Traveling with a Tele: Is this safe to do?

deep · May 13th, 2008, 01:30 PM

I am going to Haiti for a year to work with the UN there. I dont wanna go thru the hassle with the airline guys with a gigbag and carry on stuff so I was thinking I would unscrew the neck of my 52RI Tele and put that and the body neatly wrapped in towels inside my hardshell suitcase along with my other stuffs in it.

Has anyone tried this? Would I pose any threat to my Tele? Is this recommended? Thanks

bo · May 13th, 2008, 01:36 PM

Yes and it works great. If you do it a lot you may want to have inserts done. Don't forget to bring a screw driver!

CatfishStudios · May 13th, 2008, 01:41 PM

I did this on a quick trip to California..they did ask me to open and looked at it..but it was fine...much easier than checking it into luggage..much safer because only im handling it.. And the peace of mind knowing where it is at all times was priceless

teleon · May 13th, 2008, 01:46 PM

urbanhiker · May 13th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Bill Kirchen did it for years, but eventually had to get work done on the inserts.

Teleglide · May 13th, 2008, 02:08 PM

I've done this for the last 6 or 7 years. My wife is a singer and we play a few gigs in the Caribbean every Feb. I took a Carvin 1x12 cab down a while back and left it therre - I bring a Crate Powerblock and the Tele.

Removing the neck works great. I've thought about installing inserts but haven't done so yet.

hamish5178 · May 13th, 2008, 02:23 PM

What if the neck has been shimmed with something, does Fender ever do that?

It would suck to have a little piece of wood fall out and not be able to get it lined back up right, especially when you're out of the country.

I've had a few experiences flying with guitars and it's never been a problem at all. The attendants either put it in the first class coat closet or behind the last row of seats.

woodman · May 13th, 2008, 03:22 PM

i've seen a lot of shimmed Fenders, but they were glued IIRC. doesn't seem like that would be a deal-breaker.

surfoverb · May 13th, 2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodman

i've seen a lot of shimmed Fenders, but they were glued IIRC. doesn't seem like that would be a deal-breaker.

They may not be glued but you could glue them in...My jag has 4 shims and one time after I removed and put the neck back on I tuned up and I look on the floor and 1 of the shims lay there.

The other day I saw a luggage-type bag for a trombone (IIRC) and I thought it was perfect size for a Tele with the neck off that would work as gate check.

ASAT-Sean · May 13th, 2008, 05:32 PM

I do that all the time with my ASAT and 63 CS. If you travel a lot you'll have to do some work on the screw holes.

garytelecastor · May 13th, 2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleon

The coolest part about this vid is Keef goes right back to playing and the guitar is still in tune.

deep · May 14th, 2008, 11:39 AM

Thanks everyone. Dumb Question here....whats an insert?

flyingb54 · May 14th, 2008, 12:16 PM

I always fly with the gig bag. Hardly ever a problem.
JB
www.johnbeland.com

boris bubbanov · May 14th, 2008, 01:12 PM

I wouldn't be afraid to do that, going to California, Europe, Japan, Mexico City, Singapore, etc. but the chance of bringing it back home for Haiti is 50/50. Or less.

May I suggest the idea of buying a Squier Tele Standard and getting it set up about the way you like your guitars, use that while yer down there, and then make it a gift to someone there if it is still in your possession when you're scheduled to return. I understand things are 'real' down there.

SatelliteOrders · May 14th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I went to Haiti and brought my guitar about 16 years ago. Small acoustic. I shoved it in a duffel and put it in carry-on.

pbenn · May 14th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Another approach is to keep the complete guitar in the OHSC and pack socks, t-shirts and underwear around the guitar.

younkint · May 14th, 2008, 02:55 PM

Traveling was the #1 reason I picked up an old Peavey Reactor. Of course, now I adore it and scared of losing IT! Seems like there's no winning...

Cross Roads · May 14th, 2008, 05:14 PM

I travel every couple of months, so I recently started doing this with a Squire mini strat, and take along a Micro cube. It all fits in a carry on.

Replace the screws with hex head screws so you can carry a small ratchet on the plane, they frown on screw drivers.

In the future I'll drill and install threaded inserts if I wear the screw holes out.

Michaell · May 14th, 2008, 09:30 PM

I did that once with a Washburn electric

I have had no trouble with electric guitars on planes ONLY when guitar is

hardbody.....hard shell case...strings loosened....

