Another guitar thread!

[straydogtalking]

I currently live overseas and have been plotting a return to the US to try the van lifestyle for awhile. One thing that I'd like to know before I get too far into this is keeping and having a guitar in a vehicle.
I have a Fender Strat and small Roland Cube Amp. I'm wondering if anyone has had issues with heat and guitar necks or bodies getting crazy due to the heat? Even though I don't own a semi hollow body guitar I've also thought that it would be nice to try one - but I'd worry even more about warping and other bad effects.
Secondly, I'm wondering if anyone has built in some level of security for when you're parked and not in your van. It occurred to me you could almost build a false shelf or door under your bed. I should add that I'd likely be going the minivan route.
Any thoughts or experiences with this - positively or negatively would be very much appreciated!
Dan

 

[highdesertranger]

I know nothing about guitars, so I will let others answer that.

for the security part I just don't go to places were I have to worry about it. I was just talking to my buddy in Detroit and he said people ask him all the time, "aren't you scared of bad things and people when you are out boondocking". he said, "hell no I am more worried when I go to a gas station in Detroit". I would be too.

BTW go to the "Newcomers corner" and give us an intro and we will give you an official welcome.

highdesertranger

 

[nature lover]

The only security system I have is a motion activated light to alert me to activity outside at night. The light might even scare them off when I am not at home? A hidden under the bed compartment might be good for heat and security. Oh I do have bear gel but thats that last resort.

 

[trailer-t]

For me it would depend on the origin, value and vintage of the Strat whether to risk it.
I would probably address this question to some guitar techies---may depend on the finishes and woods whether humidity is a significant issue.
Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about an amp or guitar that can be easily replaced vs high end gear which would be a concern-- .

 

[straydogtalking]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

The guitar is a standard Strat, I think they are usually $600 new. Nothing vintage! The Cube is probably worth 75$ so not a big deal there.

The one urban place I've had a vehicle broken into was in Seattle, late afternoon on a very public street.  Given the location of it, I' was pretty shocked.

I guess there must be some ways to impede or lock something down vs. hiding it in a secret compartment. I'm sure I can come up with something over a little bit of time without turning the van into a Jason Bourne level project.

Good suggestion on checking with someone on the builder side of guitars...probably they know the strengths and weaknesses of heat on wood, warping etc...

I'll get on that intro!!

Thanks again for your thoughts!

 

[trailer-t]

I would probably start with a call to Fender technical support with the serial number etc of the guitar to ask them this question. The guitar could be finished in a way that the wood is more or less "sealed" from humidity --I don't think that heat is as bad an issue as potentially the humidity (but I could be wrong depending on how hot you are thinking it will get). I have built a number of solid body slide guitars over the years (finished in various ways) and still can not give an answer on this question other than just a wild guess. The Main Question for the tech guy is whether the guitar neck straightness can be corrected or tweaked back to normal via the truss rod adjustment if the neck slightly warps in heat/humidity --or it could warp for other reasons. The truss rod adjustment keeps the neck true--the neck is the main issue I think. I am told they do a small turn and wait a couple days & then adjust slightly again-wait etc until it is true.

Then you have the string height adjustment in the bridge--but I can't see any issue there except it may need some tweaks if the truss rod is adjusted (this is now all over my head). I don't generally worry about the neck being perfectly true on an open slide guitar build and so I don't use truss rods.

PS The Roland Cube is a nice little Amp I have wanted to play around with for some time.

 

[straydogtalking]

Thanks Trailer-t.
I've played around with the truss rod adjustment after changing the gauge strings I use. I've had some success with it but wouldn't want to think about truss rods too often!
I think the point being made here is that checking with some guys familiar with the heat and neck warping issues is the key.
Again, many thanks to everyone for chipping in.
Dan

 

[trailer-t]

Dan, The key IMO is that most shouldn't mess around with the truss rod unless very familiar with all the set up techniques- A tech guru at a reputable guitar place generally does it for me. I used to hang around in a shop with a guy that "Set up" and sold all kinds of guitars for years, and he did his thing--it was an art. His key point on the truss rod was that it may take several days and with very SMALL turns of the adjustment nut to true the neck. Then he goes to the string gap. --I don't recall ever having a neck issue with a string gage change, but I generally don't pay much attention since I use a raised nut for open slide anyway.

 

[Chiffed]

Every guitar is different - I've had necks warp a bit, but not on older, well used guitars. If the wood's stable, heat or string changes aren't going to do much. My National is a tank that has lived through many hot cars (and freezing ones, too). My old mexican tele just kept getting better with age and abuse.

I've had bottom-of-the-line Fenders with horribly weak necks, but yours sounds like a standard. And, per other advice here, truss rod adjustments are for experts or for trash guitars. Mess with the bridge all you like - you can always unmess it!

And does everybody here play slide??? Awesome!

 

[MotorVation]

I have a pos acoustic that I bought specifically for the van. It's out there right now in 100f heat. I'm convinced that the guitar is unable to get more crappy than it already is unless one were to set it on fire and then stomp the fire out.

I have an American Standard Strat that I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving in the van. I'd worry about it being stolen. Strat's are pretty much bulletproof with the polyurethane finish but radical enough heat or cold could potentially damage it. If it has a maple neck and fingerboard it probably wouldn't be as fragile as a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard glued on. If I had no choice but to bring the Strat with me I would find a way to conceal/secure it.

If I didn't have to bring it with me but had to have a Strat in the van, I'd buy a Squier. I have a Squier Tele with P-90's that sounds great and it has a maple fingerboard. I wouldn't hesitate to toss that one in the van. They can be had for less than 200 bucks

I have a Roland Micro-Cube out there too. I haven't used it in the van yet but it doesn't appear to be any worse for the wear. I tossed it in there when I thought I might bring the Tele with me. I like the fact that it has a headphone jack. That said, I can only listen to it for about 15 minutes before the solid state funk makes me want to set a distance record in the solid state amp toss.

Hey, you asked. :angel:

 

[MotorVation]

Fender guitar

Above is a link to a YouTube video where Keith Richards is demonstrating the resiliency of Fender guitars.

 

[trailer-t]

^^^^Ha Ha. That is too funny. Gotta love Keith. Went right back to playing.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I keep acoustic instruments in my van over summer, I am not in the middle of the desert, I have been as high as 90 as low as low 20s, the van is well insulated and has good ventilation. Nothing has happened to them. Insulate and ventilate you should be fine.