DV52 as travel guitar

[KCGuildPicker]

On the backside of a 12 day whirlwind family / road trip and through all the temperature changes and peculiarities of upper midwest topography, my DV 52 has performed like a champ . . . only needing a slight re-tuning on the shores of Superior. She definitely has won a new level of appreciation and the title of road guitar for future. Additionally, she’s inspired me to start working on and writing down that 7/4 instrumental that has been jostling my ears. Just curious if anyone else takes their Guilds on road trips.

 

[Stagefright]

My old D35 was purchased just for that purpose and performed flawlessly for over 20 years. I replaced it with a JF-55, but life has thrown severe complications my way and it's doubtful that I will ever be able to travel/camp with the new camping jumbo. I wouldn't hesitate to drag the JF-55 along should the opportunity arise. I would like to eventually get a DV-52/62 to serve as my campfire companion.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Sure. I've taken my Guild acoustics on road trips and never had a problem with tuning them.

 

[Stuball48]

Never on an extended road trip - local, only, for me. And not surprised one bit at the D52's stellar performance.

 

[Westerly Wood]

On the backside of a 12 day whirlwind family / road trip and through all the temperature changes and peculiarities of upper midwest topography, my DV 52 has performed like a champ . . . only needing a slight re-tuning on the shores of Superior. She definitely has won a new level of appreciation and the title of road guitar for future. Additionally, she’s inspired me to start working on and writing down that 7/4 instrumental that has been jostling my ears. Just curious if anyone else takes their Guilds on road trips.

summer 2019, out driving across country w family to NH and back, and old early 70's D35. Loose bracing and all, pulling bridge, it was a mess when I bought it for $400 off reverb, shipped. but it was a trooper, never broke down, and was a great companion guitar to sing songs with family or just by myself along the way.

 

[Wilmywood]

I used to take my '72 G37 on trips till the headstock snapped. Since that was repaired I've had a couple others I take instead, first a DCE-1 in the past and currently a DV-6. I was not a fan of the cutout on the DCE-1, the DV-6 is full bodied.

 

[Bernie]

I've bought Furch's gig bag for my newest guitar, so that's why it/she(?) will be my road guitar too it seems ; tired of carrying hardshells... Maybe if Guild has a nice gigbag I will get one for my F-30. Then we'll see (for now no-one really competes with newcomer)...

 

[KCGuildPicker]

I've bought Furch's gig bag for my newest guitar, so that's why it/she(?) will be my road guitar too it seems ; tired of carrying hardshells... Maybe if Guild has a nice gigbag I will get one for my F-30. Then we'll see (for now no-one really competes with newcomer)...

i went with the Levy’s gig bag / soft case for traveling both on road trips and to local open mics and jams with friends.

 

[chazmo]

Great stuff! Made to be played!

 

[Stagefright]

Why does the idea of a gig bag scare me? Is it a boomer thing?

 

[Iceman]

I take a D 50 CE STD in a well padded no name soft case (watch out for thieves)
and a Humidipak inside.
This thing is a tank that sounds sweet!
Goes everywhere I do!

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Why does the idea of a gig bag scare me? Is it a boomer thing?

maybe because the gig bags of the past offered about the same level of protection as a trash bag? The one I have is really more soft case than gig bag as it has neck support and plenty of padding - not a replacement for a hard case but the modern iterations do have more padding.

 

[fronobulax]

Why does the idea of a gig bag scare me? Is it a boomer thing?

We probably don't make the distinction between "soft case" and "gig bag" that perhaps we should if the focus is on protection. The Boomer Mindset AFAIK is that a hard shell case offers more protection but practicality is a factor. If you can't get the instrument where it needs to be because of the HSC then you accept less protection in exchange for more portability.

In the '70's I don't think I ever saw a hard shell case for a double bass. The cello players I knew had a case and a padded bag and would choose one or the other. My tuba had a HSC and a padded bag but after the first time I had to take a bus and walk two blocks to a lesson I stopped using the HSC for that trip and was just more careful than usual with the bag.

 

[kostask]

The lowest I will go regarding protection of a guitar is the Gator Lightweight (GLW) case. I'm not saying that there aren't others, but for me the issue, even more than the padding, is the rigidity of the case. The GLW is nowhere near as heavy as a full on plywood hard case, but it is far more rigid than any gig bag (by which I mean a floppy fabric/vinyl/leatherette gig bag, to be clear). I haven't used, but have seen and closely looked at the Godin TRIC case, which may be better, but they are harder to find. The Godin case I think offers better thermal and humidity control than the GLW due to is soft rubber seal/lip at the seam between the two halves. I'm sure there are others that I am unaware of, and they may even be better than the two cases I mentioned above.

For home use, it is a full on, plywood hard case all the way.

 

[mushroom]

Before I got my DV52, it was used as a hire guitar so was always out and about being used and abused.

It’s still awesome.

 

[crank]

I used to take my camping guitar around in a pillowcase. Now I have the cheapest gig bag I could find because it's nice to strap it on my back.

I also have one of those little Backpacker by Martin guitars. Mainly because I got it for $40 on Craigslist and it looks weird hanging on the studio wall.

 

[PreacherBob]

My go to travel guitar is the D46 I got from Heath last year. Though I do keep it in its hard case. I use it on Tuesday mornings outside under a shelter with other guys. The sound and dynamics of the guitar never change indoors or out. Outside it still plays loud and powerful. I’m not much of flat picker but my bluegrass buddies love the backup rhythm the D46 provides, even more than the rosewood dread I have.
I use EJ19s, 0.012-.056 heavy one end light on the other, with the action dialed in low. I finger pick mostly alone on my hotel balcony or campsite here at the lake, it’s very responsive for that. The ash wood seems to be a very different animal, sonically speaking. And the wood resembles a baseball bat, maybe they are ash wood as well.

 

[Wilmywood]

My go to travel guitar is the D46 I got from Heath last year. Though I do keep it in its hard case. I use it on Tuesday mornings outside under a shelter with other guys. The sound and dynamics of the guitar never change indoors or out. Outside it still plays loud and powerful. I’m not much of flat picker but my bluegrass buddies love the backup rhythm the D46 provides, even more than the rosewood dread I have.
I use EJ19s, 0.012-.056 heavy one end light on the other, with the action dialed in low. I finger pick mostly alone on my hotel balcony or campsite here at the lake, it’s very responsive for that. The ash wood seems to be a very different animal, sonically speaking. And the wood resembles a baseball bat, maybe they are ash wood as well.

Baseball bats are, indeed, mostly ash but maple has been gaining in favor for the last 25 years or so.

 

[MLBob]

My travel guitar is also a D-46, but I carry it in a hard case. Usually slip it in the space in front of the rear seat in our SUV or in same space in the double cab of my Tacoma truck. Has gone to many a getaway trip or family vacation. Had it with me on a trip to an Air BnB in Paducah, KY a few weeks back. Came across a familiar marker on the Western KY Parkway just north of "Paradise" while on the way.

 

[KCGuildPicker]

That tune had just found its way back into the rotation after years of absence - funny how things turn around! Great pictures!