It's a super fun instrument meant for having fun - I actually think it sounds pretty damn good for being as small as it is. Every time I play one, it gives me banjo vibes. I guess it's the plucky sound that comes out of it, but it's like a guitar and banjo had a tone baby.
John Jennings of the Mary Chapin Carpenter band years ago played the Backpacker on stage for a few songs. Of course, he could make anything sound fantastic.
My daughter and I attended a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert back in the day. John Jennings played an amplified Backpacker on a couple of songs. I remember thinking that it sounded surprisingly good.
Couldn't get rid of one soon enough. Traded it for the Baby Taylor as soon as that first gen was for sale. It was awkward to hold and play and doesn't really sound like a guitar like the Baby or Martin LX. It's a novelty. My friends didn't lile listening to it at the campfire either, saying it sounded like a toy instrument--not a guitar.
The first thing I did when I bought it, I tuned it to DADGAD. It turned out to be quite an inspiring little instrument. I never tuned it back to the standard tuning.
Back when these first came out, a man at a open mic “the Fret House in West Covina California” installed a pickup in the Martin Backpack, and it sounded extremely good
Yep! You can install an under saddle pickup on anything and it’ll just sound like an under saddle pickup. You could put one on a broom, if it was up to spec, or a solid body.
I have a knk passive pickup on my backpacker, and it’s incredible. It provides the volume the backpacker is lacking, and if you want to EQ it, then you can make it sound even more full.
3:20 The guitar doesn’t sound all that bad. It isn’t the best Martin I’ve ever heard. However, not all that bad. There isn’t a lot of bass, but still a nice sound. I could see someone taking this guitar along on a family picnic. I enjoy taking one of my guitars along on family or church picnics if the weather is good and not raining. Thanks guys for another great video. I’m not sure what the guitar looked like, as i’m blind,eabut again the sound wasn’t that bad.
Amazing sound from what I expected to sound like a uke! How the hell did they do that? I mean, it isn't big sound but it's a lot more than the size would indicate.
@@texhaines9957not trash, just the wood they couldn’t use for larger instruments. Martin didn’t invent the backpacker either. They purchased it from the inventor.
Been obsessed with it ever since I laid eyes on it. Does it have the best sound? No. That's not what I'm here for. Its so unique and quirky that I just love playing it. Its silly enough where I can take it out and not worry about taking perfect care of it. You can get used ones for a hundred bucks. I've never been good enough to be anything but a beginner player and with this guy no one is coming up to me and asking/expecting me to shred a solo. It's a great silly little guy.
amazing instrument, they sound great for how small they are. use to own one that had the "beaker" headstock, but sold it. really hard to hold and play it if you are use to a dread body though. imo getting a baby taylor, one of those little martins or small yamahas is a better option if you want a travel guitar.
I've had one of these since 2010, very fun and playable, action a bit high, well intonated, takes a bit getting used to playing as the body is too small to hold it like a regular guitar body, so definitely needs to be played with a strap on it...
I know the backpacker isn’t the best sounding guitar in the world, but I love it! It was my first guitar. I got a used classical necked backpacker, and I still have it and play it. I even have a pickup in mine, so the volume is not an issue anymore. Thanks for doing a video on this. It doesn’t get enough love in my opinion.
@@ia5662 - Is there a difference? I don't know if it has a truss rod or not, but it definitely has a classical neck and strings. Mine was one of the original ones too. It has the sqaure headstock and all.
It sounded the way I expected for a smaller body. For those who travel, this might be a viable option. The body looks to be too small for my comfort. I'm not a tall/large individual, but I am used to OM, Dreadnought, and Jumbo body shapes and sounds.
I'd spend a little more and get an all-solid wood Martin Dreadnaught Jr. I modded mine out and it is small, light, and actually usable. Sounds great with a K&K pickup in it.
I own one and hate it . I did not think I could dislike any Martin. Not sure why I watched this. But, I have to say Quinton looks really good without the hat . Not sure I’ve ever seen him without it. ❤
@@JesseDylanMusic Yes, it was, but the Taylor Baby was not far behind because I traded my Backpacker for the Baby as SOON ait that was released. I hated the Backpacker and so did my friends.
Is it good bed guitar? A regular guitar is little to big to play in bed Infront of my tv and I think this looks very good for having in bed, it can lay beside me and take up less space than a woman etc etc.
This sells for $299. Personally, I think there are some better inexpensive laminate guitars for half that money that I would rather throw in my car or take out to a campfire. Epiphone DR-100 or Starling ($169 and $149 respectively).
