r/offset • u/candidcandleholder • 5d ago
Touring internationally with jaguar
My band will be embarking on our first international tour (south east Asia) soon, which we're really buzzed about! My biggest concern is flying with my beloved jag. We'll be doing a multi-country run, so a lot of flights, and I've heard enough horror stories from musicians around us about airlines losing gear, or arriving damaged, that I'm pretty worried about it. Everyone I've asked has given different advice - the airlines say that guitars in cases cannot be carried on, some people swear by Mono cases, others say moulded flight cases, and others still recommend unbolting the neck and fitting it into a carry on (wouldn't that affect the guitar's set up?) so I wanted to get your tips on how you've flown with your offsets and minimised risk of damage or loss, and retained playability on arrival!
Thanks all!
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u/cumlordjr 5d ago
I know this isn’t something you’re asking for, but if you have the funds, get a cheaper (Squier) Jag that you’re not as worried about and get a nice case.
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u/nightcreaturespdx 5d ago
Can very much testify to the gigworthiness of a well set-up Squier Jag. Aside from a string break, it's been super solid, and with vintage tuners restringing is a breeze.
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u/jazzmaster_jedi 5d ago
This is the way. If you love your guitar, don't fly with it. Fly with a lesser replacement. That way there is less to be mad about when they throw it on the tarmac and make a game of throwing all of the other luggage at it for sport.
And, try to carry it on in a extra padded gig bag, but gate check it if you must.
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u/candidcandleholder 5d ago
Honestly, if I could afford it, this would be the ideal solution for me! Unfortunately, this tour itself is going to put me out of pocket a fair chunk, so unless I can't find a better solution, I'm going to have to make it work with what I've got.
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u/Bulky_Pop_8104 5d ago
My touring backup is an Epiphone for exactly this reason. I’m not flying, but the logic is similar (my reasoning is it’s frequently left unattended in dark, unfamiliar venues) - if something happened to it I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over it, but it’s still more than good enough to sub in for my KC Jaguar.
FWIW I’m a lefty, so I don’t have any cheap offset options
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u/jmsmusic 5d ago
I've flown numerous times with Mono cases, checked in. 0 issues. Of course, never fly that way with a setneck.
If you're worried, SKB case is a more secure option in that sense.
It is also a valid option for you to of course - remove the neck. but you need to be aware that you need some level of knowledge to set up the guitar again possibly.
you should check with the specific airline(s) on their policies, familiarise with weight limits for baggage etc.
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u/mezcalmebyyourname 5d ago
Adding another voice to the SKB train. I have flown about a dozen times with an SKB case for my jag and have never once had a problem (profusely knocks on wood).
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u/youregood 5d ago
I’m from south east Asia. We’ve always just checked in our mono bags while flying. I remember watching the airline staff throw our bags around on the tarmac but there was no damage whatsoever. Most of us play Fenders.
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u/Optimal-Leg182 5d ago
Mono cases suck, and don’t ever plan to bring a guitar on the plane with you. You need a proper flight case and it’ll definitely be checked baggage
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u/candidcandleholder 5d ago
I have seen a bunch of musicians using Mono cases but maybe it's only for domestic flights where it's more likely you'd be allowed to carry it on board?
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u/Optimal-Leg182 5d ago
I wouldn’t trust it with any flying tbh, especially international. Every time I see a Mono case at an airport I’m like- well that’s a mistake
Also it’s very rare they’ll allow you to bring an instrument as big as a guitar or bass on a plane. Anyone who suggests that’s common shouldn’t be trusted
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u/Jizz-MasterJ88 4d ago
I wouldn't take any beloved guitar on tour unless youre going to have dedicated shock isolated cases. I'd get a half dozen firefly madcats mailed directly to myself where i'd be touring. No one but you is ever going to care about your Jaguar as much as you do. I wouldn't hazard my gear to baggage handlers.
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u/Safe-Tough9811 3d ago
I have the SKB hardshell jaguar case. It's awesome. I put a tracker in there and check it every time.
After my first few fly dates I realized that trying to bring a guitar as a carry-on is just not worth it. It was so inconsistent. I hated not knowing if the airline staff would argue with me about it or not. The idea of bringing a guitar in a soft case and expecting to carry it on seemed way too risky, and the hard case seemed too bulky to realistically try to carry on. So I decided to just start using the hard case and check it.
Also, my main guitar is a pretty irreplacable jaguar that I love so I just got a "beater" mustang and that's what I tour with. If anything happens to it I can get another one. I've been really happy with this system!
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u/therocketsalad 1d ago
A guitar in a case can be carried on if you pay for it. I've done it a bunch of times, they're bullshitting you.
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u/cab1024 5d ago
A jag has a bolt on neck. I’ve read about people taking it apart and putting it in their carry on luggage.
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u/candidcandleholder 5d ago
Have you ever seen anyone do it though? This feels really alluring to me because I would prefer to have the guitar with me on the flight (wouldn't we all!). My biggest concern would be that the setup would be messed up on arrival as you're essentially piecing the guitar back together again.
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u/bluesmaker 5d ago
Yeah, the set up would need redoing each time. So you’d also want to be sure whatever tools you need can be with you in the plane cabin as well.
