We're talking a MacNally Standard Strumstick here (G D G'). I have to acquire some technique soon for my month long backpacking trip from mid-July to mid-August.
   Please tell me anything you know about this...positive or negative. Has anybody had good experiences with these instruments when travelling. I went to the Strumstick website and found the chord charts very useful. I've worked out some songs in very little time. My plan is to use it primarily to accompany my singing with chordal strumming. Any other sources for good info would be appreciated.
   For those of you who have hung in this long out of curiosity but don't actually know what a strumstick is ... here's the jist of it. It's a 1 pound travel guitar type of thing that's kind of tuned like a backwards lap dulcimer. It's very guitar player-friendly because you hold and strum it in a vertical position rather than the usual horizontal way that dulcimers are strummed. Go to strumstick.com for more info.
   I've been looking at travel guitars but it seems that no matter what is done they are still too heavy for serious backpacking. I've hiked with a Martin backpacker and borrowed a friend's Go-Guitar, and although they are both amazing instruments I fear I would come to hate them as they weighed me down on the trail. This time I'm giving the strumstick a try.