Mission Trip Guitar Needed

[lp1holl]

Hey guys,

I know it has been a long time since I have posted, so let me start by saying how helpful this site has been in my infant guitar years so far (hit 2 years in March). I just used 12bar's guidance to learn the Unplugged version of Layla and will probably post a track I am recording of it with a friend pretty soon. This song was the reason I got into playing guitar, so needless to say, it was a HUGE step for me.

Anyway, the topic that I really intended to discuss was this: I am going on a mission trip to Bolivia this summer, full of backpacking and medical clinics and adventure, and I am trying to find a way to take a guitar with me. I know there are some fantastic options out there, but I am in college and live on a shoestring budget. Some things I was thinking about: this super cheap thing- http://www.amazon.com/HAWAIIAN-BACKPACK ... B005DLF2EA and then doing some work on it, or getting a Hohner parlor guitar (http://goo.gl/OfKgA) (its nylon strings, can I put on steel?) and a Honeytone mini amp (http://goo.gl/VSDz3) because a friend donated an acoustic pick-up. I know it won't sound good, but I want it to be as good as possible while being loud enough to hear in a church service scenario. There are also some used Martin Backpackers for around $100-125, but that is right on the edge of my price range and I'm still not sure about volume with them.

Since you guys know much more about gear than I do, have any ideas?

Thanks for the help!

[weelie]

oh, your budget is very tight!
nylon strung cannot take steel strings! The fretboard might be wide but otherwise nylon strung is ok by me. Samuel james plays blues on one and i guess clapton did on unplugged too.
I think martin lxme is good but out of your budget. Silent guitars might be an option (just a frame instead of an actual body), i have seen some for little money.

[Strummer07]

You do have a tight budget for a decent travel guitar

As you intend taking a small Amp .....why not take a Hofner Shorty electric guitar
http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintage- ... /main.html

These are not usually a lot of money .. and sound OK when Amped.
If you're going to amp it ... I don't see much point in going acoustic .and those backpacker guitars ( even the Martin version) are pretty horrid to play !!

[choucas09]

I've got a Martin Backpacker, the original steel strung one. They're not terribly loud and it has a flat fingerboard with a 24 inch scale, but it is playable and I like it. That Hawaiian is a direct copy and looks incredible value for money. What type of acoustic pickup did your friend give you as, if it's an undersaddle one it won't fit this or the Martin. I think S07's suggestion of a Hofner Shorty is a good one. See below.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Travel-Electric ... 197wt_1445

After watching this review I want one, thanks for the heads up Strummer.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vZn4qVuMSk

[angelicalee8]

I have been traveling with backpacker guitars, and they are very annoying to play. While they are convenient because they are small, the sound quality is very poor, and I would not recommend one for someone who is traveling with a guitar. I usually just travel to NYC Cheap Hotels and other hotels such as this Vegas hotel list, so packing a larger guitar is not very difficult for me. If I were packpacking across long distances, then maybe the backpacker guitar would be a better call, but for my kind of traveling it is not necessary. You should spring for a Hofner Shorty, because they sound much better, and they travel very well. I have switched to one of these for traveling, and could not be happier. Hope this helps.