How good is the hardshell case?

[Tomcat84]

Hey folks

have to transport my Morse by plane this christmas. Now the airline seems to be saying I either have to check it in or buy a whole extra ticket for it!

The latter is not really an option: so the question arises, how well do you think the standard Music Man case would protect my Morse from the terror that is bagage handling?

Any other ideas or tips?

the airline is Delta.

 

[beej]

Checking it can be an issue. I've checked with the stock case before. Mostly it works out ok (but they can beat the hell out of it), but I'd really suggest you avoid it or invest in a flight case. Something that can take a real beating.

I fly with it in a gig bag, fits in the overhead bins. Just flew with my Morse a few weeks ago with no problems. Figure if I ever get in trouble I'll just take the neck off. Never plan to check it again.

That said, I've heard Delta can be prickly with guitars as carry-on. But I'd still carry it on.

 

[cm_17]

TSA: Transporting Musical Instruments

So far, whenever I talked with the personnel at the check-in, I could carry guitars on board. But maybe I was just lucky so far.

 

[fsmith]

Always carried mine on. On some of the smaller planes they've put it in the upright storage at the front of the plane. In an Ernie Ball gig bag they fit perfectly in the overhead bins.

Maybe I've been lucky, but I haven't had any problems so far.

fred

 

[e.mate]

Hey folks

Any other ideas or tips?

the airline is Delta.

It's good that it's not United...because "United breaks guitars" (Dave Carroll) (Check on YouTube, it's fun)

Back to the point. I work for an airline (back office, not with baggage) and I definitely know how baggage is treated by any airline I own the MM cases myself and I am sure they withstand normal baggage handling quite well as they are sturdy

However, if you want to avoid dents and scratches to the case, I would rather wrap it in cardboard, and just leave the handle be looking out. Additionally I would fill all hollow spaces IN the case with bubble wrap...because it could be much more dangerous what actually might fall on top of the case, than what the case could possibly fall on

Hope this helps somehow...

 

[e.mate]

...and by the way - the larger the aircraft, the bigger the risk. It's true!

 

[nobozos]

I've never worried as much about how the case was handled, as I did about how cold it gets in the cargo hold. It is extremely cold at altitude, and if the cargo hold is not temperature controlled, your instrument could be subjected to extreme changes in temperature within a short period of time.

I've always been able to walk my case up to the end of the jetway, and then they put it in the hold. If you can do this, you avoid the baggage handlers and conveyor belts between check-in and the plane. That's half the battle right there.

 

[beej]

But the instruments are subject to cold when they're shipped (and delivered in the winter, etc), so cold isn't necessarily a problem.

 

[spkirby]

I've flown transatlantic quite a few times with my ebmm's in their regular cases and always checked them in. No problems so far, fortunately, although I've always put them in the fitted cardboard box they were originally delivered in or have put some bubble wrap around the case to minimise scratches. With Thanksgiving coming up I'm going to be doing the same again although the airlines are much tighter with their luggage allowances these days so this flight may cost me extra in baggage fees when I get to the airport!

 

[jamminjim]

I don't know if this is true or not - but when a guitar is shipped transoceanic with a freight company like UPS or USPS the guitars are pretty much treated like they would be if checked on a flight, right? If so I haven't experienced any problems with any I have shipped overseas (knock on wood). The loaded cases were shipped in a snug cardboard outer guitar box with cushioning material inside the EBMM case in the void areas to snug the guitar up and keep it from sliding around inside. I wrap the headstock too as a safety measure. And always detune it a step or so. Shouldn't be a worry to check on this way. I usualy don't expose the handle.

my $0.02

 

[ScoobySteve]

I don't know if this is true or not - but when a guitar is shipped transoceanic with a freight company like UPS or USPS the guitars are pretty much treated like they would be if checked on a flight, right? If so I haven't experienced any problems with any I have shipped overseas (knock on wood). The loaded cases were shipped in a snug cardboard outer guitar box with cushioning material inside the EBMM case in the void areas to snug the guitar up and keep it from sliding around inside. I wrap the headstock too as a safety measure. And always detune it a step or so. Shouldn't be a worry to check on this way. I usualy don't expose the handle.

my $0.02

While this comparison makes sense, the biggest difference is that airlines make it explicitly clear that they take no responsibility for lost, or damaged goods, and do not insure their bagge.

Shipping companies do.

It's a gamble either way.

 

[bkrumme]

I've checked a few guitars over the years and haven't had any problems, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

Carry it on if you can.

