flying with guitar!!!

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the dude

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hey all! just curious as to the precautions I should take when flying in an airplane with my baby(takamine EF350). I have a great hardshell case and have heard a bunch of different things about flying with guitars. OR should I just leave it safely behind and be without it for a week? please give me any and all info you have heard or experienced! thanks, the dude abides!
 
I say take it!...


If you have a good hardshell case it will be fine , not one of those cardboard "hardshell" ones that is coated with textured black stick-on vinyl..... They are good for putting in your car and carrying to gigs, but they won't take the abuse of the baggage handlers.

A good hard plastic lockable hardshell case should be fine... I have one and you could litterally throw it against a brick wall and just get a nick in the case but no guitar damage...

I do suggest, you make sure you have good coverage on your instrument, for damage and theft...

You might lose all the sentimental attachment you have but at least you will get some money back to purchase a new one and you can start making memories with it...

Anyways.. Don't want to scare you, I'm sure it will be fine and you will be strumming away at your destination..

Have a good trip and play me a tune:D
 
hey thanks man. I have travelled before with guitars but not a nice one like my Tak. just want to take good care of her. anyway, i thank ya for your time and 2cents. peace
 
If you can't take it on board and put it in the coat closet, I say no. The unpressurized baggage compartment will not be kind to an acoustic guitar under tension. If you must travel that way, slack off all strings and loosen the truss untill the backbowing from the loss of string tension is straight again. Then you will have the hassle of re-setting up the axe at your destination.
 
Yeah, definitely loosen the strings. Loosen them til they're sloopy. I forgot to loosen my strings once when flying and when I got to my destination and opened the case, one of the strings was busted and the others all out of tune.

I kind of have to cringe when I think of the tension there must have been on the instrument. But, it still plays fine and everything.

Them baggage handlers won't have any respect for some ones instrument. After flying with my Strat several times, the case is pretty much beat to sht - but the guitar seems to be fine. I usually pack some clothes around the guitar in the case for a little extra shock absorption.

Take it with ya - you'll be glad. Plus its kind of cheap thrill cuz people at the airport kind of look at you like - ooh, there's a musician.
 
well thanks everyone, I WILL definitely try to take it on board and maybe the coat rack thing. but other than that, the case is very stong and i was reading about them and that they ARE safe for flying. so, thatnks again. will de tune just in case it has to go below:( peace!
 
Dude, this won't necessarily help you , but I had to comment on shipping a strat, as mentioned by Natural Gass.
Strats are bolt neck guitars that easily are disassembled. They can then fit in one of those garment bags that are allowed as carryon luggage. You don't even have to remove the strings. Just slack them off and unscrew the four screws on the backplate located at the heel of the neck. This way, no one will handle your baby but you.
 
oh but it is a glued neck "Tak" as in Takamine EF350 acoustic electric. i guess I could saw the neck off and glue it back on when I get there. sounds good to me!!! peace





just kiddin round
 
I recently flew with my Lakewood on a Ryanair flight and did some research beforehand.

Here is one of the articles I found:

http://www.win.net/~mainstring/carryon.html

and yet another one:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenMaint/Packing/packing1.html

FWIW, on one flight I managed to get my guitar on as cabin baggage on both legs of the journey -- a grand concert sized guitar by the way.

I also bought a guitar in London and had to fly it back to Lux with me. This was a Gibson jumbo so much bigger than the Lakewood, and I got it as far as the top of the stairs getting onto the plane and told to store it down where the prams and buggies go. So I saw it go on, then collected it immediately on hitting the tarmac.

As for loosening the strings; I really don't think it's necessary, and I wouldn't even go near the truss rod. That's just me though.

Good luck!

Jock
 
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Take the guitar up to the gate. Don't check it in with your baggage. If they don't let you take it on the plane as carry on they will offer to do a special baggage check in. They will take it and put in cargo as the last thing on. When you get off the plane it will be waiting for you at the gate. That's the best way to fly with fragile stuff.
 
I just have to mention this.

If the new airport people need to search your baggage after you check it, they will cut the lock of. So, basically, while you are getting on the plane, they will just cut the lock, or BREAK THE DAMN BAG OPEN WITH A CROW BAR, then tape it back up. So either carry your guitar, or risk leaving it unlocked.
 
Stuff one full sheet of newspaper underneath the headstock, and stuff another full sheet of newspaper above the headstock...until it is pretty difficult to close the case. This will keep the headstock secure. I heard horror stories of the headstock snapping clean off!
 
Done this many times. As long as you have a great case you're all right. I always loosen strings, even in the cabin. Case humidifier is not a bad idea, either. Excess space in the case with hand towels or newspaper.
One big thing, tape your closures with duct tape or book binding tape.
They can tend to pop when handled roughly.
mike
 
c7sus said:
If you check it into baggage be sure and detune it beforehand. No need to have all that extra tension on the top while travelling.

You may be able to carry it on if you are charming and the plane isn't too full.
Click to expand...

Don't detune. The neck needs to be under tension during weather/temp changes. Planes have severe changes depending on where they fly. Baggage areas in planes are NOT climate controlled like the passenger areas! Leave it tuned or you will experience a warped neck. (I don't know where this fallacy started anyway).
 
WOW!!! a bunch of conflicting thoughts!!! like inside a schizophrenic's head!!! i think i may just leave the fucker home for fear of theft, mispacement, damage, etc!!! i'll only be gone a day or two and have a beater guitar i will take!!! thanks all!!! peace
 
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