YoGeorge · May 14th, 2008, 10:23 PM

...just soak the threads in the neck screw holes with some superglue. They'll harden up and take a LARGE number of neck removals without giving you any issues. I've actually "restored" some semi-stripped neck screw holes with superglue this way.

Don't fill the hole with the glue, but use a toothpick, matchstick, etc to give the inner threads a good solid coating....the superglue will mostly penetrate the wood, and make it really nice and hard. Let it dry, and maybe soap the screws the first time you assemble it again.

Don't get superglue on the guitar finish, glue your fingers together, splash it in your eye and glue your eyelids together, etc...

George

BluesCat58 · May 14th, 2008, 10:39 PM

i just carry mine on as a carry-on. i don't push the limits, one guitar and one little bag for under the seat in front of me. i've even traveled with a dreadnaught acoustic - as a carry on.

SMPTE · May 14th, 2008, 11:58 PM

I think if you take it to Haiti it's gonna disappear.

Ira7 · May 15th, 2008, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deep

Thanks everyone. Dumb Question here....whats an insert?

Where the screw holes are, you would glue in round metal threaded inserts, and you would now use flat-ended machine screws--not pointy wood screws--to attach the neck. This way, you're not stripping the wood using wood screws each time you remove and reinsert.

deep · May 18th, 2008, 01:14 PM

Thanks all for the replies so far. HMmmmm.....I am there for almost 18 months so I am thinking maybe buy a cheap electric at a guitar store there somewhere and leave it or gift it to someone when I come back. Maybe I'll just take my Pignose and the RC booster along.

mojo2001 · May 18th, 2008, 04:01 PM

I wouldn't count on too many guitar stores in Haiti either.

Best to bring a cheap Squier--nothing too fancy or shiny. It is a very poor country and probably not the safest place on the planet to go running around with a pimped out guitar at night. Per capita income is less than than a good tele--$400.

And bring LOTS of strings, which may be like gold down there and a perfect gift for the players you will meet.

May 13th, 2008, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
deep TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Age: 34 Posts: 18	Traveling with a Tele: Is this safe to do? I am going to Haiti for a year to work with the UN there. I dont wanna go thru the hassle with the airline guys with a gigbag and carry on stuff so I was thinking I would unscrew the neck of my 52RI Tele and put that and the body neatly wrapped in towels inside my hardshell suitcase along with my other stuffs in it. Has anyone tried this? Would I pose any threat to my Tele? Is this recommended? Thanks

May 13th, 2008, 01:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
bo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,658	Yes and it works great. If you do it a lot you may want to have inserts done. Don't forget to bring a screw driver! __________________ www.bourbondynasty.com

May 13th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
CatfishStudios Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon , United States Age: 32 Posts: 594	I did this on a quick trip to California..they did ask me to open and looked at it..but it was fine...much easier than checking it into luggage..much safer because only im handling it.. And the peace of mind knowing where it is at all times was priceless __________________ “Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.”-Jerry Garcia

May 13th, 2008, 01:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
teleon Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nevada Age: 41 Posts: 200 14 Photos	Safe and a fine multi-tasker

May 13th, 2008, 02:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
hamish5178 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Delaware Age: 16 Posts: 155	What if the neck has been shimmed with something, does Fender ever do that? It would suck to have a little piece of wood fall out and not be able to get it lined back up right, especially when you're out of the country. I've had a few experiences flying with guitars and it's never been a problem at all. The attendants either put it in the first class coat closet or behind the last row of seats. __________________ Gibson SG Standard Fender 52 RI '77 Deluxe Reverb SunFace w/ Sundial - ProCo RAT MXR Carbon Copy - EH Clone Theory FE

May 13th, 2008, 01:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
urbanhiker TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Durham, NC Age: 52 Posts: 26	Bill Kirchen did it for years, but eventually had to get work done on the inserts.

May 13th, 2008, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Teleglide TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vershire, VT Posts: 82	I've done this for the last 6 or 7 years. My wife is a singer and we play a few gigs in the Caribbean every Feb. I took a Carvin 1x12 cab down a while back and left it therre - I bring a Crate Powerblock and the Tele. Removing the neck works great. I've thought about installing inserts but haven't done so yet.

May 13th, 2008, 03:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,183	i've seen a lot of shimmed Fenders, but they were glued IIRC. doesn't seem like that would be a deal-breaker. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

May 13th, 2008, 05:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
ASAT-Sean Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ozark,MO Posts: 129	I do that all the time with my ASAT and 63 CS. If you travel a lot you'll have to do some work on the screw holes. __________________ "I am Jack's total lack of surprise."http://www.thehighriders.com

May 14th, 2008, 11:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
deep TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Age: 34 Posts: 18	Thanks everyone. Dumb Question here....whats an insert?

