Martin GCBC Backpacker Nylon-String Travel Acoustic Guitar (With Gig Bag and Strap)

Solid Spruce top. 1-year warranty.

Item: MRT11GCBC

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    • $169.95
    • List: $299.00
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  • More expected Thursday, December 25, 2008. Preorder today.
  • On Order

    We have been given a date of Thursday, December 25, 2008 for the arrival of this item. This date is not guaranteed, rather an estimate based on either information obtained directly from the manufacturer or historical delivery data for the specific manufacturer.

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customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

40 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

2 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"The Ultimate Portable Classical Guitar"

Feature:
Bag, Martin-logoed strap. The bag is great, it has a zippered compartment for accessories and includes a shoulder strap. There is a little extra material inside to protect the headstock.

Quality:
The Martin quality is all there, very meticulous fretwork and mine had no defects at all.

Value:
For the price this is an absolutely excellent! I play electric and steel-string acoustic and wanted to dive into Classical playing. This was perfect for me.

Desirability:
Everyone who has seen this Classical Backpacker is very interested in it.

Sound:
The Martin Steel-string Backpackers have a "tinny" sound due to the small body, but this Classical Backpacker sounds like a Lute. Definitely does NOT sound like a Ukelele! The sound is good enough for what this guitar is designed to be, which is a very portable classical guitar.

Ease of Use:
Okay, this is a portable guitar. Very solid, and as one might expect it is neck-heavy. Using the included strap is a must for any seated or standing position. Properly adjusted you can get a good Classical Guitar position when seated. The tuners work very well, they are smooth and I like that they are sealed. The 24" scale neck is excellent for serious practice--I have large hands so this is a critical point. It may take time to get the proper right-hand Classical position, but it can be done.

Support:
I have never deal with Martin, there was never a need to.

Overall:
For learning and practicing Classical this is a great first choice for me. The alternative was to wait and purchase a midrange standard Classical, so I saved a lot of money and time by getting this first. Now, I can pursue my Classical studies and when I'm ready I can invest in a really nice Classical!

Submitted: 8/16/2008

Style of Music: Varied

* * * * * * * * * * 1 out of 10

"Don't do it."

Feature:
You will not believe how awkward to play this thing is. I bought to travel with and found the only position in which it is even remotely comfortable is if I play it laying down and its wedged between an elbow and my chest. There is no natural position for a guitar shaped like this. Also, it sounds like crap. I ended up buying a cheap Yamaha to take on the road and it sounds better anyway.

Quality:
Martin really should have put the "Sigma" stamp on this one. (Sigma is their "down market" brand name.)

Sound:
Imagine a hollow bat with strings on it. That's what it sounds like and that's about how comfortable it is to play. This guitar does a disservice to Martin (I'm a proud Martin guitar owner but this, this is a worthless POS).

Submitted: 9/13/2004

Style of Music: alt

Read all reviews...

Additional Images:

Main
Main
Rear
Rear
Headstock
Headstock
Body
Body

30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Applies On This Item - Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

About This Product!
Description
Martin's Backpacker can accompany you anywhere in the world -- or beyond. One neat little package gives the guitarist portability, playability, intonation, and durability. It's all solid wood, but light. You can stow the Backpacker, in the special gig bag that comes with it, in aircraft overhead bins, and play it in armchairs, cars, parachuting, on mountaintops, in canoes -- anywhere your adventures take you. Choose your Backpacker from a steel 6-string guitar, or this classical nylon version. Standard features for the 'Backpacker Instruments' include solid wood back, sides and neck, a 1-year limited warranty, and padded carrying bag.

Backpackers(R) are fully playable compact travel guitars economically designed to meet the needs of musicians on the run! For their size, both the original steel-string style and this nylon-string classical model have a surprisingly rich and loud tone. Ruggedly built to withstand the rigors of outdoor situations like camping, hiking, and summer music festivals.

Features:
Lightly braced solid tonewood top

Solid Mahogany neck, back and sides

Backpackers(R) carry a 1-year limited warranty to the original owner

Technical Info

Model: Classical Backpacker Guitar

Construction: Unique To Backpacker

Body Size: Unique To Backpacker

Top: Solid Spruce

Rosette: None

Top Bracing Pattern: Unique To Backpacker

Top Braces: Solid Spruce

Back Material: Solid Tonewoods

Back Purfling: None

Side Material: Solid Tonewood

Endpiece: None

Endpiece Inlay: None

Binding: None

Top Inlay Style: None

Side Inlay: None

Back Inlay:

Neck Material: Solid Hardwood

Neck Shape: Unique Contour

Nut Material: Corian(R)

Headstock: Solid/Tapered

Headplate: None

Heelcap: None

Fingerboard Material: Select Hardwood

Scale Length: 24 in.

# of Frets Clear: 15

# of Frets Total: 15

Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 15/16 in.

Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 3/8 in.

Fingerboard Position Inlays: None- Double Side Dots (At 3,5,7 & 9 frets)

Fingerboard Binding: None

Finish Back & Sides: Hand Rubbed Urethane

Finish Top: Hand Rubbed Finish

Finish Neck: Hand Rubbed Finish

Bridge Material: Select Hardwood

Bridge Style: Unique To Classic Backpacker

Bridge String Spacing: 2 7/16 in.

Saddle: Micarta(R)

Tuning Machines: Chrome w/Small Knobs

Recommended Strings: Darco D-30 HB Ballend Classical

Bridge & End Pins: None

Pickguard: None

Case: Padded Gig Bag

Interior Label: Small Foil Logo Located Above Soundhole

Other Comments: All specifications are subject to change without notice.
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