By Eric Broadbent, MusicGear Network
I’ve been a Stowaway owner of well over a year, and I thought I’d document some of my thoughts on this product and the company.
I love innovation and smart thinking when it comes to anything, but especially music gear.
Not a lot has changed with the guitar in general in years. Sure one could argue that, but really, nothing jumps out at you often as being groundbreaking.
But, I think it’s a very fair statement to say that the Stowaway travel guitar is something that is not only innovative, but is something fresh we needed in the guitar world.
Is it the first one out there? No. And I’m glad it’s not. The travel guitar as a whole has had evolve and grow as well and now we have many choices out there.
I cannot honestly say I have played every travel guitar out there, and I will also say that I never will as it’s probably impossible.
I do feel that many (not all) are more of a novelty that one may buy as a gift for somebody, or self purchased, but in the end will end up in the corner of a room (at best). That’s the “novelty” factor. Cool first impression, but when you need it to do what it’s supposed to do best “be a great playing guitar”, many fall short.
I sometimes feel guilty telling people “Yeah this is a travel guitar”, as quite frankly, even though I think it’s the world’s best travel guitar (well it kind of is, since MusicCritic.com called it the best), I just look at it as a “killer guitar that just travels well”.
The Stowaway from Stewart Guitar Company floored me from the moment I took it out of the bag. There is nothing “toy” or “novelty” about this instrument.
We are talking all quality wood body, full sized neck, electronics and other hardware we’ve come accustomed to in other regular guitars as well.
Nothing plastic or synthetic. The real deal.
The guitar feels great in your hands, balances well whether sitting or standing.
It assembles and disassembles in less than a minute.
But what matters the most (yes it will travel with you no problem, and that might be the 1st reason you’d purchase it) but it sounds GREAT!
Not only does it sound great, but it plays great.
There is no compromise for the guitarist. Often when we get some new innovative gadget on the market, it comes with some sacrifice. Like “ok, well it can’t do this, but you can’t expect it too because of reasons X, Y & Z”.
The Stowaway makes you compromise nothing. You don’t have to adapt to the guitar. There is nothing to adapt to. It’s like your regular guitar, that just folds down into a bag.
From the moment you pop on the neck and tune up, within seconds you will forget that this thing is a travel guitar. I truly mean it.
If you are not playing this guitar, in a non travel environment, I will be very surprised. Again, yes this is offered as one of the best choices out there for musicians that travel, but it’s more than that.
It turns heads every time I show it to people. They cannot get over how cool it looks, and then you should see their reactions when you either plug in and play, or better yet, pass it to them and say “try it…!”
This guitar has brought me great joy and I think you will find the same thing.
And it would be a crime if I did not mention the company behind the product. Jim Reed (Stewart Guitar Company’s CEO) is as passionate as one can be behind his brand. He works tirelessly to make sure every guitar that goes out that door is setup to a demanding multi point checklist. If there is even the slightest thing wrong with it, it does not go out.
I greatly respect that in a manufacturer especially when there is competition in the travel guitar field. Jim could be pumping these out cookie cutter just to flood the market with just another travel guitar. But each one of these guitars, are his babies and he will not compromise when it comes to quality.
I hope this gives you a bit of insight into the Stowaway Travel Guitar and you can see me play it often on my YouTube channel at youtube.com/musicgearnetwork.
In closing, this is just my little saying about the guitar. “Yes this is a Travel Guitar, but I look at it as a top notch playing and sounding guitar that just likes to travel”.
Check one out today, you won’t be disappointed!
