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Gate Checking axe onto airplane?

#61
JimmyM said:
Spoken like a guy who's never had his baggage lost or delayed.
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I have. I just dealt with it. It was found. The point I was trying to make succinctly and with a bit of really dry humor, was that, as a working player there are always gear risks. In a car, in a bar, on planes traveling near and far. On a gig the bass can fall over and break, get puked on stepped on. In a trailer the case can get bashed by stands and speakers and what not. There are risks everywhere. That's all. Later gang! :)
 
#62
any suggestions for a really durable light weight hardshell case? also i hear its a good idea to loosen up the strings a bit when flying with your bass. if so how much should they be loosened?

by the way i plan on study in japan for a whole year starting next fall and want to bring my bass to keep me company there.
 
#63
jnightmare said:
any suggestions for a really durable light weight hardshell case? also i hear its a good idea to loosen up the strings a bit when flying with your bass. if so how much should they be loosened?

by the way i plan on study in japan for a whole year starting next fall and want to bring my bass to keep me company there.
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Back again? You've already got a thread you started on this back on Nov 5th. Maybe you should "bump" that one back and post there instead of dredging one up that's over a month old...
 
#64
gottawalk said:
Back again? You've already got a thread you started on this back on Nov 5th. Maybe you should "bump" that one back and post there instead of dredging one up that's over a month old...
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hahaha yeah but it was pointed out that this was started prior from a mod. and i figured might as well keep all the "flight knowlegde" in one thread rather then building on mine.
 
#66
Wyliee, do you think that a double gig bag (for two basses, back to back) would fit within the dimensions of the case that you use?


wyliee said:
Historically, I have carried my bass onboard in a gig bag. However, as many have noted, airlines are changing their policies. I flew America West earlier this year and they were *strictly* enforcing their no instrument policy. They even had signs of a guitar with a big slash through them.

If I have any belieft the flight will be full or is a smaller airplane, I put my gigbag in an SKB Golf Club case. Golf club bags always seem to go on the plane last and come of first. I have yet to be charged any oversize fee and no one has ever given me a second glance.

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It only cost about $125 plus another $10 or so in extra foam and adhesive. An old Levy double gigbag fits in it just fine.
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#70
Sometimes you're forced into gate checking. I've done it with a gig bag but I wasn't the least bit comfortable about it. Contrary to popular belief, though, the guys who load in the gate-checked guitars are usually careful and put them on top and pull them out right away. I've never had a problem gate checking a bass. But now it's getting to the point where you may not get past the ticket counter, and you definitely don't want to luggage check a gig bag!
 
#71
I used the SKB bass safe a couple of months ago on a gig I had in Aruba. No oversize charges, no problems of any kind and I had locks on the latches. It's a cool case and I think it provides adequate protection for a bass with the added convenience of using your gig bag once you get to your destination. It probably won't survive a truck or car rolling over it, but I look at it this way; if you've ever purchased a bass at a store or tried one out, odds are that bass has been shipped by plane at least once unless of course their making them at the store where you played it or purchased it.
 
#72
This is what I carry with me. Problem solved.
 

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#75
Jay Terrien said:
Has anyone has any issues with United Airlines, regarding checking musical gear?
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United's allright,i just flew from chicago to dallas and back and they didn't trip on the bass(in a protec contego gigcase)on the way back the plane was full of business travelers and the lady sitting next to me gave me a dirty look when i put the case in the over head but bugged me all the way back("is that music stuff?,my brother used to be in a band ect") when she saw me editing backround vocals on my laptop :hmm:
 
#76
willgroove2 said:
United's allright,i just flew from chicago to dallas and back and they didn't trip on the bass(in a protec contego gigcase)on the way back the plane was full of business travelers and the lady sitting next to me gave me a dirty look when i put the case in the over head but bugged me all the way back("is that music stuff?,my brother used to be in a band ect") when she saw me editing backround vocals on my laptop :hmm:
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"obviously shes not a golfer." sorry it just made me think of the big lebowski.
 
#78
tbone0813 said:
This is what I carry with me. Problem solved.
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Boy, I'd like to know more about this one! I haven't been able to find out much the Traveler Escape Bass in the way of reviews. Tell me more about yours. Is the smaller string-to-string spacing a problem?

I've been looking for a practice bass for travel and it has come down betwen this one and a Steinberger Spirit. :confused:
 
#79
phillm47 said:
Boy, I'd like to know more about this one! I haven't been able to find out much the Traveler Escape Bass in the way of reviews. Tell me more about yours. Is the smaller string-to-string spacing a problem?

I've been looking for a practice bass for travel and it has come down betwen this one and a Steinberger Spirit. :confused:
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The big selling point for me was the fact that the Escape bass is about 6.5" shorter than the Steinberger. That helps all that much more when trying to get on a plane. I have not been affected at all by the string-to-string spacing, and my Warrior 5 string has 19mm spacing. The action is a little high on the Escape, and it is not adjustable unless you remove the strings & file down the bridge/saddle. There is a truss rod adjustment though so that might take it down a little. Also, it has a built in headphone amp that is switchable between headphone impedance, and regular amp output impedance (one is hotter than the other). This eliminates the need to bring along an external headphone amp while on the road. The headphones that come with it suck out loud. You will definitely want to purchase a new set. I purchased a cheap pair ($19.99) of Panasonic ear buds, and they made a world of difference. Overall I like my choice. It's an inexpensive way to keep up our chops without lugging around a full size bass on the plane.
 
#80
tbone0813 said:
The big selling point for me was the fact that the Escape bass is about 6.5" shorter than the Steinberger. That helps all that much more when trying to get on a plane. I have not been affected at all by the string-to-string spacing, and my Warrior 5 string has 19mm spacing. The action is a little high on the Escape, and it is not adjustable unless you remove the strings & file down the bridge/saddle. There is a truss rod adjustment though so that might take it down a little. Also, it has a built in headphone amp that is switchable between headphone impedance, and regular amp output impedance (one is hotter than the other). This eliminates the need to bring along an external headphone amp while on the road. The headphones that come with it suck out loud. You will definitely want to purchase a new set. I purchased a cheap pair ($19.99) of Panasonic ear buds, and they made a world of difference. Overall I like my choice. It's an inexpensive way to keep up our chops without lugging around a full size bass on the plane.
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Thanks
 

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