John W. Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 I just got called short notice to fly out of town to do some recording on string bass. I want to take my P-bass to practice, but I've never travelled with a bass guitar before and I don't have a flight case, nor do I think I'll have time to get one. Is it cool to remove the neck and carry it on in 2 pieces? If so, is there any preparation, or anything I should be forewarned about? Thanks. jw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 I remember when I flew from the US back to Italy, I carried my new bass in the closet above my seat, well, it was large enough to keep it safe. You can also ask the flying crew to accomodate your bass in a safe place on the aircraft; I saw people carrying golf clubs and having them kept in a sort of closet in the front o rear side of the plane. I would not recommend to split your instrument, though you can do it if you feel more comfortable. I would always carry it as part of hand luggage, anyway. www.myspace.com/fabrizioruggiero www.myspace.com/vanalientribute Who are we? People. Where do we come from? Home. Where are we going to? Home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickT Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 You may well be able to get your bass on as hand luggage, so check with the airline. When you say flight case do you mean a big heavy thing with metal strips on the edges? If so they aren't necessary. I took a bass from London to Egypt in a Hiscox LiteFlite case. The case has a hard plastic shell on the outside and furry insides. I checked it in as excess baggage, ensured that it was locked and then covered the join between the lid and the bass in parcel tap. (It was also very cool seeing the X-rays of it as it went through the security checks.) We changed flights in Paris, so it was loaded and unloaded a total of 4 times (8 if you count the return journey). It survived quite happily AND it was still in tune when I opened the case in Cairo. You should be fine if you can get a standard hard case, you don't necessarily need a specialist flight case. If you're confident getting the neck back on properly then it should be fine to take the neck off. The neck on my J bass comes off whenever it is set up and goes back on without any problem at all. (I don't do this myself I will admit, I take it to a local tech.) Free your mind and your ass will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxofunk Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 It's no big deal to remove the neck, just be sure to completely relax the strings or remove them before you go after the neck screws. Putting it back on is the key - you want to make sure you get it into the socket as tigh as possible. There are artists who travel with the bass in two pieces... I read somewhere about one who had his bass modified with brass inserts in the neck pocket so that there would be no long term problems from screws & holes wearing out. I think it was here: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0879306017.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg - Matt W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61Pbass Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 I've travelled with an instrument stowed away in luggage as you are proposing more than once in a pinch. That in itself shouldn't hurt a thing. When you reassemble it, make sure the neck is seated properly before tightening it. Be aware also that too much torque on the neck screws is as potentially harmful as not enough. There are actually torque specifications for the neck screws on most bolt-neck instruments that vary from model to model and year to year, although most people simply go by "feel". When you tighten the neck screws, you shouldn't just crank them in one by one either. Instead, use a procedure similiar to putting a cylinder head on an engine block. First put all the screws in to where the screw heads barely seat against the neck plate. Then give each screw one turn at a time in an "X" pattern until you have them tightened satisfactorily. This will distribute the torque accross the neck plate evenly and help assure proper seating of each screw. I know it sounds a bit anal, but it really is the proper method. As to simply using a standard instrument case as checked baggage, I wouldn't recommend it. Flight cases were invented for a reason. Sure, people have gotten through just fine without them, but people have also survived horrific car crashes without seatbelts on. I still wear a seatbelt every time I'm in an auto, and I use a flight case when I fly with an instrument. Later.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted December 16, 2003 Share Posted December 16, 2003 Originally posted by NickT: When you say flight case do you mean a big heavy thing with metal strips on the edges? If so they aren't necessary.If your bass gets destroyed while inside the baggage compartment on a plane and it is NOT in an ATA approved flight case, you will not have any recourse when attempting to recoup the money from the airline. I'm not saying that a simple hardshell case won't do the job, but if the bass is worth it, get an ATA-approved case. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie bass dude Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 thanks zeronyne, I now have coffee all over my notebook, that picture you have is very funny no beer until July 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prophetgtree Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 to be safe I would keep it in one peice and try to take it carry-on. Just seems less of a hassle and safer. www.geocities.com/nk_bass/enter.html Still working on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davich Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I don't recommend to put them in two pieces. Why? If your bass is having a good neck joint = very tight, then be careful when you take the neck out so that you don't take some part of the body as well. I mean take it out very carefully. I have experience on this and I hate myself already. You should take care of shims (a piece of wood) between body and neck that some manufacturers put in between neck and body to provide a bit of neck tilt. Don't loose it. Don't clean any wood dust between it as well. Or in a simple way: don't do that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
where02190 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 No matter what kind of case it's in, airline insurance pays a max of $700 per piece, period. If you have insurnace on your instrument, check to see if the policy covers it while it is traveling. You most likely will be ble to carry it on, but if you come across a strict security agent anywhere along the way, you're screwed. Check with the local backline rental company, they can rent you a bulletproof case for reasonable money. Ship your isntrument via Fedex or UPS, do not hand it over to the airlines. Pass the cost on to the client. Hope this is helpful. NP Recording Studios Analog approach to digital recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc taz Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I like where's suggestion. I don't think I could stand finding out that some doofus airline handler mangled my precious 5 string (hypothetical)... the UPS and FedEx guys are better able to handle this stuff. Most airline handlers don't give a S^&*. sevenstring.org profile my flickr page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John W. Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 Thanks everbody! I appreciate the suggestions, now I'm gonna mull it over and make a decision in a little while. best, jw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 You can find more information on this thread http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=006526#000000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxofunk Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Originally posted by where02190: Check with the local backline rental company, they can rent you a bulletproof case for reasonable money. Ship your instrument via Fedex or UPS, do not hand it over to the airlines. Pass the cost on to the client.This plan gets my vote. - Matt W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wally Malone Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Originally posted by JohnS: You can find more information on this thread http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=006526#000000 [/QUO TE] Thanks for the link John, saves me from reposting the AFM link. Wally I have basses to play, places to be and good music to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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