Bill Dutcher – Modern Acoustic Guitarist

Throwing your guitar…well, not really throwing it… in the back seat of the car and going to the gig is commonplace, but what about flying to a gig and bringing your guitar?  We’ve all heard horror stories of instruments getting demolished and even stolen through major airlines, but there are some common sense things you can do to protect your guitar.

1.  When ever I fly to a gig I take pictures of whatever gear I’m bringing.  I type up a word document with make, models and serial numbers.  I put all the pictures and descriptions on a memory stick (portable flash drive) and keep it in my pocket.  If there’s any problem with theft or if your instrument shows up with damage, you’ve got documentation to show the airlines if you need to file a claim.  I STRONGLY recommend you research the policies and procedures of the airlines your flying as to instrument policies AND what are the weight and size limits.  When I fly with my harp guitar I always get hit for the over-sized, over-weight charge.

2.  Getting your guitar to the plane.  This is THE BEST scenario.  Remember TSA policies and procedures are NOT the same as the airlines.  Whenever possible carry your guitar to the plane.  You’ll most likely have it tagged and you’ll be asked to leave it at the door to the plane where all the strollers and wheelchairs are.  This is THE BEST way to do it in my opinion.  The instrument will be carried by hand from where you left it, to the baggage storage area of the plane.  When you arrive it will be brought back up and you can get it once you get off the plane.  This  bypasses any possibility of it getting mangled by the ‘baggage gorrilas’. NEVER, NEVER check your guitar at the kiosk or at curbside check-in, as long as it is not over-sized and overweight.  Depending on the capacity of the flight and the mood of the flight attendants you may be able to actually get it on the plane if it fits in the overheads.  Some people have luck with this if you have the guitar in a soft gig bag but this is NOT a sure thing.  You might have a full flight or the flight attendants are having a bad day, so in my opinion, bring it in a hard case.

3.  How to get your guitar through TSA:  I’ve had a few TSA agent ‘know-it-alls’ tell me, “Sir!, you’ll have to go back and check that guitar!”  “It’s not allowed through here!”  Well…Here’s your ‘golden ticket’ that is sure to shut them up!  Click the blue link.

TSA Carry On letter    Once Mr. know-it-all thinks he’s got you, smile and pull out this letter.  It’s from the President of the AMA to the President of the TSA confirming that musical instruments are cleared for carry-on.  I print two of them.  I keep one in the guitar case and one in my pocket.

3.  Keeping your guitar secure while waiting for your flight:  Here’s an inexpensive solution to securing your instrument while waiting for your flight.

I keep a bicycle chain/combination lock on my case handle.  That way I can lock it to the leg of the chair I’m sitting in and leave it there if I need to use the restroom.  Of course I ask someone next to me to watch it as your not supposed to leave unattended bags, but at least that person can say something if security walks up and asks.  I also lock it around the case before I leave it at the gate to be loaded on the plane.  Just an extra precaution.

4.  To loosen or not to loosen the strings:  This is a tough one.  Some people do and some don’t.  As long as the instrument is securely positioned in the case and does not shift back and forth inside the case in any way, you should be o.k.  I stuff a sock underneath the headstock and roll my strap up and stuff it next to the cut-a-way of the guitar.  That way it does not move.  What breaks the head stocks on guitars is if the instrument shifts around and suffers a fall.  Some say to loosen the strings messes with the set-up of the guitar and while flying in the cold baggage compartment, can effect the playability once you arrive and re-tune it.  If heard of situations were even after loosening the strings the headstock broke due to moving around in the case.

In closing:  There’s nothing more heartbreaking then a damaged or stolen instrument and if you follow these simple steps the chance of anything bad happening will be diminished!