Great article, Jed! I've often wondered whether there was something unique that might be done with a Backpacker (or similar travel guitar) that would make it something more than a "real" guitar's little brother. Your experiments sound interesting, and worth exploring further.

I'll admit that I was a little confused at first by your use of the word "rewired" to describe what you've done. In my universe, a "rewired" guitar is one that has had the electronics updated; I would have said your guitar was "restrung". But I got it eventually.

The other question I have is whether your article was primarily celebrating (a) the Backpacker, or (b) high-strung guitars in alternate tunings. It seems to me it was the latter, and the pleasure you got from this experience could just have easily been obtained from any other high-strung guitar. Is there some character to the Backpacker's tone that makes it better than another guitar similarly strung and tuned?

As for amplifying your guitar, I'm sure you're aware that there are other ways to do it than by installing a pickup (with the aid of dentists' tools). I myself prefer magnetic soundhole pickups to under-saddle piezoelectric pickups -- I use the Fishman Rare Earth Blenders (pickup and internal condenser mic) on my guitars currently. But you can go with an under-saddle pickup (like a Fishman Matrix), or with contact pickups (McIntyre makes some good ones). I'd consider exploring the latter, particularly since a Backpacker isn't going to give you quite as many feedback problems as a full-bodied guitar due to its comparative lack of resonance. Something to think about, anyway.

Again, this is great -- I love to hear about people trying new approaches like this. Thanks.