Explaining a Tone Bar to Airport Security

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Sep 2014 11:04 am

I don't know how many of you have had this experience at airports, but I always carry a tone bar and picks in my carry on luggage, and it always shows up on the X-ray machine. In fact I'm so used to it happening that nowadays I put my tone bar (the ceramic sort filled with lead) on a separate tray along with my wristwatch and cell phone, and I wait for the question, "What is this?" As difficult as it is to explain in English what it's for, to people who have never heard of the Steel Guitar or the Hawaiian Guitar, it's even more difficult to explain it, as I have had to do many times, in French and in Dutch.

Has anyone else encountered this?
I've been inclined to tell them it's a dildo.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 18 Sep 2014 11:28 am

I lost a Dunlop bar once (scroll down):
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Jeff Garden · Post by **Jeff Garden** » 18 Sep 2014 12:05 pm

I had a similar experience coming back from the St. Louis Convention in 2002 when 9/11 was still in everyone's mind. I had about 10 sets of strings, a tone bar, and picks in my carry-on and the whole place went to general quarters. In fairness, I'm sure when the x-ray tech saw a whole bunch of wires and a bizarre steel rod go by the screen, he was entitled to flip out. For some reason the origin of the name of the band Steely Dan was going through my mind as I tried to explain everything

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 18 Sep 2014 12:08 pm

I've been inclined to tell them it's a dildo.

I think you're on the right track, Alan. You can explain that it's a slide for a (regular) guitar and if that doesn't work, ask them if they understand the term "Steely Dan."

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Sep 2014 12:31 pm

Say it's a sex toy, and they'll leave you alone.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Sep 2014 12:52 pm

i got fed up explaining what a steel bar is
so i don't carry it onboard anymore
it goes below in my luggage

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 18 Sep 2014 1:27 pm

I'd say that if you can hijack an airplane with a tone bar, you pretty much RULE, dude. Give the man what he wants, be it a new Franklin or a D-10 MSA Fibrero de Carbone....

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 18 Sep 2014 2:51 pm

When I think of the way airport security used to be back in the 70s, before all the current scares, it makes me sad that terrorists have spoilt it all for everyone. Carry on luggage? I can remember holding a banjo under my coat as I got on the airplane because I didn't want to check it, and with my big, long raincoat I could carry on bottles of booze in the inside pockets and party all the way over the Atlantic.

Happy days.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 18 Sep 2014 5:58 pm

Well lets see. I've flown over a million miles in my touring years; and even flew one week after 911. I have had ZERO problems carrying my bar and pics in my personal bag on the plane. you ask: "how did you do it all those years ricky?". answer: "I carry a picture of me playing steel guitar with me all the time and put one in the steel guitar flight case..>then there is NO QUESTIONS>....EVER.
Ricky

Jim Cinney · Post by **Jim Cinney** » 18 Sep 2014 8:02 pm

Just slip it in your wife's purse before the security gate.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 18 Sep 2014 9:01 pm

Tell 'em it's a butt plug.

Christopher Woitach · Post by **Christopher Woitach** » 18 Sep 2014 9:57 pm

Well, never had a problem with a tone bar, but I did have a funny experience with my steel guitar...

The last time I flew down to Dallas to spend a couple days with Maurice, I checked in in Portland - the usual "what is thing, it's too heavy, you have to pay extra,etc"

On my way back, at DFW, the guy at the counter said, "this here a steel guitar?" I said it was, and he said, "well we sure as heck aint gonna charge you extra for that!"

Niiiiice

Paul Seager · Post by **Paul Seager** » 19 Sep 2014 3:54 am

Richard Sinkler wrote:Say it's a sex toy, and they'll leave you alone.

and apologise for forgetting to wash it!

It happened to me years ago, In Munich and I had a travel guitar with a string riser on it and had to play a tune for the airport security. I was on about page 5 of Scotty's C6 book at the time so I do not think I furthered the cause of Steel Guitar internationally.

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 19 Sep 2014 5:19 am

A picture is worth a thousand words. I keep one handy on my phone so if I have to explain anything to security, I can show them a picture of me playing...it hasn't failed yet.

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 19 Sep 2014 7:50 am

Christopher Woitach wrote:Well, never had a problem with a tone bar, but I did have a funny experience with my steel guitar...

The last time I flew down to Dallas to spend a couple days with Maurice, I checked in in Portland - the usual "what is thing, it's too heavy, you have to pay extra,etc"

On my way back, at DFW, the guy at the counter said, "this here a steel guitar?" I said it was, and he said, "well we sure as heck aint gonna charge you extra for that!"

Niiiiice

Those Texans understand! Good folks!

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 19 Sep 2014 4:28 pm

Shortly after 911, I flew to Berlin with Guitarzilla, which weighed in at 110lbs. I had to buy a second ticket for it and on the short hop from Frankfurt to Berlin, it actually sat in the seat beside me and there was a lovely lady in the seat on the other side. Guitar to the right, lady on the left, sometimes things are ok.

At the airport in Berlin, when it was time to fly back, the guitar and I were escorted down to the interrogation room where I did my best to entertain everyone. When they realized that I didn't have any talent and there was no reason to keep me there, they let me on the plane.

This was the Guitarzilla for that one.

Joe Goldmark · Post by **Joe Goldmark** » 19 Sep 2014 4:45 pm

Chas, they should have locked you up!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 19 Sep 2014 6:36 pm

I agree with Joe. I would have personally escorted you to jail and thrown away the key.

a 5150 might have been in your near future.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 20 Sep 2014 4:41 am

I can see carrying your picks, but not a bar. Pack that with the steel, or in your luggage.

That said, flying is just no fun anymore. To me, it's offensive, wearisome, obtrusive, and embarrassing.

Used to be that you drove down to the airport, parked, walked up to the ticket counter and handed them money for a ticket. When it was time to board, you walked out of the terminal, across the tarmac, and walked up the steps onto the plane. No credit cards, no ID verification, no cell phones, no security scans, no pat-downs, no "take off your shoes", no nothing. Funny part is, we felt far safer back then. Sure, stuff happened back then (hijackings and crashes) but you weren't forced to think about them. Nowadays, everything you do at an airport seems to be a portent that this might be your last day alive.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 20 Sep 2014 7:48 am

On the other hand, early this morning I had a very pleasant chat with the agent at special handling who was interested in how the pedal steel worked. We were looking at the x-ray which displayed the undercarriage in perfect detail, which was pretty cool. And yes I had to explain what my bar was for when I went through security, and as always it was no big deal.