Ya ready to get angry at the airlines again.. read on

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:51 am

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/vintage-gibson-guitar-delta-baggage-leevees-214634001.html

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

Anyone touring with a vintage Gibson in a vintage Gibson case is a moron.

FLIGHT CASE. End of story.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I fly with my guitar and haven't had an issue. Gotta do it again in 3 weeks in fact. Sh1t happens though, you can't ever be 100% safe.

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1369 Location: Lutz, Fl.

I saw this on Yahoo as well. I was thinking about posting it, but saw that you beat me to it. It reminds me of the country guy with his song, "United Breaks Guitars." I still have that song stuck in my head after all this time.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:23 am

I posted this yesterday on MLP. For a $10k guitar, I would have purchased the extra seat in advance just to cover my ass. Then again, a good flight case which costs about as nuch as a seat would have saved money in the longrun. Thankfully, it only sustained minor repairable damage compared to what could have been much worse (a pile of shattered firewood)

An Ibanez hollowbody might be a better option also and keep the money guitar home Laughing

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:48 am

Northwinds wrote:

I posted this yesterday on MLP. For a $10k guitar, I would have purchased the extra seat in advance just to cover my ass. Then again, a good flight case which costs about as nuch as a seat would have saved money in the longrun. Thankfully, it only sustained minor repairable damage compared to what could have been much worse (a pile of shattered firewood)

An Ibanez hollowbody might be a better option also and keep the money guitar home Laughing

I keep all the good stuff at home. Meaning if it's going to cost over $2K to replace, or it's my vintage LPs. They stay @ home. So about the only guitars that go out are my Gibby SGs and Explorers.

My Anvil Flight case for my 76 LP cost me $350, and that was back in 1979.

Joined: 29 Mar 2011 Posts: 357 Location: Calgary Alberta

I said why not a flight case myself, but looking at the pic here, it seems a flight case would not have helped much

Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 3837 Location: BOSTON

man, that sounds sh!tty!

imagine that, a Hanukkah-themed rock band Laughing

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

The Zamboni's eh? lol.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12247 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

I feel bad for him but really, who takes a vintage guitar on tour and laves it in someone elses hands to take care of for you. You buy a new version of it or a cheap knockoff and leave irreplaceables at home

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

BLOODROOT wrote:

I feel bad for him but really, who takes a vintage guitar on tour and laves it in someone elses hands to take care of for you. You buy a new version of it or a cheap knockoff and leave irreplaceables at home

Yes. And, if it's badass, a goddamned flight case.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12247 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

somewhat good turn out.

heard on the radio yesterday that...

The airline paid him the 10k value for it.
Gibson is fixing the guitar
and
Gibson gave him a 50 year anniversary ES335

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10589 Location: Canada

formula73 wrote:

Yes. And, if it's badass, a goddamned flight case.

That's what Flight Cases are for...

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

Armitage wrote:

formula73 wrote:

Yes. And, if it's badass, a goddamned flight case.

That's what Flight Cases are for...

Yep. You'd figure people would understand seeing as how 'flight' is right there in the name.

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:17 pm

BLOODROOT wrote:

somewhat good turn out.

heard on the radio yesterday that...

The airline paid him the 10k value for it.
Gibson is fixing the guitar
and
Gibson gave him a 50 year anniversary ES335

Sounds like he'll be coming out of this smelling like a rose!

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

formula73 wrote:

Armitage wrote:

formula73 wrote:

Yes. And, if it's badass, a goddamned flight case.

That's what Flight Cases are for...

Yep. You'd figure people would understand seeing as how 'flight' is right there in the name.

Until you actually fly with a guitar and a flight case. We're not talking one of those SKB cases. Those aren't "Flight" cases. Those are just ATA ready due to the locks, they are still not very strong. I'm talking about a properly made case for flying and rough travel. You better be prepared to pay extra and be OK with checking the case because you can't bring one of those on board. I prefer to take my guitar ON to the plane, then again I wouldn't bring a guitar that was near irreplaceable on a flight either.

I have to fly in 2 weeks with my guitar. I'm actually considering a gig bag to make the footprint smaller even though my case fits in an overhead. Also an airline, in my experience, is less likely to ask you to gate check (don't ever offer up your guitar to just check in, tell them you'll try and bring it on board and make them offer to gate check it for worst case scenario with the strollers) This way they can physically look in the front closet and pilot's locker to see if there is room.

True story, I flew from Vancouver to Nashville and had to bring my head with me as well once. They said I would have to check it and it was my Mesa Stiletto and only had a cover on it. I said no, so they said I could try and bring it on but may have to gate check it. When I got to the plane the steward told me there was no extra room. I asked to check again and they reassured me I was out of luck but they would "Take care" of it. Then the pilot, who was standing at the door of the cockpit saw my head and said "Oh I love Mesas, I just bought a new one last month" and then took my head and put it with his personal stuff next to the cockpit. It just goes to show, there is very often a way to get the help you need if you're adamant about your needs. Worst case they gate check it but then it's handed down to the cargo hold and at the end of the flight, handed up. No machines, no throwing.

