The video was made using the original strings. I have since fitted the guitar with a set of Fender ball end nylon strings which give it a nice lute like sound.
What a delight, what a lovely man you are , a fellow Scot, you are a very talented teacher, lovely relaxed style, some nice playing,a pleasure to watch.
william mcmonagle This morning when I accidentally stabbed myself with a needle I was not quite so relaxed as in the video and I confess a 4 letter word did indeed part my lips!
Hello John! Your gentle, yet infectious, review style has re-ignited my interest in the guitar, and so today I took delivery of a used Washburn Rover (£40 from eBay), and I'm delighted with it. Many thanks, and keep up the good work!
While having a smaller neck would be cool, I actually like the idea that the neck is as similar in dimension to a full-size guitar as possible. This makes practicing technique far more effective when away from home.
This is the best review I have seen yet. I would like to learn to play the guitar and I have limited knowledge of what to look for. This has been a great help. Thank you. Love the Scots accent by the way.
2020 here. You sound as Scottish as my blessed Grandfather. And that little guitar sounds even better. 1:15 Of course it does not have the "bass end" of a regular acoustic guitar - and as a professional musician I do not want a guitar to fill out the lower end. You make that little Washburn sound beautiful and you made a sale my friend.
Thanks for the great review John. I am also Scotsman but I am currently living in Maidstone. I have a house in Paisley and was looking for something light to travel with when I visit home. I think this might be the best option.
This was incredible i think exactly like you. I have one of those guitars and i was thinking about the mandolin and the shorter neck. How you described it was exactly how i thought about it.
Thanks for information . I have a Rover but I d'ont play because prefer my other guitars but I'm was thinking at change the strings by nylon strings, great idea. thank so much you're a formidable teacher! Greetings from Spain.
Good review John, I've been looking for a small acoustic to take on holiday with me and this might be the one.. as you mentioned though the neck could have been a little shorter, that would have sold the instrument to me straight away.
Thank you John. I get mine on Saturday. Your review is really nice because most guitar reviewers give you a"thrash it and bash it" demo which is pretty useless to me as a finger style guitarist.
i take my washburn rover on every backpacking trip in the leg of a gore-tex fishing wader. I love it, and it sounds beautiful for the size especially with silk wound strings
Best Washburn rover review on You Tube John! Thanks for that - think I will get one. I like the looks of the Martin backpacker better but heard some bad things about them
Thanks for the review, it's probably the most helpful one that I have come across. Nice playing too! Can you can give me a small bit of advice? I was thinking about picking one of these up, as I am going to India for a few months this summer. Do you think it would be loud enough to be heard when there is a small crowd around? Also, do you think it's any good for playing a bit of lead? Just in case I meet some other musicians on my travels. Thanks. Cormac.
Hi John: It is a nice over all review. The sound when you played in the beginning (strumming) was not pleasant. But when you put the capo at half way of the video (3:04 min), it improved so much the sound of this little guitar. Great playing though! I am looking for small guitar to travel with. I am still considering the martin, Taylor baby or this one. The difference is that the other ones have 22.6" or so scale which will make the strings so loose I guess. Thanks again
John, at 2:24 where does that bar chord progression come from? I think it is awesome and am trying to learn how to play it. If it comes from another song I would love to learn it. By the way I am getting a Rover as well!
A nice piece of guitar indeed, personally, I like the sound and the full-size fretboard. The case is very nice too, however, as there is not enough space for the tuners, each time the guitar is put into the case they are messed up and one has to tune the instrument again...
cheers mate. i got one of these on ebay and i should have it in about a week. i hadnt heard one before (risky buying unheard i know, but i like the portability and look of it) so i was curious. by the way Mr Coupland, i love the way you play man :)
If you are using a short scale guitar then if you fit strings the next guage up then you can redress the tension. As for the sound, because the instrument tends to sit on your belly rather than your knee it points more directly towards you so you hear a better sound than the recording would suggest although the bass is obviously very poor.
I've seen a couple reviews of this and your sound is so much better than everyone else! When everyone else plays it sounds to tingy and not that great. What kind of strings are you using on the travel guitar??
The volume is about the same as a mandolin so it should be ok. The strings supplied are rather heavy for bending but bear in mind that lighter strings will produce less volume and a thinner tone.
I really liked your review. I picked up the same guitar last week at a good price from my favorite music store. Now, I want to get a capo and learn learn how to play with it. The hyperlink to iTunes really worked, too - first time for me, ever !
