10 Best Travel Guitars (2021 Buyer’s Guide)

If you’re on the go all the time, you may be looking for a travel guitar. These are smaller versions of full-size instruments. They’re ideal when you have limited space, such as on an airplane.

This guide to the best travel guitars should help you find something that works for your needs. I have reviewed several different instruments so you can find a guitar to take with you on that next trip.

What Is a Travel Guitar?

A travel guitar is essentially a smaller version of a regular guitar. They come in both acoustic as well as electric versions. Many top manufacturers now make travel-size guitars, so you have something to play when you’re on a trip.

Some instruments collapse down, meaning you can take the neck off of them, while others don’t offer this feature. They may have more stripped-down controls or not as many frets as a regular guitar.

What Types of Travel Guitars Are There?

There are several different types of travel guitars that you need to know about. Here are the basic types that you might want to consider purchasing.

Electric Travel Guitar

The electric travel guitar is a stripped-down version of a regular electric guitar. The instrument may have an odd shape compared to a regular electric guitar that you have to get used to, but they offer the same basic functions.

Acoustic Travel Guitar

An acoustic travel guitar offers you more options. This is because a lot of manufacturers make smaller size instruments designed for students. These would make excellent travel guitars.

Some manufacturers also make what are called “baby instruments.” These are smaller versions of regular brand name guitars. For example, both Taylor and Martin offer baby instruments, such as the Little Martin or Baby Taylor.

Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar

An acoustic-electric travel guitar is a regular acoustic guitar with a pickup system. This gives you both the sound of an acoustic guitar and electric guitar in one portable package.

Collapsible Travel Guitar

A collapsible travel guitar is a guitar where you can take off the headstock. This makes it the best guitar for airline travel since you can take it apart.

Backpacking Travel Guitar

When you’re on travels, you might want to go hiking or backpacking. It’s difficult to take a guitar with you if you want to play after your hike. This is where a backpacking travel guitar is beneficial.

A backpacking travel guitar is a small portable guitar that you can take with you. They offer great sound as well as tone in one compact package.

10 Best Travel Guitars Overall

As a guitarist and guitar teacher for many years, I’ve personally had the opportunity to play these travel guitars and countless more. Here’s my list of of the best travel guitars on the market today.

1. Traveler EG-1

• Scale length: 24.3
• Frets: 21
• Pickup type: Humbucker
• Body shape: Travel size
• What’s Included in the B0x: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Walnut, alder, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that want the tone of a humbucker

I like the Traveller EG-1 because it gives you the big tone of a humbucking pickup. This guitar also has a built-in amplifier with various effects, so you don’t have to lug an amplifier with you on your travels.

Why I Recommend It
The EG-1 Is a great-sounding traveler guitar. It has an excellent pickup, a nice neck, a headphone amplifier, and an output jack, so you can jam along with your favorite tracks. It comes with a gig bag, so it’s ready to go.

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2. Dean FLY NYL 6-String Nylon Travel Guitar

• Scale length: 22″
• Frets: 19
• Pickup type: N/A
• Body shape: Travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation
• Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, satin finish
• Best for: Beginners that want a simple travel guitar

The Dean FLY NYL is a simple nylon string guitar. I like this model because it’s made of solid mahogany wood, so it has an excellent tone. This the best beginner travel guitar thanks to its easy playability.

Why I Recommend It
The Dean FLY NYL is a good choice if you’re a beginner and want to travel with your guitar. It’s made of solid wood, has a decent tone, and it’s small enough to pack away in tight locations while you’re traveling.

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3.  Taylor Mini-e Guitar

• Scale length: 24.3″
• Frets: 19
• Pickup type: N/A
• Body shape: Dreadnought travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Spruce, rosewood, laminate satin finish
• Best for: Beginners or intermediate players that want a reliable acoustic for traveling

The Taylor Mini-e is ideal for anyone on the go who wants a simple acoustic travel guitar. It has an excellent tone, easy playability, and comes with a gig bag, making it one of the best travel acoustic guitars you can buy.

Why I Recommend It

I like the Taylor Mini-e since it’s a well-built guitar that sounds great. It has a great pickup, an excellent neck, a great finish, and the smaller size means it’s perfect for traveling.

