# What is this musical instrument? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084 "2008-09-25T00:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/1 "2008-09-25T00:08:14Z")
[Here](http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_jill_and_julia_show.html) is a video of Jill Sobule and Julia Sweeney performing at the TED convention. What I’d like to know is, what is that instrument that Jill is playing? I’m completely stumped…it’s not a guitar, as such. It’s not a uke, as such. It’s not a mandolin, as such…what the hell is it? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/2 "2008-09-25T00:30:53Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > [Here](http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_jill_and_julia_show.html) is a video of Jill Sobule and Julia Sweeney performing at the TED convention. What I’d like to know is, what is that instrument that Jill is playing? I’m completely stumped…it’s not a guitar, as such. It’s not a uke, as such. It’s not a mandolin, as such…what the hell is it? Well, it’s not your usual guitar shape and it’s not a Martin Backpacker, but judging from Jill’s left hand positions, it seems to have six strings and be tuned just like a guitar, so that’s my guess - some other brand of small bodied guitar. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/3 "2008-09-25T00:59:51Z")
It would appear to be a [Vagabond Travel Guitar](http://www.stringsmith.com/zencart/). ([Here’s](http://brocknroll.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/thought-katy-perry-stealing-jill-sobules-spotlight/) a still photo of Jill with the guitar in question.) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/4 "2008-09-25T02:07:53Z")
The only time I ever saw Jill Sobule was on TV a few years back. She was playing a Martin Backpacker that time. Until recently, she was the only person I had ever seen playing a Backpacker onstage. Now, you’re gonna ask me who the other was, and I don’t know. A guy was playing guitar behind a woman singing. I don’t remember her name either. Sheesh, I’m no help at all. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/5 "2008-09-25T02:12:25Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > It would appear to be a [Vagabond Travel Guitar](http://www.stringsmith.com/zencart/). > > ([Here’s](http://brocknroll.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/thought-katy-perry-stealing-jill-sobules-spotlight/) a still photo of Jill with the guitar in question.) Yeppers, looks like it to me, too. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/6 "2008-09-25T02:13:47Z")
Ooh, thanks! That thing looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-musical-instrument/465084/7 "2008-09-25T05:13:15Z")
Saw Jane Siberry playing one in concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and was astounded at the sound she got from this tiny guitar.