I have to shave up and around the ears, then inside the ears. Next, clean up those nose hairs. Maybe I should get a backpacker to hike out to the porch!
Dissenting opinion…I bought one years ago. One of the worst so-called travel guitars on the market. Unwieldy, shape makes it difficult to play, tone…oh please. Plenty of better choices out there.
That sounds awful! Can't believe Martin would release that 😮 they should have developed it in acoustic lab. With slight modification to the curves it might actually sound bearable
I learned to play on a Backpacker-back when I was in my prime, too! Hehe.
Me too. Mine was a used classical backpacker.
“I’m old and i’m weak” he says whilst he’s got those guns fully on display 💪
My thoughts exactly 😂
Smoke, mirrors, and creative lighting :)
Thanks, Quinton and Paul.
Thank you for showcasing this instrument. Martin quality made, and the presentation was most entertaining, I’d say.
It's a super fun instrument meant for having fun - I actually think it sounds pretty damn good for being as small as it is. Every time I play one, it gives me banjo vibes. I guess it's the plucky sound that comes out of it, but it's like a guitar and banjo had a tone baby.
thats such a good way of putting it, it has that twangy banjo feel
It reminds me more of a cigar box guitar but better.
Great video style guys! I learned a lot in under 4 minutes in an easy going manner, keep it up.
John Jennings of the Mary Chapin Carpenter band years ago played the Backpacker on stage for a few songs. Of course, he could make anything sound fantastic.
My daughter and I attended a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert back in the day. John Jennings played an amplified Backpacker on a couple of songs. I remember thinking that it sounded surprisingly good.
@@hymnplayeryou can put an under saddle pickup on anything and it sounds the same. No mic involved.
@@JesseDylanMusic Yes. That’s pretty much what it sounded like although not like a full sized dread would sound.
Couldn't get rid of one soon enough. Traded it for the Baby Taylor as soon as that first gen was for sale. It was awkward to hold and play and doesn't really sound like a guitar like the Baby or Martin LX. It's a novelty. My friends didn't lile listening to it at the campfire either, saying it sounded like a toy instrument--not a guitar.
The first thing I did when I bought it, I tuned it to DADGAD. It turned out to be quite an inspiring little instrument. I never tuned it back to the standard tuning.
Back when these first came out, a man at a open mic “the Fret House in West Covina California” installed a pickup in the Martin Backpack, and it sounded extremely good
Yep! You can install an under saddle pickup on anything and it’ll just sound like an under saddle pickup. You could put one on a broom, if it was up to spec, or a solid body.
I have a knk passive pickup on my backpacker, and it’s incredible. It provides the volume the backpacker is lacking, and if you want to EQ it, then you can make it sound even more full.
Sounds like an old timey guitar on my old transistor radio.
3:20 The guitar doesn’t sound all that bad. It isn’t the best Martin I’ve ever heard. However, not all that bad. There isn’t a lot of bass, but still a nice sound. I could see someone taking this guitar along on a family picnic. I enjoy taking one of my guitars along on family or church picnics if the weather is good and not raining. Thanks guys for another great video. I’m not sure what the guitar looked like, as i’m blind,eabut again the sound wasn’t that bad.
There are so many great smallish travelers now that this is… well… it is what it is. Great review guys!
Thanks for this! Looks ideal for playing in bed under the covers
LOL
Well I guess there will be no more excuses about not being able to practice while I’m on the road. This is exactly what I need!
I always thought these were cute, but I don't have a use for it myself.
Amazing sound from what I expected to sound like a uke! How the hell did they do that? I mean, it isn't big sound but it's a lot more than the size would indicate.
Originally, it was made of pieces out of Martin's trash.
@@texhaines9957not trash, just the wood they couldn’t use for larger instruments. Martin didn’t invent the backpacker either. They purchased it from the inventor.
@JesseDylanMusic I thought he (the inventor) said it was Martin's trash including parts marred during construction like sides.
@@texhaines9957 You could be right! It would just be cosmetically-flawed wood at that point, though--hard for me to think of it as "trash" :P
Been obsessed with it ever since I laid eyes on it. Does it have the best sound? No. That's not what I'm here for. Its so unique and quirky that I just love playing it. Its silly enough where I can take it out and not worry about taking perfect care of it. You can get used ones for a hundred bucks. I've never been good enough to be anything but a beginner player and with this guy no one is coming up to me and asking/expecting me to shred a solo. It's a great silly little guy.
Actually sounds better than I thought. Had several Martin LX1E guitars for travel/back up guitar on gigs. Love them !
