Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So are you saying it should be the Shadow, Ted? Only if John brings his!

We can go to a friend of mine right near the motel who can fix you right up Marc!

thanks Jeff!

This is going to be a very cool event.

Is this officially the first annual confluence?

GIG BAG WARNING !!

Hey guys, I've got to put my two cents in here about flying our precious Rics in gig bags on planes... I do this for a living, at about 100,000 air miles a year, so please, take heed. This is not so much an opinion, as it is based on many observations and personal experiences.

In the old days, like ten or more years ago, they used to look the other way and let we musicians stash our gig bags in the overhead compartment---not legal, but at least they understood. Nowadays, they aren't so cool. You are allowed one carry-on (like a small roller case) and one personal item, like a shoulder bag or purse for the gals.

Now, you may get lucky, with a cool flight attendant, but my experience is that most likely you will not. If not, it's big trouble for that rare Ric "Shadow" in your gig bag. They will take your Ric "Shadow" and make you check it.
This is where that sickening feeling sets in as you trade your beautiful Ric for a little pink paper ticket---and they tell you that you can claim your Ric in the jetway when you land.

This means "Bruno" gets his hands on your bass. Bruno will toss it in with all the other oversized roller cases that won't fit in the overhead compartments for that flight. If you don't think Bruno will toss it, you are mistaken. Bruno lives for tossing guitars into the hold... Bruno didn't listen to his mom, and quit his music lessons. He has held it against successful "flying musicians" ever since---I am convinced of this.

My suggestion? If you don't have a real ATA flight case for your Ric bass, don't chance it. If you do have a real flight case, at least de-tune the strings a bit to take the load off the neck and hope you have built up enough Karma points.
Also, take all the things out of your case compartment and put them in your suitcase. Don't lock your flight case. They are now allowed to break them open to search for bombs... and musician "stuff".

Keep in mind that we are all considered possible terrorists now... Here's a few things that have happened to me in the last couple of years in the name of "homeland security".

Entire contents of my bass case compartment emptied and sprinkled on top of my bass, and case slammed shut. Strings, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, tuner, allen wrenches, all traveling nicely, while grinding away on top of my bass guitar body.

Needle nose pliers inserted inside hole on Martin D-41 guitar, resulting in pliers punching 1/2" hole (from the inside!) in the guitar body. I'm sure the TSA guy thought this would be very funny.
How hard do you have to drop a guitar in a flight case to get pliers to punch a hole in the body from the inside?

TSA employee thinking he needs my Boss 12U chromatic tuner more than I do. (Probably true).

Missing guitar stand parts.
Missing strings.
Missing cords.
Bent "G" tuner on Fender P bass (when I was made to check my gig bag with Bruno).

That's about it...

Nowadays I don't fly with ANY guitar or bass that I care about. I fly with my "el cheapo" bass. Or lately, I fly with none. For my next gig they are renting me a Fender Jazz bass... fine by me.

I'd really hate to hear of any mishaps, and I'd feel pretty guilty if I didn't share my experiences with everyone. If you don't have a flight case and you insist on chancing it maybe you could wrap the heck out of it in bubble wrap or something I don't know. Anyone have any other gig-bag ideas?

Marty

Hey guys! I'm on a golf trip in Fayetteville, NC and am checking in on my laptop. I see Ted and Marc are going to be making it!! This is great news! Looking forward to finally meeting you guys....Ted , I will be bringing both Shadows, both 4005's ,my early '73 4001 and my little Rick TR35B bass amp.

This is getting bigger and better every minute!!

Yes Marty, it is an open event!! Rick guitars and their owners are very welcome!! So you're coming , right?

A friend, who is a professional guitar player, uses a Levy's bag that has a built-in hook for hanging in closets. He brings his bag aboard and simply hangs it on the bar in the coat area. He has traveled around the world that way and has never been denied use of the bar. The bag takes up as much room as a bulky coat.

Yes, I should have mentioned that when flying first class they have never denied me use of the hanging locker for my gig bag. But...if you are flying coach, they won't even let you hang your jacket in there.

Marty

are you willing to take a chance with your Shadow?

I fly 50-75K every year. I see all kinds go thru. sometimes the attendent is cool-esp in 1st class, you can put your gigbag in the closet. Yoyo Ma buys a seat for his fiddle (saw him too).

Overhead availability depends on the equipment config, I fly mostly 767, 777 or 747 widebodies-plenty room. The regional 319s, 717, Fokker, Embrier etc may not have the overhead capacity to accomodate a gigbag, much less those other passengers who insist on stuffing a garment bag on you 4005.

Your choice

I once was flying from Florida to Michigan, and carried on one of my instruments in a hard case. The air waitress started giving me a hard time about it, and I asked her if the airline was going to pay for it if it gets damaged. She said "No", and I said, "Then I am carrying it on" and put it in the overhead, with no trouble. Then again, that was a few years ago...they are probably a lot more into the enforcement of the rules now.

My problem is that if I walk up with my reunion blues leather dble bass bag, they'll probably just think the construction is good enough to check.

The 4004 has a good case. I feel confident that if I stuff it just like I was shipping it, it'll be fine. Don't really have a good case for the 4001 project however. Funny, while that bass probably doesn't have much value on the open market, to me it's irreplaceable.

Still wish I could think of a way to crate up the two basses, my SWR redhead and the 6 bass rack (looks like a guitar case when broken down) and just make arrangements to ship back and forth.

Wouldn't it be better to drive in than deal with the crating, shipping, etc. You may not have to bring the Redhead, there may be plenty of amps there. In that case just pack up the basses and ship them Fedex or DHL.

You guys have some excellent tips. Marty may have saved valuable Rickenbacker instruments with that post. But there was one tip that RIC wouldn't agree with--John Hall has stated on this forum that in his experience shipping thousands of Rick basses, it is smarter to leave the strings tuned. The full tension of the strings stabilizes the neck and protects it from shock.

I only detune them a couple of steps---not flopping on the neck.

The only neck that I have that was broken was on a Martin D-41 that was NOT detuned before flight. Ever since that experience I've always detuned, and never a problem since. BTW, that Martin was in a proper ATA flight case. I've often wondered how hard they had to drop kick it to get the neck to break. I guess it all boils down to; "you pays your money and you takes your chances!"

Your milage may vary.

Marty

I've been flying back and forth over the Atlantic for years now and with one exception have always taken basses on the aircraft personally. It's getting more and more difficult though and even with an agreement between the airlines and musicians union allowing guitars to be bought into the cabin most airlines still have their own rules.
An ATA would be mandatory imo if you have an instrument that is of personal value.

I spoke to Sheronda at the Signature Inn today and placed my reservation. We can ALL possibly get a $59 per night group rate if there are enough of us. Right now it is $66.

WHEN BOOKING THIS HOTEL OUR GROUP NAME IS: GUCO.

I will copy this message on the other thread.