should I bring an expensive acoustic guitar for concerts?

[Chris Lago]

Hi,

I have an expensive Martin that I'd like to bring for coffee type acoustic shows, but it is cold here in Toronto and I have some concerns. I currently only use it in my studio.

Are my concerns warranted? The guitar will go from my home to my car then to the coffee shop? It will be in its case until I perform.

I want to bring it but I'm scared of warping the neck.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[mcgruff]

Cold isn't a problem so much as changes in humidity. Get a hygrometer if you want to find out what sort of environment your guitar is being subjected to. Don't let it get too damp or too dry and you should be fine.

[Alrod]

Did you buy the guitar to play or hang on your wall as art work? If the guitar sounds great, plays great, and inspires you, then why not take out to play? If on the other hand you would rather use it as a recording guitar because it does that well, then leave it home and get another one. Guitars are built to be played, not babied. Get a girlfriend if you want that.

[dano69]

I agree with McGruff: humidity must be controlled. Get a Blue Oasis for that Martin. They have one that comes with a humidistat for your case, so you can monitor the conditions around the guitar. Having said that, my gig guitars are ones that play and sound nice, but not so nice that someone will want to walk off with it on a gig. If your Martin is worth more than $2,000 I'd leave it home.

Dan P

[creegstor]

My main acoustic is worth around $2500, maybe more, and I've gigged it quite a bit. Life is for living, guitars are for playing. That said I don't bring mine out on severe nights in NY and I would be very concerned about the cold in your area. If your guitar has any weakness in it (hell, even if it doesn't) the kind of cold you get up there could easily seriously damage the instrument pretty quickly.

[Early21]

Yeah, bring the guitar, what's it for otherwise? The coffee shop probably won't be too dry if there are usually people in it. If the guitar is in the cold car for a while, let it get warmer in the case before you open it. You don't want to shock it to room temperature. And in really cold dry weather, you can get humidity solutions as mentioned earlier, or those little dampit clip-ons.

[Lenzo]

I had 2 Martins in Michigan some years ago...went in and out of the clubs in the winter...had to send both back to Pennsylvania for neck work.
L.

[teo]

I would warm up tha car a little and then put the gtr in the back seat, not the trunk. As others have said, the danger it's humidity, not temperature, unless the change it's extreme.
Then again, I live in Rome, not Toronto!

[ronmac]

If it is in a hard case (properly humidified), and isn't spending too much time in the extreme cold, I wouldn't worry about it. Going from one extreme to another can be hard on the instrument. If it is in the cold for an extended period of time you have to worry about the finish cracking if it warms too quickly.

I often travel long distances in the winter carrying 2 different Bourgeois guitars and haven't had any trouble, using the appropriate cautions.

The general rule of thumb is to keep your instrument in an environment you would be comfortable in. Too long in any extreme environment will be trouble.

Theft is always a consideration, so if you are in a spot where you wouldn't leave your wallet in the open I would keep a close eye on my instrument

[Joseph Egan]

Very cold weather is a problem for acoustic guitars in that sudden exposure to warm air will checker the finish. Happened to me. Left my Taylor 710 overnight in my car after a gig, temperature was about 10 degrees F. When I opened the case I had two lines that looked like cracks going down the finish of the front of the guitar. I believe if I didn't leave the guitar overnight in the car I wouldn't have gotten those finish cracks.

[Chris Lago]

I'm kind of glad I didn't bring it last night because after the gig, I went for some drinks with 3 other girls. One of the girls had a nice Martin as well and she left it in the car for about an hour, I don't know if I could do the same to mine! It's a 3k guitar and I baby it well.

I play it a lot but only in my home studio, in a controlled environment. So I think I'll get one of those Taylor 214s and call it a day. That way I won't be scared of warping the neck. Thanks everyone!

[Cheebs Goat]

I worked an outdoor show for the Philadelphia orchestra. They brought along multiple million dollar violins.

I think it would be within the realm of sanity to bring your good accoustic to shows.

[JL.]

I have done quite a bit of touring with a Gibson Classic, Custom, and Standard, all pretty expensive guitars. It's took a toll here and there on them for sure. But they were fused to me in playability, I don't want to play something else really. For a few local gigs, I would take the pricey guitar out.

[Fletcher]

I've always found a good rule of thumb to be -- never bring an instrument to a gig that costs more than you'll be receiving from playing that gig... so, if they're going to be giving you a few thousand dollars to play that show bring the guitar that would be your first choice. If they're paying you a couple hundred to play that show... bring a guitar that will get you through the gig though it might not be the "best" sounding one in your arsenal.

At the point of the "couple hundred" to play a show your audience hasn't made the significant investment in the price of a ticket and won't notice the difference. At the point where the audience has an investment in seeing you... then by all means pull out all the stops to provide the best experience you can for your audience's money.

Make sense?

[uncle muscles]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Hi,

I have an expensive Martin that I'd like to bring for coffee type acoustic shows, but it is cold here in Toronto and I have some concerns. I currently only use it in my studio.

Are my concerns warranted? The guitar will go from my home to my car then to the coffee shop? It will be in its case until I perform.

I want to bring it but I'm scared of warping the neck.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I would recommend a healthy "no" chris.. There's alot that can happen quickly even in the smallest live environment. Things can get out of whack very easily and before you know it there's a giant gash on the back or something's stolen, etc... Not to mention environmental factors. I've made plenty of mistakes in the past regarding gear and venues, most were easily avoidable by simply abiding by "no love lost" if anything were to happen.

