Are travel guitars easy to play?

If you’re used to playing a regular-sized guitar, initially, you may find it challenging to play a travel guitar. It’s all about getting used to and bringing your instrument to your muscle memory.

Do travel guitars sound different?

Travel guitars sound different due to their smaller size and soundhole, resulting in lower volume, especially in the bass frequencies. Although well-constructed travel guitars may match the overall volume, they might still lack low end.

Wrapping up

Travel guitars open up the doors for many musicians who love to travel. With the right instrument, you’ll be able to travel the world and bring a decent guitar with you while you move! 

If you are looking to purchase a portable amp to go along with your travel guitar, check out my guide on the best travel amps .

Last updated 2024-04-27 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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About The Author

The 10 Best Mini Travel Guitars for the Road 2024

by Marko Jovanovic Last Updated October 18, 2021

Marko Jovanovic

Marko is a professional bassist who has been playing and touring with his band for over a decade now. When he’s not playing with his band or recording in the studio, he spends his time teaching others how to play both bass and the guitar. Other hobbies of his include quality music gear, King Crimson, and sifting the web for the latest music updates - and ofcourse writing about them.

Consordinis articles are written by musicians who independently research, test, and recommend the best instruments and products. We are reader-supported. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Welcome to our reviews of the best travel guitars in 2024. We’ve scoured the market for the best-sounding roadworthy mini acoustic and electric guitars and have come up with the list of 10 models that excel in performance, aesthetics, versatility, playability, affordability, and all of the above, so without any further ado, let’s dive into the reviews.

Here are the best travel guitars 2024:

• Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom
• Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus
• Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe
• Journey Instruments Overhead OC520
• Washburn Festival EA20
• Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric
• Martin Backpacker
• Traveler Guitar Redlands Mini
• Luna Safari Bamboo
• Cordoba Mini II

1. Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom

We’re starting off our travel guitar reviews with what is undoubtedly the best travel guitar on the market – the Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom. Aside from its unique shape, it brings plenty of benefits to the table, including a beautifully designed and decorated body, amazing sound quality, and an exceptional selection of popular tonewoods.

The first thing you’ll notice about the EG-1 Custom is that it doesn’t have a traditional head ; rather it sports a set of machine heads built into its body, which makes the fear of bumping (and de-tuning) your new guitar a bit less of a nuisance.

Let’s start from the very top; this is a six-string solid-body electric guitar that features a mahogany body, a mahogany neck, and a walnut-made fingerboard. In terms of sonic performance, its tone is pretty warm , although it’s incomparably more versatile than most travel guitars. It actually sounds more like a traditional high-quality electric guitar, and it could be used as your main axe or a replacement.

Aesthetics-wise, it’s painted in elegant black and sports a marvelous high gloss finish; if it wasn’t for the peculiar design of the headstock and the placement of the tuning pegs, most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the EG-1 Custom and, say an upper-tier Ibanez or a Yamaha electric guitar.

As far as playability goes, the EG-1 Custom rocks 21 jumbo frets that are super-easy to grip; this works for chord play and single notes, arpeggios, soloing, and similar techniques. It’s actually as rewarding to experienced players as it is welcoming to fresh guitarists who are setting onto their first tour.

Lastly, let’s have a quick overview of the hardware that this travel guitar comes supplied with; there’s a fully adjustable top-quality Roll-o-matic bridge, a gold-plated closed-gear set of tuners built into the body, and a single Alnico humbucking bridge pickup that is fairly hot but decently controllable.

Speaking of controllable, you’ll be able to use the volume and tone controls to find the sweet sonic spot, but this guitar also features a 0.125-inch auxiliary input and a 0.125-inch headphone input that you can use to record or practice your songs without getting annoyed by the humming of the road truck/van.

It’s pretty fair to say that the EG-1 Custom by Traveler Guitar is the ultimate roadworthy electric guitar; it packs onboard distortion, auxiliary in and headphone out, a built-in set of tuning heads, excellent action, it looks phenomenal, and the tonewoods it comes outfitted with are both eclectic and sturdy.

It’s slightly pricier than some people might feel comfortable with, but its performance is on par with some of the best-sounding boutique electric guitars.

2. Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus

A high-end guitar for professional touring musicians

Our next pick is a boutique guitar that we warmly recommend to veterans and professional touring musicians. Taylor is widely known as the brand that produces some of the most durable and best-sounding acoustic guitars, and GS Mini-e Koa Plus is definitely not an exception.

In a nutshell, this is one of the best mini guitar models in the high-end department of the acoustic-electric guitar market, not only because it features some of the finest tonewoods and hardware but also because it offers unparalleled sustain and soaring overtones.

Contrary to what you might initially think of Grand Symphony guitar body shapes, the ‘Mini’ variant of such is actually quite petite and tiny.

This is a six-string GS semi-acoustic guitar that features a Hawaiian koa top, layered koa back and sides, a fingerboard made of ebony, and a neck made of tropical mahogany. Again, these tonewoods sound exotic and might sound ‘warm’, but this guitar is actually very well-rounded and balanced in the sense of sonic performance.

One of the main reasons why GS Mini-e Koa Plus is drastically more expensive than most acoustic-electric guitars is that its tonewoods are not exactly common. The tonewoods used in the manufacturing process of this guitar were refined beyond perfection, allowing the instrument to retain maximal sonic resonance and responsiveness while not losing any portion of its durability.

Let’s switch gears a bit and say a few words about this guitar’s playability. First of all, the GS Mini-e Koa Plus features 20 medium-sized frets with standard dotted inlays, as well as a slightly shorter scale length of 23.5 inches. In essence, its playability is excellent , especially if you have smaller hands and a slightly smaller finger reach.

Its hardware is over the top, as it packs premium NuBone nut, well-rounded Expression System 2 electronics, and Elixir’s Phosphor-Bronze medium-gauge strings. Taylor typically provides complementary features with each purchase, and this time around you’ll get a soft-shell case that was specifically made to be lighter and more durable for traveling guitarists.

If you can agree with the maxim ‘you can’t put a price tag on quality’, you might want to check out the Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus. Essentially, this is an upgraded version of the heavily acclaimed GS Mini-e, and it features a sturdier setup, enhanced electronics, and minor tweaks that have uplifted its already-tremendous performance to the point of near perfection. It does cost an arm and a leg, though.

3. Traveler Guitar Travelcaster Deluxe

The best portable electric travel guitar

Our next pick is the Travelcaster Deluxe, which bears the label of ‘best portable electric travel guitar’. It could also easily fit the description of being the ‘best value travel guitar’, as well as ‘best affordable guitar’, but its performance wouldn’t exactly be portrayed in full that way.

Traveler Guitar is a brand that earned most of their fame through very unique guitar body shapes; the Travelcaster is basically a hybrid guitar that borrows specs and features from the iconic Stratocaster while sporting a half-cut body that provides extra flexibility, finger mobility, and allows for easier commuting with it in tow.

The body of the Travelcaster is its most unique feature; it’s nearly half the weight of an actual Stratocaster, it’s drastically shorter than the original, and yet it still features the exact scale length and sonic functionalities.

This is a six-string solid-body guitar that features a poplar body with a high gloss finish painted in the recognizable Surf Green color; it sports a maple neck with a 9.5-inch radius and a maple fingerboard. It sounds just slightly different from the original Stratocaster, but that’s mainly because of the fact that the body was ‘cut’ so as to provide more portability.

The Travelcaster sports 22 medium-jumbo frets and a 25.5-inch scale length, a two-point fully adjustable Fulcrum bridge and a Tremolo block, chrome machine heads, and three ceramic single-coil pickups.

Essentially, this is a perfect guitar for Stratocaster users who can’t afford the extra space; on another hand, if you have a vintage Strat that you don’t want to expose to potential damages, the Travelcaster Deluxe might be an excellent replacement for you.

Stratocaster owners cherish their guitars and are often reluctant to take them unless a high-profile gig is at stake. If you’re worried that your favorite axe might get damaged on a longer tour, we suggest that you check out the slightly modified and drastically more affordable Travelcaster Deluxe. You’ll get similar specs and a massive boon to mobility at a fraction of the price of the original.

4. Journey Instruments Overhead OC520

The biggest-sounding acoustic travel guitar

Many ‘travel’ guitars are there for people who need something to practice on, and most of them don’t actually sound too great. If you are looking for a guitar that is portable and still sounds bigger than life , you might want to see what the Journey Instruments OC520 has to offer to you.

This is a mid-range acoustic-electric travel guitar that sports some of the most unique tonewoods, passive hardware, a durable construction, and light strings that are as easy to play as they are vibrant and rich with tone.

Essentially, this is a six-string classical guitar that features a beautiful natural color with a satin-polyurethane finish; its top is made of strong solid cedar; its back and sides feature pau ferro tonewoods while its neck is made of high-quality mahogany. As far as its natural tone is of concern, it’s pretty neutral, leaning towards both brighter and warmer ends of the tonal spectrum.

It also sports 20 medium-large frets and a scale length of 25.5 inches; the hardware of OC520 is impeccable too; it sports bone nut and saddle, it comes pre-strung with Savarez light-gauge nylon strings, and you’ll even get a complementary backpack bag that can easily fit the guitar along with all necessary accessories.

One of the best things about the OC520 is the fact that its neck is removable ; this unique technology literally cuts down its travel size down in half while still leaving you with the option to reassemble it when you need to play it. Due to its full ‘assembled’ size it produces a much stronger sound. It’s incredibly versatile in terms of sonic performance, and it’s definitely one of the best-sounding travel guitar models available on the market.

To top it all, it even comes supplied with Journey Instruments’ passive transducer that will allow you to wire it up to a guitar amp. This is what makes it so great for both recording and performing live shows.

Travel guitars generally feature modified bodies that help reduce their size and weight, and the first casualty of such a process is the quality of sound. However, this does not apply in the case of the OC520; this guitar boasts a sound that is on a level of its own, and if you don’t want to trade your tone for a bit of extra sturdiness and portability, this might be a perfect guitar for you.

5. Washburn Festival EA20

The best travel guitar for rock and jazz styles

Washburn is the brand that rockers, metalheads, and jazz cats turn to when they’re looking for an instrument. Their guitars are often shaped in a very unique way; they sound a bit darker and stronger, and ultimately, Washburn guitars offer drastically more playability than most guitars in the same price range.

The best representative of the aforementioned qualities is the Festival Series EA20 acoustic-electric guitar. This is one of the best-sounding travel-size guitar models around as it features an eclectic selection of thoroughly refined tonewoods and top-quality hardware.

Let us start with the basics; this is a six-string Mini Jumbo acoustic-electric guitar that rocks a natural color with a gloss finish. Its top is made of select spruce material, its back and sides feature flamed maple, its neck is made of high-quality maple, and its fingerboard is made of engineered wood.

Generally speaking, the Festival EA20 is substantially more robust and durable than an average mid-range guitar, but it also has a richer, fuller sound . Maple, being one of the brightest-sounding tonewoods out there, is the most dominant material in the construction of this guitar; even so, it still boasts a massively versatile level of tonal well-roundedness.

The Festival EA20 features 20 medium frets and a full-scale length (25.5 inches); it also packs chrome machine heads that hold the tune nicely, the exquisite NuBone nut, and the EQ4T pickup system. Last, but not least, the Festival EA20 is also outfitted with D’Addario’s light-gauge .012 strings.

Exotic tonewoods and peculiar, unique shape topped with premium-quality electronics and nearly unparalleled acoustic performance would be the best way to describe the Washburn Festival Series EA20 Mini Jumbo guitar. This is a guitar made for professionals by professionals, although given the fact that it’s available at such a low price, we recommend it to enthusiasts and hobbyists as well.

6. Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric

The most compact electric travel guitar

Typically, musicians turn to travel guitars when they don’t have too much space to spare; while professional musicians travel in big, spacious vans and buses, enthusiasts, and recreational players who do not wish to get rusty after a month of not playing their instrument usually can’t afford such commodities.

If you’re struggling with backpack space and still want to have a guitar by your side, we warmly recommend the Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric. This is, without any shadow of a doubt, one of the finest portable guitar models that the market has to offer; it’s not too expensive, it’s a compact guitar with a huge sound, and it’s nearly three times smaller than an actual guitar.

Even though it has a very unique and rather unusual design, the Ultra-Light Electric features tonewoods that are much akin to those that ‘normal’ guitars are supplied with.

This is a six-string electric guitar that rocks a tiny body colored in matte black with a satin finish; it rocks a body made of Eastern American hard maple, a neck made of maple, and a fingerboard made of black walnut. In terms of resonance and overtones, the Ultra-light Electric is bright but fairly adjustable and customizable.

It sports 22 medium-sized frets and a slightly shortened scale length of 24.75 inches; this is what also makes it perfect for people with a bit smaller hands, as well as great for children and teens.

The Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Electric axe features a fully adjustable tailpiece, a set of closed-gear chrome machine heads, and a single dual-rail humbucking pickup. Additionally, it also comes pre-strung with D’Addario’s EXL110 strings and a complementary gig bag.

This is a pocket electric guitar that is light as a feather and sounds like a caged beast; its playability is impeccable, and it’s definitely one of the most valuable possessions you could take on a tour. Its affordability also makes it an excellent choice for amateur guitarists who want to continue practicing while on a vacation too.

7. Martin Backpacker

The best mini guitar for practicing on the road

If you are looking for a quality guitar for taking on the road, look no further than the Martin Backpacker. This is our choice for the best backpacker guitar, and it’s absolutely perfect for musicians that want to stay in shape while being constantly on the move.

This is an exquisite guitar in terms of body shape, which is called ‘Backpacker’ after the instrument itself. It packs 15 frets and rocks shortened sides, allowing you to stuff this guitar in an actual backpack, whereas most standard guitars wouldn’t be able to fit, even in the largest of backpacks (with exception of huge cases and containers).

While the biggest and most obvious benefit of having this guitar is its portability, it also has a couple of downsides to it; namely, it’s made of hardwood for the most part, which is not the best-sounding tonewood per se. On a bit brighter note, its top is made of spruce and its back and sides are built from mahogany, so it’s not necessarily a bad-sounding guitar – it’s just that it isn’t as versatile as standard-sized and standard-shaped models.

Another interesting thing about the Martin Backpacker is the peculiar design of the fingerboard; it has only 15 frets, and the inlays are only on the 5th and 12th frets. Its scale length is also obviously shorter, measuring 24 inches.

Contrary to what most people might think of after seeing such a petite guitar, the Backpacker is actually very durable; as we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s mostly made from hardwood materials, which are known for their impeccable robustness.

Hardware-wise, the Backpacker rocks chrome machine heads with ultra-small knobs, a Corian-made nut, and it comes pre-strung with Authentic Acoustic bronze light-gauge .10 strings.

Additionally, Martin is including a complementary gig bag free of charge, which can be used to store both the Backpacker guitar and all the guitar accessories you might need for the road.

Although the Martin Backpacker might not be your go-to instrument for a gig, it’s an excellent (and a rather cheap) choice for people who want to keep their chops up while on the road. Regardless of whether you’re a veteran or if you’ve just started playing guitar, you’ll find the Backpacker as a helpful tool to improve your techniques and playstyle on the go.

8. Traveler Guitar Redlands Mini

A nice backup option for practice on the road

Next up we have the Traveler Guitar Redlands Mini, which we highly recommend as a backup practice instrument for touring musicians; alternatively, if you’re someone who’s recently picked up on playing guitar and don’t want to damage the one you have at home, you might want to take the Redlands Mini into consideration.

Basically, this is a six-string acoustic guitar with a Travel body shape; it rocks a natural color with a beautiful gloss finish that is somewhat resistant to scratches, so it should be able to endure even the longest runs if it’s in a case.

Luckily, the brand provides a complementary gig bag , although you should keep in mind that it’s not exactly thoroughly padded. If you’re frequently hopping from one place to another, you might want to upgrade to a hard-shell case.

In terms of tonewoods, the Redlands Mini features a mahogany top, black basswood on back and sides, ABS binding, and nato (eastern mahogany) neck. Surprisingly enough, this guitar has a very eclectic soundstage that is drastically more versatile than most entry-level and budget guitars .

The Redlands Mini is a terrific guitar for traveling if you’re on a cash-strapped budget, but its affordability is not the only benefit you should expect from it. The ‘Mini’ hints that it has a ‘trimmed-down’ body, and that the tonewoods it comes outfitted with complement its size by making the body both light and durable .

This acoustic axe also sports 20 medium-sized frets, and a super-short scale length of 22.15 inches, so even the youngest of children and teens, and obviously, adults with smaller hands.

Last but not least, let’s have a quick overview of the hardware that the Redlands Mini comes outfitted with; it sports a nut made of phenolic resin, closed-gear machine heads that hold the tune for hours and days, as well as D’Addario’s .011 strings.

Apart from looking uniquely beautiful and elegant, the Redlands Mini also sounds amazing and feels lighter than you’d expect. This is a durable, roadworthy budget guitar that will invariably help out guitarists of all skill levels while their main instrument is not available.

9. Luna Safari Bamboo

The best for traveling buskers and street performers

Buskers and street performers sometimes find that their favorite spots in their hometown have become too small for them; this often leads to them hitting the road; exploring new places on foot is pretty beautiful, but it’s not something you’d want to do with just any guitar. That’s why we recommend a robust, roadworthy guitar such as the Luna Safari Bamboo.

Aside from the fact that this is one of the sturdiest acoustic guitars in the budget price range, the Safari Bamboo actually offers exceptional sustain and resonance topped with great tonal characteristics and a chirpy sound. In fact, you could even use this guitar to record in a studio if you want to, but it sits best in the hands of people who are constantly on the move.

First things first, this is a 3/4 dreadnought six-string guitar that sports a natural color and an elegant satin finish. Just like the title suggests, it’s mostly made of bamboo material , with the only exceptions being the neck (which is made of mahogany) and the fingerboard (which is made of walnut).

One of the coolest things about Luna guitars, in general, is that they typically feature uniquely designed inlays; the Bamboo Safari guitar rocks Mother-of-Pearl Moon inlays that portray different moon phases. It sports 19 medium-sized frets and a shorter scale length of 22.5 inches.

Intonation-wise, this guitar is equipped with open-gear machine heads that will keep it in tune for days, even if you’re playing it non-stop. Additionally, it has a relatively flimsy nut made of plastic, and it comes pre-strung with light-gauge D’Addario .012 strings.

Luna guitars are some of the finest-looking, best-sounding entry-level instruments that offer high value for the money in nearly every case and scenario. The Safari Bamboo boasts a robust, exquisite sound, and the only potential problem you might have with it is relatively flimsy hardware.

10. Cordoba Mini II

A good budget option for traveling under $200

If you’re on the market looking for a classical travel guitar, we advise you to look no further than the Cordoba Mini II. This is one of the finest budget guitars, and it might just be the best travel guitar under $200. This guitar is incredibly light , and the tonewoods it comes supplied with provide a warm, highly controllable tone.

This is a nylon-string classical guitar that rocks a beautiful satin-polyurethane finish and a natural body, although you are free to choose from several different color style options, including mahogany and stripped ebony.

It sports flamed mahogany back, sides, and top, a neck made of mahogany, and a composite fingerboard. Furthermore, it sports a shortened scale length of 22.835 inches and 19 tall and narrow frets.

Just like you would expect out of a classical guitar, the Mini II’s tone is airy, characterized by soaring highs and deep, thumpy lows. Its mid-range leaves some room for improvement, but that does not take away even the slightest chunks of its value since it compensates for it with unparalleled affordability.

Its hardware is, surprisingly enough, pretty great; the Cordoba Mini II features NuBone nut and is pre-strung with Savarez’s proprietary Cristal Corum 500CJ strings that are about as durable as the body of this guitar.

Even though it’s a cheap travel guitar, the Cordoba Mini II brings a myriad of benefits to the table. It’s perfect for new guitar players who are preparing to go on a vacation, but it’s also fun to have even if you’re a professional who likes to compose in-between gigs. Overall, we only didn’t like its presence, but otherwise, it’s a great-sounding entry-level guitar.

Mini travel guitars buying guide

Mini guitars are obviously different from standard guitars, so the general rules of ‘what you should be looking for’ don’t apply in full. This buying guide is dedicated to explaining different criteria that we’ve taken into account while evaluating each of the models in the ‘Reviews’ section, so let’s hop straight to it.

Obviously, the most notable difference between ‘standard’ and ‘mini’ guitars is their size. However, there are smaller than average guitars, and there are models that are as petite that they could almost fit inside a pocket. The question that you have to answer is just how small of a guitar do I need?

Some people struggle with storage space while others simply don’t like the notion of bringing their favorite guitar on the road. In the case of the former, you might want to check out what Traveler Guitars brand has in store; this brand specializes in manufacturing tiny guitars, whereas other brands ‘remodel’ their flagship instruments into smaller, down-scaled versions.

Size affects the weight of the guitar, so ultimately a mini guitar will be lighter than a standard-sized one. However, this is not always the case.

The weight of a guitar is affected by several different factors ; the most impactful and important one is the combination of tonewoods used in the construction process. For instance, koa wood is slightly heavier than spruce, basswood and maple are a bit heavier than mahogany while hardwood and poplar are generally ultra-heavy.

The reason why you should take the weight of the guitar into consideration is that a heavy guitar can easily damage some of the other goodies you’re bringing along. Obviously enough, lighter guitars are a bit easier to play, although there are many players who actually prefer using heavier guitars.

The purpose for which you need a travel guitar plays a key role, just like size and weight. Are you a traveling musician who needs a roadworthy backup or a hobbyist that is simply too hooked onto playing an instrument that you can’t let go of it for a couple of weeks? Are you a traveling performer who needs a quality classical guitar or a guitarist that needs to practice for upcoming recording sessions?

There are many reasons why guitarists search for mini guitars and depending on the answer, your pick will most likely be different.

Boutique travel guitars, such as the Traveler Guitar EG-1 Custom or the Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus are perfect for touring musicians; mid-range guitars like the OC520 or the Travelcaster are excellent warm-up tools while entry-level and budget guitars are generally always welcome.

• The best budget acoustic guitars under $200
• The best cheap electric guitars under $200-300 (great for beginners)

Sound quality

Travel guitars, just like every other guitar type, sound differently depending on their tonewoods and electronics. However, not everyone is concerned with how a mini guitar sounds like. Although it is in your best interest to find a model that sounds as best as it can for the budget you are able to afford, there are scenarios where tone doesn’t matter all that much.

For instance, the Backpacker has all the qualities but doesn’t really excel in sonic performance while Redlands Mini and the Travelcaster are exceptional in this particular field. Once again, you should scale your budget with your needs to keep practicing while on the go, which will help you determine what kind of a mini guitar you need.

Hardware is generally considered as the least expensive component of a guitar unless we’re talking about travel guitars. Mini guitars are usually equipped with specially designed hardware that can keep the tuning up for extended periods of time.

Additionally, hardware pieces of a travel guitar should be a bit more durable than average; all it takes is one sharp turn for the guitar to bump into the side of the car/truck, and one of the machine pegs might be ruined.

Last, but certainly not least, hardware pieces are cheap and easy to order, but this obviously does not apply to people who are on the road. You could always search for guitar shops, but there’s always a chance that you won’t be able to find adequate replacements.

Acoustic or Electric

Essentially, this is a matter of subjective preference. The durability and versatility of a guitar are not conditioned by the ‘type’; rather these are conditioned by the quality of the tonewoods, the level of technologies involved in the manufacturing process, and the skill of the engineers who’ve actually made the guitar.

As a general rule of thumb, you can adhere to the following principle – acoustic travel guitars are generally a bit more valuable because you will otherwise have to worry about finding an amp too. Mini electric guitars do not sound as clear and vibrant when their strings are plucked while they are ‘unplugged’.

The market is not exactly flooded with high-quality travel guitars, so finding models that are universally ‘great’ is not a small task. We hope that you’ve liked our picks and that you were able to find what you were looking for; before you start cherry picking, we also suggest that you take a look at our buying guide, as it could prove to be a very valuable tool for making the right pick.

Best guitar brands 2024: Whether you’re an acoustic or electric player, these are the guitar companies you need on your radar

From Fender to Gibson, Taylor to Martin, here are 17 guitar brands you should know about

• Electric guitars
• Acoustic guitars
• Buying advice

It's hard to imagine a world without guitars – we'd be out of a job for a start. This simple instrument may be just made up of various combinations of wood and steel, but it's certainly more than the sum of its parts. A well-constructed six-string from one of the best guitar brands has the ability to transport the player to new worlds, creating music that soothes, exhilarates and entertains.  

Like an artist with a brush, each guitar brand paints a unique sonic portrait. Some draw from their rich heritage, choosing to focus on the traditional techniques from a bygone age, while others embrace the avant-garde, blending cutting-edge technology with boundless imagination. So, regardless of what musical masterpiece you'd like to create, you'll find a guitar brand with the perfect palette for your needs – and we're here to help you discover which guitar company is the best for you. 

Now, we should probably state that these brands are in no particular order, and we won't be crowning anyone as the best guitar brand overall. In reality, the "best" means different things to different people. 

Also, there are many brands that didn't quite make the list, with the likes of boutique builders Suhr, Mayones, Kiesel and Baum to other legacy names such as D'Angelico, Schecter and Charvel missing out on a slot. Now, that’s not to say we aren’t fans of these companies, but the point of this article is to highlight those brands that – in our experience of testing and covering guitar gear – are leaders when it comes to build quality, product choice and innovation, rather than listing every last brand.

