By: Merv Young
While it is ideal to be able to jam on our favorite guitar at home, sometimes we find ourselves on the road for work or pleasure, and want to get some time in on the guitar.
For those players looking to take a guitar on the road with them to practice with and play on, a travel guitar is a secure choice.
In this review, Merv Young breaks down the Vintage Viator travel guitar, providing insights into this handy guitar for those players who find themselves away from home, but want to keep their fingers on the fretboard.
Vintage Viator Looks
The initial impression of the Vintage Viator is its small size, measuring approximately 85cm from the top of the headstock to the base of the body, this is a small guitar indeed.
Any thoughts of this instrument being somehow inferior to a full-sized guitar, however, are quickly dispelled when you look at the build quality and finish.
A spruce-topped soundboard is presented with a lovely rope-patterned border running alongside the maple and rosewood binding.
The same rope pattern features around the soundhole as an attractive finishing touch.
The 12 fret to body fingerboard and bridge are rosewood with Grover tuners being fitted in the headstock.
The neck itself has quite an obvious V profile which might take a little getting used to, but the designer, Paul Brett, considers this profile to be very user-friendly, especially for beginners and children.
Vintage Viator Playability
As mentioned above, the V-neck might take a little getting used to for some players, but overall this is a very easy guitar to get a range of different sounds and techniques out of and a lot of fun can be had playing fingerstyle or just strumming chords.
Vintage Viator Sound
The overall sound of this guitar is certainly far more pleasing than you’d initially expect considering its size.
Whilst there isn’t loads of bass response, there is a lively and rather sweet sound that does pick up the treble and mid frequencies effectively.
It’s also surprisingly loud and will easily find its place as part of an ensemble or as an accompaniment instrument.
Although the guitar arrived in standard tuning, I personally found the tone and intonation to really come alive when tuned to the notes of the third fret, i.e. as if a capo was placed at fret three.
Vintage Viator Value
With a retail price of £229 this certainly represents good value for money.
It does exactly what it sets out to do by providing you with a well-constructed, good quality guitar that you can travel with far more easily than a standard-sized instrument.
No excuses for not practising when you’re away now!
Vintage Viator Overall Ratings
Looks: 10/10
Playability: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Overall: 90%
R.R.P. UK: £229
Have you tried the Vintage Viator? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.