How much abuse can a standard Gibson Hard case take whilst still protecing the acoustic guitar inside?
Wanted to take my J45 aboard but didnt know if i would get damaged by being chucked around in bagage!
A standard guitar case in the luggage compartment of a commercial airliner doesn't have much of a chance of survival. I've seen people do it, but I sure wouldn't.
When I do have to fly and instrument, I use a ATA 300 rated case from Calzone to protect it. It's a lot of money for those kinds of cases (about $300-400), but I know that my instrument is going to arrive in one piece.
If you do decide to fly the guitar with the standard case, take these precautions:
1. Remove everything from case except the guitar and the strap. This includes picks, strings, wrenches, keys, bottle openers…whatever. They can become projectiles inside that case.
2. Loosen the strings. Don't remove them, but get the pressure off the neck.
3. Use towels to add additional padding under the headstock. This is where most guitars get damaged. Also add any additional padding where the guitar can move around in the case.
4. Tape the locks shut. Security will probably pull the tape off, but start with it at least. If the latches spring, then game over (another reason to use flight cases…the latches won't spring).
5. You will have to take out additional coverage on the the guitar if you want it insured. As it stands, if it's lost or damaged, the airline only owes you about 60 cents a pound. You'll have to declare excess value and will probably have to pay dearly for it.
6. Take all kinds of pictures of your guitar. If it is damaged, then you've got some kind of record as to the condition of the guitar before the airline got a hold on it!
I would discourage you from doing this. A better idea would be to use someone like UPS or FedEX and ship the guitar ahead of you if there's someone you can trust to sign and receive it for you. I would cost you a lot less that way.
Greetings from Austin, TX
Ken
A standard guitar case in the luggage compartment of a commercial airliner doesn't have much of a chance of survival. I've seen people do it, but I sure wouldn't.
When I do have to fly and instrument, I use a ATA 300 rated case from Calzone to protect it. It's a lot of money for those kinds of cases (about $300-400), but I know that my instrument is going to arrive in one piece.
If you do decide to fly the guitar with the standard case, take these precautions:
1. Remove everything from case except the guitar and the strap. This includes picks, strings, wrenches, keys, bottle openers…whatever. They can become projectiles inside that case.
2. Loosen the strings. Don't remove them, but get the pressure off the neck.
3. Use towels to add additional padding under the headstock. This is where most guitars get damaged. Also add any additional padding where the guitar can move around in the case.
4. Tape the locks shut. Security will probably pull the tape off, but start with it at least. If the latches spring, then game over (another reason to use flight cases…the latches won't spring).
5. You will have to take out additional coverage on the the guitar if you want it insured. As it stands, if it's lost or damaged, the airline only owes you about 60 cents a pound. You'll have to declare excess value and will probably have to pay dearly for it.
6. Take all kinds of pictures of your guitar. If it is damaged, then you've got some kind of record as to the condition of the guitar before the airline got a hold on it!
I would discourage you from doing this. A better idea would be to use someone like UPS or FedEX and ship the guitar ahead of you if there's someone you can trust to sign and receive it for you. I would cost you a lot less that way.
Greetings from Austin, TX
Ken
References :
40 years of playing guitar and bass
35 years of live performance
30+ years of audio and broadcast engineering