So, with that in mind, we're going to break down what you need to know about everyone from Fender to Gibson, Taylor to Martin, summing up the brand's values and what they do best. So, without further ado, let's dive in. 

Best guitar brands: Electric guitars

1. Fender/Squier

Fender is arguably the most well-known guitar manufacturer of all time. Without Leo Fender's influence on the wonderful world of guitars, amplifiers and basses , the landscape of music would look very different – it certainly wouldn't be as colorful. 

Having been responsible for the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar with their legendary Broadcaster, Fender has cemented itself as one of the most important music brands to ever exist. 

Known for their bright and shimmery tone – and equally eye-catching finishes – the versatile sound of guitars such as the Stratocaster , Telecaster , Jazzmaster and Jaguar is perfect for everything from blues and indie to alternative rock, punk, jazz, and just about anything else. 

So, if you're looking for an adaptable guitar that's steeped in history, then look no further than Fender. Better yet, no matter the budget you're working with, you'll easily find a high-quality instrument. For wallet-friendly options, you have Fender's affordable brand Squier ; for mid-priced alternatives, the Mexican-made Player Series offers fantastic value, and the vast array of American-made models are some of the best around. 

2. Gibson/Epiphone

Gibson may be thought of as a leading force in rock n roll, but their story stretches a lot further back than that. Started by Orville Gibson in 1894, the now world-dominating guitar giant started from a modest workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At first, they produced mandolins and acoustic instruments but would eventually graduate to electric guitars , basses and amplifiers. 

With a little over a century in the guitar business, it will come as no surprise that Gibson has been responsible for some of the most influential guitars ever produced. From the seductively beautiful Gibson Les Paul to the indulgent semi-hollow king, the ES-335, as well as the J-45, SG, Flying V, Explorer and Firebird, Gibson has cultivated a legacy that will easily stand for another 100 years. 

Just like Fender, Gibson also offers affordable options via their sister brand Epiphone. Gibson purchased Epiphone in 1957 and, by 1986, would start using the name to brand their budget versions of their iconic guitars. 

To see our pick of the guitars that we believe embody Gibson's quality, prestige, and innovation, head over to our best Gibson guitars guide. 

3. PRS/ PRS SE

If there is a guitar brand that is best known for its exquisite build quality and stunning custom finishes, it's PRS. Originally launching in 1985, Paul Reed Smith has gone on to become a pioneer of modern manufacturing techniques, creating guitars that perfectly balance form and function. 

The Maryland-based company offers a wealth of models, with each falling into one of five categories - Core, Bolt-On, S2, SE, and Private Stock. So regardless of your price point, you'll be able to jump aboard the PRS train. 

Easily the most recognizable model is the famed Custom 24, which is available in various guises, from high-end to beginner friendly – and the SE variant routinely tops our list of the best electric guitars under $1,000 . Beloved for its flashy flame maple top, eye-catching vibrant finishes, artful bird inlays and serious tone, this guitar more than delivers on all fronts. 

So, if you are on the hunt for a guitar that looks as good as it sounds, be sure to check out PRS. 

Ibanez, the shredder's weapon of choice. Now while most know this Japanese brand for producing some of the finest shred-friendly axes on the planet, most are unaware of this guitar manufacturer's humble beginnings. 

Ibanez started life as the musical instrument division of the Hoshino Shoten bookshop chain in Japan. They would start by importing Spanish guitars made by master luthier Salvador Ibanez and would later start to produce their own instruments – and yes, that's where the inspiration came from for the name. 

Jumping forward to the modern day and Ibanez are renowned for their fast-playing necks and super-strat style designs – with the likes of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Stanley, Nita Strauss and Mick Thomson counted as Ibanez loyalists. 

Ibanez guitars tend to focus on playability, with wide and often flatter neck profiles, high-output pickups and trem systems. So, if you are seeking to indulge in the more extreme areas of guitar playing, from super-fast legato licks to down-tuned riffage, then Ibanez may just be the best guitar brand for you. 

Next up is another Japanese brand, ESP. From modest origins as a provider of custom replacement guitar parts, Electric Sound Products has grown into a leading light in the dark, murky world of metal guitars . 

Now while ESP – and by extension, their budget line LTD – do make non-metal six-strings, they are most definitely better known for their instruments that lean towards the heavier end of the music spectrum. Arguably, the high-performance Eclipse model is the company's most recognizable offering, with its slimmed-down LP-style body, comfortable thin neck and face-melting pickups. Better yet, it comes in a range of finishes, configurations and price points. 

Of course, with ESP being such a respected name in metal, you'd expect some of the biggest artists in the genre to rely on these guitars to achieve their gut-wrenching tones. Everyone from Metallica frontman and down-picking legend James Hetfield to Megadeth's shredder-in-chief Dave Mustaine, as well as Alexi Laiho, Bill Kelliher, Max Cavalera, and Will Adler, all have signature models through the guitar brand. 

Players have been chasing "that Gretsch sound" for decades, and frankly, they'll be pursuing it for many more to come. The high-end piercing sparkle, bellowing mid-range, and rich, warm lows culminate in a tone that has more than stood the test of time – and with a dedicated list of disciples that includes everyone from George Harrison to Chet Atkins, Eddie Cochran and Bo Diddley, as well as modern six-string pioneers Jack White, John Frusciante, and Pat Smear you can see why.  

These large-bodied, Bigsby-clad guitars will instantly transport you back to a simpler time with their charming good looks, fantastic playability, and retro-inspired tones. Gretsch has become a staple of both country and rockabilly, with their stylish hollowbody guitars laying down the foundations on which the rest of the music is built. 

Now, with a legacy that dates back well over 100 years, it would be inevitable that Gretsch would amass a large catalog of models. 

Thankfully, that does mean there is something for every type of player here. From the wallet-friendly Streamliner to the insanely popular Electromatic and the Handcrafted Professional line, you'll easily find the right guitar for you.  

In the late 1970s, Jackson was there to help usher in a new breed of guitar player – the glammed-up hair metal virtuoso. Priding themselves on high-performance instruments that would allow players to achieve new heights on the instrument, Jackson quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the shred guitar game. 

By the middle of the '80s, the once small Southern California guitar repair shop was now at the forefront of the pointy headstock, gassed-up super guitar movement – and today, their instruments are just as popular as ever with modern metalheads such as Misha Mansoor, Mark Heylmun, Chris Broderick and Rob Caggiano all having signature models. 

Popular models to look out for include the Jackson Dinky, Rhoads, Soloist and Kelly. Each of these guitars offers its own unique tonal characteristics, feel, and looks, so it's worth exploring the entire range to find the best fit for your needs. 

8. Strandberg

Based in the city of Uppsala, near Stockholm, Strandberg offers players a contemporary approach to guitar, with instruments that push the boundaries of guitar design. Their Ergonomic Guitar System is at the heart of the brand and has become their calling card. 

One look at a Strandberg instrument, and you'll instantly know this isn't your typical guitar. From the headless neck and unique lightweight body design, this guitar is about as modern as they come. 

Strandberg guitars and basses have been adopted by many players who demand more from their instruments, with the likes of Ben Kenney of Incubus, Porcupine Tree's Randy McStine, and Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry often seen with one slung around their necks. 

Fancy exploring the world of high-performance headless guitars in more depth? Check out our guide to the best headless guitars . 

Yamaha is a towering presence in the musical instrument game. From pianos to ukuleles , keyboards, drum kits and guitars, it's possible to kit out your entire band with Yamaha products. 

Yamaha began producing guitars in 1966 and since then has gone on to become one of the most trusted names in the industry - especially among beginners. The beloved Yamaha Pacifica is now a guitar student staple, offering superb value for money and brilliant playability. In fact, it tops our list to the best beginner electric guitars .

So, if you're looking for a reliable instrument that's affordable, stylish and great sounding, you'll want to check out Yamaha. 

10. Ernie Ball Music Man

Founded in 1974, Music Man is another one of the legendary instrument brands that helped shape the future of electric guitar and bass. Models such as the iconic StingRay - available as both a guitar and bass – helped put the company on the map, and these instruments are just as popular today as back then. 

In 1984 the company was sold to guitar string titan Ernie Ball, who carried on the legacy of this fantastic guitar brand. 

Today many players count on Music Man to express themselves. Everyone from St. Vincent to John Petrucci, Steve Lukather and Albert Lee aren't seen too far away from their beloved Music Man signature models. 

Best guitar brands: Acoustic guitars

Martin, or C.F. Martin & Company to give them their full title, is one of the most famous and long-lasting family-owned brands in American history and easily one of the most influential forces in the guitar industry. 

The acoustic guitar giant has a legacy that stretches back close to 200 years and is responsible for shaping how everyone else builds and designs acoustic guitars. From popularizing X-bracing to inventing the iconic dreadnought shape, Martin is one of the most important guitar brands to ever exist. 

Martin is most known for their rich and retro tone, with models such as the famed D-18, D-28, and HD-35 delivering a bold tone with a striking low-end and perfect projection. Other instruments in this legacy brand's catalog, such as the OM-42, 000-28, or 0-18, offer a more focused sound with less bass and a more articulate top-end.  

12. Taylor Guitars

Taylor is a forward-thinking company that produces some of the finest six-strings available today. Recognized as a flat-top trailblazer with strong and passionate views on sustainability, Taylor offers modern players a contemporary guitar that feels and sounds just as good as it looks. 

This acoustic guitar brand was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor, Kurt Listug, and Steve Schemmer, and over their years in the instrument industry, would go from simply a maker of handcrafted instruments to owning a small ebony sawmill in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and becoming devoted to finding a solution to the ebony crisis. 

Taylor is beloved for their crisp, contemporary tone. These guitars deliver a singing upper mid-range that can cut through even the densest of mixes. Taylor's pioneering Grand Auditorium body style – represented by a four at the end of their model numbers – has become the company's flagship design and easily their most popular. 

13. Takamine

Takamine is probably most known for pioneering electric-acoustic technology and being one of the first companies to offer acoustic guitars that could be plugged into an amplifier . 

The development of the under-saddle Palathetic pickup will go down in history as a massive moment for the acoustic guitar. This new pickup allowed acoustic players to achieve a natural and realistic amplified sound and with quickly embraced by many of the biggest names in the late '70s. 

Today Takamine has a myriad of models on offer. From the Signature Series to the Pro Series and their more affordable G Series, there's a guitar here to suit every style and budget. 

14. Godin Guitars

The Godin story begins in the early '70s. Robert Godin began making guitars by himself in Quebec, Canada, and after a relatively short time, has grown the company to one of the biggest manufacturers of acoustic guitars in the world. 

Today Godin manufactures a multitude of instruments under several different monikers. As well as the Godin banner, the brand also produces guitars under Norman, Art & Lutherie, Simon and Patrick, La Patrie and Seagull. 

So regardless if you're looking for a stellar beginner acoustic guitar , the best acoustic guitar under $1,000 , or a performance-ready workhorse, you'll find a Godin-made guitar to do the job.  

Okay, so we've already covered Gibson in the electric section above, but it's also worth covering them here. Yes, Gibson is probably best known for their stellar electric guitars, such as the SG, ES-335 and Les Paul, but they also have an equally impressive list of acoustic icons. 

Models such as the workhorse J-45, the intricately beautiful Hummingbird and the bellowing SJ-200 are among the most sought-after flat-tops in the world. 

Gibson acoustic guitars offer a strong and robust mid-range that is perfect if you are playing in a band and need your acoustic to be heard over loud drums, pianos or enthusiastic vocals. 

Like their electric offerings, the Californian guitar giant likes to add a little color and pizzazz to their acoustic guitars. While Fender offers some fairly traditional flat-tops, they are most famous for their acoustics which pay homage to their electric heritage. 

These guitars can be found with Fender's iconic Strat headstock, a very playable electric neck and dazzling Fender color options. 

Fender's new Acoustasonic range takes this concept one step further, giving players a shape-shifting axe that will take care of both acoustic and electric duties. 

The Guild legacy dates back to 1952 and, over the years, has been used by everyone from Bryan Adams to Billie Joe Armstrong, Jeff Buckley, Joe Walsh and countless others. 

Now, while most see Guild as a traditional brand, they were innovators in their time. Guild was the first to manufacture a dreadnought with a cutaway. The famed D-40C gave players access to notes that were simply out of reach before, and well, the rest is history. 

Guild guitars are beloved for their full-bodied, well-balanced tone that perfectly compliments a vocal – so singer-songwriter, take note, you may want to check out Guild. 

Best guitar brands: Buying advice

So, how do you know which guitar brand is right for you? Well, really, the best way is to try them out. Every brand offers something different. Whether that's a unique tone, styling, or playing experience, every guitar brand is different – so seek out a guitar store and sit down with the instruments and see which one speaks to you. 

