Travelling with a Tele (in two parts)

[benhatchins]

Thanks for the update! I’ve found that booking my travels through an agency, like costco travel for example, makes the whole process much easier. They handle all the details and solve any issues that arise, which takes a lot of stress off my shoulders. Whether it’s managing flight changes, hotel reservations, or any unexpected problems during the trip, having an agency do it for me ensures a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience. It’s definitely worth considering if you want a hassle-free way to plan your travels.

[Saytomatt]

I’ve done the neck-off trick on a few teles too, and tossing a soft cloth between the neck and body helped me avoid tiny scuffs. I also stash the screws in a little zip bag taped inside the case so they don’t wander. For flights where I wanted to save some energy for the gig, booking a comfy seat through https://travelbusinessclass.com made the whole trip way less of a grind.

[Bob_Ross]

I used a Steinberger for several years. People looked at me in the airport because the case looked like it may have a rifle in it.

Way back in the 1980s I got stopped by a gaggle of New York City Transit Police officers as I was entering a subway turnstile with my Steinberger L-2. They definitely thought it looked like a rifle.

The funny thing was, after I took it out of the case to show them, they still didn't know what it was! I had to play a couple bars of Pink Floyd's "Money" before they understood that it was a bass guitar!

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re: OP's question

I have sold a couple instruments and shipped them to the buyer with the neck removed as described, and no one complained on the receiving end, so I guess all went well.
However, the one time I tried travelling with my bass disassembled in that fashion, the action was never the same after I re-assembled it. This was a fretless bass with super-low action, and something about how I re-attached the neck made it such that I could never re-create that setup: A few strings either buzzed on sections of the fingerboard, or I had the raise the string saddles slightly.

[Gilpy]

This is my Squier Affinity Strat that I cut down for minimum weight and size. It cost about $80 used. The scale is about 23 1/2” and I trimmed the headstock so it fits in a small carry on with the neck off.
I have flown all over the U.S. and Europe with it and my stubby screwdriver with no problem.
It’s just enough guitar to keep me from withdrawal when traveling light. Original wood screw holes are still good after many uses.

[Aiq]

I used a Steinberger for several years. People looked at me in the airport because the case looked like it may have a rifle in it.

I like the wood filler idea.

My Hofner Shorty was carefully inspected at the Manchester, England airport. They also x-rayed the reverb pedal I bought at JG Windows in Newcastle which I just learned closed in 2024, in business since 1908.

The pedal cost a little more than I would’ve paid in the US but I wanted to shop at the same store as Mark Knopfler.