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Hey guys, im pretty committed to play every day, even if its only 15 minutes, although typically its an hour and more on the weekends. That said, we do alot of RV camping in the summer. Now i bought a brand new Cordoba F7 Paco, while not a stage guitar, its really nice and was still $900 CAD. While i do have a hard case with proper humidification, and the guitar does have dual truss rods, im still a little concerned about it bouncing around in the case in the RV or the finish getting scratched. What are your thoughts about transporting your nice guitar in general? Should i not be concerned with mine since i dont have a $3000 concert guitar? i mean in the RV is no different than if i had to drive to lessons i suppose (i take them online).
I do have a beater classical with a cracked sound bridge i can bring instead, its just really hard with its normal tension strings, to do sextuplet arpeggios for example...the high action also doesn't help. I've gotten really used to the Cordoba F7 paco, especially with the high tension strings.
On the other hand the $900 guitar is a drop is the bucket compared to the cost of lessons and the time spent learning. Thoughts?
Posts: 6436
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
A guitar is for playing and carrying around in a decent case is fine. Any dings will tell a story. Just put it back in the case when you are not using it. Most damage occurs when knocking into furniture or falling over when rested against a wall.
Posts: 1756
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
If you have a case and the guitar does not move in the case, nothing can happen. If it does move, use foam or a soft towel to secure it. Put also a towel or cloth under the headstock. It avoids with a big hit, (falling etc.) that the headstock breaks. Enjoy your guitar, especially on hollidays!
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to gerundino63)
Thanks, great idea with the towels. It does move ever so slightly.
quote:
If you have a case and the guitar does not move in the case, nothing can happen. If it does move, use foam or a soft towel to secure it. Put also a towel or cloth under the headstock. It avoids with a big hit, (falling etc.) that the headstock breaks. Enjoy your guitar, especially on hollidays!
So if you guys did any sort of RV camping, would you bring your decent guitars? I feel like my guitar is my best friend, lol.
Posts: 3438
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
If you're short on towels, socks or underwear can be stuffed around the guitar to keep it from rattling around in the case--if that could be a problem.
If the case doesn't support the headstock in both directions, put padding around it. Either way, loosen the strings if the case is likely to bounce around or get dropped.
I'll say it again. Loosen the strings.
I used to check my '67 Ramirez 1a blanca as hold baggage on airlines. It probably has a million airline miles on it. It traveled in a Mark Leaf case, which is huge, thick and weighs a ton. These days I would check the Ramirez in a Karura or Visesnut, but those cases cost as much as your guitar, and would be overkill for RV travel.
Years ago I was checking in at Austin. The ticket agent said, "Nice case."
"Why do you say that?"
"I worked baggage for ten years and never saw a guitar damaged in a Mark Leaf case. My boyfriend is a pro musician. I'm buying him one for his birthday."
"Mine has worked OK so far."
"One more thing," said the agent. "Did you loosen the strings?"
Posts: 1756
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
I always bring my decent guitar. Camping, in a tent, Hotel. Weeks in Spain or France. I have a long cable and a lock, (for bikes) i can lock the guitar in his case nearly everywhere. And a black piece of silk, (lining fabric for clothes) so I can drape that over the guitarcase when I leave it in a car. The case is pretty much invisible.
You live only once, play the thing! Make sure it ages with you. As Simon said, every bump is a story.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
I think more than bumps and jostles, the biggest danger to the guitar could be from heat damage if it’s stored in a part of the RV (like a compartment near near the roof or by a window) where it could bake on a sunny day. If it stays in the case while the RV is being driven it should be fine. Also, being extra careful about bumping it into things in cramped spaces when you do have it out can’t hurt the cause.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to TrickyFish)
So you just bring along the beater guitar? I can probably file down the bridge of the beater classical. I mean i cant imagine there is a cheaper flamenco guitar than the Cordoba F7 paco, they cost more than classical in general. Yet it was still $900, which is far from cheap, you can get a yamaha C40 for $200, obviously not a flamenco guitar though.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to RobF)
this is a very good point, we have air conditioning in our fifth wheel but typically dry camp. Well worst case scenario i dont bring it if the weather is expected to be really warm. The guitar could be safely transported on the sofa of the RV i imagine, it wont get bumped or anything.
Posts: 1932
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
I have a yamaha that I paid 300.00 for so I'd imagine if I went camping I'd bring it. I try to play at least two hours a day so when I go on vacation I usually don't bring a guitar. Doing an extended RV trip I would. Not sure if I'd bring the yamaha or something better though. Bring your guitar. If you stick with flamenco it won't be your last guitar.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to Stu)
Not a bad idea, i take really good care of my beaters even. What would you recommend as an negra upgrade for the future? Just something to set my sights on to play for the long haul.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to Mark2)
quote:
Not sure if I'd bring the yamaha or something better though. Bring your guitar. If you stick with flamenco it won't be your last guitar.
Yup good point, ill probably stick with it. When im committed to doing something, i do it.I started making wine 4 years ago. I now currently have 900 bottle in a cellar i built , needless to say my wife does not share my enthusiasm.
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
Try one of these.
Made of carbon fiber, thus indestructible, not affected by temperature/humidity changes, and the neck can be removed so it folds down to a small carry-on size.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Taking your guitar with you trav... (in reply to trivium91)
When I travel (mostly by car) I take my student guitar instead of my $3,000 guitar. I am more afraid of it being stolen than anything else.
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Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena