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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
 Posted - 03/06/2011 : 1:41:33 PM
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| I got a Voyageair. So now that is my travel guitar. Had a K&K pickup installed and it is good enough to play anywhere. It is a lot of fun unfolding it in front of people. They always are surprised. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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Larry Goldstein
Lokahi
267 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2011 : 6:38:10 PM
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Being a fan of the Clam, I still feel compelled to relate my experiences.
Every time I've flown with the Clam, the TSA gorillas have totally dismantled the foam blocks that hold the guitar case firmly in place. I even have a large print laminated plea to replace the blocks. Alas, I am naive.
The Clam still functions, but be prepared that your guitar may bounce around inside.
Also, don't forget the "oversize" baggage limits of 62", which the Clam readily exceeds.
Someday I'll actually contribute something musical 
Larry
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Claudia
Lokahi
USA
152 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2011 : 7:01:40 PM
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Yes, sometimes the TSA puts the foam blocks back inside properly, sometimes they donʻt. But in my opinion, even if the foam blocks are not put in the correct places, the guitar is still better off inside the protective shell of the Clam than if shipped in hard case alone.
The Clam is considered "oversize" luggage and yes, you have to pay a fee. But on Continental, for example, oversize baggage is allowed to be up to 115 linear inches (height + width + length) and the Clam is only 83 linear inches (50" height, 10" width, 23" length at widest point).
Iʻm not crazy about paying the fee, but I havenʻt got a choice since I canʻt muscle a guitar AND a ukulele into the cabin - oneʻs gotta go in the belly of the plane!
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2011 : 08:41:47 AM
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I guess it is time for me to jump in again on this perennial subject, which blossoms every year with the daffodils.
quote:
Being a fan of the Clam, I still feel compelled to relate my experiences.
Every time I've flown with the Clam, the TSA gorillas have totally dismantled the foam blocks that hold the guitar case firmly in place. I even have a large print laminated plea to replace the blocks. Alas, I am naive.
The Clam still functions, but be prepared that your guitar may bounce around inside.
Also, don't forget the "oversize" baggage limits of 62", which the Clam readily exceeds.
Someday I'll actually contribute something musical
Larry
Having had my guitars broken THREE times by the airlines, I have learned by street training. No surprise that all breaks occured at the Head/Neck interface with the strings at full tension. When you think of the Physics of force and acceleration this is also no surprise. At roughly 20 pounds of force per string you have 120 pounds of force pulling the head toward the body. If, due to the shock of being dropped, the head bends toward the front of the guitar, then more and more of this 120 pound force is applied toward rotating the head-stock forward and a neck break occurs. In the last 8 years or so, after slacking my stings about an octave I have had no further neck breaks, so now I always slack my strings when packing for airline travel. Of course, I always add fairly stiff foam reinforcement around the headstock to minimize bending of the headstock at the neck joint.
To solve THE 62 INCH problem I have purchased a new travel Guitar, also no surprise, a Composite Acoustics Cargo, and I have made a custom RECTANGULAR wooden case with a re-inforced strut in the middle that not only holds the guitar and padding, but the guitar stand, a music stand, music books (which are heavy), tuners, etc, and still stays under the 62 inch limit. This saves me $80 each flight and $160 round trip (compared to the CLAM). And it helps solve the other problem of not being able to pack enough weight into the CHECKED baggage. My previous guitar case (A CALTON) weighed only 25 pounds with contents and did not have much room for other stuff, so I was forced to "pack heavy" for my Carry On. Problem with that approach is that HAWAIIAN airlines only allows 25 pounds for carry-on (and they very often weigh them to make sure) whereas UNITED allows 50 pounds for carry on and they do not bother to weight the stuff (because it is hard to pack the maximum 22x9x13 case to 50 pounds anyway).
