Gear and equipment forum

Travelling with a guitar

Jleef

flashpacker
Posts: 36
Located in:

Hi all, looking for some advice on travelling with an instrument.

As a musician embarking on a 6 month trip to SE Asia in Januray, I'm wondering whether or not I'll be missing my guitar during my travels. Although I've considered taking a harmonica instead, or perhaps holding out on the hope that hostels here and there will have an old acoustic I can bash around on whilst there, I'm wondering whether I shouldn't just take my own.

I've seen the Washburn Rover ( http://theguitarreview.com/2008/08/washburn-rover-travel-acoustic-guitar.html ) which, at 92x29x14.5cm in its padded case and 6lbs in weight, is a reasonable amount to travel with. However, I'm pretty set on the travelling light option, and only taking a hand-luggage sized rucksack with me.

Has anybody been in a similar situation, or can share any thoughts? I don't really know what I'm going to encounter in my travels, which is why I was set on the carry-on bag option...will I soon get fed up with dragging a guitar to hostels, beaches and buses, whether it's travel size or not?

Thanks for any advice!
Jamie

#1 Posted: 29/9/2009 - 23:03

------------------------------
jleef.co.uk - my travel blog
DLuek

adventurer
Posts: 454

Hi Jamie,

While I recommend travelling light, the guitar could come in handy. I've seen many people travelling in SE Asia with a guitar and although I always felt it would be kind of a pain, I at times wished I had one too. If you're someone who plays everyday and writes your own music via the guitar, I'd think you should possibly bring one. You will certainly come across guitars at guesthouses, restaurants, etc. on occasion, but they're often too crappy to waste your time with. On the negative, you'll come across busses/trains where travel space is tight, and a soft case will not always cut it when being banged around at the bottom of a bus (I once endured a broken neck on a nice acoustic some years back while travelling across the US in a friend's van). But on the positive, I for one have readilly found inspiration while travelling in SE Asia; Imagine how good it would have been to have the option of putting that inspiration to music in the same moment? Also how fun would it be to have your instrument with you at a campfire on some secluded beach in Thailand, or while waiting around for a visa or to cross a border?

I suppose if you do bring one, stick with something on the cheap side.

Good luck,

DL

#2 Posted: 30/9/2009 - 01:38
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

If you're a good player and venture into provincial Thailand, you can probably find some places to play. A lot of people here enjoy quality guitar.

#3 Posted: 8/10/2009 - 15:48

------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
mmmmbeerlao

longtail driver
Posts: 8

dude, dont do it. dont be that guy

#4 Posted: 16/10/2009 - 09:56
think87

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 112
Located in:

Just don't fly united with it LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

They broke this guys guitar and because of this video it was all over the news. Then they agreed to let him speak about proper bag handling to employees at a later date, and they lost is bags while he was on the way to give a speech about proper bag handling! lol

#5 Posted: 1/11/2009 - 07:27

------------------------------
MY BLOG FOR TRIP: The guys who travels the world...... On minimum wage. :-)
krisited

motodop
Posts: 25

cool video..a lesson for all!
anyway, if it is possible that you'll travel without it, that would be better..bringing a guitar is quite bulky..and you just can't trust anybody to carry it for you, unless they know how to handle it properly..like the one on the video lol

#6 Posted: 22/12/2009 - 16:54
Este

longtail driver
Posts: 5

Do everyone a favour and leave it at home. There's nothing worse than being in a hostel or guesthouse wanting a bit of peace and quiet, maybe even sleep, but there's some teat who thinks he's Bob Dylan sat in the corner playing his guitar nonstop.

#7 Posted: 12/2/2010 - 12:24
Jleef

flashpacker
Posts: 36
Located in:

Thanks for the advice, Este, but I've already been in Thailand for a month now, without a guitar. This thread is five months old!

Furthermore, if I had brought one with me, I wouldn't dream of being an inconsiderate, Bob Dylan inspired teat. There are some of us who enjoy having an instrument near us for reasons more than to irritate the nearest unwilling listener with dire renditions of Knocking on heavens door =)

#8 Posted: 12/2/2010 - 13:16

------------------------------
jleef.co.uk - my travel blog
craigdon

longtail driver
Posts: 6

Agreed.

Oh, and I always enjoy your rendition of stairway to heaven, J.

I could listen that 6\7 times a night easy! Ha ha

#9 Posted: 12/2/2010 - 15:32
Seonach

longtail driver
Posts: 10

K I know this thread is really old but here's a suggestion for the guitar dilemma - bring a ukulele instead! They're cheap and small and easy to play if you can play guitar already.

#10 Posted: 5/4/2010 - 06:33