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Taking your instrument wherever you go
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Subject: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 28 Apr 00 - 01:37 PM I was thinking about Peter Seeger and how he would carry his banjo wherever he went. Not just to a performances or tune session, Pete's banjo was basically a part of him. Even Rick Fielding suggested I start taking my banjo with me when I go on holidays. And that I do. But it sure would be nice to take my banjo along when I am invited somewhere for dinner at family or friend's homes. Although, it would be something of a surprise, I know it would brighten up the evening with a song or two. I use to work at a hospital when I first started taking lessons from Rick and I really wanted to take my banjo to work and play out in the hospital court yard on lunch break. I am quite sure the other staff members would have appreciated hearing something different than the office gossip. But I felt just too inhibited. Well, the more I feel comfortable with my skills the more I would like to carry my instrument wherever I go. Do any of you guys do this? Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 28 Apr 00 - 01:45 PM I'm thinking that if I keep this new tennor guitar that i borrowed (?!?) that I may try to get a small hardshell gigbag for it, and beat around with it... it's lain fallow for too long I think... It feels pretty happy being played, like a cat being petted... so I hate to put it down and bring back it's fear of abandonment... The real trick is gonna be fining a case fer the wee bugger... that's tough enough to wander over hill and dale, misty mountain and dusty valley... {~` |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Wesley S Date: 28 Apr 00 - 01:56 PM I've got a cheap { $50.00 } mandolin - my first - that I keep at work so I can practice during lunch or if an idea hits me. I also got a baby Taylor when I thought I was going into a travling sales job - later decided that I wanted to stay closer to home. Now it's for sale. When I was in my 20's I was more likely to carry my D-18 everywhere but now that I'm an old fart I don't drag it everywhere. I've gotten better on the mandolin so I don't even take the Martin to band practice anymore. I started dong that to force myself to play in keys that I had avoided in the past. It worked. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: MMario Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:07 PM One of the benefits of having your "instrument" be voice. Where I go it goes; (though on occasion it has wandered off on its own. I don't worry, it always comes back.) |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Allan C. Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:11 PM I feel that it is presumptuous of me to bring my guitar into someone's home or wherever without having been asked. Pete had a slight advantage in that EVERYONE knew what he did for a living and rather expected him to be welded to his instrument. For me, only a few people, who know me fairly well, are aware that I play folk music. If they were to ask me to "bring my guitar along", then I would gladly do so. Sometimes, though, if someone I am visiting has ever said, "You should have brought your guitar", I am likely to have it out in the car in case they express that kind of thing again. To some people, bringing your instrument without being asked is about the same as bringing along a dog. Some might like the idea and others would think it obnoxious. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Jeremiah McCaw Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:37 PM "I feel that it is presumptuous of me to bring my guitar into someone's home or wherever without having been asked." Got a good dodge for that. Bring it in anyway. Explain that you were just at a practice, just got it back from the repair shop, whatever; explain that you never leave it in the car and is there a corner you can hide it in where it won't be in the way. That way, its presence can be safely ignored if you wish, but your (& their) options remain open. Only just a tiny teensy bit devious, methinks. Why am I reminded of the button I got for 50th b-day that said, "Experience & treachery will always overcome youth & vigour"? |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: JenEllen Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:38 PM Hey Neo; I suppose it is a matter of where you are going. When traveling, or visiting friends and family that know I play folkmusic, I'll tend to keep the fiddle in the car for 'emergencies'*bg*. Work is a bit more difficult, so there I don't play so much as sing. I figure if music makes you happy, and it's not hurting anyone else, play on! The key is to be gracious to those that may not have the same passions that you do. For myself, all instruments, kids, and critters are welcome at my door. But not everyone is that way, like Allan said about the dogs, or