Taking a guitar overseas
So I'm moving to Japan for a year to teach English and if I don't have a my guitar/a guitar, I will definitely maim a few locals, especially after coming off the plane for 12 hours without a cigarette (the blood still may fall, guitar or not).
Do any of you have experience taking a guitar on an international flight? Domestic advice is no good here.
I brought a junky electric to Italy once, checked it and then sold it immediately after I arrived. I think the unpressurized cabin destroyed the intonation/tuning/neck issues. Therefore, if an electric couldn't handle it, there's no way in hell I'm checking my acoustic. (As of yet I haven't decided which to bring: acoustic or electric, because whichever one I don't bring, I will buy there).
Hence, because of the unpressurized cabin/luggage dudes throwing bags/general distrust of the human race. I have to carry my guitar on. Have to. Have to.
So what can of worms does that open? Has anyone done this before? And with the new airline laws popping up daily, who knows what could happen? If I had to leave it at the gate, I don't know, I'd probably...I don't know what I would do, go absolutely mad. I will be calling the airline ahead of time on this as soon as I know which flight I'm on.
Either way most airlines allow, 2 carry-ons, 1 large and 1 small. The guit will obviously be the large bag. I could leave the guitar in the closet up by the stewardess. Do I trust that hussy? Not as far as I can throw her flotation device implants. I know she'll shove and crush it next to some DB's luggage. I am not looking forward to this.
I don't think it will fit in the overhead though, people will flip out, especially on a crowded Int'L flight.
There is one last option: I've been scouring the travel message boards looking for any shred of advice I can get from the masses of traveling "weekend warriors" (hey that's what they called themselves). I did discover that Japan has a culture obsessed with newness; therefore, when "things" are a couple years old, people often throw them out. A few people said they bought guitars at amazing prices in used gear stores.
That is fantastic, but I'm still poor as can be and have multiple guitars here that I don't want to get lonely, nor am I interested in selling them.
In the end I will probably, bring one and buy one, acoustic and elec. but do any of you have any advice for transport? And possibly buying abroad. I was thinking about going to the Ibanez factory in Nagoya and doing some dumpster diving. That or travel to Korea where the currency is weaker and buy there, but I still have to pay lavish Japanese taxes to get it into the country...
There is no right choice. Only the choice I make.
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