Martin backpacker

I bought a Martin Backpacker for $75. The action was a bit high and it had a few scratches and white paint marks on it. I made a fixture and was able to back bow the neck for a few weeks and brought the action down enough to make it playable (no truss rod). I took the chance and used a brass brush to clean the white paint out of the wood grain. Howard's Feed-N-Wax made the whole guitar look like new.

However, the guitar is impossible to hold without a strap. Even then your right elbow tends to make the body rotate upward. Someone sells "wings" you can install that make the body shape more like a guitar. The sound is not guitar-like. More like a toy. I probably paid what it is worth. I feel sorry for anyone who paid full price.

Yea, I've got one. Now what do I do with it?

I'm sure we could ramble on about something else!!

Before I bought the Martin Backpacker I bought a cheap Chinese copy on eBay. I think it was $35 including shipping. Flat plywood fretboard, brass frets, crappy painted plywood all around. It probably doesn't sound much different than the Martin. But the Martin looks a whole lot better.

I never use either of them.

I also found an odd round body backpacker type guitar. Cost me $100. Very interesting and unusual. Sounds like crap!!!! I'll have to find some pictures.

Gee Tony, based on the people from Ontario I've met over the years, you must be the only person who lives there who doesn't have a cottage! Ok, I hope I'm not reading too much into this, but I'm getting the distinct impression there's not a lot of affection for backpacker guitars. It's those subtle little clues like, 'sounds like a toy'  or 'use it as a paddle' that are making me think that.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm usually pretty good at picking up those little messages people give off that they might not even be aware of themselves. I'm just glad I asked for some opinions first! 

I forgot one thing. I just pulled my Backpacker down. The only way a strap works is if you tie it to the headstock. Using the left strap button puts the guitar in an awkward position.

The guitar might suit some people better who can't play a bigger body guitar.