I just got a guitar strap, and a capo ! I've looked closely at your video. The yarn/shoe-lace is between the top two gear pegs and middle set. Is there any particular reason ? I tied mine differently. - HHH
Thanks for getting back ! I tied mine differently but underneath all the strings. The guitar came with a little CD with chord dictionary program, lessons and a tuner program. I really like the chord dictionary ! I found a capo, a strap, and some picks. I find it amazing at how well the guitar is holding its tuning. -- Hank
I'm back to pick your brains again John. I just bought a Washburn Rover Travel Guitar and I'm very pleased with it although I've been informed that I could change these strings to a classical nylon set. So, is there any chance in the near future of you given a demonstration of how this guitar would sound with nylon strings?
Laurence Mann Sadly I no longer have the Washburn. It got sold along with the wee Epiphone acoustic and the Hondo Fat Boy to fund the Simon and Patrick. I only have 5 or 6 guitars at any given time. I did however try nylon ball ends on the Washburn and they suited it well. I may have had to widen the nut slots but I can't remember. If you do have to file them out then note that they run parallel to the head and not to the fingerboard. If it is any consolation of all the guitars I have sold this is the one I miss the most, it was a fine tool.
What a great sound from such a small body. Reminded me of early "America" tracks. Super idea about the shorter neck ( I'm just making up for the fact that I have small fingers :-) ). Seriously though, a neat affordable guitar would be fun to have, Martin make a mini, but its' ridiculously expensive.. we aren't all in the professional bracket.
I was just making that up as I went along but I have recorded an album under my pen name of Harpaxe called, 'Sounds Spanish.' That has tunes in a similar style and is available on i-tunes, Amazon etc.
This might sound like an inane question John but, is being able to play the guitar all about knowing all the chords? The reason why I'm asking this question is because I know 30 chords but, I still can't play or at least when I do play it sounds terrible:p
Laurence Mann Playing guitar is made up of melodies, chords and timing. Usually the hardest of these is timing. I start teaching melodies then we add a chord at the start of each bar. It takes several months to get the chord changes up to speed. At some point the music stops sounding mechanical and the student gets the feel of the piece. This happens overnight, it is a eureka moment and cannot be taught, it can only be caught! Perseverance is the key.
John Coupland This information is a huge help John and I now know why I'm not progressing however, as you've stated, perseverance is the key. Thank you.
Hi John, I have watched your videos quite a few times and I would like to ask you two questions. The first one is, 'is it true that you taught yourself how to play the guitar?' And my second is, 'how long has it taken you to get to the standard that you're at now?' Regards Laurence
Laurence Mann Yes, I taught my self to play guitar, piano, church organ and accordion. I started when I was 15 and within 9 months I could strum along with the songs on the radio. During the 70s and 80s I earned my living in guitar stores and gigging in pubs. I learned organ at that time as there was more commission to be had in selling them. This came in handy when I became a Christian and was asked to play in church. You never stop learning but I suppose my album, 'Birdsong after midnight,' 2008, was the peak. You can hear it on the Scottish Bird table video. blessings John
John Coupland Thank you John for this information. I'm 60 now so, I have not chance to reach your level as a musician but, I won't stop playing because I enjoy it so much.
Hi John. I still don't understand the intonation check you do. Every one you check seems to be ok. What does one sound like that is out of wack? The traveler has sort of a cigar box guitar quality. why don't you review a cigar box guitar?
Before I review any guitar I try to get it as good as possible although in some cases like the Cheeta it is never going to be any good. As for the instruments I review they are either from my own collection, repairs or students, friends and family.
Having the neck full size for me is what the guitar is all about. I've learnt more about the fret board with this little guitar on my knee whilst watching tv over the years , than anything else. I put a pick-up in mine and it sounds just fine.www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JHKH9BY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 When I'm looking for quality sound I use my Martin.
Well that was the most pleasant peaceful, relaxing review of all time. Thanks for that!
The video was made using the original strings. I have since fitted the guitar with a set of Fender ball end nylon strings which give it a nice lute like sound.
What a delight, what a lovely man you are , a fellow Scot, you are a very talented teacher, lovely relaxed style, some nice playing,a pleasure to watch.
william mcmonagle This morning when I accidentally stabbed myself with a needle I was not quite so relaxed as in the video and I confess a 4 letter word did indeed part my lips!
