In 2024, it’s predicted that about 7.2 billion people will be visiting some country for the first time. With the popularity of travel, more and more people are looking into new options to create a unique experience while traveling.
In this post, we look at acoustic guitars as a popular travel instrument because they can be taken on the go and come with a wide number of creative uses so you can adapt them to any destination.
As a person that regularly travels, I’m always on the lookout for a new acoustic guitar. I also try to keep my budget under $300 so as not to break the bank.
In this article, we’ll be listing some of the best travel guitars you can buy without breaking the bank so you can start your road trip adventures with an affordable guitar.
Table of Contents
Buying Guide
The quality of an acoustic guitar’s sound largely depends on the quality of its soundhole, which is typically made from cedar or spruce. Acoustic guitars are built with a body, neck, headstock to support the strings over the frets, and sides that are wrapped around a resonant chamber.
These guitars typically have heavy strings and they’re very suitable for professional guitarists who play solo songs.
Flat-top guitars :
Flat-top guitars are commonly used by fingerpickers and they’re considered the most versatile of all acoustic guitars. They’re capable of playing rhythm, bass lines, chords, and melodies. Flat-top guitars are also built with steel strings on their fingerboards which are more durable than nylon strings.
The classical guitar :
The classical guitar is the smallest in size among the four types of acoustic guitars. It’s smaller than a steel string but larger than a flamenco guitar. It’s typically played by guitarists who play classical music and folk music.
Flamenco guitars :
Flamenco guitars are usually used in performances that involve singing and dancing. They’re also typically built with a big body shape in order for their players to have enough room to move around while playing.
5 Best Travel Acoustic Guitars
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1. Taylor GS Mini Mahogany GS Mini Acoustic Guitar, Sapele, Mahogany Top
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The Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar is a scaled-down version of the popular “baby” or ¾-scale dreadnought used by many of today’s acoustic guitarists.
Pros :
- Offers great quality and performance with a very affordable price.
- Built with Long-Scale mahogany body, scalloped X bracing, and a solid spruce top.
- Reasonably smooth sound from the Dreadnought body style is rich and lush when played acoustically or amplified.
Cons :
The body of this guitar is made of plastic
It’s not water-resistant
The GS Mini Mahogany does not come with an amp or accessories
2. LAVA ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar with Effects 36 Inch Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar with Bag Picks and Charging Cable (Freeboost-Black)
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If you are thinking about upgrading your guitar, the Lava ME 2 Carbon Fiber Guitar with Effects 36 Inch Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar with Bag Picks and Charging Cable (Freeboost-Black) might be just what you are looking for.
Pros :
- This guitar is perfect for those that need a lightweight and portable instrument.
- Is incredibly durable and comfortable to play.
- The sound quality is not the best but is better than most low-end guitars at this price point.
Cons :
- The strings become muted quickly, making it difficult to do fast runs on the instrument.
- There are reports of the instrument cracking during shipment from being so tightly crammed in its box.
3. Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar, Mahogany Top
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People love Taylor guitars for their durability, quality, and versatility. Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor is no exception to this trend. This is a guitar that will be perfect for small beginners or people who need a smaller instrument for travel.
Pros :
- Elegant in its design, this guitar is perfect for beginners and kids
- Mahogany Top offers that classic, warm sound
- Equipped with a Gig Bag for easy carrying when traveling
Cons :
- The guitar’s neck is susceptible to warping when exposed to high humidity – Strings are susceptible to breaking due to the lack of cutouts in the nut
- The guitar does not come with an electronic tuner. Tuning requires an additional purchase.
4. Classical Guitar with Soft Nylon Strings by Hola! Music, Junior 3/4 Size 36 Inch Model HG-36GLS, Natural Gloss Finish – FREE Padded Gig Bag Included
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The Junior 3/4 Size 36 Inch Model HG-36GLS classical guitar with a natural gloss finish has a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with nylon strings.
Pros :
- Easy to play
- Great size for kids 5-8 years old
- High quality materials and construction
Cons :
- The sound is not that of a classical guitar, sounds similar to a nylon-stringed acoustic guitar
- We weren’t sure what the “scale length” meant.
5. Ibanez EWP14OPN Exotic Wood Piccolo Acoustic Guitar Natural
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The Ibanez EWP14OPN is a 14-fret, solid wood acoustic guitar with a gloss ebony fingerboard. The guitar offers lower action for more comfortable playing.
Pros :
- Beautiful craftsmanship
- Exotic wood finish
- Great sound quality
- Easy to play and tighten set screws for longevity and accuracy of intonation
- Includes gig bag and framed certificate of authenticity
Cons :
- Its sound is not as rich and full as other guitars
Conclusion :
The best acoustic guitars for travelers are those that are lightweight, durable, and easy to carry around. Additionally, they should be able to last you for years without having to constantly update them. Following this set of criteria, I’ve compiled a list of the top acoustic guitars for travelers.
FAQ:
Q: What is the best acoustic guitar for a beginner?
A: Taylor Academy 10. As one of the acoustic world’s ‘big two’,Taylor Guitars has a long track record of producing some of the highest quality,best sounding acoustic guitars … Fender CD-60S. If you’re uncertain exactly how much time and dedication you have to put into learning the acoustic guitar,don’t worry. Martin LX1. … Yamaha Storia I. …
Q: What is the best travel guitar?
A: Taylor Baby Taylor. Scale length: 22.75” If the more outlandish styles of travel guitar aren’t for you,maybe the Baby Taylor will be. Martin Backpacker. We weren’t lying when we said travel guitars can jar a bit visually. … Steinberger Spirit GT-Pro Deluxe. … Traveler Travelcaster Deluxe. … Hofner Shorty travel guitar. … Traveler Escape Mark III. …
Q: What is the best acoustic electric guitar brand?
A: Martin LX1E Little Martin Acoustic/Electric. The Martin LX1E is proof that size doesn’t always matter when it comes to an acoustic-electric guitar. Gibson J-200 Standard. This is a truly special,limited edition guitar. … Epiphone DOVE PRO. … Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex. … Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium. … Gibson Hummingbird PRO. … Yamaha FGX820C. … Epiphone PR5-E. …
Q: What is the best affordable electric guitar?
A: – Great Les Paul tone – Humbucker pickups – Narrow neck – Just like the original Gibson model