The Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi is a small-bodied electro-acoustic travel guitar with a 590mm (23.2 inch) scale, from around £699 in the UK. Faith is a British-designed brand, led by luthier Patrick James Eggle and based in Shropshire, and the Nomad series has been its dedicated travel line since 2016.
Unlike a lot of travel guitars built down to a price, the Nomad keeps the same all-solid-wood construction as Faith’s full-size models. This one pairs a solid Trembesi top with solid mahogany back and sides, an Indonesian ebony fingerboard and bridge, and a Fishman Sonicore pickup with a Presys I preamp built in.
What you actually get
The body is a scaled-down version of Faith’s standard shape rather than a parlour or 3/4-size design, so it keeps a fuller voice than most travel-sized acoustics manage. The neck is mahogany with a 43mm Graphtech NuBone nut, and the whole thing ships with a padded Faith gig bag as standard.
Good for: a player who wants a genuine step up in materials and finish over the budget end of the travel-guitar market, and who wants to plug in via the onboard pickup. Not for: anyone who wants the deepest possible bass response from a small body, or who needs to play seated without a strap for long stretches.
Check the Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi price at Andertons
Who makes it
Faith Guitars was founded in 2002 and is designed in Shropshire by Patrick James Eggle, a luthier with more than 35 years of guitar-building experience. The guitars themselves are hand-built in a workshop in West Java, Indonesia, then checked and set up in Faith’s UK technical facility before they reach a shop floor. The Nomad series launched in 2016 as Faith’s answer to the shrunk-body travel guitar, built to the same all-solid-wood standard as the brand’s full-size instruments rather than as a cut-down budget line.
Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi sound and playability
Guitar World reviewed the Mini Neptune Trembesi and described the tone as “bright, lively, and surprisingly loud” for its size, with clean projection and a midrange that comes through clearly. That reviewer’s one real criticism was the low end, which he found thinner than Faith’s own description promises, more top and mid-heavy than a full-size dreadnought. He also flagged the guitar as slightly neck-heavy, meaning the headstock dips if you let go of the neck without a strap, worth bearing in mind if you tend to play seated.
Plugged in, the Fishman Sonicore and Presys I combination is a solid, reliable setup rather than a showpiece. It is the same style of piezo system used across a lot of this price bracket, including the Taylor GS Mini we review separately, so expect a usable amplified tone with a touch of piezo brightness rather than a studio-ready sound straight out of the box.
Is it a good travel guitar?
At 590mm scale, the Nomad sits closer to a 3/4-size instrument than a full-length dreadnought, which keeps it compact for hand luggage, though cabin rules vary by airline, so check yours before you fly. Our guide to taking a guitar on a plane in the UK covers what to expect. The onboard pickup has no built-in amp or speaker, so you will want an external amp, interface or PA if you plan to play plugged in beyond headphone practice; our travel guitar amps buying guide covers portable options. A shorter scale changes string feel more than it changes tone, which we cover in whether travel guitars sound worse than full-size ones.
How it compares
The Nomad sits in the same bracket as the Taylor GS Mini and the Martin Little Martin LX1 and LXK2, all small-bodied acoustics from established makers rather than budget-first travel brands. Against that company, the Nomad’s all-solid-wood build and ebony fingerboard are a genuine step up in materials at a broadly similar price, with the thinner low end as the trade-off for the smaller, lighter body. If you want the full picture of how every size and shape of travel guitar stacks up, see the complete UK buyer’s guide.
FAQ
What wood is the Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi made from?
A solid Trembesi top with solid mahogany back, sides and neck, an Indonesian ebony fingerboard and bridge, and a satin finish.
Does the Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi have built-in electronics?
Yes. It uses a Fishman Sonicore pickup with a Presys I preamp, so you can plug into an amp, interface or PA. It has no built-in speaker or amp of its own.
What scale length is the Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi?
590mm, or 23.2 inches, with a 43mm nut width.
Is the Faith Nomad a good beginner guitar?
It is built to the same all-solid-wood standard as Faith’s full-size guitars rather than aimed specifically at beginners. If you are choosing a first guitar rather than a second travel instrument, our guide to whether travel guitars are good to learn on covers the wider trade-offs.
How much does the Faith Nomad Mini Neptune Trembesi cost in the UK?
From around £699.