I seriously just want to pour myself a glass of scotch while listening to him play =D
the medieval sound at 3:04 really sells this guitar for me...good review, cheers
Hello John! Your gentle, yet infectious, review style has re-ignited my interest in the guitar, and so today I took delivery of a used Washburn Rover (£40 from eBay), and I'm delighted with it. Many thanks, and keep up the good work!
While having a smaller neck would be cool, I actually like the idea that the neck is as similar in dimension to a full-size guitar as possible. This makes practicing technique far more effective when away from home.
This is the best review I have seen yet. I would like to learn to play the guitar and I have limited knowledge of what to look for. This has been a great help. Thank you.
Love the Scots accent by the way.
John....I love your honest complete reviews....thanks sir!
Excellent review John, thanks very much. I really like the dulcimer-like tone of the Rover... gotta get me one!
Nice review! Best demonstration of the Rover guitar's pros and cons. Thank you.
Great for medieval-style melodies with the capo at 5th.
Excellent demo and review ... as usual.
It has a rather lovely, simplistic charm, especially in the way that you played it. Thanks for the great review!
Thank you John. Been thinking of getting one of these for a while. This vid has swung it for me.
This guy is the bomb. Greetings from Australia my friend. Unexpectedly, I just got one today as I went to the shop to buy strings for my electric!.
Excellent intelligent review. Thanks so much. You've just persuaded my son to buy one of these. Very best of luck with your playing.
Very helpful review. I like that you did some strumming, some lighter chords, and even comparing it to the fuller sound of a dread. Thanks!
2020 here. You sound as Scottish as my blessed Grandfather. And that little guitar sounds even better. 1:15 Of course it does not have the "bass end" of a regular acoustic guitar - and as a professional musician I do not want a guitar to fill out the lower end.
You make that little Washburn sound beautiful and you made a sale my friend.
BTW - I subscribed after watching a few more videos.
Ah, if only I was on commission!
Thanks for the great review John. I am also Scotsman but I am currently living in Maidstone. I have a house in Paisley and was looking for something light to travel with when I visit home. I think this might be the best option.
This small guitar is actually one of the best sounding small guitars I’ve heard.
It is funny but it takes my ear a couple of minutes to adjust to its sound but after that I am fine with it.
This was incredible i think exactly like you. I have one of those guitars and i was thinking about the mandolin and the shorter neck. How you described it was exactly how i thought about it.
Very nice review John, I'm thinking of buying one of these. Big help.
Thanks for information . I have a Rover but I d'ont play because prefer my other guitars but I'm was thinking at change the strings by nylon strings, great idea. thank so much you're a formidable teacher! Greetings from Spain.
Good review John, I've been looking for a small acoustic to take on holiday with me and this might be the one.. as you mentioned though the neck could have been a little shorter, that would have sold the instrument to me straight away.
I adore the sound form that guitar. It is beautiful !
Don Allen
yup great review. best on the tubes yet. showed differences in sound and new ways of playing the instrument. kudos
Thank you John. I get mine on Saturday. Your review is really nice because most guitar reviewers give you a"thrash it and bash it" demo which is pretty useless to me as a finger style guitarist.
i take my washburn rover on every backpacking trip in the leg of a gore-tex fishing wader. I love it, and it sounds beautiful for the size especially with silk wound strings
Thanksss for your time...blessingsss
Best Washburn rover review on You Tube John! Thanks for that - think I will get one. I like the looks of the Martin backpacker better but heard some bad things about them
thankyou sooooooooo much for this review, this guitar sounds awesome--reminds me of the ovations that i love, bright sound---thanks again--tres
Fantastic review! Thanks!
I'm in agreement with former comments. A delightfully comprehensive review. ... and a great idea regarding the neck length.
Glad it was helpful!
Sold, I’m buying one!
Thanks for the review, it's probably the most helpful one that I have come across. Nice playing too! Can you can give me a small bit of advice? I was thinking about picking one of these up, as I am going to India for a few months this summer. Do you think it would be loud enough to be heard when there is a small crowd around? Also, do you think it's any good for playing a bit of lead? Just in case I meet some other musicians on my travels. Thanks. Cormac.
Thanks. Good review.
Wow! I love this review!
Hi;
I really enjoyed your review. Well thought out. Cheers
you play very melodic , good to hear you
Hey, great video, just bought one of these guys. What strings did you throw on it??
