If you’re looking for a guitar that you can easily take on an airplane with you, look no further. The Taylor BT1 and / or BT2 is “the ticket (no pun intended).” In this case, I’m talking about Taylor’s later model, the BT2.
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Traveling by air afterthoughts…
Hello!… For any other guitarists out there, they’re looking for a smaller travel-size guitar, in other words, a guitar that plays like a regular guitar, but it’s just smaller…
The Taylor, or Baby Taylor BT1, & BT2… This is the BT2… Don’t really know the differences much other than the fact that this is just a later model. Both of them are under $ 500 and play very well… Other than being a little bit shorter, a little bit more awkward, the frets are closer together… Other than little things like that… It still plays like a normal guitar. Intonation is great up and down the neck… Just to demonstrate a few quick little things here, let’s see…
Excellent guitar. I had no problem taking it on the plane. First plane was in the crew closet, second time, the second plane, landing in Savannah, this time I was able to go across the, uh, what do you call it, the overhead bins, no problem. The gig bag that comes with it is the closest thing to a hard-shell case that you can get. So, it is really easy to travel with and a great travel companion…
Overhead bin, no problem
But the main reason the BT2 is great is not only its true, acoustic-guitar-sounding nature, but also the fact that you can fit it in an overhead bin on an airplane pretty easily.
Gig Bag / Hard Shell Case
The gig bag that comes with it is the closest thing to a hard-shell case as you can get. I mean, it’s pretty dawgone solid. You can get a hard shell case that fits it, either from Taylor or your favorite retailer. I did not realize Taylor had its own hard-shell case for it until after I purchased it from Sweetwater.com; however, Sweetwater provided a perfect-fit hard-shell case in its place.
I haven’t traveled with the hard-shell case, only the gig bag (twice), and I’ve never experienced an issue. I’ve been able to place it in the overhead bin, and I’ve also been allowed to place it in the crew coat closet up-front; however, I think those rules will be changing soon, so I wouldn’t count on being able to do so every time…
More Guitar Photos From My Flickr Album
Excellent Quality Gigbag
Given the thickness of the gig bag, I wouldn’t have been too worried about it getting checked. OK, yes, I would’ve been (a little) worried. I mean, if a 50lb bag landed directly on the neck portion of the guitar, there’s probably going to be a problem, but you never know.
The BT2 price is set just right.
It’s not that expensive a guitar, as guitars go. It’s not just a drop in the bucket either – It’s roughly $450.00. Better than carrying a $4,500 guitar on the plane and watching get checked. But, of course, anyone carrying a guitar in that price range on a plane, you would think, would have it in a hard shell case right from the get-go.
Below Deck Is Not An Option
That being said, no one wants to put ANY guitar “below deck” if they don’t have to for a few reasons. Besides not having one near you (there’s one). You also have to be, at least, a little concerned about the somewhat lower temperatures in some cases.
It’s best to keep the guitar with you if possible.
I guess that kind of goes without saying… Surprisingly, and supposedly, the luggage storage areas are pressurized to maintain a higher level of safety on an airplane at high altitudes, so I guess the potential change in pressure doesn’t have to be much of a concern.
The main concern for checking your guitar is, of course, it getting “banged around” unnecessarily and winding up in pieces… potentially… Definitely makes for a longer flight knowing your guitar is out of sight and possibly in “hostile territory.”
Conclusion
All that to say, in my opinion, if you need to take a guitar with you on a plane (or very small car, bike, etc.), the Taylor BT2 fits the bill extremely well…
Until Next Time! …
Musician Still Making a GO! … Armchair Philosopher & Would-be Blogger…