It's also worth doing some research into what your guitar heroes are playing. Are you a die-hard fan of the top hat aficionado, Slash? Well, in that case, you'll want to grab a Gibson or Epiphone. Maybe you are a fan of all things metal, well perhaps Jackson, Ibanez or Strandberg is the best choice for you. If you want a great place to start your research, be sure to check out our expert buyer's guides and in-depth reviews . 

Similarly, in the world of acoustic guitars, it's worth finding out what your favorite artists used to record those iconic records and using that as a starting point. Really, there are no wrong answers; go for the guitar that feels, sounds, and looks the best for you. When you find the right one, you'll know. 

Should I buy from a boutique guitar brand instead?

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.

So, as well as a myriad of mass-produced guitars on the market, you also have the option to go down the boutique route. Wait, what is a boutique guitar company? Well, typically a boutique brand is one that produces their instruments in very small numbers, with premium materials and the option to customize your order. 

Of course, by their very nature, boutique guitars offer a lot of flexibility and can be tailored to your exact needs. That said, this does come at a price. Brands such as Fano, Collings, Novo, Suhr, Mayones and Kiesel are among the most popular boutique brands. 

Now, while it may be tempting to go straight for the customized guitar, it may not be the right option for everyone. As well as it costing a pretty penny, you can often have very long wait times for your new axe. 

It's also worth noting that you need to know exactly what you want before ordering. You need to be aware of your likes and dislikes, and this comes with experience, so we'd suggest starting with a few run-of-the-mill guitars, before graduating to these high-end beauties. 

How we chose the guitar brands for this list

Here at  Guitar World , we are experts in our field. We live and breathe everything guitar related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience when selecting the brands to showcase in this feature.

First and foremost, we are guitarists, and we want other players to find the right instrument for them. So before recommending a brand, we'll always get hands-on with as many guitars as possible from the manufacturer to ensure we are assessing the full scope of what is available. 

We pay careful attention to the build quality, the range of options available and the price point of the models. We'll also look at the popularity of a brand within the wider guitar community, before making a recommendation. 

Looking for more guitar advice? Our expert buyer's guides are here to help 

• Enhance your playing experience with the  best guitar apps
• Best beginner guitars : great acoustic and electric options
• Just starting out? Check out the best  beginner classical guitars
• Downsize to one of the  best 3/4 acoustic guitars
• These are the best budget guitar amps under $500
• Ditch analog for the  best amp modelers

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As a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, I help create and maintain the site's 200+ buyer's guides, scour the internet for the best possible deals on a range of guitar products, and spend a lot of time getting hands-on with the latest guitars, amps, pedals, and more. My gear reviews have also been featured in many prominent publications, including Total Guitar and Future Music magazines and  MusicRadar.com .

During my career, I have been lucky enough to talk to many of my musical heroes, having interviewed members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, Creeper, Thrice and more.

In a past life, I worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, I advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs. 

I also have a passion for live sound. I'm a fully qualified sound engineer who holds a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay and I have plenty of experience working in various venues around Scotland. 

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Best Acoustic Guitars of 2023

View the best acoustic guitars of 2023. From rock bands to orchestras, when it comes to creating true music, musicians won't compromise. You either need perfect sound quality, amazing tuning, fabulous durability, or nothing at all! Don’t let the perfectionist in you back down. The same is true if you're a guitarist.

Whether you're a beginner or have been in the industry for a long time, we understand exactly how important it is for you to choose the best guitar. You need one that not only suits all your needs but is also the perfect match for your wallet. If you're looking for a louder guitar, check out our top 10 list of acoustics for under 500 dollars . Or see the top acoustic electrics for under 1000 !

Table of Contents

At a glance: Our top 3 picks

1. yamaha fg800 solid top acoustic guitar, 2. fender fa-100 dreadnought acoustic guitar, 3. lx1e little martin travel guitar, 4. 38" black acoustic guitar starter package, 5. jasmine s35 acoustic guitar, 6. epiphone dr-100 acoustic guitar, 7. seagull s6 "the original" acoustic guitar, 8. taylor 224ce deluxe koa grand auditorium, 9. martin road series drs1 dreadnought acoustic, 10. fender sonoran sce dreadnought cutaway, buyers guide questions, how much does it cost to buy an acoustic guitar, what is the difference between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar, maintenance:, what is a semi-acoustic guitar, what is the best guitar brand, great all-rounder, top quality.

For those of you starting out, we recommend looking into metronomes to make sure you learn to keep in time. We've formulated a top 10 list of our favorite metronomes here .

Acoustic guitars are a personal favorite of most musicians, singers, and performers. That's why we're bringing you a few select guitars we believe are some of the best on the market.

Not only are they the top guitars recommended by professionals, but they also encourage first-timers to follow their dreams without them having to break their banks. Playing the guitar doesn't have to be expensive. You will find a large range of combinations included in the list below, from efficient playability to luxurious and classic designs , and cutting-edge perfection. Whether you're looking for an entry-level guitar or something more professional, we've crafted this list to suit the needs of every guitarist.

• Comfortable to play
• Sound offers clarity and punch
• Made from materials found in higher-end products
• Great price

The Best Acoustic Guitars of 2023

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There’s a reason why everyone loves Yamaha so much, and it has everything to do with how high-quality their instruments are. The FG800 is no exception. With a Sitka spruce top, eastern mahogany nato back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard, this beautiful instrument will stand the test of time.

It’s designed with the player’s comfort in mind. The dreadnought top fits comfortably around your body, and the guitar features a slim neck with rounded fingerboard edges to keep your hands as comfortable as possible.

But that’s not all. The scalloped bracing makes the body style even fatter, contributing to an even better projection of sound, no matter which venue you’re playing at. This guitar’s tone is full of warmth and offers a dynamic range of sound, so you can rest assured that anything you play will sound great.

The included Player Port App makes this model perfect for beginners. It has FAQs, tips, a built-in tuner, and more - that’s everything you need to get started! It’s available for both Android and iOS.

Pros: + Comfortable to play + Sound offers clarity and punch + Made from materials found in higher-end products + Great price

Why We Liked It - There’s no doubt as to why Yamaha is one of the most popular guitar manufacturers; it’s because they know their instruments. Comfortable, stunning, and great-sounding, this beginner instrument is a perfect choice. And we love that it comes with an app.

Other options -Acoustic electric guitars are excellent options that provide ample flexibility whether you're performing to crowds or close friends and family members. However, even if your guitar of choice doesn't have a built-in system, keep in mind that you can always pick up an external electric pickup. While these pickups aren't always as accurate as the embedded pickups, they can give you that versatility in a pinch.

Kate Brunotts FOR MUSIC CRITIC

Looking for the best choice guitar as a beginner? Look no further! Choosing a guitar when you're a beginner is always tricky, but Fender has created their best option yet. How about a smooth and attractive design paired with a protective glossy finish at an amazingly affordable price? Is that all that Fender has to offer? Nope! It just keeps getting better and better! The Fender FA-100 comes packed with outstanding features like a quarter Swan X-bracing, laminated spruce top, and, to top it all off, a perfectly compensated saddle.

Weighing in at only 10 pounds with a dimension of 43x7 and luxurious laminated wood, a guitar like this is sure to shine in the spotlight. Enjoy the light bronze strings that make tuning a breeze. The classic look and fine-edged design offer a comfortable holding position and ensure you have a great time playing your favorite tunes. It makes this guitar one of the best for genre musicians.

The special strap provided by Fender lets you relax into the perfect position and reduces stress while playing. Besides its natural glossy rosewood top, its time-tested quarter Swan X-bracing enables you to play distinct rhythms with full stability, which is a characteristic particular to the FA 100. The acoustic guitar strap also comes with the special hex adjustable truss rod located near the neck. This will help you adjust string tensions from the 12-52 gauges of Fender Duratone strings.

The FA 100 is a full-size dreadnought guitar specifically designed for beginners. The strings are close to the fret, making it easier to play. It is also available with plenty of accessories, including an electric tuner, strings, and extra picks - not to mention its amazing strap . Do you still expect more? Here comes the crescendo; the FA100 comes with a lifetime warranty and Fender’s original black nylon gig bag.

Pros: + Affordable, making it a great choice for beginners. + Dreadnought (full size). + Accessories such as gig bag plucks etc. as freebies.

Why We Liked It - If a thick top is not an issue for you, you can go for this amazing guitar.

When you are passionate about music, all you need is a guitar that produces a good sound. It should be well-balanced and easily portable for all your concerts, sessions, and classes. This acoustic guitar is one of the best budget guitars on the market with all these features and much more. It's a small guitar but has a big tone, feel, sound quality, and blend of overtones.

It is a versatile and top-notch guitar that never compromises on sound quality, convenience, or durability, making it great for any price point. This acoustic-electric guitar comes with a Sitka spruce top, high-pressure laminate mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a warm satin finish.

The satin finish enriches the appearance and allows optimal sound and easy playability. It produces a more natural sound and resonance against the wood. This model has sustainably certified wood parts guaranteeing its durability and efficiency. It offers great action for little fingers and allows easy playability and convenience. Most people prefer it for its size.

Guitarists can travel with this guitar anywhere and everywhere. It comes with a gig bag that keeps it protected and secure, and it also fits in the overhead bins of airplanes. The guitar has a unique sound. The padded gig bag gives more protection so you can carry it anywhere, making it the best acoustic guitar for the money.

If you prefer the sound of Fishman pickups and like an onboard tuner, this is the guitar you should go for. It guarantees a tight, rich tone. You can make your performance way more flexible as Fishman Ion T-electronics electrifies the sound. It has a Stratabond modified low-oval neck, Tenon neck joint, and Gotoh nickel tuners.

Pros: + Easy to carry around. + Rich tone and resonance for a great performance. + Big gig bag that allows protection.

Why We Liked It - If you're someone who is looking for an acoustic electric guitar that provides a magnifying performance in spite of its small size and portable quality, this is it. It's great for all budgets.

For beginners - If you're a beginner, try not to default to the most expensive acoustic guitar you can afford. Sometimes, it's best to start with something a little more replaceable in order for you to iron out the basics. Once you've built a solid foundation and know what type of sound you're going for, it may be time to reevaluate for an upgrade.

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This is one of the best budget acoustic guitars around. It's ideal for beginner guitarists. This guitar starter kit contains a guitar pick, pitch pipe, a shoulder strap, and an extra set of strings. This is a right-handed guitar furnished with a smooth, black finish that adds to its beauty. This acoustic-electric guitar also comes with a nylon carrying case, perfect for storage and portability. The nylon case keeps the guitar safe and sound while also making it easier to take it on the go.

The guitar dimensions are 38"(L) x 14"(W) x 3.25"(H) and are ideal for any beginner guitarist. This is also one of the cheaper acoustic guitars available on the market. It features a comfortable and convenient string height that is easy on the finger and reduces hand fatigue, helping beginners build up hand strength.

The tuning pegs provided with this acoustic guitar are easy to adjust. The guitar has a sturdy wood top with smooth curves and edges that ensure convenience and comfort while playing. It's great for every genre of music, especially rock and folk.

Pros: + Excellent polished finish for a great look. + Convenient string height. + Strong wood top. + Comfortable shoulder strap comes in handy when you have to carry it around.

Why We Liked It - If you're beginning your musical journey, this is one of the most reasonably priced acoustic guitars you could get. It produces a full-bodied sound.

This is one of the most reasonably priced acoustic guitars that's perfect no matter your playing experience. It's great for either beginners or seasoned guitarists who obsess over creating good music. This finely crafted guitar comes with a limited lifetime guarantee. It's one of the top-selling acoustic-electric guitars available for either seasoned pros or beginners.

This is a dreadnought guitar with a great look and a resounding, bold sound. It's one of the best guitars for its price tag because it has more features than many popular guitars. The S35 is a well-built guitar that's easy to play. It comes with a spruce top and a nato back and sides, which add to its beauty. It is a versatile, convenient, and durable musical tool that you can use for extended periods of time.

The satin neck finish not only looks great but also maximizes resonance for optimal sound quality and easy playability. Its bridge and fingerboards are made of rosewood, and so are its chrome tuners and body binding.

This acoustic guitar has phosphor bronze light gauge strings that are easy to play and make a great sound. It has a rosewood fretboard, laminated nato back and sides, and a satin finish. This acoustic guitar comes with steel strings ( click here for our full intuitive guide ). The satin finish gives more natural acoustic sounds than most other glossy finished guitars.

Pros: + Very affordable, perfect for a beginner. + Natural sound production and resonance. + 20 close frets that make it playing easy. + Sturdy and stable and therefore lasts a long time.

Why We Liked It - If you're looking for a guitar that produces natural sound and resonance and allows for easy playability, your search ends here.

This fantastic guitar has charm. It features a mahogany body that makes it sturdy and also increases the quality of sound and resonance that the guitar produces. It is notable for producing a more natural resonance and optimum sound quality.

