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Flying with a bass

B

bassybass

Mar 29, 2008
111
0
#1
Looks like I might do a few one-off out fly date gigs with this artist, and well, my touring experience is mostly limited to driving and van tours. And even that was a LONG time ago. In fact I've only flown with a bass once, and it was almost 10 years ago---I carried on a pbass in a Fender molded case and put it in the overhead.
So, now, these days, I know I can forget carrying it on? Correct?
Or can you bring a gig bag on? Not sure how comfortable I am with that as it could get knocked around a lot(and I'll probably be schlepping my laptop carry-on as well. ..)
I have a nice Gator ATA case which of course makes for a big heavy package. I assume I will check that. Any tips for a guy who's been grounded for the last 10 years?:)
(I'd actually love to just rent something, but some of the destinations just don't have anything decent available, or easy to get in time for the gigs.)
 
#2
bassybass said:
Looks like I might do a few one-off out fly date gigs with this artist, and well, my touring experience is mostly limited to driving and van tours. And even that was a LONG time ago. In fact I've only flown with a bass once, and it was almost 10 years ago---I carried on a pbass in a Fender molded case and put it in the overhead.
So, now, these days, I know I can forget carrying it on? Correct?
Or can you bring a gig bag on? Not sure how comfortable I am with that as it could get knocked around a lot(and I'll probably be schlepping my laptop carry-on as well. ..)
I have a nice Gator ATA case which of course makes for a big heavy package. I assume I will check that. Any tips for a guy who's been grounded for the last 10 years?:)
(I'd actually love to just rent something, but some of the destinations just don't have anything decent available, or easy to get in time for the gigs.)
Click to expand...

If it's a P bass, I'd just take off the strings, unscrew the neck from the body, and take the two parts on as carry-on. No muss, no fuss.
 
#3
it all depends on the airline whether or not you can carry on your bass. I fly for out of town gigs about once a month. I mostly deal with southwest, who is great and even seems to cater to musicians, but then I've flown Delta and they are absolute nazis about oversized carry-on items. I've heard American is pretty lenient, but it really depends on the airline.

I would suggest just checking it if you already have a case adaquate for that and also, as you probably know, de-tune the strings before you check it.

I bought a cheap $90 flight case from rondo music. I've flown with it almost 20 flights round trip and it's done the job just fine. Only a few small, expected dents ain't bad IMO.
 
#4
It's 50/50 these days. Not enough for me to chance it, so I bought an SKB Bass Safe. The first one I got had crappy locks on it, but the one I have now has good ones. $120, ATA approved, flown probably 50 or 60 times with one and haven't got so much as a scratch on it. But you need a decent padded gig bag for it, though.
 
#5
I fly all time with my bass. Just put it in a gig bag and carry it on and stick it in the overhead. I only had a problem one time. It was a small commuter plane and it woudnt fit in the overhead. They stowed it down below and gave it back to me as I was getting off the plane. No problems..........
 
#6
I could tell long boring horror stories, but instead I'll show you how I fly with a bass.

I check it in an ATA case, and yes, they always think it's a bazooka or an AK-47, and yes they soon will be charging us all an extra fee for checked instruments, and yes, I'll let TB know how it goes next month, when I will fly for the ~40th time with this:

ata1.jpg
 
#7
Thanks all---I will check it in my Gator--I have this one:

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Came with a bass I bought used. I have a really nice padded Undercover gig bag too, but I dunno, I can just see something getting tweaked with trying to jam that into an overhead, or handing it off to some airline attendant to jam somewhere. And like I said, I'll have my laptop pack too to carry on . . .
 
#8
My buddy who worked for the airlines told me this (and it's worked several times):

Book your seats as far in the back as possible -- so you board first. Butt up in line when they call "families with small children and passengers who need extra assistance".

Proceed to the back and put your bass (in gig bag) in the overhead.

Bring a gift-shop store-bought bag of goodies for the attendants. They will love you for it and comp you drinks, etc. I'm serious!

Good luck!
 

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