a terrific review, thank you for this. I went to so many nonsense videos that were either zero performance or someone strumming. you also know exactly what is important to someone who plays a classical and hit all of the important points.
A compressor pedal can even out the inconsistent volume of the strings that that instrument is currently offering. However, compressors can alter your dynamics. They can also "squash" your sound. Because of that, some compressors allow you to blend your uncompressed sound with your compressed sound in order to restore some dynamics and reduce the "squashed" sound that's associated with compressors. Some people love compressors, some hate them. They're not for everyone. Try it before purchasing.
Take a look at my Godin review if you want a top-notch piezo classical. If you want a better sounding silent travel guitar, check out what Yamaha has with on-board effects and a little better pre-amp.
Sounds like current year retail price. 500 dollars seems reasonable for the features, however... I wouldn't buy it if you haven't seen my follow-up and aren't willing to mod it. The aluminum end cap shreds nylon strings. There are a ton of other travel guitar options out there for classical guitarists now and most of them will sound better than this one and won't shred your strings. Even Traveler makes an ultralite version in the 300 dollar range now. If you do want one, I recommend you mod the cap with a Dremel, taking off all the harsh edges.
Excellent presentation/review skills ... and an intriguing guitar. Have you had a chance to compare the sound quality of the Shadow system to that of Yamaha's new 200 SGN? I've already bought the Yamaha, but might consider the Traveler as a back up ... not even near the pro level, just plunking along for self-therapy.
+Steve Martin The original pre-amp in the yamahas left something to be desired (I played them a bit when they first came out), but the newer ones seem pretty darn good. Built-in reverb is also very nice for practice and for performance. The shadow system on this guitar is very good as well, but my transducer (the actual piezo unit) is very imbalanced and I will probably replace it. That's actually not a terribly expensive fix, most of the value is in the pre-amp. If you already have the Yamaha, I would just stick with that. The traveler guitar (I address this in a follow-up vid) has a major design flaw in the end-cap that the strings tie-on to, which is made of aluminum that is machined with very abrupt edges. This makes the nylon strings, particularly the high E shred. Don't even try putting high tension strings on - they won't make it to pitch without breaking. Additionally, you can only use longer (basically just D'Addario) strings on the instrument, so forget about using Savarez, Galli, or Tomastik strings if those are your playing preference (I prefer Savarez). The traveler is also difficult to restring and to tune, but that I consider a trade-off of the ultra-compact design, not really a negative per se. I really should have made it more clear that this video is a "Frist impressions" - once I worked with the instrument a bit the flaws became much more apparent. That being said, if you are opting for the steel-string version of this guitar (the escape concert), I think it is much more attractive. If you just have to have an instrument that fits easily into an overhead compartment, the escape classical is as good an option as you will find since the demise of Miranda guitars. The sound is good, the neck is excellent, but the design comes with significant trade-offs. Thanks for watching, and sorry for the wall of text.
+David Stewart No apologies necessary! Actually, I am quite flattered with the time and thought you put into answering my question. Thank you for a well-informed and honest assessment. Your answer was quite useful and saved me some money, but leads me to a more difficult question. I hesitated to say it before (because I am a terminal beginner at playing the instrument), but I have a rather high-end travel guitar as well ... the carbon-fiber Blackbird Rider with the MiSi system (thought I would pair it up with my Boss GP-10S to get instant access to those cumbersome Joni-tunings). Like the RIck Turner custom you mentioned, the Blackbird has individual pickups for each string, and with a short break-out cable, there is no need for batteries. The guitar sounds great to my untrained ears, but with no controls on the guitar, tone and reverb have to be left up to my portable amp ... a Yamaha THR5A. I have found the new Yamaha 200SGN guitar to be lighter, useful on-board options (now a built-in tuner, the usual inputs, and uses AA batteries) and now with an adjustable truss rod and a slightly warmer amp-modeling tone - better sounding than their 2nd generation 130SGN. The only things I am changing are the strings and upgrading the cheap tuning head. I was wondering if you have any hacks, tweaks, or suggestions for the piezo pickup of the Yamaha to bring the sound level and individual string control up to a par with the Blackbird or the Rick Turner Renaissance model you mentioned (loved listening to that electric nylon video of the Village Underground Band). All in all, I am really happy with the Yamaha, but for my next volunteer-teaching trip to rural Cambodia, will probably bring the Blackbird - as there would be no issues with warping due to heat / humidity ... and if the batteries in my amp give out, I still have its modest capabilities as a campfire sing-along acoustic. Still, here at home in Japan, the Yammie is more fun to play with. Much thanks for the input you have given so far. Feel free (or not) to contact me at my personal e-mail at smartin@gol.com. Regards from Tokyo - Steve Martin ... would rather be Bill Murray ;-)
+Steve Martin Many people of late have been telling me about the blackbird. Clearly, it is something I need to get my hands on and try out. I love the idea of a carbon-fiber guitar for the reasons you mention, not just for Cambodia, but for East Texas! Taming a piezo can be quite a bit of work, and after exhausting my tricks I decided my element was to blame on my escape classical. Usually, you can do the following things to try to help string balance: 1) Make sure the bottom of the saddle (bridgebone) is FLAT. Color the bottom with a sharpie, sand it on a piece of glass until all the ink comes off at the same time. This is the most important thing. A piezo works with pressure, and you want the pressure to be even across the piezo element. 2) Make sure the saddle fits into the slot of the bridge smoothly. I also sand the sides to make sure that saddle fits in easily. 3) For classical, make the TOP of the saddle as flat across as you can, so the strings are equidistant from the frets. Often factory classicals have a graduated or even radius'd bridge, and this will cause the trebles to be quiet and the basses to be super loud. Making the bridge flat like a well-made flamenco will help this. 4) if there are still issues, try cutting the bridge in half with a hack-saw. This way you can balance the volume of treble and bass strings separately. You can round the bottom of whatever set is louder and thus cut down on the pressure and volume going to the piezo. You can also put a shim of a cedar cigar wrapper in to control the volume on a given side. I should make a video about this, come to think of it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for that info! I also caught your comments/updated review from 11/22/2015 on the Musician's Friend website regarding this guitar. Thanks for providing that detailed info. It was super helpful!
