Plays rights - sounds weak

The Martin Backpacker instruments are very useful for the person who:

1. Wants an instrument that "feels right" - meaning the frets are in the right place the intonation is accurate the scale is correct etc.

2. Wants an instrument that you can literally throw into a duffel back or backpack and carry into remote places. (Many American Servicemen I know took them on deployments.)



The tradeoff is that the teeny-tiny sound-box produces a small tinny noise that is weak in volume and almost metallic in tone - the closest thing I can think of to describe what it SOUNDS like is one of those old hand-cranked jack-in-the-boxes.



It DOES play right though and if you want an instrument that will keep your fingers in shape is decent to practice on and you CAN take it anywhere you can sling it over your shoulder - then the Martin Backpacker is right up your alley.

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