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.
