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November 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | I will be going on a ten day vacation to Colorado later this summer. I would like to take my 1778T along but don't want to cause any damage with the climate changes that will be experienced. I live in central Kansas and will be headed to much higher elevations with much lower relative humidities. The guitar stays in the climate controlled house all of the time since I got it November 2012.
Would this trip be hard on my beloved T?
Any input/thoughts/recommendations would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks!
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Joined:
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I have NO actual experience traveling long distance with a guitar...
(except short trips to WA)
That said, I would say:
Take it in a Hard Case.
Have a Humidifier in the Case.
Loosen the Strings a note or three.
In the 70's/80's, that is why so many musicians used Ovations.
Ovations are sturdy and travel well.
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Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | " The guitar stays in the climate controlled house all of the time since I got it November 2012. ""my beloved T" Sounds like your T means a lot to you. I would leave it at home. So many things "could" happen. Depending on where you are going in Colorado...you can have some wild temperature swings. Accidents happen moving it from one place to another. You need a beater to take on road trips. or a travel guitar. Or roll the dice. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I took a Takamine wood box from Florida (elevation zero) to Keystone Colorado (approx 8000 ft) on a winter vacation/ski trip. From 90% humidity to 20% humidity. No issues...
Edited by BobG 2014-07-05 4:29 PM
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | As OMA said, hard case and humidifier. AND, make sure it's in the passenger compartment and not in the trunk! Also, if you're going to be doing any sightseeing you will need to take the guitar WITH you when you get out of the car. If not, it'll get too hot in the locked car, and also, there are thieves who specialize in breaking into locked cars at all of these tourist stops. When I was at the Grand Canyon there was a couple who walked over to look at the view and even though they were only about 20 feet from their car, someone broke into it and stole her purse she had left on the seat. Yes, the car WAS locked.
So maybe Jay is right - get yourself a beater with low enough action that you won't mind playing it, but that you won't mind losing should things not turn out well. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Or... by a beater. |
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Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | OMA's advice is fine except I wouldn't change the tuning. I've never understood that. The factory shipped them tuned to pitch. They'e designed to be at a certain tension. To change that is only adding more undue stress on top of temp and humidity changes. |
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November 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | Thank you all for the input! I originally got the 1778T as I wanted another guitar that I could take outside instead of taking the 2778LX that was much too pretty for me to risk scratching or dinging. After getting the 1778T, I found that I wasn't real keen on taking it out either! We won't be hitting the touristy places while traveling, spot reserved for the guitar in the cab with AC, hard case ready to roll just need case humidifier.
I know I need a beater guitar for situations such as this. What do you all do for your beater guitars? Are you using older used Ovations or picking up less expensive brands? I've not bought a used guitar in my 30+ years of playing, always new ones which is probably why I'm hesitant to get them out much. Where do you all look for your beaters?
Thanks again for all the input! Vacation wouldn't be a vacation if I was guitarless for that long!
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Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Paul Moody has some beaters. Ring him up. Good Ovations are going cheap right now, it appears. So you would think that run of the mill are cheaper. It all depends what you want to do with it while you are on vacation. or how much room you have. Heck a SS doesnt take up much room, as opposed to a deep. I have a Yamaha travel guitar that I can plug my mp3 ears into and it sounds great...and it takes up no room, especially on the plane. great guitar if Im stuck in a motel room for a while. If you go the beater route...just find a nice guitar that you wouldnt care if it was scratched, cracked, dropped or stolen. Where are you going in Colorado? |
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Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | Thanks again Jay for your input. Room isn't really an issue so would be looking for a mid or deep bowl...SS May be too small! ;^)
Not a big eBay type person...where does one look for the "cheap" Ovations? Leary of buying somebody's junked out unplayable guitar without seeing it in person.
Is PM through the OFC a good way to reach Paul Woody?
Will be heading to SW Colorado to spend some time in the San Jaun mountains and away from the masses. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Here's the Dilemma...
It doesn't matter how much of a "Beater" a guitar is...
You will still cherish it and not want it to get damaged/stolen.
That is why you bought it.
You may cherish it more cuz you got a Deal on an old guitar that sounds great.
I have a 40 year-old Artist 1121 with a repaired headstock that I got for $118...
Sounds great and I love it. I would be sad if something happened to it. 
You need to go to a music store that sells Used, which is often cheaper than eBay.
Plus, no shipping. And you play before you buy.
This will limit your choices, but may offer things that you would not think of otherwise.
Then you may find a USO Beater, or a Celebrity.
Or you may just find another brand all together.
