[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Fw: Have Guitar will Travel.docx

[Gary Lawrence Murphy]

I agree it is great to have an instrument with you, I took my guitar and
banjo both when backpacking across Europe in the 70's, but these days I
have just seen too many photos and youtubes of mangled guitars posted on
the internet, some by musicians I know, it scares me to death.

I travel very little anymore, when I do it is by car or train, so perhaps
I'm just getting spooked by ghosts in my old age.  Nonetheless, between
customs people compounding instruments from those who can't produce the
documents to excuse bringing them and baggage handlers who somehow find the
shape of an acoustic instrument reminds them of lacrosse, I think if I were
going anywhere to play, I'd make arrangements to borrow or rent once I got
there.

mind you, all that said, I know for a fact my bari has been pretty much
around the world multiple times with the previous owner, and all I had to
do was carry it across the parking lot to stupidly lose my grip and invoke
$100 in key-mechanism repairs!

On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:05 PM, Marek Boym <marekboym at gmail.com> wrote:

> Subject: Have Guitar will Travel.docx
>
> I'm going to post this on my site and on Facebook.  You're welcome to
> pass it on to DJML.
>
> Have Guitar will Travel
>
> I was wary about air travel with my beloved Yaakov Hoter model ERG
> Gypsy swing guitar after seeing various warnings about airlines and
> about restrictions on bringing wooden products into the United States.
>  Before flying with the guitar for the first time, I looked up airline
> policy and U.S. customs regulations, both of which seemed okay.
> Friends had contrary opinions, but I was convinced by one who travels
> to the U.S. with a guitar and mandolin in gig bags, as hand luggage,
> once or twice a year.  He said the air crews were always accommodating
> and found a safe place for the instruments and that he had no problem
> with customs.
>
> Now, with some very positive experience of my own flying to the United
> States a few times, with and without stops in Europe, as well as
> flying from Tel Aviv to Eilat, I can confirm the advice of my
> much-travelled friend.  Ground crews and flight crews on various
> airlines have been helpful.  They often put the guitar in its soft bag
> in a closet, but sometimes in an overhead bin, when it was clear
> nothing else would go in with it.
>
> The only reaction I got from customs officials was along the lines of
> "Wow, you play the guitar."
>
> I, for one, will continue to consider my guitar to be a welcome travel
> companion (I even practiced quietly while waiting for hours in
> transit).
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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