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

formula73 wrote:

Armitage wrote:

formula73 wrote:

Yes. And, if it's badass, a goddamned flight case.

That's what Flight Cases are for...

Yep. You'd figure people would understand seeing as how 'flight' is right there in the name.

Until you actually fly with a guitar and a flight case. We're not talking one of those SKB cases. Those aren't "Flight" cases. Those are just ATA ready due to the locks, they are still not very strong. I'm talking about a properly made case for flying and rough travel. You better be prepared to pay extra and be OK with checking the case because you can't bring one of those on board. I prefer to take my guitar ON to the plane, then again I wouldn't bring a guitar that was near irreplaceable on a flight either.

I have to fly in 2 weeks with my guitar. I'm actually considering a gig bag to make the footprint smaller even though my case fits in an overhead. Also an airline, in my experience, is less likely to ask you to gate check (don't ever offer up your guitar to just check in, tell them you'll try and bring it on board and make them offer to gate check it for worst case scenario with the strollers) This way they can physically look in the front closet and pilot's locker to see if there is room.

True story, I flew from Vancouver to Nashville and had to bring my head with me as well once. They said I would have to check it and it was my Mesa Stiletto and only had a cover on it. I said no, so they said I could try and bring it on but may have to gate check it. When I got to the plane the steward told me there was no extra room. I asked to check again and they reassured me I was out of luck but they would "Take care" of it. Then the pilot, who was standing at the door of the cockpit saw my head and said "Oh I love Mesas, I just bought a new one last month" and then took my head and put it with his personal stuff next to the cockpit. It just goes to show, there is very often a way to get the help you need if you're adamant about your needs. Worst case they gate check it but then it's handed down to the cargo hold and at the end of the flight, handed up. No machines, no throwing.

I know what a flight case is. Rolling Eyes

I've flown with one twice. My KxK came with one back when they made all their own flight cases for each guitar. I cut the foam inside a bit to make it fit both the KxK and the Firebird. It was a pain in the ass but you know what? The guitar made it.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Yeah man, I totally understand but you have some really neat guitars that are worth of that. Like I said, I don't fly with something I can't replace. I'll never put my Gibson ZV on an airplane unless it's in a case that's built for war, and then I'm probably going to have to pay an extra $100 just to check it. My Esoterik is totally replaceable so it's not such a big deal to bring it in the regular hard case. The guy this thread is about was crazy for taking that specific guitar in that manner.

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Yeah man, I totally understand but you have some really neat guitars that are worth of that. Like I said, I don't fly with something I can't replace. I'll never put my Gibson ZV on an airplane unless it's in a case that's built for war, and then I'm probably going to have to pay an extra $100 just to check it. My Esoterik is totally replaceable so it's not such a big deal to bring it in the regular hard case. The guy this thread is about was crazy for taking that specific guitar in that manner.

Agreed. What a dumbass.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

formula73 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Yeah man, I totally understand but you have some really neat guitars that are worth of that. Like I said, I don't fly with something I can't replace. I'll never put my Gibson ZV on an airplane unless it's in a case that's built for war, and then I'm probably going to have to pay an extra $100 just to check it. My Esoterik is totally replaceable so it's not such a big deal to bring it in the regular hard case. The guy this thread is about was crazy for taking that specific guitar in that manner.

Agreed. What a dumbass.

Gibson is fixing his guitar and giving him a new one. I hope he has learned his lesson. Take the new one on the road and leave the case/studio queen at home. lol

Joined: 06 Feb 2012 Posts: 98 Location: Milwaukee, WI

Northwinds wrote:

I posted this yesterday on MLP. For a $10k guitar, I would have purchased the extra seat in advance just to cover my ass.:

Agreed. Im that crazy helicopter musician when my instruments are in reach. Never flown with any but id pay a ton for protection.

Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 9602 Location: Portsmouth, VA

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

formula73 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Yeah man, I totally understand but you have some really neat guitars that are worth of that. Like I said, I don't fly with something I can't replace. I'll never put my Gibson ZV on an airplane unless it's in a case that's built for war, and then I'm probably going to have to pay an extra $100 just to check it. My Esoterik is totally replaceable so it's not such a big deal to bring it in the regular hard case. The guy this thread is about was crazy for taking that specific guitar in that manner.

Agreed. What a dumbass.

Gibson is fixing his guitar and giving him a new one. I hope he has learned his lesson. Take the new one on the road and leave the case/studio queen at home. lol

Learned his lesson? He was an idiot with a vintage guitar, got it messed up, cried about it, and got it fixed AND a new one.

Hell, if it were me, I'd do it again. Laughing

Joined: 14 Oct 2009 Posts: 173 Location: Costa Mesa, CA

Looks like Gibson is stepping in and helping out

http://thezambonis.com/news/gibson-to-help-dave-zamboni/