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4. Alvarez LJ2E Little Jumbo

• Scale length: 24″
• Frets: 20
• Pickup type: Undersaddle
• Body shape: Travel jumbo dreadnought
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Sitka spruce, rosewood, mahogany, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that want a good dreadnought style guitar

The Alvarez LG2E is a nice dreadnought jumbo style travel guitar. I like this model because it comes with a pickup, a built-in tuner, and has an excellent tone. It’s ready to go with a gig bag for your next travel adventure.

Why I Recommend It

This guitar is a great choice for any traveler because it comes with a pickup, tuner, and excellent tone. I like the solid wood construction and easy-to-play neck. This is the ideal guitar for any intermediate player.

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5. Traveler Guitar Viabrant Deluxe

• Scale length: 25.5″
• Frets: 24
• Pickup type: 2 x humbucking 1 x single-coil
• Body shape: Electric travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Maple, alder, ebony, gloss finish
• Best for: Shredders that want to rock during travels

The Traveler Viabrant Deluxe is one stunning travel guitar. The instrument has two humbucking pickups and one single-coil pickup for a big tone. It also has a 24 fret guitar neck, so it’s perfect for any shredder.

Why I Recommend It

The Traveler Viabrant Deluxe is quite a treat for a travel guitar. It has a huge tone with an amazing pickup combination. This is the best electric travel guitar for those into rock guitar.

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6. LAVA ME 2

• Scale length: 23.62″
• Frets: 18
• Tremolo: N/A
• Pickup type: L2 pickup
• Body shape: Dreadnought
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, case
• Material & finish: Carbon fiber
• Best for: Advanced guitar players looking for a unique travel guitar

The LAVA Me 2 is a unique guitar for anyone traveling. It has a built-in pickup and effects, so you don’t have to use an amplifier. It’s made of carbon fiber for added tone and easy playability.

Why I Recommend It

The LAVE ME 2 is a modern take on the travel guitar. This instrument has a well-rounded tone, and I like the fact that you can play it with or without an amplifier. This is one of the best travel guitar options on the current market.

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7. Martin Backpacker

• Scale length: 24″
• Frets: 15 frets
• Pickup type: N/A
• Body shape: Travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gig bag
• Material & finish: Spruce, select tonewoods, satin finish
• Best for: Hikers or when space is limited

If you want to hike and want to play guitar, the Martin Backpacker is a great choice. It has excellent tone and sound in a small compact package. It’s the best backpacker guitar you can buy because it has that famous Martin tone.

Why I Recommend It

The Martin Backpacker is a guitar you want to take with you on your travels. It’s easy to play, and its small size makes it portable for almost any situation. It’s one of the best travel guitars for airplanes or wherever you are.

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8. Johnson JG-TR3 Travel Guitar

• Scale length: 24″
• Frets: 21
• Pickup type: N/A
• Body shape: Travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation
• Material & finish: Spruce, gloss finish
• Best for: Travelers that need a cheap guitar

The Johnson JG-TR3 is the ideal choice if you’re looking for the best cheap travel guitar. This instrument has a nice neck, easy playability, and its small size means you can take it with you wherever you go.

Why I Recommend It

This is one of the best cheap travel guitars on the market. It has a decent tone, easy playability, and it ships with a gig bag. The guitar comes in at under $200, so it’s a great investment.

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9. Journey Instruments Collapsible Guitar

• Scale length: 24.5″
• Frets: 20
• Pickup type: Transducer
• Body shape: Collapsible dreadnought
• Included in the box: Guitar, case, documentation
• Material & finish: Mahogany, ebony, satin finish
• Best for: Those whose space is at a premium

The Journey Instruments Collapsible is an excellent guitar because it collapses right down into a small package. You can take the neck off to carry it with you on an airplane. It has a great tone, a nice finish, and easy playability.

Why I Recommend It

This is the best travel guitar for airplane travel. It folds down into one nice compact package. The guitar itself has a decent tone and easy playability. I also like the solid wood construction and the pickup that it comes with.