Ive got one, swear it sounds exactly the same... 10 yrs old maybe? Easy to toss in the car for a campout, and the case is actually pretty hardy!
I spend a ton of time alone in a truck and this seems perfect
amazing instrument, they sound great for how small they are. use to own one that had the "beaker" headstock, but sold it. really hard to hold and play it if you are use to a dread body though. imo getting a baby taylor, one of those little martins or small yamahas is a better option if you want a travel guitar.
I've had one of these since 2010, very fun and playable, action a bit high, well intonated, takes a bit getting used to playing as the body is too small to hold it like a regular guitar body, so definitely needs to be played with a strap on it...
Sounds great for a tin can. More importantly what’s the Blue Taylor model behind you??😊
sounds great, but probably that guy can make everything sound great :) I wonder what pick up would work best on this?
I saw it at a guitar center and for some reason it was one of the funniest things ive ever seen
I know the backpacker isn’t the best sounding guitar in the world, but I love it! It was my first guitar. I got a used classical necked backpacker, and I still have it and play it. I even have a pickup in mine, so the volume is not an issue anymore. Thanks for doing a video on this. It doesn’t get enough love in my opinion.
I wish I'd kept mine! My mom bought it for me :P
by classical necked do you mean a classical nylon string style Backpacker or the no truss rod?
@@ia5662 - Is there a difference? I don't know if it has a truss rod or not, but it definitely has a classical neck and strings.
Mine was one of the original ones too. It has the sqaure headstock and all.
@@ia5662 I think he said classical neck because classicals generally have a much wider neck (fretboard and nut width) and nylon strings.
@@JesseDylanMusic - Mine is just like the classical backpacker but with a wide neck and a bridge that allows the strings to be tied on.
It sounded the way I expected for a smaller body. For those who travel, this might be a viable option. The body looks to be too small for my comfort. I'm not a tall/large individual, but I am used to OM, Dreadnought, and Jumbo body shapes and sounds.
I'm an average woman, and it felt small, awkward and hard to hold even for me! Maybe it would fit a kid better.
@@kg6497and with strap !!!? ?
what strings are you using in this video please?
I'd spend a little more and get an all-solid wood Martin Dreadnaught Jr. I modded mine out and it is small, light, and actually usable. Sounds great with a K&K pickup in it.
Love my Jr as well.
@@mikebauer6917 I ended up putting a bone nut and saddle on mine with Grover Staytite tuners, Luxe pins, and a K&K mini.
Hey! That Sounds good!
You think it could be restrung with nylon?
Great for dinking around practice.
The sound of this makes me name it the Guitjor.
I own one and hate it . I did not think I could dislike any Martin. Not sure why I watched this. But, I have to say Quinton looks really good without the hat . Not sure I’ve ever seen him without it. ❤
If you don't want yours, I'd happily take it off your hands. I'd love to try one but can't afford one myself.
On my list of guitars this one would fall between 50 and 100. Way many more good sounding travel guitars.
This was invented before those existed.
@@JesseDylanMusic Yes, it was, but the Taylor Baby was not far behind because I traded my Backpacker for the Baby as SOON ait that was released. I hated the Backpacker and so did my friends.
The original travel guitar.
Is it good bed guitar? A regular guitar is little to big to play in bed Infront of my tv and I think this looks very good for having in bed, it can lay beside me and take up less space than a woman etc etc.
100% nothing wrong with being an "Appalachian Man". Several modern musical greats are and some of the greatest legends in guitar are.
This sells for $299. Personally, I think there are some better inexpensive laminate guitars for half that money that I would rather throw in my car or take out to a campfire. Epiphone DR-100 or Starling ($169 and $149 respectively).
Quinton made this guitar sound good! Goes to show the player may be more important that the instrument.
I have to shave up and around the ears, then inside the ears. Next, clean up those nose hairs. Maybe I should get a backpacker to hike out to the porch!
Ha!! Keep it out of the sink :)
String them with Martin Silk & Steel strings and they really mellow, they lose the banjo twangy sound.
You can backpack with these, but I do not recommend it. Sound so bad.
Not for me.
Dissenting opinion…I bought one years ago. One of the worst so-called travel guitars on the market. Unwieldy, shape makes it difficult to play, tone…oh please. Plenty of better choices out there.
Expensive uggly sound no balance
I got tired of people asking me what it is becuase it doesn't look or sound like a guitar, and they didn't want to hear it around the campfire!
That sounds awful! Can't believe Martin would release that 😮 they should have developed it in acoustic lab. With slight modification to the curves it might actually sound bearable
Can it actual sound good? Lmfao!