those folks that bring infants to the theatre, it's often an aquired taste, and politeness is a necessity. Best of luck to you, ~Elle |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Sorcha Date: 28 Apr 00 - 02:55 PM I don't take them quite everywhere, but most places. I have done exactly what Jeremiah suggested, sometimes I get to play, sometimes it sits in the corner. I take them camping, on any lengthy trip where I might want them, etc. Took my fiddle on a long trip back to Kansas 11 years ago when we went back to bury my Dad, and had a wonderful spontaneous jam in a rest area! Took my harp several years ago to visit the very ill father in law; played the harp for him and he passed away that very night. I have always been glad I just "stuck it in". |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Bert Date: 28 Apr 00 - 03:14 PM I used to carry a cheapie guitar in the car all the time. Till the sun baked it one time too many and the bridge went perdoiiiing! Now I've gotta make a couple of clamps and glue the bugger back together. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: SINSULL Date: 28 Apr 00 - 03:25 PM For years my father never went anywhere without the guitar in the trunk of the car. After my mother died, it was put away. We knew he was passed the worst of his loss, when the old Epiphone resurfaced. For the record all instruments are welcome in my home. Will gladly make room for the Baby Grand. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Mooh Date: 28 Apr 00 - 03:47 PM For a while last year I took my mandolin to work, and I will again likely in the summer. Camping and visits to my folks call for a guitar as do overnighters for other purposes. The more you have it, the less you miss it. I love playing outside in fair weather, no excuse needed. Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Mooh Date: 28 Apr 00 - 03:56 PM Another thought. (Amazing isn't it?) I like gig bags for travel whenever possible when I have to carry something a long way. Hard shell cases (yes I have one for almost everything) are just too heavy in the long haul. Even for camping I'll often use a gig bag, though I have to be very careful about packing. The one reason for not taking an instrument everywhere with me is the weight of the case. Gig bags vary greatly in quality, but even the best are much lighter than, and maybe better than, the cheapest hard shell case. Thought over. Peace again, Mooh. P.S. My favourite gig bag has a cowboy motif on it that amuses me...small things... |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: black walnut Date: 28 Apr 00 - 04:17 PM "Oh yes, that IS a 36 string harp in my back pocket!" ~black walnut |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Molly Malone Date: 28 Apr 00 - 05:41 PM Paul generally take his guitar just about everywhere. But the bodhran is not terribly impressed with 100 degrees in April. (But it's a dry heat. Whatever.) So that stays at home most of the time. Tin whistle is a great take-it-anywhere instrument. Most of the reason I've started playing it. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST,Fenmore East Date: 28 Apr 00 - 05:54 PM Agree with Jermiah. Don't impose or presume to think that other people you are visiting may necessarily want to hear you play. Outside of hanging out with fellow musicians, most regular folk couldn't care less about hearing you or anyone else play live for them in their home...nor will they appreciate your talents. As for travelling, I take mine with me, except if the transportation method involves flying. I won't chance it with my guitar...and I refuse to play a Backpacker or other cheap piece of crap. The withdrawl of not having a guitar with me when on vacation, is a bitch however. IF YOU DO INSIST ON TAKING YOUR INSTRUMENT OUT WITH YOU, NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAR. PERIOD. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: MichaelM Date: 28 Apr 00 - 06:26 PM That advice (never leaving your instrument in your car) was going to be my answer to the "some people would find it obnoxious" to bring in your instrument remark. I frequently bring my guitar into people's homes and good restaurants where I have no expectation of playing. I simply state that, as a "professional" musician (no snickering!) I never leave my instrument in my car. I ask them for a corner (preferably where I can see it) to store it in. I have never had any complaints from my hosts about my bringing it inside and on a couple of occasions I have been asked by my hosts to bring it out. There are lots of once-upon-a-time players out there whose eyes light up at the sight of a good instrument. I even had the chef at one of my favourite restaurants come out and ask if he could first see and then play my guitar. You never know. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: black walnut Date: 28 Apr 00 - 07:00 PM Dumb Question # 5791: Why NOT leave an instrument in the car? Obviously, some of us do and some of us don't. (And, hey, when you answer this, remember that we don't all play guitars....) ~black walnut
