The Steel Guitar Forum

When flying is it better to put your picks and bar in your carry on bag or in your "Check In" suitcase?
Reason for asking of course, the bar could be a dangerous weapon.
I would appreciate some feedback.
Many thanks.

In your 'checked' bag, I think. If you carry them through check-in they can insist you leave them behind - if they're in your case and under the 'plane there's a better chance you'll still have them when you arrive.

My advice (and practice) is to keep the picks in my hand-luggage, since they won't bother anybody and you would be hard-pressed to replace them quickly and shape another set to your fingers, if the airline lost your luggage. I put the bar itself in the checked luggage, since it's easily replaceable, not personalized (like bent picks), and could cause trouble at TSA.

I've done both. I pull the picks and bar out of whatever I'm carrying them in and lay them in the tray on their own. I also have a photo of me playing my guitar handy just in case...

I have never had a problem carrying on my picks and bar and I do it frequently. Often I will stick an extra bar and set of picks in my checked luggage, but I always carry my main set in my hand luggage. The most that has ever happened is that I have been asked at security what the bar is. Like Jonathan says, if you put them separately in the tray then if it raises a question they won't need to open your hand luggage - it can save a little time.

I do exactly as Jonathan just said.

Never had a problem packing the bar/picks in the case on domestic, international, and intra-Europe flights. Of course, they lost the whole guitar a few times, but the bar never caused a problem!!

They took all my stuff out of the pouch and just threw it back it the case loose to roll around among the cross shafts and pull rods. They also apparently pulled my guitar out of the case to look at it and bent 6 pull rods to where you could not tune the guitar.

Good luck, we'll pray for you.

I fly with mine in my cary on all the time and have never been asked about them. I carry on all sorts of vintage tube mics and crazy gear and they never check it--make you wonder...

Hey, Roy! Every time I'm flying whether it's with the rest of the band members or solo to meet the rest of the guys at the gig, I'll make sure and have my back line(amp & drumstool) provided at the gig and I'll check my guitar and have everything else in my carry on(cables, volume pedal,, bar, picks, tuner, and some extra strings) I just put them in a large plastic bag and have it out of my carry on in one of the trays. Fortunately TSA hasn't raised any fuss over the past 5 years. I think you'll be fine as long as you're open about what you have and are cooperative with any airport personnel.

If you can hijack an airplane with a steel guitar bar you deserve to go wherever you want.

Next to the C4.