If you have to check it, protect it with something. Either a flight case (ATA Approved) or other high quality packaging.

Beware, TSA WILL open your guitar case a lot of the time. Don't lock the case or get a case with TSA approved locks, otherwise they'll break the lock.

 

[Funky Chicken]

I fly with my Morse about once per month. I carry it on and put it in the overhead compartment in a gig bag. I wrap a beach towel around my Morse before putting it in the bag just to have one extra layer of cushioning.
Avoid Delta if possible. I have not had a problem on American, Southwest, US Airways, or JetBlue. Steve Morse has a Delta rant on his website, and they are simply a bigger pain in the ass about the whole thing than other carriers.
I check a roller bag (the rectangular kind with the pull out handle) that has all of my clothes plus everything else for the gig-pedals, cables, tools, strings, etc. I learned this lesson a few years back after TSA detained me for 20 minutes, tore apart the roller bag, and made me open up 3 effects pedals so they could see the innards. They also confiscated a capo and one of those multi-tool swiss army type guitar tools that I had stupidly put in the gig bag.
Now,the ONLY thing I carry on is the gig bag, and the ONLY thing in the bag is the guitar itself. I don't walk around the gate area like "look at me and my GUITAR". I keep a low profile and dress like a business traveler to avoid any hassle.
Sometimes they will try to "pink tag" your guitar at the gate in an effort to get you to check it just before you get to the plane's door. No need to argue-I smile, let them put the pink tag on and walk down the jetway and onto the plane with the guitar. If there is a jam-up at the door I go as far away from the guy taking bags as I can and put the guitar down by my side.
I like to sit in the back of the plane so I can board first and claim an overhead compartment-you don't want to be the last one getting on a full flight trying to get your guitar to fit somewhere.
I always keep a copy of the TSA document that was linked earlier in this thread in the pocket of the gig bag, but I have never had to pull it out. I got a full bag of $#!+ from some witch at LaGuardia (shocking) a couple of years back and I killed her with kindness-she didn't know how to respond to someone who wasn't screaming right back at her, and she dropped it.
I'll be on JetBlue from RDU to JFK this Saturday with my Morse in the overhead-happy trails.

 

[Sweat]

Man if you must take it then get a ATA flight case or carry it on and check everthing else and dont fly Delta

Delta is the only airline I have ever had trouble with, not just talking carrying on guitars either.

 

[the24thfret]

Never check your guitar. Always bring it on board. I've flown a lot domestic and international with my various guitars and always have been able to bring it on with me. Just tell them it is worth $10000 and you're unwilling to let it out of your sight. It works.

The cases are sturdy btw.

 

[banjoplayer]

Steve Morse has a Delta rant on his website, and they are simply a bigger pain in the ass about the whole thing than other carriers.

check out this rant (sorry a little long but interesting to read)
source: stevemorse.com: notes from the road

March 4, 2005

Here I am in Switzerland, getting ready for a gig with Deep Purple. This was quite an unusual trip out from the USA for me. And as an aside, I'm writing this little account for the pure human interest and humor, not to say that my little problem was somehow a big deal in the grand scheme of things, just interesting to me at the time......

On the first leg of my trip, to reach the more plentiful International flights available from New York, I found a surprise from my most trusted airline. By the way, I do trust them all to get me on the ground safely, just some have better capacity to dispatch replacement planes for one with a small mechanical problem. For the last 40 years they were my preferred airline, well over half a million miles, (not counting all the ones before frequent flyer miles were tracked) and it finally came to this:

"Sir! Sir!....does this fit in our 'sizewise' test bin?"

I replied, "Yes, it fits, no problem", thinking they are talking about the overhead compartments on this particular aircraft. It does, indeed, fit in every overhead compartment, including the small regional ones.

She points to the little basket/test cage, and says "Sir! If it doesn't fit in this, then you will have to check it in regular baggage."

So I'm sitting here holding serial number 1, in a soft carry bag, not a hard shell case (in order for it to fit in the overhead compartment, taking up less space than a winter coat). There's no way I can let them throw it in the baggage compartment, so I ask to speak to someone further about it. They were saying that it's Federal Regulations that I can't bring it on board. Oddly enough, I'm quite familiar with the FAA regulations, especially on section of part 121, which pertains to air carriers, and baggage limitations. After I pointed out in a calm voice that I actually am in compliane with the exact regulation stating what can and cannot be carried aboard, the lady got a little bit stressed out and handed me off to another guy. Their point was that the FAA expects them to be 100% consistent with their carry on baggage policy, which had suddenly become the "sizewise" container standard, as opposed to the "under your seat, or in the overhead bin, one piece per person plus a small personal item" which is the normal post-911 standard.

