Flying with Bass

[stingray96191]

Hey Everyone,

Thought i'd take a minute and let everyone know i am doing well and have just 4 more days of radiation. So far the primary tumor in my brain has shrunk almost 50% and the Drs are very optimistic. Because of these things my band has decided to keep me on and we have a few big shows coming up. In just two weeks we are scheduled to play the Baltimore Music Festival, and it should be a good time. Theres also one in Utah in January where we have been asked to play 3 days.

Now my question, Does anyone here regularly fly with their bass? I know i ned a good gig bag and will be gate checking not checking to the hold. What are you guys using? In the past i have had an undercover bag which was good. But expensive. I see now there are a few different options, But the price points seem high. Either way the band leader will be buying whatever i need to travel.

I will most likely be bringing the Big Al and my Sterling as i just can't quit those necks.

Any Info would be greatly appreciated.

And if you are gonna be in around Baltimore on Friday October 16th stop down and see us. Should be a good time... I just hope my energy has returned.

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Erin P

 

[Freddels]

I have flown with the SKB Bass Safe and it worked fine.

There's another new option with the Reunion Blues Continental gig bag. Check out the video on this site RBC and also the blog. The bass bag is made the same way.

 

[silverburst]

I usually just use a regular gig bag and have never been unable to get it into the cabin or in an overhead bin. Be sure to make nice with the gate agent and the flight attendants.

 

[Freddels]

That's why I think the Reunion gig bag would be a good option just in case they do make you gate check it.

 

[five7]

Just looking on craigslist here in denver and found a case case called a slimbag made by incase. It looks like it would work for you. List price is $199. This one is $100.

 

[stingray96191]

the reunion blues bag does look nice. i was hoping to bring two basses though, maybe i'm crazy...

 

[Freddels]

If you want to bring more than one bass then you may want to look into getting a golf travel bag. Airlines generally don't question someone flying with their golf clubs. Get one that's big enough and put your basses in gig bags and then fill the rest of the void with pillows or something like that.

 

[stingray96191]

thanks for the advice so far the reunion blues bag looks like a way to go. I always like to have 2 guitars with me but in these circumstances maybe its overkill. I never break a string, or have a failure anyway. I think 2 basses in a golfbag would be huge.... Ill be suer to check with the airlines.

Erin

 

[Aussie Mark]

I know i ned a good gig bag and will be gate checking not checking to the hold.

How do you know that? If you manage to carry on in a gig bag 100% of the time you'll be doing better than 99% of other guitar and bass players on the planet.

If you rock up to check in and they tell you it can't be taken on as carry on (which they will do at least 75% of the time) you'll be screwed if all you have is a gig bag. Buy an ATA flight case or a SKB bass safe for peace of mind.

 

[stingray96191]

its been a few years, but the airlines have always let me check my bass at the Gate... Maybe things have changed. I used to have an Undercover double bag that was super nice. I may look into another one of those. It held 2 basses and wasn't too hefty. Maybe i've been lucky.

Erin

 

[Aussie Mark]

its been a few years, but the airlines have always let me check my bass at the Gate... Maybe things have changed.

A little thing called 9/11 changed that.

Then again, you might be the lucky guy who is allowed to check his bass at the gate 99% of the time. What are you going to do the other 1% of the time, as you watch your expensive and well loved bass in a gig bag head down the baggage conveyor with the suitcases and boxes? Either that or you can sit around for the next flight and try your luck again. That's a risk and/or inconvenience I'm not willing to take. Your EBMMs come with a hard case that's pretty sturdy, so why not use them?

 

[Kirby]

I agree with Mark. I fly with at least one of my basses at least once a month. I have encountered both nice and not so nice crews. I have solved that problem by using flight cases. True they are cumbersome and sometimes a pain, but the peace of mind is worth it to me.

I would not try using just the hard case the basses came with. I have seen them destroyed. I have a friend who plays for a very large act who found out too late that the baggage handlers had opened and then dropped his custom PRS guitar. It was severely damaged. He was due to play Red Rocks that night with the guitar, needless to say he used another guitar.

