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January 2005
Posts: 45
Location: Santa Cruz, CA | Hey everybody,
I'm living in California now, but have some shows coming up in June on the East Coast. I would love to have my Magnum for these gigs, but am VERY apprehensive about stowing it in a plane's cargo hold. I am sure that it's way too big to bring as a carry on. Can anyone recommend a solid flight case that fits the Magnum?
Thanks,
Joshua |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Can you ship it ahead to your hotel? |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | take the train. |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 45
Location: Santa Cruz, CA | Train is a no go, as my flights are all booked. I could ship it, but is that really a better bet than flying? It seems to me that's just more time out of my hands. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | A possibility is to unbolt the neck and pack the neck and body in a suitcase along with your clothes. Never tried it with a bass but I've done this several times with guitars. I guess there must be suitcases big enough to take a magnum neck |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | This is the best solution.
Maybe take the neck as a carry on? |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Airlines now have a carry-on-OK policy for guitars. I had no problem carrying on my acoustic in hard case several times over the last year. As long as you are nice and polite, they will find a way to get it inside the plane with you. Make sure you talk to the gate folks early and they'll get you on early so you can find a place. When you board the plane, ask the attendants at the plane door if they can fit your guitar in a closet ... they'll help you find a good safe spot for it. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If you can't get in, despite all of the above, ask to gate check it. I've done that and it's ridden in hold, guitar made it safely and more importantly I got it past the thieving luggage handlers. It's always at the departure airport where they hit you. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Basses are much bigger, especially a Magnum. I'd still go for the 2 part method |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Absolutely, the take it apart is a good method too. It happened to a friend of mine, or was it a friend of his, anyway, they wouldn't let him bring his telecaster on board, so he took it apart, checked the body and the case in the baggage, and took the neck on the plane.
I suppose plexi could try to get it on the plane, and if he couldn't just take off the neck and bring on the plane, and gate check the body in the case. So bring a screw driver. Or he could chance it like I have.
I guess I've just been lucky. Even when it's gone in the baggage I've not had a problem.
Let's see the acoustic has gone with me on about 6 flights, always got it on board, this was domestic, twice to PR and once to FLA.
The electric, on long distance flights across the pacific, 10 flights, always got it on board. This was to Japan or HK.
In east asia, about 20 flights, had to gate check the electric about 5 times.
So there you go.
What airport you flying into? If it's JFK, I got a great guy here in Brooklyn near my house, if you need a set up once you get out east. Guy's name's Gary Fried. And if you take the train from JFK to the City, Fried's shop is on the way, if you give him a head's up he could help you no problem. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by an4340:
So bring a screw driver.
Unless TSA is asleep at the switch, you won't get a screw driver through the security checkpoint. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Nope, not a problem, the screw driver gets put in the checked baggage and taken out if necessary. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 9
| The Magnum's neck is both bolted and glued, so detaching it will not be as easy as with a Fender, say. The original manual states that "a competent repairman can break the glue joint when required", but it should probably not be attempted at the airport.
I'd suggest using a good, padded gig bag. These can usually be stood upright in the wardrobe compartment at the front. Ask nicely at check-in and don't have any sharp tools in the pockets. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The glue joints break very easily. It's just a piece of paper soaked in glue placed in the neck pocket. I've broken and refitted Ovation solidbody necks a million times, it's not an issue. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | true |
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Flying with Magnum Bass... Which case?
