Traveling & Guitars

[Schnautze]

Hi folks,

in a few weeks I am moving out from Ireland and I have 2 guitars a Fender amp and 3 flights to take...

Does anyone know what to do with the gear?

I have a classical guitar which is not great, and a nice semi acoustic Gibson. In my opinion the Gibson case is ****e (seriously) and I think I should bring it over into the plane with me. The problem is the classical's case is even worse and I don't know if I am going to be allowed to bring 2 guitars into that plane.

Do you think is sensible getting a better case, or it's enough with the Gibson one?

Also, I've hear some stories about planes, pressure and some guitars broken for ever because of this, can someone explain it and what to do to avoid it please? Is it possible insure the gear?

Thanks

[EricV]

Hi there...

now, I have travelled in planes quite a bit, usually having a guitar with me.
First of all, if you want to have the guitar in the freight room, get GOOD cases. Cases that hold the guitar firmly, and will resist some torture. No gigbags.
I don´t think that the problem will be the temperature change ( it´s cold in those freight rooms during the flight ). The problem is that most of the luggage gets tossed around quite a bit, which can cause some damage.
Vivian Camphell´s ( sp ? ) 59 Les Paul was completely messed up by that once. The insurance paid, but how can ya replace a gguitar like that.
What I do is: I take one or two guitars in a gigbag ( I have two gigbags sewn together, so I can carry them like one ), and I ask the steward(ess) to put it into the wardrobe, where the coats etc. are kept. Never had a problem with that, there´s enough room in there.
I also used to take a Music Man Steve Morse with me, which has a very short headstock and actually does fit into the overhead bins in most planes.
But the wardrobe is your best bet, and as I said, I never had a problem with that...
Hope this helps
Eric

[Bongo Boy]

The pressure thing doesn't make sense--unless you have a hollow body guitar that's airtight--that would be a weird guitar.

Remember that while two guitars in a unitized bag such as Eric's may be okay--two separate items is the limit for carry on. The last thing you want to have happen is to have them tell you that they have to check your carry-on, and there you are with only a soft bag getting checked into luggage.

Can anyone recommend a good brand name for lockable metal cases that will hold an archtop-style guitar? Heavy duty is what I'm looking for.

[Schnautze]

Hio,

I actually have a semi-hollow gibson 369. But apparently the story with the pressure is related to the strings and I've heard it is necessary to remove them off before flying.... but it's funny because nobody gives a very accured theory about pressure/flying/guitars. I think I'll try to bring both guitars to the plane and if I am not allowed I'll send the classical inside a good case to the freight room....

Schnautze

Thank you