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

Solid Spruce top. 1-year warranty.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          7 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          7 out of 10
Sound:
          7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          9 out of 10
 
 

"The Ultimate Portable Classical Guitar"

Overall:
          9 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          9 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          9 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from kj7l.net
Submitted: 8/16/2008
Style of Music: Varied
Musical Experience: Multi-instrumentalist / Indie Composer / Producer
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
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!

12 of 12 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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Martin GCBC Backpacker Customer Review

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from cox.net
Submitted: 2/11/2009
Style of Music: Primarily classical, some folk & rock
Musical Experience: Nearly 40 years of guitar
Location: Phoenix Arizona

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Nicely padded case was included with a handy zipper pocket on the side. The included strap is somewhat uncomfortable (the nylon webbing is a bit rough) but it does the job of supporting the Backpacker properly.

Quality:
For all its quirkiness, I really like this guitar. However, I do wish the finish was a bit more...generous. It feels just a bit rough, but I'm used to a fully-finished body. The neck is also (relatively) unfinished but is already gaining a patina just from being played. The wood itself is quite nice and the mechanics work well. The tuning stabilized in just a few weeks.

Value:
It's a Martin!

Desirability:
It travels well, which is what it's designed for. I have an excellent, concert-quality guitar but do NOT wish to do casual travel with it. Now I can leave my baby and home, safe and sound.

Sound:
The classical-style Backpacker doesn't have the rich sound of a quality standard classical instrument. However, it does have a delightful, almost lute-like tone, which was a very pleasant surprise to me since I primarily play Renaissance music. You need good nails to evoke the tone, but it's quite rewarding and noticeable even with a multi-instrument group.

Ease of Use:
Once the strap was properly adjusted, I found this to be a very comfortable, easy to play instrument. It's most definitely not similar to a normal guitar, but I adjusted quickly. I'm also impressed that additional bridges may be purchased if custom adjustments are desired.

Support:
I had an inquiry shortly after my guitar arrived, and contacted Martin directly. I received a useful, informative reply by email the next day. Well done!

Overall:
I think the Backpacker is perfect for its designed purpose. It's fun to play, gets interesting reactions, and has a very pleasing, if unexpected, voice.

9 of 9 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"Don't do it."

Overall:
          1 out of 10
Features:
          3 out of 10
Quality:
          1 out of 10
Value:
          1 out of 10
I Want It:
          1 out of 10
Sound:
          2 out of 10
User: a customer from clan-dot.org
Submitted: 9/13/2004
Style of Music: alt
Musical Experience: Active Musician
Location: n

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
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).

12 of 38 people (31.58%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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