Bass Cab in the hold????

[DDR]

Lots of talk about bass guitars in the hold with an internet search but what about putting a bass cab in there?

Anyone done this?

Anything to look out for?

What could the temperature and pressure do to it?

Thoughts?

Thanks!!

[Bolo]

Sealed cabs will explode obviously so make sure yours is ported. And keep it dry, a good flight case should do.

[DDR]

That 

8 minutes ago, Bolo said:

Sealed cabs will explode obviously so make sure yours is ported. And keep it dry, a good flight case should do.

That wouldn't be fun.... 

[DDR]

Are those ports?

[TorturedSaints]

Almost all modern aircraft are pressurised including the cargo compartment and are kept at a reasonable temperature above 0C. The cabin altitude is about 8500’ maximum at cruise level, with a rate of climb normally about 500 feet per minute and descent around 300 feet per minute to be kind to passengers’ ears (especially as you don’t get the boiled sweets handed out by the cabin crew any more).

 

I don’t know how sealed “sealed cabs” are, but if you can put one in the back of a car and take it over the Alps or the Rockies without it exploding, then it shouldn’t explode in an aircraft either.  I won’t guarantee that though, as I say, I don’t know how well sealed the cab is. I guess that the high-end cabs like Barefaced are delivered to foreign climes by airfreight, although again, I don’t know. 

A flight case would be essential to prevent the curse of the baggage handlers IMO.

[Piers_Williamson]

What a really fun, learning thread!  Isn't it possible to hire OK cabs where you are playing?  I might always take a pre-amp with me plus my bass, but I would always vote fro hiring in backline at an overseas venue. 

[Hellzero]

3 hours ago, DDR said:

Are those ports?

Yes, they are!

[DDR]

2 hours ago, Piers_Williamson said:

What a really fun, learning thread!  Isn't it possible to hire OK cabs where you are playing?  I might always take a pre-amp with me plus my bass, but I would always vote fro hiring in backline at an overseas venue. 

I'm temporarily moving abroad, I want my things that's all, without buying more...

[TorturedSaints]

1 hour ago, DDR said:

I'm temporarily moving abroad, I want my things that's all, without buying more...

It might be cheaper to get a shipping company to send a small container than take everything as excess baggage on an aircraft (normally a very expensive way of doing it).  It depends on how long you are moving abroad for, and how many things you are taking with you.  

[chris_b]

They put pets in the holds of planes, and Alex exports his cabs around the world with no problems.

 

But why are you asking us?

 

Ask the airline, any airline.

[DDR]

7 hours ago, chris_b said:

They put pets in the holds of planes, and Alex exports his cabs around the world with no problems.

 

But why are you asking us?

 

Ask the airline, any airline.

 

Was hoping for "bass cab in the hold" experience

[DDR]

9 hours ago, TorturedSaints said:

It might be cheaper to get a shipping company to send a small container than take everything as excess baggage on an aircraft (normally a very expensive way of doing it).  It depends on how long you are moving abroad for, and how many things you are taking with you.  

 

Nah just bass cab, bass and some clothes..

[DDR]

I wrote to MarkBass they kindly replied with this :

 

"Regarding your MB58R 102 cab, generally there shouldn't be any issues with placing it in the hold for air travel, as we frequently ship our cabinets this way without problems. However, to be safe, it would be wise to ensure it has adequate protective packaging. Unfortunately, we have occasionally seen instances of significant damage due to rough handling during luggage transport."

[BigRedX]

As others have said the holds of all modern planes are pressed and temperature controlled. Animals are regularly transported this way. Your cab will be fine, although it would be best cased or otherwise properly packaged as though you were going to send it by carrier service.

 

About 10 years ago someone on the SOS forum did a test with a max/mim thermometer in their hold luggage. I can't find the thread right now otherwise I would have posted a link, but the outcome was that the hold temperature pretty much corresponded to the cabin temperature for the flight.

 

The only time in the last 25 years I have flown in a plane where the hold probably wasn't pressurised and temperature controlled, all the important luggage was transported in unused seats in the cabin under scrim netting. Also the whole flight was at an altitude low enough for me to easily make out vehicles on the roads we passed over so there wouldn't have been much pressure difference in unpressurised hold compartments.