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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 280
Location: Waterloo, IL | Looks like I may be doing a job change in the new future, requiring me to do a lot of time on the road traveling around the country. Better pay (good), away from a guitar (bad). I know my acoustic O's are not going to handle the temperature changes very well on the road. I am not sure how well my Hamer would do traveling around.
Is there a lower end guitar that I could take on the road that would be good for traveling, and still have at least a halfway decent sound? I don't mind plugging into a Rockman headphone amp if needed as I already have one.
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November 2002
Posts: 3664
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Full-size, 3/4, or 1/2? Those little CC012, plugged-in, might not be too bad. |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | academy......jason |
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November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | In my experience, O's handle the rigors of the road better than wooden box guitars. Never owned one, by Adamas, because they're not wooden, should even care about temp. and humidity changes.
On the other hand the Chiquita guitar used to be Billy Gibbons axe of choice for wailin' on airplanes.... |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Here's a couple of funky choices:
Stow Away Guitar
Traveller Guitar
I've been thinking about this myself. I know there was thread in the past about the Traveller guitar. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | I purchased the traveler guitar on the recommendation of Stonebobbo. It took a little getting used to. I use it daily during my lunch hour. I am currently enrolled in Workshop Live and I try to fit at least 20 minutes a day on lessons. It's about the size of a tennis raquet and is easily portable. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Phil - which model did you get? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I have an original of what they now call the Pro-Series. I think it is a fantastic guitar and if you ever plug it in you will be pleasantly surprised. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | The Escape EG-1 looks pretty sweet. If you click on the Photos link at the top of the main Traveler's page, they show a really nice looking red EG-1. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | I have the escape steel string. The EG and the MK models look nice |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'd look at either of these:
Traveler Guitar
Chaquita Guitar
Olympia Electric Papoose
The a tuned papoose isn't strictly a "travel guitar", but others here have them and find them an excellent addition to their sonic arsonal.
If it were me, and I was looking at a strictly travel guitar, it would be one of the first two. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | The OSP1 Tacoma-like solid papoose will keep your fingers entertained. I am reassembling one for sale here shortly.
Papoose would be my choice.
Breedlove C25 looks good as well.
There's always the Ukes... |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The OSP1 definitely keeps you entertained. For me it travels well, but it has a secondary purpose of adding a different sound, sort of a cross between a telecaster and a mandolin.
Too bad I have one already, I'd buy MWoody's in a hearbeat.
If it's strictly travel then you have to go with the one that has the smallest footprint in its case and that's either the traveler or the chaquita. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | What mode of transport are you travelling in?
And Rick,
This one is shiny!!!
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | My main use would be for air travel. If I'm driving, I can carry whatever I want. |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Chuck, I think that's a good question, how will you be traveling? By car I'd just take a guitar you like, full size acoustic. By air, I'd really have to think about the job. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I like my Traveler. Full size, pao ferro fretboard. Piezo and single coil pickups. I stash a Pandora PX4 in the side pocket with some earbuds. It takes a little getting used to because there's no body to speak of, but it is very durable and I like the neck though design. Great for airplanes ... I pull it out and play it on long flights without disturbing my neighbors with either noise or elbows. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I take the papoose when I travel by train up to albany or dc; Take it out and play when coming home. If I'm on a plane I leave it stored. Just not enough room. I don't know if that affects your decision.
PS My Papoose has developed a "road warrior" patina. Not as beautiful as MWoody's. They have a beautiful sound. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Nobody wants to hear this, BUT .... (shut up cliff). A ukulele makes a great travel instrument. I'm in california right now for the week and I brought along a soprano uke in gigbag that fits perfectly in my rollaboard bag. No hastles at all.
Dave |
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Joined:
February 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Westchester, NY | I like traveling with my Hohner GT3, you can get them new for $499 at musicians friend or used for around $300 on eBay, I use it with a Korg Pandora. You can get some amazing sounds with this combination.
I recently bought a Martin Backpacker, its well built but has a bit of a tinny sound, but I like the neck and it is comfortable for fingerpicking and slide. |
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Joined:
October 2002
Posts: 181
Location: Queens, NY | I'm partial to the Trekker, myself. It's a nice little guitar. The current model is not a plug-in, though. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Oh yeah, I forgot about the GTS (stienberg broom) that might work too.
A friend of mine has that and plays thru a little pignose. Nice setup. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | The one criteria I would have for air travel is that it has to be a solidbody - like the Papoose, or the Traveler. There are just too many things that can go wrong with a hollowbody - some schmuck (sp?) trying to shove his "carryon" luggage in the rack for example. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1132
Location: NW Washington State | I used to have a Cort Steinberger-style that was great for traveling. Unlike the "broom" it had an indentation so it could rest on your leg. The bridge was licensed from Steinberger but non-trem so it stayed perfectly in tune. They show up on eBay once in a while.
You can find inexpensive Steinbergers by searching for for Spirit, Hohner, or Cort on eBay. Sometimes musicyo.com has them but I didn't see any today.
-Steve W. |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | http://www.zzounds.com/item--KAMCC0124 |
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November 2004
Posts: 382
Location: USA | |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | If you are traveling by car, but you are concerned about damage, get a cheapie-strat, and some headphones. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | I like the ZZ Ryder short scale guitars. I usually put light guage strings on and tune up to an A. They're a little over 33 inches long.
ZZ Ryder MJ2
This photo compares a ZZ Ryder MP2 to a Steinberger GU.
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 280
Location: Waterloo, IL | My mode of transportation will also be my primary abode. I will be driving an 18-wheeler for a year or two traveling around the country. Time to get out of retail and do something different. I am concerned that the guitar will be in the truck all the time, and am concerned about the environmental affects on the guitar. My Balladeer put up well with the shipboard environment, but I am not so sure about it living in a truck for a year or two. I am also concerned about the space a guitar will take. I will know more about that in a few weeks. |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 280
Location: Waterloo, IL | MWoody,
The OPS1 sounds like it might be a suitable size and sound for the road. How much will you be asking for the OPS1 you will be putting up for sale? |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Have Fun Chuck!
I hitch-hiked for many... Well Hell, most of my life!
Back in the 70's I lived outta truck stops, hitching rides with truckers, and lumpin' trailers. Back in the day...
I don't know how much fun truckin' is nowadays, so many new regulations. Don't know if they'd like you stopping for Bike Week and Dead Shows nowadays. :cool:
(Phish Shows?)
But I hope you and your guitar enjoy it. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Chuck,
The OPS-1 is really playable and sounds great. Just remember, it's an A-tuned instrument. (It's like playing a regular guitar, but with a capo at the 5th fret). So ... when I play solo, I don't change any of my normal fingerings, but if I play with others, either they have to capo up or otherwise change, or I have to do some (not difficult) mental gymnastics. Not really a problem. |
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Traveling Guitar