Disassembling a Telecaster for Air travel

[vmodified]

This topic has been discussed countless times. However I am looking for some fresh responses. So here it goes:

I need to travel from North to South America, for what it's like a 10-hour travel time, changing planes 2 times.

I will be already dispatching my Epiphone 335 as checked luggage for obvious size reasons (I've bought a special suitcase designed for airtravel and mishandling).
Now I got my new Squier V. Modified Telecaster Special and since it's a bolt-on guitar, I was thinking of unscrewing the neck and taking it in two parts.

Now, my question is:

Should I put the neck in the suitcase, and take the body as carry-on? Or do I just put both parts in the checked suitcase?

I'm concerned that the security people see "compartments with cables" and want to open the baggage, either it's my carry-on or it's a checked suitcase, so I don't know what's better.

Does someone suggest to just take the "complete" guitar (without disassembling it) with me as carry-on in a soft gig-bag?

Thank you for your suggestions.

[TeleKato]

Unless you're traveling First Class -- and even then I'd have doubts -- I can't imagine how you could get a full-sized guitar in a gig-bag on as carry-on. You know those little 'boxes' they ask you to fit your stuff in ... won't work. I have managed to carry on a Traveler guitar many times, but it gets a few halting looks.

I think you'd be fine to take the neck off and put it your regular luggage, along with the body. You never know what will trigger them opening your checked bags anyway, so it's always a crap shoot. I think you'd have less opportunity to have it examined if you left it assembled, bought yourself an SKB-style TSA-lock-bearing guitar travel case. In end, might be just the best thing.

Good luck! I'll be watching as I've had the same question.

[BLAM]

I'd call the airline and airport first and check. I've travelled with a Traveler as cabin luggage too and it does get some pretty sceptical looks but not to the point of confiscation. If you can get some kind of prior written dispensation all the better.

[stilesg57]

Tried this once with a Strat and got booted from my flight at the security check. I kid you not, the Strat neck in carry-on luggage was considered a "club" by the TSA, and therefore a weapon. I'm f'ing serious.

My dad's a pilot and he couldn't believe it happened. This was circa 2007 so it wasn't in the immediate aftermath of that event either. Grrrr....I'm still angry about it.

[Togman]

Ah, I see you are concerned about your Telecaster damaging the Aircraft.

[BoogerRooger]

I've taken a couple of Teles to Thailand from the UK. Just unscrewed the neck, chucked it in a case with the body and screwed it back on the other end, no problem.

[ifallalot]

Since I don't want to get banned I will not discuss my feelings on the TSA

Put both parts in your suitcase wrapped in clothes

[Rolling Estonian]

I have traveled many times over the last few years and have carried on my tele, in an SKB case. After the United debacle the airlines have never given me a problem. If it didn't fit in the overhead because of them being full, I've put it in the closet up front.

M

[Teleglide]

I've traveled to the Caribbean many times with my Tele. Typically I pack the body in a carry-on (backpack) and put the neck in a suitcase. I've sometimes put both in the suitcase as well. Never had a problem.

[muudcat]

There have been some new laws passed with regards to musical instruments but many airlines haven't implemented them or don't know what they are so check with your airline as to their policy. I would bet you could get the guitar on board in one piece in a soft case http://www.afm.org/news/the-afm-appl...ge-of-faa-bill
Here's a link that might help, put a copy in your pocket to show them at check in.

[Dorsal900]

Your first hurdle is to get past the TSA. The airlines' rules have no bearing on what the TSA screeners will do - since they are federal government employees, they regard their position as superior to the airlines, which are privately run. Yes, they may regard a Tele neck as a "club" weapon; assume that they will, so at a minimum you need to pack it. I had a 15mm combination wrench (wanted to use it for changing mountain bike pedals, also in my carry-on bag) confiscated because it was over the 6-inch maximum length for tools. I had traveled with this wrench previously and it was not a problem, depends on how alert and zealous the TSA person is that day.