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10. Washburn Rover Spruce Top

• Scale length: 23″
• Frets: 18
• Pickup type: N/A
• Body shape: Travel size
• Included in the box: Guitar, documentation, gigbag
• Material & finish: Spruce, mahogany, satin finish
• Best for: Beginners or intermediate players that want a reliable travel guitar.

The Washburn Rover is an excellent travel guitar. It has a great sound, a nice playing neck, and it’s suitable for backpacking because of its small size. It comes with a bunch of extras, such as a tuner, a guitar strap, and a gig bag.

Why I Recommend It

The Washburn Rover is the perfect instrument for traveling. It can deal with tight spaces. Its small size means you can take it backpacking if you want. It has a great tone and is perfect for many situations.

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What Are the Best Travel Guitar Brands?

There are several travel guitar brands that you might want to buy your instrument from. All of these manufacturers make some of the best travel guitars on the market today. Here is a rundown of the best ones.

Traveler

One of the better companies for travel guitars is Traveler. They have constructed travel guitars since 1992. Some of their guitars have a unique design where the tuning pegs are located in the guitar’s body and the neck is headless.

Taylor

Since 1974, Taylor has been making musical instruments. They produce the excellent Baby Taylor guitar, which is their travel or student size guitar model.

Martin

Martin has been producing instruments since 1833. They have a couple of excellent travel-size guitars. Two of their better models include the Martin Backpacker and the Little Martin Guitar.

Yamaha

Since 1887, Yamaha has been making a wide range of musical instruments and other products. They offer several student size guitars, which make excellent travel guitars.

Washburn

Washburn offers several different travel guitars. Their model is called the Rover, and it’s one of the better acoustic travel guitars on the market. This company has been in operation since 1883.

What Are the Best Beginner Travel Guitars?

A beginner travel guitar is a basic instrument that you can take with you when you’re on-the-go. Don’t expect the best tone or sound of these instruments. You’ll have something basic to help you practice when away from home.

• Washburn Rover Spruce Top: This guitar is an excellent choice for beginners as it has a great neck, easy playability, a great finish, and it’s portable.
• Johnson JG-TR3: This is a simple travel guitar. It has an excellent neck, easy playability, great tone, and a nice finish.
• Dean FLY NYL: This is an excellent guitar for beginners as it has nylon strings, easy playability, a great wood construction, and it comes in at a low price.

What Are the Best Intermediate Travel Guitars?

At the intermediate level, you’ll have more options available to you in terms of travel guitars. These instruments are made with better wood, have a better tone, and are more reliable than a basic instrument.

• Traveler Lightweight Acoustic-Electric: This guitar has a nice tone and easy playability. It comes with a pickup and is easy to take with you no matter where you are.
• Martin Backpacker: This Martin guitar is one of the best travel guitars because it has a small size and a great tone. It’s made with solid wood and has a nice finish.
• Washburn RO10: This instrument is perfect for backpacking. It has a great tone, easy playability, and it won’t take up much room no matter where you are.

What Are the Best Travel Guitars for Professionals?

At the professional level, you’ll find an instrument that sounds amazing, has great playability, and gives you all the options you want. The instruments listed below are some of the best guitars for professionals.

• Traveler Viabrant Deluxe: This guitar has excellent pickups, a great tone, and is everything that a professional would want in a high-quality electric travel guitar.
• Tayor GS Mini-e: This instrument has the sound you expect from Taylor with a nice neck, great tone, pickup system, and wonderful finish.
• LAVE ME 2: This instrument can be used with or without an amplifier. It has a great tone, nice neck, and unique design, making it an excellent travel guitar.

What Are the Best Cheap Travel Guitars?

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a travel guitar, you can still find many options that don’t cost a lot of money. Here are some of the best cheap travel guitars that you might want to consider.

• Johnson JG-TR3: This instrument is portable and has a nice sound and good finish It comes with a gig bag, and, more importantly, it has a low price tag.
• Cordoba Mini II M: This instrument has a small size, a solid wood construction, easy-playing nylon strings, and a great tone for any beginner.
• Yamaha JR-1 FG: This guitar is a nice 3/4 size instrument with a nice tone, a smooth finish, and easy playability, making it perfect for any student or traveler.

