Regarding 'stand out' cases, it is often best, if you are gigging and traveling to have a simple , generic case instead of something that draws attention; I remember one guy, in a band I sometimes sat in with, who was sometimes mocked for having his very expensive guitar in a very nondescript case; his response was "Imagine there's some guy who is intent of stealing a guitar at a gig. he sees the cases with the brand logos or some sort of customization and then he sees my woebegone case; if you were the guy deciding which one to steal, what would be your choice? The guitars in the flash cases or the one that looks like it contains a low grade guitar?" I never had a brand name case with logos on it nor have I ever used branded gig bags; I have never gad a guitar stolen but I have known not a few who have been ripped off and targeted because they had their guitar in a flash case; this holds true if you have to check in your guitar as luggage; the less conspicuous the case/bag, the less tempting it is for sticky fingers...
Speaking of checking in guitars as luggage, in the times when I had to take a guitar on a plane, I always just bought a seat for the guitar and strapped it in for the fight; that was all pre-9/11 and I'm sure the rules have significantly changed in the following tears; there was one instance where the airline desk clerk refused to sell me another seat for my guitar, but a very kind stewardess took pity on me and snacked it on board and secured in a cupboard used by the flight crew; I was very grateful for that kind young lady...
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