Transporting a guitar
 

I was thinking the other day that about the only time I take the car out for a short journey these days is when I have to go down to the church when I'm playing in the band or for practice. We live about a mile away and I have a vintage Ovation guitar with a very solid case, and the combination is just too heavy for me to walk with it for that distance. So I was wondering about buying a cargo trailer, ideally to tow behind the Brompton if that will work, but I've got several bikes to choose from. A guitar is rather longer than the sort of package you normally put on a cargo trailer, though. Does anyone have experience of doing this, or any suggestions for a trailer that will work?

Thanks.

I would opt for case with backpack straps, you can get soft or hard cases: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crossrock-C.../dp/B017XDI9KY

Any child trailer should allow you to strap it in largely upright, so it doesn't overhang the trailer.

But as zaje mentioned, carrying the guitar with a backpack case/bag will make your life a lot easier whether you and cycling or walking.

Alternatively, can you just leave a guitar there for practice?

I have seen people riding with guitar's strapped to their backs.

Seems like it would provide shock absorption versus a trailer.

That there are Ovation guitars old enough to be referred to as "vintage" came as a bit of a shock.

BOB trailer ?

could place the hard case directly in the trailer

or maybe pack the hard case in a large cardboard box (similar to new box bike) and then have an additional layer of protection

Backpack adapter for your existing case:

https://www.amazon.com/Walker-Willia...ustomerReviews

I have no idea if it works well or not, but it would seem an easier and cheaper solution than a trailer.

A high quality gig bag with shoulder straps might work. I'm a double bassist, and have no choice but to use a soft case, and forget about the bike. But I've never damaged a bass in its case, in 40 years.

Or... a second guitar for the church, if it's always the same location. If you're playing in one of those modern churches, where your guitar is amplified anyway, then a guitar that amplifies well might be all you need.

They were new on the market in about 1967 or '68 when I was shopping for my first new guitar.
Brent

My choice would be a soft case (gig bag) with backpack straps.

I would never do that with one of my instruments, unless it was locked up somewhere that only I had access to, and I still probably wouldn't.

I think they're discontinued, but maybe a used BOB Yak trailer?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...55629de521.jpg



Ovation started in 1966, so their early models certainly qualify. I remember Glen Campbell endorsed them in 1969. They're not my cuppa, but it would be cool to have one of his signature models from BITD.

I've carried my vintage Ibanez guitar in a soft-sided backpack style case many times.

I would probably look at a Surly Trailer or a Burley Flatbed and strapping it to that. Ovations are quite nice guitars!

From my knowledge its not so much the age, but Ovation's unique design with the plastic rounded back (whatever it was, correct me if you can) was considered a disaster. Its incredicle to me when I see one that old that's still in playable shape. Those guitars were known for breaking at the neck attachment point and top would peel away from the body. Glen Campell was known to carry extras on tour due to these types of problems when he was their spokesperson.

I wouldn't do it with a *good* instrument, but I'd be happy enough if I had a cheap / spare one to leave there. Then bring a good one for actual shows.

Gig bag with dual straps as mentioned several times above. Clean and simple.

Switch to ukelele?

Yes, I knew Ovations were being manufactured back then. Guitar shops in my home town of New Haven had a bunch of them, since the factory was just a few miles north of Hartford. "Shock" mostly referred to passage-of-time whiplash from being abruptly reminded of how old I am.

[Edit] I believe John Hartford endorsed them even earlier. Some of the local New Haven folkies were pretty catty about that - "They couldn't pay me enough to give up my D-18!" and so on. The moderates among those guys gossiped that John H. used the Ovations on stage but never otherwise.

They were better than my Silvertone...ho ho ho!!

Seems like over time the plastic and wood didn't age together well.

I hear ya. They say that "vintage" can mean anything that's 30 years old, but to me 30 years ago was 1972, not 1992.


Given his background in bluegrass, that's kind of surprising. Those guys are usually such purists.

You've probably seen the online battles on the guitar forums even today -- Ovations don't get a lot of love, but their fanbase is quite enthusiastic.



(Apologies for the digression, OP)

Best of luck to the OP in solving the guitar transportation problem. (Although it is only 1 mile to the church. Roller blades, guitar in one hand?)

Now - back to the digression.

I won't hear anything against my early '60s Sears Silvertone dolphin-nose model 1440 bass - equipped with one lipstick pickup and constructed of the finest virgin Masonite. It looks just like the simple drawings of guitars that were once featured in Yellow Pages ads for clubs with Live Music!, along with tilted champagne glasses.

Did You Know: Danelectro six-string basses (also marketed with the Sears Silvertone label) were used extensively in country music recording sessions in the '50s into the '60s, providing the "tic-tac" definition needed to make upright basses audible in tinny car radio speakers.

One more: after Leo Fender learned that Danelectro basses were being used that way, he and his designers came up with a much fancier version, a prototype of which he presented to session guitarist Harold Bradley for use in Bradley's Barn, the recording studio run by Harold's brother Owen.

Harold brought it to the next recording session. About a minute into the session, Owen stopped the tape and asked, "What's that you're playing?" Harold said proudly, "My new Fender Bass VI!" Owen said, "Get the other one."

I have a Reverend Rumblefish bass. It's essentially a more modern version of the Dano/Silvertone construction method. It's a really nice instrument.

Correct. They have been discontinued.

I have one in my basement I’m willing to part with for, say, $1 million dollars. Free shipping included. :D

The zipperred padded gig bag with backpack like straps seems like the best solution.

The other viable solution that has also been previously mentioned is a large enough enclosed child trailer.
You could possibly make that do-able if you were to get a large amount of dense thick seat upholstery foam from some place like JOANNES fabrics or from a local auto upholstery shop, etc..
The main thing is to wrap or "blanket" your existing hard shell guitar case with this three inch to four inch thick upholstery foam and then stuff it into the enclosed child trailer so that it is snuggly inside the trailer and cannot bounce or flop around. This should be adequate enough to allow you to carry it in the enclosed child trailer without any worries.

I rather like the old Ovation guitars. Their sound is unique. Jagger played one almost every night on the Stones' 1981 US Tour on a song or two.