Flying with an axe

aardvarkD · November 2005

Hi folks,

I have to go on a business trip next week, and I'd hate not to play for an entire week. Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position to buy a travel guitar at the moment. I'd like to take my cheap strat clone with me, but I don't have a flight case.

I do have a padded plastic hardshell case. Do y'all think I could get away with checking it as baggage? I mean, am I likely to encounter (A) flack from the airline or (B) damage to my instrument? I am not concerned about cosmetic damage to the case, it's already pretty rough.

Any advice appreciated. If I can't take my strat with me, I may end up buying a cheap guitar next week in KC, then returning it at the end of the week. But that seems a little sneaky.

Cheers,

-- JK

aRcTuRuS · November 2005

Ive heard of nasty cases of

before

those luggage dudes just throw them in like normal suitcases as a freind of mine witnessed when in the airport waiting room. Maybe wrap it in a few towels to minimise shock, and also loosen the strings so the air pressure doesnt change the shape or anything due to tight strings, it probably wont but better to be safe, churr as \\m/

Tal Rules · November 2005

I'm on planes almost every week, Here's my 2 cents.

Bought a nice cheap used epi emporer regent with standard hard shell case. It probably has as much travel time this year as I do. (About 100,000 miles.) Here are some do's and donts.

Never lock your case. If it's elected to be searched, security will break the lock..

On check in most airlines will hand deliver the case to the luggage truck to the plane instead of putting on the conveyer and letting it tumble around. If the airline you select wants to put it on the conveyer ask if they will hand deliver. Never had one turn me down...Also when doing curbside check in it never hurts to slip the porter a dollar tip. They always seem to take extra care with your stuff.

Upon arrival:
Most airlports have a special area for delicate items in baggage claim. After you've picked up your checked luggage in baggage claim don't sit there and wait for you guitar to come flying down the shute and on to the conveyer. Look aroud for the delicate items area. If you don't see it ask where the area is for golf club, snow ski, musical instrument, etc... pick up. Most airports have this area...

If your guitar is selected to be gone over by security you wont know until you land. There will be a note inside your case informing you that they have searched your guitar. Only problem I have had with that is that security loves electronics on guitars. Don't be surprised if you have tighten pickups, volume knobs, etc... If they have searched your guitar..

As for the loosening string thing:
Several opinions on this one. I leave mine fully tuned. The reason being is the guitars I have bought from music123 always come overnight freight, so you know they were in the air, and they always arrive on my door step fully tuned, no worse for wear. I reason music123 is just a middle man so the guitars must come fully tuned from the factory. I guess Gibson and Fender know what they're doing but you never know.

Don't forget your picks and some extra stings. Especially little E. Nothing worse than to haul this thing umpteen thousand miles, getting to the hotel, and having to play with a penny or with 5 strings because you forgot those items. You can put them in your case. Security's never touched mine.

The fiberglass case you have should be fine. Like I said before, I just put mine in the standard hard shell case that came with the guitaar and so far so good..
.
That's about all the advice I have on the subject Have fun in KC and have some of them fine steaks or the fine bbq they have that way.

See Ya,
Tal

0Dannyboy · November 2005

I have a cheap Epi too...Unfortunaley its my only guitar, :roll:

Never trust those baggage handelers :!: :evil: :x :!: :evil: Once upon a time in my youth I bought a brand new les Paul copy with a very nice hardshell case. (white just like Randy rhodes

) I fly back from New Mexico to Kentucky with it...and by the time I opened it up at home it was completelty FAULKED up! :x :evil: The case had a huge chunk out of it and the neck ws thrashed. never again
I travel sometimes myself and would only take a travel guitar...
you know I did buy one (a Yamaha SLG)

http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?btnG=Search+Froogle&hl=en&oid=9320016800179905217&pid=4734922047635335095&q=Yamaha+Silent+guitar&scoring=p

great instrument all around. Ya it was so nice I could not bring myself to Fly with it either :!: had a very nice custom softshell case padded very thick. . :? OK listen to Tal as I am obvously still scarred from my bad experiance.

iliace · November 2005

One time I was going with a couple of people to France (from US), and one of my friends was told that he either needs a separate ticket for his acoustic, or he can leave it in the States. But I know drummer from my band traveled with an acoustic across the states (about three years ago) and no problem - it was actually my acoustic, and it was in perfect shape when returned to me.

rawfish · November 2005

Also if you know what kind of plane you're flyiing on you might be able to cajole the airline folks into taking you guitar (don't call it an axe, I doubt the TSA people would smile on that term) on board. Many older airliners' overhead bins are plenty large for your strat case plus other passengers' bags. I doubt this would work with the Epi Emperor though.

I know 727's and older md80/90's have space. Just be sure to ask- they can't tell you yes if you don't!

good luck

-Rf.

Flying with an axe

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