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.
Video Script:
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 five hundred dollars, play very well… Other than being a little bit shorter, a little bit more awkward, the frets are closer together… Oher 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…
[First bit of playing]
[Second bit of playing]
Excellent guitar. I had no problem taking on the plane first plane was in the crew closet second time second playing 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 real easy to travel with and great to have as you’re a travel companion…
Overhead bin, no problem
But the main reason the BT2 is great is, not only because of it’s true, acoustic guitar sounding nature, but because 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, its pretty dawgone solid. You can get a hard shell case that fit’s it, either from Taylor, or your favorite retailer. I did not realize Taylor had their own hard shell case for it until after I had purchased it from Sweetwater.com; however, Sweetwater provided a perfect fit hard shell case in its place.
Related: “Does it matter which country your guitar was made in?“
I haven’t traveled with the hard shell case, only the gig bag (twice) and 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 every time…
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Excellent Quality Gigbag
Due to the thickness of the gig bag, I wouldn’t have been too awfully 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.
Price is set Just right
It’s not that expensive of a guitar, as guitars go. Its not just 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 near you (there’s one). You also have to be, at least, a little concerned about the some what lower temperatures in some cases.
It’s best to keep the guitar with you if possible
I guess that kind of goes without saying… Surprising, and supposedly, the luggage storage areas are actually pressurized in-order-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 site and possibly in “hostile territory.”
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…
