That's the long and short of it.

On the Forum we've occasionally discussed the possibility of pickup magnets dying. But Ritchie Fliegler says the only time in his long career he's ever known it happen for real was on Andy Summers' famous Tele, after it was subjected to "radio frequency bomb detection equipment" at an airport.

Sadly, if you refused to allow your guitar to be scanned not only would you not be getting on the aircraft you'd likely be whisked away to the small room for some rubber glove investigations too...

Cheers - C

That happened to the bassist and drumer at Bergamo airport. Stupid idiots spent the night prior to flying enjoying herbal cigarettes. They stank of the stuff and the dogs (behind a false wall as you walk from baggage collection to passport control) went crazy.

A guy I knew as a kid flew out with a LP custom. The customs officers targeted him (he was only 15 or so at the time) stripped the guitar and handed him the pieces back. Said they were looking for drugs when in reality they were just trying to intimidate a wide eyed kid.

The guitar never played the same again he reckoned. After a lengthy inquiry all he got was £300 for repair.

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No no and no

I've flown and checked a guitar in my Anvil case over 20 times in my life and have never had a problem. Maybe I'm just lucky?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Get the best case you can find..
All Airlines Are Not Created Equal!
I once flew out to Vancouver to play with a friends brother , at her mom's funeral and wake.
The little airport by me ,, they had no problem with me carrying my guitar and stowing it in the overhead compartment..
There insurance (Northwest now Delta) only covers your stuff for up to $1,500.00 US..
I would never be able to replace my Ovation Custom Legend for that..
Going out,, no problem..
Comeing home from Vancouver International,, they made me stow it in the luggage hold..
Once you pass it threw the check, it is not handled by human hands..
When I returned home, one of the little feet caps in the case were pushed threw the bottom..
Lucky for me, the Guitar was ok..
But it sure was not a good feeling..
They replaced the case, but had someone decided to walk off with my guitar, I likely would have been quite ticked off.
And probebly had to have lived with it..