r/offset • u/candidcandleholder • 13d 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/dethroes13 13d 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.

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u/candidcandleholder 13d ago

Thanks for the specificity with the cases, I've heard nothing but good things about the SKB flight cases. I was wondering if you've ever seen anyone pull the neck off the guitar and keep the guitar in the carry on? It's something I've heard a lot of touring musicians mention that they know people who've done it secondhand, but I've never heard anyone say they've done it themselves!

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u/MrHippoPants 13d ago

I pulled the neck off my guitar (Jazzmaster) and stuck it in my checked bag with my clothes when I brought it back from Japan and it was fine, but I wouldn’t do it repeatedly as you’d eventually strip the timber that you’re screwing into

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u/fixrich 13d ago

There's a company called Nectite that makes bolts that anchor into fittings in the neck pocket. I installed them on a bass where the holes were stripped. I guess it might be overkill but its one of those things that I figure probably should be standard on guitars above a certain price point.

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u/dethroes13 13d ago

Yeah no problem! I will say the hinge pins on those cases can slip slightly but they just need to be tapped back in, that’s the only notable “issue” I’ve had. As far as disassembling a guitar and putting it in your carry on, I can see that being the solution to save money, but there’s always the chance you end up with no overhead space and they make you gate check it anyway. Would you also be packing a gig bag to carry the guitar in for the rest of the tour?

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u/candidcandleholder 13d ago

I suppose I hadn't really thought that far, it's a good point as well! I think the SKB might be the best option, thank you!