Hi John:
It is a nice over all review. The sound when you played in the beginning (strumming) was not pleasant. But when you put the capo at half way of the video (3:04 min), it improved so much the sound of this little guitar. Great playing though!
I am looking for small guitar to travel with. I am still considering the martin, Taylor baby or this one.
The difference is that the other ones have 22.6" or so scale which will make the strings so loose I guess.
Thanks again
John, at 2:24 where does that bar chord progression come from? I think it is awesome and am trying to learn how to play it. If it comes from another song I would love to learn it. By the way I am getting a Rover as well!
you're a lovely guy and your review was great, thanks very much
very nice, love the banjo type tone, think i shall treat myself
Can someone please tell me the dimensions of the guitar? Can't find them anywhere.
Excellent review
With the pick up it sounds outrageous
Very enterprizng!
A nice piece of guitar indeed, personally, I like the sound and the full-size fretboard. The case is very nice too, however, as there is not enough space for the tuners, each time the guitar is put into the case they are messed up and one has to tune the instrument again...
Thanks. I appreciate the response.
He's right. It sounds brillant with a capo. Id be tempted to tune it A to A.
Whats the name of the song you were playing at 3:27?
You are awesome my friend
Very helpful. Thanks
cheers mate. i got one of these on ebay and i should have it in about a week. i hadnt heard one before (risky buying unheard i know, but i like the portability and look of it) so i was curious. by the way Mr Coupland, i love the way you play man :)
Its 2019 and still I want this guitar badly.. I could have both this instead of the Matin LX1e.. This more lighweight and travel friendly
If you are using a short scale guitar then if you fit strings the next guage up then you can redress the tension. As for the sound, because the instrument tends to sit on your belly rather than your knee it points more directly towards you so you hear a better sound than the recording would suggest although the bass is obviously very poor.
very good. thank you sir
nice review auld yin
excellent
I've seen a couple reviews of this and your sound is so much better than everyone else! When everyone else plays it sounds to tingy and not that great. What kind of strings are you using on the travel guitar??
Martin extra lights. I also tried it with ball end nylon which had a certain charm.
The volume is about the same as a mandolin so it should be ok. The strings supplied are rather heavy for bending but bear in mind that lighter strings will produce less volume and a thinner tone.
Wonderful playing ; )
Thanks SOL. Much appreciated.
I wonder how it would sound with nylon strings. Maybe even less volume?
I tried it with ball end nylons and it was quite good.
Thank you !
Nice compact thing and I share the view maybe less frets and shorter neck, does this have a truss rod or is that a stupid question?
Yes it does have a truss rod.
Great review, Thanks :)
John, are you using finger or thumb picks? Very nice review by the way, I've just ordered one :)
Hi Nigel, just my fingers.
Thank you :)
Mine has single humbuker installed it is killer .
I really liked your review. I picked up the same guitar last week at a good price from my favorite music store. Now, I want to get a capo and learn learn how to play with it. The hyperlink to iTunes really worked, too - first time for me, ever !
Hi HHH, I am glad you have been inspired.
John
I just got a guitar strap, and a capo ! I've looked closely at your video. The yarn/shoe-lace is between the top two gear pegs and middle set. Is there any particular reason ? I tied mine differently. - HHH
No particular reason. As long as you tie it underneath the strings so that it does not affect the tuning.
Thanks for getting back ! I tied mine differently but underneath all the strings. The guitar came with a little CD with chord dictionary program, lessons and a tuner program. I really like the chord dictionary !
I found a capo, a strap, and some picks.
I find it amazing at how well the guitar is holding its tuning. -- Hank
I'm back to pick your brains again John. I just bought a Washburn Rover Travel Guitar and I'm very pleased with it although I've been informed that I could change these strings to a classical nylon set. So, is there any chance in the near future of you given a demonstration of how this guitar would sound with nylon strings?
Laurence Mann Sadly I no longer have the Washburn. It got sold along with the wee Epiphone acoustic and the Hondo Fat Boy to fund the Simon and Patrick. I only have 5 or 6 guitars at any given time. I did however try nylon ball ends on the Washburn and they suited it well. I may have had to widen the nut slots but I can't remember. If you do have to file them out then note that they run parallel to the head and not to the fingerboard. If it is any consolation of all the guitars I have sold this is the one I miss the most, it was a fine tool.
