Martin Backpacker...nylon strings?

[Lee D]

I was looking at old posts and came across the heading "Martin Backpacker
( Steel string ) Opinions?", which leads me to the question. Has anyone
ever tried a Martin Backpacker with nylon strings? If so, what was it like?

I would guess that it would be a very quiet instrument with little or no
personality.

Lee D (where do I come up with this stuff?)

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[JimLowther]

"Lee D" mrbigax...@yahoo.com wrote:

>I was looking at old posts and came across the heading "Martin Backpacker
>( Steel string ) Opinions?", which leads me to the question. Has anyone
>ever tried a Martin Backpacker with nylon strings? If so, what was it like?

I have played one or two in stores. I was somewhat underwhelmed. As you meet
expect, the volume was low. The neck is wider and thicker. The combination,
along with the BP's unique profile (squaring off at the peg head end and
flaring out to the "body") made it uncomfortable for me to play (small hands).

I have my BP sturng up with Nashville tuning, and in that role it has a
(limited) place. The idea of the construction is just so clever I keep hoping
it will sound just a bit better than it does. However, I can fingerpick some
old Dillards tunes on this thing and get much more attention than I am
accustomed to getting playing any of my Larrivees.

Best wishes,

Dr. Jim Lowther

[John Moriarity]

> I would guess that it would be a very quiet instrument with little or no
> personality.

Lee,

I agree. But there is an alternative. Go visit www.go-guitars.com and
search around a bit and you'll find a nylon stringed version of their
travel guitars. I thought about purchasing a Backpacker, until I played
one. When I heard of the Go guitars, I visited the factory, and wound
up ordering (a steel stringed) one. No, it doesn't sound like my Martin,
but it is enjoyable. As a plus, they made the neck to match my Martin
D-35S, at no added cost! They used to offer a money back guarantee
if you didn't like it. I don't know if they still do, but you could ask.

Regards,

John in Alturas, CA

[JimLowther]

BTW, Lee, you might look into David Kirpatrick's Troubadour Travel Guitar (see
www.troubadour.uk.com ). David has strung these up with hard tension nylon
strings with some success. However, you might not find the fretboard wide
enough if you normally play classical.

[Lee D]

"JimLowther" dangles candy in front of fat children:

I'm not really in the market for a travel guitar; I just wondered if anyone
had seen nylon strings on a backpacker. I'm really not into nylon strings
either, again just wondering out loud (or in print).

And, even though I'm not in the market for a travel guitar, I DO have my
eyes on David's Cittern guitar thingy. I almost ordered one last night
while taking a break from homework (that's what I am doing now). I think
I'll wait to see how much it costs me to get my car out of the hospital
first.

You know, I don't just have GAS, I have all kinds of syndromes for 6 string
instruments. I feel that I really need a Troubadour Cittern, a six string
Banjo (the Deering looks nice), and some kind of six string lute that can be
tuned like a guitar. I better go check eBay. Crap, I think I need a dobro
now too. Oh no, have you seen those six string basses? Gees, I'm starting
to want a lap steel. UGHH! I know it only has 4 strings, but I'm starting
to get a real jonesing for a uke! Oh man, and a mando...

Is it me, or is it hot in here?

Lee D

[Nick]

> I agree. But there is an alternative. Go visit www.go-guitars.com and
> search around a bit and you'll find a nylon stringed version of their
> travel guitars. I thought about purchasing a Backpacker, until I played
> one. When I heard of the Go guitars, I visited the factory, and wound
> up ordering (a steel stringed) one. No, it doesn't sound like my Martin,
> but it is enjoyable. As a plus, they made the neck to match my Martin
> D-35S, at no added cost! They used to offer a money back guarantee
> if you didn't like it. I don't know if they still do, but you could ask.

Dude, that thing has a face only a mother could love ;)

-Nick

[Misifus]

Lee, let me play the devil's advocate. You've got it bad, but
you only seem to want to try guitar-like instruments. If you
will just let yourself try a mandolin, you'll find that there is
a tremendous amount that can be done with that scale and that
tuning. It will open your world to a whole new dimension of GAS.

-Ralph

--
Misifus-
Ralph Seibert
mailto:rsei...@cox-internet.com
http://www.ralphandsue.com

[Lee D]

"Misifus" wrote in

I will try one some day...but NOT until I finish school! Too many time and
money constraints right now. And yes, I already want one. Also, in the
earlier list I missed the Tacoma Papoose. I was also looking at a dulcimer
a while back...

[John Moriarity]

"Nick" <m...@here.com> wrote in message
news:J62ja.795$A_2...@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com...
> > I agree. But there is an alternative. Go visit www.go-guitars.com ...

> Dude, that thing has a face only a mother could love ;)

And you think a Martin Backpacker is handsome??

At least the Go sounds recognizably like a guitar!
(I don't look at mine while I'm playing it.)

John

[kimNmichael]

And if you want to see something that looks delicious, take a look at
the Milburn Brothers guitars with those beautiful rosettes on them.
If you got the bug, you shouldn't pass these up.
http://www.milburnguitars.com/

On Fri, 4 Apr 2003 09:24:20 -0600, "Lee D" <mrbigax...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

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