What Are the Best Kids Travel Guitars?

If you have small children, you may want to pick up a travel guitar for them to take with you on your vacation. Here are some options below that would make excellent travel guitars for younger kids.

• Tanglewood TW2T: This travel-size guitar kit includes an excellent guitar, strings, picks, a tuner, and everything else that a young beginner needs.
• Ibanez EWP140PN: This travel guitar features a cutaway, an excellent tone, a smooth finish, and easy playability for any small child.
• Hofner Shorty Guitar: Great electric travel guitar for kids with a good pickup, easy-playing neck, and an excellent tone.

What Are the Best Electric Travel Guitars?

For those who don’t want to play an acoustic but prefer electric, you’ll find a wide range of electric guitars suitable for travel. Here are three of the top choices in this category, including the best electric travel guitar on my list.

• Traveler EG-1: This guitar has a classic look, a great humbucking pickup, smooth neck, and a cutaway so that you can access all of the higher frets with ease.
• Hofner Shorty: This electric travel guitar is easy to play, and it has a comfortable neck and a great pickup. It’s suitable for beginners or intermediate players.
• Traveler Guitar Viabrant: This instrument features excellent pickups, a great tone, a smooth playing neck, and everything else you could want in an electric travel guitar.

What Are the Best Acoustic Travel Guitars?

There are quite a few acoustic travel guitars available on the market. Here are some top choices that you might want to consider picking up.

• Washburn RO10SK: This instrument has a great tone, a nice finish, excellent tuning machines, a tuner, a strap, and it ships with a gig bag to protect your guitar.
• Cordoba Mini II M: This instrument has easy-to-play nylon strings, a solid wood construction, a great tone, and easy playability.
• Journey Instruments PJ410N: This acoustic instrument is collapsible with a smooth finish, an excellent tone, and great convenience for traveling.

What Are the Best Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitars?

When looking for the best travel guitar, you may want the best of both acoustic and electric sounds. There are several acoustic-electric guitars on the market to choose from. Here are three choices you might want to consider.

• Traveler AG-105E: This instrument has a nice finish, comfortable neck, built-in pickup, tuner, and headphone jack. It’s one of the best travel guitars under $500.
• LAVA ME 2: This guitar has a smooth finish, easy playability, a great tone, a solid construction, and you can play it with or without an amplifier.
• Cordoba Mini EB-CE: This guitar has a smooth finish, an excellent pickup system, easy playability, and it’s easy to take with you as it’s only 1/2 size.

What Are the Best Collapsible Travel Guitars?

When you’re traveling, you don’t have a whole lot of room for your guitar. In this case, you’ll want one that collapses down. Here is a guide to several that are the best collapsible travel guitars you might want to go with.

• Journey Instruments OF66OR1M: This instrument has an exceptional tone, easy playability, a great neck, and it collapses down into one easy-to-carry package.
• Cross Guitar 1.0: Offers a full acoustic guitar neck, easy playability, great tone, and it folds down so you can take it with you.
• Journey Instruments OF312: This instrument offers an exceptional tone, has a great finish, comes with a pickup, and collapses down so you can take it with you.

What Are the Best Backpacking Travel Guitars?

When you’re on the go and don’t have a whole lot of room to spare for your guitar, you might want to consider a small backpacking instrument. Here are a few of the best backpacking guitars you might want to pick up.

• Martin Backpacker: One of the best instruments for backpacking is the Martin Backpacker. This guitar has a great tone, easy playability, a solid construction, and you can take it with you anywhere.
• Washburn Rover 6: This small backpacking guitar has a great tone and excellent playability. It comes with a gig bag and is easy to take with you.
• Cross Guitar 2.0: This guitar is simple to take with you as it folds down, and it has a great tone and playability.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Travel Guitar

There are several things that you want to consider when choosing a travel guitar. Below are the options that you should keep in mind before you make your purchase.

