Should I bring my Acoustic to a music festival?

[Elements6259]

I'm thinking of bring my seagull (so, not an overly expensive guitar) to Bonnaroo, but I am wondering if three days of heat and humidity would be hard on it. I will, of course, keep it in its case in the vehicle when I am not using it. Will the heat be a problem?

 

- Nate

[Prozak]

Well keeping a guitar in a vehicle on a hot day is probably one of the worst things you can do to it since it will be even hotter inside the vehicle.

[edman316]

Not a good idea. Hot cars are the number one killer of guitars. Don't take it unless you are going to be on the stage. Besides you will probably annoy everyone around you (regardless of your talent level). They're not going there to hear you.

[JasmineTea]

Take it with, have a good time, play a song for me at the campfire.

 

I took my Guild JF4-jumbo ($800 guitar) to a music fest, and I'd do it again.

 

What the hell good is owning a guitar if you can't play it by a campfire?

[nylon rock]

I don't know what a Seagull costs, but if you have more cherished guitars, and the Seagull has become perhaps your "beater," then by all means take it.

 

Pass it around to others to use, have extra strings handy for those who break strings and are ill prepared. Extra picks would also go a long way, and of course, you should always have loose papes in your wallet.

 

The best guitars to take to these sort of things would be cheapos, strung with Mediums to give them some beef since they lack a lot, being cheapos, and of the sort that they only need a gunny sack to carry them around. You don't leave them in your car, they go everywhere you go.

 

However, they need to be able to withstand this sort of abuse without worry on your part:

 

[Elements6259]

Originally posted by edman316 Don't take it unless you are going to be on the stage. Besides you will probably annoy everyone around you (regardless of your talent level). They're not going there to hear you.

 

Obviously you have not been to a music festival like bonnaroo and have no idea what you are talking about. Why so pessimistic??

 

Bonnaroo has tens of thousands of people camping in a field... so do you think there could be a few musicians in there somewhere?? hmm...

 

Take it with, have a good time, play a song for me at the campfire.

 

You got it!!

 

- Nate

[edman316]

Originally posted by Elements6259 Obviously you have not been to a music festival like bonnaroo and have no idea what you are talking about. Why so pessimistic?? Bonnaroo has tens of thousands of people camping in a field... so do you think there could be a few musicians in there somewhere?? hmm... You got it!! - Nate

 

Wow! Why ask for opinions if you can't handle them? You sound like you already had your mind made up anyways.

 

You are correct - I never heard of Bonnaroo - I must get out from under my rock more often - I guess I must be out of touch with the world around me.

 

I am not pessimistic - I think leaving a guitar in a hot car for three days isn't a good idea. I am very optimistic for the sun and heat's chances of ruining your guitar. It's your guitar - I don't care what you do to it.

 

Taking a guitar to music fest reminds me of the people that take footballs to pro and college games to play catch in the parking lot. I never understood that either. But hey, that's what makes America the great place it is - freedom of choice.

 

Enjoy your music fest! Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

[I tele u]

You should take it,just dont leave it in the car.Jams at festivals are great.As long as you don't run in to VINTAGE MARTIN snobs...

[catdaddy]

 

Originally posted by JasmineTea What the hell good is owning a guitar if you can't play it by a campfire?

 

 

Amen! If you can go to a music festival and not be inspired to pick up a guitar and play then you've been at the fair too long. Take it! And don't leave it in the car.

[Elements6259]

Originally posted by edman316 Wow! Why ask for opinions if you can't handle them? You sound like you already had your mind made up anyways.

 

Let me explain...

I was a bit annoyed by your commentary aside from my original question.

 

I didn't want your opinion on what people would think of my playing, I was asking about heat and humidity. What other people may think about my playing has nothing to do with my question, and that is what I meant you were being pessimistic about.

Even your reply is full of sarcasm and pessimism with little smiley faces and winks to drill your point home.

 

And I apologize if I used a bit of sarcasm myself in my last reply..

