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Thread: A case for locking the case

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    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Well –– if your case is locked, and Customs/Homeland Security/other inspectors want to look inside it, they'll break the lock.

    Anyone know what Egyptian Customs wrote on his D-18? My Arabic's a bit weak (as in "nonexistent").
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Allen -
    I read a little Arabic and I'm quite sure it translates to - Only A Gibson is good enough

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    For posterity.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    What a drag! It can be restored though, thank goodness!
    I still don't see great value in locking cases, it just means the thieves can take the whole thing home before they destroy it.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

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    Unhappy Re: A case for locking the case

    Quote Originally Posted by Timbofood View Post
    What a drag! It can be restored though, thank goodness!
    I still don't see great value in locking cases, it just means the thieves can take the whole thing home before they destroy it.
    I came thru Canadian Customs a few years ago, with a vintage case. The idiot that inspected didn't know to how to open it, it wasn't locked, they broke both latches off.

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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    According to the blog post at the link below, Customs denies making the mark, and instead points the finger at the hotel or car company.

    I'm with Allen, if you lock it, Customs is going to bust into it (but I didn't realize they'd do that even when it's unlocked!). I once took a guitar through customs overseas, and for unrelated reasons was put through a very thorough and time-consuming search of my person and things. But of all places, they didn't check the place in the guitar case where you put picks and other small items. I guess none were musicians ... bb

    http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/mu...ed-guitar.html

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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    The TSA in the United States has always told me to leave my case unlocked when I have taken a beater guitar as checked baggage. I have a couple of notes from TSA as souvenirs that they went through the case. If it were locked they would either have broken into it or impounded it.

    On another note, I never had bad experiences with baggage handlers. Every one I dealt with was decent and careful though I have had friends watch their instruments being thrown. The automated baggage handling equipment was hard on the case though and temperature or pressure changes caused a pickguard to pop off. I would never take one of my good instruments as checked baggage.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    I have a suitcase at home with the locks broken off it after I inadvertently locked it before I checked it. I can attest to the fact that they will simply break the lock. They actually popped it pretty cleanly.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Quote Originally Posted by shylock3 View Post
    I came thru Canadian Customs a few years ago, with a vintage case. The idiot that inspected didn't know to how to open it, it wasn't locked, they broke both latches off.
    To quote Ron White:
    "You can't fix stupid!"
    It's sad to see so many items damaged by staff with NO sense.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  14. #11

    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    I guess that's why people tour with their Takamine and leave their vintage guitar at home. Too bad you can't take your good guitar to a gig without somebody messing with it. And, I'll bet money, they go home and tell their friends they jammed on Bryan Adams' guitar at work...................and you know at a gig they wouldn't be allowed within 100 feet of his guitars.

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    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    I guess that's why people tour with their Takamine and leave their vintage guitar at home. Too bad you can't take your good guitar to a gig without somebody messing with it. And, I'll bet money, they go home and tell their friends they jammed on Bryan Adams' guitar at work...................and you know at a gig they wouldn't be allowed within 100 feet of his guitars.
    I was in the Merchant Marine for 28 years. Whenever I took a mandolin with me flying, I brought the double cutaway Alvarez with the oval hole. Case was smaller and I could carry it on. Gig bag would be handy for that.
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    Full Grown and Cussin' brunello97's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    First they came for the mandolins, and I said nothing.

    Mick
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    Registered User Isaac Revard's Avatar
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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    paint marker rubs off with your fingernail on surfaces such as that...
    “I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around and play mandolin.”

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    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Quote Originally Posted by Mando_Zeek View Post
    paint marker rubs off with your fingernail on surfaces such as that...
    Kinda what I was thinking. Seems silly for a professional touring musician (especially one who's been doing it as long as Bryan Adams has) to be taking valuable, fragile instruments on international tours anyway. My guess is it won't travel much anymore.
    Mitch Russell

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  20. #16

    Default Re: A case for locking the case

    Quote Originally Posted by bohemianbiker View Post
    According to the blog post at the link below, Customs denies making the mark, and instead points the finger at the hotel or car company.

    I'm with Allen, if you lock it, Customs is going to bust into it (but I didn't realize they'd do that even when it's unlocked!). I once took a guitar through customs overseas, and for unrelated reasons was put through a very thorough and time-consuming search of my person and things. But of all places, they didn't check the place in the guitar case where you put picks and other small items. I guess none were musicians ... bb

    http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/mu...ed-guitar.html
    lucky that==for a lot of musicians.!!!

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