Jona Z - Posted - 03/03/2021:  11:15:57

What are people using for an inexpensive beater steel guitar to take on vacation? I have an old Epiphone acoustic that I can put a raised nut on but I was even thinking about something smaller, possibly less then 6 strings just so I don't go an entire week without playing. Maybe a cigar box reso? Thoughts?

tomkatb - Posted - 03/03/2021:  11:34:34

Oahu comes to mind. $200

i asked a Luthier friend that question. He liked the Regal Black Lightning.

I had him hot rod it for me. It is not a beater.

not smaller much.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/03/2021:  11:45:20

Not an inexpensive beater, but Mya-Moe has built some squareneck ukes. 

Jerry Douglas has or had one - I'm guessing that the company might have gifted him with one to get it across the lap of the best in the business. I've never actually seen a video of him playing it. If you want to keep the costs down maybe they could build a no frills version. 

myamoeukuleles.com/model%20resonator.php

And inexpensive short scale lap steel tuned to G with a mini-amp  that plugs into the guitar jack while using headphones is a good option. 

tinyurl.com/evkc6une

JC Dobro - Posted - 03/03/2021:  12:00:04

I’ve done what Mark said. Get a sub-$200 short scale lap steel, if your main goal is to keep up chops while traveling. Especially helpful if space is at a premium, or if you want to carry-on flight. Bonus is that it has merit as a stand-alone electric.

Personally I wouldn’t practice that long on a uke or cigar box or anything less than 6 strings (messes with my spatial orientation...). YMMV.

Dflynn17 - Posted - 03/03/2021:  16:00:37

I spend alot of time in South America and I travel here with my Dobro brand Dobro that was the first one I ever bought. It's not exactly a dirt cheap instrument but less cherished in my heart than my Appalachian and much cheaper than my Beard E model. I would be heart broken if something happened to the Dobro Dobro while traveling but I am willing to risk it.

As for a regular old guitar, I always buy a very cheap one when I arrive down here (100$). It does the job and allows me to play every day.

wlgiii - Posted - 03/04/2021:  07:05:39

For acoustic, I second the Oahu motion- small, portable, and fairly quiet.

Oboe Cadobro - Posted - 04/22/2021:  11:24:48

I have a vintage Oahu but with only a gig bag for it...I'm not really comfortable taking it on vacation without a hard case, but I can't find one that fits.

wlgiii - Posted - 04/23/2021:  07:15:25

I got lucky; a local music store just happened to have a vintage small hardshell case in their room o' stuff that's Oahu sized. Perhaps you could ask yours to look around in their back room.