I was in Arizona about 13 years ago and a few of us were sitting around the pool on night when I guy came out with a strange-looking instrument that featured a guitar’s neck and a triangular body like a shaved balalaika. The guy started playing and it sounded something between a ukulele and a banjo - although not an unpleasant sound at all. The bottom end was missing but there was a pleasing mix of other tones which made up for it. And then, it was just an informal sing-song around a swimming pool.
The Martin & Co. Backpacker Travel Guitar , as it is called, has a solid spruce top with a solid mahogany back and sides. It uses two different type of wood for the fingerboards. The first type is a reddish-orange, African wood called Paduak or Paduach.The second is Morado, a Bolivian Rosewood which has various shades of brown stripping. Weighing in less than 2.5 lbs it has a rich and loud tone but can fit into the storage cases on an aircraft.
Although the front strap hooks onto the body many owners suggest that you hook it to the head for better stability. The guitar was made to pick up and go and has been on the space shuttle, to the top of Mount Everest and to the North Pole.
Whatever your reasons for buying the guitar you won’t be disappointed. It is a party in a little black bag.