The smallest gypsy...travel guitars, small scale and other oddities

beenawhile · January 2016

Thanks for sharing that Fischer Mini. Looks to be 510mm or 20" scale length...that is tiny!

Lango-Django · January 2016

Speaking of which... this is an old one, but just in case you've never heard it...

Q: How many guitars does a guitar player NEED?

A: Just one more!

beenawhile · February 2016

I ended up buying a Cordoba La Playa (just under 24" scale). Strung with gypsy strings and set up the way I like it, its a really nice, affordable travel/small guitar option. The tone is a bit sweeter than a gypsy guitar, but still has bite and character that work well for this style. I doesn't sound much like a standard steel string, a good thing here, and is very nice for playing lead. Of course the volume is less...something that my family appreciates as I am constantly told to turn down the volume on my Cigano!

My only beef is that the fingerboard and frets are or the classical school (flat and tiny). I am hoping that I wear through them quickly so I can consider adding some radius and slightly larger frets.

Appel · February 2016

That old Decca, and the work being done on it, is just cool as anything.

As for collapsible guitars ... I don't want any compromises - I feel like I don't have time left for any more size- and/or scale-related adjustments - I need something that works, and I need it now - so I recently took one of AJL's travel guitars into the fold. It has absolutely improved the quality of my life. I threw it into the back seat of the truck the other day, got some practicing in while running errands. You know, it is one of the nicest guitars to play I have ever played, travel guitar or not. Plays like a dream. Harmonics just explode off the strings, and the thing sustains better than any Les Paul - it's absolutely wild. If electric guitars have been a part of your playing life, to any degree, you would really appreciate this guitar. Collapses in seconds down into a case about the size of a viola.