The DR-100 has a select spruce top and a 25.5 scale. It has the look, sound, and build quality that first-time players, as well as professionals, prefer in their musical instruments. Not to mention, the dreadnought shape is great for bluegrass, folk, rock, country, and all the music genres in between. If you didn't know, dreadnoughts allow for a well-balanced sound system in which you can either lessen or increase the volume of your playing. This model comes from one of America’s most respected instrument makers, Epiphone.

The bridge is made of rosewood. Rosewood is known to be a long-lasting and equivalent companion to the spruce top. There’s also a classic black vintage-style pickguard. The neck has a slim-taper shape with 14 frets. It also has a rosewood fingerboard that comes with dot markers, making playing easier.

The sound this guitar produces is bold, full-bodied, and room-filling. This sets a new standard for low-cost acoustic guitars available on the market for beginners and experts alike. This model comes with a tone and feel you'll never want to give up! It has a neck profile that is not too thick or too small, allowing for a variety of playing styles. It has easy playability and optimized sound quality.

Pros: + Dot markers that make playing more convenient. + Consistent performance. + Durable and convenient to carry around.

Why We Liked It - If you're looking for a guitar that only plays better with time but is affordable as well, you won't do better than this classic by Epiphone.

The Seagull S6 "The Original" Acoustic Guitar is one of the best mid-range acoustic guitars available. Playing this instrument is a joy, thanks to its rich, beautiful tone and depth. It'll suit any voice. A Canadian product, it's made of hardwood which gives its design a sturdy look. This classic Seagull product is made of Canadian wild cherry and silver-colored maple. Its fretboard is rosewood.

Compared to most other guitars, it has a better tone, a great midrange, lovely richness, and a more stylish look. Not to mention, it's easier to play than other models. This is the best acoustic guitar in Seagull's product line. Beginners love it as it's easy to use and is available at a low price. Basically, it's a must-have if you're just starting out. You can also carry this acoustic guitar to your live performances - it stays tuned for a long time.

Pros: + Reliable for live performances. + Easy and comfortable to use, especially for beginners.

Why We Liked It - This classic Seagull S6 Acoustic Guitar is one of those rare products that never comes with complaints. It's great value for money and is definitely a must-have for beginners.

The Taylor 224ce Deluxe Koa Grand Auditorium is an amazing deal if you're looking for an affordable acoustic-electric guitar. The game-changers for this product are its beautiful Venetian cutaway structure and the sound of the koa body. It is a high-quality, premium product. The guitar's back and side are made of laminated rosewood.

Its top is made of Sitka spruce which is not too dark, giving it an attractive look. If you compare it with other Taylor models, it has all the major characteristics - amazing and refined sound and a gorgeous look. And yet, the price for this guitar is half of what the other models cost.

The sound is warm and inviting, and it has a great bass response. If you plug it in, this guitar plays wonderfully due to its three-section pickup that you'll find behind the saddle. This provides a remarkable sound quality that is both clear and accurate. In addition to the amazing volume control, it also has a pair of tone controls that let the user tweak highs and lows. This will enable you to get the exact sound you need. It's also easy to adjust the guitar's intonation.

If you want something smaller and more travel friendly, why not check out the Taylor GS Mini?

Pros: + Versatility in its use. + Strong volume control for better performance. + Clear and accurate sound.

Why We Liked It - This is an appealing instrument, whose quality koa wood will age beautifully. It is not only a versatile guitar, but it also performs well whether you're strumming, fingerpicking or playing power cords. It will definitely ensure a good performance at a very reasonable cost.

The Martin Road Series DRS1 Dreadnought Acoustic is a well-built guitar which weighs around 21.6 pounds. This instrument has been ranked 19th overall out of all acoustic-electric guitars.

Being one of the gems in the Martin collection , this acoustic-electric guitar has an amazing sound and tone quality, making it the preferred choice for many people. It's also Martin’s most affordable guitar and is made of solid wood, giving it that true Martin tone. It has a strong neck with a simple lamination, and its beauty lies in its simplicity. The sound will open up and continue to improve significantly with frequent use.

The sound projection of this instrument is amazing and it comes at an affordable price. The genius craftsmanship ensures that it stays in tune for a long time without adjusting, and it has a rich sound. Though the Fishman Sonitone system does not do justice to this system, it is still an incredible choice at an affordable price.

If you are a working, traveling guitarist, this is the guitar for you. It comes at a low price and is durable while not compromising on the quality or the accuracy of the sound. It is one of those guitars that can be played for years and yet won’t require a frequent battery change. It's fun to play and has a nice feel. With its rich sound, it is perfect for a performer in professional setups. These are just some of the reasons why you should choose this model.

Pros: + Clear sound. + Stays tuned in for a long period of tie. + Stylish design. + Strong, reliable, and durable.

Why We Liked It - If price isn't an issue, you can definitely go for this guitar. Use it during jams, long practice sessions, and when traveling.

The Fender Sonoran SCE Dreadnought cutaway guitar is one of the best acoustic guitars you can pick up for under 500 dollars. Whether you're a professional player or just beginning, this acoustic guitar has everything you need. With a rich candy apple red color, the guitar is a real stunner. The three-ply pickguard is a very useful feature as it helps to protect the guitar against scratches.

It has a dreadnought cutaway body shape. Most of the time, choosing a guitar for a beginner is a tough call. The guitar's construction is important, but without much knowledge, you may end up choosing the wrong body shape. The dreadnought body shape is a good choice for people with longer arms.

The Fender Sonoran SCE comes with a scalloped X bracing and a solid spruce top. Moreover, the back and the side of the guitar are laminated and made of mahogany. The maple neck guitar has 20 frets and a rosewood fingerboard.

The quality of the guitar is amazing. You will be addicted from the first time you play it. The maple neck of the guitar has a vintage C shape and is rosewood with a compensated bone saddle.

This is one of the best acoustic guitars for the money because the manufacturer has included a connected Fishman Isys III system with an active onboard preamp and tuner. The Fishman Isys III system provides maximum value in a small package. It helps in shaping the tone and volume of the acoustics guitar. In addition, the guitar has a Stratocaster headstock shape which is unique to all the Fender acoustic guitars.

The lightweight body of the guitar will make you feel like it's a part of your own body. The shape and size make it very easy to carry from one place to another.

Pros: + Stratocaster headstock shape for a great performance. + Fishman Isys III system with pre-amplifier and tuner. + 20 frets and rosewood fingerboard.

Why We Liked It - If you are willing to invest a little more money, you can get this very classy California vibe acoustic guitar. It even comes with a warranty.

Protecting Your Guitar -Acoustic guitars can be more delicate and volatile than their electric counterparts. As a basic rule of thumb, you'll want to keep these guitars out of direct sunlight, in a fairly temperature-controlled environment that's not too hot or too cold. You can also look into getting a humidifier for your guitar to help preserve the wood.

So you have finally decided to invest in your perfect guitar. Playing the solo of ‘Hotel California’ or ‘Stairway to Heaven’ might be your dream, and you are currently in the process of making your dream into reality. From fast-paced classical music to sing-along chords, an acoustic guitar is a versatile instrument cherished by all ages and used to play a variety of music.

Now, the price range of an acoustic guitar depends on your requirements, your age group, and the type of guitar you intend to purchase. Our handy product guide above has gone through it all, but if you're looking for more information, or are a beginner who's getting confused by all the different guitar terms, read on.

There are various types of guitars, such as concert, auditorium, dreadnought, cutaways, travel, and mini-acoustic, to name a few.

Concert: A concert guitar starts around $100-$400 and will go up to $500-$3000 for better quality models.

Auditorium: An auditorium guitar starts around $100-$300, with better quality models reaching up to $500-$1500.

Dreadnought: A decent dreadnought starts around $80-$250 for beginner models and will go up to $250-$900 for better quality ones.

Parlor: Parlor guitars are compact and a little smaller than concert models. A good quality one will start around $100. If you're someone who likes something a bit smaller, they're a great choice.

Travel and Mini-Acoustics : These guitars start around $50-$200 for a basic beginner model. They're great if you don't have a lot of space. But do make sure that you don’t end up buying a toy one online!

Cutaways: These guitars cost about $100-$500 for basic beginner models, but high-quality acoustic ones could cost as much as $2000-$3000.

You can also get jumbo guitars. As the name suggests, jumbos will be bigger than your average guitar.

While these are average costs, a few other things can add to the overall cost. For example, a softshell guitar case is about $20-$80, whereas hard-shell cases are $60-$300. Guitar picks range from $2-$4, and a guitar strap usually costs about $15-$100). These all may be included as additional costs. Additionally, Nylon strings may cost about $7-$10, whereas steel strings can be somewhere around $9-$12. Always check the product specs and details to see exactly what your model comes with.

The material of your guitar can also dramatically change the cost and feel of your guitar. For example, maple guitars are likely to be cheaper than Koa, and lighter to the touch. Other guitar materials and tonewoods include walnut, richlite, ebony and rosewood. Most guitars use a mix of woods; for example, a model may have a sitka spruce back but a rosewood fretboard. Different woods will give off different types of sound.

The major difference between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar is its functionality. The style of music played on these guitars is also different. An acoustic guitar is normally associated with mellow music such as folk and country, and are great for showing off your vocals. The electric guitar is used mainly for creating high decibel, modern-day rock, and metal music.

There are also a few more aspects of both guitars that differentiate them. Here are some features that can help in understanding the difference between these two types of guitars:

Composition:

An acoustic guitar consists of a hollow body with a soundhole right beneath the strings. The wooden side is called the soundboard, which is made of wood like spruce or red cedar. When the strings of an acoustic guitar are strung, the vibrations are transmitted to the soundboard. The energy of the vibrations is then transferred within the guitar body, which amplifies the sound.

Interested in an electric guitar to learn to play with?  Click here . Some great electric guitars include the Jackson Concept series or Heritage.

On the other hand, an electric guitar has a thinner yet stronger body without a soundhole. Instead of the hollow body, the electric guitar uses transducers that convert string vibrations into an electric signal. This is then sent to the speakers to amplify the sound we hear.

Quality of sound:

An acoustic guitar generally has electric pickups that are usually stuck to the inner side of the guitar body and are very faint. As a result, they don't produce the best sound quality.

On the other hand, an electric guitar uses high output electromagnetic pickups that capture even the slightest of variations in the magnetic field. These are highly sensitive, which guarantees better sound quality – a lot better than acoustic guitars.

Additional setup

An acoustic guitar does not require additional equipment such as amplifiers or powers, as it produces sound solely with its hollow design. An electric guitar requires amplifiers to produce a number of sound effects. It loses some of its sound quality due to the transfer of energy taking place. Additionally, it has many buttons, knobs, and switches that may be a little too much to comprehend if you are a beginner. You may want to look into a good guitar course to get the hang of it!

An acoustic guitar is generally a bit more cost-effective than an electric one because of its composition and the lack of equipment required.

Easier to learn:

Because of its big body and heavier strings, the acoustic guitar is usually harder to play than the electric one.

Although it is easy to learn for beginners, the buttons and knobs of the electric guitar can take time to learn. So, as a beginner, it's up to your personal preference as to which route you'd rather take.

Both acoustic and electric guitars need similar maintenance, such as keeping them away from extreme conditions (both hot and cold), protecting them against sharp objects, and cleaning them, to name a few. You can put your guitar in a protective case to keep it safe. You also need to replace old guitar strings and clean the fretboard at regular intervals to ensure that the guitar continues to sound good.

Read Also:  9 Best Guitar and Instrument Cables

The only difference between the two types is that electric guitars need additional maintenance, such as adjusting the pickups with the help of a screwdriver, adjusting the amplifier and so on. Acoustic guitars require slightly less maintenance as they come with humidifiers between the strings. This prevents the wood from drying up.

Out of all instruments, guitars are among the most popular. Today, much to the delight of music lovers and all those who dream of playing, there are many different kinds of guitars available to buy. Semi-acoustic guitars are one such category. They fall under the electric guitar category and are preferred in jazz and pop.

You may also be looking to create a slightly different sound. If so, click here for the top looper pedals money can buy. These pedals will help you adjust tones and play with effects, such as level, attack, and more.

A semi-acoustic guitar is also known as a hollow-body electric guitar. Parts of the body are electric, while others are hollow like a traditional acoustic guitar. It has a sound box and one to several electric pick-ups. Electric pickups convert the picked mechanical sound into an electric sound which is then further amplified using the instrument amplifier. A great guitar pickup brand to check out is lR Baggs.

Manufactured for the sole reason of enhancing the overall volume of the guitar, semi-acoustics are very popular. Widely accepted as the hybrid of electric and acoustic, you can play semi-acoustic guitars unplugged as well as plugged-in.

Great Read: Top 17 Stands for Guitars of This Year

Marked as revolutionary in the history of guitars, semi-acoustics are largely manufactured by popular brands like Gibson, Rickenbacker, and Gretsch. These brands continually improve on their designs with each new release.

