“Loosening your strings before flying is kind of nonsense”: The do’s, don’ts and myths of flying with your guitar, busted by a hard-touring pro musician

Mike Dawes in New York City composite image next to an airplane taking flight.

Since 2013, I’ve been on the road around 10 months a year taking my acoustic guitar on trips to most places you would, and wouldn’t want to take it. Planes, trains, automobiles and at least one horse.

Living in the U.K. where it’s quite damp, and flying to somewhere like Las Vegas where it’s dry can be very stressful on a guitar. From South America to the Arctic, I’ve learned plenty of tricks to keep my instrument safe.