Traveler Guitar ULN MHSBW Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW is a compact nylon string guitar from the innovative brand Traveler Guitar. Traveler Guitar was founded in 2005 with a mission to design lightweight, full-scale acoustic and electric travel guitars. Their instruments are designed to be easy to transport while maintaining professional sound and playability.

Traveler Guitar has become a popular brand among guitarists, known for their unique folding design that allows the guitar body and neck to collapse into a much more compact size for storage and travel. They market their guitars as ideal for the frequent traveler who doesn't want to compromise on their guitar playing while on the road. The Classcial ULN MHSBW is one of Traveler Guitar's nylon string acoustic offerings, featuring a compact concert-sized body and 3/4 scale neck while still producing impressive classical guitar tones.

Overview

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW is a compact classical/nylon string guitar designed for portability and travel. This full-scale guitar has a 25.5" scale length and features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The body is made of laminated paulownia wood.

It has a slim, lightweight design with a detachable neck that allows it to fit into the included padded gig bag. The guitar has 18 frets and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Tuning is handled by sealed die-cast tuning machines. Despite the compact size, it delivers warm, balanced tone expected from a quality classical guitar. The custom piezo pickup allows for amplified playing.

The compact design and detachable neck make the Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW an excellent choice for traveling musicians or guitarists with limited space. The full 25.5" scale length allows for the same feel and tone as a standard classical guitar. The solid spruce top provides balanced and articulate tone across the tonal spectrum, with good volume and dynamics. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and richness to the overall sound.

While designed for travel, this is still a high quality instrument that can handle advanced classical repertoire as well as other fingerstyle genres. The slim neck and comfortable playing feel make extended practice sessions enjoyable. The piezo pickup and built-in tuner provide flexibility when amplified playing is needed. The padded gig bag protects the guitar during transport.

For guitarists looking for a quality classical guitar option for travel or smaller spaces, the Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW delivers impressive playability and tone in a compact and portable package. It's a great choice for everyone from students to advanced players. Musicians who frequently travel or have limited space will appreciate the ability to pack up this full-scale classical guitar in the included gig bag.

The Martin 11DX1E-01 is another excellent option to consider for a high-quality classical guitar in a compact size. This model from the renowned Martin Guitar company features a Solid Sitka Spruce top with Mahogany HPL textured back and sides. Despite the smaller body size, it produces impressive volume, clarity and sustain. The neck meets the body at the 14th fret for comfortable playability. Check out the Martin 11DX1E-01 here for more details and specs on this great portable classical guitar choice.

Sound Quality

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW features tonewoods and construction designed to deliver rich, balanced acoustic tone.

The solid spruce top is a common choice for classical guitars, providing bright and responsive treble notes with good projection. Mahogany is used for the back and sides, lending warmth and resonance to the midrange and bass.

Overall, the guitar's tone profile leans towards the warmer side, with smooth and rounded bass and lower mids complemented by crisp, articulate highs. It's a nicely balanced sound that caters well to both fingerstyle and strumming approaches.

The compact travel body does sacrifice some bass response compared to a full-size classical. However, the tone remains surprisingly full and resonant for a short-scale instrument. Volume and projection are also respectable, if not room-filling.

The all-wood construction delivers an organic, natural acoustic tone. While it may not rival more expensive classical guitars, the ULN MHSBW certainly outperforms other travel-sized models in its price range for balanced, classical-style sound. The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW features tonewoods and construction designed to deliver rich, balanced acoustic tone compared to other travel-sized classical guitar models. However, for those looking for the full classical guitar experience, a standard full-size model may be preferable, such as the Taylor GS HG01016016003201000. This features a Grand Symphony body shape with solid Lutz spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides for superior volume, projection and dynamic range. The larger body produces a rich, deep bass response not achievable on travel-sized models. So while the Traveler ULN MHSBW performs well for a compact classical, to get the most authentic and robust classical tone, a standard full-size guitar like the Taylor GS is recommended. With its Grand Symphony bracing and premium tonewoods, it delivers the full-bodied, nuanced sound expected from a high-quality classical guitar.

Playability

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN features a comfortable neck and smooth playability. The neck has a standard classical guitar width of 52mm at the nut, providing ample room for fingering chords and scales. The fretboard is made of rosewood which contributes to the smooth feel. The action height is set low and comfortable right out of the box, allowing easy fretting without buzzing.

The nylon strings have a softer, warmer tone compared to steel strings, and are easier on the fingers without digging in sharply. The neck profile is a shallow "C" shape that fits nicely in the hand. Overall, the playability makes this an inviting classical guitar for beginners through advanced players. The comfortable neck width, rosewood fretboard, low action and soft nylon strings allow for effortless fingering and smooth playability.

Hardware

The ULN MHSBW has an innovative and functional hardware design that makes this mini acoustic travel guitar easy to play and tune.

The guitar uses quality die-cast tuners that hold tune very reliably, even with changes in temperature and humidity. The tuners are smooth and precise, allowing for accurate tuning without slippage.