Regardless of whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, the brand of guitar you buy is important. Buying from a well-respected brand with a great reputation will ensure you're getting a high-quality instrument that you can enjoy for years to come.

There are several high-quality brand names, but Martin & Co. has established itself as one of the most trusted and celebrated guitar manufacturing brands in the world. This U.S.-based company has been making the finest instruments for over 183 years. You can't go wrong with the classics.

Martin & Co. are best known for their acoustic and electric guitars. Many of their series' have become best sellers of their time. For example, the Martin D-28, Martin CEO-7, etc are some of the greatest guitars around. The Martin D-28 is among the most loved guitars of all time, and the latter is also the winner of Player’s Choice Best Guitar.

Every single product is made with great care, and the brand pays attention to every minute detail. Martin & Co. is the preferred choice of artists and musicians worldwide, from professionals down to beginners. Many celebrity musicians swear by the Martin name. Other great brands include Fender, Taylor, and Guild.

The Fender FA-100 dreadnought acoustic guitar is the perfect guitar for beginner strummers. It comes with a protective nylon gig bag to keep your guitar in. Not all guitars come with gag bags, so this addition makes it a great value choice. You don't have to waste money buying a guitar case or a separate gig bag. In addition, the guitar is very beautiful with its natural color and style.

The time-tested quarter sawn X bracing and the laminated spruce top gives it the upper hand over other acoustic guitars. The guitar's body and neck are made from laminated wood. It doesn't matter if you're right or left-handed; this guitar is ambidextrous. It has a great sound response. With all these features, the guitar leads the category of best acoustic guitar under 300 dollars.

The Yamaha FG800 Solid top acoustic guitar proves that you don't need to spend a lot to make great music. It has a fantastic musical tone and an outstanding build with a lightweight body. Its balance makes it a fantastic all-rounder.

This guitar is a classic and comes in many great colors: mahogany, autumn burst, natural, black, brown sunburst, sunset blue, turquoise, ruby red, flamed maple, tobacco sunburst, and dusk sun red. This acoustic guitar has the best quality at such an exceptional price; you'll be itching to pick one up for yourself. It's the best Yamaha Acoustic guitar.

The most beautiful design of guitar is a natural one. This one features a simple yet alluring rosewood fingerboard, and a rosewood bridge. Unlike other guitars, this one does not have a normal bracing. To maintain its durability and structure, it has a new advanced scalloped bracing.

It's ideal for live performances, giving a phenomenal sound compared to other traveling guitars. To rock the stage at live concerts or performances, you can always rely on the quality of this guitar. You won't ever be disappointed.

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Best Cheap and Budget-Friendly Guitar Brands, Ranked by a Musician

F inding a budget-friendly guitar can be extremely tough, especially if you are new to playing the guitar. There are a lot of options, and all these guitars appear pretty similar on the surface. However, being a music teacher myself, I’ve personally tested hundreds of guitars, and am here to provide you with an expert analysis on which ones you should consider if you are on a budget. 

Before we discuss the brands themselves and the difficult choices that go into them, I would like to lay out a few ground rules to help you and all the other buyers who are looking to establish a good relationship with a guitar brand.

We’ve also covered the best guitar brands of all time , which aren’t the cheapest, but are worth a shot if you plan to take music as a serious profession. 

What Makes a Good Guitar?

When I encourage my students to buy instruments, I like to ask them a question: what is the most important thing about buying a new guitar? Almost everyone universally responds with the same thing, “How it plays.” 

That is a good idea, but no, it’s wrong. Almost any guitar will play perfectly well with the right setup, and when you go to a guitar store, the store knows this! Even the most respectable guitar stores cannot use man hours to set up every instrument, so they prioritize the higher-market instruments. 

A more skeptical person than I would maybe think that they intentionally do not set up the budget guitars so that when you play the expensive guitars, you are blown away by how much better this 90s Fender Telecaster plays than this 2016 Mexican Squire. Creating a flux of value in the shop’s favor, leading you to make different purchases. I have been teaching guitar for over 20 years, and I think only a handful of my students have ever had one of their instruments set before coming to me for lessons — and even fewer realized that you could purchase a cheap instrument and with a little TLC, get something that is wicked. 

Essentially, guitars are just a series of math problems: magnets pick up electricity, and they make the sound. Strings are a certain distance above or below. The neck needs to bow at just a precise angle, etc. A good luthier can solve those math equations, and almost every guitar can play as well as another. 

This brings us back to the question: What is the most important thing about a guitar? Our answer is the color because that is maybe the only thing that you will never change about buying a new guitar . If you don’t like the color, don’t buy it because you won’t have to go through all the trouble of painting it. 

It’s very important to remember that certain brands have a higher name cache than others , and that’s fine — but a Fender made in China may not have as much value as one made in the USA​​ — even if the parts are identical, and the wood came from the same shipment, and they were made on the same CNC Machines, from the same patterns. This is incredibly xenophobic, of course, but I’m not here to change the global guitar market, only to explain it. 

We provide this preamble only with the hopes that it will help you make better and more high-quality decisions about the instruments you purchase and play. Just because the brand may be recognizable to you, it may be made with lower-quality equipment or by lower manufacturing standards. If you look closely, you might be able to find a killer guitar that other players don’t value as highly because maybe it was made in Mexico. All of these decisions factor into your purchase. 

The granddaddy of all granddaddy guitar brands was founded in 1946 by Leo Fender. It revolutionized the industry of electric guitars. We can argue over who invented the original electric guitar all day long, but certainly, the first iconic electric guitar was Leo Fender’s Telecaster and then the Stratocaster. 

I personally despise Stratocasters in this list of the best cheap and budget-friendly guitars. They’re just too small for my very wide shoulders and sit strangely on my body, so I’m much more comfortable playing the offset style of guitars, such as the Jazzmaster and my personal favorite, the Jaguar. 

Gibson was established in 1902 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Orville Gibson, they have been a pioneering force in guitar manufacturing. They’ve produced legendary instrument designs such as the Les Paul, the SG, and the Black Beauty, among many others. 

I was lucky enough to see an original run of SG before the name got changed. There was a time when the original SG was branded a Les Paul, but the story goes that Less didn’t like the association with devil horns because he was a very pious Christian man. So he changed the name.

My favorite of these guitars is the Les Paul Jr because I think there’s something just so great about having an instrument with only one pickup and two knobs on it. Limitations breed creativity, and I’ve had to do more interesting things with one pickup than I ever did with a five or 7-position switch, push-pull pots, or out-of-phase windings. 

1974 brought along the founding of Taylor guitars by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. They’ve been renowned for incredibly innovative designs and producing perhaps the highest standard of quality across acoustic guitars.

I don’t think there’s any arguing over Taylor guitars’ impact on the acoustic guitar. They may not make instruments as fine as a boutique manufacturer or handmade classical guitars, but they bring a standard of reliability and pure, unabashed tone quality that can take any Martin for its money. 

1833, established by Christian Frederick Martin in Pennsylvania. Martin Guitars is one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of acoustic guitars.

I don’t think you will ever forget the first time you saw an old Martin Hummingbird, but they are truly unbelievable. If you’ve ever been trapped in the back of a car on a road trip or tour, don’t sleep on their line of miniature travel guitars either; you know just how much fun you can have with those little machines. 

I don’t love these instruments, and I think there is a huge gap in quality between the $300 and $2000 ranges. The little travel instruments are perfect, 10/10 fun machines, but I would never recommend that anyone buy a $700 Martin. Once you clear the high budget, however, there is no doubt that these are some of the finest acoustic guitars ever made, especially if you are looking for instruments made in the 1970s and 80s. 

Starting as a humble sheet music store in Nagoya, Japan, in 1908, Ibanez only began producing guitars in the 1950s. They quickly rose to fame by offering exclusive partnership deals with guitar players from all different genres — just as likely to sponsor a private model from George Benson, Paul Gilbert, or Ben Monder.

I especially love the ‘70s and ‘80s knockoff era, when they would make essentially exact duplicates of Fender models but just in their small storefront in Japan. These instruments are often sorted out by touring musicians because they are relatively low cost compared to a boutique Fender from the 60s — but they play just as nice, and with a swap in of some new pickups, you have yourself a tremendous stage that does not only look cool and unique, but if something happens to it, you haven’t ruined a relic. 

Talk about a company that can sell anything. Yamaha was founded in 1887 by Torakusu Yamaha as a piano and organ manufacturer in Japan. Right around the 1950s and 60s, they got into guitar making and started to sell an incredibly wide range of instruments.

You probably have seen their pianos, you have seen their guitars, and you also have probably seen some of their incredible construction equipment and motorcycles. Manufacturers are especially great student models.

7. PRS (Paul Reed Smith)

Paul Reed Smith (PRS) was the first truly boutique model to break through the marketplace and take a dent out of the big few guitar manufacturers is Paul Reed Smith. It was established in 1985, which is quite late, by Paul Reid Smith in Stevenson, Maryland. 

Instruments were certainly synonymous with the highest quality you could imagine in a relatively expensive but not impossibly expensive package. I remember the first time I saw a PRS in person, at the TREMENDOUS guitar shop McKenzie River Music in Eugene, OR—a local haunt for my father and me. At the time, it was like seeing a perfect instrument. 

8. Epiphone

Perhaps Epiphone is the true granddaddy of granddaddy guitar brands, but after it was acquired by Gibson and forced to make their low-quality quality and student models, most of the name and what it stood for were lost in common parlance. It was founded in 1873 by Anastasios. Stathopoulous in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (Now Izmyr in Turkey). 

However, anyone who is anyone knows that the classic Epic is, to this day, some of the finest Hollow Body ever to be made. There is nothing quite like having a big jazz box under your arm and feeling the full acoustic resonance mixed with the fastest neck you could imagine. 

Representing Brooklyn and establishing 1883 by Frederich Gretsch, Gretsch are announced for their distinctive hollow body guitars. These instruments are synonymous with early rockabilly and chat Atkins.

I like to think of these as the Lincoln town car of guitars—regal and huge but incredibly comfortable. Spend an afternoon with one of these beauties, and you’ll realize why they were so popular.

10. Schecter

Representing the impossible-to-deny brand of electric guitars, you have to play these to understand why they are so special. Sure Schecters might look kind of goofy. And yes, as soon as you pick one up and see yourself in the mirror, you will grow a goatee and want to start playing in a NuMetal Band. 

However, looks are not everything. Versatility is king to some. You will not find a better playing that is more reliable, perfectly crafted, with the flattest neck and the brightest pickups, and that also has a perfect bridge. These guitars can do almost anything, especially for those of us who have to travel to gigs by plane — you can very easily on the neck and put the whole thing in a suitcase. 

11. Jackson

Jackson wwas established by Grover Jackson in California. They quickly gained recognition for high-performance, high-gain bases, and guitars but especially gained favor because of their looks.

I remember the first time I saw Guitar World magazine—Randy Rhoads standing with his special edition on the cover before his death. These instruments were fantastic to look at and especially great if you loved to practice standing up—because even in the year 2024, there’s not a great way to practice sitting down with a flying V. Buyer beware.

12. Washburn

Washburn was founded a lot earlier than most of you think, in 1883, by George Washburn Lyon and Patrick J Healy in Chicago, Illinois. They produce a lot more than just shred guitars.

They make acoustic guitar bases and instruments with impossible-to-define shapes. If you’ve ever wanted to play a polygon that looked like it had melted in the microwave but would also beat you up and take your lunch money, these are the instruments for you. 

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Our Favorite Flared Alo Yoga Pants Are 30 Percent Off

If you (like me) are wary of wearing leggings out in public, then flared yoga pants might be the answer. They’re soft and stretchy enough to exercise in, but the extra bagginess around the knee means that you can definitely throw a T-shirt over top and call it an outfit. Of all the flared and bootcut styles I’ve tried, Alo’s are the best. And they’re 30 percent off today as part of the brand’s rare sitewide sale.

What I especially like about these pants is that they’re made with Alo’s matte Airbrush fabric, which looks and feels like cotton. (Why aren’t more yoga pants matte? An open question to all the athleisure brands out there.) Unlike High Sport pants and their various dupes , these are full-length, which in my opinion makes them easier to style — you can wear any type of sock underneath, for example. And they’re simply very comfortable and flattering, whether you’re heading to the Pilates studio or the coffee shop.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

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Related tags, the 14 best amplifiers for all styles and budgets.

From tube to digital, from affordable practice solutions to high-end boutique builds. Whatever you want out of an amplifier, we’ve got you covered.

Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb control knobs. Image: Adam Gasson

The world of amplifiers in 2024 is a wonderfully wide-ranging one, with tube amps, digital amps, floor amps, portable amps, practice amps desktop amps and more all promising brilliant tones at varying levels of volume. A little intimidated by the choice? Not to worry – we’ve put together this guide to the best amps no matter what you need, whether that’s a small home amp or a gigging powerhouse.

