Hey GMC’ers. I’ve been out of town and I’m back and picking up on my practice routine. I’m over the Red Socks. I’ll survive. So let me tell you about the Martin Back Packer acoustic guitar. I bought the guitar just for the purpose of keeping up on practice, while on business travel. I took it to San Diego as carry on luggage with some reading in it. No hassles with it being carryon luggage. I was able to practice in my hotel room any time. It did pass the time being on travel. I was concerned about the Firestorm but I would have floated on it in the bay if the fires reached me. I was able to pack it in my oversized duffel bah (twice the size of Navy issue) to carry onboard an aircraft carrier. I didn’t get to play it on the ship since we averaged a 12 to 20 hour work day. However it fit into the standard Navy locker so I knew it was safe and locked up while I was away from my hammock. Packed it back in the duffel bag and was shot off the ship in a COD and was able to play it at the airport waiting for the Red Eye back to VA. All in all I think it served its purpose. It is my special operation guitar. I bought it with nylon strings for diversity of music. The sound is adequate for the size and design. Ya need the strap. I received a couple of good comments about my playing (GMC SRV blues) at the airport and people didn’t know what the instrument was. All is well that ends well. Look for me on the Eddie Van Halen lesson site. ROCK ON!