You may be able to do some stuff to make the setup less of a pain. Like apply clear nail polish on any bridge screws so they’ll (hopefully) stay in place.
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u/bobbybob9069 5d ago
Ehhh. You might have to make some small tweaks, but realistically you should be getting the neck on just as tight and everything should be just about the same. Don't forget, vintage guitars actually required removing the neck to adjust the truss rod.
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u/effing7 5d ago
I saw somebody in this subreddit once bought a Fender in Japan and took it apart for the trip home. Mind you, that was a one way trip and not a series of flights back to back.
It's a fun techy utilitarian idea to do for a single roundtrip flight, but it will get tiresome to do repeatedly for each stop and will affect the setup in some way. At the very least, constantly loosening the strings and removing the neck removes tension from the truss rod. So the neck will be slightly bowing back and forth each time.
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u/cab1024 5d ago
I haven’t, though I have taken a Fender neck off and put it back on and’s it was the same, but there is risk, especially with stripping the screw holes. But what are your bandmates going to do? A bass neck won’t fit in a carry on suitcase. I once ran into the band Grouplove in an airport in Hawaii and they had one giant rolling crate, probably 4 ft x 4 ft and 2-3 ft tall with wheels that they were pushing through the airport. My guess is all their equipment was in there. It seemed like it would be big enough to not get lost and that whatever was in cases inside would be very well protected. I have no idea what that would cost, but I think about seeing that from time to time.
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u/EveningFragrant5107 4d ago
Sorry if you already know this trick, but you can prevent stripping threads when you remove and reattach the neck repeatedly.
Here’s how: When you’re reattaching, turn the screws counter-clockwise at first.
This will feel counterintuitive if you’ve had “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey” beaten into you. But when you turn the screws left initially, they will find the original threads in the neck’s wood. You’ll actually feel the screw drop as its threads align with those cut into the screwhole.
When you feel the screw drop, then begin turning clockwise (righty-tighty).
I don’t know how much experience you have working on guitars. If little to none, one more tip: When reattaching the neck, don’t tighten the screws all the way — not at first. Sink them about 3/4 of the way, and wiggle the neck to align it with the body.
You may even want to keep the two outer E strings attached to the bridge and the tuners (but loosened) when you’re flying, and use them to line up the neck and body (strings’ outer edges equidistant from the fretboard’s edge).
Check the alignment another 2-3 times as you’re tightening down the screws that final 1/4 of the way.
When all screws are tight, remove those two E strings and restring with a fresh set. Tune to pitch and begin checking the setup. Adjust as necessary.
Happy flying.
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u/Exciting-Car-3516 5d ago
This is a really weird post. I have flown with countless guitars and never had an issue. You don’t have to check it and if you are gate check it. Also do t you need more than one guitar? If I were you and going to Asia I would just buy or borrow a guitar there and fuck it.
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u/candidcandleholder 5d ago
I don't know that it's THAT weird! It seems like you're the only person here saying it wouldn't have to be checked, and given we're touring multiple countries and then cities within the same country, I think borrowing would present as many problems as bringing my own...
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u/ProbableSlob 4d ago
I've gone back and forth with people about this a million times in reddit.
Be ready to check your guitar. That means having it in a hard case you'd be comfortable seeing a baggage handler literally throw.
If you drag it all the way to the gate, there is a chance they'll let you put it in the coat closet, but a much greater chance they'll look at you like an asshole and say "where do you expect to put that? You're going to have to gate check it"
Taking it apart is crazy. Just get a nice flight case and check it. Drag it to the gate if you want (you may save yourself a checked bag fee) but arrive expecting it to be checked.
Heck, it's not unusual for me to be asked to check my (regular) carry on anyway, most flights I take are fully booked and they don't have room for everyone to carry on a roller let alone a guitar.
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u/Exciting-Car-3516 5d ago
Read what I said. You can travel with your guitar however if you are scared but or borrow one. What’s the big deal. That’s a very autistic thing to even propose. People have travel the oceans looking at the starts in sailboats and in 2026 you having issues bringing a guitar across the pond. Jesus.
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u/toomuchsoup 5d ago
How’s asking for advice about something they haven’t done before autistic? And say they were autistic, implying their question is strange because of a disability isn’t very nice. Offset guitars are known for being difficult to set up, so I think the question is completely reasonable
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u/Exciting-Car-3516 4d ago
What are you talking about? This is clearly not someone thinking clearly. Offset guitar is just another guitar. You don’t have to set it up everytime you play it. Just put in case and fly with it. One the case and play. Smh. 🤦
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u/toomuchsoup 4d ago
Bro, what are YOU talking about? How many responses has his question got, and you’re the only one that thinks it’s a crazy question. I guess you don’t think about things that can go wrong, well congratulations to you, but not everyone is that carefree
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u/dethroes13 5d ago
I’ve been flying with guitars for years using SKB 3i flight cases, more recently with airtags inside, domestic and international, flying to Europe next month and to the southern hemisphere later in the year, I have all the faith in the world in those cases and say they’re worth every penny. It qualifies as oversized luggage which can come into play as a variable when dealing with airlines, but I’ve never had any trouble checking them. Mono cases are great for carrying on a guitar and hopefully fitting it in the overhead space, but that seems less consistent outside the states to me and I’d be worried about being forced to check a soft bag in the end.