MM case okay to fly a bass in?

[syciprider]

I received orders for a 40 day assignment in Newport, RI in January. There will be nothing for this thin blooded, raised in the tropics sailor to do but stay indoors. I'll need diversions so I am thinking about bringing a bass. All my MMs are special/rare/discontinued/ all of the above. Is the MM case up to a coast to coast flight durabiility wise?

 

[Big Poppa]

no it is russian roulette

 

[syciprider]

Thanks for the advice BP. I've been reading about basses and flying all afternoon. I am about ready to just FEDEX the Dargie to the base if I can make arrangements for it (it's complicated to do in a military installation).

 

[the unrepentant]

You could just buy a flight case? Hassle free, although it might cost more.

 

[bovinehost]

Definitely don't fly it, Frank, in just the SKB.

FedEx is still taking a risk but at least it's a much smaller risk (plus you can file lawsuits against them).

Forty days....I might....well....you know....certain places have this guarantee.....just kidding, Marty!

 

[dmarotta]

Why not put it in a gig bag and carry it on the plane?I do this all the time. Just check with the airlines on the type of aircraft. The new 767's overhead bins are too short for a bass.

 

[Hellboy]

I received orders for a 40 day assignment in Newport, RI in January. There will be nothing for this thin blooded, raised in the tropics sailor to do but stay indoors. I'll need diversions so I am thinking about bringing a bass. All my MMs are special/rare/discontinued/ all of the above. Is the MM case up to a coast to coast flight durabiility wise?

I ship basses all the time and if you don´t want to buy a flight case, put the bass inside a apropriate cardboard box and bubble wrap the bass inside the case and the case itself inside the cardboard box first. And write FRAGILE all over the side of the box. I´ve never had any problems to ship instruments this way and I do it frequently. Should work. And make sure to insure the shipment if something SHOULD happen.

//Jan

 

[Aussie Mark]

Why not put it in a gig bag and carry it on the plane?

You'll be at the whim of the checkin counter person, so if they're having a bad day (which is most days for them, given the crap they get from customers), they won't let you carry-on, and then you're standing there with a plane ticket and a nice bass in a gig-bag that can't be carried on. What do you do next?

 

[Aussie Mark]

I ship basses all the time and if you don´t want to buy a flight case, put the bass inside a apropriate cardboard box and bubble wrap the bass inside the case and the case itself inside the cardboard box first. And write FRAGILE all over the side of the box. I´ve never had any problems to ship instruments this way and I do it frequently. Should work. And make sure to insure the shipment if something SHOULD happen.

//Jan

This is a great option if you don't want to shell out for an ATA flight case

 

[Rano Bass]

You could get a gig bag and this ATA Roto Electric Bass Case by SKB Cases

 

[Aussie Mark]

You could get a gig bag and this ATA Roto Electric Bass Case by SKB Cases

That's another good option. I have flown with one of those cases several times. The catches are a little flimsy, but the case itself does a nice job.

 

[syciprider]

Those get a bad rep here. TSA (the airport security folks) may open the case after it is checked in. The problem begins when the they try to close it again. They may not do it correctly and expose the bass to damage.

I will probably ship the bass the way that EB and the dealers do it. Case in the box.

 

[syciprider]

You'll be at the whim of the checkin counter person, so if they're having a bad day (which is most days for them, given the crap they get from customers), they won't let you carry-on, and then you're standing there with a plane ticket and a nice bass in a gig-bag that can't be carried on. What do you do next?

Yup gig bag definitely isn't in the cards. A geetard may have an easier time at this though.

 

[thunder]

Thanks for the advice BP. I've been reading about basses and flying all afternoon. I am about ready to just FEDEX the Dargie to the base if I can make arrangements for it (it's complicated to do in a military installation).

i just bought a bass from ebay and FED EX lost the box!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Colin]

get a case made for your case

 

[Aussie Mark]

Take your car to Newport. With your cheap fuel prices (did someone say only $3/gallon?) it would be cheaper than buying a flight case or having one made.

 

[dlloyd]

Take the neck off and put it and the body in your regular luggage?

 

[oli@bass]

This may sound silly now, but... I thought the whole idea of the SKB cases was that you can travel only using them on the plane.
Why would disassembling the bass and putting it in your regular (soft bags) luggage be more safe than using the original hard shell case?

 

[daangroen]

This may sound silly now, but... I thought the whole idea of the SKB cases was that you can travel only using them on the plane.
Why would disassembling the bass and putting it in your regular (soft bags) luggage be more safe than using the original hard shell case?

yes exactly, i have flown with my bass inside the case that i recieved the bass in, the hardcase MM case, and i dunno (I!) didn't seem to have any problems with doing so

but yea.. it still could be a risk i dunno.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

Well I have two examples of flying with "just the case with the bass".

A friend of mine had his bass stolen this way. They must have thought.... Hey this looks like a bass. I can use 1. Gone... never found it.

2nd example. Case was crushed and the guitar was damaged. (broken headstock and damaged body).

Don't do it. Buy a professional flightcase and put your bass WITH the case in there, AND insure it.