BassAgent Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 So I'm going on tour to Vienna, Prague and Nürnberg this Thursday and I had a choice with the airline: either buy an extra seat (which would be kinda expensive) or check it in as "special baggage" for a smaller fee. I did the second thing and now I'm doubting: I have Mono M80 gig bag (the classic one) and I think the bass will survive, especially with the string tension off. I have to do the other gigs by train so carrying a big flightcase might be a bit of a hassle... Are there people here that have experience with flying a bass in a Mono gigbag or something similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 I’m no expert but there is no way I’d be putting my bass in the hold in my M80. I got a dent in my Wal using it on the tube... Also regarding string tension. I’d leave it as it is. Reckon loosening them off would be worse for the neck as the truss rod would be straining against nothing... ... I’m sure someone who actually knows what they are talking about will be along in a minute though 😕 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 One way to minimise the chance of damage is to take it with you to the boarding gate and hand it over at the last minute, as families with baby buggies do. Reverse the process at the other end collecting it as soon as you land. As a matter of interest, where are you playing in Prague? My son lives there and is always up for seeing a band from the UK. He's a skinny string player himself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 Hmm yeah but what to do if the airline refuses the bass? Oh and we're playing in Palac Akropolis Not with a UK band (I'm Dutch) but I'm playing with Svavar Knútur, a singer/songwriter from Iceland. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Please don't put it in the hold in an M80 ! Will end very badly. You could, take off the neck and put whole thing in a suitcase surrounded by clothes. Or buy a proper flightcase. Have seen people using this to good effect. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) I fly a lot. I'd NEVER put my bass in the hold in my M80 - asking for trouble. I always use a SKB iSeries https://www.skbcases.com/music/products/prodlist.php?s=75&c=84&o=&f=sku_is_waterproof-1-75 Edited October 8, 2019 by Twigman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 What do you mean "asking for trouble"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 7 minutes ago, BassAgent said: What do you mean "asking for trouble"? An M80 will not be adequate to protect a bass in the hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 12 hours ago, BassAgent said: So I'm going on tour to Vienna, Prague and Nürnberg this Thursday and I had a choice with the airline: either buy an extra seat (which would be kinda expensive) or check it in as "special baggage" for a smaller fee. I did the second thing and now I'm doubting: I have Mono M80 gig bag (the classic one) and I think the bass will survive, especially with the string tension off. I have to do the other gigs by train so carrying a big flightcase might be a bit of a hassle... Are there people here that have experience with flying a bass in a Mono gigbag or something similar? I've had an M80 - a great gig bag for urban use but in no way a case that is designed for flying (as anything other than a passenger on the next seat). Depending on where you are, you're very welcome to borrow my Hiscox (I'm in Manchester). Again, not ideal and I'd prefer to use a full flight case but the Hiscox is very strong and light and far more protective than a M80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 I'm in Amsterdam, so that might be a bit of a hassle Luckily I found a friend who has a Hiscox case that I can borrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 4 hours ago, Drax said: this I've had 2 of them. 1 - none of my decent gig bags (Mono M80/Protec Contego) fit inside without removing all the foam from within the shell case. 2 - The mk1 would have the clasps come undone in transit. 3 - The mk2 (with the strap) would not ever stay closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 M80 is a fine soft bag, but as its name implies, it is soft. I was in Zürich earlier this year and this is how the hard case looked like after the trip. The airline company bought the case. The case was made to the bass, shapes and all, and the instrument survived. Case did not. (Actually the case looks quite good in this pic, but in real life it was hard to open and close the thing. Aluminum was seriously bent, feet were gone, and hard plastic parts were all over.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, Twigman said: I've had 2 of them. 1 - none of my decent gig bags (Mono M80/Protec Contego) fit inside without removing all the foam from within the shell case. 2 - The mk1 would have the clasps come undone in transit. 3 - The mk2 (with the strap) would not ever stay closed. That's interesting. I saw it used with a regular gig bag, and extra foam inserts, seemed ok but maybe they got lucky. You sound like you've tried and tested though - and the iseries does look so much more secure. Folks on TB have talked of carrying bass on in light gig bag and asking it be kept in the 'captains cupboard' or something. Maybe that's just US internal flights where you can chance that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 4 minutes ago, Drax said: Folks on TB have talked of carrying bass on in light gig bag and asking it be kept in the 'captains cupboard' or something. Maybe that's just US internal flights where you can chance that. IME there's not a chance on easyJet or the like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Drax said: the iseries does look so much more secure. and the bonus: iSeries has WHEELS yes I know the ATA bass case does too....but I mean iSeries is secure AND has wheels Edited October 8, 2019 by Twigman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 You can also wear a gig bag upside down so it looks like a backpack and keep your back away from the check in staff. With any luck they’ll think it’s a backpack and let it go in with you as carry on. Don’t know what happens if they catch you though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burno70 Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) I think you would be bonkers to trust the protection of a bass on a soft bag for air travel. Unless you don't care about the bass that is. Edited October 8, 2019 by burno70 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted October 8, 2019 Author Share Posted October 8, 2019 3 hours ago, ped said: You can also wear a gig bag upside down so it looks like a backpack and keep your back away from the check in staff. With any luck they’ll think it’s a backpack and let it go in with you as carry on. Don’t know what happens if they catch you though!! Hahahaha that would be an awesome trick to pull! I've arranged my bass to go as "special luggage" and can borrow an SKB Bass Safe from a friend Wheels! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 3 hours ago, ped said: You can also wear a gig bag upside down so it looks like a backpack... But the big issue is, that a bass does not fit in the top compartment. That bxxxxy g-word thing fits. Life is not fair... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 If the plane has a proper business class, then ask the flight attendants nicely to put it in the wardrobe in business which is rarely full of coats. Otherwise your borrowing a decent case seems by far the better, safer solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 I bought an SKB Bass Safe and use it for flying with a gig bag. A Vertigo will fit inside with the foam removed, otherwise most padded soft bags will go in. I’ve also seen people put a gig bag in a keyboard hard case. I love my Mono bags (I have more than 10), but if you value your bass at all, do not check your bass using one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 Update at the end of the tour: I flew to Vienna with the bass in a Hiscox hard case and it was totally fine! 😊 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDR Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 On 08/10/2019 at 07:42, Drax said: You could, take off the neck and put whole thing in a suitcase surrounded by clothes. I heard this is not good for the bass and that it would need a set up everytime you put it back together. Anyine have experience with it and wants to share? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 It's not bad for the bass, but yes you would need to be comfortable doing your own set up - not the dark art many fear it is. Probably not what you want to be doing regularly to something high end or vintage, but if you had the money for that, you'd have the money for a proper flight case 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Taking the neck off only works if your bass has a bolt-on neck. Not all of them do you know. I've travelled with a guitar in a gig bag that got put in the business class suit locker. However I was travelling business class and smartly dressed, plus I arrived at the check-in with moments to spare, so even if the cabin crew had wanted to put my guitar in the hold there wasn't really enough time and it was simpler for them to let me to bring it on board into the cabin. IMO that's too many variables, and I certainly wouldn't want to risk being able to do that again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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