A good, low-cost travel mandolin?

**Mandoviol** · Apr-28-2011, 9:57pm

Hi folks,

I'll be going out of the country for a good deal of the summer and have been looking to see if I can find a relatively inexpensive travel-sized mandolin. All I have found so far is the Weber Sweetpea, and though a beautiful little instrument, it is outside of my price range (and it's nice enough that I would weep if anything befell it on the plane or elsewhere). Can anyone suggest a good, inexpensive travel acoustic? Does anyone know where I could find such a thing (ebay is dead right now for them)? Or would I be better off restringing a soprano uke in fifths?

Thanks,

Mandoviol

**blueron** · Apr-28-2011, 10:50pm

I'd vote for a sturdy A model in a good gig bag (a cheaper gig bag lined with camper mat foam also works well). Sometimes the solid construction of modest imports can be beneficial. A well set up Savannah 120 would do the job, and, at about $180, would be almost disposable.

**michaelpthompson** · Apr-28-2011, 11:03pm

If you're going that way, the $40 Rogue from Music123 would be ideal. Doesn't play half bad after a setup, and is even more disposable at that price.

**Mandoviol** · Apr-28-2011, 11:54pm

Yeah, that's a thought. What I'm really looking for is something I can throw in a day pack and still have room to spare. Any ideas?

**Markus** · Apr-29-2011, 5:23am

A uke with GDAE strings? I may be swapping strings on my daughters uke this summer for a travel instrument. No mando, but for my own fun .. plenty.

**Dagger Gordon** · Apr-29-2011, 6:45am

Just as well to go into a music store and buy a cheap and cheerful PacRim which plays OK. They do exist.

I have a thing called an Encore which I took on a sailing holiday last year. Put on new strings and it really isn't too bad. I have a half decent case for it. The trick is to put it inside your luggage bag (in its case) when you fly. Some airlines can charge quite a bit for extra baggage, particularly musical instruments, so you don't have to worry about that. You would be pretty unlucky if it were damaged in its case inside another bag with clothes etc, but even if it were it wouldn't be the end of the world.

**JEStanek** · Apr-29-2011, 8:35am

While those travel mandolins are nice they have no bottom end. I had a Sweet Pea and it was nice for what it was but, no bottom end. There is also the Martin Backpacker which has the same limitation. A well set up Savanna or Rogue or Kentucky KM140S will cost less than a used Sweet Pea, have a better bottom end (and be heard with others playing) and you can rig it outside of your bag or if you have a larger bag, get one with two pockets and use the outer for your mandolin. Look into the flat tops too. A soprano Uke isn't that much smaller. I'm with Dagger on this one. Oh, I just had one other idea, but maybe out of your range... Thomas Flood often has his flat tops for sale here (300ish). Those look a little narrower than a regular mandolin.

Jamie

**PJ Doland** · Apr-29-2011, 8:47am

I got my (very young) son one of those $40 Rogue RM-100A jobs as a decoy, to keep him away from my Breedlove.

The thing is surprisingly playable (considering the price). At some point I might actually even bother upgrading the tuners, which are the weakest link.

It's definitely worth considering if you're looking for something you don't want to have to worry about.

**Brent Hutto** · Apr-29-2011, 8:49am

I really considered looking for a Sweet Pea as a travel instrument. Compared to my regular mandolin it would serve two purposes, be a lot smaller and easier to schlep around and if something happened I wouldn't have lost my real instrument.

In the end I decided if/when I want to make a trip that might endanger an instrument I'll settle for a normal-sized mandolin in a padded gig bag and get one inexpensive enough to replace easily if lost or destroyed. Something like a Rover RM-50, solid woods all around, ff-holes, full sized and well under $200 shipped including a bag. Not nearly as totable as a Sweet Pea but ought to sound really mandolinish and play a lot like my everyday instrument.

**Greenmando** · Apr-29-2011, 6:01pm

Originally Posted by JEStanek

While those travel mandolins are nice they have no bottom end. I had a Sweet Pea and it was nice for what it was but, no bottom end. There is also the Martin Backpacker which has the same limitation.,,,,

I have a Martin Backpacker I enjoy because it is so mellow. I can play it in a campground with no complaints about noise.

**Paul Kotapish** · Apr-29-2011, 6:10pm

I have a Martin backpacker, too, and it's certainly convenient to travel with and reasonably pleasant to play, but I concur that the sound isn't much.

I ordered mine after the local rep in the bay area let me play the prototype--which was actually pretty great. The production model did not live up to the demo, though. Still, better than nothing and just fine for playing on one's lonesome.

**Mandoviol** · Apr-29-2011, 6:22pm

I was thinking about the Backpacker (I knew a guy who had the Backpacker guitar and really liked it), but you can't find them anywhere--I guess Martin discontinued them (for shame!).

