Hey, guys,
I think this qualifies as a DIY guitar question because I only see a semi-diy solutions. 🙂
I want a cheap guitar that I could take with me when I travel, specifically, when I fly. I always travel light, carry-on only: not very often but regularly. I miss my daily practice even when I am away a week, it gets especially bad when we go on a family trip for 2-3 weeks.
The shortest headless full-size travel guitar I could find is still way too long: 28 inches, and the length limit on the carry-on is 24. What's worse, I cannot have it as a personal item since the size restrictions are even tougher: it is supposed to fit under the seat.
Long story short, I thought I would just unscrew the neck of one of my strats but the standard neck is still too long to fit into the carry-on! My carry-on bag, which is pretty standard and is allowed by most airlines, internally measures as 19" by 13" (48 cm x 33 cm). SO, I thought - a headless strat, maybe? I found this one on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Volgoa-GTWT-01-6-String-Headless-Electric/dp/B0BGL56M94
I think it should fit if I unscrew the neck. What do you think, folks? Any other ideas? I don't really want to pay through the nose for this too, $200 is probably about right, give or take, much more would be hard to justify.
P.S. This one looks pretty nice too, and I have my birthday in a week, might be able to persuade my wife that it would make a really nice gift...
I think this qualifies as a DIY guitar question because I only see a semi-diy solutions. 🙂
I want a cheap guitar that I could take with me when I travel, specifically, when I fly. I always travel light, carry-on only: not very often but regularly. I miss my daily practice even when I am away a week, it gets especially bad when we go on a family trip for 2-3 weeks.
The shortest headless full-size travel guitar I could find is still way too long: 28 inches, and the length limit on the carry-on is 24. What's worse, I cannot have it as a personal item since the size restrictions are even tougher: it is supposed to fit under the seat.
Long story short, I thought I would just unscrew the neck of one of my strats but the standard neck is still too long to fit into the carry-on! My carry-on bag, which is pretty standard and is allowed by most airlines, internally measures as 19" by 13" (48 cm x 33 cm). SO, I thought - a headless strat, maybe? I found this one on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Volgoa-GTWT-01-6-String-Headless-Electric/dp/B0BGL56M94
I think it should fit if I unscrew the neck. What do you think, folks? Any other ideas? I don't really want to pay through the nose for this too, $200 is probably about right, give or take, much more would be hard to justify.
P.S. This one looks pretty nice too, and I have my birthday in a week, might be able to persuade my wife that it would make a really nice gift...
Yeah, I saw those: they are all way too long, none will fit into 19" by 13" opening, neither do they satisfy a personal item size limitations. 🙁
I thought of folding guitars but did not manage to find any...There are folding guitars.
That’s strange, I found dozens. Here’s one: https://au.donnermusic.com/products...J5rY5F7rqc0iHFlstCTXE-H1UKpZR9thoCsX8QAvD_BwE
ah, these - saw that one: it is still too long, and it is mostly acoustic-like. Thanks for the option though!That’s strange, I found dozens. Here’s one: https://au.donnermusic.com/products...J5rY5F7rqc0iHFlstCTXE-H1UKpZR9thoCsX8QAvD_BwE
The size limitations are really such that they barely allow for the full-size strat body, and the headless neck separately only. I am wondering how good an idea it is to screw the neck on and off several times a year...
Last edited:
I am trying to avoid dealing with checked baggage. Besides, these days checked baggage is always extra $40 or so, one way, at least in the US (if it is included, the ticket will be up by that much or more). Given that, 2-3 trips will eat the cost of a cheap guitar that can be taken apart and put into the carry-on bag.Cheap strat with hard case and check it in.
Or buy a guitar and send it too the hotel/motel staying at.
You offer a good solution but a somewhat expensive one: I'd like to hack this on the cheap if I can...
I've looked into carryon luggage dimensions and the typical ATA max length is 22" (as you likely already know). Could you get a slightly longer bag, and/or let the neck poke out slightly? I'm thinking peeking out from a zippered top compartment. Diagonal dimensions in 3D gives you a bit of extra length with creative packing.
I'm going with removing the neck on a 22.5" scale cheap and cheerful Turser strat, which will fit into my carryon that is iirc slightly less than 22" in length, and follows the other two dimension requirements.
Edit: I'm also (for now) in the US and thrift stores have used luggage for small potatos around these parts.
I'm going with removing the neck on a 22.5" scale cheap and cheerful Turser strat, which will fit into my carryon that is iirc slightly less than 22" in length, and follows the other two dimension requirements.
Edit: I'm also (for now) in the US and thrift stores have used luggage for small potatos around these parts.
I've decided to go with the guitar in the OP: it is cheap, looks good, has good reviews, and it will fit into carry-on with neck uncrewed. In fact, I am pretty sure I can fit the body into the backpack that I usually take as a personal item in addition to the carry-on. So, only the neck needs to go into the bag. We'll see how it works out...
- Home
- Live Sound
- Instruments and Amps
- Guitar for travel as carry-on