What is your campfire guitar?

[whvick]

I traded my Regal flat top for a descent classical almost 50 years ago and have treated the classical carefully all these years, and after many hours of play it looks and plays even better than new.
When I got it I could not bring myself to risk it out of the house, so I bought a cheap Alvarez laminate classical, and even added strap buttons to that. It played ok, and I enjoyed playing at parties and campfires. Now one of my grandsons is having fun with it.
And now I have the old Harmony to beat around. Call me OCD, but I just do not WantTo scratch up my good guitars.
In reality in that Sort of situation I doubt if people could tell the difference in my playing one or the other guitars .
I would love to have a Rainsong for that purpose but am too cheap and need to downsize as I face retirement.
I respect the people who argue to use the good guitars, but can’t bring myself to do that.
Signed
The bedroom balladeer.

[buddyhu]

If I thought there was significant risk of my guitar being damaged, I’d take my Voyage Air OM. But to play around a fire pit in a friend’s back yard, I wouldn’t think there was much risk, and I’d likely take one of my “regular” guitars....probably my Collings DH2HG.

[aeisen93]

Probably my Taylor 110. It’s been with me everywhere and I’ve had it since 2008.

[Mbroady]

It all depends on where the Campfire is located. If it’s a day trip and I will be sleeping home then I would bring my Furch D32. If it’s an overnight trip or the Guitar will be sitting in the car for a while then the Rainsong will be coming with me.

[KalamazooGuy]

My 73 Alvarez d28 copy. Great rosewood guitar with a few issues but plays great. Only paid $100 a while back on Craigslist.

When I think of campfire guitar, I think of a group of people partying and a chance of passing my guitar around to someone else. Or possibly getting caught in the rain. Some people here said that you only live once and they bring nicer guitars out but no way I would do that at my kind of campfires.

My brother in law just last year at the Wheatland music fest in Michigan got his favorite guitar stepped on and demolished because he let his buddy play it while he went to bed. I always told him to bring his beater. Oh, and the funny part of the story is his "prize" guitar was the top model that Zager lists. It didnt sound terrible but it was a Zager....

[mawmow]

None of mine... :-/

[Silly Moustache]

I live in England. We don't have campfires - the rain would put them out!

Last time I literally played by an open fire was the end of a bluegrass festival, and I played my Dobro.

For in house jams, My Waterloo WL12 comes into its own.

[jp2558]

‘92 Takamine EF-341C. The private campground we go to 3-5 times a year can get pretty gnarly so I’d never take either of my Martin’s there. And the Takamine has held up well considering I once watched it fall sideways when it was leaning against a picnic table. I’m surprised the headstock didn’t crack!

[mtdmind]

Originally Posted by H165

H165.

That's real nice! I had one for a short time. I traded it in cause it had a crooked neck from an accident. Loved its tone.

[EZYPIKINS]

Don't do allot of camping. But my beater. Guitar I bought for live club work Is a Dean Exotica Dao

[YeOldRocker]

I never burn my guitars.

[Scotso]

Originally Posted by YeOldRocker

I never burn my guitars.

I accidentally burned an old Harmony in college. We were camping at Fall Creek Falls in TN. I was under the influence, kinda passed out and the guitar got too close to the fire. Fried a corner before someone yanked it out. This is a highlight in my long book of screw ups

[Woolbury]

My '46 Gibson LG2. It sounds awesome around a campfire!

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by jpricewood

I’ve been through some Washburns, Epiphones, Recording Kings, and cheap Eastmans. None of them sounded that great compared to my more expensive guitars. Someone on this forum once said we will look back one day and realize all of our memories were made with some cheap, poor sounding guitar. That statement really resonated with me, so now my “take anywhere” guitars are my J-45 and D-55. My suggestion for tone junkies is to buy a nice guitar in “player’s condition” and take it everywhere.

Awesome. My favourite guitar, my daily play and 'the one' is also my campfire guitar. It sounds great, I'll be gutted if it gets damaged but it's the memories and fun that's most important to me.

[Graylocks]

Guild D40. my first decent 6 string purchased from Sam Ash music in NYC in 1975. $265. still have the receipt.

it's a survivor. lots of dings. vintage barcus berry still installed though i haven't plugged it in for decades. put some Santa Cruz strings on last month and it reminded me what a canon it can be.