Flying with 330

[Rickyrules]

Hi all

Sorry about another question on flying with a Rickenbacker!

I've got a good hard case so I'm going to check my 330. The worry I have is it getting lost or stolen.

To that end, it's crossed my mind to remove as much as possible and put it in my hand luggage. I'm thinking mainly the nameplate and R tailpiece. Both are expensive to replace and the guitar isn't half as attractive to steal without them.

Obviously without the R tailpiece I have to remove the strings. Would the guitar be ok unstrung for 24 hours whilst being transported?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

[cjj]

Just how good is your "good hard case?"

If it's not an ATA flight case, it prolly ain't good enough...

[Rickyrules]

Its a Hiscox Liteflite Pro II

[vjf1968]

You need something more substantial like this http://www.roadcasesusa.com/guitar-and-bass-cases/

[jps]

The worry I have is it getting lost or stolen.

You have every right to worry about that. Ever since the Bush II era way more things have "gone missing" from airport luggage than previous to then. TSA folks seem to have very sticky fingers as these stolen items usually occur while in their possession behind closed walls of airports. YMMV.

[Rickyrules]

You don't think the Hiscox is good enough?

[vjf1968]

You don't think the Hiscox is good enough?

I think I would feel better with something ATA approved. Something with metal reinforcement in the corners and latches than lock. You need to remember that the case can (and probably will) fall maybe 6 feet or more while loading and unloading. You want something strong and can take multiple hits while keeping the guitar safe. Unless you intend to do this often you may get lucky with the Hiscox.

I guess you could put a guitar you don't care about in the Hiscox case and chuck it from the roof of your house or knock it down a flight of stairs and see how the guitar is afterward.

[stringsncords]

I've pre-boarded with my guitar, after explaining that I had a special-need carry on that had to be stored before the bulk of the passengers boarded.

Just give a nice, sincere smile. And then explain that your guitar is too valuable to put into the general baggage. (BTW -A friend of mine had a Gibson Explorer stolen from baggage)

It worked for me!

[cjj]

The worry I have is it getting lost or stolen.

You have every right to worry about that. Ever since the Bush II era way more things have "gone missing" from airport luggage than previous to then. TSA folks seem to have very sticky fingers as these stolen items usually occur while in their possession behind closed walls of airports. YMMV.

Which brings to mind another essential you should carry whilst traveling with a valuable guitar... Insurance...

[Rickyrules]

Thanks all.

What about removing the strings?

[jps]

No need to remove the strings so long as you are keeping the tailpiece on the guitar; it was designed and built to be at tension, if you are concerned, tune down around 1/2 step, perhaps, but not too loose that the R tailpiece may move around.

[Rickyrules]

I was thinking of removing the tailpiece, making it less attractive to steal

[jps]

In that case, remove the strings and coil them up and away from the guitar, itself. No need to loosen the truss rods for the relatively short duration the string s will be off the guitar.

[jdogric12]

I've pre-boarded with my guitar, after explaining that I had a special-need carry on that had to be stored before the bulk of the passengers boarded.

Just give a nice, sincere smile. And then explain that your guitar is too valuable to put into the general baggage. (BTW -A friend of mine had a Gibson Explorer stolen from baggage)

It worked for me!

this

[Ephi82]

It's not that complex.

You really think someone is going to take your tailpiece off the guitar and steal it to the point that you will remove it and the strings?

I routinely carry an electric or an acoustic on US flights. (Martin, Les Paul, Strat etc)

I bring it to the gate, and if the flight is not heavily booked, they will let you carry it on board. THis is a great test of your charm and charisma as a musical star. If not, you gate check it, and it goes into a section of the cargo hold with the baby seats and strollers. It appears at the jet door 5 minutes after you land.

The last people airlines want to **** off are parents with kids, and whiny people like us musicians, so your axe is in reasonable hands. By the way, cargo holds are temperature/pressure controlled just like the passenger cabin.

I would make sure that you pack your guitar so the neck doesn't bang around where it rests in the case. A fracture at the nut is the most common damage done to Gibson style guitars. Stick a rolled up sock in the headstock cavity of the case so that it cant bang around in there. DO NOT slacken the string tension. The axe is designed to be most stable and strongest under string tension.(as it is 99.9% of the time)