Scott-
The back packer is pretty cool. It has an interesting guitar, but I find it very difficult to play. It wants to roll over in my hand when I play because there is no leverage to counter balance my left hand work on the neck (ie no body). If I play standing, this problem is reduced, but I still spend too much energy fighting the roll. The other small bodied guitars don;t have this problem, but they don;t sound any better than the back packer. Larrivee's travel guitar does. I love new instruments too!