Traveling tips?

[radere]

I wasn't really 100% sure where to post this, so I figured this is as good a place as any! I'm going to be doing some traveling this year, and I was curious if any of you had tips on traveling with your musical gear. I'm planning on having my guitar (a Fender Telecaster), a few pedals, soundcard and laptop. Obviously, I'd like to avoid checking any of it! 

If anyone has any recommendations for gear bags (this M-Audio bag has potential, but is just slightly too large), etc...please let me know. Ideally, I'd be able to carry on the guitar in its case and the rest of the gear in my "personal" bag, and then check my clothes and such.

Thoughts?

[billygomberg]

I wasn't really 100% sure where to post this, so I figured this is as good a place as any! I'm going to be doing some traveling this year, and I was curious if any of you had tips on traveling with your musical gear. I'm planning on having my guitar (a Fender Telecaster), a few pedals, soundcard and laptop. Obviously, I'd like to avoid checking any of it! 

If anyone has any recommendations for gear bags (this M-Audio bag has potential, but is just slightly too large), etc...please let me know. Ideally, I'd be able to carry on the guitar in its case and the rest of the gear in my "personal" bag, and then check my clothes and such.

Thoughts?

I was able to fit my whole setup -> virus b / m-audio 25 / firebox / novation nocturn / cables - into a carry-on sized suitcase (with wheels).  NOW - I had to unpack the ENTIRE THING going through security at LaGuardia and LAX.

I was lucky that a suitcase I bought years ago fits my current setup pretty perfectly.

[jimmy behan]

I doubt they'll let you on a plane with a guitar case, might be a bit big.
You're best bet might be to take your laptop and soundcard/pedals with you on the plane and just make sure your guitar is really well packed in its case.
Airports are gonna be hellish places this year I'd say.
Where are you planning to visit?

[radere]

@Billy: Yea, I'm assuming they're going to make me unpack everything...but such is life! I'm used to getting hassled in airport security. I have no idea why I get singled out ever...single...time I travel.   

@Jimmy: I measured my guitar out of the case, and that's already too big for most carry on restrictions. I'm just super apprehensive to check the thing! I have one of those Traveler acoustic/electric guitars, but I'd rather have my Telecaster if I'm going to be away for an extended period.

It's looking more and more like I'm about to move to Hawaii for a few months. I'm hoping to do a lot of recording while I'm out there, so I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to get everything I need for a light laptop-based studio from point A to point B!

[billygomberg]

@Billy: Yea, I'm assuming they're going to make me unpack everything...but such is life! I'm used to getting hassled in airport security. I have no idea why I get singled out ever...single...time I travel.   

well it was a real laugh this past August b/c after I unpack synth/controller/et al, Richard had to unload his bag of motors, cables, circuitboards etc.  real fun at the airport I'm telling you.

It's looking more and more like I'm about to move to Hawaii for a few months. I'm hoping to do a lot of recording while I'm out there, so I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to get everything I need for a light laptop-based studio from point A to point B!

 


it may be worth yr $$$ to pick up a cheap electric in hawaii and just ditch it when you leave.

[mac]

As for cases I'd suggest Pelican - http://www.pelican.com/ Very reliable/durable/etc. your gear should be well protected in these, even if you decide to checked-in.

but don't. really don't. Checking-in any of your equipment equals stirring up hornets' nest. I worked at the airport as a ramp supervisor and I do know how luggage is handled inside out. The chances of your gear being intact when you get it back are higher when you drive a steamroller over your bags than when you leave it to the airline. I could tell you stories...

Now when it comes to your guitar and taking it on board it's a chance of luck. Restrictions are one thing, yet it all comes down to people at check-in and their mood. Case to case situation. Sometimes we did let people in just like that and then the flight attendants would take your guitar and put it in a separate storage as it might not it into the overhead compartment. Other times we insisted people check it in, even if they offered millions.

Happened to me as well. Unpacking all neatly packed gear and explaining that my Zoom is not a taser. fun, fun...

no advice here really. I assume you would like to keep your budget low and don't consider shipping, right?

[mfischer]

for flying to shows i use a turntable case for my mixer, pedals, cables + small instruments. i've never had any trouble checking it in and only had it searched by the TSA twice (which i kind of find shocking) and nothing has ever turned up damaged.  those cases are pretty burly with thick foam on the inside. 
i usually carry on my baritone guitar and a bag with my laptop + monome mixed in with clothes and usual traveling stuff.  they always let me tuck my baritone case (which is the same size as one for a bass guitar) in the closet where the crew hangs garment bags.  most crews are pretty friendly toward musicians with guitar cases... it just gets tough when they ask you what kind of music you play....
never an easy conversation.

[radere]

@Billy: Don't be sad! I promise to have everyone from the forum out for a miniature ambient music fest on the beach!

@Mac: Yea, I've seen some rather shocking footage regarding baggage handlers and their, erm, "treatment" of the passengers' property. Whenever I travel, I do everything I can to avoid checking anything, but I've never flown with music equipment before...so I know I'm going to have to make some concessions. I'll definitely check out those cases you mentioned.

