Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?

Subject: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: GUEST,coworker of Chanteyranger
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 03:10 PM

Is it necessary to loosen guitar strings when taking a guitar aboard a commercial jet?? And if so, how much should they be loosened?

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: michaelr
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 09:16 PM

I've always heard it said that due to pressure changes on flights, it's a good idea to loosen the strings.]

How much? Enough so they can't retighten themselves!

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Oct 02 - 10:07 PM

I don't know about other airlines, but Delta won't accept a guitar as baggage unless you confirm to the check-in clerk that the strings have been loosened and the case is locked.

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: Grab
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 07:53 AM

Not pressure; temperature. Things shrink when they get cold, and that means the strings get tighter and tighter. Metal strings are the problem on this - nylon strings shouldn't be affected (although wound ones will be to some extent).

I damaged my violin very badly by not loosening the strings before a flight - got back and found the extra pressure on the strings had forced the top down so hard that it had made a hole in the top around the soundpost. It cost £300 to repair that.

Since then, I'm *very* careful to loosen strings on instruments before I hand them over. BWL is correct - most airline staff will ask you whether you've loosened the strings when they take it off you. On a guitar you should be OK - guitars are built very strong, so the strings will probably break first - but there's no need to take the risk.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 08:39 AM

Guitar maker Jean Larrivee says DO NOT LOOSEN strings.

When I fly I leave my guitars tuned to concert pitch. They have alway (so far) arrived in perfect shape - and in tune!

Subject: RE: Tech: guitars on planes: loosen strings?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Oct 02 - 02:33 PM

I was wondering whether they mightn't treat guitar strings as potentially lethal weapons, and not allow them on board - I mean you could garotte someone with a metal string, commando style...

(The odd thing is, there's no problem about taking a glass club, filled with inflammable liquid, which can be converted into a deadly cutting inplement with a single blow. In fact they have shops selling such things at reduced prices at international airports.)