Flying with a Jaguar

[RedOrangeMorning]

Hey, all! This is my first post here, although I've been visiting and learning so much from all of you for quite a while now. So, thanks for making me smarter about my Jag ('95 MIJ). Honestly, I definitely wouldn't be gigging with it these days if not for all of the tips and great advice I've found here. 

Anyway, the reason I'm posting is because I'm going to be traveling to Portland and Seattle in late July, and will be playing a few shows with my band (or at least part of my band) while I'm there. I've never had to fly with an instrument (or instruments) before and was hoping you guys could give me some advice. Basically, I have two possibilities at the moment. 1) My whole band plays the shows, in which case I'll need to bring my Jag (w/ new, locking case), my amp (Vox ac30), and effects (Boss ce2, Vox Big Ben, ehx Graphic Fuzz, Boss delay), or 2) My whole band doesn't play, so it's just me and my other singer/keyboard player, in which case I'll probably opt out of bringing my electric gear and settle for playing the shows as an acoustic duo (guitar is Gibson J-100 w/ hard shell case, although I could chicken out and just bring my inferior back-up which is an old Fender 12-string that is set up as a 6-string). Basically I'm just nervous about any of my gear being lost, stolen, or damaged, but I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet, huh?

I'm sure many of you guys have experience touring and flying with your gear, so can you offer any advice?

Thanks again,
Ryan

[fuzzking]

I once flew overseas and just took my guitar apart so it would fit into my standard luggage, the headstock sticking out of the bag.
But that's years ago and I doubt they would let one do it these days. There is a long thread about air travel with equipment right here:

index.php?topic=2689.0

Hope it helps,

M

[RedOrangeMorning]

Thanks for the link!

[spaceghost]

the dismantled telecaster idea sounds like the best bet for electric guitar travel.
i wouldn't take my Jag on a plane cause i'm paranoid.

i flew to NYC, and FLA with an acoustic a few years ago. a couple times i got it in the overhead, (get there early, if you get it up there with no bags, people can still put their bags up there, over your geet) and the stewards can alwayd hand check it. if you are nice but firm that the guitar stay with you, they'll let you keep it in the friendly part of the plane. (as opposed to the luggage tanks)

[eupat]

the title reminds me this vintage Jazzmaster ad :

[~*blissedandgone*~]

I moved from California to Ohio back last July, but my guitars stayed in California at my fiance's mom's house. At Christmas we flew back, and I got my Jaguar and brought it back. I did what others did and took the neck off and packed it in my suitcase, but I checked the suitcase. Do be careful with that, because I also packed my fiance's Strat, and during the trip home, the corner or other pointy part of a heavy bag or something landed on my suitcase, and pushed the neck tone pot into the body of the Strat. Luckily it was a Squire Strat and not my Jaguar (don't tell my fiance I said that), and the pot still works just fine. But yeah, I'd do it again, just as long as I had the Jaguar packed in the middle of alot of clothes or something to soften the blow of other luggage.

[1946dodge]

I wonder if you could simply pack it into  a shipping carton, like the origiinal carton if you have it and have it shipped UPS to the destination?
After all they ship these things all over the country with no misshaps. Plus I think you can insure it with UPS.

[HeartfeltDawn]

I've flown between London (UK) and Toronto (Canada) with all manner of guitars ranign from an Epi Dot to a Rickenbacker 360. I actually managed to fly back to the Uk with three guitars in cases, a Ric 360, DeArmond archtop and my Epi Dot, and I haven#t lost a thing as yet. Just get a goof flight case, most of mine are fulyl Hiscox'ed up. I also padded the cases a bit more by sticking clothes in there. It made sense, a few T-shirts can fit in the case and it meant more guitar protection and less to carry in other bags

Now you say you might be taking an amp if the whole band play... ouch. I'd advise against it, especially a heavy bugger like a Voc AC30. I think you've got three options here:

1. Take the AC30. It'll probably cripple some poor luggage handler. If you do ship it or fly with it, take the valves out first. Way too easy for these to get broken when they're installed and it'd be a pain in the ass to get all the way to the venue, discover you're sans le valves, and then have to run out for more.

2. Would it be possible to hire an amp at the gig venue or city/town where you're playing?

3. Would something like the Vox Tonelab be useful? It's way more portable than an AC30, sounds pretty good and won't cause your back to suffer when carrying it.

4. Ha, do what I did and buy an AC15. It's close enough to the AC30 sound but without the spinal damage option

[RedOrangeMorning]

Well, it looks like we won't be playing as a full band in either Portland or Seattle, so I won't have to worry about breaking anybody's back with the AC30 on the way out there.

I'm actually going to call some local music shops about renting an acoustic. If it's cheap enough, and the available guitars are decent, I'll just rent one out there rather than go through the headache of bringing my baby with me. If renting is unreasonable or inconvenient in any way, maybe I'll look into shipping the guitar separately to my hotel (as 1946dodge suggested). Actually, before I look into those options, I think I'm going to call the airline to find out what their deal is...

Anyway, thanks again for all your help. I'll keep you posted...