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I'm happy to take a Tele or Strat in a Hiscox through the baggage system, since I figure that's about the most indestructible guitar & case combination possible. And wrapped in that industrial cling film stuff to stop baggage guys trying to open anything...
I've got Gibsons in standard TKL type hardcases in the cabin with me a few times and never had issues. To do that I ask nicely at check-in to gate check it. They never have a real reason to say no, but if necessary you can lay it on with a little "it's very fragile so while I'm happy for it to go in the hold I need to make sure it doesn't go through the conveyor belt system".
Then when you get to the gate, say nothing unless challenged, and tell them the staff at checkin told you it could be carried to the plane and then put in the hold from the cabin, not via the baggage system. When you get to the plane, either put it straight into an overhead (if you're on a plane with big enough bins) or preferably ask very nicely for them to put it in a cupboard (again because v fragile & sentimental value etc etc). They key with all this is to be as friendly and polite and accommodating as possible at every stage, while being firm enough to make sure it doesn't ever see a conveyor belt or baggage handler thug because that's what will get it broken.
What also helps here is I have a lot of loyalty with a couple of airlines, so get priority boarding, which makes all of this much easier. And gold/platinum status means they're usually happier to do whatever they can to help. But really the single key thing is politeness and showing appreciation with everyone you speak to throughout the process.
It was just full of snacks from Hong Kong and a plastic figurine I recall. He didn't end up checking at all, closed it up and sent us on our way.
Then a smiling man in an Emirates uniform approached with a very well wrapped guitar shaped case, “Hello, We noticed you had a guitar in the hold so we took it out and placed it in a safer area, sorry to keep you waiting.”
At least he was on the ball, unlike the woman at Manchester passport control I encountered once who thought Madrid was a country.
I agree the finish on the MLs looks more like a real old guitar, but I also don’t care that much about that. The VOS ones were simply just better instruments for my tastes.
I'd usually prefer the right standard over a Murphy.
I don't need or want them to look older than they are.
It doesn't bother me when they do but I just don't care.
It is the neck, the playability and attention to detail that matters.
Currently my LP style guitar is a PRS SC58.
Regardless of what people think of them, PRS quality control is on a different level to Gibson.
When Gibson get it right they are amazing guitars but there are just too many problems and you have to play loads to find the right one.
I could probably buy a PRS sight unseen and know I'd be happy with it.
I'd love PRS to absorb Gibson and sort that out.
Unlikely, I know.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
I’m about to pull the trigger on a VOS ES-335 because it’s an awesome instrument and being used it’s already been fettled very well (the bigsby stays in tune even with massive divebombs) and I’d actually like it to look a tiny bit less shiny if anything, but I won’t be paying an extra £2000+ just for that difference in finishing.