Washburn Rover Travel Guitar  

I have had two Taylor Babies, a 1952 Gibson 140C, an Ovation Trekker, and a Mini Martin (which should be called a 5-38 Terz guitar). All have shorter scales than the Rover. I prefer the playability of the Rover over all of these. At the time I had to retire on disability from arthritis, my main working guitar was a Steinberger GL4TA which in my opinion is the ultimate full scale tiny body guitar.  The Rover seems like a relative.

The Rover is a useful small guitar. It's resonant frequency seems to be A an octave above the open fifth string. For comparison, a dreadnaught or SJ200 type of guitar is G (6th string, 3rd fret) and a OOO is A (5th string open). This means there is no fundamental on the bottom three strings but this is also true of a violin. I am impressed with the clarity of tone and the sustain in the upper register. Many folks complained about the strings which are of excellent quality but too low tension to move the top and create much sound. This is acceptable if the Rover is used as a practice instrument to replicate an electric guitar. The strings feel very much like a Squire/Fender Jagmaster which has the same 24 inch scale. I tuned the strings up a half step and the guitar really came alive reminding me of a charrango, small but LOUD. The neck has had no problem with the higher tension. When the strings need replacing I'll go to .012 to .053 and tune to standared pitch. If that works well I might try .013 to .056 which would be ccomparable to .012 to .053 on a 25.5 inch scale guitar. Remember that the 24 inch scale is like capoing on the first fret of a 25.5 inch guitar.

Some improvements I would like but don't expect are: adding a 20th fret since most steel string acoustics seem to have that feature and it wouldn't be too dificult with the fingerboard design. Next I would like to see a model with nylon strings and a wider fingerboard and fan bracing. 19 frets are normal in this case. I would love some simple pickup installation as an option. Lastly I would like to see the body a half inch to an inch deeper at the deepest point. I like the back desgn with the taper, a little like an Ovation. This should lower the resonant frequency to G or E.I can envision a whole line of Rovers with varying string types and maybe even in three scale lenghts, 24 inch, 24.75 inch, and 25.5 inch. There are lots of possibilities.

This little guitar has an adjustable neck, and comes with a spare bridge. I was surprised by this considering the price and the size of the guitar. It comes with everything you need to set the guitar up and make it sound as good as it possible can.

The case fits the guitar very well, and I was able to clip a headstock tuner to the guitar, and still fit it in the case, with the strap on. It's very convienient that everything fits in the case, with plenty of extra room to spare.

Guitar: The guitar sounds very good for it's size, and it looked pretty well made. The soundhole could be sanded a bit, but the glue and binding on mine looked pretty good. The neck feels smooth and comforable. The included strings and strap are about as low-grade as you can imagine, and the factory set-up was terrible.

Case: The case is light, durable, and very comfortable and convienient. However, there are areas where the glue could have been a bit straighter, and the inside lining could have been better fit to the case. Also, as mentioned in every other review, the guitar strap and case smells like kerosine when you first open it. Mine has been airing out for about a week, and it's still noticable, but not nearly as bad as when I first opened it.

For the price, this is the best sounding, easiest to play, easiest to set-up accoustic travel guitar I've found. I've tried several travel accoustics, and some sound like a Ukelele and some are just less compact and more expensive.

The case was a big selling point for me. I got this guitar for camping, and it's nice to know I can throw everything I want in one case, and forget about it. It has room for my slide, capo, tuner, strap, picks and extra strings.It also comes with two straps, so you can use it as a backpack, or as a shoulder-bag.

For the price, this is the best travel guitar I've found.

I spent an evening filing down the included extra bridge, and replacing the strings with polyweb light accoustic strings, and that helped immensly. The action is nearly as low as my electric guitars, with very little buzzing and fretting out. I'm still experimenting with the setup, but I'm already very happy.

This guitar DOES NOT sound like a Ukelele. The bass tones come through loud and clean, and the high notes don't suffer for the small size of the guitar. It is very quiet, however, due to it's size.

It took me a while to find a comfortable way to hold this guitar. I've found playing it without a strap is very difficult because the neck is the heaviest part of the guitar. After adjusting the strap a few times, I finally found a sweet-spot, but this guitar will require some adjustment on your part.

I just wanted something to take camping, and use around a fire. At this price point, I won't be too upset if it gets a little rain on it, or smells like a campfire. I would buy another one at the drop of a hat if this one gets broken. I was worried when I first pulled it out, because the factory setup was terrible ... then I saw the spare bridge, and realized I could experiment without any danger of ruining my only bridge. I was VERY impressed by that little detail, and I'm sure I woudln't have tried for such a low action otherwise.The guitar continues to impress me with how level the frets are. I've played far more expensive instruments that needed fret work to get to where I like them.

Full size scale on a travel guitar is nice and has as relatively thin neck.  Even came with an extra compensated saddle and some saddle shims just in case you oversand it. 

Unlike previous reviews the strap didn't emanate fumes rivaling an unregulated chemical plant in a third world country.  The strap is still pretty cheesy though, so I don't use it. 

Pretty decent quality at this price point. 

For what you pay for, I think the value is excellent.  Guitar, case, strap, hex wrench, extra saddle, some picks and some instruction DVD.  Can't complain about that.

The action was a bit on the high side and there wasn't any tension on the truss rod (or very little). Easily remedied with a minor adjustment on the rod and sanding down the saddle.  Plays pretty nice now and I've very happy with it. If you are not comfortable doing a set up, I would recommend having it done somewhere (that pretty much goes for any guitar, right?). 

Just remember it's a travel guitar and not a dreadnaught so the sound is a little banjo-esque.  I travel a lot for work and it's nice to have this while sitting in a hotel room (probably a good thing so the sound won't travel through thin hotels walls).  I really enjoy using it at home as a couch guitar while watching TV.  For my purposes, I give it top marks.  Operates perfectly within it's intended scope. 

And it's cheap enough that if it's ever lost or broken, I'd just buy another one. 

Comes with a nice case, and includes a few picks, a strap, and decent strings.

Really a pretty good deal for the price.

Quality is just as nice on this little Rover as it is on my other Washburn acoustic.  Nice, solid construction, decent machine heads, and an adjustable truss.  Very nice finish, and comes with good strings from the factory.  Sounds really decent for what it is, just don't expect a full size sound.

I read some older reviews that said the case smells, but mine fortunately does not so maybe they have addressed that problem. 

I think it's a great value.  Neat little guitar, and I find myself picking it up more and more as it's easy to leave by the couch or whatever.  And of course, it's a great size for traveling.

I picked this little guy up because I wanted something to travel with that had a full sized fret board and wasn't total garbage to play.  The fact that it's as high quality as it is really surprised me, so I am definitely happy with the purchase. 

This a fabulous little axe; i take it everywhere. It has great tone for it's size and is a real kick to play. I highly recommend!!!

Beautiful...  holds a tune... great tone...

Great deal!

It is rare that an item exceeds expectations by a wide margin, but this is one of those times. If you enjoy playing, you will play this more than any other guitar. The small size, combined with a standard neck, make the Rover a blast to play. If you want to play more (anywhere, anytime) buy a Rover!