Help please, I'm leaving the country

[Joe Nerve]

...and I believe I've been given some misinformation.

I'm going to be a lot of traveling in the next 2 months with Bumblefoot (www.bumblefoot.com) . We're going to Russia on the 11th of this month, then at the end of the month we're hitting The Netherlands, France, Italy, England and a few other places.

I've never taken my bass on a plane before, and I'm not sure what to do. Here's the misinformation I think I've been given.

1. I need a backup bass because I'm guaranteed to break a string due to climate changes. I've only broken a string once in my life... uhh, as I'm writing this, I'm realizing I probably SHOULD bring a backup regardless. If my bongo gets hit by a car or something I'd be screwed. Is the climate really going to affect my bass any differently than a change of seasons here?

2. A gigbag is fine, I can take it with me as carry-on luggage.

3. If I heavily tape 2 basses in gigbags together I can check it as luggage and it'll be fine.

I'm not even gonna write anymore... this is silly. Please tell me the best way to do this. I only have one hardshell case - do I need to get another? I'm stressing this for some reason - I guess cuz it's new territory.

ADVISE please.

 

[shamus63]

Joe~ Double check about carrying your bass (or basses) onto the plane. The dimensions may exceed what you're allowed, unless you're lucky enough to get a cabin locker (I used it on a trip for one of my basses).

Cabin locker aside, even if you do get to carry on your bass in a gig bag, you'd have to stuff it in the overhead...a full flight, and your bass is f*cked!

Knock on wood: I've never had a problem checking my basses in, as long as they were in their HSC's. You get two check-ins; I'd get another HSC, tag (i.d.) the f*ck out of them, and do a "Hail, Mary!".

If you do check in your basses, don't lock them; security will bust open the cases to inspect the contents. Again, I haven't had a problem here.

It gets pretty damn cold in the cargo area (my cases come out near-freezing at times), so I always loosen the strings about a whole step to allow for contraction. Maybe our techies can provide input here.
Hopefully, though, there are cabin lockers that you can use.

Good Luck, Joe!

 

[Psycho Ward]

I've never carried a bass guitar on a plane, but I flew the hell out of my keys and racks.

My personal advice is to get a well made flight case, recessed latches, ball corners and many inches of foam protection. With the Bellamy Brothers we flew 8 to 10 guitars on every fly date, in various grades of cases. Never a problem with the flight cases. The SKB type wore out quickly, mostly losing latches and warping. G&G type held up surprisingly well, but there is almost no padding.

I recommend a ½’’ or thicker plywood metal or hard vinyl covered, constructed case with the deepest valance possible, 3’’ of foam, ball corners and recessed latches (and tape those down preflight). Insure your equipment; I have mine on a rider from my home owners’ policy, put Fragile stickers all over it so the skycaps will throw it underhanded. Put your contact information inside the case too.

You may want to pack a gig bag for carrying your bass around after you arrive to your destination, that’s what our guys did.

Joe I know it’s a bit expensive, but I feel it’s the best way to travel, you never know when they might make you check a gig bag, mid trip.

 

[bongo man]

Psycho Ward is right on the money--
do youself a big favor and get good quality flight cases for your basses. Some airlines (delta for instance) will NOT let you bring an instrument in soft case on the flights anymore.
I never carry a bass on the plane --I go to Europe all the time and trust me it's much easier to check them.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Good quality Hard Shell Case as checked baggage.

Gaffa (Duct) Tape over all the catches and hinges so they can't be accidently knocked undone or damaged.

BTW. Where are you playing in England and When?

 

[Joe Nerve]

Good quality Hard Shell Case as checked baggage.

Gaffa (Duct) Tape over all the catches and hinges so they can't be accidently knocked undone or damaged.

BTW. Where are you playing in England and When?

NOV 14 : BRIGHTON (UK) / Pressure Point
NOV 15 : LONDON (UK) / Clapham Grand

The rest of the shows are listed here: http://www.bumblefoot.com/news/index.htm

Thanks guys, I'm going to have to go the harshell case way.

 

[shamus63]

Gaffa (Duct) Tape over all the catches and hinges so they can't be accidently knocked undone or damaged.QUOTE]

I wouldn't bother with the taping. Again, security has to be able to access the inside of the case! They'll just end up tearing all that tape off.

 

[Psychicpet]

absolutely! checking a bass on board is a once, maybe twice in a lifetime luxury and I think I've used both of mine up.
For the past year and a bit I've been flying with my basses in an SKB Bass Safe and despite one of my Safe's wheels getting slightly broken, my basses have been fine on all flights and milk-runs. The Bongo5 fits a bit snug but that's the main basses I've been flying with and the Safes cost around $150/ea. now.....the ultimate is to do what Cliff said and just get an A.T.A. certified flight case built but if money for that is an issue right now, the SKB Bass Safes work great.

pete

 

[Psychicpet]

ps. FRAGILE stickers won't stick to the outside of the Bass Safe BUT loop a name tag through one of the handles and then attach fragile sticker to the name tag so that ya got yer fragile sign kinda danglin' but it'll last a few airlines before needing to be redone.

 

[basspastor]

I also say HSC, no tape on the hinges etc. Make it as easy as possible for security to inspect and really; don't worry, everything will be fine.

 

[bongo man]

absolutely! checking a bass on board is a once, maybe twice in a lifetime luxury and I think I've used both of mine up.
For the past year and a bit I've been flying with my basses in an SKB Bass Safe and despite one of my Safe's wheels getting slightly broken, my basses have been fine on all flights and milk-runs. The Bongo5 fits a bit snug but that's the main basses I've been flying with and the Safes cost around $150/ea. now.....the ultimate is to do what Cliff said and just get an A.T.A. certified flight case built but if money for that is an issue right now, the SKB Bass Safes work great.

pete

yea the SKB Bass Safe is cool -I have one and it's a workhorse

 

[Oldtoe]

British Airways was more than happy to put my gig-bagged Wal in the coat closet of the plane when I went to England to get it.

 

[Aussie Mark]

+1 on the SKB bass safe or ATA hard cases.

For a 2 month tour a backup bass is essential. Breaking a string is very unlikely, but all that travel could create a loose wire or preamp circuit board component. Yes, it's unlikely, but it pays to be prepared.