Honeymoon Dilemma

Sickbean · #1 10-06-2009, 10:26 AM

As of 5th Dec I'll be getting hitched to my beloved who puts up with so much of my guitar related obsessiveness.

Obviously as a thankyou for all her patience I want to take a guitar with me to play on our honeymoon.

We are going to the Maldives so it will be a pretty much lie around doing nothing type break for two weeks. Yes I know there are other things that you should generally be doing whilst on honeymoon, let's take that as a given. Rather than take a big pile of books to fill in the gaps between the other stuff, I want to take a guitar and work on my chops.

However I've no experience of taking guitars on planes, so I'm after a bit of advice.

My options as I see it:

Take my acoustic: I have no special attachment to it, it's just a £250 Takamine. The problem with this is that it is too large to take on as carry on so I will have to risk it in the checked in baggage.

Buy a folding travel guitar: This would likely be small enough to carry on, but I've no experience with them. Are they any good?

Buy a really cheap acoustic/electric: One that would not bother me in the slightest if it got smashed to bits by baggage handlers. Guthrie Govan has gone on record saying that 5 mins spent practising on a really bad acoustic with an egg slicer action is worth 2 hrs on a shred machine, so maybe this is an option.

Any advice folks???

jb4674 · #2 10-06-2009, 11:34 AM

Obviously you have no idea as to what you're about to embark on, so I'll save you an argument and lots of bickering at home......

Don't take a guitar at all and enjoy your honeymoon.

The fact that your soon-to-be wife "puts up with so much of your guitar related obsessiveness", as you put it, should be clue enough for you to be smart enough and enjoy your time together to celebrate your union as opposed to sitting in a corner practicing and doodling on the guitar.

Ask any married friend of yours the same question and, chances are, you'll get a similar answer.

Jimmy

Sickbean · #3 10-06-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

Obviously you have no idea as to what you're about to embark on, so I'll save you an argument and lots of bickering at home......

Don't take a guitar at all and enjoy your honeymoon.

The fact that your soon-to-be wife "puts up with so much of your guitar related obsessiveness", as you put it, should be clue enough for you to be smart enough and enjoy your time together to celebrate your union as opposed to sitting in a corner practicing and doodling on the guitar.

Ask any married friend of yours the same question and, chances are, you'll get a similar answer.

Jimmy

I get your point, but there will be plenty of time when she's sat reading, so what's the harm in me using this time to play?

axemanrio · #4 10-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Ditch the guitar, unless your soon-to-be-wife enjoys you playing for her... in which case, get a cheap acoustic.

Sickbean · #5 10-06-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axemanrio

Ditch the guitar, unless your soon-to-be-wife enjoys you playing for her... in which case, get a cheap acoustic.

She most certainly does, and to top that she also thinks guitars make great ornaments.

Win win situation really.

smooth55 · #6 10-06-2009, 12:46 PM

I've with JB, don't take a guitar, enjoy your time together. I speak from experience that even a patient wife can have her limits. If she decides to read, go out and take in the sights and sounds of the area on your own. You may never make it back there and you might as well get as much as you can out of it. Take the break and let yourself relax and enjoy the scenery.

toneboy · #7 10-06-2009, 01:29 PM

I'm in agreement with those that say don't take a guitar.

I've learned that sometimes the best thing I can do for my playing (creatively) is to take a break.

Magical Muffin · #8 10-06-2009, 02:04 PM

I'd say take the cheap acoustic, but just don't go overboard practicing. Maybe 10 mins here or there, instead of just watching TV in your room or something, because when you are on a 2 week vacation, doesn't matter what you are doing, there will be time where you have spare time that would be better spent doing something productive. Just make sure you don't end up doing stuff like this:

"Honey, what do want room service to get you?"

"mmm... Mesa boogie mark V... wait, what were you saying? Oh, I'll take the bag of picks... wait a minute dammit!?"

rob777vdy · #9 10-06-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

Obviously you have no idea as to what you're about to embark on, so I'll save you an argument and lots of bickering at home......

Don't take a guitar at all and enjoy your honeymoon.

The fact that your soon-to-be wife "puts up with so much of your guitar related obsessiveness", as you put it, should be clue enough for you to be smart enough and enjoy your time together to celebrate your union as opposed to sitting in a corner practicing and doodling on the guitar.

Ask any married friend of yours the same question and, chances are, you'll get a similar answer.

Jimmy

yeah take notice mate.jim nailed it there

**jono** · #10 10-06-2009, 03:15 PM

I'd say send the wife on honeymoon and you stay home and use the opportunity to stay home, turn up and practice

Only kidding.

Don't bother taking a guitar, one in three marriages ends in divorce anyway, don't increase your chances. Stock up your iPod and use the opportunity to listen to music and get inspiration. But in all truth, if you're a) in the Maldives and b) on honeymoon and c) are bored to the point you're worried about your chops, there's something VERY wrong.

GLG421 · #11 10-06-2009, 04:14 PM

First off, congrats! Best of luck to you.

If your wife to be knows how "obsessive" you are about guitars, then the lack of one on your honeymoon will make that much more of a statement about your commitment to her.

There will be plenty of time to play later. Make this one all about the two of you. Enjoy your honeymoon.

Sickbean · #12 10-06-2009, 04:30 PM

Noooo, these ain't the answers I need to hear people!

The Maldives are just desert islands you know, there is nothing else to do other than eat, drink and sleep (I don't like scuba diving).

Btw:
This is where we are going -

http://www.kuredu.com/

**jono** · #13 10-06-2009, 06:19 PM

If you don't like diving or sunbathing, maybe you should have talked about a different honeymoon destination with the future Mrs Sickbean

I'd suggest a good case for your guitar if it's going in the hold.

But I really would suggest that you skip the guitar, maybe take a theory book or two and swat up? Or a couple of rockstar biographies?

Rich · #14 10-06-2009, 06:21 PM

It's a honeymoon. Guitar is not what you're there to play with. Take a Kama Sutra and experiment. Stretch first.

LonePhantom · #15 10-06-2009, 07:28 PM

Definitely don't take the guitar with you!

Do some research on what's available to do where you are staying. Do stuff with her that she would enjoy, if she like scuba diving and you don't maybe still do it with her. It will all win you brownie points when you get back home, and there is gear you want to buy!