What to bring...

[pepeeto]

I am an avid musician and I am planning on bringing my guitar. Has anyone or is anyone bringing a musical instrument on the road, and did you enjoy doing that. Alternatevely, did you regret bringing your guitar, re; extra weight, cumbersome..etc.

 

[sillydoll]

In PILGRIM SNAIL BUSKING TO SANTIAGO Ben Nimmo writes about his walk from Canterbury to Santiago - with his trombone!!
He played with local musicians, busked in the streets and seemed to have had a great time!

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Pepeeto!

This was discussed last year somewhere - just search on 'guitar'. There are alternatives such as ukuleles and mandolins, which are more portable. As always it's a bit of a compromise; either extra weight and bulk or ditching something else. One of the other practical considerations is waterproofing!

Buen Camino!

 

[SabsP]

And of course seeing an instrument is always valuable : keeping an eye on it while you are showering could be tricky.
On the other hand, I met a guy on the CF with a guitar : lovely music!

 

[David]

Texan chap turned up at a rest stop I had set up near Logrono ... about five of us there, as it moved to twilight he played, passed on the guitar, another played - it was wonderful, utterly wonderful.

 

[migolito]

If I played the Guitar (my son is incredible http://www.reverbnation.com/verdoux) I'd take it. How often do you walk the Camino and have the chance to play?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I met a guitar player from Kentucky with a Martin travel guitar. After about two weeks, he shipped it to his last stop, Madrid. He played it regularly, but it required watching and care. He decided it was not worth it.

 

[fraluchi]

I am an avid musician and I am planning on bringing my guitar.

Taking whatever instrument (larger than a mouth harmonica) along the Camino is something you have to consider in respect of personal convenience. Music, by any instrument of any kind, can be marvelous to a group of walkers in an albergue, provided the location and atmosphere are apt to it. It may work out one day, and not for another couple of days. On a long journey, you wouldn't want to have your instrument damaged either. It's a risk, it can be done, people (like me) will like it!

 

[SandyBrown]

My son walked his second camino last year with one of his older guitars. He's a pretty serious musician and couldn't bear to be separated from a guitar. He was known on the CF as "the American guy with the guitar" and he and his music were pretty popular. Since it was an older guitar in an older case he didn't worry too much about whether it would be stolen or not. However, he was always protecting it from rain and hassling with the straps he used to tie it to his pack. The fact he had two young, female pilgrims help him carry it was an advantage. On balance, he was happy to have his guitar with him and would likely do it again.

 

[Windswept.west]

Search for Oliver Schroer. Violinist who took some sound equipment and violin and recorded an album in various places on the camino. It call "camino" for some reason.

 

[rickster]

Have seen many guitars on the camino as well as a small harp. These musicians contributed many days of enjoyment for the rest of us and apparently for themselves as well. One pilgrim left his at home and regretted it, so bought a guitar in Pamplona. Would support suggestions by others to consider cutting back on something else that you had planned to carry to offset the weight.

 

[pepeeto]

Great answers everyone, I really appreciate the input.....I am gonna do a couple of trial walks around town, 15-20 K WITH the guitar in the set up I intend to use, and with the rest of my gear and see how I feel. My biggest concern is for the overall health of my guitar.....

 

[David]

Can't you put a hinged door on the back of it, a pair of straps, and use it as your backpack?

ok, maybe not ......

 

[pepeeto]

David....that's relly funny....lol

 

[vagabondette]

do you mean 15-20 kg of gear PLUS your guitar? If so, that's a LOT. Actually, even if it includes your guitar, it's a LOT. Most people tend to target 7-10 kg max weight. Rule of thumb is 10% of your body weight. So you might want to keep that in mind.

 

[pepeeto]

Thank you for that observation Vagabondette....Indeed 15-20 kg IS a lot..What I meant was 15-20 LBS. I tried a few backpacks at my local sporting goods store with 10KG or roughly 22lbs and I thought that was very heavy for a small 800km walk...I am currently starting to make my lists of what to bring, and would like to pare down to about 10% of my body weight, so I'll be aiming for 18 lbs plus my guitar.