• Budget: Have an idea of the budget you have to spend on your instrument. You can spend anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to close to $1,000 on a travel guitar.
• Acoustic or electric: You have to decide whether you want an acoustic or an electric guitar. You could also buy an acoustic-electric guitar, so you have the best of both worlds.
• Wood: The wood choice for a travel guitar can make a difference. Some of these instruments aren’t made with the best materials, while others use solid wood in the construction.
• Playing level: If you’re new to playing guitar, you probably want an instrument that’s easy to play. If you have more experience, then you can probably go with a more complex travel guitar.

Level of Experience

You’ll find a travel guitar whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an advanced player. What you decide to buy will all depend on your various needs. Here are some of the things you can expect at different playing levels.

Beginner Travel Guitars

At the beginner level, you can expect to find basic instruments. They’ll probably cost you only a couple of hundred dollars. They’ll have a basic tone and playability. They’re perfect for anyone that’s just starting.

Intermediate Travel Guitars

At the intermediate level, there are more options available to you. For example, you might want to go with an electric guitar as your intermediate travel instrument. These guitars cost more but use better wood and have a better sound.

Professional Travel Guitars

If you’re a professional player, you can pick something that will work for your individual needs. Whether you’re an acoustic or an electric player, there’s an option out there for you.

Size

Some travel guitars have a full-length guitar neck, while others have a length that’s a bit shorter. You can also get instruments that are 1/2 or 3/4 size. These smaller student guitars are also perfect travel guitars for adults.

Wood

There are various types of wood used in guitars. Here are some of the options you can expect to see when you make your purchase:

• Mahogany: This word is often used in the top and sides of acoustic guitars. It has an excellent tone and resonance.
• Maple: This wood is durable and is often used in the construction of guitar necks for electric instruments.
• Spruce: Acoustic guitar tops are often made of spruce wood as it has a great tone and reliability.
• Rosewood: Fretboards of acoustic instruments as well as electric instruments are often made of rosewood. This wood is smooth and easy on the fingers as you play.
• Alder: This wood is often used to make the bodies of electric guitars as it’s reliable, long-lasting, and sounds great.
• Laminate: Some instruments are made with a combination of wood called laminate wood. This is usually used on lower-cost instruments.

Finish

• Shellac: This is used on guitars because it’s durable and long-lasting.
• Oil and wax: Some acoustic instruments are finished with oil and wax, as they bring out the wood’s natural shine.
• Nitrocellulose lacquer: This is a common finish used on modern instruments because it has an excellent shine, great durability, and it helps protect the guitar.
• Polyester: This is another common finish used, as it offers great durability and is long-lasting.

Color

Travel guitars come in various colors. Common colors include natural, white, black, and so on. There are not as many color options for acoustic instruments, but electric ones tend to have more color options.

The Overall Tone & Sound

You want a travel instrument that has a decent sound and tone. If you can spend a little bit more on your travel guitar, it’s certain that higher-cost instruments will have the best sound.

Price

Travel guitars come at various price ranges. Here is what you can expect when you make your purchase.

Budget Travel Guitars

At the budget level, you can expect to pay between $75 and $200. You should try to spend at least over $100 on your guitar. Instruments on the lower end of the spectrum don’t tend to be all that great.

Midrange Travel Guitars

You can expect to pay from $200 to $400 for your instrument at the mid-range or intermediate level. You’ll get better wood, better sound, and an instrument that has better playability at this price.

Top-End Travel Guitars

At the professional level, you have the most options available to you. These instruments cost anywhere between $400 and up. They have the best sound, the best tone, and the reliability you want in a professional instrument.

New vs Used

If you have some experience playing guitar, you can buy a used travel guitar if you want. If you’re new to guitar and want a travel instrument, it’s best to buy it new as you won’t have any problems.

What’s in a Travel Guitar Box?

You can expect to find several things inside the box when you get your guitar home. Here are some of the things that are commonly found in a guitar box.

Documentation/Checked-by Tag

In the guitar box, you should find a manual or some sort of documentation. You should find a checked-by tag. This ensures that the instrument has been inspected at the factory or at the music store where it was sold.

Accessories

If you buy a guitar kit, you may have several accessories inside the box. This may include a cable, picks, strings, a guitar strap, and other related accessories that came with the package.

