the Martin Backpacker Guitar

I finally bought it—the Martin Backpacker Guitar—an amazingly cool, travel-friendly steel string that I’ve had my eyes on ever since the first day I picked one up at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival back in the summer of 1988. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was a teenager and been in rock bands from high school through college. But one of my favorite venues to play the guitar is when I’m on the open road, camping in the mountains and writing music that’s inspired by my travels. This guitar was designed for just that—solid enough to withstand the rigors of hiking and being in the wild, and light enough to strap across your back and carry just about anywhere. It’s a gorgeously designed instrument with a mahogany neck, back and sides, and has a slick and smooth fretboard that makes its bright, light strings a pleasure to strum. The guitar’s narrow design requires getting used to when holding, and it’s actually easier to play while standing up because of its shape and center of gravity. It’s awesome for noodling around and impromptu campfire jams, and you can’t beat the convenience and ingenuity Martin brings to this deceptively small, super cool guitar. Summer road trips, here we come!