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Flying with an SKB Bass Safe?

Lokire

Lokire

Aug 21, 2003
4,980
53
39
Seattle, Washington
#1
Looks like I'm going to be flying across the US to do some session work around the last week of May :eek:

So I need something to get my bass there and back safely. My Stambaugh 6-String is the bass of choice at the moment. So my initial thoughts are to go with the SKB Bass Safe dealy:

http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=13&o=&offset=1&c=84&s=75#

I checked the inner dimensions and they're about perfect for my gigbag. A really nice, well padded Glenn Cronkhite custom leather bag.

Do you think this would be good enough protection?
 
#3
I fly constantly with one. I have yet to get even a scratch on any bass I've carted in it. However, there is one caveat...the locks are for crap. They are flimsy and often come loose in transit. But if you get a bungee cord or an adjustable strap that you can tie around the handle, it will stay together and work pretty well.

BTW, you need a pretty thick padded gig bag for it. A regular canvas gig bag probably won't work too well.
 
#7
I've flown with mine with no problems.

But here is a tip, to give the headstock and the tail of the bass a little extra padding....try this.

Buy pool noodle. You know, those foam things to play with and sit on in the pool. But get the ones that are not solid, buy the ones that have a hole down the center.

Then slice it in half from one end to the other. Then take one piece and line the top of your gig bag with (trim it to fit of course) it were the headstock is. Then line the bottom of the gig bag were the tail end of your bass goes.

This will give your bass some added protection to the butt end were the strap button is and on the headstock in case the bag monkeys drop the case on either end. Plus it really secures the bass in the gig bag. This worked great with my Carvin Elite I traveled with.
 
#18
I've used the SKB bass safe also and it worked great. I had no problem with the latches (don't put any locks on them b/c the locks will stick out and catch on something and then bend the latches).

It was suggested to me to get the pool noodle too but since the pool season was over at the time I went to Home Depot and bought the foam pipe insulators (looks like pool noodles but not in fancy colors). I split them so that they would open and put one around the body of the bass, one up the neck and two small ones around the headstock to sort of protect the tuning machines. I held them in place with large elastics. Not sure if I needed them but I figure why take a chance if I don't have to.

I got silver colored marker at the art supply store and drew an arrow as to which way was up (so the baggage handlers wouldn't place it upside down in the plane (I did notice at the airport that they were actually setting the case in the direction of the arrows) and wrote my name and address on both sections of the case.

A good padded gig bag is a must and perhaps also putting your pillow in the bottom of the case for a little added protection (allows you to bring your own pillow with you too).
 

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