Hardshell Case/Gigbag

If your instrument includes a gig bag or hardshell case, you’ll find this in the box.

Tools

You may find a few tools in the guitar box. This might include allen wrenches to adjust certain aspects of your instrument.

Extras

Whenever you buy a guitar, there are a few extras that you might want to pick up. You were some of the common ones:

• Picks
• Strings
• Cables
• Amplifier
• Lesson books
• Guitar stand/chair

Travel Guitar Brands to Avoid

Try to avoid low-cost guitar kits. This is anything that is under $100 or so. These instruments don’t tend to be made to a high quality. It’s far better to go with a brand name and spend a little extra on your instrument.

Travel Guitar Parts & Accessories

There are several different parts of travel guitars. This will cover both acoustic as well as electric instruments.

Headstock

The headstock is where the tuning pegs of the guitar are located. This also includes the string slot and nut. Some travel guitars don’t have headstocks, and the tuning pegs are located in the body.

Neck

The neck of a travel guitar is where you’ll find the frets. The neck is attached to the body of the guitar. The neck and headstock are usually one piece of wood.

Body

The travel guitar body is where you’ll find the bridge and electronics if the instrument is electric. You may also find the tuning pegs located here on some guitars, such as the Traveler brand of instruments.

Strap Buttons

Most traveler guitars have two strap buttons. Some of them only have one, so you’ll have to install an extra one for your guitar strap.

Electronics

Electric and acoustic-electric guitars have electronic systems. These include pickups, tone control, volume control, input jack, and some guitars have built-in speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here are some frequently asked questions about travel guitars that you need to know.

How Much Do Travel Guitars Cost?

There are various price ranges for travel guitars. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or more advanced player, there’s a travel guitar out there for you. The basic costs are:

• Beginner: $75-$200
• Intermediate: $200-$400
• Advanced: $400+

What Are the Best Travel Guitars?

The three instruments listed below are what I consider to be the best travel guitar that you can buy. These are suitable for all skill levels and needs.

Traveler Viabrant Deluxe: Best for Advanced Players

The Vibrant Deluxe is an excellent instrument for advanced players. This guitar features a combination of humbucking and single-coil pickups. It produces an amazing tone in one compact package.

Martin Backpacker: Best for Intermediate Players

You get the great tone and reliability of a Martin guitar in one small compact size. This instrument has excellent machine heads, a great tone, a smooth finish, and easy portability.

Dean FLY NYL: Best for Beginners

This instrument is easy to play for beginners as it features nylon strings. It has a solid wood construction, a nice neck, and it comes in at a very attractive price.

Where Are the Best Travel Guitars Made?

Most of the best travel guitars are made in the United States. Several companies offer excellent instruments, including famous brand name companies such as Taylor and Martin.

What Is the Best Sounding Travel Guitar?

The Traveler EG-1 is an excellent travel guitar because it features a great sounding humbucking pickup. I like the neck on this guitar and the fact that it has a classic electric guitar feel.

What Is the Best Guitar for Backpacking?

The Martin Backpacker is the best guitar for backpacking. It’s a small instrument, so you can take it with you no matter where you go. This guitar has a great tone, sound, and playability.

Where to Buy Travel Guitars

There are several places where you might want to pick up your travel guitar. You’ll have to decide whether you want an acoustic, electric, or an acoustic-electric combination. There’s a guitar available for everyone, no matter your level.

Amazon

Amazon is probably the best place to buy your instrument. You can return it for your money back, read customer reviews, and they have attractive prices. Amazon often has specials so that you can get great deals.

Guitar Center

Another place to purchase online is Guitar Center. They have a huge selection and an excellent guarantee, so you’re sure to find something that meets your needs.

Your Local Music Store

You can always shop at your local music store. This might be an option if you have a location near you. Take someone with you that understands musical instruments if you’ve never bought a travel guitar before.

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In Conclusion

This concludes my guide to the best travel guitars. There’s a wide range of different instruments for you to choose from depending on your skill level and requirements.

Please leave your questions and comments about travel guitars, as I want to hear from you. Have fun on your next travel adventure and enjoy playing your travel guitar.