Guitars and aeroplanes?

Buy a hard case, tune down the strings - and don't blame me if it goes wrong ;)

My brother brought me an ovation from the states recently - it arrived in one piece :)

She might be able to bring it on as 'carry-on'. If so, you should have no problems.

And YES Hard case is mandatory!!

Not any hard case, but an ATA approved case. Either SKB or Gator FLIGHT case is the only thing I will use on an airplane, and I have done so with no problems.

I've never flown with a hollow body guitar, I have a solid body for that.

What kind of guitar are you looking at?

Also, check to see how much tax you will have to pay bringing it back in the country. Compare that to the deal you are getting.

Notes

I'm looking at getting an SG-3, which is around £400/$800 cheaper in the states. I will check out the tax situation but it can't make that much differance can it?

Jack

A friend once told me that to carry a guitar on a plane now you have to practically take the thing apart so they know it isn't some sort of explosive device.

That may depend on the airport. Or the personnel or the passengers involved...

There are many, many people flying with instruments and, aside from some friends who fly with electrics and chose to take them apart for easier transport, I've not heard of anyone having this sort of situation at an airport.

But then again, I certainly don't hear from everyone! :wink:

Peace

Have you considered having it FedExed or UPS'd to you rather than flying with it? You can insure it and they can pack it for you so that it doesn't get broken. Just a thought. Shipping overseas might be quite a bit, though!

FedEx and UPS handle the baggage better than the airlines do. When I need to fly, if I have the time I prefer to use UPS and have them hold it for me at the UPS office nearest my destination for pickup by me.

But as E/Blue noted, it might be expensive.

But even if I go UPS, I want to make sure all my instruments are in ATA approved flight cases.

Insights and incites by Notes

Have you considered having it FedExed or UPS'd to you rather than flying with it? You can insure it and they can pack it for you so that it doesn't get broken. Just a thought. Shipping overseas might be quite a bit, though!

+1 if you really don't know how to pack your guitar.

I'm inclined to take a bolt-on neck solidbody. I remove the neck for carry-on in a poster tube, and pack the body in a smaller rectangular flight case for checking. A small rectangular case is much cheaper than entire guitar case and has room for cables and a couple pedals. But for those not inclined to dis-/re-assemble a guitar, I recommend shipping.

For those that check or end up gate-checking a complete guitar with tilt-back headstock -- esp if non-maple, this is important even if in an ATA flight case: Pack tightly crumpled newspaper or densely layered bubble wrap around the headstock to support it in ALL directions. It should not be allow to "hang in space" unsupported inside the case. Loosening the strings doesn't really help the headstock/neck much. String loosening (down a step or two) is good, but mostly protects acoustic and hollow electrics from collateral top/body damage.

I'm looking at getting an SG-3, which is around £400/$800 cheaper in the states. I will check out the tax situation but it can't make that much differance can it?

Jack
Tax and import duty/tarrif can make a significant difference.

Acording to this page from HM Revenue and customs guitars are subject to a 3.2 - 3.7% "standard duty" rate and a 17.5% VAT .

So, what's the purchase price in the USA, convert that to £, add about 22-21% and are you still getting a deal? Especially after buying an "airline resistant" heavy duty case?