| Author | Message | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 759 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have a one off in Boston coming up in about a week and really want to bring my new Series I. I'm trying to figure out options. I have Calton case for my Starfire. The bass fits into it, but there is a fair amount of wiggle room on the body side that I could fill up with foam. Option 2 is the original factory case, but it doesn't inspire huge confidence in the face of airline gorillas. Option 3 is to try to carry it on in a gig bag, but the idea of failing to talk my way on board is daunting. Option 4 is to get an SKB bass safe, but I hear they have a nasty habit of separating. Option 5 is borrowing a suitable flight case, but I know anyone with one. There was one on Craig's List earlier this year, but I missed it. Any other ideas, experiences? I will be flying on United. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2173 Registered: 6-2002 |
Be careful cos "United breaks guitars!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo I think if Jimmy Johnson see's this he should be able to offer some concrete advice as a well travelled musician. Jazzyvee | ||
| crobbins
Senior Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 699 Registered: 6-2004 |
Ship it overnite UPS, and pick it up before the gig... Not sure of the cost, or risk. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1849 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have travelled with a bass packed as though it were being shipped. I.e. bass in the case, case in a box large enough for a couple of inches of foam between case and walls of box. It's big, unwieldy and joyful to drag through the airport, but it worked well for me when I brought my Conklin 7-string tendonitis machine home from Los Angeles post-9/11. A flight case would be better, but there are no guarantees. The UPS option doesn't sound bad, if you can stand letting go of the instrument for that long. Insurance is your friend. John | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4596 Registered: 7-2004 |
Edwin: Among your options, I'd go with the Calton case. So long as you make sure the bass is secure inside, you won't have any worries (it is a direct flight, right?). I flew several times that past summer with my Further in a Calton case. Even so, I never had a problem carrying it on. Though I saw several people carrying on instruments in gig bags, they scare me too. What if the airline says "no" to carrying on? At least with the Calton you can gate check it and not worry about damage from luggage handlers. Have fun in Beantown. Bill, tgo | ||
| jimmyj
Advanced Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 227 Registered: 8-2008 |
Hey Edwin, I'm with Bill, my vote would be to use the Calton with some extra stuffing. Check it, and don't worry about it. Do the latches lock? If not, tape them. As John says, insurance is your pal. I've got an "all risk" policy with a lot of gear on it and I never think twice about paying that premium. Gig bag makes me nervous too. Some guys do it all the time (Haslip!) but it is at the airline's whim and if they say no you're just screwed. Shipping case as checked bag can work, except TSA might want to open it ... and the airline will likely charge oversize fees. UPS or FedEx option is good too but needs a "signature required" destination, packing, unpacking, and repacking to ship back, insurance again... You've gotta bring it though!! Have a good trip and gig! Jimmy J | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 760 Registered: 5-2002 |
Thanks for all the input, guys, Calton it is! Eventually I will get an equivalent case made for this bass. I've flown with my Starfire in that case a few times and had no issues at all. That bass rides more comfortably than I do! What cases are you using, Jimmy? I've been talking to different companies, including Pegasus and Hoffee. Pegasus seems interesting, although it would really only be worth it if I got together with a bunch of other people who wanted small body Series cases. Paying for the initial mold fee myself would be pricey. I do have insurance through Heritage. It's a company that specializes in musical instruments owned by gigging musicians. So, I'm reasonably confident in that regard. And you are very right, Jimmy, I gotta bring it! | ||
| jimmyj
Advanced Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 228 Registered: 8-2008 |
I'm still using these.  My long-scale basses just barely fit (thanks to cone headstocks) and I figure aluminum and foam is about as lightweight as I can get. I do mod them a bit; oak runners along the bottom, 90 degree lid stays, locking latches and custom foam. They last quite a while but since aluminum can't remember it's shape they eventually get so bent they won't close. I've been lucky with these and haven't found a handy replacement yet. I hope someday one of the companies you mentioned will make a large mold that can handle these axes. Carbon fiber, or a nylon shell would be swell! Jimmy J | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 761 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow, who makes that? It looks like a large Zero Halliburton spy briefcase! Aluminum seems pretty nice although I really like the idea of the Calton configuration as it seems like that material (fibreglas of some sort) will transmit shock and vibration less efficiently than metal. It may be a moot point once you factor in the interior foam, however. Carbon fiber does look like a nice option, although very spendy. I would imagine that Calton would accommodate you. Edwin | ||