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Jon Freeman Date: 28 Apr 00 - 07:02 PM I have rarely been away for more than a day without one instrument of another and oddly enough, I was thinking about this earlier today. I am, going to visit my parents next week and I was trying to work out what to take with me as it is a messy train journey that involves 3 or 4 changes. Normally I would take my favourite banjo but I'm not sure whether I feel up to lugging that one (it is a heavy one) together with my bag of clothes with me. Maybe I will take my other tenor with me or perhaps the banjolin, whatever, I will be taking something. When I worked at Hotpoint, I used to keep an ukele-banjo which I tuned as a mandolin in a cupboard in my office and when the weather was nice, I sometimes did sit in the car park at lunch time and play it. I think those that saw me thought I was weird - perhaps they were right but I didn't care. Jon |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Helen Date: 28 Apr 00 - 07:54 PM black walnut (with 36 string harp in pocket) In Oz I never leave the harp in the car, especially in warm to hot weather. I went to a folk festival with the 34 string harp a few years back and it was just too big to lug around with me so I parked the car under a tree and kept checking that it was in the shade, etc but it ended up going perdoiiiing! and split the sound board. Another time I had taken it in the car somewhere and had tuned it up during the day in the humid heat because the strings stretch in humidity, and then when I came home that night I stopped to visit someone. In the early evening a cold southerly wind came up and the change of temperature in the car was magnified. The cold temperature made the strings shrink back to their normal state suddenly and kerboiiing! again, the side of the sound box split. Another reason is that cars get broken into and some unfeeling %&*# runs off with your instrument and it ends up in a pawn shop somewhere and you never find it again. P.S. I just came back yesterday from a 2 day trip to pick up my new 28 string harp - it's about a foot shorter and a foot narrower and a fair bit lighter than the 34 string so I now - hopefully - have a more travel-worthy instrument. It will still be bigger than some lap harps but a lot easier & lighter to carry than the other one, so as soon as I make a carry case I'll be off. (Next Oz festival is 12 May at St Albans, about 50 miles from here - Yippeee!!) Helen helen |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: rangeroger Date: 28 Apr 00 - 08:28 PM Leaving an instrument in a car on a hot day can definitely wreak havoc with it. On one of my trips from North Idaho to Strawberry Music Fest.,I stopped in Redding Ca. to visit a friend (rainbow).Temperature outside was in the 100's,have no idea what the temp reached in my Suburban.When I got to the festival I got my 12-string out to play it and found the tuning head hanging by the strings and the veneer on it. Luckily,Michael Lewis (the luthier) was at the festival and he worked magic with a space- age epoxy, and the guitar was playable that evening. He told me I could bake the guitar in an oven now,and the wood would burn before the glue let go. I do wrap my cases in space blankets and cover them thoroughly now.I don't want to test the glue. rr |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Helen Date: 28 Apr 00 - 08:46 PM Hey rangeroger,
The Mudcat psychic transmission line is working again: this just came up on the Hrplist: A reminder about not keeping instruments in cars and how to use the space blanket. http://www.harpcenter.com/ Helen (disclaimer: I have no connection with the Sylvia Woods Harp Center) Don't Fry Your Harp! According to the Humane Society, on an 85º day the inside of a parked car, even with the windows partly open, can reach 102º in 10 minutes. In a half hour the temperature can soar to between 120º and 130º and can rise to as much as 180º. Harps are very susceptible to heat damage. Depending on the humidity level and the type of glue used, the wood can crack, and the glue can actually begin to soften at a temperature of about 130º, causing the structure of the harp to distort and the harp to fall apart. If you love your harp, NEVER leave it in a parked car. When you are driving with your harp in the back of your station wagon or van, the sunlight pouring through the windows can also damage your harp. We recommend that you cover your harp with our Space Blanket with the SILVER SIDE UP to reflect the sunlight back away from your harp while you are driving. PLEASE NOTE: The space blanket will help protect your harp from the direct sunlight coming through the windows. However, it will NOT keep your harp cool in a hot parked car. Don't even THINK of leaving your harp in a parked car. All Weather Blanket: The Original Space Blanket The ALL WEATHER SPACE BLANKET is a by-product of superinsulating materials originally developed by NASA. It is silver reflective on one side, and blue on the other side. When wrapped around a person with the silver side of the blanket in, it will reflect and retain over 80% of radiated body heat to keep a person warm and protected, even in sub-zero temperatures. However, our main use for this amazing blanket is to keep heat OUT and away from our harps. To keep your harp cool, use the blanket with the silver side OUT to reflect the sunlight back away from the harp. