The Lindo Sahara and Lindo Ryokou are 3/4-size electro-acoustic travel guitars with a 23 inch scale, a composite neck and Lindo’s own BS3M preamp, from around £672 in the UK. Lindo Guitars designs both in Bristol, and each carries a distinct hand-drawn graphic art finish rather than a plain wood body.
Lindo has sold guitars online since 2003, and the two travel models mark the brand’s 20th anniversary. The Sahara takes its turquoise-stained fretboard and nautical star inlay from North African art. The Ryokou, Japanese for “travel”, carries a Japanese-themed finish with kanji fret markers. Beyond the artwork, the build is close to identical.
What you actually get
Both guitars share a spruce top, sapele back and sides, and Lindo’s BS3M preamplifier, which blends a piezo pickup under the saddle with a soundhole microphone and outputs through both XLR and jack sockets. The main difference is strings: the Sahara uses a silk-and-steel and nylon combination for a softer, lower-tension feel, while the Ryokou is strung entirely in steel. Both get a full setup from Lindo’s own UK guitar technician before they ship.
| Model | Strings | Finish | From around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sahara | Silk and steel / nylon blend | Turquoise, North African-inspired art | £672 |
| Ryokou | Steel | Japanese-themed art | £708 |
Good for: players who want a genuinely different-looking travel guitar with proper onboard electronics, from a small UK maker rather than a mass-market brand. Not for: anyone who wants an understated finish, or a widely-stocked guitar with spares and support easy to find.
- Sahara: see it on Amazon
- Ryokou: see it on Amazon
Who makes it
Lindo Guitars is a small UK brand whose technician sets up every instrument in Bristol before it ships. Both the Sahara and the Ryokou are sold directly through Amazon UK by Lindo Guitars UK, rather than through a mainstream retailer, which fits the brand’s wider range of electro-acoustic and electric guitars finished with bespoke, hand-drawn artwork instead of standard colourways.
Is it a good travel guitar?
At 3/4 size with a 23 inch scale, both guitars are small enough to work as hand luggage on most routes, 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. Neither has a built-in amp, so you will want the onboard preamp’s jack or XLR output for anything beyond acoustic volume, and our travel guitar amps buying guide covers portable options if you want to go further. A shorter scale changes string feel more than it changes tone, which we cover in whether travel guitars sound worse than full-size ones.
Check the Lindo Sahara price on Amazon
How it compares
The Vintage Viator and Cordoba Mini II are the other nylon-leaning travel guitars on this site, and both stick to a plain, traditional finish. The Sahara’s silk-and-steel/nylon blend sits between a true nylon string and a steel string, so it is not a direct swap for either, more a third option for a player who wants that softer feel with a dedicated preamp as standard. The Ryokou, being fully steel-strung, sits closer to the site’s mainstream steel-string reviews in feel, with the artwork as the real point of difference. For how either fits against every other size and shape of travel guitar, see the complete UK buyer’s guide.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Lindo Sahara and Ryokou?
The Sahara uses a silk-and-steel and nylon string blend with a North African-inspired turquoise finish. The Ryokou is strung entirely in steel with a Japanese-themed finish. Both share the same 3/4 size, 23 inch scale and BS3M preamp.
Does the Lindo Sahara or Ryokou have a built-in amp?
No. Both are passive electro-acoustic guitars with an onboard preamp for plugging into an amp, interface or PA via jack or XLR. Neither includes a speaker or amp of its own.
What scale length are the Lindo Sahara and Ryokou?
23 inches on both, with a 3/4-size body.
Is the Lindo Sahara or Ryokou good for beginners?
Neither is marketed specifically as a beginner guitar, though both get a full setup from Lindo’s UK technician before they ship. 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 do the Lindo Sahara and Ryokou cost in the UK?
From around £672 for the Sahara and £708 for the Ryokou.
