Carrying on a Pedalboard

I have the small gator powered pedalboard with 9 pedals on it, with the pedal case it came with. I'm wondering if I'll have any trouble carrying this on a plane. It is small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of me and it carries easily by a handle. Just looks like a briefcase, really. I'm thinking security will be pretty curious. Think I'll have any major issues?

It should be OK. Last time I flew with a pedal board, I got into a discussion with the TSA guy about the merits of the OCD vs. other overdrive units. So they were curious, but not like you would think...

Haha, I actually have the OCD.

"sir can I see that'

"sure just don't push the red button!"

Will I have to take the board out of the case when it goes through security, like taking a lap top out of it's case?

Just make sure none of the pedals have scary names like "nuclear blast overdrive" or something.

Just make sure none of the pedals have scary names like "nuclear blast overdrive" or something.
Hahahaha :lol:

I have the small gator powered pedalboard with 9 pedals on it, with the pedal case it came with. I'm wondering if I'll have any trouble carrying this on a plane. It is small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of me and it carries easily by a handle. Just looks like a briefcase, really. I'm thinking security will be pretty curious. Think I'll have any major issues?

Until my last trip I'd have said "yes". You may anyhow, but some of them appear to have found at least a sense of humor, I ended up singing Rush's "Subdivisions" in a duet with the guy running the backscatter machine while I was getting scanned.

Best TSA experience ever.

They may not like this one.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JhqunzTuL._SS500_.jpg

I've had (carry-on) pedals on and off a board for travel (but never 9) and haven't had a problem.

Last couple times, I just took 3 "must have" pedals and a strip of unused velcro - put some on a scrap of wood or directly on the floor. Instant pedal board, and it all fits in a Fender case.

"sir can I see that'

"sure just don't push the red button!"

Lol

As long as it's within the size limitations, there's nothing involved in a pedal board that would be against carryon restrictions.

If it were me running the security I'd make you open every pedal. But that's because I know what you could put inside a thing like a pedal.

Let me put it another way. I used to do some support work on an army base. When I would get to the gate they'd look under my car, they'd raise the hood and the trunk, they'd open all the doors - but not once did they look in the big plastic pod that was attached to the roof.

they'd look under my car, they'd raise the hood and the trunk, they'd open all the doors - but not once did they look in the big plastic pod that was attached to the roof.

I was a news photographer. We went to a max security prison to interview a death row inmate. The guards made me turn on the camera, roll tape...they patted me and the reporter down. They didn't bother to check what was in the 4'x2' light kit that rattled and clanked every time it was moved.

DFW airport security completely dismantled my 35mm film camera rig one morning. Took everything apart, camera, lenses, filters, etc. and laid it all over the counter at the entrance to the xray and detector area. And when I complained about them taking it all apart and not putting any of it back together the guy said...and I quote, "Sir you'd be surprised how many people try to smuggle machine guns disguised as cameras on board airplanes." I replied very loudly that 'yes, I would be surprised to know how many people had done that! Why don't you share those statistics with me!' It was 5 am and I was really PO'd at the time. The guy just turned away and ignored me as I put my gear back together and back into the case. And that was long before 9/11 occurred.

More recently I was at the airport and the TSA guy that was screening people was a former intern on the promotions team at a local radio station I worked at. Now here he is, a TSA security guy. So I stopped to talk to him for a moment. He said that the TSA paid almost 30 grand a year plus benefits. So he makes the big leap from giving away free kuzys and bumper stickers at radio station promotional events to a full on security job at the airport saving America from terrorists. Great qualifications.

If it were me running the security I'd make you open every pedal. But that's because I know what you could put inside a thing like a pedal.

Let me put it another way. I used to do some support work on an army base. When I would get to the gate they'd look under my car, they'd raise the hood and the trunk, they'd open all the doors - but not once did they look in the big plastic pod that was attached to the roof.

Forget it then. I'm not a terrorist. I'd drive to my destination if I could.

What if the pedals were in their separate boxes and within my checked luggage? Would you still make me pull those out and search them for bombs?

...