Vintage guitar smashed by airline!
- Thread starter dapmdave
- Start date
At least it's repairable, and not just smashed to smithereens.
Looks like a job for Fixit!
I've been very lucky. Checked guitars a bunch of times with never a problem. But, I'll be testing that record on Tuesday. Mrs. Keel and I are flying to NH and will be staying for a couple of weeks. I'm planning on taking a guitar with me, but may opt to get a travel guitar, or buy something in NH then sell it.
tjmangum
Senior Member
If at all possible, fly Southwest and pay the extra $10 to get an "A" boarding position. Always room in their 737s overheads and I've never been questioned or stopped and I've traveled with a lot of guitars. They're the best. Regardless of the carrier, always be confident in carrying it as far as you can. Don't ask, don't tell - just keep it in your hand and keep moving.
T
T
6L6
Senior Member
I've never had a problem whether or not I got the guitar of the day onto the plane or it ended up in the cargo bin.
My '93 Martin D-41 will be making a return trip with me to London to play at The Ruskin House Folk & Blues Club in April. Not expecting any problems either way.
Even though it's original Martin case has done the job in the past, I bought a Hiscox Pro II case for upcoming trips for a little added protection without increasing weight.
Heading back to London:
To do:
* Tune down about 2 steps.
* Remove ALL articles from the case. And don't forget to remove the battery if you have an active pickup!!!
* Pack soft cloth around the headstock area and ensure the body is snug.
* Take a pic the day you leave with a copy of that day's newspaper in the photo.
* Insure your guitar for full replacement value.
* RELAX!
Bill
My '93 Martin D-41 will be making a return trip with me to London to play at The Ruskin House Folk & Blues Club in April. Not expecting any problems either way.
Even though it's original Martin case has done the job in the past, I bought a Hiscox Pro II case for upcoming trips for a little added protection without increasing weight.
Heading back to London:
To do:
* Tune down about 2 steps.
* Remove ALL articles from the case. And don't forget to remove the battery if you have an active pickup!!!
* Pack soft cloth around the headstock area and ensure the body is snug.
* Take a pic the day you leave with a copy of that day's newspaper in the photo.
* Insure your guitar for full replacement value.
* RELAX!
Bill
geoguy
Senior Member
I'm told you can also gate-check a guitar as you board a plane, if there isn't room on board.
The instrument would then be handed back to you as you exit the plane, instead of going through the baggage carousel.
I'm still trying to understand the phrase describing that unfortunate musician's gig: "a Hannukah-themed rock band"!
The instrument would then be handed back to you as you exit the plane, instead of going through the baggage carousel.
I'm still trying to understand the phrase describing that unfortunate musician's gig: "a Hannukah-themed rock band"!
6L6
Senior Member
That has been my experience with United Airlines.
One more reason to empty the case of everything but the guitar is that it will pass through the Xray machine without ringing any bells. I have never even once had a TSA person ask me to open my guitar case after it passed through their machine.
Removing everything from the case ensures objects won't get loose in the case, bounce around, and damage your instrument.
All of my insurance is with USAA. My instruments are insured for full replacement value regardless of the cause for damage. I pay less than $100/yr to cover 17 instruments.
I sleep very well at night.
Bill
Taylor Martin Guild
Senior Member
One more tip.
Remove the end pin before you travel with your guitar. I have seen some damage caused by the end pin being smashed into the guitar.
New Martin guitars are shipped with the end pin removed. I don't know about other makers.
Remove the end pin before you travel with your guitar. I have seen some damage caused by the end pin being smashed into the guitar.
New Martin guitars are shipped with the end pin removed. I don't know about other makers.
fronobulax
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Taylor Martin Guild said:
New Hartford Guilds seem to be. Leastwise 2 for 2 shipped w/o pin installed in my experience.
NEONMOONY
Member
This video tells a little more about the smashed guitar.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c4#/video/us/2013/01/08/tsr-pkg-moos-airline-smashes-guitar.cnn
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c4#/video/us/2013/01/08/tsr-pkg-moos-airline-smashes-guitar.cnn
Kslam
Member
I happen to know this guy. Gibson has offered to repair the guitar for free and is giving him a new 50th Anniversary '63 reissue 335.
Guild Dawg
Member
Wow! That's very generous of Gibson.
tjmangum
Senior Member
Very cool!
Gate checking does work well. I did this yesterday with Delta. Worked great.
Nice to see this is going to get resolved but I have to admit I thought the guitar owner was a bit negligent. If he's going to to travel, as a pro musician, with a $10K Gibson he should invest in a better travel case. Vintage case is cool and all, but not what a pro musician should be traveling with.
Nice to see this is going to get resolved but I have to admit I thought the guitar owner was a bit negligent. If he's going to to travel, as a pro musician, with a $10K Gibson he should invest in a better travel case. Vintage case is cool and all, but not what a pro musician should be traveling with.
Kslam
Member
evenkeel said:
I know what you mean, but on the other hand, Dave's been touring for 20 years and has always been able to bring his guitars aboard until now. In this instance, a better case would not have made a difference -- the guitar endured thousands of pounds of pressure, crushed between the steel loading dock and the service elevator. Personally, I think the safest way to fly with guitars might be to use one of the new breed of super protective gig bags like the Mono M80 or the RB Continental. A guitar on your back is more inconspicuous than it is in a hardcase, so your chances of bringing it on the plane are better. If, as a last resort, you have to gate check, those bags are actually more protective than most hardshell cases. Here's one of many demos online of those cases being put through throw tests.
One thing I was struck by in the Chuck Berry documentary, Hail, Hail, Rock & Roll is that Chuck didn't bother with a flight case or even with bringing his guitar on the plane. He'd just check his guitar with the rest of his luggage.
6L6
Senior Member
Yup!
For every smashed guitar, thousands make it through just fine as checked baggage.
Bill
killdeer43
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Nice of Gibson for sure, not to mention a good PR move on their part. :wink:
Just sayin',
Joe
Just sayin',
Joe