Condenser mics and airport screening

[bassdeal]

A quick and most likely unnecessary question: I am going to be traveling to do a quick recording session and I am planning to take my best condenser vocal mic with me as carry-on luggage (I will not have any checked luggage). Is there any issues with having this mic go through an airport scanner? I can't think of any, but I would hate to loose my mic through ignorance. My searches did not provide any conclusion, positive or negative.

Thanks!

 

[Tosh]

It won't hurt the mic, but you might be pulled aside to have your bag inspected.

My shure SM57 resembled a gun barrel in the checkpoint xray. I spent about 10 minutes while the TSA searched my bag and then I had to explain what it was - even opened it up so they could see the capsule inside.

 

[bassdeal]

Thanks for the info. I am carrying a Sterling MXL 990 condenser vocal mic (I think that is the model number) which is shaped quite differently.

Now that I think about it, I do transport in a plastic case which maybe a problem.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

We got pulled to the side because the TSA scanner thought my partner’s hair dryer was a speaker. It wasn’t, but it still took 5 minutes out of our day. I think you should be fine to travel with it - just be prepared to get pulled to the side.

Edit - I also got pulled aside for having a plastic ice pack. They confiscated it because the contents were liquid and not frozen. Apparently, if it were frozen it could have traveled. Make it make sense.

 

[bassdeal]

No problems on my outbound leg, although they did examine my bag with the mic for awhile. I did not see them open the bag though.

I hope to have the same luck on my return trip tomorrow.