May 14th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
flyingb54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BRENHAM TEXAS Age: 58 Posts: 810	I always fly with the gig bag. Hardly ever a problem. JB www.johnbeland.com __________________ "Son, that has nothing to do with nothin'"....Bill Monroe

May 14th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 5,861	I wouldn't be afraid to do that, going to California, Europe, Japan, Mexico City, Singapore, etc. but the chance of bringing it back home for Haiti is 50/50. Or less. May I suggest the idea of buying a Squier Tele Standard and getting it set up about the way you like your guitars, use that while yer down there, and then make it a gift to someone there if it is still in your possession when you're scheduled to return. I understand things are 'real' down there. __________________ Bubban0v

May 14th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
SatelliteOrders Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lafayette, IN Age: 38 Posts: 358	I went to Haiti and brought my guitar about 16 years ago. Small acoustic. I shoved it in a duffel and put it in carry-on. __________________

May 14th, 2008, 01:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
pbenn Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 52 Posts: 476	Another approach is to keep the complete guitar in the OHSC and pack socks, t-shirts and underwear around the guitar.

May 14th, 2008, 02:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
younkint Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spring, Texas Age: 54 Posts: 212	Traveling was the #1 reason I picked up an old Peavey Reactor. Of course, now I adore it and scared of losing IT! Seems like there's no winning... __________________ . -- Terry

May 14th, 2008, 11:58 PM	#22 (permalink)
SMPTE Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneeeesoooottta Posts: 1,033	I think if you take it to Haiti it's gonna disappear. __________________ Hwy. 1 Texas Telecaster, EJ Stratocaster, MIJ Jazzmaster, Epi Casino Bigsby & Staples, Gibson '61 RI SG, Steinberger Spirit Squier Precision Bass, EMGs & USA Jazz neck

May 14th, 2008, 05:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
Cross Roads Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 47 Posts: 152	I travel every couple of months, so I recently started doing this with a Squire mini strat, and take along a Micro cube. It all fits in a carry on. Replace the screws with hex head screws so you can carry a small ratchet on the plane, they frown on screw drivers. In the future I'll drill and install threaded inserts if I wear the screw holes out.

May 14th, 2008, 09:30 PM	#19 (permalink)
Michaell Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: on the bus Posts: 592	I did that once with a Washburn electric I have had no trouble with electric guitars on planes ONLY when guitar is hardbody.....hard shell case...strings loosened.... __________________ WWLD

May 14th, 2008, 10:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
YoGeorge TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Age: 56 Posts: 18	Plenty safe, and instead of inserts.... ...just soak the threads in the neck screw holes with some superglue. They'll harden up and take a LARGE number of neck removals without giving you any issues. I've actually "restored" some semi-stripped neck screw holes with superglue this way. Don't fill the hole with the glue, but use a toothpick, matchstick, etc to give the inner threads a good solid coating....the superglue will mostly penetrate the wood, and make it really nice and hard. Let it dry, and maybe soap the screws the first time you assemble it again. Don't get superglue on the guitar finish, glue your fingers together, splash it in your eye and glue your eyelids together, etc... George

May 14th, 2008, 10:39 PM	#21 (permalink)
BluesCat58 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York Posts: 7	i just carry mine on as a carry-on. i don't push the limits, one guitar and one little bag for under the seat in front of me. i've even traveled with a dreadnaught acoustic - as a carry on. __________________ Blues for Peace http://www.myspace.com/NYCBluesTrio

May 18th, 2008, 01:14 PM	#24 (permalink)
deep TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal Age: 34 Posts: 18	Thanks all for the replies so far. HMmmmm.....I am there for almost 18 months so I am thinking maybe buy a cheap electric at a guitar store there somewhere and leave it or gift it to someone when I come back. Maybe I'll just take my Pignose and the RC booster along.

May 18th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#25 (permalink)
mojo2001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colonial Virginia Age: 48 Posts: 157	I wouldn't count on too many guitar stores in Haiti either. Best to bring a cheap Squier--nothing too fancy or shiny. It is a very poor country and probably not the safest place on the planet to go running around with a pimped out guitar at night. Per capita income is less than than a good tele--$400. And bring LOTS of strings, which may be like gold down there and a perfect gift for the players you will meet.