I'm still a guitar newbie so I don't know if this is a blonde question: I'm leaving the country I bought my (D02) guitar in but I was wondering if I can take it in to the shop I bought it from and ask their luthier to quickly check it over before I go - like a car service. Do luthiers do this kind of thing?

Or are there any last upgrades that I should do? Change the pegs to another material or something?

As a tech I'm always happy to check out a guitar for free.Maintenance/checkup should be done at least once a year.What really come's into play is where are you going,how are you going to get there and is there someone there that can check it out when you get there.

Thanks Barefoot Rob! I feel more confident taking it in now.

Quote from: Barefoot Rob on February 21, 2018, 09:32:26 AM
What really come's into play is where are you going,how are you going to get there and is there someone there that can check it out when you get there.

That's part of why I want to get it checked out. I'm heading from South Korea where summers are hot and humid and winter is dry and in the minus temperatures to the interior of South Africa where summers are dry(ish) and hot and winters are dry(ish) and cold. My guitar isn't used to the weather there so I want to prepare it as much as possible.

There are people who can check it out but I'm still trying to find out who would be best to go to.

I took it into the store and they were more than happy to check it out! For free, too! Thanks Barefoot Rob!  :nana_guitar

Although free is a relative word because right next to the maintenance counter there was a wall of strings that I've been promising myself to try and they were all calling my name.


Next stop is flying my guitar home on a 22 hour flight! OK, 20 hours minus the layover...

Safe trip  :donut2 :coffee

Just keep it in the case for a day this will help it get use to its new home then play it for a week or so,writing down any changes that you notice.Then find the best tech you can and have it checked out.


Safe Travels.

The dry of SA is what you're going to have to be careful of. Be sure to read up on keeping guitar humidified and keep in case when not playing. Observe the top regularly to see if it's dipping which means it's drying out.

My guitar made it through!

Apparently the airline didn't have a policy (they're going to look into it now :tongue:) about people travelling with a box so big so an added bonus was I didn't get charged extra. The only problems I had was making it through security on the other side - the customs agents who stopped me told me, "cardboard box, white chick, you're up to something," - and when I took it out of the box I was so happy it was in one piece I swung it around screaming, "It's ALI~VE!" and bashed it into a door.

Gotta compliment the guitar makers because the guitar is still pristine. No scratch at all.

This whole experience has taught me 4 life lessons:
1.  Guitar luthiers are very kind and helpful people.
2.  Don't stand next to the wall of guitar strings while you're waiting.
3.  Don't touch the guitar if you're jetlagged, AKA don't swing it around like a yo-yo.
4.  If you're buying an instrument in another country, get a harmonica, or better yet, a triangle.  A guitar? Not so much unless you like stress.

 :nana_guitar Happy to hear all went well. :thumb

Congratulations on surviving (both you and your guitar) the trip.

And I love your life lesson # 4!

:humour: