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Thread: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

  1. #1
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    I'm starting training for Scooter's Coffee--3 weeks in Iowa and Nebraska. I was trying to decide on which guitar to bring with me. Thought about the Martin; it's worth around $3500 now. I don't take it out of the house. I thought about my Strat. I considered the Casino, but more resonant is my Eastman jazz box. So that's that.

    I'm thinking that in the future, I'll get a Little Martin or a Baby Taylor.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post
    I'm thinking that in the future, I'll get a Little Martin or a Baby Taylor.

    I have one of each, but to be honest, when I'm traveling - especially by plane or boat - I take my KLŌS travel guitar. Smaller than either, but carbon fiber, which makes it virtually indestructible, and oh so, eminently playable!
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    Forum Member DanTheBluesMan's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by ch willie View Post
    I'm starting training for Scooter's Coffee--3 weeks in Iowa and Nebraska...
    how are you traveling?
    "Live and learn and flip the burns"

  4. #4
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Taking my F150. I've got plenty of room to carry it with me. I don't know if I feel comfortable leaving the Martin somewhere I'm not familiar with while I go to training. and I don't want to leave it in the truck. I ought just to find a shop, buy a baby Taylor and switch the strings.

    OS, KLOS doesnt' make a lefty. I did look at them. Also, they were a bit more expensive than I'd pay.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member blackonblack's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    If you are truly considering a smaller acoustic, look at a Guild Jumbo Jr. I much preferred it to the Martin, and it was equal to a Taylor Mini (blew the baby Taylor out of the water), and it was less expensive. They have Hog and maple body ones. I got the hog and have been quite happy.
    Mark

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    Forum Member phantomman's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Buy some inexpensive instrument at a Guitar Circus near your training site. At the conclusion of your class, return it to the store for a refund.
    "When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."

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    Forum Member blackonblack's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by blackonblack View Post
    If you are truly considering a smaller acoustic, look at a Guild Jumbo Jr. I much preferred it to the Martin, and it was equal to a Taylor Mini (blew the baby Taylor out of the water), and it was less expensive. They have Hog and maple body ones. I got the hog and have been quite happy.
    oh and it has electronics. Acoustically it can almost hold its own with with heavy handed full size players. Plugged in, no difference.
    Mark

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    Forum Member blackonblack's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by phantomman View Post
    Buy some inexpensive instrument at a Guitar Circus near your training site. At the conclusion of your class, return it to the store for a refund.
    this is the winner if you don’t truly want another guitar
    Mark

  9. #9
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    GC is a possibility. They've each got a couple of inexpensive Fender acoustics. If they sound like the basic Fender acoustic I bought my daughter 15 years ago, I'd gladly spring for one.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Btw I am taking a trip to a beach with the missus and I’ll be taking the Washburn with me.

    I feel like strumming some tunes while watching the sunset and this little parlor is just perfect for road trips.

    The fact that it’s an inexpensive guitar makes me comfortable with the idea of taking it anywhere with me.

  11. #11
    Forum Member blackonblack's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by Sérgio View Post
    Btw I am taking a trip to a beach with the missus and I’ll be taking the Washburn with me.

    I feel like strumming some tunes while watching the sunset and this little parlor is just perfect for road trips.

    The fact that it’s an inexpensive guitar makes me comfortable with the idea of taking it anywhere with me.
    Fully understand. Thats what my Guild Jumbo Jr is for.
    I play on a number of weekend retreats. Custom is Sat night the participants (rather than those working it) play music. After watching a guy almost break my Goodall, I said no more. Got the Guild Jumbo Jr as a "sacrificial lamb". Wow it sounds better than that.
    I'm happy, have a smaller guitar not that I'm not so worried about plus it sounds good acoustically. Plugged in, you'd never know it was a Jr.
    Mark

  12. #12
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    I decided, screw a small guitar that’d cost 350-600. I went into PM’s fave shop :) Guitar Center, played a $200 Fender lefty that sounded incredible despite having shitty old strings. . The dude looked at his inventory and said, Apparently I have 5 of them. He came out with one and shook his head.

    I got home with it, and everything fretted out. Loosened the truss rod and bingo. Great knock around. Compared to those colored monstrosities based on the Newport et al, it’s golden.
    Last edited by ch willie; 12-07-2021 at 06:45 PM.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member phantomman's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Drop it off at GC for a refund on your way out the door.
    "When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."

  14. #14
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by phantomman View Post
    Drop it off at GC for a refund on your way out the door.
    If they had a 335, I’d have done it. Haha I’d do that to the Fender if it refused to straighten up it’s act. It’s a very nice sounding instrument. I played their demo model and was genuinely surprised. For two Bens, it’s not bad.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member Offshore Angler's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Ya know Willie,

    Sometimes the best thing you can do for you playing is take a little time off. YMMV, but whenever I go anywhere for a while when I come back my playing seems fresh and improved. Vacations from music can do the ears and hands a lot of good. I really enjoy playing in bands or recording, but I never want to become a slave to it. Seen too many go down that road with the expected results. It's fine to pursue perfection, but perfectoin shouldn't stand in the way of "good enough", because in reality it will never be perfect.

    I compare it to my fishing. I go all over and fish a lot, but I don't feel bad for the days I don't go fishing. I enjoy them too.

    Playing guitar can absorb you if you're not careful. There will always be songs to learn, strings to change, rig maintenance and all kinds of other things to do, so the best advice I can give anyone is to just accept that it's a never-ending journey and just go with the flow. Play for the music, not for yourself. If you focus on the music the rest, technique, etc., will follow naturally.

    Chuck
    "No harmonic knowledge, no sense of time, a ghastly tone, unskilled vibrato, and so on. Chuck is one of the worst guitar players I know" -Gravity Jim

  16. #16
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip




    haha

    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

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    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    That's the first time I've seen a safety seal over a guitar's sound hole!
    Striving to be ordinary

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  18. #18
    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by OldStrummer View Post
    That's the first time I've seen a safety seal over a guitar's sound hole!

    Same here. I wonder what it’s for

  19. #19
    Forum Member phantomman's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by Sérgio View Post
    Same here. I wonder what it’s for
    To prevent the instrument from contracting COVID.

    "When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."

  20. #20
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    Quote Originally Posted by phantomman View Post
    To prevent the instrument from contracting COVID.


    hahahA. Hilarious. Heeeeee
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  21. #21
    Forum Member OldStrummer's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    I learned of a new (to me) product today, a guitar humidification system called Dampits. In this video by Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars, he shows how using a soundhole cover helps keep the humidity level inside the guitar body. Perhaps that's what Fender's intent is when they ship their acoustics.

    Striving to be ordinary

    Proud to be a TFF Dumbass!

  22. #22
    Forum Member ch willie's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    If I were one to say anything inappropriate, I’d say I popped the seal. But since I’m a gentleman, I’ll say I removed the plastic.

    You might be right, Fred.
    If we'd known we were going to be the Beatles, we'd have tried harder.--George Harrison

  23. #23
    Forum Member S. Cane's Avatar
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    Re: Choosing My Guitar for a 3 Week Trip

    So, here I am at the inn with a Campari and Tonic, some Jack Kerouac in my Kindle and the Washburn. Glad I brought it.

    Last edited by S. Cane; 12-09-2021 at 05:55 PM.

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