 

To explain further, Bonnaroo has an enormous field of campers filled with all kinds of musicians and music lovers. In addition, the festival is three days long, so many people will be spending that time in places other than at shows, such as hanging around the campers, which makes me further wonder why people would be annoyed by my playing.

 

Anyway, thanks for the help from posters, I'll bring it but make sure to not keep it in the car. Maybe I'll just sleep with it, give it a little extra TLC.

 

- Nate

[edman316]

Originally posted by Elements6259 Let me explain... I was a bit annoyed by your commentary aside from my original question. I didn't want your opinion on what people would think of my playing, I was asking about heat and humidity. What other people may think about my playing has nothing to do with my question, and that is what I meant you were being pessimistic about. Even your reply is full of sarcasm and pessimism with little smiley faces and winks to drill your point home. And I apologize if I used a bit of sarcasm myself in my last reply.. To explain further, Bonnaroo has an enormous field of campers filled with all kinds of musicians and music lovers. In addition, the festival is three days long, so many people will be spending that time in places other than at shows, such as hanging around the campers, which makes me further wonder why people would be annoyed by my playing.

 

I said I was sorry. You need to be less sensitive. This is a guitar forum, you are taking this stuff too seriously. You don't know me, therefore you can't possibly know what my intentions were (sarcasm and or pessimism). Get over it already.

[Elements6259]

Originally posted by edman316 I said I was sorry. You need to be less sensitive. This is a guitar forum, you are taking this stuff too seriously. You don't know me, therefore you can't possibly know what my intentions were (sarcasm and or pessimism). Get over it already.

 

Alright, my bad. Just wanted to explain my perspective.

I'd like to call a truce on this one.

 

Take it easy, man.

 

- Nate

[edman316]

Originally posted by Elements6259 Alright, my bad. Just wanted to explain my perspective. I'd like to call a truce on this one. Take it easy, man. - Nate

 

We are cool. My sense of humor may seem a little strange, but I mean no harm. I love observational humor - I don't take my recreational activities too seriously. It's about having fun - not stress.

[deevee]

Here's somethin else to ponder about bringing your guitar. You're going to hear some great players doing things you didn't know was possible. Don't get depressed and throw your guitar into the river or somewhere's irretrievable.

 

As summan else said: why own a guitar if you can't take it anywhere. Just be careful. Don't leave it in the car as warned, and pay attention to the weather.

[Singin' Dave]

Golden rule with acoustics - if you are comfortable, your guitar will be comfortable.

 

So, if you are not comfortable sitting out naked in the rain, locked in a hot car/car trunk, sitting out in the sun w/ no protection, etc., don't let your buddy, Seagull, do it either!!

 

Bonnaroo is a blast!! I was there in 2003, and brought my Martin DR-1 and tons of folks were jamming at night with hand drums, guitars, horns, hell you name it. It was an awesome time and I pretty much kept my guitar with me at all times.

 

One quick aside -- be prepared to wait about 8-12 hours to get into the campgrounds once you arrive there...it's insane how long it takes just to get in the gate and get situated. Yes..8-12 hours. And this was after a LONG drive from Chicago!! Worth it though...

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by JasmineTea Take it with, have a good time, play a song for me at the campfire. I took my Guild JF4-jumbo ($800 guitar) to a music fest, and I'd do it again. What the hell good is owning a guitar if you can't play it by a campfire?

 

Originally posted by nylon rock I don't know what a Seagull costs, but if you have more cherished guitars, and the Seagull has become perhaps your "beater," then by all means take it. Pass it around to others to use, have extra strings handy for those who break strings and are ill prepared. Extra picks would also go a long way, and of course, you should always have loose papes in your wallet. The best guitars to take to these sort of things would be cheapos, strung with Mediums to give them some beef since they lack a lot, being cheapos, and of the sort that they only need a gunny sack to carry them around. You don't leave them in your car, they go everywhere you go. However, they need to be able to withstand this sort of abuse without worry on your part:

[deevee]

Just read a thread on Guitar Jam that they expect rain all weekend at Bonnaroo ...

 

Bummer!