Helpful tips to traveling with a guitar
If you’re a guitarist, the guitar is one of your most valuable possessions. Because of this, you want to carry it along anywhere you go to play your favorite tunes. However, one challenge that you’ll face is traveling with a guitar can be a bit of a hassle because it’s pretty bulky. This makes carrying it during a road trip or while on a plane often and is quite challenging,
Fortunately, you can make sure that your travel guitar arrives at your destination safely with some planning. Are you unsure about this? If yes, check out these helpful tips for traveling with a guitar so that you can be prepared the next time you hit the road.
Buy A Guitar Case
If you’re planning on traveling with your guitar, one of the first things you’ll need to invest in is a good case. A hard-shell case is ideal, as it’ll provide the most protection to your instrument. But a soft case will also do the trick if you’re on a budget. However, this latter choice isn’t recommended because soft cases don’t offer your guitar the necessary protection, especially during flights. It would be better to use plastic bubble wrap when using a soft case to protect your guitar from damage.
With this in mind, buying a hard-shell guitar is an important consideration if you’re going to transport your guitar. This way, you can be certain that it won’t get damaged in transit, even when you’re flying. And if you’re driving, secure it properly so it doesn’t shift around and get damaged in the process. With this little protection, traveling with your guitar will be a breeze.
Loosen The Guitar’s Strings
Another crucial tip you can do traveling with a guitar is to loosen the strings. This is vital because, during transit, the strings are exposed to pressure and temperature changes which cause them to experience strain. As a result, these strings might end up breaking if you don’t loosen them and safeguard the guitar from damage during transit.
When placing your guitar inside a case, it’s best to place it tightly to ensure there’s no space for damages and bumps. You can do this by placing shirts or towels into the empty spaces and ensuring there is no sharp tool anywhere close to your case. It’s also a good idea to remove any accessories, such as picks or straps, that could potentially damage the guitar.
Consider Musical Instrument Insurance
When traveling with a guitar, it’s essential to consider getting musical instrument insurance. This is especially necessary when you own an expensive guitar and not really necessary for the cheaper models. With musical instrument insurance, you’ll be able to safeguard your investment in case of any damage or theft while you’re on the road.
When deciding on the right musical instrument insurance, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a policy:
- Make sure the policy covers the full value of your instrument.
- Choose a policy with comprehensive coverage, including for accidents and natural disasters.
- Be sure to read the fine print and understand the exclusions before buying a policy.
With your guitar insured, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that it’s protected from possible damage.
Use Proper Neck Support
Another helpful tip when traveling with your guitar is to use proper neck support. This way, you can be certain that your guitar is safe from possible damage while still making sure you don’t place strain on your shoulders or back. Various neck supports are available on the market, so be sure to choose one that is appropriate for your particular guitar.
Check The Airline Instrument Policy
Before you even take your flight, make sure to familiarize yourself with the airline’s instrument policy. Doing this is necessary because the level of restrictions differs from one airline to another. Some airlines are known for having complicated processes you need to follow when traveling with your guitar, while others have much friendlier policies.
Therefore, you need to choose an airline that comes with a friendlier airline instrument policy, such as allowing you to place your guitar inside a case. You can best find out such information by first calling ahead to find out whether the airline is okay with your request before booking your flight.
Buy A Specific Guitar For Traveling
If you’re often on the road, investing in a travel guitar is the best thing to do. While this would have been considered a novelty in the past, this isn’t the case anymore, and you should get such a guitar. These instruments are more robust, and you don’t need to constantly worry about your prized instrument being exposed to damage when being moved by baggage handlers.
The design of a travel guitar is smaller than the standard size guitar. As a result, they can easily fit into a guitar case and use it like carry-on luggage.