That being said, I have both custom cases made by Showcase Custom Cases in Nashville that have worked very well and most recently Pro Stage Gear cases that allow you to put a gig bag in the case. This eliminates the old problem of having a case for each bass due to the foam being a custom fit. It also allows you to leave the flight case in the hotel and travel with the bag. I am using the Pro Stage Gear cases mostly today.

The new Reunion Blues Continental bag is the best bag I have seen so if you are going for just a bag, this would be the one I would get. Please be cautious though. I remember one time a stewardess refused the coat closet because her McDonald's was in there and she did not want to move it. Mind you , her sack was the only thing there. Luckily my bass fit in the overhead compartment.

Bottom line call ahead and talk with the airlines and ask about their policy of brining an instrument on board rather than checking it if you are going to pursue that route. By all means be nice, you will get farther that way too.

Good luck & glad things are going well!

 

[syciprider]

If you want a protective gig bag, forget the Reunion Blues. Get one of those high tech gig bags like iGig or Incase. They are like soft cases complete with multiple layers of foam, thick plastic sheets and well thought out padding in critical areas like the neck, bridge and bottom strap pin. Leather gig bags are nothing more than glorified sacks.
Some folks in TB even check their Incase bags in But the best protection is a road case.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Pro Stage Gear cases that allow you to put a gig bag in the case. This eliminates the old problem of having a case for each bass due to the foam being a custom fit. It also allows you to leave the flight case in the hotel and travel with the bag.

Sounds like a similar concept to the SKB bass safe, very useful because it fits various shapes and sizes of basses, with enough spare room for t-shirts, socks and underpants

 

[Kirby]

If you want a protective gig bag, forget the Reunion Blues. Get one of those high tech gig bags like iGig or Incase. They are like soft cases complete with multiple layers of foam, thick plastic sheets and well thought out padding in critical areas like the neck, bridge and bottom strap pin. Leather gig bags are nothing more than glorified sacks.
Some folks in TB even check their Incase bags in But the best protection is a road case.

The new Continental case just released is much more than a leather bag. Check it out, I have used Incase bags and the Continental has many well thought out features that beat the Incase. Their promo for it has them throwing a guitar in it off a 2 story building with no damage, twice!

 

[Big Poppa]

dont leave the bass in the hands of a music hating power hungry overworked dilbert at the gate...steve morse had to take the neck off of his guitar at one gate.....YOur odds are not good....get the right tool

 

[stingray96191]

i Was never really impressed with those incase cases. The reunion blues continental looks like a nice option. I also like the look of the igig.. but its a little pricey. I'm talking to my band leader about my budget. It pays to have a patron in the group. Or at least someone with a little money to help out. I don't plan on throwing my basses off a building, but its nice to know i could.

Either way i'll call the airlines before i go to the airport. Even since 9/11 i have had good luck gate checking my guitars.

Erin

 

[stingray96191]

dont leave the bass in the hands of a music hating power hungry overworked dilbert at the gate...steve morse had to take the neck off of his guitar at one gate.....YOur odds are not good....get the right tool

Wow...

Any Suggestions not already on the table?

I'm guessing ata rated flight case.

Erin

 

[syciprider]

The new Continental case just released is much more than a leather bag. Check it out, I have used Incase bags and the Continental has many well thought out features that beat the Incase. Their promo for it has them throwing a guitar in it off a 2 story building with no damage, twice!

Hey, that's a pretty cool Incase/IGig/Mono type case. I don't see any big difference that sets it above the inCase except the easier pocket access. The Incase looks beefier, the straps are ergonomic and it comes with a closet hook and a sling. For the money I think the best soft case out there is the iGig but the styling turns me off.

 

[Freddels]

I have one of the iGig bags and it's very nice. Lots of storage space but that bag just by itself is heavy. I'm told that the Reunion Continental is about 3 lbs by itself. I still don't think I'd send the bass through baggage in just the Reunion Continental like the guys in the Reunion blog did but I think it's a nice bag with a lot of protection. I still opt for my 25 yr old gig bag that's been everywhere with me b/c it's much lighter than the iGig. The Reunion Continental might be in my future though.