Andrew

I was wondering if bringing a travel guitar backpacking would be a good idea. If any of you have done it before, what was your experience like? Any input would be appreciated.

omisan

Do you mean one of those folding neck ones? I've only ever seen those sported by hippies at music festivals.. dunno.

One of my roomies in London had a $2k electric guitar with him that we'd all gather around while drunk at night. 'Course, he was a nutty Japanese guy and had brought his laptop and all sorts of other crazy expensive stuff on his trip, but never had a single problem.

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TimmyJames1976

Like the little one specifically designed for traveling? or just a normal no so pricy one? the formal ones sounds pretty crappy IMO. do you own one? do you like it if so?

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GoKrazy

I would never bring my "good" guitar backpacking with me... I'd die if something happened to it! Not to mention that the guitar + case are sooo heavy. I have brought it with me for travels I have done using my car, when I know that I can keep an eye out on it and i don't have to haul it around very far. I have however brought a "travel" guitar with me at times for camping - a buddy of mine picked it up at a pawn shop, now all the travelers in out group use it. It's old and and beaten up, but it sounds fine when drinking around the campfire.

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pinion

You can get guitar cases that you can wear on your back, they're made out of the same material as backpacks....but then of course you're not backpacking anymore. You're guitarpacking & I have no idea how you would carry your clothes around...

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Joker

You mean something like this thing:



Martin Backpacker Guitar, about $150 or so. Comes with its own gig bag. Conceivably you could attach this to the straps on a decent pack and rock out... and remember guys, chicks dig a guy that plays the axe. Will get even the most desperate horn dog laid

They also do a version with a pickup for a few bucks more.

Now, I will say it doesn't have the full tone of a D-series dreadnought, or even my shallow body 000CME, but it does sound decent enough, and seems to be built relatively well. I can conceivably see taking one on my trip to Italy next summer...

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d_fresh

i briefly considered taking one with me but decided it was just something that would get beaten around too much to bother. a month of not playing guitar actually did more for my playing than having it with me.
I wouldn't even consider putting a guitar in a softshell case on a plane. I've argued with the people at the airport to get them to put my hardshell case on the plane in the front cargo area (just before passengers seating). after someone at an airport drilled through one of the locks on one of my cases (guess they didn't have enough time to do both and steal the guitar) I don't trust them.

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Andrew

I was thinking of either bringing something like that or just bringing a small, cheap guitar that I could get from a pawn shop.

Well, my friends and I are going to Europe, backpacking for the first time, at the end of May and I just wanted to get some feedback and find out if lugging around the guitar would be too much of a hassle.

Thanks for all of your responses.

agriadam

ans Idea maybe you could get a cheap one when you get their from a pawn shop or thrift sore... thaen you don't have to lugg it abroad

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Joker

If all goes according to plan (what ever does?) I'll be in Italy for damn near 2.5 months and carting around Europe for up to another month. Not having my handy stress-busting axe may potentially drive me bug fucking nuts... I can swing carrying an extra 2-3lbs for that month. I'd just make sure for my own damned good I stocked up on picks and Elixir strings just in case. Capo, too.

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Elixir

i was thinking about bringing one. it would be great to have something to while the time away with and a good way to meet people, too. i have a sweet Ovation 12-string Balladeer and it has a sound i couldnt compare to nearly anything. is it worth the extra weight in your opinion, chums, if i am going to be on foot for the most part?

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caterpillarsgirl

Every time I've travelled so far, I've taken my fiddle (mostly because I travelled as a musician more than for vacations). It is so worth it to take your instrument, because you're more likely than not going to run into people to jam with! And that is way cool and way worth it to lug your axe around.
This time, I've opted to leave my baby at home because I'll be gone for longer and am going to a large campsite where I don't feel it will be safe to leave it in the tent. I'll definetly be joining some drum circles though!

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FireGuy

If I could play guitar well enough, I'd definitely bring one to Europe!! That would be a great time.

If you need a little extra cash, just bust out your guitar and start playing in some beautiful downtown square or piazza. I think the term is "busking". If your good, and can sing, you could probably do fairly well.

You could also try to buy a guitar once you're there and have a nice souvenir.