• READ MORE: The 10 best electric guitars for all styles and budgets

Digital amps continue to make excellent use of ever more powerful processing – from high-quality modelling units with endless amp sims and ins and outs, to stripped-back combos leveraging digital power for efficiency and reliability, digital amps have come leaps and bounds since those early days of fizzy direct sounds and tinny practice amps. And, of course, tube amp makers continue to find ways to make those classic circuits even more appealing to the modern player. There are plenty of excellent options out there, no matter what you want out of an amplifier. Let’s dive in.

The 14 best amplifiers, at a glance:

Our pick: fender tone master princeton reverb, best affordable amp: boss katana 50 mkii ex, best tube amp: bad cat hot cat 1×12, best modelling amp: fender mustang gtx100, best desktop amp: yamaha thr30ii, best high-end amp: marshall st20h jtm studio, best home amp: positive grid spark mini, best gigging amp: fender hot rod deluxe iv, best combo amp: blackstar st. james 50 el34, best amp head: orange or30, best amp pedal: neural dsp quad cortex, best busking amp: positive grid spark live, best beginner’s amp: blackstar debut 50r, best metal amp: victory the kraken mkii.

• Why you can trust Guitar.com

Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb Guitar Amplifier

BOSS Katana-50 MkII Guitar Amplifier

Bad Cat Hot Cat Amplifier

Fender’s Tone Master amplifiers are pitched as modelling amps for those who hate modelling amps: no menus, no deep-editing, no complex multi-mode preamp selection. Instead, the modelling power is aimed squarely at a single amp – in this case, the Princeton Reverb. The result is a combo that sounds and looks basically indistinguishable from the real thing. Aside from that Tone Master badge, the best way to tell them apart is to pick them up, as this one’s literally half the weight of its bottle-fed counterpart.

The sounds are all there, and you can play it at home just as easily as you can on a stage. The power-reduction modes give you a consistent sound across all ends of the volume spectrum, and of course, achieve the awesome sound of a Fender combo breaking up without breaking any windows… or your relationship with your neighbours.

Need more? Read our Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb review.

While the Tone Master Princeton Reverb is a very appealing prospect indeed, it’s still a relatively pricey amplifier. The Katana 50 MkII EX, however, is a good deal more affordable, and is just as happy on a stage as the Tone Master – but it can also provide excellent at-home practice sounds, through headphones, or its 12-inch speaker thanks to its power reduction switch. There’s a good range of sounds on tap here, with perfect cleans, chimey overdrive and full-bore metal all represented, plus a suite of effects thrown in, too. The EX version of the amp adds some extra footswitch control options, too – making going without a pedalboard a lot easier.

Need more? Read our Boss Katana 50 MkII EX review.

Californian boutique brand Bad Cat has gone through, if not quite nine lives then several different iterations, but the current iteration was reborn in 2021 and overhauled the entire line of amps that had made the brand so sought-after in the first two decades of the 2000s. The Hot Cat is something of a statement of intent for the new Bad Cat – it might not be a hand-wired, super-high-end beast any more but it’s a classy combo for big cleans, edgy crunch and high-gain punishment, without you needing to remortgage your house. Arguably the most affordable way to get a slice of bona fide US-made boutique amp in 2023.

Need more? Read our Bad Cat Hot Cat 1×12 review.

Fender Mustang GTX100 Guitar Combo Amplifier

Loaded with a hefty 100 watts and a new custom-designed 12-inch Celestion speaker, the Mustang GTX100 is a very serious entry from Fender into the world of digital modelling combos. Unlike the Tone Master amps’ laser-focus, the Mustang GTX100 comes loaded with 39 amp models and 73 effects, which might just be more than you’ll ever need. It’s especially appealing as the GTX-7 foot controller is included in the price – this versatile bit of kit comes with a good number of footswitches, and makes using the GTX100 live without a pedalboard a breeze.

Need more? Read our Fender Mustang GTX100 review.

Yamaha THR30IIA Acoustic Amplifier

Arguably, the THR is the line of amps that invented this whole product category in the first place. There’s a good range of sounds, with 15 preamp models in total and effects ranging from subtle chorus to big reverbs. But this is all somewhat par for the course in 2024 – what gives the THR30II its edge are these two things: first, it looks like a cool retro radio and therefore can absolutely live on your coffee table without you having to plonk a big piece of obvious guitar equipment in the middle of your living room. Secondly, there’s a great range of I/O on offer, including direct USB recording and two quarter-inch line-outs.

Combine these two things with the sheer quality of the sounds, the THR30II nails what Yamaha has set out to do with the “third amp” approach. All of the sound and versatility of a “real” amp, none of the sacrifices of a practice amplifier. There’s also an acoustic version of the THR-30II, the THR-30IIA, which offers the voices of various microphones in lieu of a range of electric preamp modes, but just as much appealing good looks and versatile recording options.

Need more? Read our Yamaha THR30II review.

Marshall ST20H JTM Studio Guitar Amplifier

It’s no exaggeration to say that the JTM is part of the very fabric of rock music – after its introduction in 1962, it would shape the landscape of rock and blues by offering massive sounds to an exploding UK rock scene. This UK-made revamp of the JTM harkens back to the very earliest Marshall amps with that fawn cloth and ‘coffin’ Marshall badge. Sonically, the ST20H JTM Studio recreates all of the nuance of the original’s punchy, snarling take on a modified Fender bassman circuit, but there are some concessions to modernity, too. An effects loop and a power-reduction mode make this a very appealing prospect for the modern player indeed.

Need more? Read our Marshall ST20H JTM Studio review.

Positive Grid Spark Mini Smart Guitar Amplifier

The Spark Mini, Positive Grid’s adorable cube-shaped cousin of the full-sized Spark, is a massive acheivement in compact amplifier design. Because it doesn’t just sound good for a small practice amp. Nor does it just sound good for a modelling amp – it’s just a great sounding amp. Full stop. No qualifications. The passive radiator on the bottom of the amp – a similar thing to what you’ll find on a good modern bluetooth speaker – helps the pair of two-inch speakers create a lot more bass than would normally be possible. Combine this with quality modelling and an actually useful and intuitive companion app (it’s possible!), and you’ve got basically the perfect small amp for learning and playing around on at home.

Need more? Read our Positive Grid Spark Mini review.

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV Amplifier

If you know you’re going to be getting loud, then the Hot Rod Deluxe IV is an amazing option. It’s capable of moving more air than you could ever need, and its chewy tube overdrive sounds get even better if you bring some pedal friends along. If you need cleaner time-based effects, there’s an effects loop. Approachably priced, easily carriable from the boot of your car to the stage, reliable and versatile, there’s a reason the HRD is one of the most popular gigging workhorses around.

Need more? Read our Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV review.

Blackstar St James 50 EL34 Combo Amplifier

The pitch of the St. James series is this: a fully-fledged tube amp, but without the massive weight. A number of design changes to the regular tube amp format have been made, such as the use of a switching-mode power supply instead of a heavy transformer. The cabs and combos use a specially-made Celestion speaker with a lightweight frame and driver. The result is that the St James 50 EL34 is an easy one-hand lift – no mean feat for a fully-fledged 50-watt tube combo. That’d be all for naught if the sounds weren’t there, but luckily they are, with an excellent black-panel-style tonal palette that soaks up pedal tones amazingly. For an all-in-one combo package, it’s hard to argue with – and that’s not even mentioning the bevvy of smart features packed in, too!

Need more? Read our Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 review.

Orange OR30 Guitar Amplifier

From a lightweight tube combo with lots of smart features to a decidedly not lightweight tube head with zero smart features. Yes, the Orange OR30 is a made-in-the-UK tube head that promises old-school simplicity with just one channel. But that’s not to say it’s not versatile – the gain control has a frankly absurdly wide sweep, with everything from pristine cleans to the massive, roaring fuzziness Orange has become known for represented.

Combine that with built-like-a-tank construction, an effects loop and a low-power mode, it’s a great option for the modern player, despite its old-school approach. Notably, it’s also one of the loudest 30-watters out there – Orange claims it can kick out SPLs to rival 100-watt heads!

Need more? Read our Orange OR30 review.

Neural DSP Quad Cortex Pedal

The world of amp-sim pedals is a wide and varied one, but for our money the Quad Cortex remains top of the heap when it comes to sheer modelling power and I/O capability. It might be magic, it might just be complex neural-net modelling – either way, the quality of the amplifier captures on offer here are astounding.

It’s not just their sonic fidelity – the models here also manage to capture that ever-elusive feel of real amplifiers. The unit itself is relatively compact, which, combined with its extensive I/O offerings, makes it a great option for gigging. You can replacing a whole complex amp and pedalboard setup with something the length and breadth of a laptop. The future is pretty neat, eh?

Need more? Read our Neural DSP Quad Cortex review.

Positive Grid Spark LIVE PA System

Not content with making an excellent small, low-volume home amplifier in the form of the Spark Mini, Positive Grid also wanted to create an equally innovative live tool. The Spark Live, rather than just being a larger Spark, is for all intents and purposes an entire live backline crammed into one compact enclosure.

It leverages the same smart tech that makes the Spark so easy to use, plus a few new bells and whistles, to cram a guitar amp, a bass amp and vocal processor all into the same enclosure, effectively a superpowered FRFR speaker that can easily support a small band. All very cool – even cooler is the fact that the rechargeable battery (sold separately) promises eight hours of performance time: absolutely perfect for busking.

Need more? Read our Positive Grid Spark Live review.

Blackstar Debut 50R Guitar Amplifier

What makes the Blackstar Debut 50R such an appealing prospect for absolute beginners is this: it’s simple . Not including a smorgasbord of digitally-modelled sounds on an amp aimed at absolute beginners is, for our money, a smart choice – as it’s all analogue, what you see is what you get.You’re already busy getting your head around an F barre chord – you don’t need the extra cognitive load of trying to remember how the preset recall button works. Instead, the Debut 50R does a great job of just letting you play the guitar.

That’s not to say it’s a totally stripped-back, old-school affair – there is a line-in for playing along to tracks, a fairly decent headphone out for direct recording and silent practice, a power-reduction mode for quietening things down. And when you’re ready to move from a bedroom to a stage, the Debut 50R can come with you. The 50-watt power section will be more than happy to keep up with a drummer. The rest is up to you!

Need more? Read our Blackstar Debut 50R review.

Victory VX The Kraken MKII Amplifier

The latest update to the Kraken, Victory Amplification’s flagship metal monster, refines an already great amp into an absolutely fantastic one. As well as an overall refine of the sound, major circuit additions come in the form of a new presence control – good for adding some cutting bite to things – and to a brand-new clean channel, acheived by attenuating the lower-gain, JCM800-based Gain I channel for a spongey, responsive clean sound woth bags of character. But, of course, the main appeal is the Gain II channel – a fire-breathing take on a modded 5150-style circuit.

The result is a near-perfect metal sound: plenty of crunch, more than enough gain, and it can be as aggressive as you like or as compressed as you like. That pretty much covers the metal guitar tonal palette, and the excellent performance at the other end of the gain scale makes this a very versatile offering indeed. Or, you know, good for that 10-second clean intro before 50 minutes of riffs.

Need more? Read our Victory The Kraken MKII review.

Why You Can Trust Us

Every year, Guitar.com reviews hundreds of new products from the biggest new launches to cool boutique effects, and our expert guitar reviewers have hundreds of years of collective experience having played everything from bona fide Gibson ’59 Les Pauls to the cheapest Squiers and everything in between. That means that when you click on a Guitar.com buyer’s guide you’re getting the benefit of all that experience to help you make the best buying decision for you.

What’s more, every guide written on Guitar.com was put together by a guitar obsessive just like you – we understand what products guitarists are excited about right now, and those are the products we look to highlight in our buyer’s guides. Other websites might show you something because it has a big discount or a crazy low price, but you can trust that every product recommended to you by Guitar.com is something that we’d be happy to have in our rig.

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Protect Your Trip »

The 8 best neck pillows for travel.

Avoid a literal pain in the neck with these expert-approved travel pillows.

The Best Neck Pillows for Travel

Courtesy of Cabeau

The Cabeau Evolution S3 Travel Pillow is one of the best neck pillows for travel.

Just like the pillow you use at home , the best neck pillow for travel is the one that makes you feel most comfortable, allowing you to relax, rest and ultimately fall asleep on the go. The difference, however, is that a travel pillow is typically used when sitting up, which means it needs to provide enough support to keep your head from bobbing.

Based on recommendations from travel experts and advice from physicians, these are the best neck pillows for travel.

Best Overall: Cabeau Evolution S3

Best affordable: mvloc travel pillow, best for long flights: trtl travel pillow, best multipurpose: huzi infinity pillow, best inflatable: sunany inflatable travel pillow, best silk: slip jet setter travel pillow, best for backpacking: marchway ultralight inflatable camping pillow, best for kids: bcozzy double support neck pillow.

