smallest bodies to make a travel guitar?

[Cagey]

It's a bolt-on, and if it goes on and off a dozen times before stripping out, it will have been well worth it.

Threaded inserts were made for this.

Perzactly. I just ordered a bag of 25, along with an installation tool and stainless steel screws.

1 1 Pack 90016A011
Brass Knife-Thread Insert for Wood Slotted Drive, 10-24 Internal Thread, 1/2" Length, Packs of 25
today
$11.00 $11.00
2 1 Each 94110A130
Power Driver for Slotted Inserts Fits 10-24, 10-32 Steel & Brass and M5 Brass
today
$8.62 $8.62
3 1 Pack 91802A251
18-8 SS Oval Head Phillips Machine Screw 10-24 Thread, 1-1/2" Length, Packs of 50
today
$7.13 $7.13

  Merchandise   $26.75

$26 and I'm good for at least a dozen guitars, and thirteen more if I buy another $11 worth of inserts. Can't beat that with a stick. Most of the sites selling the "kits" want $25 to do one, and they don't give you the tool, which allows for putting the inserts in easily and flawlessly. Part numbers are in the list above, and they're from McMaster-Carr.

I use larger ones (1/4-20) for speakers, which also beats the snot out of wood screws.

 

[erogenousjones17]

This is "hijack Tim's threads week, or what?"  :icon_jokercolor:

I'm going for this little guy (Hofner shorty). I looked around the office, and I have all the spare parts to make it decent as long as the neck and frets are ok. It's a bolt-on, and if it goes on and off a dozen times before stripping out, it will have been well worth it. I'll bring my laptop anyhow, and then I'll just use my toneport and have a full multi-tracking studio in my one carry-on.

Saw one of those a few weeks ago and it really caught my eye. I don't travel much, but I like oddball things. You'll have to let us know how it sounds and feels.

 

[tfarny]

NEW Guitar day!

First impressions: Overall quality beats expectations ($120 new). With the neck off, it will fit in a medium duffle bag, which was my main requirement. Playable out of the box. I expected to, and probably still will, replace the nut and tuners and electronics with stuff I've got laying around, but it seems good enough as is for a beater travel guitar. Bucker is generic moderate output, reasonably clear. Tuners seem to hold tune just fine. No bad fret buzzes that I've found yet. Electronics seem proper - no crackling or looseness. It is really neck heavy though - a strap is necessary at all times, even classical seated position just doesn't work. I don't think that's fixable. Neck is narrower than I like (1 5/8?) but thicker than I expected which is good. I'll need to get a strap attached at the neck to solve the neck dive issue - it will just bug me otherwise.
I'll update if I end up replacing stuff, I might just take it to Colombia as is, though.

 

[rockskate4x]

looks like a fun guitar!  :icon_thumright: Perhaps you can attach weights to the body somehow to counter the neckdive  :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

Very interesting, especially at the price. I don't need a "travel guitar" per se, but it would be handy to be able to grab a fiddle while I'm sitting at the desk and need to try something. Desk chair kinda prevents holding a standard guitar because of the arms. Being so small, I could build a little custom stand for it so it wouldn't take up much room at all. The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to have to have one of these things.

 

[tfarny]

Well I'm in S. America and I have a full electric guitar kit (well pod-amped at least). I couldn't help myself - upgraded the pup to a Jazz neck, put on PW tuners and a 1 11/16 bone nut. All stuff I had sitting around. Couple hours of tweaking and it's really not bad as long as you use a strap with one end around the headstock, acoustic-style, and play standing. The nut is wider than the neck width but it's not a real problem, I'd much rather have the extra room and just be careful not to bend notes off the edge. Very playable now - just bring along a screwdriver and spare strings and I've got a full guitar that fits in a duffel bag.

 

[Patrick]

what did you do with the bridge?