Flying with a Mono Vertigo - can it be done???

[rogerbmiller]

I bought a vertigo for a flight and ended up not using it. My gripes are that the headstock area is too narrow and the pockets are not deep enough.

I could live with the pockets but the headstock narrowness was a non starter for my flight.

In my case I was traveling with an ATK5 string and the tuners were literally bulging at the sides. One good impact and no more clovers.

That said I use the Vertigo a ton in NYC as my walking around gig bag (sans ATK). And I would take it on a flight with a different bass. but I would feel safer flying with a Protec Contego in the event that the bass got gate checked etc.

 

[JakobT]

I bought a vertigo for a flight and ended up not using it. My gripes are that the headstock area is too narrow and the pockets are not deep enough.

I could live with the pockets but the headstock narrowness was a non starter for my flight.

In my case I was traveling with an ATK5 string and the tuners were literally bulging at the sides. One good impact and no more clovers.

That said I use the Vertigo a ton in NYC as my walking around gig bag (sans ATK). And I would take it on a flight with a different bass. but I would feel safer flying with a Protec Contego in the event that the bass got gate checked etc.

Strictly speaking, the Vertigo isn't made for 5-string basses, although some will fit. Your bass seems to be a little too big in the headstock area, so the lack of protection isn't really a reflection on the Vertigo, as you're using it for a bass it wasn't really designed for. I agree the pockets could stand to be deeper. That said, I can fit an 18' instrument cable, a strap, a folding guitar stand, a string set, a multi-tool, audio cables, spare 9V battery, ear-plugs and a polishing cloth into mine. If I need to carry more stuff, I strap on a Guitar Tick.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Strictly speaking, the Vertigo isn't made for 5-string basses, although some will fit. Your bass seems to be a little too big in the headstock area, so the lack of protection isn't really a reflection on the Vertigo, as you're using it for a bass it wasn't really designed for. I agree the pockets could stand to be deeper. That said, I can fit an 18' instrument cable, a strap, a folding guitar stand, a string set, a multi-tool, audio cables, spare 9V battery, ear-plugs and a polishing cloth into mine. If I need to carry more stuff, I strap on a Guitar Tick.

Yep. Like I said I am getting lots of use out of mine just not from the original use for which I bought it.

 

[juusokasperi]

I know I'm answering to a year old thread but since I didn't find many experiences of people stowing their Monocases in the cargo hold, I thought I could chime in.

A few weeks ago I was wondering whether to fly with my Monocase or getting a proper flight case and use that, but after asking a few of my bassist friends I decided to try my chances and go with the Mono. Mine isn't the Vertigo though, I have a Mono M80. I was flying from Helsinki, FI to Hamburg, GER with a connecting flight and then back from Berlin to Helsinki via a connecting flight also. I also had to travel to a few cities inside the country with public transport so a gig bag was preferable for ease of carrying.

On all the flights my bass went into the cargo hold and I couldn't gate check because the airlines I flew with didn't have the option (AirBaltic and SAS) so it went in there like the rest of the baggage. Anyways, the Mono really held up and there wasn't even a scratch on either the bag or the bass inside. I also put some of my clothes in to the bag to provide some extra support for the instrument. I might've just had some really good luck but my experience of flying with the Mono was very positive.

 

[Belka]

If anyone's interested I've a very positive experience with a Mono M80. Two days ago I flew from Kiev, Ukraine, to London Gatwick. Was not allowed to take my bass on as hand luggage so I checked it at the gate and then collected it with all the other stowed luggage. I was taking a risk as the bass I was transporting was a Fodera Imperial 5, along with a fretless neck from another bass (the body was in my suitcase). I did of course pack everything very carefully; the fretless neck was wrapped in clothes and I padded the rest of the case out too.
On arrival at Gatwick I checked; everything was in perfect condition.

Not that I would recommend this as it is a game of chance and I'm aware it could go wrong. One alternative was finding an SKB and bringing that to Ukraine as they're not sold there and I'm not Sure what I would have done with the fretless. The other was DHL but what with the price and the current fuss about rosewood boards I couldn't be fussed. So I gambled, and luckily I won.

 

[Aidil]

I searched for this kind of "testimony" about the Mono Case(s), but didn't see this when I was in the need of buying another gigbag March last year. Although this thread is about the M80 Vertigo Bass, still I'm glad I went with Mono M80 Dual Electric Bass. And many thanks to OP and the other posters, now I think I just might get the M80 Vertigo Guitar which seems fit for my shortscale bass.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I was flying through JFK last Friday and saw numerous cats with Mono bags, and thought of this thread... but what happened to the video @MrFabulous ?

Also I feel guilty as I just use my Vertigo to go from my house to the car, and my car to my lesson or the practice space- I am not letting it live up to its full potential!