Travel Tips to Help Keep Your Stringed Instruments Safe and in Good Condition

Whether you're driving up-state to strum a few tunes around a campfire with friends or you're travelling out of state to play a gig or two it's best to be sure you're protecting your investment or livelihood in a sturdy, secure case. A case which properly supports the neck of your guitar is important to minimize potential damage to it. When travelling any significant distance additional support can be added by padding around your instrument with soft packing material to help keep it in place.

When travelling by motor vehicle it's best to have your cased guitar inside the vehicle, perhaps on the back seat, as opposed to in the trunk. Temperature and humidity can be controlled properly inside so as not to negatively affect your instrument. In the trunk of a vehicle temperature and humidity conditions can change drastically, which can be damaging for stringed and wooden instruments.

Most likely, if you're travelling by airplane, you will be required to check your guitar due to size restrictions for carry-on items. If this is the case, it'll be important that your hard case has secure latches on it. Also, loosen the strings on your guitar as strain on the neck can occur as temperature and pressure changes within the plane. You may consider placing a specially designed humidifier in the case with your guitar.

The top three rated humidifiers as posted by buyersguide.org are:

1. Amazon.com: O Oasis Humidifier for Acoustic Guitars (OH-1): Musical Instruments
   

2. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002D0COE?tag=bgus-357877-20

3. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08D67P753?tag=bgus-357877-20

Hopefully these few tips will help you relax and enjoy any travel you have with your stringed instrument. Enjoy the trip and trip on the music!

As always, SGF is here to help with any care and maintenance of your guitar or bass.