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Hi all,
I’m flying with my tele packed
in a suitcase with the neck removed from the body ….
(capo on the first fret strings staying on)
It’s fairly easy to do the diss-assembly
and re-assembly thing
anyone travelled like this ?
is there anything I should watch out for ?
thanks
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05-28-2024 07:05 AM
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I’ve been thinking of doing this, too, after finding various travel guitars somehow disappointing.
I read that some of those who travel with Teles this way have inserted screw sockets where the neck attached so repeated on and off doesn’t wear down the wood. IIRC, I think Bill Frisell did this with his travel Tele.
I hope others who know more can chime in on this question.
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I used to do that with my lightest guitar (a chambered Strat) before I got a travel guitar. It works well. I'd put a capo on the first fret and loosen the strings just enough to release the neck so you don't even have to put the strings back on the guitar. You can also throw a Katana-mini in the bag. It weighs and costs next to nothing.
The long scale neck may not fit inside a carry-on luggage. A short scale bolt-on guitar like a Mustang would probably work even better for that purpose when you don't want to check-in a luggage.
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Originally Posted by JazzPadd
Last edited by Tal_175; 05-28-2024 at 08:32 AM.
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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.
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Originally Posted by Tal_175
Ive ordered one of these ….
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0B...b_b_prod_image
£30 if it makes any kind of cleanish
sound will be fine , it’s just so i can
practice for a gig coming up
rechargeable USB C and
doubles as a BT speaker which
will be nice for travelling too ….
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I see I’m not allowed to take
any kind of tools in my cabin bag
(so i think i’ll just have to borrow
or buy a cheap cross head screwdriver
when i get there)
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Originally Posted by pingu
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Originally Posted by Tal_175
allow a 56 x 45 x 25cm cabin bag
which is just big enough on the diagonal for a tele neck
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I travel with a tele in a gig bag. Have never had an issue getting it onto the plane. TSA regulation says if there’s room they can’t ask you to check it.
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos;[URL="tel:1338709"
sorry I should have said that
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Errrr … if there’s any precision at all to that neck pocket fit, then it’s not a good idea.
I worked for a guitar builder for a time and every time they removed the neck, they had to refit it.
Honestly might not matter for a fender, but they’re built to be easily reparable in the event of damage, jot to be just taken apart for storage and transport etc.
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Originally Posted by pingu
Edit: I have always packed in a large backpack and checked it as baggage.
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Originally Posted by omphalopsychos
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Originally Posted by pingu
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Julian Lage put some bolts into his telecaster neck mount to make it easy to disassemble the guitar for travel. Explanation at the link below:
Julian Lage shares pro tip for traveling with a Telecaster – remove the neck completely | Guitar World
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thanks for the JL tele pics man ,
rad ….
I’m gonna stay with the stock
woodscrews for now as i don’t fly with
the tele very often ….
the stubby screwdriver is a good idea
I’ve got one around here somewhere ,
I’m gonna go search it out now ….
cheers
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Very interesting idea. My one thought is that bolts and tools (e.g., screwdrivers) might be confiscated at security in some places (unless checked). I remember a few years back, I had a truss rod hex wrench in the case for a Washburn Rover and that was taken by airport security.
I travel frequently internationally and now travel with a Journey Instruments Overhead Electric (Overhead Electric Travel Guitars - Journey Instruments). For an electric travel guitar, it is a solid option. It is good enough for a jam. If I was to perform with it regularly, I'd make a few upgrades to the electronics.
I have heard good things about Ciari guitars, but I have not had a chance to try yet.
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Originally Posted by pingu;[URL="tel:1338696"
has gone back ….
it was too quiet on the clean setting
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Originally Posted by pingu
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Bill Kirchen put in the bolt inserts described above. He might actually have been the first person to do it and talk about it.
If you're traveling with solid-body guitars often you might look into the Voyage Air TransAxe guitars. Not cheap--but I can vouch they are well made and reliable.
TransAxe Series are compact electrics, stored in the included backpack case, the size of a laptop, gives up nothing in tone.
I will be taking my OM-size VA flattop with me to Colorado on Friday. Once I took the guitar in the case to Jamaica as my only luggage. I stuffed the soundhole with underwear and socks and shirts. It even fit under the seat.Last edited by Doctor Jeff; 05-29-2024 at 06:01 PM.
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Originally Posted by pingu
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Originally Posted by mike_k;[URL="tel:1339175"
those ….
but I already own a Spark mini ….
so I’m gonna carry the bit of extra weight and take the mini in my
cabin bag
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so to update
yeah it all worked great
the security guy at the airport said “what’s in the bag”
about 4 times then re x-rayed it for a while
then opened up the bag and said “ok so its a guitar” …. I said “yeah it a guitar”
i had packed a stubby crosshead screwdriver which went through ok
I just re-assembled and tuned it up
and it all seems fine ….
so method recommended ….
George Barnes plays Bach/1966
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