[brill bedroom]

My favorite acoustic is my J-200- I got it from my wife for my first father's day and would be just gutted if it ever got stollen. I use it for songwriting, recording and local shows. It's also more susceptible to changes in the New England weather. I have a mid- level Taylor I use for travel gigs, weddings, corporate work. I have a total beater Yamaha I use for anything on a boat or beach.

[PhilDW]

Only if you want to impress the guitar geeks in the audience, if there are any.

[Puffpastry]

You could get finish checking/cracking if the temperature change extremes are high enough. Use a good case and let it acclimate in any new environment before you open it.

You could also try posting your question on the Acoustic Guitar Forum as well:
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...splay.php?f=24

[LimeMusic]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If they're paying you a couple hundred to play that show... bring a guitar that will get you through the gig though it might not be the "best" sounding one in your arsenal.

Agree 100% with this^^^

I guarantee that the $200 Crate or Peavey PA at the coffee shop will null any beautiful sound your guitar might have, and I've been totally blown away by some artists in the coffee shop setting playing on $400 - $600 range guitars...

And I've done my share of gigs with my $1,600 Martin in the cold Chicago winter, so I doubt you would mess it up, but if you can afford to grab a cheaper guitar for gigs as you suggested, and it still plays well and sounds decent, why not?

[Old Goat]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I've always found a good rule of thumb to be -- never bring an instrument to a gig that costs more than you'll be receiving from playing that gig... so, if they're going to be giving you a few thousand dollars to play that show bring the guitar that would be your first choice. If they're paying you a couple hundred to play that show... bring a guitar that will get you through the gig though it might not be the "best" sounding one in your arsenal.

At the point of the "couple hundred" to play a show your audience hasn't made the significant investment in the price of a ticket and won't notice the difference. At the point where the audience has an investment in seeing you... then by all means pull out all the stops to provide the best experience you can for your audience's money.

Make sense?

Perfect sense, as usual. I realize my Guild D-25 isn't a boutique piece, but it's my nicest guitar. It stays in the studio. I have a Washburn for gigs, and a Yammie for bonfires.

[TurboJets]

I have a Martin I love to record with and play at home - and I know if anything happened to it I couldn't afford to just go out and replace it. The model was retired also, so there's another factor that would make it really difficult to replace.

When I play out anywhere I drag a beater with me. I'm not a superstar with a crew of people watching out for my gear, so...

That would just suck if something happened to my Martin over a stupid $200 coffee shop gig. Just stupid. A $300 Washburn or an old Jap-made Yammi does the deed just fine.

[Puffpastry]

If you decide to go with a less expensive guitar for the show, make sure to get one that plays well. If it were me, I would get it professionally set up and practice with it before the show. Good setups have made a huge difference for me.

[Chris Lago]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone. I'll be keeping it inside my home studio and won't be performing concerts with it. I'll get a Taylor guitar and play live with it.

[Go Nigel Go]

Most of the places I play, I prefer to take something with a bit of heft that can be used as a bludgeon if need be...but that's not really what you are askin' is it?
Although I suppose the temptation to lay about the coffee shop swinging your axe over your head like a mad viking must occasionally exist at some level. It would for me anyway!
Seriously though, if you have a good case I think you will probably take more than adequate precautions with it as far as temperature and humidity goes. I vote to play it if you want to. It should be fine.

[vernier]

I think if it's in a good case, and has time to reach room temperature at the gig, it should be ok. But you might have a worthy excuse to by another guitar.
.
.

[The Real MC]

Don't take them across the border or the US customs agents may seize them if they "look like they are constructed of precious hardwood" like brazilian rosewood or honduras mahogany. The second raid on Gibson got everybody paranoid about traveling with stringed instruments - guitars, violins, mandolins etc.

[vintagelove]

On the cheap end check out the alverez stuff. It plays very very well.

[ddageek]

What Fletcher said, plus get a great case for what ever you plan to use as a road guitar. I always laugh when I see guys with cheap cases, I ve noticed more and more of the classical guys have learned the value of a custom ATA. A couple of weeks ago a local tuba player was moaning about his instrument and case transport, I replyed it was lighter and easier than my old Soundcraft 60000!, then let's add in efx racks, stacks, heck the cables from a decent rig were in more expensive ATAs!

[perform/record]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I've always found a good rule of thumb to be -- never bring an instrument to a gig that costs more than you'll be receiving from playing that gig... so, if they're going to be giving you a few thousand dollars to play that show bring the guitar that would be your first choice. If they're paying you a couple hundred to play that show... bring a guitar that will get you through the gig though it might not be the "best" sounding one in your arsenal.

At the point of the "couple hundred" to play a show your audience hasn't made the significant investment in the price of a ticket and won't notice the difference. At the point where the audience has an investment in seeing you... then by all means pull out all the stops to provide the best experience you can for your audience's money.

Make sense?

I'm going to have to disagree with this.
If bands were really going to bring their instruments and other equipment that's worth what the gig pays, what are you supposed to bring to an average paying bar gig (which can pay peanuts)?

I mean, really, what are you gonna do bring your crap gear to a gig? My rule of thumb is not to own crap gear in the first place. I don't know anybody who brings inferior stuff to "door-gigs."

[yotonic]

Well in this case he's not talking about a bar gig with security, basic organization etc. Hes talking about a coffee house gig which is even less pay if any and little or no staff and organization.