Carrying a Guitar while riding

[Jd Powell]

May want to check into aftermarket ATV brackets. They have mounts for hard gun cases and golf bags. If you are going to be living on the bike for a while I wouldn't chance a soft case. With some ingenuity you can figure something else. I used to commute on a VX 800 w/ a husquavarna chainsaw, one gal. two stroke gas, one gal. bar and chain oil, machete, waders, change of clothes, lunch, and my trap basket w/ all my snares and trapping equip.

[Mr. Brown]

Just thought of something...

The Martin LXM is about the same price and quality of the Baby Taylor. The difference is that Martin traded tonal quality for durability. The Taylor has a solid spruce top, which sounds great but has inherent weaknesses. And yes, it has a truss rod.

The Martin LXM is made of their HPL (High Pressure Laminate) material. It is a wood based sheet that is very thin, very rigid, and very resistant to temperature and humidity changes. It doesn't sing quite as well as the Taylor, but it'll last through way more rainstorms.

Play one, see what you think. That still doesn't answer the question of the best way to mount it...

[spaceguyspiff]

I like Planecrazy's idea, but I was wondering as to why you thought that hardshell would be out of the question? I do have a hardshell that came with my Taylor, but for doing the whole mounting bit, I'd probably invest in one of those flight cases like Ironriot said. I'll also be looking into those aftermarket ATV brackets, too.

How much is that Martin XLM? I don't really want to spend too much extra money, but at the same time, if my Taylor can't fit/come, I don't know what I'd do without a guitar. Anyways, I'm sure I'll be heading into Guitar Center soon (sorry, not Sam Ash), and I'll ask them about it, too.

As for now, I have a little bit of work to do on a bike I got just yesterday. I paid $500 for a running, cosmetically sound 1985 Honda Shadow VT700C. The deal was too good to pass up, despite the fact that I don't really enjoy the bike.

Anyways, I will continue to search and I thank you all for your help with this. But if you've got any more suggestions, I'm all ears.

[Planecrazy]

I like Planecrazy's idea, but I was wondering as to why you thought that hardshell would be out of the question?

I think you misunderstood my meaning. It's not that I think a hardshell is out of the question - In fact I'd prefer going that route. I just got the impression that mounting a hardshell like a standard hardbag might present more challenges than you wanted to deal with, so I was suggesting the simplest solution that would properly protect the guitar. I also figured you might have the bike set up so that mounting a more permanent "hardshell" solution would obstruct other gear you're planning to mount on the bike for the trip.

If you can manage it, by all means go with a good hardshell or "flight" case solution.

Regards,

[spaceguyspiff]

Oh ok, I see what you mean. I guess I figure that for this trip, though, I won't be carrying too much. It's mostly a road trip, with long layovers, instead of a move. But I hear what you're saying.

[Mr. Brown]

The Martin LXM is $279.99. It's $20 cheaper than the Taylor. PM me for info on how I can hook you up! There's a GS Discount, you know

I like Planecrazy's idea, but I was wondering as to why you thought that hardshell would be out of the question? I do have a hardshell that came with my Taylor, but for doing the whole mounting bit, I'd probably invest in one of those flight cases like Ironriot said. I'll also be looking into those aftermarket ATV brackets, too.

How much is that Martin XLM? I don't really want to spend too much extra money, but at the same time, if my Taylor can't fit/come, I don't know what I'd do without a guitar. Anyways, I'm sure I'll be heading into Guitar Center soon (sorry, not Sam Ash), and I'll ask them about it, too.

As for now, I have a little bit of work to do on a bike I got just yesterday. I paid $500 for a running, cosmetically sound 1985 Honda Shadow VT700C. The deal was too good to pass up, despite the fact that I don't really enjoy the bike.

Anyways, I will continue to search and I thank you all for your help with this. But if you've got any more suggestions, I'm all ears.

[PAULYBOY]

Get a Baby Taylor. They sound great and come in a tough gig bag. It's short enough to lay it down behind you and not hang over the rear edge of the bike... I think.

As a 5 year Guitar Center vet, I cringe at the mention of Sam Ash.:-x Flee the dark side, Luke.
-=T=-

okay-point taken . go to guitar center and get the same thing.

[QuaiChangKane]

I just strap mine inside a hard case to my passenger seat, red flagged and pokin' in the breeze....


I've got a set of textile saddlebags with mounting eyes on the top of them - I strap around the case with high-test zip ties (5,000psi UV rated) and cinch 'em to the mounting eyes on top of my bags.

Granted, I've never gone on a multi-day road trip this way, but I'm sure it would hold up. I'd recommend against tie-wraps for ease of loading/unloading - small cinch-straps should do the trick. Centering the body of the guitar on the passenger seat with the neck pointing straight off of the back of the guitar is probably the least impactful to your bike's balance and wind-resistance.

Good, sturdy case = peace of mind.


-Q!

[BassCliff]

Tough guitar?

Mr. spaceguyspiff,

I used to bungee my bass, hard case and all, to my tall sissy bar and go to gigs around town (on my RD350) in the late 70s. Yes, it's murder on handling and not good for long trips.

I have a cheap little travel guitar that I've taken on my bike. I find it rides better when it's in front of me. If I have it strapped over my shoulder behind me it jumps around a lot from the wind. If I put the little guitar in front of me with the strap (from the soft gig bag) going around my shoulder and back, then the wind holds the guitar to my chest and is much more stable. Granted, this method works best with a small guitar (travel guitar, i.e. "Backpacker") and a soft gig bag. I would think that even a Martin LX1 would be too big to carry this way. Also, I'm not sure if there are vehicle codes that address this issue.

Perhaps you can find some big leather saddlebags that will carry the body of the guitar inside with the neck hanging out behind after the cover is closed and secured.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff