How to transport your guitar safely on holiday

Happy holidays

For many guitarists, this time of year comes with a painful dilemma: to travel or not to travel with their prized instrument. For others of course, the whole point of a holiday is to spend more time with their beloved guitar: they wouldn’t leave it home alone, any more than they would leave the kids.

But, travelling with a guitar can be stressful. It is made of fragile woods and if it is not handled with care, it can get damaged. Thankfully (as with most other important matters) there are things you can do to reduce the risk of summer heartbreak.

Planes, trains and automobiles

First off, it depends where you are going of course – and more importantly, how you are getting there. If you are travelling by road or rail and you can keep your instrument with you at all times, protecting your guitar doesn’t have to break the bank. For, example, the GFS-3 by Ortola (top) classical guitar case, the Cibeles C230.015BR or the Cibeles C210.001C Standard classical guitar case (above) are all economical options. The GFS-3 has styrofoam padding and is lined with black velor and the padded backpack straps and handles make it comfortable to carry about. The Cibeles C210.001C has a luxe protective inner shell, and offers a lot of protection thanks to the Aluminium ring and reinforced latches and hinges.

If you are travelling by car, just make sure you don’t leave your guitar in the vehicle overnight. Take it inside to protect it from extreme temperatures (and robberies). Speaking of which, you can also put a GPS tile tracker inside the case, or guitar to track its location if it gets lost or stolen, whatever your means of transport.

Airplane mode

Obviously the most risky form of travel with an instrument is air travel. You normally have the option of taking your instrument as carry-on luggage, but if the cabin crew decide there isn’t enough space at the last minute, your guitar could still end up in the hold. If possible, invest in a high quality hard-shell case here, such as the Alhambra AB TWEED classical and flamenco guitar case. It has a rigid but lightweight triple-layer of protection and the guitar is suspended on injected foam pads inside.
Includes two non-slip neoprene backpack straps with safety hooks and three
soft action key locks. 

The Hiscox Pro (below, in ivory) is another great option, and one of the most protective guitar cases you will find at such a reasonable price. Also available in black, it offers superb thermal insulation and the inner moulding is designed to absorb shocks. Upholstered pads in key areas provide extra cushioning.

If you do opt for one of the pricier models, you can actually protect the case itself with a cover, such as the CIBELES C100.089EC neoprene cover for classical guitar case. It will protect a fiber glass or carbon fiber guitar case from scratches. But if you can’t stretch to one of the more costly hard cases, wrap your travel case in bubble wrap to give it some extra protection.

The size of it

Some musicians opt to keep a cheaper instrument they designate as a ‘travel guitar’. Others invest in a smaller instrument that is easier to carry about, such as a cadet guitar (3/4 size), requinto (1/2 size) or senorita (7/8 size).

A travel guitar is lighter and more compact and you won’t be putting your primary instrument at risk. You can of course buy cases and bags for special-sized guitars too. Alhambra offer a good selection of cases in special sizes, such as the Alhambra 9570 guitar case, for cadet classical guitars, the Alhambra 9562 for senorita classical guitars and the Alhambra 9569 guitar case for Requinto classical guitars (below). All of these models are made of wood and polyurethane and are very strong, but light to carry. They feature a soft, luxurious interior and a mock leather exterior.

Take the scenic route

There are one or two models that combine outstanding protection with bags of style. The Bam 8002S Classic Series is a fine example (see below). The guitar is suspended on injected foam cushions inside the case and there are a set of additional cushions for the perfect fit of the instrument. And this model weighs only 4.2 kg.  The Alhambra guitar case AB ICONIC in fiery red is another case in point. Also made by Bam, it features the same protective elements and has the Alhambra logo embossed on the outside.

Safe journey

Whatever you decide to do, there are one or two tips that apply if you are flying, regardless. First of all, loosen the strings: temperature and pressure changes during a flight can put an awful lot of strain on the neck and body. Then remove all the accessories (picks, straps, etc) and pack them separately. Some cases come with a humidifier included, such as the Alhambra guitar case 9650. If not, buy a humidifier separately, such as the Boveda Large Starter Kit and put it in the case.

If your instrument is going in the hold, put extra padding in the case. Ensure the headstock and neck in particular are well-padded with socks or towels. And make sure your case has a name tag with your details on it.

Bon voyage

One final word: travelling with an instrument doesn’t have to fill you with anxiety. You may have been waiting all year for some downtime, and with a little preparation, you can get to your destination with your guitar in perfect shape.

And at GFS we would like to take the opportunity to wish you a happy holiday season. We hope all of our clients and their guitars have a great summer break. And get home safe.