The perfect campfire guitar (Page 1 of 2)

I happened to play a Composite Acoustics "Cargo" guitar a couple years ago, and thought that this would be the ideal guitar for situations like you've described. Pretty much impervious to weather conditions, 34" overall length for portability, yet still sized / scaled to give familiar play-ability and sound. I know this sorely lacks imagination, but I honestly can't think of anything better:

http://assets.peavey.com/literature/spe … _18007.pdf

The only drawback is that I think that it was priced at around $1500 at the time. No way I'm gonna win a T-shirt with this suggestion!

Lets bring this back on track.

My apologies for giving you the wrong ideas here, and maybe overstating the campfire-aspect. Im not looking for a weird unorthodox traveller designs.

Try instead to imagine the perfect "second guitar" that you could play anywhere - sitting in on your couch at home, or at the beach with friends. Playing the kind of music you'll find in the "Campfire-song"-collection on Chordie. Not something that you have to be very afraid for getting small scratches in, but something with high quality and sound.

The race for t-shirts are still on....

Well, being partial to Ovation guitars and trying to stay under that price threshold (the Composite Acoustics is a GREAT suggestion TF!).
I would be looking at something like Ovation in a full depth "Balladeer" body (standard "round hole).  I travel with my Ovation 15 hole all the time and over  almost 9 years of wandering have not had to adjust the action once.  The Applause is lower cost, still has the fiber composite body, laminated top, channel reinforced neck, grover style 18:1 tuners, string through bridge, and radius fretboard (which makes it easier to transition from "most" electrics).
This thing has been impervious to the heat of the Arizona desert, frost of the Pacific Cascade mountains (in the dead of winter), humidity of the beach on a misty/foggy day,  passed around it's share of campfires without suffering, and flown in the overhead and once in the cargo hold of several airlines.   http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CS244

The Applause branded version is a little less expensive but still a highly playable model with good tone and projection.... and BTW the price has really come down over the last 9 years!!!

I think that there is some misunderstanding here.

This is not to find an existing guitar that will fit the bill, but to have a custom built 'Chordie' guitar. Custom built to the specifications that are deemed to be the best the input that comes from these discussions.

Roger

That sounds about right. My playing partner has one. One day I asked him what they cost. I was quite surprised. His was $1400 and I believe it's a base model. You can listen to it in this video. I feel it sounds pretty good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-fF7Qq4z4A  Just block out our singing.

Campfires often mean changing temps throughout the course of the night. You sit around the fire for awhile then get up and walk around a bit. I remember from last October at the Pa gathering we had temps in the mid 60'sF (upper teens C) during the day and low 40's (5 C) at night. I had to adjust the tuning on the Martin a couple times as the temps dropped. An all laminate would be affected less than all solid wood. Then there is the strings to consider. Steel strings will react quicker to a temperature change than nylon. Personally, I'm not a big fan of nylon but some folks won't use anything else.

I have an all laminate guitar; an Epiphone. It was the first guitar I ever bought back in 1982. These days I leave it hanging on a wall all year long at my camp. The temperature can easily range from 85F (29C) in the summer to 25F (-5C) in the winter. It doesn't seem to have an adverse effect on it. 

My choice for a campfire guitar would be a solid top with lam back and sides. The lam sides equate to less $.  I came across just such a guitar and purchased it 2 years ago with the express purpose of taking it anywhere and not having to worry if it took a few hits. It's a low end Eastman that a local dealer sold to me for $225. MSRP was $399. He was closing his store and liquidating his stock. For those of you that were in Pa last fall, it was the one my brother was using all weekend.

I'm going on the road to see a few concerts and festivals this summer and I'll be taking it along. It has a nice full, rich sound and if it should get banged up a bit, no harm done.

I am willing to take my chances on dinging the top to get the more rich sound that a solid top can provide. I believe the lam sides would be less susceptible to damage and climate changes. So that's the combination I chose.

YMMV 

I'd have to agree with NELA, I'm not taking along a $1000 custom guitar to play around a campfire.  Over the last 35 years I've owned about a dozen different "river" guitars that I've played at campfires across the country.  Usually its a $200-$400 (new) guitar that I've bought used at a good price because it had minor "issues" that I could rework.  After a year or two of playing it, I pass it on to a beginner with the stipulation that they pass it on to someone else if they buy a better axe.

For me the "ideal" camping guitar is "00" or "concert" sized so it can fit into a dry bag and be carried in a raft or canoe. Most campfire situations do not require a "boomer" so the smaller body is still loud enough to be heard in the night air.  Laminated sides, solid top, smooth frets, straight neck with adjustable truss rod, decent tuners, no ornamentation. (I'd rather be paying for decent wood and components than bling).  No on-board tuner that would add to the cost as I'd prefer to just use a "clip-on" that can be used by other pickers that might join in around the fire  And finally,  cheap enough so that when a drunk falls on it and turns it into kindling I can laugh it off and find another "river guitar".