Yes, but the taps won't pick up very well. Same thing with my Godin. I've thought a lot about how to deliver a truly electric flamenco experience and it's hard. Miranda used to make a silent guitar that you could attach separate golpes to that could have a transducer placed on them, but Miranda has been out of business for awhile.
I have one of these but i cant seem to get certain notes, like if i try to play a g chord, it only plays the strings i don't have my fingers on. Please he this poor asian boy learn the guitar
Overpriced. DUMB guitar Travel guitar that has no sound unless u bring amp. What is the point of traveling? Dump this and get a Cordoba traveler's guitar. Sound, small size , cheaper
a terrific review, thank you for this. I went to so many nonsense videos that were either zero performance or someone strumming. you also know exactly what is important to someone who plays a classical and hit all of the important points.
Wow surprised me with the heavy metal sound at the end. Cool detailed review. Thanks.
A compressor pedal can even out the inconsistent volume of the strings that that instrument is currently offering. However, compressors can alter your dynamics. They can also "squash" your sound. Because of that, some compressors allow you to blend your uncompressed sound with your compressed sound in order to restore some dynamics and reduce the "squashed" sound that's associated with compressors. Some people love compressors, some hate them. They're not for everyone. Try it before purchasing.
Thanx!
Great video. Thanks.
+Bbzije1 Thanks so much for watching!
Wow I would love a guitar like that I just hope it sounded better
Take a look at my Godin review if you want a top-notch piezo classical. If you want a better sounding silent travel guitar, check out what Yamaha has with on-board effects and a little better pre-amp.
How do you currently have this set up? Wondering what work I might consider doing.
Hey David, this guitar is about $550 on Sweetwater. Seems a bit pricey to me for a traveler guitar. Why do you think the cost is this high?
Sounds like current year retail price. 500 dollars seems reasonable for the features, however...
I wouldn't buy it if you haven't seen my follow-up and aren't willing to mod it. The aluminum end cap shreds nylon strings. There are a ton of other travel guitar options out there for classical guitarists now and most of them will sound better than this one and won't shred your strings. Even Traveler makes an ultralite version in the 300 dollar range now.
If you do want one, I recommend you mod the cap with a Dremel, taking off all the harsh edges.
Excellent presentation/review skills ... and an intriguing guitar. Have you had a chance to compare the sound quality of the Shadow system to that of Yamaha's new 200 SGN? I've already bought the Yamaha, but might consider the Traveler as a back up ... not even near the pro level, just plunking along for self-therapy.
+Steve Martin The original pre-amp in the yamahas left something to be desired (I played them a bit when they first came out), but the newer ones seem pretty darn good. Built-in reverb is also very nice for practice and for performance. The shadow system on this guitar is very good as well, but my transducer (the actual piezo unit) is very imbalanced and I will probably replace it. That's actually not a terribly expensive fix, most of the value is in the pre-amp.
If you already have the Yamaha, I would just stick with that. The traveler guitar (I address this in a follow-up vid) has a major design flaw in the end-cap that the strings tie-on to, which is made of aluminum that is machined with very abrupt edges. This makes the nylon strings, particularly the high E shred. Don't even try putting high tension strings on - they won't make it to pitch without breaking. Additionally, you can only use longer (basically just D'Addario) strings on the instrument, so forget about using Savarez, Galli, or Tomastik strings if those are your playing preference (I prefer Savarez).
The traveler is also difficult to restring and to tune, but that I consider a trade-off of the ultra-compact design, not really a negative per se.
