GAS'in up for a new Camping Guitar.

[peterp]

Some of you may remember (not sure I ever mentioned it) I gave my good old camping guitar away to a young-un who was interested in learning, with the intention of picking up another before the warm outdoor season hit.

Well time is running out, with the temperatures hitting 27c yesterday here, so I got to get moving on this

Currently considering
a Martin dx1 (out of stock most places I checked)
a Taylor gs-mini
or a Seagull (no idea, can't quite figure out their model names)

Any opinions on these  or other camping type guitar?

[FuzzFace]

Have you ever tried ukuleles?
I bought one for travel and it has been awesome.
(Of course I needed to learn the chord formations).

I carry mine in a travel mandolin case, which provides extra room for stuffing socks, shirts, etc.

* * *

In terms of guitars, I have the Taylor Big Baby, which is an amazing guitar.  A comparable sound on any other guitar will cost 3 times the price (in my opinion).

Obviously not the same as the Taylor gs-mini, but the same family.

[Burtog]

If you can get them where you are try 'Freshman', every one I've played has been great, even the budget models!!

[AndyR]

If you can get them where you are try 'Freshman', every one I've played has been great, even the budget models!!

+1

My flat-top is a Freshman, several years old now. It's mighty fine (and it was cheap-ish). I'd never heard of them, but it blew the other guitars around it out of the water on the day I found it. If you can try them, give them a go, everyone I've heard of who's tried one (when they were looking to buy) seems to own one.

[Blooby]

I kayak camp regulary, so I picked up a cheapo 3/4-sized Luna.  Surprisingly good sound. 

Blooby

[Hook]

I took a Martin backpacker on the AT for 6 months and it held up like a champ and weighed next to nothing in the case. I paid $150 in 1996 and I'd pay it again for a new one. But a uke or a mandolin are cooler!
Camp on!

[peterp]

Have uke, keeps making me try to tiptoe through the tulips.

Seems neither Freshman or Luna brands are to be found in the Canadian shops

Checking a lot of brands in that Taylor gs-mini / Martin dx1ae price range find most are made the same way with high pressure woods and composts. Which is good for a camping guitar as it is much more stable as the weather rages around you.

The Taylor GS-mini is all wood, which might not handle the weather so well, and while it sounds great, the short scale is missing out on the bottom end.
Think am settling in on the Martin dx1ae which sounds great and should not be affected much by the elements.

Still have to go back and  try them out a few more times.

[Farrell Jackson]

Have uke, keeps making me try to tiptoe through the tulips.

The Taylor GS-mini is all wood, which might not handle the weather so well, and while it sounds great, the short scale is missing out on the bottom end.
Think am settling in on the Martin dx1ae which sounds great and should not be affected much by the elements.

Still have to go back and  try them out a few more times.

I have a Taylor GS Mini which I like a lot but I'm not sure it would make a good camping guitar either. Although it is a smaller bodied guitar it still seems a bit large for a camp guitar. I'm not familiar with the Martin dx1ae. My daughter has a mini Yamaha that she takes camping. It's a small guitar and does lack on the low end but it sure plays nice and is very compact.

Farrell

[peterp]

Martin dx1ae / dx1rae / dcx1ae /dcx1rae
It is a full sized D-14 Dreadnought body

From what I can gather
x= eco friendly fake materials
c= cutaway (adds about 200$cdn to price tag)
r= fake rosewood stratabond fingerboard
a = acoustic
e= electronics built in

It replaced the original dx1 (no electronics) now annoyingly discontinued.
and seems about to be replaced by the new dx1e (about 150$cdn more) only difference I can see is the electronics are much higher end fishmans (really useful for camping), and different tuners.

Size is not a big issue for me, so long as the guitar is in a hard case it packs away with all the other "stuff" in the Jeep,
Don't try to take anything in the kayaks, they are normally already over packed with camera gear.

[peterp]

Quick update, still looking

I find I can't get comfortable with the small size of the Taylor mini-gs
And the Martin dx1ae's are out of stock everywhere, seems about to be dropped.
Its replacement the dx1e is in the mid 600$'s  getting high for a camping guitar make of fake man made materials.
Puts it in the ballpark of some really nice all wood guitars.

Current list I am "investigating" in order of price high to low.
The Recording King RD 227, Yamaha A1R and Tanglewood TW15-DLX are all listing at the same 699$ price tag.

• Yamaha A3M  - out of current fund range, only heard on youtube, no local store has one in stock.
• Yamaha LL16  - pushing funds limit, but could "force the stretch" only heard on youtube, no local store has one in stock, would need to place order.
• RECORDING KING RD 227 - about limit of funds, found store in Toronto that carries them, will need to make several hour drive to see it.
• Yamaha A1R   - about limit of funds, only heard on youtube, no local store has one in stock, would need to place order.
• Tanglewood TW15-DLX - about limit of funds, shop in Toronto (long drive) carries them, bout 1/2 mile from place that has the recording kings
• Martin dx1e     - exactly same as dx1ae with better electronics for a lot more cash outlay
• Takamine EG360SC - G - Played it, very nice looking, but seemed to lack volume, and sound seemed generic
• Yamaha A1M     - only heard on youtube, no local store has one in stock, would need to place order.
• Martin dx1ae   - Played it, mostly all fake, man made materials, OK sounding, no one has them in stock any more, seem about to be replaced by the dx1e for a lot more change.
• Taylor GS mini - Played it, very nice build, found short scale & size to be most uncomfortable, loud but a bit thin sounding

The fun is in the hunt!