I'm not terribly concerned about depth of sound--that's to be expected from a travel-sized instrument. I guess I'm easy to please here. All I'd really like is something to dink around with quietly at the end of a day of field work.

**Fstpicker** · Apr-29-2011, 6:33pm

I guess a flat top pancake style A mando would be too big? I.E. Mid-Mo, Flatiron Army/Navy, etc.

Jeff

**Ed Goist** · Apr-29-2011, 10:14pm

Originally Posted by Mandoviol

I was thinking about the Backpacker (I knew a guy who had the Backpacker guitar and really liked it), but you can't find them anywhere--I guess Martin discontinued them (for shame!).
...snip...

The Backpacker Mandolin is still listed as an active model on the Martin website. Any Martin dealer (Elderly, for example) should be able to get one for you (?)
Here's one listed on ebay. (NFI)
Looking at the specs, I find it quite ironic that this mandolin has a wide nut!

**Reid1** · Apr-29-2011, 11:20pm

Originally Posted by Mandoviol

Yeah, that's a thought. What I'm really looking for is something I can throw in a day pack and still have room to spare. Any ideas?

I know the Rogue is a bit larger than a true travel mandolin, but it is a pretty good option. The gig bag that comes with the pack is roomy enough to hold music, tuner, capo etc. and probably your lunch along with the mando. It's also well padded. The entire mandolin with the gig bag is so light that you can basically hook the shoulder strap on anything and still carry it easily. I can carry a guitar in a backpack style gig bag over my shoulder, a fairly large amp in one hand, a suitcase in the other, and still find a place to sling the Rogue and it's gig bag.
Plus if something heavy lands on it and it is destroyed you can get a replacement pack for another $40, keep the mandolin, sell the second gig bag and books that come with it for $25... so $15 to replace it

**Mandoviol** · Apr-30-2011, 12:05am

Originally Posted by Ed Goist

The Backpacker Mandolin is still listed as an active model on the Martin website. Any Martin dealer (Elderly, for example) should be able to get one for you (?)
Here's one listed on ebay. (NFI)
Looking at the specs, I find it quite ironic that this mandolin has a wide nut!

Wow, somebody must have just listed that. I looked yesterday and there was nothing up there. Hmmm....

**Dagger Gordon** · Apr-30-2011, 3:37am

"Still, better than nothing and just fine for playing on one's lonesome"

A good point. It really depends what you want a travel mandolin for.

One of the great pleasures of travelling with an instrument for me is that you can jam with people you might meet on the way. You might also end up in some sort of party situation - perhaps round a camp fire - and it's always good for quickly meeting people in a new place.

So I would want something that is good enough for playing with people, but not something which I couldn't replace.

Actually I'm going to be travelling in the States myself later this summer, and my inclination is just to take my Collings MT. It's insured, so if it gets damaged it's quite easy to get another one.

**JEStanek** · Apr-30-2011, 6:04pm

This thread may hold your answer. Timely!

Jamie

**Ed Goist** · Apr-30-2011, 8:09pm

Originally Posted by JEStanek

This thread may hold your answer. Timely!

Jamie

Here is the website for the Stoneman Backpack/Hiker. Looks VERY promising! (NFI)

**Mandoviol** · Apr-30-2011, 8:24pm

I looked at Stoneman, too. Definitely the sort of thing I'm thinking of, but his instruments go fast. Just when I get to thinking about them--they're gone!

**Reid1** · Apr-30-2011, 9:55pm

Originally Posted by Ed Goist

Here is the website for the Stoneman Backpack/Hiker. Looks VERY promising! (NFI)

VERY promising indeed. I think I just found my next campfire mandolin. Wonder what the shipping is to Canada?

**Tim2723** · May-02-2011, 2:18pm

I'll go ahead and recommend something I almost always discourage: The Applause version of the Ovation mandolin. It's light, nearly indestructible, cheap, can actually be played acoustically in an impromptu jam (or amplified if that's an option), and at least is a full-sized instrument. The 'travel' mandolins I've seen (like the Backpacker) aren't really mandolins at all. They have their charms I suppose, but I've just never played a 'stick with strings on it' that I liked.

**Brent Hutto** · May-02-2011, 2:47pm

Like this one?

**mtucker** · May-02-2011, 2:52pm

Originally Posted by Dagger Gordon

Actually I'm going to be travelling in the States myself later this summer, and my inclination is just to take my Collings MT. It's insured, so if it gets damaged it's quite easy to get another one.

couldn't agree more ... my good ones are insured, so i grab what i want ... why play/buy a clunker that mostly collects dust the rest of its' life.

**shinerxl** · Jun-12-2011, 2:32pm

Well, of course I am biased, because I make them but:

http://www.selkiestrings.co.uk/micro%20mandolins.html

NOT a budget item though I'm afraid.

Mark Shiner.
Selkie Strings.