Flying with Warwick

markoism

markoism

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I am flying out to Vancouver tomorrow to record my next album!!! I'm taking my Warwick Corvette $$ with me for the recording but I've never sent an instrument by air so I don't know if there is anything I should do so the neck doesn't get ♣♣♣♣ed up due to the air pressure.

I was reading somewhere that its good to loosen the strings at least half a step down from what it should be. Now I worked in shipping for 4 years so I know how to properly package but is there anything else I should do to make it easier for the neck?

Any help with be fantastic!!!
 
The airlines said I am more than welcome to ask and it all would depend on how much space is available and what the crew think. I'm just preparing myself if they say no and have to let it go in the carriage section.
 
markoism said:
The airlines said I am more than welcome to ask and it all would
depend on how much space is available and what the crew think.
I'm just preparing myself if they say no and have to let it go in
the carriage section.
Click to expand...
Well at least you're not entering or leaving the USA, so you get
to deal with only those less paranoid Canadian air travel staff.

But rotsaruck, cuz I know there ain't oodles of baggage space
on them Otters ..... nyuk-nyuk-nyuk.
 
I guess it's a little late, but maybe for the next time, find out which airlines that are most helpful when it comes to bringing your instrument into the plane in your country/state. For example here in Norway, I know there's only one airline caring about musicians without paying a stupid amount of extra money, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System), so whenever I need to bring my 'wick I always go with them ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
markoism said:
I am flying out to Vancouver tomorrow to record my next album!!! I'm taking my Warwick Corvette $$ with me for the recording but I've never sent an instrument by air so I don't know if there is anything I should do so the neck doesn't get ♣♣♣♣ed up due to the air pressure.

I was reading somewhere that its good to loosen the strings at least half a step down from what it should be. Now I worked in shipping for 4 years so I know how to properly package but is there anything else I should do to make it easier for the neck?

Any help with be fantastic!!!
Click to expand...

Travelling with your bass, the air pressure variation (which is so minimal there is no reason to worry for that) will be the least of your concerns, I can assure you. It's equivalent to be at 2100m altitude (Cabin pressurization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

You should be able to take it with you, although it depends A LOT on the company. IME, they can either:

- Allow you in cabin with instrument.
- Not allow it in cabin, it'll have to go with "fragile" stuff.
- Pay an extra luggage fee for either situation.

The best is to contact your flight company, although situation can be deifferent from what they say when you're at the counter. What works is to be polite, calm, smiling, and insist on keeping it with you in cabin in its gig bag.

If it cannot go in cabin, slack the strings if in a gig bag, ideally it must be in a flight case, and good luck, because it's likely to suffer. Take pictures of the instrument and case before, in case you have to make a claim afterward.

Have a look at Taylor guitars website, they have info on travelling with your instrument.
 
I traveled with both my Ibanez and with my Framus. Both guitars did not take damage, but the Rockcase did get quite a bit of scratches (one reason I opted for plastic on the $$4 case).
They went through quite nicely, though I was still rather angry at the cosmetic damage on the case, to which they simply stated that oh well, it happens.
I am also palling on foamign out the cases soon , so I got a very formfitting buffer to help transport further
 
I´ve traveled with a bass in a gigbag many times, from US to Venezuela, and from Venezuela to Spain. They have always allowed me to take the bass with me inside the cabin. The last time I did it, in nov ´09, I was warned by one of the crew members that they will be changing the rules about letting musical instrument inside the cabin.

So, my advice is to talk with the airline and see what they tell you about it and try to get it very clear, but be prepared to a last time change, I mean, they could tell you just when you are getting on the plane that the bass can´t go inside the cabin, so, maybe is a good idea to buy a nice flightcase.
 
If you love your bass, keep it with you at all times. Don't take no for an answer! I don't get on the plane unless my baby stays with me.
 
thanks for the advize. I took it and am waiting for it now at baggage claim. They said no to carry on because the flight was full. I showed them my musicians union card and my bass insurance letter. If they do something to my bass they owe me $5000 to replace it. Thanks for the tips, especially the taylor site and the musicians union helping me out.

I will be posting pics and videos of the recording sessions!
 
Hope everything is OK, I dont think cosmetic damage to cases is anything to worry about, thats what cases are FOR, but i know here in oz recent rule changes mean that anything bigger that a sax case is a no go for carry on, so if i need to fly with a bass i dont think i'd put it in anything but a big flight case. if i wouldnt stand on the case with the bass in it i wouldnt trust an airline with it.
 
i commute often via air sometimes budget sometimes full service, and i usually checked them in either a Taranis or a Vampyre, and got a SKB FTA case so far so good and sling my pedalboard.

i usually packed some clothes in the SKB base together with the bass and some on the pedalboard coz some airline allows 15kg on check in luggage and 7kg onboard.

so as a straving musician with a limited pay per gig. not going to pay extras for those and so far 1-2yrs down with a mthly travels the SKB case holds quite well, bass seems ok. the one that got destroy is the pedalboard case, straps and what not get all funky, which this year is the 3rd time i change in 2 yrs.
 
Just finished the recording. Bass was great, no problems. Tracked all the bass with drums in 2 days. Just doing sme edits and punches now to finalize everything. Now just need to ship it back on Thursday, in the mean while just enjoying the Vancouver weather.
 
Good to hear! Usually, having a really good flight case is the best insurance for safe trip, now as the measurements for cabin luggage limits your options.

Or buying a Steinberger X2. ;)
 
I traveled with my bass to Spain and Italy. The bass was in the warwick flightcase, in the cargo. A little bit expensive, but the bass was OK.
 
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