| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mpi_50 |
Posted - 09/28/2009 : 2:59:15 PM
Here I am 58 yrs. old, and chosen to go to Iraq (HQ MNSTC-I) for a year. Which guitar would be best for that environment. I was thinking Rain Song (graphite?) or a smaller travel size. I would have to be good for open G slack key and have good harmonic range, sturdy and not too affected by the desert environment, any suggestions? |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mpi_50 |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 2:56:14 PM
Mahalo bradda, I'm going to be in the International Zone in Baghdad (Riverview condos). Well I've already settled for the Little Martin in Koa. Since I've received it I can seem to put it down. I used to become very impatient waiting for my computer to boot up. Now I have my Punahele next to the computer and I forget about the computer. This baby rings! We need the civilians for support. It's a team effort, the sooner we grasp that concept the better off we will be as a nation. |
| mpi_50 |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 10:58:49 PM
Amen to that. It is an honor to serve an appreciative country. I grieve for our Viet Nam vets (my brothers). It is bittersweet to think that I'm a better person to my country now than more than 30 years ago. What is the Planet Waves soundhole system? I might need one. |
| Mark |
Posted - 11/01/2009 : 2:31:26 PM
Thanks for that first vid, Andy. That's so funny... I'll be someone puts together a stage act around it soon. Bolo???
Here's a vid of Acoustic Guitar Mag's Teja Gerkin reviewing the little travel guitar, in case anyone wants to hear what it sounds like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbQQn5sWB8c
Again, I don't have a financial stake (or steak) in this, just own one. |
| rendesvous1840 |
Posted - 11/01/2009 : 09:18:20 AM
This one needs to go to Mythbusters. I want to see 'em cut it and play it while it's taped together. I'll donate an old Harmony or such for comparison purposes.
Unko Paul |
| Admin |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 7:36:17 PM
All of you - thank you for serving our country! Welcome home, Fingerpickin.
I played a CA OX recently, and it played/sounded great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OEZNzOAQFM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR9I-hMGLFA (Composite Acoustic guitar in Iraq - this video appears to be unavailable right now)
As people have already said, these are not cheap, but CA seems fit for the desert. The Epiphone Masterbilt sounds to be an excellent choice as well. |
| Fingerpickin |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 3:17:23 PM
mpi_50,
I just got back from a year long deployment to Iraq (Tikrit area, COB Speicher.) I was in one of the dryest places in Iraq, right smack dab in the middle of the desert.
I have been very dissapointed in most "travel" guitars. The volume, tone, and playability is distinctly lacking in most of these instruments. This is what I did, based on a recommendation from Doug Fitch and others:
As soon as I got to Iraq, I ordered an Epiphone Masterbilt jumbo. (Mahogany body, solid spruce top, Shadow dual-pickup system.) It cost $550, came perfectly set up and Musicians Friend delivered it in less than 2 weeks. This guitar is no Martin or Taylor, but it sounds good acoustically and incredible plugged in. My origional plan was to sell it before I left, but I could not bear to part with it and wound up shipping it home. Surprisingly, the shipping was only $40 from the U.S. postal service and it got here without a mark on it. I hydrated it with the planet waves in-soundhole system which worked well.
Whatever you decide, thanks for supporting us troops over there, we could not do it without the dedication of many civilians, all who volunteer for this dangerous duty.
-Lance |
| mpi_50 |
Posted - 10/13/2009 : 6:29:25 PM
Good to hear all the gang with their responses. You know, I frequent the Guitar Center not because it is great, but it is close and has a good invetory of guitars. The drawback is that they have no CA guitars in their inventory. They did have a Little Martin (I have no Martin bias; just sound and playability) with the spruce top. I was adequate and easy to play, I would think that with a little work the koa version would perform nicely. I still would like to try the CA offering. I ordered the little Martin in koa, it looks llike a big uke! thanks for your input! As always I love hearing from all of you. If you recall I work shifts on the dock and some work weeks extend to 12 days so I can't respond in a timely manner. Thanks for your patience and for your ALOHA! |
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 10/12/2009 : 12:54:26 PM
Soome of us might need a 14 fret program. |
| Mark |
Posted - 10/12/2009 : 12:35:21 PM
I second the CA Cargo. Best travel guitar I've ever played. I sold my Baby Taylor cuz it didn't like playing it.