So now I can pack an additional 15 pounds or so in my custom case along with the guitar and that makes a HUGE difference.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/07/2011 11:55:14 AM |
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Steven Espaniola
Lokahi
225 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 07:13:36 AM
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| I have been using an SKB "ATA" rated rolling case for years when touring and playing abroad. I always check it and has not failed me yet. Definitely loosen the strings to ease tension. 'Ukulele always connected to me and never checked. Hope that helps! |
Steven |
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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 09:05:33 AM
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Pack an amp in the luggage and carry on the guitar or ukulele. I now carry a ZT lunchbox or Roland AC-33:
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It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 09:24:26 AM
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Just remember, if your guitar is longer than 22 inches they CAN and they EVENTUALLY WILL, force you to put it into checked baggage or gate check it. If it happens to be in a soft-case then kiss it goodbye. If it is in a hard case then it is also much larger and less likely to make it into the passenger cabin. You may get away with getting it onboard 100 flights, but it only takes the one time they force you to gate-check it to make your guitar become history. I know, I have been through all these scenarios, over and over again. I brought my guitars on about 60 flights so far, and like I said, my guitars have been broken three times by the airline companies.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/09/2011 09:29:28 AM |
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Steven Espaniola
Lokahi
225 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 12:00:20 PM
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| If you're performing at a venue and for practical purposes, you should not need an amp. Acoustic DI's like the Baggs Para-Acoustic should suffice and give you tons of tonal control. The Traveler guitar is great in a pinch but won't cut it in most live performance scenarios. If you were going to bring an amplifier of some sort, I would bring something like the Roland AC60 which offers an XLR line out. Again, not really practical but I've done it in the past and it serves as a great stage reference. |
Steven |
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Bau
Lokahi
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 4:49:26 PM
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those are some neat guitars I was looking at the folding ones some time ago.
I guess if you had a bolt on electric you could always take the neck off.but i dont know about doing that too often and stripping out the screw wood :(
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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2011 : 9:30:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Steven Espaniola
If you're performing at a venue and for practical purposes, you should not need an amp. Acoustic DI's like the Baggs Para-Acoustic should suffice and give you tons of tonal control.
Aloha, Steven.
Thanks for the personal performance unplugged at the Souza's booth at NAMM this year, as I just missed your plugged in set through Joe's Fishman line array. I always bring amps and P.A.'s to venues, as there have been some interesting setups when we arrive. A local American Legion said we could use their house P.A. last year. It turned out to be two Radio Shack microphones through a Bogen speech amplifier with speakers mounted in the roof. Fortunately I brought two Roland BA-330's as a backup P.A.. The luggage setup above with the Vox DA5 was from a recent trip to the Philippines, where I busked in the streets and gave the tips to those that really needed the money. The Roland AC-33 is a 30 watt brother of the Roland AC-60:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=1052
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-AC33-Acoustic-Chorus-Combo-Amp?sku=423449
that has a seperate channel for a microphone and an instrument, along with a 40 second loop station and a line out for a main P.A.. It can also run on 8 AA Alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries.
Being that I'm no where near your caliber as a performing musician, premium P.A. systems are not commonly present at my performing venues. That's why I "pack my own". Ric |
It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
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Mark E
Lokahi
USA
186 Posts |
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basilking
Lokahi
125 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2011 : 8:41:04 PM
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In a humble distillation of many threads on UMGF/Martin forum I offer
1] My personal practice: carry-on gig-bsgged 5-18 or ~2-sized vtg parlor gtr in HSC.
2] Baggage-check yr larger gtr in a Calton, Mark Leaf, Anvil, or similar. This DOES work though "da gorillas" can and have torn parts of my road-cases off; they've not hurt the gtrs enclosed. Everyone's experience is different. Been to HON & elsewhere. Just 'cause it worked for me don't mean it'll work for you yet I recommend this practice. Kind aloha to all. |
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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2011 : 8:44:55 PM
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Admin Andy performing on a Roland AC-33:
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It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2011 : 08:32:05 AM
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| My double 8 Stringmaster in case just fits in the overhead, but it doesn't conform to the volume requirement. I really have to argue with 'em to let me carry it on. Works most of the time, but I get the gats check where they deliver it to me at the ramp, but still a big hassle. I've found that Hawaiian is the most musician-friendly (an passenger-friendly, btw) airline. After watching the other steelers at Aloha Camp with thier little Rolands and Vox's, I got one as soon as I got home. |
keaka |
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DeVineGuitars
Aloha
10 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2011 : 07:22:55 AM
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| I know it may be a bit tricky, but most of the time if I need to take a trip, I will actually Fedex my instruments there. You can send a guitar, fully insured from Hawaii to the mainland for less than $100. The airlines are going to charge you $40-50 anyway, why not just have it waiting there fir you? |
http://www.devineguitars.com
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Traveling with guitars
