Has anyone traveled abroad with a Ball???

[THE_EB_KID]

The project I'm involved in will be playing a festival in Holland
in June. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas about gigbags
that will do the trick. I'm open to suggestions!!!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

unless you find an airline that will allow you to carry a small guitar in a gig bag in the over head compartment than your guitar will fly as luggage in which case your safest option is a flight case examples in this link:

Guitar Flight Cases

 

[Nik_Left_RG]

I have travelled many a long flights with Buy Gator Deluxe ABS Stratocaster Electric Guitar Case | Cases for Solid Body Guitars | Musician's Friend no probs so far.. They sit in pressurised compartments so no biggies really.. But I can totally understand you predicament.. I get goosebumps evrytime I carry my guitar abroad..

And I would think that the case provided by EB would be good enough for Air-Travel too.. Havent tried it yet though..

 

[the24thfret]

Brought my JP to and from Japan and other guitars throughout the world! Only a hard case will do, and if you're only bringing one, REFUSE to check it!!! International planes are huge with large overhead bins that totally will fit a guitar case (maybe even a bass case...). Tell them it's worth $100,000 or something crazy and refuse to check it. They will let you bring it on board and secure it somewhere. Now, on smaller, domestic planes, it's a whole nother story...

 

[D.K.]

I've always flown with my Morse by my side. It has a small molded case right from the start (a lot smaller than a standard SKB case). Never had to check it in - sometimes it worked just as hand luggage, sometimes it needed a special tag. But it had so far always fit into the overhead compartment on any major manufacturer's small or long range plane (Airbus, Boeing, MD, Fokker - You name it).

On a side note: I had a customs officer in Russia ask me once, whether I had a violin in that small case

 

[Warthog]

I researched the topic before I moved to Europe. There are some posts regarding how to bring your guitar on the plane somewhere around here.

Basically, when I brought my JP6 to Europe, I had it in a Gibson soft case. I was able (through Lufthansa) to bring my guitar as a carry on. The flight attendants were very nice and took my guitar to the first class closets even though it fit easily

If you research, you can see there is TSA agreement with airlines that allows instruments as a carry on... Some airlines will give you a harder time.

Good luck

 

[beej]

I've had luck with a gigbag and the overhead compartment (occasionally the closet in executive class, if there's room).

Worst case, if they give you a hassle at the airport you can unscrew the neck. Hey, even Steve Morse has had to do that.

(Of course, we don't all have a killer tech like Steve to put it all back together again later.)

 

[THE_EB_KID]

Thanks for all the advice guys I really appreciate it. A buddy of mine suggested
that sometimes you can hang a gigbag in a spot in the front of the plane, I guess
thats the first class area. I can remember bieng able to stow an acoustic in an old
chipboard case (cardboard really) in the overhead bin back when I was a kid, Hell
that was 20 or so years ago, you could keep your shoes on back then!! LOL

 

[THE_EB_KID]

I wish I had a guitar tech!!!!!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I always check my guitar and so far I have been lucky. I was once forced to check an acoustic in a soft case from Australia to London, and it survived to tell the tale!

 

[matty]

I had a 2-week gig in Italy a few years back and checked the guitar as baggage with a flight case. We had a few connections and I was concerned that one would be a smaller "puddle jumper" kind of plane that didn't have room for even a guitar in a gig bag.

Anyway, the flight case worked great but i wish I had packed a gig bag for chasing around once we got there. Hauling around the case became a major chore on the trains and buses.

matt

 

[jamie_au]

If you're checking it, loosen the strings off a tad.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

virgin didn't let me carry on my guitar. it got there safe though.



J

 

[Mick]

Always ask the stewardess, they have empty space to put things. Always worked.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

If you're checking it, loosen the strings off a tad.

Personally I would leave it as it is. Guitars are normally shipped by EBMM at regular pitch.

 

[tommyindelaware]

poppa drove me to a sound check once. does that count ???

 

[beej]

poppa drove me to a sound check once. does that count ???

Hah, nice one

 

[JP7Nomad]

I've traveled plenty of broads with my balls.

Does that count?