Frequent travelers praise the design of the Cabeau Evolution S3, which is made of a special dual-density memory foam. "My pillow at home is made with memory foam so it's like bringing a piece of home on my travels," says travel blogger Jasmine Cheng of The Wandering Girl . "The sides are also raised, which prevents my head from moving when I'm sleeping." Travelers also appreciate the patented seat strap system that attaches the pillow to a seat or chair headrest as well as the slim flattened back, both of which prevent the head from bobbing.

A handy storage pouch on the side of the pillow allows you to keep your earbuds or other small items close by, and the pillow comes with a clasp that attaches to carry-on luggage . The removable pillow cover, which comes in a variety of colors, is machine-washable. What's more, this travel pillow can be stored in an included carry bag that condenses it to half its size.

Price: $39.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Cabeau

Travelers appreciate the support (and the price tag) of this memory foam travel pillow. An adjustable rope lock allows you to secure the pillow to your neck for maximum support and comfort. The breathable and machine-washable cloth exterior prevents overheating. This travel pillow also comes with earplugs and an eye mask for ultimate relaxation.

Price: $29.99 or less Shop now: Amazon

Courtesy of Trtl

The patented design of the Trtl Travel Pillow – with a hidden internal neck support surrounded by soft, hypoallergenic fleece – makes it a favorite among travelers, particularly for long flights. "Something about it just hits right in a travel accessory category where nothing previously worked for me," explains Meaghan Clawsie, luxury travel advisor at Elated Escapes . "I no longer have any back or neck pain when resting on long-haul flights." Simply wrap the pillow around your neck like a scarf, secure it in place with its built-in fastener and rest your head on the support.

If you tend to overheat easily, there's also the Trtl Pillow Cool , made with Tencel fibers to keep you at a comfortable temperature; a mesh panel makes the pillow particularly breathable as well. Both pillows are machine-washable.

Price: $59.99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Trtl

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Courtesy of Huzi Design

If you're not sold on the classic U-shaped neck pillows for travel, consider this snake-like option instead. Able to be twisted into a variety of positions, the versatile Huzi Infinity Pillow provides whatever support feels best – even if that means resting your head on the tray table for a bit. You can also wear it around your neck like a scarf for neck and back comfort (even when you're not snoozing), use it as an eye mask, or drape it over your head if you get cold or want to block out noise.

Travelers love the pillow's bamboo fabric, describing it as soft, smooth and cool. Since it's filled with polyester, the whole pillow can be tossed in the washing machine , unlike its memory foam counterparts. The Infinity Pillow is available in nearly a dozen different colors, including gray, navy and pink.

Price: $45 or less Shop now: Amazon | Infinity Pillow

Read:  What to Pack in Your Carry-on Bag

Courtesy of Sunany

Travelers love the H-shaped design of this inflatable pillow because it allows for use in multiple directions and supports both sides of the head and neck with a flat back. A removable hood on the pillow is a bonus: It encourages a cozy feel and prevents cold drafts from too much air conditioning. For optimal comfort, it is recommended to inflate the pillow about 80% to 90%.

A pocket for your earbud case on this travel pillow provides convenient access for listening to music, and the removable velour cover is machine-washable. The lightweight inflatable pillow can be stored in the included waterproof drawstring bag, which can also be attached to luggage. This travel neck pillow is available in black, gray and blue.

Courtesy of Slip

Travel pillows don't get softer than this luxurious new option by Slip. The Jet Setter Travel Pillow is made with the highest-grade long fiber mulberry silk, which helps to prevent skin creases and bedhead. It also comes with a carrying case with handles. The Jet Setter Travel Pillow is available in three prints and a pretty solid blush color.

Price: $99 or less Shop now: Amazon | Slip

While you can often bring your pillow from home for tent camping, backpacking requires something more lightweight, such as this inflatable option by Marchway. "An inflatable pillow is a game-changer when it comes to backpacking, and an ultralight pillow can't be beat," says Leilani Osmundson , digital producer for travel at U.S. News. "The Marchway pillow fits the bill: It's comfortable, packable and extremely lightweight." This pillow is designed for both back and side sleepers, and doubles as a lumbar support for everyday travels and needs. Once it's deflated, you can machine-wash the cover before folding the pillow into an included drawstring bag.

Price: $13.99 or less Shop now: Amazon

Courtesy of BCOZZY

The BCOZZY neck pillow is ideal for all travelers – including kids, with small sizes for youngsters between 3 and 7 years old, and medium options for ages 8 and 12. Travelers like the ergonomic design of the patented pillow, which supports the head and neck by propping the chin up. Overlapping pillow arms, which wrap around the neck and under the chin, can be tightened based on the level of support you need.

If you or your child is a side sleeper, fold the pillow in half, double up the sides and place it on your shoulder, leaning your head to the side. An elevated side option allows you to overlap the pillow arms on top of each other and rotate it 90 degrees to the side for double support for the neck and chin.

This travel pillow is available in a variety of colors and patterns, including light blue and pink hearts. A snap strap attaches the included travel bag to your child's luggage , and you can throw the pillow in the washing machine after your trip.

Price: $44.97 or less Shop now: Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Experts agree a supportive pillow is essential for travel. "The biggest issue many travelers experience when sleeping on a plane is that the seats don't recline enough," explains Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a sleep/wake and performance specialist who is dual board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine. "This often results in the head being just on the brink of tipping forward – which is not a comfortable sleeping position. Because of this insufficient recline, it is important to keep padding behind the head and neck minimal to reduce the tendency for the head to tip forward."

Most travel pillows are designed to be worn around the neck, providing enough support to prevent the head from tipping forward.

When shopping for a neck pillow for travel, experts recommend considering the following factors:

Proper head support:  What's most important is ensuring your head is supported in the right places by your travel pillow – and, in particular, not being pushed forward by excessive padding. "A good pillow would provide support for side sleeping, rather than a lot of padding behind the head, which just pushes the head forward too much," says Dimitriu.

Material: Consider both the external and internal material of the pillow:

External: Chiropractic physician Eric Smith advises to make sure the material of your travel pillow is breathable and won't subject you to an overheated sleep, since one of the main reasons for moving around a lot as you sleep is getting too hot. "When your face gets too hot on one side, even if you're sleeping, you're going to move from it because it's too warm," Smith explains.

There's no real consensus on which material is best for a cool, comfy sleep – and different people will have different preferences – so Smith's advice is to try before you fly (and don't hesitate to request a refund if your chosen pillow isn't working out).

• Internal: Memory foam pillows tend to offer more firm support – something Smith recommends for anyone, but especially older travelers. "The majority of patients I have that get older, we actually need a more firm pillow, we need a more firm bed, we need more support," Smith says. Pillows filled with microbeads mold more to the neck and head, while inflatable pillows can be adjusted to your preferences based on how much air you use to blow them up.

A travel pillow for your neck isn't considered a carry-on or personal item (and the same generally goes for small, loose items like jackets and umbrellas). That said, it's always best to review your airline's carry-on luggage size restrictions before traveling.

A good neck pillow for travel isn't the only key to achieving a decent sleep while in transit. "From the standpoint of evolution, we're kind of hardwired to be a little bit more on high alert in those situations," explains Rebecca Robbins, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and scientist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. "We're a little bit more in fight or flight mode; our brain is subconsciously scanning the environment for threats and there are new sounds and new smells."

She recommends finding elements that are relaxing to you, which might include some of the following:

• Travel blanket: Look for something lightweight, such as the EverSnug Travel Blanket on Amazon. This blanket comes with a carrying case, which can double as a pillow when the blanket is stored inside.
• Essential or aromatherapy oils: Scents like lavender and peppermint can be especially calming.
• Earplugs: Choose headphones that block some or all external noise. The Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Headphones are especially well rated.
• White noise app: There are a variety of free apps, or you can try a paid option like Calm (which offers a free trial).
• Eye mask: An eye mask like this cotton option on Amazon helps to block out the bright light on planes.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Compression Socks for Travel
• The Top Walking Shoes for Travel
• The Top Carry-on Backpacks
• Can I Use My Own Airplane Seat Belt Extender?
• The Best Travel Medical Insurance Plans

Tags: Travel , Travel Gear

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Best-selling Adidas Sneakers, Comfy Clothes, and More Are Up to 50% Off at Amazon This Weekend

This sale has everything you need to give your wardrobe a sporty refresh.

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Travel + Leisure / Daisy Rodriguez

If your travel wardrobe is in need of a dire refresh, you’ve come to the right place. Amazon has discounted a plethora of stylish and sporty styles from Adidas just in time for warmer weather. Travel + Leisure writers and celebrities alike have praised the brand for its comfortable sneakers and apparel, and right now shoppers can snag deals up to 50 percent off this weekend.  During this under-the-radar sale, you can score some of the brand's most iconic staples, including the widely loved Stan Smith sneakers , track jackets , backpacks , and more for as little as $15. But here’s the catch: We don’t know how much longer these deals will last, so make sure to head to checkout ASAP to grab these discounts before they disappear. 

Adidas Cloudfoam Pure 2.0 Running Shoes

Shoppers gush over the cushioning of these appropriately named running shoes, claiming that they feel like “walking on clouds.” That comfort comes from the brand’s signature cloudfoam padding that is designed to keep feet supported all day long. Beyond this shoe’s comfort, these running sneakers have a convenient slip-on tab and textured outsole, making them easy to pull on while offering excellent traction. Plus, the sneakers are available in sizes 5 to 11. 

Adidas Women’s Stan Smith Sneakers

Ever since Adidas launched its iconic Stan Smith silhouette back in the 1960s, it has been loved among celebrities and travelers for its effortlessly stylish look and comfortable fit. In fact, my mom has been gushing over these sneakers for decades, wearing them as her go-to sneaker. The sneakers are equipped with next-level cushioning to support the arches, toes, and heels. Shoppers can pick up a handful of colors, including navy and gold . 

Adidas Men’s Stan Smith Sneakers

These sneakers are also discounted by 20 percent in men’s sizing. Like the women’s version, they feature durable rubber outsoles for anti-slip traction, meaning you can run through TSA knowing your feet will stay firmly in place. The sneakers come in sizes 4 through 13 and a number of colors. 

Adidas Daily 3.0 Sneaker

These Adidas sneakers have everything you’d want in a travel shoe: rubber outsoles for traction, an extra-cushioned footbed for comfort, and an easy-to style design that you can wear anywhere. On sale for $52 thanks to an on-site coupon, these travel-ready and best-selling sneakers may just be the only shoe you’d need to pack for your next adventure. 

Adidas All Me Tote Bag

As far as travel essentials go, a reliable tote bag is a must. Tote this versatile travel staple around a new city, use it as a gym bag, or stow it underneath your airplane seat. It also has a genius two-strap construction that can be worn on your shoulder or as a crossbody bag. And it has a handful of spacious pockets large enough to fit clothes, shoes, toiletries, and more. Try it out for yourself while it's $42 today. 

Adidas Grand Court 2.0 Tennis Shoes

These classic tennis sneakers have earned a spot on the Amazon best-sellers list. Shoppers note that they’re “comfortable to wear and boast the iconic aesthetic that [Adidas] is known for.” The sneakers are supportive, sturdy, and timeless, and you can wear them just about anywhere, whether you’re on the pickle ball courts or touching down in a new city. Pick up the discounted sneakers while they’re just $60 in select sizes and colors like black and white . 

Adidas Essentials Warm-Up Track Jacket

When it’s cool in the morning yet warm in the afternoon, having a reliable jacket is a must. We like this best-selling track jacket that boasts a full-zip design so you can customize your warmth. This jacket is machine washable and made from a material that’ll keep you warm without overheating. It also features two front pockets and is lightweight enough to tuck easily into a suitcase. 

Adidas Adilette Sandals 

With an impressive collection of more than 8,000 five-star ratings, these slip-on sandals have proven to be the ultimate multitaskers by shoppers. These quick-drying sandals effortlessly transition between “perfect house slippers” to slides you can wear at the pool and beach. Other shoppers have even worn them as shower shoes. Beyond their utility, these sandals boast a cloudfoam bottom and cushioned feel. And thanks to an on-site coupon, these do-it-all sandals are 50 percent off this weekend. 

Adidas Superlite Sport Performance Visor

My go-to choice for sun protection is usually a visor rather than a baseball cap or sun hat. The open-top style lets me keep my hair down or throw it up in a bun without sacrificing coverage from sun rays. Right now, I have my sights set on this lightweight, moisture-wicking visor, especially since it’s only $17 this weekend. Plus, it’s designed with a non-glare undervisor, meaning it won't block your vision during runs and workouts.

Adidas Creator 2 Backpack

If you’re in search of a backpack that’s designed to keep your belongings protected and organized, opt for this Adidas bag. This backpack’s spacious compartments are big enough to house a laptop and hiking shoes, whether you're flying across the country or going on a hiking trip. It also features adjustable and cushioned shoulder straps for an extra layer of comfort and two convenient mesh side pockets for a water bottle. 

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