@MFischer: Sounds like you've had great luck as a traveler! I'm rather jealous, honestly. I'm sure they're going to pull my looper/delay pedal out and claim it's some sort of explosive device...hence banishing me to a dark hole somewhere in eastern Europe for the rest of my days! I jest, of course; thanks for the tips.

The Traveler guitar I have is an acoustic/electric, and it doesn't sound terrible...just not as nice as my Tele! I'm wondering if I can get it where I want it once I pick up a solid DI box. That would make all of this much easier...

[billygomberg]

@Billy: Don't be sad! I promise to have everyone from the forum out for a miniature ambient music fest on the beach!

just show me the whales, dude.  and the cheap flight to hawaii.

[mfischer]

I'm sure they're going to pull my looper/delay pedal out and claim it's some sort of explosive device...

i think that the people manning the x-ray machines have seen things that look much more dubious than looping pedals. i bet it would be harder to get a boombox with 6 D cell batteries in it through security than a case full of music gear.... unless you are a crazy circuit bender.  then you might be in trouble. 

[mac]

I'm sure they're going to pull my looper/delay pedal out and claim it's some sort of explosive device...hence banishing me to a dark hole somewhere in eastern Europe for the rest of my days! I jest, of course; thanks for the tips.

since you'll be on a domestic flight and not international, they'll probably end up exiling you just to a local dark hole for possession of looping explosives. Like Flint, MI. Oh, wait, that's more like a black hole than a dark hole. well, good luck.

But seriously, I think you'll be fine. Just get your general story ready, before you leave to the airport, so you don't get tangled in explaining what the gear is for. They expect straight forward answers and get suspicious fast if you go like: emm, well, etc. In the very extreme scenario they will take it apart. I got my Mac dismantled in Detroit. But I come from the less favorable part of Europe so it's a completely different story.

here a clip I thought suits the discussion well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QXiwNbKCPo

Why the decision to leave Philly for so long and travel to Hawaii, Carl?

[radere]

I'm sure they're going to pull my looper/delay pedal out and claim it's some sort of explosive device...hence banishing me to a dark hole somewhere in eastern Europe for the rest of my days! I jest, of course; thanks for the tips.

since you'll be on a domestic flight and not international, they'll probably end up exiling you just to a local dark hole for possession of looping explosives. Like Flint, MI. Oh, wait, that's more like a black hole than a dark hole. well, good luck.

But seriously, I think you'll be fine. Just get your general story ready, before you leave to the airport, so you don't get tangled in explaining what the gear is for. They expect straight forward answers and get suspicious fast if you go like: emm, well, etc. In the very extreme scenario they will take it apart. I got my Mac dismantled in Detroit. But I come from the less favorable part of Europe so it's a completely different story.

here a clip I thought suits the discussion well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QXiwNbKCPo

Why the decision to leave Philly for so long and travel to Hawaii, Carl?

Oooo....Flint, MI. That would be an unfortunate way to go out! But yea, I expect traveling domestically shouldn't be as much of a hassle as international flight...but we'll see how things play out. I'll definitely have to work up an "alibi," of sorts.

To answer your question, I've been living in Philly for a long time and just need a change of scenery. I haven't been able to really find steady work here and my personal life has more or less dead-ended, so I'm taking a friend who lives in Hawaii up on a longstanding invitation and heading out there for a bit. I'll be back on the east coast by the end of the year, though...I think. 

[taylordeupree]

i've brought my acoustic guitar in a soft case on flights 3 or 4 times.. to places like japan, canada and within the US. i didn't have a hard case, nor did i want to check it.. i think i lucked out in all scenarios because the flight attendants found room for it up front in the coat/wardrobe closet.

on the flight back from japan the attendants actually put it in their little bedroom area 'cos there was no other area.

i think if you just show up at the gate with a soft case, and be friendly, they'll do their best to accomodate you. perhaps the worst case would be they check it with the baby strollers before you get on.. which may be a bit safer.

[radere]

i've brought my acoustic guitar in a soft case on flights 3 or 4 times.. to places like japan, canada and within the US. i didn't have a hard case, nor did i want to check it.. i think i lucked out in all scenarios because the flight attendants found room for it up front in the coat/wardrobe closet.

on the flight back from japan the attendants actually put it in their little bedroom area 'cos there was no other area.

i think if you just show up at the gate with a soft case, and be friendly, they'll do their best to accomodate you. perhaps the worst case would be they check it with the baby strollers before you get on.. which may be a bit safer.

Considering that an acoustic is far bulkier (and probably more fragile, as well) than my telecaster, that's rather encouraging...

[mac]

I think I found a piece of info you could give a try for your journey, Carl. Check it out. Don't let the article put you off with "gun" in the title. down in text they mention starter pistol works as well.

http://lifehacker.com/5448014/pack-a-gun-to-protect-valuables-from-airline-theft-or-loss

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