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As guitar enthusiasts we always would like to have access to a guitar.  Whether we want to work on some new material, practice, or just want play to unwind.

As a business professional, I often am required to travel to different cities and be away from home for a week at a time.  What an opportunity to get some in some playing time while in the hotel room in the evening rather than surfing the internet or looking for something to watch on the TV.  However, transporting a full-size guitar is not an easy task.

• First, the challenge to take a full size electric guitar with you on a trip is cumbersome to put it mildly. It is bulky and would force you to check the guitar or your other carry-on.
• There is a high risk that the airlines do not allow you to take the guitar as a carry-on item. If you must check the guitar, it may be damaged beyond repair.
• Even if you clear all of the security requirements to get the guitar on the plane, will you have room on you flight to store the guitar. If you are unsuccessful, your worst nightmare is realized – the guitar gets checked.
  The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

• Finally, let’s say you are on your outbound flight. Now you need to repeat the process to return home or for your next correcting flight.

I have been a very frequent flyer with more than 2.5 million miles in the air.  My experience confirms two facts:

• The flights are more crowded and the storage space is always at premium. Even a high status traveler is not guaranteed to have enough space for a guitar and other carry-on luggage
  • Airline staff are less accommodating to allow oversize carry-on items

Although there are tips to get your guitar on the plane may get you through the process. However, based on my experience, there is no guarantee that something will go wrong and your guitar is damaged.  http://www.guitaradventures.com/10-tips-flying-with-your-guitar

Here’s a CNN report on a traveler who had his $10,000 guitar ground up in the airline baggage conveyor…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-1r7hFIND0

As a result, the only solution is to have an electric guitar that can collapse down to a size that allows easy transport on a plane.  At the same time, the guitar needs to be a full-scale instrument that plays and feels like your favorite guitar.

 

As was discussed in a previous BLOG, the electric travel guitar must be able to be fit under the seat, on your carry-on or easily in the overhead.  Many so-called electric travel guitars do not meet the TSA carry-on airline criteria so storage becomes a challenge and the ability to transport the instrument is a challenge.

If you were able to have an affordable performance quality electric guitar that meets all TSA airline requirements, this would provide a solution to any guitarist that travels.  This guitar would  eliminate any risk of damaging any of their vintage collection. This is the reason we came up with the Stewart Stow-Away guitar line.  For me, I have traveled more than 250K miles with my Stow-Away and I have never had to check the instrument on a plane.  If you get one, you will never be without your guitar again !!!  Who would not want a guitar like that as part of their collection?  See www.stewartguitars.com.

 

When looking for an Electric Travel Guitar there are a number of reasons why we want our guitar with us. We might want to gig long distance, keep fresh for upcoming shows, prepare new material on the road or just like playing anytime.

There are a few key requirements that are essential to make the experience productive and fun for any guitarist.

• If the neck or body are not full-scale, it forces a guitarist to change his playing style which is counter productive to any guitar players goals.
• With this in mind, the set-up and feel of the electric travel guitar needs to be familiar to not inhibit any guitarist techniques. The goal is a drop in solution that could be used to play in any venue including live shows.
• The tone of the instrument needs to not be compromised in any way. Ideally it should be able to meet the stringent requirements of professional studio recording.
• It is non-negotiable that the travel guitar must stay in tune and the intonation must remain stable.
• The neck needs of the electric travel guitar at adjustable truss rod for adjustment based on the climate and guitarists’ preference
• String changing needs to be very straight forward and the instrument should be able to use standard ball-type strings.
• Individual saddle adjustment would be very desirable to allow the set-up of the instrument to be personalized for each guitar player.
• Price point needs to be reasonable. Anyone who travels should have this tool in their guitar collection.
Although there are some choices in the electric travel guitar market, I have not seen any options that can meet all of the above requirements other than the Stewart Stow-Away Guitar. I would urge you to make the comparison yourself. See www.stewartguitars.com for more details on the Stewart Stow-Away.