| jimmyj
Advanced Member Username: jimmyj Post Number: 229 Registered: 8-2008 |
That's what it is but not for spies and not so "brief". Ha! Probably originally made for some nasty weapon (I can't think about it), in the 70's Gibson shifted the handle and latches off-center and sold them as guitar cases. It's pretty thin aluminum, more like a skin on the foam... I've seen the Colton acoustic guitar cases (one of my employers has a few) but I don't know what their electric cases look like. And there seems to be no sizing info on their website. I'd be surprised if they had a shell big enough for a long-scale Alembic bass. It would be nice though! Jimmy J | ||
| cje
Junior Username: cje Post Number: 46 Registered: 5-2009 |
Not to derail... Bill - Did you have Calton make you a case to specifically fit the Further? I'd like to talk to you about that, as I want to do just that and have the case sent to Alembic before my guitar is ready. Thanks! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4608 Registered: 7-2004 |
CJ: Calton has the template for a Further as mine was the second. Scott got one for his "Owl" Further, January, 2006, featured custom. They have quite a long wait - the last time I checked it was about 8 months or so. I went through Gryphon Music in Palo Alto, CA. They have (or had) a standing order with Calton, but they don't have to tell Calton the exact case size until it's their turn. As a result, my wait was less than 3 months, as I recall. The case is everything you could want. It fits Woody like a glove and includes full headstock support - something I've never seen in any other case. Shoot me an email with your phone # if you'd like to discuss the Calton. Bill, tgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1342 Registered: 5-2009 |
In a prior thread regarding Caltron I believe it was mentioned that they did not have a template for a long scale standard point Bass,is that still true? I might be interested in obtaining one as well. I suppose I should just contact Caltron and ask . | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 770 Registered: 5-2002 |
Someone just needs to jump in and order one. Thanks to me, they now have a template for a Guild Starfire bass. That took a long time, but there was a big screwup on the part of The Pickin' Parlor, who measured my bass completely wrong. I won't go there again. Although they are under new management at Calton, I would imagine that they are as friendly as ever. | ||
| cje
Junior Username: cje Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2009 |
Bill, any chance of seeing a picture of Woody all tucked in to a Calton?? | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 771 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here's my Starfire all tucked into a Calton. I'm discovering that I have to put material under the Series I to get it to fit properly so that the headstock stabilizer in the top of the case doesn't exert pressure on the headstock.  | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 837 Registered: 11-2005 |
Good luck to you Edwin. Quite Frankly I'd tell those S.O.B.'s at the aero puerto that my better half IS coming on this flight with me. I hope all works out and you and your better half get home safe. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1343 Registered: 5-2009 |
Edwin, it looks like you have a safe Starfire there . Have you run into any issues regarding the TSA and locks? There are so called TSA approved locks; Sometimes they complain and sometimes not depending on who it is. Anyone else have any experiences with locked equipment cases ? Prescreening ? | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 772 Registered: 5-2002 |
I keep the case unlocked. It would be nice to use TSA locks, but as far as I can tell, the only real reason to lock it is to keep it from being stolen and if someone is going to steal it, they are going to grab the whole thing and they'll have plenty of time to break the locks (or get access to TSA keys). There are plenty of latches on this case so I really doubt that it would come open accidentally. Of course anything is possible, but I've flown with it a few times and it's been fine. These days, Calton probably has a TSA lock option. I have an SKB rolling case with TSA locks that I would use because it would be too easy for the latches to pop open on that case. It looks like this case will work out well for the Series I with a buckwheat hull neck pillow underneath the body to raise it up to the right angle. Still, I think a Calton is in my future. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1344 Registered: 5-2009 |
Thanks Edwin , I will contact Calton and ask about my Bass's and prices. |