Do not count on the airlines having any space available for oversized carry-ons, as they try to run as close to 100% occupancy as they can. You would be well advised to pack or carry the Tele body, as most people on overseas flights bring carry-ons of some sort and storage for an assembled guitar is not readily available - it's long flight and people bring food, entertainment, clothes, gifts, kitchen sinks, etc.

I wish you great success with your ES335 - I'm sure you have seen the videos on the stellar care that airline employees take when handling our precious instruments: http://youtu.be/5YGc4zOqozo

Come to think of it, if you really need a 335-type guitar, perhaps you should pick one up with a removable neck, some sort of Tele Thinline with Humbuckers?

Also, make some contingency plans in case your luggage gets lost/delayed. I worked in Brazil for a couple of years and it happened more than once, usually when transferring in Miami.

- Bill, closing in on my AAdvantage 1,000,000 mile status

[Colt W. Knight]

I fly with my tele all the time. I typically like putting the neck and body in a carry on back pack. If I don't want to pack it around, I will pack it in my luggage. I install threaded inserts on everyone of my guitars so I can disassemble and reassemble them numerous times. Less than 10$ of materials saves me lots of money not having to check my guitar.

[stasz]

Originally Posted by Rolling Estonian

. If it didn't fit in the overhead because of them being full, I've put it in the closet up front.

I did with my SG, I brought it in an SKB molded case as a carry on and put it in the closet up front in the plane, but it's actually probably not a good idea. Like someone said above, the airlines try to pack the flights as full as possible, and the more people on the plane the less likely there is going to be space in that closet. Many people use it for large items, suits, etc. I called ahead and checked if my flight was very full but even then there's no guarantee of space and you may have to check in the guitar at the gate. I just happened to get lucky when I brought my guitar that I had space. Plus the case was a molded case, and not one of the big Tele/strat rectangular cases, so it took up a little less space.

[scottrollick]

I flew on a domestic flight recently and on both trips to and from my destination there was at least one person with a full sized acoustic guitar in a hard shell case that they carried on to the plane. I'm sure it was somewhat smaller than the huge rectangle cases most use for teles, but they were not travel guitars.

[Teleglide]

As Colt says above, I also have threaded inserts installed in my travel Tele.

[63dot]

When I went to England from the US, I took apart a Squier strat and put it in my luggage. But this was all before 9/11. I don't know how a screener would interpret a metal truss rod on an x-ray.

If I were to write in a villain for a crime thriller, it would make sense to have the culprit bring a gun on the airplane disguised somehow in parts. Wouldn't a truss rod make a good barrel? It's something I thought about regarding traveling with a guitar and having some screener confiscate it thinking it was a weapon not knowing that guitars have these things called truss rods.

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by 63dot

When I went to England from the US, I took apart a Squier strat and put it in my luggage. But this was all before 9/11. I don't know how a screener would interpret a metal truss rod on an x-ray.

If I were to write in a villain for a crime thriller, it would make sense to have the culprit bring a gun on the airplane disguised somehow in parts. Wouldn't a truss rod make a good barrel? It's something I thought about regarding traveling with a guitar and having some screener confiscate it thinking it was a weapon not knowing that guitars have these things called truss rods.

Screeners see guitars on their X-ray machines everyday.

[63dot]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

Screeners see guitars on their X-ray machines everyday.

That makes me feel better for us. I know some guitar players who simply won't take a guitar on an airplane.

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by 63dot

That makes me feel better for us. I know some guitar players who simply won't take a guitar on an airplane.

In my dealings with TSA and Airline employees, they are very accomodating when it comes to checking and screening instruments. Especially when I tell them that I made the guitar. Whether they let you bring an entire guitar in a cae on the plane is totally dependant on if they have room or not.

[63dot]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

In my dealings with TSA and Airline employees, they are very accomodating when it comes to checking and screening instruments. Especially when I tell them that I made the guitar. Whether they let you bring an entire guitar in a cae on the plane is totally dependant on if they have room or not.

If I tried that then I would have to sign "Leo Fender" when I get asked for my autograph.