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Double gig bag/case I can take on a plane

famousbirds

famousbirds

Aug 3, 2009
373
22
Honolulu
#1
Hi all-

We're moving off the mainland, and I can't bear to leave either bass behind. Called the airline today, and it looks like I'm going to have to bring my basses as checked luggage, so I need to invest in a rugged gig-bag or hard case that can stand up to the potential violence of baggage handlers.

It seems, currently, there's only a few choices:

  • [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
  • Tracking down an inCase Dub bag
  • Buy a pair of hard flight cases

I'd lean towards the double cases, since I can currently carry my whole rig at the same time, but I suspect there aren't many gig-bag-types that can stand up to flight travel.

Recommendations? Experiences? Something I missed?

FWIW, the basses are a G&L L-2500 and a Jazz.
 
#2
My vote is on hard flight cases. Those baggage handlers are really rough, and could care less about your stuff.

I have seen plenty of mishandled instruments in my line of work.

I recently repaired a really nice guitar that was in one of those molded plastic hard cases, but due to baggage handlers the neck had snapped off.

You need something REALLY rigid.

:bassist:

Edit: Have you thought about shipping them via Fedex or UPS? IME they are much much more trustworthy.
 
#3
*sigh*, that's what I was afraid of. It seems like the Dub bag is about the only thing you can wear on your back designed to stand up to the rigors of baggage handlers, and it's super expensive, out of production, and has some design flaws of its own.

Googled the heck out of it and didn't see any two-bass hard cases. Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes a double hard case?
 
#4
I have never seen nor heard of a double electric bass case....

You should really consider shipping them, unless it would be horribly expensive.

Or!
(That moment where you have a fantastic idea)

Take the necks off, wrap those and the bodies reallly well in soft clothes or sheets, and have no worries.

You can then fit them in suitcases.

As soon as you unpack, put those babies back together and :bassist:
 
#5
Remove the necks and put them in your carry on, then put the bodies in your checked bag. Fold up your gig bag and put it in the checked bag with the bodies.

Make sure to wrap the bodies in lots of clothes, though. Don't want any extra dings:P

EDIT: someone beat me to it while I was typing:P
 
#6
Shipping them is out.

Disassembling I had not considered, but that's not a bad idea. A small amount of hassle for guaranteed safe travel.

Anyone with the inCase or Mono (or another double bag) want to speak to their flightworthiness?
 
#8
I've had great success by putting gig-bagged basses inside an SKB-type golf club case then checking it with luggage. Can buy them cheaply used.

Not only great protection, but airline policy is not to charge extra for golf club cases as oversized. They DO charge oversized fee for basses in full ATA flight cases.
 
#11
famousbirds said:
Anyone with the inCase or Mono (or another double bag) want to speak to their flightworthiness?
Click to expand...

I have a Mono, it's awesome but never in a million years would I use it (or any gig bag) to check my basses. The only thing I would check would be a legit flight case. A standard hardshell case might be enough, but I wouldn't chance that either.

Picture your bass being the first thing loaded into the plane, then all the other luggage being thrown (literally) onto it.
 

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