Gigging with expensive guitars

chazmo

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Hey, @Rob Reilly , those backpackers are cool, but by the way I’d re-wind strings 1 and 6 to wind to the outside and take a little of that angle off the nut.

Anyway, coolness. For the record, the guy who designed the backpacker also did a 12-string version/prototype. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on one, but never have. :)
 

West R Lee

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I hope Don is doing well, and I’m glad you got in touch.

Incidentally, I did find a model called the BR-280 which sellers claim to be Brazilian rosewood. Who knows? These days marketing folks play around with that monicker and it might not even be Dalbergia nigra, which is the actual wood species of Brazilian rosewood such as we know it. And is highly protected! Anyway, to see one of these from this century seems very suspicious to me.

E.g., this reverb ad shows one: https://reverb.com/item/64622202-blueridge-br-280-brazilian-rosewood-circa-2005-natural

Best wishes, Jim. If you talk to Don or Kenny tell them I send my best!
Check this out Charlie and Rocky.

1738476785009.png


West
 

Br1ck

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Everyone needs a beater, but your idea of a beater should be a pretty high standard. Mine is my 70 Guild D 35. It's not pristine and it's not trashed. I take it camping and anywhere I'm unsure of. Most importantly I never feel like it's wanting in any way.
 

steveintampa

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One of my favorite "beaters" for camping is a Gibson WM-10. Basic mahogany dreadnaught. This weekend I took my DCE-5.

It's got a be a good player!
 

D30Man

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My 78 D-35 used to be kind of a beater, but really it is a structural workhorse and I've kind of stopped camping with it and play out with it more than anything. The simon and patrick sp6 fits the bill for campfires these days.
 

dwasifar

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Well, I now have a couple of options for gigging if I don't want to take the D-55. I have the Blueridge I mentioned earlier, and now a Yamaha FSX-5.

I'm hoping Yamaha works some QC magic on Guild. That Yamaha is flawlessly built.
 

Rocky

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Everyone needs a beater, but your idea of a beater should be a pretty high standard. Mine is my 70 Guild D 35. It's not pristine and it's not trashed. I take it camping and anywhere I'm unsure of. Most importantly I never feel like it's wanting in any way.
My definition of a 'beater/campfire/beach' guitar is one that I can easily get over it, if it gets crushed, stepped on, run over by a jeep, etc. Not that I plan on it happening, but it happens. An ideal beater/campfire/beach guitar is one that plays relatively well, and is loud. My current one is a Yamaha FG-700S. It is all of those things, probably cost me $100, and has held up remarkably well in the last decade or so. It also surprisingly sounds pretty decent - better than many guitars several times it's price! :p
 

chazmo

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Well, I now have a couple of options for gigging if I don't want to take the D-55. I have the Blueridge I mentioned earlier, and now a Yamaha FSX-5.

I'm hoping Yamaha works some QC magic on Guild. That Yamaha is flawlessly built.
Yeah, but… Take the D-55, dwas. Life is short. Share your best.
 

Wilmywood

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Yeah, but… Take the D-55, dwas. Life is short. Share your best.
Hear hear. Get a great fitting case and play your best. My first '72 G37 made three trips up the Rubicon Trail in the Sierras on Jeepers Jamborees on a CJ5's roof rack. That is what God made excellently fitting high quality cases for, not to keep dust off them at home.
 

MrJones

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What are your opinions? Do you (would you) take your expensive guitars out, or keep them safe at home?

My most expensive guitar, my Martin 000-28 MD is one I purchased specifically for work. In my work I frequently play in private settings where patient/residents might be disoriented, in pain or discomfort, so I need to give them the best possible sound. I previously owned a D-55 that I gigged with regularly, now replaced by the D-50CE.
So, my short answer is yes, absolutely.
 

D30Man

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Not to split too many hairs here, but I go as far as qualifying the kind of gig before selecting which guitar I take. I play a handful of outdoor gigs every year. I am likely to take the D-35 because it has lots of whiskey and some clouding on the finish from my arm sweat. I always bring a second. Usually my all Hog Morrison fits secondary bill. I have played my F-55 ( GBNF ) and now my JF65 on smattering of indoor gigs like bars and nice restaurants etc. It always depends on my ability to keep a close on it when I am not playing it for which guitars I play indoors.
 

Boomstick

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I'd take my guitars to most performances, unless maybe it's a dive bar where I might get beer spilled on it or something.
 

dwasifar

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Yeah, but… Take the D-55, dwas. Life is short. Share your best.
In most cases I already do. I just like to have an alternative in case the place is a real dive.
 

Neal

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I just bought a brand new guitar for only the second time in my life, a Huss & Dalton slope dread. I have decided it will be the only guitar I own that never gets a pickup installed, and never leaves the house. It is just for me.
Well, I changed my mind!

I had a K&K put in my new H&D and now play it weekly, in a bar.

Last night, I was at an open mic, and three friends of mine asked to perform with it. It’s cool to be in an audience, listening to your own guitar being played by someone else.
 

walrus

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Well, I changed my mind!

I had a K&K put in my new H&D and now play it weekly, in a bar.

Last night, I was at an open mic, and three friends of mine asked to perform with it. It’s cool to be in an audience, listening to your own guitar being played by someone else.

Agreed. I had that happen years ago at an open mic with my D64. Sounded great when this other (much more talented) guy played it. It made me feel that I couldn't sound too bad - as long as I used that guitar! 😛
 

RBSinTo

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While I don't gig (although I could probably make a good living having people pay me not to play) I agree that having a guitar one can take virtually anywhere without fear that it could suffer damage is a good idea.
In my case it is my Washburn acoustic parlour.
While it plays well and sounds reasonably good for what it cost, its loss or damage would pain me less than any of my other much better quality acoustics, so it is the beater by default.
RBSinTo
 

Wilmywood

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Well, I changed my mind!

I had a K&K put in my new H&D and now play it weekly, in a bar.

Last night, I was at an open mic, and three friends of mine asked to perform with it. It’s cool to be in an audience, listening to your own guitar being played by someone else.
I know what you mean. A couple of years ago I was a big three day party one of my friends is a bass player and a much better guitar player than I. He picked up my G37 and I heard it from out front for the first time.

WOW
 

West R Lee

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Agreed. I had that happen years ago at an open mic with my D64. Sounded great when this other (much more talented) guy played it. It made me feel that I couldn't sound too bad - as long as I used that guitar! 😛
And to me, my guitars sound way different from out in front in someone else's hands than they do with them in my lap. Usually much better! 😊

West
 
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