Washburn 'Travel Guitar'

Subject: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: GUEST,Doug in the U.S.A.
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 07:55 PM

Do any of you own (or have you played or seen) a Washburn Rover "Travel Classical Guitar RO-20"? The one I played today was valued at $199.00...on sale at $149.00. Is this a worthwhile guitar and guitar brand? I will use it for public performance as well as in-home practice use.

Doug

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: open mike
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 12:48 AM

there are quite a few critiques here..
one i noticed prefers the martin back packer.
a compact guitar may not have the sound
quality you need for performance,
no doubt there are some compromises
in order to make it small.
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Washburn/RO-10-Rover-Steel-String-01.html

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: open mike
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 01:07 AM

most go for 149

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 02:56 AM

The Martin's not a giggable option. However, I have seen and heard the Tacoma Papoose travel guitar gigged professionally twice - once was with Trisha Yearwood's fabulous band; the other with the Redbird tour, and both times, DI'd (and played beautifully!) they sounded great. So travel guitars can be gigged. And Washburn's a good name. I don't have any first-hand experience of that particular model, tho'.

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 09:29 AM

Hamish , being an argumentative sod , I must take exception with your statement that Martin Backpackers are not giggable ! Admittably ,as they stand they are not brilliant , but through a decent Pre Amp work perfectly well , though only in an Amplified environment ! I work with a guy who plays a backpacker through a Fishman br amp for Banquets and its perfectly acceptable .

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: PennyBlack
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 01:33 PM

I think the Little Martin is far better buy and LXME (with pick-up) is great, acoustic or through an amp/pa.

Pricewise it's OK as well at about $300.00 for the LXME $250.00 for the acoustic.

I have played mine at sessions and it's held up well against other "Full size" guitars, and banjos mandolins etc.. and although not wood, the tone is often prefered to Baby Taylors, Takaminis(sic) etc.

I find the Papoose a bit too high and thin for normal use, though it does sound nice in Nashville tuning played alongside a standard guitar.

Try a few and see what suits you sir.

PB

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 02:09 PM

I have two of THESE, one nylon-string and one steel-string. GO-GW models. They look more like canoe paddles than guitars, but the sound is great! The amazing thing about them is that, as small as they are, they sound like real guitars. A little thin in the base, perhaps, compared to a full-size guitar, but other than that, you can hardly tell that they're not full-size guitars by listening to them.

And I'm pretty damned picky (pun intended) about guitars. Over a period of time, I've owned three Martins (one steel-string and two classics), and several concert quality instruments made in Spain, including a concert Ramirez and a flamenco made by Arcangel Fernandez.

I've used the nylon-string GO in several performances so far. Afterward, asking a few people in the audience how it sounded, they all said "fine!" I've had people ask me what kind of instrument it is, several people have said something like, "Neat! Looks kinda funky!" And one person assumed (since I was using it to accompany some pretty old songs and ballads) that it was a period instrument of some kind.

They're handy, and I keep one of them within arm's reach almost all the time.

Sam Radding, the luthier, hand-makes them to order. He makes a limited number of them per month (to keep the quality up), and he is game to customize to a degree. Fishman Matrix pick-up available (I don't use one. Mine are straight acoustic). Also, he answers his own e-mail.

GO-GW model, $262.90, plus whatever options you might want. Get the gig-bag. Plush! Well worth it

Check 'em out.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Washburn 'Travel Guitar'
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Mar 05 - 03:36 PM

Fair enough, Leadfingers, I should have said "The Martin's not a giggable option (IMHO) - certainly not unamplified. Dunno about through a pa. But I'd doubt it, being as the unamplified sound is so weedy."