At this point, I thought it could turn out like the scene in "Anger Management", where Adam Sandler is being told in increasingly stressful voices to "calm down", which finally makes him agitated to the point where he no longer is calm, then is carried away. So, I'm already seeing this happen in my mind, but the guy I talk to listens with a bit of understanding, especially the part where I say "....and if I had only known of this sudden change in policy, I could have made other plans...." Which is all true.

I volunteer to take my guitar apart to make the pieces fit in the now despised "sizewise" container. Problem is, all the tools that normal guitarists, or me, at least, would carry, are in my checked baggage, due to the vast number of Leatherman pocket toolkit hijackings on airlines. So, I ask if I can borrow a phillips head screwdriver, knowing full well that my chances are not good. Surprisingly, the guy leads me away to a distant storage room and hands me the screwdriver.

Next thing I know, my guitar is in pieces from my own hands. I stuff the collection back into the case and return to board the plane. Now, of course, the overhead spaces are full, since it took some time to do all of this. Yet, my pieces of guitar will fit in very little space, and by simply compacting the multitudes of winter jackets, it's in.

The whole flight I'm calculating the odds of the bridge adjusters getting turned, since the bridge is off, and there's no pressure to stop them from changing position, necessitating a lengthy adjustment/refinement session. All this will not be a problem, though, since Skoots will be there to fix it for me! Except for the fact that he won't......I forgot, he won't be doing any more DP dates, since he's trying to retire from touring to spend more time with his son. This will be basically be my first gig in over a decade playing with Deep Purple with a brand new tech I've never even met. So I make a note to adjust my guitar with my banished toolkit in my checked bag when I get to the hotel.

When I arrive at JFK airport to begin the process of changing terminals via exiting to a train outside, we find some friendly people working for the airline who hand me a well used screwdriver. Not a perfect fit, but enough to get the job done, so in the lobby, I have finally put it back together. Actually, it wasn't me that got the screwdriver, but a rep from our new travel agent who was meeting myself, Roger and our manager at the airport. I gave them the bad news that this domestic airline, which rhymes with "felt a", should be put in the same category as the few others in the World that don't allow items that fit in the overhead with ease. But now, in the boarding line for our international flight, with my guitar put back together, I smile as a normal airline welcomes me onboard with a fully intact guitar......much as they all did just a couple of years ago.

By the way, if you're thinking, "why not just throw it in a heavy case and check it?", we have lost 2 guitars in baggage, not temporarily. In addition, while my one of a kind frankenstein-tele was in an ATA approved travel case, it came down the conveyor belt with a big hole in the case, dent in the guitar, and a bunch of wood splinters following it. Plus, I like to carry it with me after having my luggage temporarily lost a total of over a dozen times! And by temporary, that can almost always be measured in days, not hours, when you're travelling Internationally.

Well, I'm going to pick this thing up and start getting back to playing it!

p.s. we have a bunch of Dregs/SMB gigs coming up east of the Mississippi, so we'll see you soon!

Thanks,
Steve Morse

 

[Tomcat84]

doh! just my luck that I'm flying with Delta then!! Argh!

Not sure what I'll do now. I'll see about calling them at least. I'd hate to check it though, if not for damage also for getting lost, since I will be transfering flights :-/

 

[Hiram Glyphics]

Took my guitar to Papua New Guinea. We stayed in Singapore for a week on the way back. My luggage didn't make it back from Singapore for almost three days! Yeah, I was a little nervous..I will never check my guitar if I don't have to again (I like the idea of taking the neck off, if nec.). A Flight case is a great investment!

 

[the24thfret]

Nice SM story. I reiterate: Never check your guitar.

 

[Tomcat84]

I'm happy to report the Blueburst Morse succesfully survived the trip.

I decided to go with the bag that came with my PRS SE so i put it in there with three tshirts wrapped around the headstock, neck and bottom and top respectively.


Check in made no big deal of it, tagged it as authorised to bring onboard hand luggage, no questions asked by TSA either.

Then at the desk at the gate I asked the lady who was working that if there was space in a closet. She said no thats first class only, use overhead bins.

Unperturbed, at actual boarding I approached the flight attendents in a nice manner and in no time it was stowed in the crew's compartment.

After transfer, I again boarded and before I could really even complete a sentence she already smiled and took it forward to a crew compartment or somewhere.

No damage, and a very happy father, are the result