I have one that I play in both standard & slack & DADGAD for some sessions recently in Ireland. It holds up quite well with a band--pipes, flute, fiddle, bouzouki & tenor banjo in one case & sounds remarkable good solo.
This summer I took it down to Palm Springs area to play for my ailing father. It was 114 in the shade, and I did not ever think twice about leaving it in the car while I went to lunch. I also don't care if it gets rained on.
Only down side? Well, they laughed at it in a pub in Kilkenny. |
| Earl |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 10:22:24 AM
I have played the Composite Acoustics Cargo model in taro patch, F wahine and Keola's C tuning. It performed remarkably well given its size, especially the low end. it is more like a 3/4 size than a half-size guitar. I think you would be very happy with it, and it would survive the desert environment well.
I would have bought one while at Hilo Guitars last February after Aloha Camp, where I played one newly purchased by a fellow camper. But we were already maxed out on checked bags. Not to mention that Alice is probably on the verge of saying "one out for each new one in" when it comes to guitars. (I may have a problem. Anyone know of a 12 fret program?)
Oh, and thank you for you continued service. Oohrah!
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| mpi_50 |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 2:18:53 PM
How does the CA Cargo and Little Martin Koa perform in Ki Ho'Alu? I've narrowed my choices to these two, as always MAHALO! |
| mpi_50 |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 1:20:39 PM
Thanks! I probably won't be in a tent. I'll be in the Green Zone (Baghdad by the Euprates)and share a 2-man room. I did check out the Rain Song, too expensive and I did notice the Baby Martin and Taylor. I love my Koa Ovation but it's staying home. that is what I'm trying to retain in a travel-worthy package.I'll check out the CA Cargo (I've never heard of it nor the Voyage Air). I remember the Viet Nam Era I was in the Marines stationed in Camp Smith,Hawaii and my guitar was well used also. I left it there when I left also. Thanks once again! |
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 09/30/2009 : 08:08:09 AM
I've been using an Ovation with a laminate top for the polka band as it is durable and can go from playing outside in temps in the 50s to inside with temps in the 70s and not have problems. It doesn't have the tone of my D-18, but it has brittle sound good for the task at hand and it plays good and survives the plane OK. I've tried the little laminate Martins and was impressed. They have a brittle sound also. |
| wdf |
Posted - 09/30/2009 : 05:19:57 AM
I used to travel with my Rainsong OM-1000 and always checked it with one of Bruce Lamb's Clam cases. It worked great. I never had a heat problem, although I heard of one that claimed to have had a problem. But now that Sheila is gone, I have no one to watch the luggage while I get the rental car. So I bought one of the Voyage Air guitars. I haven't taken it on a flight yet. I'll report back in January about it.
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| Earl |
Posted - 09/30/2009 : 04:25:24 AM
All of the choices mentioned are good options. I have played the CA Cargo, and it sounds very good considering its size -- probably the best of the travel guitars. Hilo Guitars & Ukuleles seems to be a good place to buy them - good prices.
I have two Rainsongs, which would hold up really well, but be careful of the heat. Extreme heat or black guitars with direct exposure to the sun can soften the resin and create problems. They get too hot to touch sometimes. The Rainsongs are expensive enough that I don't usually travel with them, preferring something more expendable. Seagull makes both the parlor guitar and the the newer Mini-Jumbo (under $400). Finally, you might consider the Little Martin series. They sound OK, and are less than $300 retail. They are made of high pressure laminate (read: Formica) and would be quite durable. They are pretty small but still decent sounding and quite playable.
I personanly travel with a used Seagull S-6 dreadnought that I turn over to the airline gorillas, and so far no bad luck. But even if they destroy / lose it, I'm only out about $400 for guitar, pickup and case.
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