A few travelling instruments
Engadget brings to our attention this sweet folding guitar, which can remain in tune after a folding. A spool at the base reels the strings down as it collapses, keeping them out of the way when you jam it into your backpack. But at $3,370 you might not be so cavalier with it anyway, favoring to buy it a separate plane ticket. Sometimes small can be expensive, I guess.
If you’re sane and want a small guitar, there are other options, like the Baby Taylor, or the Larrivee Parlor guitar, which has even been to space. If you can use an amp wherever you’re going, a soloette might do the trick too. And oddly, it’s also been to space. The Brunner Outdoor guitar even comes apart at the neck, though it doesn’t claim to stay in tune. Video available here.
If you’re looking for a very portable tune, the little lady harmonica’s the best buy of the lot. It’s a single octave, but that’s enough for some simple songs, and unlike an alpenhorn, it will fit on a keychain. They’re cheapest