I really should have made it more clear that this video is a "Frist impressions" - once I worked with the instrument a bit the flaws became much more apparent. That being said, if you are opting for the steel-string version of this guitar (the escape concert), I think it is much more attractive. If you just have to have an instrument that fits easily into an overhead compartment, the escape classical is as good an option as you will find since the demise of Miranda guitars. The sound is good, the neck is excellent, but the design comes with significant trade-offs.
Thanks for watching, and sorry for the wall of text.
+David Stewart
No apologies necessary! Actually, I am quite flattered with the time and thought you put into answering my question. Thank you for a well-informed and honest assessment. Your answer was quite useful and saved me some money, but leads me to a more difficult question.
I hesitated to say it before (because I am a terminal beginner at playing the instrument), but I have a rather high-end travel guitar as well ... the carbon-fiber Blackbird Rider with the MiSi system (thought I would pair it up with my Boss GP-10S to get instant access to those cumbersome Joni-tunings). Like the RIck Turner custom you mentioned, the Blackbird has individual pickups for each string, and with a short break-out cable, there is no need for batteries. The guitar sounds great to my untrained ears, but with no controls on the guitar, tone and reverb have to be left up to my portable amp ... a Yamaha THR5A.
I have found the new Yamaha 200SGN guitar to be lighter, useful on-board options (now a built-in tuner, the usual inputs, and uses AA batteries) and now with an adjustable truss rod and a slightly warmer amp-modeling tone - better sounding than their 2nd generation 130SGN. The only things I am changing are the strings and upgrading the cheap tuning head.
I was wondering if you have any hacks, tweaks, or suggestions for the piezo pickup of the Yamaha to bring the sound level and individual string control up to a par with the Blackbird or the Rick Turner Renaissance model you mentioned (loved listening to that electric nylon video of the Village Underground Band).
All in all, I am really happy with the Yamaha, but for my next volunteer-teaching trip to rural Cambodia, will probably bring the Blackbird - as there would be no issues with warping due to heat / humidity ... and if the batteries in my amp give out, I still have its modest capabilities as a campfire sing-along acoustic. Still, here at home in Japan, the Yammie is more fun to play with.
Much thanks for the input you have given so far. Feel free (or not) to contact me at my personal e-mail at smartin@gol.com. Regards from Tokyo - Steve Martin ... would rather be Bill Murray ;-)
+Steve Martin Many people of late have been telling me about the blackbird. Clearly, it is something I need to get my hands on and try out. I love the idea of a carbon-fiber guitar for the reasons you mention, not just for Cambodia, but for East Texas!
Taming a piezo can be quite a bit of work, and after exhausting my tricks I decided my element was to blame on my escape classical. Usually, you can do the following things to try to help string balance:
1) Make sure the bottom of the saddle (bridgebone) is FLAT. Color the bottom with a sharpie, sand it on a piece of glass until all the ink comes off at the same time. This is the most important thing. A piezo works with pressure, and you want the pressure to be even across the piezo element.
2) Make sure the saddle fits into the slot of the bridge smoothly. I also sand the sides to make sure that saddle fits in easily.
3) For classical, make the TOP of the saddle as flat across as you can, so the strings are equidistant from the frets. Often factory classicals have a graduated or even radius'd bridge, and this will cause the trebles to be quiet and the basses to be super loud. Making the bridge flat like a well-made flamenco will help this.
4) if there are still issues, try cutting the bridge in half with a hack-saw. This way you can balance the volume of treble and bass strings separately. You can round the bottom of whatever set is louder and thus cut down on the pressure and volume going to the piezo. You can also put a shim of a cedar cigar wrapper in to control the volume on a given side.
I should make a video about this, come to think of it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for that info! I also caught your comments/updated review from 11/22/2015 on the Musician's Friend website regarding this guitar. Thanks for providing that detailed info. It was super helpful!
In order to the tuners, Is it possible to attach a removeable golpeador to use it as a flamenco guitar?
Yes, but the taps won't pick up very well. Same thing with my Godin. I've thought a lot about how to deliver a truly electric flamenco experience and it's hard. Miranda used to make a silent guitar that you could attach separate golpes to that could have a transducer placed on them, but Miranda has been out of business for awhile.
"My wife just had a baby!?"......you may be sleeping on the couch if she hears this Master Stewart.
steel frets?!
Do the tuners get in the way when struming or picking the strings? The turners look awful close to the strings.
+LafayetteLeSaint not really, but they're hard to use.
I have one of these but i cant seem to get certain notes, like if i try to play a g chord, it only plays the strings i don't have my fingers on.
Please he this poor asian boy learn the guitar
How Much?
+porkyo123 Amazon and Musician's friend have it for around 500 dollars US.
+David Stewart E4 guitar on Amazon around 3,000
Overpriced. DUMB guitar Travel guitar that has no sound unless u bring amp. What is the point of traveling? Dump this and get a Cordoba traveler's guitar. Sound, small size , cheaper