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 28 Apr 00 - 09:10 PM When I was on the Big Island in Hawaii in a small town called Pahoa, I went into the local bar where they also had a fish store. I noticed they kept the guitars for the bar in the bottom shelf of the large sliding door type refrigerator. I could have chosen a can of diet Pepsi, Mahi Mahi or a Gibson Electric. Aloha Mark Cohen may have more to say about this. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: black walnut Date: 29 Apr 00 - 08:44 AM Actually, I play a variety of instruments. Thanks, Helen and rr, for the scarey stories. They are wicked warnings to take special care of our beloved music-makers. I really do find it fascinating, though, that people seem so strongly on either side of this fence. One of my guitar player friends leaves his precious Larrivee in the trunk for hours during the most hot and humid of folk festivals, in case there might be an open stage to participate in. My harp teacher, who has to commute all over Ontario to classical and folk gigs, says that she has to leave her harps in the car to go into restaurants, in all kinds of weather. I prefer, to bring an instrument into a place with me, no matter what the size, or leave a friend/spouse in the car to watch over it. I'm the kind of person who would always like to have an instrument with me, "just in case". But, it just doesn't seem practical. I play celtic harp (too big and temperature sensitive), piano (too big and doesn't fit in the car), lap dulcimer (too fragile and beautiful and you need about 3 chair widths to play it), tin whistles (but I'm just a beginner and they're too loud to play away on when you're still trying to find the right notes), guitar (I'd love to take a guitar around with me everywhere, to practice my dadgad, but it's a borrowed guitar and I can't risk anything happening to an instrument i don't own). So, I sing in the car. I sing and I sing and I sing and I sing..... ~black walnut |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Mark Cohen Date: 29 Apr 00 - 03:45 PM Neo, I hope you took the Gibson. Mahi-mahi you can get anywhere. Mark |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST,Trish Date: 29 Apr 00 - 07:09 PM I used to play timpani when I was at school: we used to take them home for the school holidays - no, not in a car! We used to walk them all the way home!! |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Rick Fielding Date: 29 Apr 00 - 07:55 PM Hey Neo. They've got that great and LITTLE Deering Goodtyme banjo at the 12fth Fret. That'd fit in your pocket. Take it everywhere M'dear, even to the toilet. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:02 AM You must admit, some bathrooms have great acoustics. I never thought about that Rick, a Deering Goodtyme banjo would be great to carry around with me. The price is right too. After watching Arnie Naiman & Chris Coole's incredible performance tonight, I am inspired to practice more, even on the toilet. Banjo Bonita |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: rangeroger Date: 30 Apr 00 - 01:08 AM Bonnie, When I was in the Navy,stationed at Bremerton,WA. Naval Hospital,the showers in the Hospital Corps Quarters were lined with marble.I used to go in there with my guitar and practice for hours.The acoustics were absolutely amazing. rr |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST,winniemih Date: 30 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM anyone with advice on flying with stringed instruments? (meaning airline travel tips for bringing along a guitar) |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Ditchdweller Date: 30 Apr 00 - 12:26 PM As an unaccompanied singer, I have no wucking furries taking my instrument with me!!! Spapper |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Petr Date: 01 May 00 - 12:04 AM I have on occasion taken my fiddle to parties (of nonmusician friends) and will only play if people ask. Lately I just dont bother (unless Im going camping or something) I would never leave it in the car because it could get stolen and the temperature thing (In one party at wintertime I did that and kept on going out of tune due to the temperature changes when I brought it in) One of my friends parked his car in bad part of town and left his set of uilleann pipes in there. By the time he got back it was too late... / . Someone put in another set of uilleann pipes. Petr. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 01 May 00 - 09:55 AM Winniemih, I know there was a very helpful thread on this topic of flying with your guitar but for the life of me I can't seem to find it. Maybe you could start a new thread asking this question and if some other Mudcatter could please refer you to the older thread on this top. That should do it. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Midchuck Date: 01 May 00 - 10:08 AM "...anyone with advice on flying with stringed instruments? (meaning airline travel tips for bringing along a guitar..." Yes. Don't. Unless you can afford a Mark Leaf or Calton case for it. In which case you can charter a plane of your own and take it right on with you so you don't need the good case. They used to let you bring a guitar on as carry on luggage in a gigbag. They don't any more. If you check it as luggage, in anything short of one of the above $500 cases, it will be destroyed sooner or later. Unless they lose it first. I'm fortunate that, when I travel by air, it's almost always to Salt Lake, where my little girl is at. So I bought a 25-year-old Guild D25 for 300 bucks, shipped it out there, and left it there. Makes life infinitely simpler. And she has a spare for company. If you're going somewhere for any period of time, you may - honestly - be better off sending it on ahead by UPS or whatever. That's risky too, but a lesser risk than airline baggage check, if you know how to pack it. Peter |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: RichM Date: 01 May 00 - 10:34 AM About leaving your instrument in the car... Many years ago,I was on my way to a festival one weekend. I stopped at a bank-my friend needed some cash. I left my guitar, in its case, in his hatchback, thinking I would be back in about 5 minutes. It was more like 15--and the car was hot! I opened the case, to check the guitar: HORROR! The varnish on the top of my Larrivée had softened, and turned milky white! You can imagine my distress. After a few minutes in the shade, though, the top reverted to its former state, and hardened, with no resulting damage. I was lucky that day. Now, my guitar never stays in a parked car--period. And I recently bought an insulated guitar case from First Quality Music Supplies, in Louisville, Kentucky. It's made of several kinds of plastic and foam, and is 1-2 inches thick. Only weighs about 3 pounds more than a hardshell case. Rich
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Kim C Date: 01 May 00 - 12:00 PM Most of our friends EXPECT us to bring our instruments, especially to living history events, as in, "Hey Kim, you're bringing your fiddle, aintcha?" My response is yes, if the weather is agreeable. Since most of those things are outdoors we try to be extry careful when deciding to take instruments or not. But don't leave them in the car! Granted, if you're traveling and have to make pit stops or whatever, they may have to sit there for a little while. Personally, I have put a whammy on my fiddle, so that if anyone should steal it, it won't play. :) |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Sailor Dan Date: 01 May 00 - 12:31 PM I have taken my banjo in its hard case with me to NJ a couple of times. Believe it or not, The banjo case WILL FIT in an overhead compartment of both an MD-83 and B727 aircraft. If you are lucky enough and find a nice Flight Attendant sometimes the will store them in a closet, (very few on an aircraft) or if there are no emergency cabinets on the bulkhead behind the last row of First Class seats, they sometimes will put them there. I also keep the Banjo covered with 5 grand of insurance just in case I would have been made to put it down below. I have even taken it on a cruise ship and kept it under the bunk, in the hard case of course. By the way I do loosen the strings as I have been told this could warp or snap the neck if the strings get to cold and contract. I hope this helps someone |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Mooh Date: 01 May 00 - 12:34 PM Anyone got a better science background? Why do they make cases black when a lighter colour would absorb less heat? Is it just tradition? Would a white case be any greater protection? Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: BlueJay Date: 01 May 00 - 12:56 PM Mooh- I've often wondered that myself, as black does absorb solar energy. Maybe it's so the case won't appear dirty so fast. I keep a white sheet in my vehicle to cover my instruments with. I like to think it helps. But I doubt if it does when the ambient temperature in the truck reaches 120, as when it is parked for awhile. BlueJay |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Mooh Date: 01 May 00 - 01:03 PM BlueJay, Maybe a call to Calton Cases or wherever would answer this for us. I've thought of painting a case with white Tremclad to test the idea. Or maybe some sort of sheet adhesive applied to the case...I'll try your white sheet idea too. I do know that my big white cooler stays cold longer than others I've got that aren't white. Have you ever tried a "climate case"? Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: black walnut Date: 01 May 00 - 01:04 PM i kind of remember Lorraine Hammond saying that when she travels with her dulcimer, she takes it into the plane with her. she gets away with it by claiming it's of irreplaceable historical importance, i think.... ~'nut |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST Date: 01 May 00 - 01:11 PM Neo - If they sold all the Mahi-Mahi, would the guitars always be out of tuna? Just wondering. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 01 May 00 - 01:16 PM Guest, from what I understand the guitars are always out of tuna in Italy. I figure if they run out of Mahi-mahi they could always use the guitar strings to catch more fish. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST,JZG Date: 01 May 00 - 01:39 PM One of the nicest discoveries I made when I got my first mandolin was the way it could be played, pleasantly and quietly, without taking up extra space, in the passenger seat of a car (or other similar places where a guitar is too big, a fiddle is too awkward, a pennywhistle is too loud, etc.) So the mandolin is my favorite instrument to bring places these days ... I haven't had trouble bringing a fiddle (actually a viola) on planes as a carryon -- except one time as a kid, when my mother made an unfortunate joke at the security gate about machine guns in violin cases, but that's another story -- but I haven't tried with bigger instruments. I know someone who plays cello and says he has to pay for a second seat for the instrument. JZG |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 01 May 00 - 02:01 PM BlueJay and Mooh, like JZG was saying about machine guns in violin cases. Maybe this black color preference all started way back when with gangsters. Mobsters look good in black. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Bert Date: 01 May 00 - 03:31 PM Here's an earlier thread. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Little Neophyte Date: 01 May 00 - 06:52 PM Thanks Ernie, I greatly appreciate you finding that thread for Winniemih. Little Neo |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Edmund Flynn (inactive) Date: 01 May 00 - 07:09 PM Re the color of the case, Ansel Adams (a gifted musician as well as a famous photographer) contended that a camera case should be white (not even aluminum color) as being the most heat resistant. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Gypsy Date: 02 May 00 - 12:00 AM Anyone consider coating a cheap case with the snow goo that you use to patch roofs? It's thick, and more importantly, WHITE. Hammered dulcimers aren't terribly portable. I'm either going to a session, or on holiday before mine goes for a walk. Took up mando, for chords, and it IS portable, and goes to work with me each day. As for concern to take your instrument to someones house..there is alot less concern at night, when it is cool, if it is to be left languishing in the car. However, since all of our friends are musicians, it's not an issue for us. |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: Giac Date: 02 May 00 - 05:17 AM Another reason to not leave an instrument in the car:
A few years back I left my guitar in my car while
When I came back both car and guitar were gone. I was Never again! Couldn't be that lucky twice. giac |
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Subject: RE: Taking your instrument wherever you go From: GUEST,Presto Date: 02 May 00 - 05:45 PM I travel with four instruments (PP&M on tour): Dobro, old Martin D-28 (I don't believe in playing some junker on stage and leaving the good one at home in the case), 5-string, and mandolin. The two guitars are in (white!) Calton cases, and get checked as baggage. So far, so good, and that's about five years now. I've had to replace latches a couple of times, and four of the "protective" domes have been knocked off of the older case, but there's been no instrument damage. Al at Calton says they're looking for a better latch system that will work with their cases. The banjo and mando get carried on board - obviously the mando is no problem, and the banjo case (original hardshell) fits in the overhead of all aircraft except, surprisingly, 777. Occasionally I run into a problem on very small (prop) planes, and Continental (whom I still like) once paid a bunch of money to repair my banjo after dropping it on the tarmac. Sometimes getting both on board requires Peter to sing "Puff the Magic Dragon" to the gate agent, but mostly, just the name of the group is enough to get them to realize that we make our living on the road, and to understand that we need special consideration. Peter and Noel (Paul) both check their guitars in Calton cases - Noel's with a heavy canvas outer cover which protects the latches and domes. Dick's upright bass gets checked as excess baggage in a fiberglass case with heavy-duty latches and internal airbags. |
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