Traveling with my Gold Guard Jazzmaster

[Uchison]

Do I require anything special to travel with my beloved gold guard JM? So far I haven't run into any trouble but have some of you? What's the solution?

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Where are you based and, more importantly, where are you travelling to?

[Uchison]

I'm based in the Netherlands and traveling to Turkey

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Part of the new CITES regulations....

3. Musicians travelling with guitars for their own personal use containing any element of rosewood, can continue to travel freely with their instrument across borders – so long as your guitar(s) contain(s) less than 10Kg (22 pounds) of rosewood and you have a Musical Instrument Certificate for the specific instrument(s) you are carrying. For example, in the UK the certificate (known as FED0172) can be obtained from the UK CITES Management Authority and is valid for three years. Confusingly, this is the same document used for the import, export or re–export of a guitar, so don’t expect the form to be specifically named ‘Musical Instrument Certificate’. Similar Certificates are available in almost all jurisdictions – just check with your local CITES Management Authority.

I'm not sure if this is strictly within the EU (Turkey isn't a member yet) so read up more on it.

If you did take it would you check it in? If I took my Jazzmaster anywhere overseas I'd probably remove the neck & bag the lot up as carry-on. I just wouldn't trust it with baggage handlers. No. Fucking. Way.

[Uchison]

Thanks! I always take it with me onboard in a bag. If not, I won't step on the plane

[mgeek]

Are you moving house? Do you *have* to take it?

[eggwheat]

If travelling outside the EU with it you will need a permit, even for a personal musicians instrument carried as hand luggage and under 10Kg. They are super hot on Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra) which have special rules not contained within the guidance for normal Rosewood. Meet a grumpy customs official and it is possible it could be confiscated..and believe or not destroyed.

Call your local CITES office.

[fuzzjunkie]

If travelling outside the EU with it you will need a permit, even for a personal musicians instrument carried as hand luggage and under 10Kg. They are super hot on Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra) which have special rules not contained within the guidance for normal Rosewood. Meet a grumpy customs official and it is possible it could be confiscated..and believe or not destroyed.

Call your local CITES office.

Yes, the problem isn't taking it there, it will be bringing it back. I wouldn't if you didn't have to.

[thisisnickpaige]

If there is one thing i have found from travelling with my '65 Jaguar is no one at the airport gives a crap if its a Squier, a baked potato in a gig bag, or a kaleidoscope coloured guitar made entirely of rosewood; if it fits, and it doesn't contain bombs or liquids you're good.

I have only ever once had someone try to stop me saying it was too big (a Jaguar in a gig bag mind you) when checking in. I told her i refused to check it, she called her manager, and he looked at it, and goes, " That?! Nah, he's good. ", then walked away. They never open it.

But a good rule to follow is if you're nervous why risk it? If you're no,t go forth my friend! People get way too nervous about travelling with guitars. If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM, i've been doing it for years without fail or problem. Now being nervous about checking a guitar; yeah that left me rather nervous.

[eggwheat]

This is true..I’ve have taken guitars as hand luggage all over the place without issue, but once I got stopped by customs at Heathrow on way back into the UK and just had to prove I hadn’t just bought it in Switzerland... that was 10 years ago...but since the new CITES shit came in earlier this year I wouldn’t risk it... not with my No 1 guitar that is for sure.

[mgeek]

People get way too nervous about travelling with guitars. If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM, i've been doing it for years without fail or problem. Now being nervous about checking a guitar; yeah that left me rather nervous.

Haha other way round for me. I check mine and I'm never nervous about it because I bought a $149 squier strat for touring with

Neck off, in the suitcase with my pants and socks, bung in the hold!

[thisisnickpaige]

...but once I got stopped by customs at Heathrow... that was 10 years ago...but since the new CITES shit came in earlier this year I wouldn’t risk it... not with my No 1 guitar that is for sure.

Wow, intense. Yeah, totally get it. Like you said why risk it if you don't have to? But if you want to i personally don't fear it. Though, i understand the precaution and hesitation, i just haven't found it to be a problem.

... I bought a $149 squier strat for touring with Neck off, in the suitcase with my pants and socks, bung in the hold!

That's really smart; it costs more to reserve your seat on some flights than it does for that guitar. I did the same thing the second time i went to Bangladesh, but with a bass. You're bringing your clothes anyways, utilize the padding!

[eggwheat]

Hah well yeh, my mates dad had been driving cars and band vans around without a hitch most of his adult life. Then he passed his test at 55 and actually got a licence.

[thisisnickpaige]

Hah well yeh, my mates dad had been driving cars and band vans around without a hitch most of his adult life. Then he passed his test at 55 and actually got a licence.

haha sincerely?

(Sorry, we are derailing the thread.)

[spiffy chap]

I just did a month Euro tour with flights from Heathrow to CDG to Athens to Ankara to Istanbul and back to America and had no issues with my 1965 Jag. I understand the difference bringing your 59 JM, but have been back and forth this whole 2 years with no issues.