The nut and bridge are both made of durable and resonant materials that enhance sustain and tone. The nut is graphite, while the bridge is rosewood. Both materials are common in high-end acoustic guitars. The slots in the nut and saddle are cut properly so notes play cleanly without buzzing.

Overall, the hardware components on the ULN MHSBW are thoughtfully designed for travel while retaining the functionality of a good acoustic guitar. The tuners, nut and bridge give this diminutive instrument professional-grade tuning stability and tonal transfer.

Portability

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW is designed with portability in mind. At just 31 inches long and weighing only 4 pounds, it's extremely compact and lightweight for a classical guitar. The full-scale guitar neck allows for comfortable playing, while the small body makes it easy to transport.

It comes with a high-quality padded gig bag, so you can safely carry it anywhere without worrying about damage. The bag has backpack straps, making it convenient to wear while traveling. Everything about this guitar is optimized for portability - the slim profile lets you store it in tight spaces like airplane overhead compartments.

Overall, the Traveler Guitar Classical ULN offers unmatched portability and travel-friendly features for a nylon string classical guitar. Between the light weight, included gig bag, and small size, musicians will find it effortless to take this guitar anywhere. The playability isn't sacrificed despite its miniature size, making this an ideal travel companion for classical guitarists.

Pros

The Traveler Guitar Classica ULN MHSBW has several advantages that make it a great choice for players looking for portability without sacrificing too much on sound quality.

• Lightweight and Easy to Transport: Weighing only 3.2 lbs, the Traveler Guitar Classical is extremely lightweight for an acoustic guitar. It comes with a padded gig bag, making it easy to carry around or transport without worrying about damage. The compact size is perfect for travel.

• Quality Sound for a Travel Guitar: While the sound doesn't compare to a full-size classical guitar, reviewers mention the Traveler Guitar Classical sounds very good for a portable, travel-friendly guitar. The solid spruce top provides excellent resonance and sustain.

• Built-in EQ: There are EQ controls built into the guitar, allowing you to shape the tone to your liking. The EQ gives you some extra versatility you don't always get with an acoustic.

• Headphone Ready: This guitar has a headphone jack, allowing silent practice anywhere. Plus, you can plug it into an amp if desired.

Cons

While the Traveler Guitar Classical ULN offers unparalleled portability for a nylon-string guitar, it does come with some tradeoffs.

One potential downside is that the small body and short 24.75" scale length can result in a lack of rich bass response compared to a full-size classical guitar. The limited body size simply doesn't allow for the same resonance in the crucial lower frequencies. This requires an adjustment period, especially for those used to playing on larger-bodied nylon-string guitars.

The short scale length also takes some getting used to. Those with large hands may find the tighter string spacing to be uncomfortable at first. It requires building up new muscle memory for where to place the fingers on the fretboard. The short scale can make it more challenging to control string tension as well.

While the playability and tone may not match a premium full-size classical, the tradeoffs allow the Traveler Guitar to fulfill its mission as a remarkably portable nylon-string option. It's ideal for travel and practice, though likely not a long-term classical guitar solution for serious players. The compact body is the price paid for portability, so expectations should be set accordingly.

Value

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW hits a competitive price point for a travel-sized classical guitar at around $200. This positions it as an affordable option compared to many full-sized classical guitars, which can run $500-1000 or more.

For the money, the ULN offers reasonable value considering its portability-focused design. The use of laminated woods rather than solid woods helps keep costs down. While this may impact tone and resonance, it's understandable for an ultra-light guitar built for travel. Upper-end travel classical guitars with all solid woods sell for $400-600.

The hardware, electronics, and overall build quality seem decent for the price. The ULN isn't likely to have the rich sound of a professional full-sized classical, but it fares well against other travel-sized instruments. Players looking for an inexpensive, portable nylon-string guitar will find it provides good bang for the buck. Those wanting pro-level tone may need to spend more. Overall, the ULN hits a nice sweet spot between price, performance, and portability.

Conclusion

The Traveler Guitar Classical ULN MHSBW offers a unique take on the classical guitar with its compact travel design. The utilization of a full 25.5" scale length gives it the same feel and sound quality as a standard classical guitar. The playability is also on par thanks to the comfortable nylon string tension and action height.

The compact body makes this an extremely portable classical guitar. It fits nicely into the included gig bag and can be easily stowed away or taken on the go. This makes it a great option for travel or practice on-the-move.

Some of the pros of this model include the impressive full-scale sound and playability, lightweight and compact portable design, quality hardware and electronics, and sleek stylish aesthetics.

On the downside, the smaller body doesn't provide the same full bass response as a standard classical. The use of laminate woods also impacts the resonance and tone compared to all-solid wood models. And the non-traditional body shape takes some getting used to coming from a standard classical.

Overall, this is an excellent option as a portable and travel classical guitar. The full-scale design means you don't have to compromise on playability or sound quality. It's a great choice for practice, travel, or amplifying your classical tone. If seeking a more traditional classical guitar for home use, an all-solid wood full-size model may be preferable. But for maximum portability and convenience, the Traveler Guitar Classical ULN delivers an impressive balance of sound, playability, and travel-friendly form factor.