I will likely be touring by airplane with my new guitar this summer time. Something to counsel concerning packing or getting ready the guitar for airplane journey? Ought to I tune down the strings? —Emily C.

It is a large matter with fairly a couple of difficult variables, so I’ll simply contact on the fundamentals right here. In my restore work, I encounter a good quantity of airplane/travel-related harm, so let’s start by contemplating the most typical sorts of travel-related accidents.

The principle perpetrator of most baggage-handling harm is influence—the case is thrown, dropped, or in any other case badly handled, and the guitar cracks contained in the case. The 2 large weaknesses listed here are headpieces and tops/backs. Even in well-made circumstances, the headpiece is usually free-floating above the neck assist. When the case is dropped, all of the power of the influence will get absorbed by whichever elements of the instrument can transfer. The mixed weight of the tuners can add as much as a good bit of mass, so the headstock can get a whiplash and break off with out the case ever being opened. To keep away from this, add resilient padding beneath the headpiece, to assist it from beneath. 

I’ve seen some people use the inflatable Winbag building shims as improvised pads for this, however my favourite is a straightforward block of Styrofoam, lower intently to softly contact the again of the headpiece, with out placing any strain when the case is shut. (Wrap it in plastic to keep away from getting the little white beads everywhere in the within the case!)

Cracks within the high and again are sometimes brought on by “punch” accidents within the flat surfaces of the case, after they make contact with a pointy nook or edge. I at all times suggest shopping for one of the best case you’ll be able to afford—it’s often cheaper than a future restore! If the case has sufficient clearance, placing a skinny sheet of Styrofoam on the face of the guitar can’t damage.

Be certain that any batteries or different inside elements are firmly mounted—I’ve seen facet cracks brought on by a battery that got here free and careened round contained in the guitar throughout flight. Higher but, take them out if attainable, and change them upon arrival.

I don’t tune down my guitars for delivery or air journey, although some gamers select to take action. I don’t like placing the guitar by pointless cycles of detuning/retuning, and the strings assist preserve all of the important bits and items in place (bridge pins, saddle, nut, tuning machine nuts/washers, and all the opposite little elements that would so simply get misplaced).

When flying with guitars, it’s equally necessary to suppose outdoors the case. Even with all these cautious preparations, there are a lot of potential risks that lurk all through the method. To get some skilled perception, I consulted jazz guitarist Matt Munisteri, who has been flying together with his acoustic archtops not less than 4 instances a month for the final 20-plus years. Munisteri has seen all of it, and had some road-tested suggestions.

A cloth case cowl with a zipper is a good fail-safe. Latches are sometimes the weakest elements of a case, and TSA has been recognized to pry them aside moderately than taking the additional few seconds to open them correctly. If the latches fail or break, a case cowl (such because the luthier-designed Caseadillo covers) will assist preserve the case shut and the guitar protected. Within the absence of a canopy, it’s a terrific thought to journey with a couple of totally different sizes of zip ties, some gear straps, or perhaps a roll of gaffer’s tape, within the occasion that the case can now not keep shut by itself.

Don’t depend on fundamental baggage tags. I do know a couple of touring professionals who put Apple AirTags of their circumstances (or the guitars themselves), which is an affordable and simple manner to assist preserve tabs on the place they’re. Placing your data contained in the case, in addition to on a label on the case exterior, isn’t a foul thought.

Maintain the case sweet to a minimal. TSA will open a case to have a look at something they’ll’t determine on an X-ray machine, so the string cutters, capos, tuners, and so forth., may all lead to an additional inspection, and as soon as the case is open, all of your cautious packing will seemingly be for naught.

Journey with a tough case. All of us have pals who present as much as the airport with guitars in gig baggage, assured that they’ll be capable to speak their manner out of checking them into baggage. As tempting as this sounds, it’s at all times a roll of the cube. Present up early for the airplane, be relentlessly good-natured to the gate brokers and flight attendants, ask properly, and know your dimensions. (Can the case match an overhead bin? Most of them can.) Part 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act requires air carriers to permit guitars as carry-on objects for storage within the coat closet or overhead bin, however many gate brokers usually are not conscious of this, or have been given conflicting directions by their firms. Though the regulation is in your facet, these questions at all times boil all the way down to enforcement, and the gate agent is the one who in the end makes the decision.

In the identical regulatory vein, if flying internationally, inform your self on CITES rules. Some widespread guitar supplies are potential points when crossing borders—Brazilian rosewood, for instance, in addition to bone and ivory merchandise. The rules make allowances for private and noncommercial devices, however as soon as once more the individual on the customs desk might not know this, or might not wish to take the accountability of permitting one thing by. It’s not at all times simple to inform the distinction between Indian and Brazilian rosewoods, and it’s optimistic at greatest to suppose a customs agent will likely be prepared to strive very onerous to take action. This leads me to my subsequent and probably most necessary suggestion, which Munisteri additionally strongly recommends.

Until you’re a skilled guitarist touring for work, depart the good guitars at residence. There are many cheap devices on in the present day’s market that sound fairly respectable and are enjoyable to play. Their plywood backs and sides grant them additional ruggedness and crack-resistance, and their low costs make them a lot much less dangerous. An affordable guitar with an excellent setup and contemporary strings is an excellent journey companion.

Protected travels to you and your instrument!