Portable guitar for practice - Snap Dragon vs Mini Corda

[Geetar]

Would love a relatively inexpensive guitar that I can keep in my work backpack and quickly practice on breaks when needed with minimal set up . I don’t want to carry a gig bag as I will be bike commuting .

Anyone have any experience with either of these and do they actually fit into a standard sized laptop backpack ok ?

Thanks !

[alltunes]

that mini cords looks interesting. I do have this one and I will say it does make enough noise on its own without being plugged in to keep me entertained. I don’t think anybody else would really hear it. Could fit in a backpack with may be a bit of the neck sticking out.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic Guitar – Traveler Guitar(R)

[Geetar]

that mini cords looks interesting. I do have this one and I will say it does make enough noise on its own without being plugged in to keep me entertained. I don’t think anybody else would really hear it. Could fit in a backpack with may be a bit of the neck sticking out.

Traveler Guitar Ultra-Light Acoustic Guitar – Traveler Guitar(R)

Thanks for replying ! I already have a very small travel guitar that’s great and even breaks down (strobel rambler ) but it take too long to set up to play and tune up if I take the neck off.

I’d also rather have the guitar fit and contained inside a backpack so I can avoid any conversations about guitar when coming in and out of work.

My main concern with the minicorda is the ergonomics and playability (as well as a the unconventional string gage ). On the other hand I’m wondering if the snapdragon traxe is too bulky for a backpack . Trying to weigh the pros and cons of each! I love the idea of the EO folding classical guitar but it’s too much money for what I need it for and also may take 6 months to build.

[pingu]

I’m mainly interested in flying with
a guitar
The Snapaka looks good too me
and folds up to 52cm ….

(airline overhead cabin bag requirements are 55cm)

the only potential issue i can see
is the locking tuners , which i’ve had problems with in the past
cutting flat wound strings
but I reckon I could change them for some gotohs

[Geetar]

As an update to this thread, I ended up spending more money than I thought Iwas going to spend for a Snap Dragon Traxe Jazz. Sounds and feels great!

Before buying, I was concerned about not being able to reach above the 12th fret as I read another review of the similar Traxe Solo that mentioned this but had no issues with this (my test was playing the head to Birdlike in the higher register ) and my hands/fingers are definitely not very long! I also had concerns about weird ergonomics with anchoring my pinky on the fretboard for Benson picking but this model has the pickguard in the same plane of motion as the strings.

The Evertune bridge is amazing too . I’ve carried in a larger backpack on bicycle and an international flight and it’s always in tune after unfolding. I’ve brought it to rehearsal and it was great playing with a band through a deluxe reverb. Super simple to fold and unfold!

The company has been great to work with as well regarding answering questions and communication. I got mine pre -set up with daddario chrome 12s.

[Doctor Jeff]

Just gonna throw out the Voyage Air as GREAT travel guitars. I have an acoustic solid Sitka top OM model. It has its own case, which is very protective and can accommodate laptops, etc. I have even traveled with it as my only piece of luggage—stuffed socks and shorts in the sound hole!

OM'-'Style travel guitar'-'Voyage Air VAOM'-'04 includes backpack case

I notice that prices have gone up quite a bit since I got mine 2-3 years ago—I think I paid ~$650.

They also make an electric model which looks very nice, but quite a bit more expensive. I don’t think you’d give up much if you were a gigging musician though.

VET'-'2SBB TelAir '-' Voyage Air

I have to say if I were a pro, I’d be tempted to rig up a Tele with bolt inserts for the neck ala Bill Kirchner and Julian Lage.

[jazzloverfat]

Just a moment...

I saw this in a store and out of curiosity played it for a bit, the sound it produces defies its shape & size; it's also surprisingly comfortable to hold too.

[alltunes]

Just a moment...

I saw this in a store and out of curiosity played it for a bit, the sound it produces defies its shape & size; it's also surprisingly comfortable to hold too.

that looks nice, solid spruce top, etc. however it’s got a short scale length so one could argue are you really getting in practice when you’re playing on a guitar that doesn’t resemble your normal set up?

But I suppose the main reason why I bring a travel guitar is to scratch an itch and not necessarily to improve my playing.

[Doctor Jeff]

Just a moment...

I saw this in a store and out of curiosity played it for a bit, the sound it produces defies its shape & size; it's also surprisingly comfortable to hold too.

I had a Washburn version of that. Didn't like it much.

It's neck heavy, so has to be played with a strap. Sound is thin.

It would be hard for me to give up a comfortable, full body, full neck guitar, even if I needed one for traveling.

[jazzloverfat]

This particular model was not thin sounding at all and it had very good projection; it didn't feel neck heavy and it was comfortable to play.
When i saw it i had a "wtf is this toy" reaction, but after about 30 min of noodling on it i was so impressed that if I ever desire an acoustic or travel, this brand will definitely be on my short-list.

When it comes to travel guitars i think there's no way around some form of compromise. To me, this felt like striking a good balance between craftsmanship, sound and size.