Remember, you are looking for something that Plays well for cheap.  |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Pawn shop. |
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Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Truthfully, I play guitar a LOT. But I can manage a 10 day vacation without one. I usually find a music store at some point in my vacation and relieve my playing jones by spending an hour "trying out" guitars. When I was in Maine last summer I found a great luthier's shop http://woodsoundstudio.com/guitars-steel.htm and was treated to a bunch of handmade beauties to try. But even then, I can survive without playing. Just makes me look forward to getting back to it. |
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Take it. Kansas to Colorado is nothing. There's more elevation change going from Denver to Keystone than from Western Kansas to Denver. I lived in Colby. I never heard of elevation having any effect. Last year I did 4000 miles with the 97 Collector in the trunk of a Porsche. 2500 feet to 11000 feet and back down to about 5000 the first day and then slowly down to whatever the elevation is in Michigan. I don't remember even having to tune it, but probably did. In 10 days you'll have less change than I did every 10 hours. Just got back from another trip to Monterey. 2500 to 6000 and down to zero and back a couple times, but this time I took an electric just to save space.
I always take a guitar to the cabin for the weekend. 2500 feet change in 100 miles. Probably 100 trips with guitars and never a change in any of them. I even forgot to take one out of the car overnight in the winter. #47 RI didn't even notice, but an Adamas is a bit less finicky. |
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Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | I like Mark's advice. I have had my guitars all over the country from snowy Buffalo to the parched deserts of southeastern Utah. Never a problem. Maybe I am just lucky? If you are afraid to take em and play em then why have em? I know I am a minority opinion and many here will fervently disagree with me as is their right. But you need to get comfortable with ebay cause there are great guitars and great bargains there. I bought my Adamas 1681 there for $1200 and it is primo. The San Juans are nice but a few too many people for this reclusive nerd! You gotta get out on the desert where nothing and everything is happening and the arrival of a fly is a major event!! But Bob G also has a point cause I spent 3 months in Nicaragua without a guitar and I somehow survived. Though i did miss it a lot! Stay sweet and enjoy yur vacation. |
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Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | I've had long-term changes in altitude and (more importantly) humidity cause problems with guitars, but it happens very slowly (over several months.). IMO, 10 days is unlikely to cause any harm, (but a case humidifier is cheap insurance.) Sudden, severe temperature changes can cause problems, but that's really more of a winter issue (in the lower 48.) If you are concerned about going to (or from) chilly a/c to sweltering car trunk or something, just let the guitar acclimate slowly by leaving it in the case for an hour or so before opening it up and pulling it out.
ymmv
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November 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | Thank you all for taking the time provide the great input! It is appreciated!! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Kansas Boy, I got my first guitar in Kansas, but not an Ovation, back in the early 70s. I drove back and forth many times from Kansas State to Colby. It seems so flat, but there's actually a couple thousand feet of elevation change. I always used more gas going West than I did going East. Then from Colby to Denver was almost the same elevation change over the same distance.
When I moved out here to the mountains I found out we had less altitude in Boise than Colby, but instead of driving 240 miles to climb 2000 feet, I can do it in 15 miles. I never even thought about the effect of elevation change on my guitars until you posted. |
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Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | BTW, Mark, I got that guitar you sold me last week...lovin it! 
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Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Jay, that's going to start some people wondering. If I sold you that, I forgot I ever owned it, but I do know that you didn't send me any money. Please send cash ASAP. |
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January 2009
Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | Yeah, I appreciate you sending the guitar first, because I was worried about condition, due to all the elevation and climate deviations it had been through...but it is everything you said it would be. As soon as I find my glasses (lol, i am as blind as a bat without them), I will write you a check and get it in the mail. thanks again! |
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Joined:
November 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | We made it to Colorado and back and the 1778T made the trip unscathed. Did pick up an in case humidifier as humidity was MUCH lower and the guitar was in the case when not being played. I considered leaving the guitar at home, but I'm glad I took it. It would have been a loooonggg vacation with no guitar and we had some great family playing time. Again, thanks everyone for all the great advice. The help I got here helped me take the guitar without putting any unneeded stresses on it. Great bunch of folks here! 
Edited by Kansas Boy 2014-08-10 10:45 AM
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Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | So I'm finally getting around to reading this post and I see a few things worth taking in.
OM Arthur usually says just what you need to know in a few lines and the rest is entertainment,
It is important to network the OFC so when you travel you can always drop in on someone to play their guitars.
Mark, Jay, please write me a check for guitar sales none of us can remember either! |
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Traveling with a 1778T?
