The picture of a musician strumming guitar alongside a crackling campfire is almost iconic. The reality of lugging a full-sized instrument through the woods to get to that fire can be a bit less idyllic. Just like every spring, the great outdoors beckons, and for the musician who can’t stand to separate a love of nature and a passion for music, there are options.
Some musicians opt for the ultra-portable, new breed known as a backpacker guitar. Those who just can’t get used to the streamlined body and light feel may find the Baby Taylor a good fit. For just under $300, musicians can pick up this sturdy little guitar and hit the trails.
How Does the Baby Taylor Travel Guitar Feel?
The best description for the feel of a Baby Taylor is its name. The Baby is ¾ size and around eight pounds, making it a smart pick as a travel guitar or child’s instrument. Once adjusted to this scaled down guitar, musicians will find the Baby Taylor very responsive and easy to play.
The Baby Taylor guitar is only 33 3/4 inches long. While this is great for portability, it does effect playing. Guitarists used to a full-sized fretboard will have to adjust to the Taylor Baby’s smaller Scale length of 22 ¾”. Musicians with smaller fingers and children will welcome this feature, but those comfortable with a full-sized guitar shouldn’t expect to do finger picking past the third fret or to use capos.
How Does the Baby Taylor Travel Guitar Sound?
There’s no getting around the fact that a smaller sound chamber is going to produce a smaller sound. The Baby Taylor does have a few points in its favor to minimize this handicap though. For one thing, the guitars are made with a solid wood top of either spruce or mahogany. Mahogany lends the guitars a striking, dark appearance as well as a mellower tone than many travel models.
Secondly, the Baby Taylor is a quality instrument. Its solid wood top and ebony fretboard are materials not often found on guitars of this price range. Though this travel guitar will inevitably have less volume and bass than a full size, the quality construction lends as rich a tone as can be expected for such a small size.
So, if the need for size reduction trumps a booming bassy sound, the Baby Taylor is one instrument a musician should check out. Because tone is such an individual and subjective preference though, it’s best for musicians to try a travel guitar at a local music shop before making any sight unseen purchases. The Baby Taylor won’t sound or feel like a full-size guitar, but for traveling, camping, or kids, it’s a great option. And as everyone’s enjoying a lazy evening under the stars, who’s going to point out that the music doesn’t sound like the stuff indoors?
Readers looking for even greater portability can check out a review of the Martin Backpacker Travel Guitar. With its unique, streamlined shape and two and a half pound weight, it makes the Baby look like more of a toddler.
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Marcy Paulson - From the moment Marcy Paulson picked up a recorder in fourth grade music class, she was hooked. Since then, her passion for music has ...
