Road Town Local Advice...

[Down2TheC]

This will no doubt be a hard question to answer without help from someone who knows the area. I want a guitar on cruise but don't want to travel with one. Anyone think I might find a music shop in Tortola to buy or rent a beater guitar for a week? I'll have to search around the net for a craig's list sort of deal for Tortola or ask the Charter manager to hook me up.

[Zanshin]

Your chances of finding a rental guitar are somewhere between abyssmal and non-existant in Road Town. I vaguely recall having seen an acoustic guitar for sale at one of the stores that sells everthing from kitchen appliances to nuts-and-bolts in Road Town. I can't recall the name, but it is just off the main roundabout. You could also try checking out the BVI forum on TTOL as there are quite a few BVI residents there who might be able to point you in the correct direction.

[Down2TheC]

Right... my hopes are not high, but you never know.

[Reality Check]

You may want to contact DearMissMermaid.com she knows about everything on Tortola. However she has only recently returned from an extended hospital visit and is recovering slowly but I'm sure she can point you in the right direction.

I think the hope of a rental is a bit difficult. The climate on Tortola isn't nice to things like wooden guitars on a long term basis unless well cared for daily.

I have had several guest and scheduled guest, including some Hall of Fame'rs bring down guitars on their flights. They make for some outstanding evenings at anchor or possibly at DA Loose Mongoose some evening!

When will you be down?

[Down2TheC]

March 14-21. Da Loose Mongoose? Party bar with an open mic perhaps?

The other option is to ship a cheapie to the charter company. Probably cheaper than paying for the extra luggage. And I can get a guitar off craig's list for $50 on any given day. Then I can have the charter manager donate it to a school or keep it as a loaner.

[Down2TheC]

Problem solved. I picked up a Martin 3/4 size travel acoustic. Decent sound and simple to carry on the plan. I feel like a giant playing it though.

[Zanshin]

Good news. Just pretend that it's a ukelele or a really strange violin.