Airline Brutality

[rockdisciple]

Hey, everyone,
I've just flown back from my first semester at Berklee up in Boston, and when I arrived back home in MD I discovered a chip in my JP's headstock and what looks like a small stress crack where the neck joins the body. I was pretty appalled, and am working on having it covered by insurance, but I need to have it looked it to assess the extent of the damage, which would likely impact what I'm reimbursed. My question is this: would it make sense to have it appraised by a luthier I know in this area or should I just send it straight to EBMM?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[candid_x]

Hey, everyone,
I've just flown back from my first semester at Berklee up in Boston, and when I arrived back home in MD I discovered a chip in my JP's headstock and what looks like a small stress crack where the neck joins the body. I was pretty appalled, and am working having it covered by insurance, but I need to have it looked it to assess the extent of the damage. My question is this: would it make sense to have it appraised by a luthier I know in this area or should I just send it straight to EBMM?

Thanks,
Chris

I'd first check with EB. Then if/when insurance covers the damage you can have it repaired or replaced with the real deal.

 

[Colin]

years ago before the internet, I had to get 3 different quotes for the insurance company. One repair shop wanted to charge me $75 for a quote. These days it's so easy to contact the manufacturer

 

[rockdisciple]

Thanks, guys. I think I will just give EBMM a call and take it from there. I'm hoping it works out fine - I really love my JP.

I really advise anyone checking their guitar to reconsider, or at least be extremely cautious. The TSA appears to have little respect for instruments, among other personal belongings. I don't know whether using an internal strap to hold it in place would help, as it looks like possibly the case was opened upside down and backwards in midair. As disturbing as this is, whoever did it put it back exactly the way it was in my hard case and there was no indication other than the damage that someone had been inside it. Just be careful, people.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

This is why it's a better option to do one of two things.

1. Ship your guitar home.
2. If it's going to fly with you, invest in an ATA approved flight case, not just the hardshell case it came with. Most airlines (Delta especially) are funny about how they will (or won't) allow guitars to be carried on, and even have rules about how they can be checked.

I hope everything goes well with getting your guitar repaired.