John Coupland Once again thank you for this information John but, you can assured that I won't be selling mine:P
Bro, you rule.
Thanks Tyler, much appreciated.
What a great sound from such a small body. Reminded me of early "America" tracks.
Super idea about the shorter neck ( I'm just making up for the fact that I have small fingers :-) ). Seriously though, a neat affordable guitar would be fun to have, Martin make a mini, but its' ridiculously expensive.. we aren't all in the professional bracket.
Martin does have a mini but it's absolutely dreadful. Look up the Martin backpacker
man, you rock!!!
How,s the name of the medieval songs? This sound is nice !
I was just making that up as I went along but I have recorded an album under my pen name of Harpaxe called, 'Sounds Spanish.' That has tunes in a similar style and is available on i-tunes, Amazon etc.
Great job , i bought 1 because of u, please tell be what strings u use?
I normally use Martin or Earthwound 11s although this guitar works with Martin ball end nylons.
Nylons to ? ill try, a million thanks, love your playing
You may have to use a higher saddle to avoid fret buzz.
Nothing in particular, I was just improvising.
Great review John. Surely will be buying this one next time around. Ever tried it with a slide perhaps?
No I have not tried that but I imagine it would make a decent lap steel.
@@JohnCouplandguitar Are you still content with this guitar after all these years?
@@bobu5213 Yes I am although I only use it when I am going on holiday. As my slouch on the couch instrument I use the Thomann classical travel guitar.
@@JohnCouplandguitar Ah alright then I know enough Thanks
This might sound like an inane question John but, is being able to play the guitar all about knowing all the chords? The reason why I'm asking this question is because I know 30 chords but, I still can't play or at least when I do play it sounds terrible:p
Laurence Mann Playing guitar is made up of melodies, chords and timing. Usually the hardest of these is timing. I start teaching melodies then we add a chord at the start of each bar. It takes several months to get the chord changes up to speed. At some point the music stops sounding mechanical and the student gets the feel of the piece. This happens overnight, it is a eureka moment and cannot be taught, it can only be caught! Perseverance is the key.
John Coupland This information is a huge help John and I now know why I'm not progressing however, as you've stated, perseverance is the key. Thank you.
Hi John,
I have watched your videos quite a few times and I would like to ask you two questions. The first one is, 'is it true that you taught yourself how to play the guitar?' And my second is, 'how long has it taken you to get to the standard that you're at now?'
Regards
Laurence
Laurence Mann Yes, I taught my self to play guitar, piano, church organ and accordion. I started when I was 15 and within 9 months I could strum along with the songs on the radio. During the 70s and 80s I earned my living in guitar stores and gigging in pubs. I learned organ at that time as there was more commission to be had in selling them. This came in handy when I became a Christian and was asked to play in church. You never stop learning but I suppose my album, 'Birdsong after midnight,' 2008, was the peak. You can hear it on the Scottish Bird table video.
blessings
John
John Coupland Thank you John for this information. I'm 60 now so, I have not chance to reach your level as a musician but, I won't stop playing because I enjoy it so much.
Hi John. I still don't understand the intonation check you do. Every one you check seems to be ok. What does one sound like that is out of wack? The traveler has sort of a cigar box guitar quality. why don't you review a cigar box guitar?
Before I review any guitar I try to get it as good as possible although in some cases like the Cheeta it is never going to be any good. As for the instruments I review they are either from my own collection, repairs or students, friends and family.
Having the neck full size for me is what the guitar is all about. I've learnt more about the fret board with this little guitar on my knee whilst watching tv over the years , than anything else. I put a pick-up in mine and it sounds just fine.www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JHKH9BY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 When I'm looking for quality sound I use my Martin.
It sounds similar to the Bluegrass Mandolins.
Wow, I would love to know the chords of that medieval tune.
+Paul Weatherby Am, Dm, C, G, F, E7 but not necessarily in that order!
+John Coupland By observing your hand movements, that's enough for me to work with. Thank you so much.
.
that finger picking at 3:20 was a killer can you do a fingerpicking lesson
this guy must be the coolest, most hard rocking grandad alive
Reminds me of a BBC weather presenter
This guy drinks brandy with The Dos Equis guy and Christopher Walken.
small.
It’s so fun to play but there’s absolutely no comfortable position sitting with that thing.
I always wear a strap, even when seated.
John Coupland I always wear a seat, even when strapped!
The case smells something awful.