Iām a beginner who picked up the guitar in January. It took forever to develop good calluses! Iām progressing through Beginner Level 2, trying to take my time to consolidate skills from earlier lessons as I go along. In September, we are taking our first vacation since before Covid. Weāre very excited, but: how do I practice in a way to keep my calluses? (Skill maintenance is important too, but thatās not as physically painful to restore as the thick skin at the ends of my fingers!)
Some logistical details: we live on the West Coast (U.S.) and will fly to England; will travel around by train, end up in France, then fly home. We have a travel-sized guitar - itās bigger than I want to carry. Been looking at those 4-6 fret fingerboard things, but am hesitant about their real utility. The Traveler Guitars look interesting - Iāve seen some folks mention them in this forum. If I were to get one of these, would acoustic or electric be best? (I currently play acoustic, but thereās used electric Travel Guitar available in my town for $200). Are there other options I should explore?
On a trip like that, I wouldnāt drag a guitar along. The silly little finger spring strengthen devices often have small ridges in one side to help with calluses. Maybe that would be easier. Or just screw a few string segments to a small piece of would and keep pressing on it.
How long are you going for? I just spent a week doing zero guitar stuff and soaking my callouses in salt water ocean and a pool (and booze). No harm to the calluses in that time frame.
As Jamolay suggest, if you are going for a short time, focus on enjoying your vacation and donāt bother or worry about guitar practice.
If itās going to be a longer vacation (say, 2-3 months or more) and you think you will have periods of downtime where you might want to practice, the electric Traveler Guitars are pretty good.
Having had one for a while I wouldnāt have one in place of a normal guitar, as there are a few compromises I found difficult to live with longer term. But when traveling, I could easily live with them if the only alternative was no guitar for a few months or more.
Thanks Keith. Iāve been trying to shed possessions recently, and donāt have any long trips on the horizon. Iāll follow your and @Jamolayās advice and just. go. on. vacation.
My advice if itās a short trip - grab a cheap Ā£20 ukulele and play around with it, it should easily squeeze into your cabin bag Justin has a few lessons on Uke so if you find some time during your holidays that could be cheapest option enjoy your time in Europe!
Keeping a bottle cap handy will give you something to press into your fingers if you want to maintain callouses - but itās probably not really necessary, they will come back fast.
Maybe take a book on theory (Justinās practical music theory course is great) - that way you wonāt feel like youāve lost two weeks, at least not completely.
Iāve been in the market on and off for a travel guitar for ages. I still havenāt bought one and I think the advice given above is pretty accurate. Just enjoy your holiday.
You plan to be away for a fortnight and from your itinerary a lot of time will be on planes and trains when you canāt play anyway.
Unless you plan to be away for months (in which case I would buy a second hand guitar abroad and then sell it when you are due to return home) itās perhaps not worth the hassle.
If I do end up buying a ātravel guitarā I think it will be more with a view to getting a guitar that I can take to friends houses for BBQs etc. or throw into the car for long weekend breaks and the like and not risk damaging my āgoodā guitar. In other words, a cheaper guitar, not necessarily a smaller guitar.
I have a journey brand travel guitar and it goes with me even on the shortest of holidays. The neck comes off and it sits beside the body in a case that fits in an overhead locker in an airplane, itās dimensions just fit in the sizing frame at the airports. It also has a place in the case for my laptop and I fit a few other things like device chargers and cables and medication inside the body of the guitar. The model I have is the OF-660 (carbon fibre) and several friends have bought the cheaper wooden models offered by Journey.
Thanks Tony. Iāve seen thoseā¦they are intriguing. Itās good to know your experience is positive. Iāll keep it on my when-I-grow-up-as-a-guitarist list.
I ran into the same situation and bought one of those grip exercise things with āsimulated stringsā to maintain callouses and while good I soon found I wanted to maintain skills on travel as well.
I then bought a Traveler brand Guitar (Acoustic version). I canāt say enough good things about this instrument, stays in tune, super easy to throw into an overhead bin on a plane/train or the back of the car on a road trip. I even keep it next to my desk so if inspiration strikes at work I can practice for a bit.
As for whether you get electric or acoustic Iād get whichever you have a deal on or access to (Youāre probably going to want the one you didnāt get in a year anyway!). Good luck on your decision and trip!
Thanks for sharing your experience! This has put me right back on the āshould I or shouldnāt Iā spot. I do love toysā¦which is why I have to downsize! Perhaps this should go on my āwhen I grow upā list as well.
Hereās a bit of an idea, if youāre coming to the UK you could pick one of these up, a very nicely designed and manufactured electric guitar with attitude!
Justin has a few lessons on Uke so if you find some time during your holidays that could be cheapest option 
