I need a small guitar if I'm going to play while sitting in my wheelchair because the lower bout of a full-size guitar and the right wheel of the chair try to occupy the same space and it throws the guitar out of position. So I went Googling for travel guitars. After a fair amount of research, reading reviews and such, I settled on a Go-guitar made by Sam Radding of San Diego.

I passed them up at first because they don't look all that much like a guitar. In fact, they look like the love-child of an unnatural relationship between a guitar and a canoe paddle. But reviews in places like Harmony Central raved about them: convenience, playability, and sound. And it also comes with a neat, padded gig back (extra charge, but worth it).

When I got mine, tuned it up, and started to play it, I knew I'd made the right choice. Not real strong in the bass as one would expect with such a small box, but strong enough, and with a warm tone and a good sustain. I'm tickled with it!

And I have a good basis for comparison because I've owned some pretty pricy lumber over the years. Three Martins early on, and then a couple of Spanish hand-made classics. After I bought my flamenco guitar from Arcangel Fernandez in 1961, I learned that Carlos Montoya had retired his Barbero and was now playing a new Fernandez.

For the past ten years I've been using the Go-guitar in all my performances, including a number of concerts. Sounds fine! I've asked audience members afterward if the guitar came across well, and they've all said that it sounded like a regular guitar. And even though it doesn't look at all like a lute or cittern, it looks like a canoe paddle with strings, I've had audience members ask me if it was a period instrument of some kind.

I got the GO-GW (slightly deeper body for fuller sound, walnut back and sides rather than mahogany) nylon-string model. Some months later, I got a GO-GW steel-string model as well. A friend of mine played it and commented that the fingerboard and action feel just like a Taylor. He wanted to know where it got it.

Also. Sam Radding is a nice guy and very accommodating. He makes the guitars to order, and if you want anything special (a little customizing), it may cost a bit more, but he's game. Good guy to deal with.

Sam's main web site (CLICKY #1).

His line of models of the Go-guitar (CLICKY #2).

Don Firth

P. S. Careful if you carry it through an airport in its gig bag. It looks like you have a rifle in the bag. By the way, the strap on the gig bag unbuttons from the bag so you can also use it as a shoulder strap on the guitar.