Vacation Mando

[mandokismet]

Odd question here...

I started playing a month or two ago. I'm enjoying playing daily and have these nice calluses on my fingers now after a painful break-in...

In December I'm going to Vietnam for 3 weeks. I'm not sure I want to take a mandolin with me. I don't want to do nothing for 3 weeks either.

1. Ever heard of a practical method for retaining calluses while not playing?

2. Any advice on practice / learning in this situation? I plan to watch some practice videos and read some websites on mandolin and music theory but it's not the same.

The chord phone apps that you can strum aren't really set-up to simulate playing in real-time as far as I know (enlighten me if so).

3. What's the cheapest new or used mandolin I could bring that is better than nothing but still would work okay? I'm using a Loar LM220 at home now but don't know if I want to bang it around traveling or bring a heavier hardshell case.

Is there any value to practicing fingering on a pretend fret board 1 by 2 board with notches?

Open to ideas...

Mike

[Josh Levine]

I'd just bring your Loar. Or you can buy a mandolin in Vietnam if you go to luthier street in Saigon. If you are flying into Saigon that is a fun little trip. They aren't the best mandolins, but they make a decent souvenir.

[Josh Levine]

http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ho...eet/index.html

[CES]

Agree with checking out luthier street if you're in the area. If not, get a Rogue, set it up with Rob Meldrum's ebook and info from frets.com, and travel worry free. And, hope you have an awesome trip!

[colorado_al]

If you see this one while you're there, don't buy it
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mandolin-Pr...w/261529993186

[mandokismet]

Follow-up:
1. We're going to northern Vietnam (so no Saigon)
2. I didn't realize the mandolin and instrument building background that exists in Vietnam. Maybe I'll pay a visit to Hoa Kam Street in Hanoi while I'm there. http://www.thanhcammusic.com/guitar.htm

[Jim]

I would also consider a Rogue with a good setup, I carry a similar quality instrument when I travel.

[Seter]

There are a variety of interesting indigenous Vietnamese stringed instruments that might be of interest to pick up while you are there as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradit...al_instruments and http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments...st.htm#vietnam

[fatt-dad]

I'd just bring my mandolin. That's how they get stories over the years. Being with you.

f-d

[mandokismet]

Update: I ended up not bringing my mandolin after a test trip to New Jersey over Thanksgiving...It was kind of a pain to travel with on a plane and took up one of our carry-on allowances. But I did rent a really crappy flat top for $2/day in Hanoi for two weeks (link below). It did the job while we moved around the north of the country. My only complaint is that I broke 3 E strings while tuning and had to go back once to fix (at no charge).
http://www.thanhcammusic.com/guitar.htm