Choosing the Best Travel GuitarBuying Guide

Whether you’re looking for a travel guitar you can take with you on your epic road trip, a compact guitar you can drop into an overhead bin on business trips, or just something small that you can take to a beach bonfire, there are more travel and mini guitar options now than ever to fit your lifestyle and needs.

Travel guitars used to just be smaller versions of popular models, or tiny acoustic guitars with small bodies and less resonance. While you can still find those types of travel and mini guitars today, now you can find electric travel guitars that fit in standard luggage, folding acoustic guitars designed to take a beating from baggage handlers, and more.

We hope that this guide illustrates the different options you have when choosing a travel guitar or a mini guitar and helps you find the best travel guitar for you!

Mini Guitars vs. Kid Guitars

There’s a common misconception that any mini guitar or small guitar is essentially a child’s guitar, or even a toy. While build quality varies by make and model, not all small guitars are meant for children. In fact, many mini and travel guitars have exceptional build quality and the price tag to go along with it.

But what does this mean for you? It means that you can probably use a guitar made for kids as your travel guitar if you want to. After all, they’re the perfect size for traveling. However, if you want a higher quality instrument in a small package, you can find those for sale as well.

Electric Travel Guitars vs. Acoustic Travel Guitars

We used to imagine travel guitars as exclusively acoustic instruments, but that’s not the case at all these days. Travel guitars come in electric and acoustic builds, so you can either embrace your inner folkie on the road or can play plugged in with your favorite effects.

You don't need to bring a full amplifier with an electric travel guitar—headphone amps or even an iRig to plug into your smartphone and pair with GarageBand are popular choices for practicing and playing guitar anywhere. Of course, if you opt for an acoustic travel guitar, you don’t need any extra gadgets to make music. That makes them ideal for camping trips, beach bonfire singalongs, and more.

Folding/Removable Neck vs. Standard Construction

Traditionally, travel guitars were essentially just small versions of regular guitars, sometimes with a different shape. However, advancements in technology have led to travel guitars that have necks that can fold up or even be easily removed. This enables them to fit in smaller spaces, such as a backpack. Fender even released a limited line of folding neck dreadnoughts in 2013.

Some players love the idea of a folding neck travel guitar because they can get something closer to the size of a standard guitar with a more portable form. However, they can be bulky to transport if they feature a full-sized body, and you will likely have to tune every time you unfold it.

Strings vs. MIDI

Though not traditional guitars, MIDI controllers that are shaped like and function as guitars are gaining popularity as a compact travel solution for guitarists. Jammy and Artiphon offer extremely compact takes on guitar MIDI controllers that would fit in most luggage. However, unlike their stringed counterparts, MIDI controllers need access to a computer to make any sound.

Scale Length

When you think of a travel guitar or a mini guitar, you might think you’re relegated to short scale instruments. In truth, while travel guitars are often smaller than their standard counterparts, there’s a wide variety of scale lengths to choose from. Mini guitars or ¾ size guitars are going to have the shortest scale length, but other travel guitars might have fretboards closer in length to a standard guitar.

Classical vs. Steel String

If you decide to shop for an acoustic travel guitar, you’ll also have to choose between classical (nylon) strings or a steel string model. Many of the most popular travel guitar brands, such as the Martin Backpacker, offer both string types. Other brands might only offer nylon or steel strings, so make sure you know what types of strings you’re getting before making your purchase.

Buying Used vs. Brand New

While there’s something special about buying a guitar so new that you get to peel the plastic off the pickguard, you can save some serious money if you opt to buy used instead. Buying used is an especially great option if you’re new to travel guitars and aren’t sure how much use you’ll get out of it. If you ultimately don’t love a travel guitar you bought used, you can likely sell it for about the same price you paid for it in the first place.

Here on Reverb, you'll find the largest selection of used travel guitars anywhere on the internet, with every purchase backed 100% through our protection services.

Price Range

Depending on the make, model, quality of construction, and age of the instrument, a travel guitar could range in price from $100 to over $1,000. On the lower end of the price spectrum, you’ll find mini guitars that, while playable, are likely marketed more toward beginners. On the higher end of the price range, you’ll find MIDI guitars, folding guitars, and travel guitars with advanced electronics.

Brand Selection

There are several brands making popular travel and mini guitars right now, and each has their own unique take on what a travel guitar should look like. Martin, for example, has their Martin Backpacker as well as their Little Martin, while Taylor has their Baby Taylor. Voyage Air and Journey Instruments both offer folding guitar models, with the latter offering Carbon Fiber guitars. Fender and Squier have their Mini Stratocaster and Mini Jazzmasters, whereas Traveler Guitarand Hofner offer stripped-back versions of electric guitars that look little like their full-sized counterparts.

Acoustic travel guitars at a glance:

• Don’t require additional amplification
• Come in a variety of styles and sizes, including full scale length
• Sound qualities vary by make and model
• Available with popular solid spruce tops

Acoustic guitars are the original travel guitar. Over the years, we’ve seen new takes on the acoustic travel guitar, including the Martin Backpacker, the Baby Taylor, the Little Martin, and even carbon fiber offerings from brands like Traveller.

What is a travel size guitar?

Loosely defined, a travel size guitar is a guitar that’s smaller than an average guitar and is designed to be easy to travel around with. That can include camping trips, air travel, and more. Technically, you can travel with almost any guitar, but travel guitars are made to be fun guitars that you can take anywhere with you.

What is the best travel/mini guitar?

The best mini guitar varies by the person who’s searching for a mini guitar! However, the most popular mini electric guitars on Reverb.com right now are the Hofner CT Series Shorty Travel/Mini guitar and the Squier Mini Strat. When it comes to acoustic travel guitars, the Martin Backpacker and the Taylor GS Mini are especially popular.

Is a ¾ size guitar good to use as a travel guitar?

Yes, ¾ size guitar make great travel guitars! They’re a little less bulky than a standard guitar, which makes them ideal for traveling around with.

What is the smallest electric travel guitar?

The Traveler ULEL-NAT Ultra-Light Electric Travel Guitar touts itself as the smallest electric travel guitar on the market. While we haven’t compared it against other models, it’s certainly a very tiny travel guitar!

What is the smallest acoustic travel guitar?

The Martin Backpacker is likely the smallest acoustic travel guitar in the market if we’re talking about guitars that don’t fold up. Its small, oar-shaped body is to credit for its small size.

Can you fly with a travel guitar?

Yes, you can fly with a travel guitar or any guitar! The FAA requires that airlines let you on the plane with any guitar as long as there is space in an overhead bin at your time of boarding.

Electric travel guitars at a glance:

• Require an amp or iRig to produce sound
• Come in a wide variety of colors and styles
• Can be played with effects and are easy to record with on-the-go

For those who prefer to play with effects, electric travel guitars are a great option. Squier has a series of mini versions of their most popular models, including the Stratocaster, while Vox and Hofner have their own takes on electric travel guitars with unique looks.