>>2729266Surely you aren't suggesting anybody drags "university-level stuff" and "way more pro stuff" with them on a hike, nor is that price range what I would recommend to a "beginner" (the first post you replied to). Especially not when they plan on taking them /out/side.
You can get alright, playable, decent-sounding violins (well, fiddles), guitars of any sort and banjos at a price range where it isn't a huge pain in the ass and the wallet when the rain and moisture eventually and inevitably gets to it (i.e. less than 300 bucks). Pic related, 270 bucks new and plays like a charm.
As you said, steel-string guitars are even easier to find in this respect. I have a 12-string that I couldn't have paid more than 150 for at the time, and a Soviet-era parlor guitar that I picked up on the cheap (50 bucks lmao). Both sound fine and hold up well outside.
I'm going to ignore the brass band and drum comment for obvious reasons: not /out/.
