Guitar on a bus

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Guitar on a bus

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Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

Guitar on a bus

My guitar is coming from Bulgaria to Portugal by bus. The trip begins on saturday morning and ends on monday afternoon.

As you might know we're having a bit of "over-moist" here in europe at the time so around 80% relative humidity is to be expected. The guitar is coming on an ABS case that isn't airtight and the guitar is going to be wrapped on a simple plastic bag (the usual big ones that come with guitars).

It's supposed to travel inside the bus trunk (underneath the bus). Is there something that should be done in order to make the trip safer? Add something inside the case?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 15:48:04

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Prepared silica in conjunction with a hygrometer may help.
However, despite all the condense from passenger´s breath, chances are that humidity be lowered by the heating system.
RH could even turn out rather low.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 16:36:26

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Ruphus)

You can put in a few Silica Gel bags that will absorb humidity, sometimes even wrapping a guitar in towel cloth with absorb moisture, but also retain it .

Its not so much the humidity itself that would not be good for a guitar, but a big change in humidity that will affect the wood ..

I think in the hold would be the best place for it as you probably need as much air movement as you can for the journey

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 16:49:34

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Inside the bus (where the passengers go), it gets too moist and hot. The guitar is going in the trunk and I dont expect much humidity changes in there.

From what I've been reading it seems like it would be a good idea to put some wrapped balls of newspaper or some towels around the body of the guitar to limit its movement inside the case.

The strings are already slackened since one month ago and the guitar as always been inside the case (without the plastic bag) in a 70% RH environment.

Any other ideas?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 16:57:57

mezzo

Posts: 1409
Joined: Feb. 18 2010
From: .fr

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

light a candle

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 17:27:07

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to mezzo)

quote:

light a candle

To lower the humidity?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 18:35:58

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

I think I would be more worried about the guitar getting jostled, banged around, and damaged while in the trunk under the bus during the two and one-half day bus trip. Make sure it has plenty of padding, especially around the headstock.

Cheers,

Bill

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Who tried to hustle the East."

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 20:30:32

pink

Posts: 570
Joined: Jan. 8 2013

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Nice heels!
I'd be more worried about puncturing the Soundboard with them when you pose one footed on case whilst waiting for the bus to arrive if I were you!

Best

pink

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 20:58:29

aeolus

Posts: 765
Joined: Oct. 30 2009
From: Mier

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

To lower the humidity?

A votive candle to invoke divine protection. Not very reliable actually.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 21:31:45

pink

Posts: 570
Joined: Jan. 8 2013

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to aeolus)

quote:

ORIGINAL: aeolus

quote:

To lower the humidity?

........ Not very reliable actually.

Probably more reliable than the weather though!

Best

pink

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 21:54:03

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to BarkellWH)

quote:

Make sure it has plenty of padding, especially around the headstock.

That was my concern but it seems that the guitar is really a tight fit on this ABS case, it doesn't move at all inside the case (at least sideways).

What would be the trouble with the headstock?

Here you can see a bit of the case:

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 22:02:38

FredGuitarraOle

Posts: 898
Joined: Dec. 6 2012
From: Lisboa, Portugal

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Leva uma destas:

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 22:06:02

pink

Posts: 570
Joined: Jan. 8 2013

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Rui,
I honestly think that the guitar will be OK for its journey......no protection will be infallible,
and within reason you can only do what you can do in a sensible/logical way.
I work selling guitars, we ship all over the UK and Europe and 99.9% of the time the instrument will get to its destination in one piece safely.
The advantage you have is it won't be thrown around in shipping bays at courier companies and you will know its in one place in the luggage compartment of a bus.
By all means give it some extra protection ...maybe an outer box or bubble wrap or both but whatever you do you need to accept if that's the option for transporting it then that is what you have to work with.
I will keep positive thoughts for you and your loved guitar.
Very best

pink

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 22:16:49

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Ok, thanks. Just didn't want to do some stupid mistake.

@Fred

Ia-te oferecer a Alhambra e os conjuntos de cordas que a D'Addario me ofereceu mas assim levas uma bufa.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 2 2014 22:40:32

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to El Kiko)

quote:

ORIGINAL: El Kiko

I dont think a hygrometer would be of any use as it merely measures the humidity , not protect against it ...

It was meant for controlling what the silica brings the RH to. To prevent drying out / sudden change.
Specially if the air turned out rather dry in the cabine.

Now not relevant, as the case is been said to be going into the trunk, but just for general consideration: steamed up windows mustn´t indicate high humidity.

Think of the condition in fridges and freezers where the condense is high and yet the air actually so dry that it dries out the food.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 9:07:12

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 20:46:55

wedge

Posts: 34
Joined: Jan. 6 2013

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Guitar on a bus is better than Snakes on a Plane

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Wedge
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 22:06:13

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to El Kiko)

quote:

ORIGINAL: El Kiko

Yes, but a hygrometer doesn't control anything, it merely states what is ..

Was my initial post not to be understood? Should I, for eventual lack of logical clue, had specified that the hygrometer should be read?

My suggestion consisted of two points:
# Silica for humity reduction if needed, and
# hygrometer to check for humidity condition first.

I thought it to be rather clear, but you never know.

- And yes, guitars taken inside busses could possibly be inspected by the traveller.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 22:14:55

El Kiko

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Joined: Jun. 7 2010

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 22:34:14

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

There IS going to be a "micro-climate" inside the case that should keep it a little separate. Just 'cus it's 80% humidity outside the case doesn't mean it's %80 humidity in the case......Know whu I'm sayin?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 22:41:54

pink

Posts: 570
Joined: Jan. 8 2013

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Leñador)

I get where you are coming from here......
Perfect environment for snakes ,just ask wedge ,had it sussed all along.
Best

pink

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 3 2014 22:49:00

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2014 0:16:37

guitarbuddha

Posts: 2970
Joined: Jan. 4 2007

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2014 0:28:26

Roman

Posts: 9
Joined: Dec. 21 2013
From: Detroit

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Travelling around Andalucía, where everyone and their mom seems to play guitar, i've noticed a lot of sympathetic bus drivers that allow you to put your guitar in a seperate luggage compartment, closer towards the rear wheels, thats often just big enough for a few guitars. NO luggage falling on top of it, as thats what i was worried about with my rather inexpensive case. It seems most buses have this compartment, as it holds the fire extinguisher and/or a spare tire usually, just ask the driver.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 4 2014 10:29:53

FredGuitarraOle

Posts: 898
Joined: Dec. 6 2012
From: Lisboa, Portugal

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rui Martins

@Fred

Ia-te oferecer a Alhambra e os conjuntos de cordas que a D'Addario me ofereceu mas assim levas uma bufa.

Haha que luxo, um peidinho é sempre bem-vindo. Mas agora fora de brincadeiras, o problema nem é se a guitarra chega cá inteira ou não, o que é de preocupar é ter uma guitarra nova a meio da época de exames. Já agora, chegou bem a guitarra? Gostas dela?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2014 17:17:05

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3077
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Guitar on a bus (in reply to Sr. Martins)

Ya, isto tá aqui um guitarrão. Quem desenhou esta guitarra/varetagem sabia o que estava a fazer.

Bom, mas também pelo preço que esta teria na loja dava para comprar 3 Alhambras.