<p>My S seems to use his guitar as his drug of choice...playing when girl breaks up with him, bad grade on test, even homework break. Do guys take their guitars to college? Does amp stay home? Can't imagine small quarters with guitars but it seems to be his pacifier. Someone stepped on his phone and broke it at a college visit so don't even know if guitar would be safe but he has a cheap from Target. Anyway, question is:
How common are guitars at college?</p>
<p>My S took his guitar to college, and when he got there he discovered that his roommate had done the same. So they both keep their guitars in their dorm rooms, under their beds. Acoustic guitars, though. But I don’t know how common this is.</p>
<p>Sure they do.</p>
<p>But there may be rules against playing musical instruments in dorm rooms because of noise issues. It may be necessary to use one of the music department’s practice rooms.</p>
<p>The basic answer is yes.</p>
<p>More detail in both the College Life (do a title search on instruments) and Music major forum (I’d suggest a title search there on “insurance” if those talking high value).</p>
<p>The things to consider are space, school policy on instrumental practice within dorms, availability to and access to practice rooms, value of the instrument(s) involved.</p>
<p>And remember, the worst can happen</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/455224-damaged-flute.html?highlight=flute[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/455224-damaged-flute.html?highlight=flute</a></p>
<p>My son would have taken his piano with him if he could have. He had to settle for a keyboard, which he generally plays with headphones. (He is not a music major.)</p>
<p>Gosh I hope so. It would about kill him to be parted from his guitar(s) for so long (he has 5). He has this little gizmo (probably not the technical term, LOL) that he hooks his electric guitar to, and then hooks it up to his computer with headphones, and he can play over the computer without making much noise. I figure the guitar will fit under his bed.</p>
<p>My son’s roommate brought his guitar (acoustic). My son apparently misses his violin enough (even though he didn’t touch it last summer) that he’s asked us to bring it up. I have very fond memories of a boyfriend who used to play Scott Joplin to me on an upright that he and his roommates had dragged into their dorm room.</p>
<p>Our son did not take his guitar with him. I know this was difficult for him. What did we learn recently? He is learning to play the piano! His R.A. gave him a little instruction and he has taken off with it.</p>
<p>His dorm has a piano in a practice room in the basement. When he took us down to show us what he has learned so far, I was very impressed.</p>
<p>Check out the dorms at the colleges your son is considering. Maybe some will have music practice rooms. </p>
<p>Best wishes to your son and your family.</p>
<p>My son insisted on taking his accordion-- takes up a lot of space and loud. He would not have gone without it.</p>
<p>S took TWO guitars with him to college, one acoustic and one electric. He had to use headphones for the electric one while in the dorm most of the time. Based on his feedback, I got the impression there were LOTS of guitars in his freshman dorm building.
Initially he just had the acoustic but a few months later, had the electric. Kept them both with him during his entire college experience.</p>
<p>He isn’t a music major or anything close to it and a real minimalist. He’d leave most other belongings behind if forced to choose, except for the guitar :)</p>
<p>My son brought three electric guitars and two amps. All fit nicely under his bed in a small dorm room. He also bought a bike lock which he loops through the guitar case handles (and I think the amps too) and locks. It would make it challenging for someone to steal anything. Our insurance agent told us that the equipment in his dorm is covered by our home owners insurance and advised him to photograph it and write down serial numbers, which he did. Hopefully he is following school policies AND being considerate about when and where he plays.
His room-mate also brought an acoustic guitar and I know there is a drummer on his floor, but not sure what or where he keeps his equipment. I think guitars are common.</p>
<p>I will try to convince my son just to bring an acoustic with him when he heads off to college. Amps take up space and are probably against dorm rules(?) I think it is not unusual to see acoustic guitars in guys’ dorm rooms.</p>
<p>I’ve seen lots of them, on our campus tours.</p>
<p>Yep. Son’s roommate had one and the guys in their quad enjoyed it.</p>
<p>I’ve been playing classical guitar for 7 years now. I’m thinking on bringing my classical guitar to college, however, I’ll need to think about it more carefully. My classical guitar is not cheap and I don’t want anyone to break it or even worse steal it. I’ll be checking this thread for advises though. :)</p>
<p>“do guys take guitars to college”</p>
<p>Girls do too. D took four (out of her six). Three were lost in Katrina—like Violadad says “the worst can happen”. It would have been even worse if she hadn’t left her '68 Strat in her boyfriends apartment on higher ground.</p>
<p>my son took 2 guitars with him to school. He has a single. His suitemate brought a banjo. Much of my son’s extra curricular activities involve music. Of course your S should bring his guitar! Its a great ice-breaker, he will find musicians to hang with, and so on.</p>
<p>Yes, they take trumpets, saxs and drum sets too.</p>
<p>
Thank God it’s there for the traditional post final exam polka!</p>
<p>Sorry, couldn’t resist.</p>
<p>I actually think an accordion would be an incredibly cool thing to bring to college. THe only instruments possibly appraoching it would be bagpipes or a didgeridoo</p>
<p>It’s probably just the crowd I hang out with, but almost every guy has a guitar.
I’ve never heard of one being stolen, because if you take it out of your dorm you don’t generally leave it anywhere without you. As for in your room…how about lock your door?</p>
<p>I know one guy dropped his bass repeatedly and it eventually broke, but it was mostly his fault. </p>
<p>Acoustic is generally a better choice if he has one. (A lot of people bring both) But if you don’t put the amp louder than you would put your stereo an electric is fine.</p>