DE

I think the idea here is just to think... hypothetically, if you could specify the perfect for you "extra" guitar.  Be it a campfire guitar, or the one you take with you on a short road trip, playing around in the back yard or at a family style get together.  No tossing it in the fire, and no one so drunk that they'd crush it LOL!  I personally bring my Martin along with me to the campfires. I took it to PA. I haven't packed it in an airplane yet, that's too scary.  I think we're talking a guitar that would alleviate some GAS and put a smile on your face.  Of course a one off custom would be expensive (Martin- basic no frills guitar from Koa - ok, that'll be 7 grand) but we can dream!  Anyhow, I don't think we're talking custom, just... what are the features that you would want in such a guitar?  If you COULD have one made to your specs, what would you ask for?

12 fret, so you've got a shorter neck for ease of travel (and it has no need to be extra loud).  I don't have a use or a cut-away (what the heck do you do beyond the 7th fret?  LOL).   00 size, I agree with Ken on that one!  A slotted head stock, to keep tuning pegs out of the way from getting bumped (with closed tuners, so dirt and grime doesn't get into them). I like Joe's idea of the locking pegs though I've not yet strug a guitar with them, or really paid much attention to the ones here that have 'em.  I agree with others that laminate sides and back are probably a good idea.  If I'm paying over $500, it needs a solid top.  WHAT MATERIAL?  I'm not sure... I'm so partial to my mahogany and so far everything else I've heard sounds similar to my ear (or rather, NOT mahogany).  I suppose a standard sitka spruce top is fine, especially to keep the price down.  That said, I really think I'd like my next guitar to be Koa, and since I'm dreaming here, I also want a heart shaped sound hole.  That's not happening, but still I just had to toss that in there.    Basically, nothing too jangly (yes, I realize Koa starts off jangly, but it should open up to a richer sound).

Most important is play-ability.  I'm with Roger, can't stand the big rounded back necks I've found on Gibsons.  I don't mind a wider neck, but I like them fairly flat in the back.  A low oval shaped neck. I tend to have issues with a neck that's too skinny though (which I find happens in a lot of electric guitars).  A pick guard is essential (tortoise please).  I don't think it should have any on board electronics.  I'd rather bring the clip on tuner along.  It should have strap buttons ready to use (a minor thing sometimes not added). Binding, inlays, rosette bling are all unnecessary. And along with the looks, lets see the wood.  Tusq nut and saddle. 

OK - so what about bracing guys?  I don't know anything about it, but I do know there are opinions out there. 

I think a inexpensive guitar would do something that your not going to get upset with if it gets damaged.

My two cents, a shallow ovation "Student" guitar, small easy to play tough composite body and good action.  If size is not an issue, The Xaviere that I brought to CS.  sounds and plays great, great action, and oh about $150.00, right now on sale,  if really needing to go small, the Martin back packer should do it.

MOJO you met my daughter yet? LOL

Ok... so I've been going over the comments here, and trying to organize the thoughts  - for fun!

price range has been quoted more often than not in the $200-$400 range for a "camp" guitar with a high price tag of $500 and low of $150

Ideas, preferences:

Neck:
shallow profile neck/low oval neck shape
low action, clean frets (everyone agrees here!)
fret marker dots
short scale possibly 12 fret
Neck material?  No one seems picky here?

SIZE/Shape:
mini-jumbo
dread
00
000
radiused back

Most prefer a cut-away

Almost everyone agrees on a solid top and laminate back/sides
Material???
A few suggestions for:
solid spruce top
mahogany back and sides

all laminate was suggested, if it's the good stuff!

Other suggestions for finish and extras:
matte finish
no bling (aside from the comments about fret dots)
pick guard
locking tuners
slotted headstock
closed tuners
locking strap buttons/strap buttons needed
Tusq nut, saddle, pins
some say- on-board tuner/pickup
others say- NO on-board electronics

Does anyone have additional thoughts or ideas? Want to comment on what the popular thoughts are?  Have an opinion on that top wood?  What if this wasn't a "campfire" guitar, but rather a second guitar?  Not the one you take where it will get ruined, but not the $3,000 guitar you're dreaming about either!  This is that... extra guitar that you keep on hand to take into your OWN backyard, or on the porch.  A little sunshine wont' hurt it, and you wouldn't mind letting a friend play it when they're over. 

I think the best approach is when someone else buys the guitar and then gives it to you.  That makes it good.