Members missedmyexit Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 I just found out that work is sending me to Dublin for two weeks in March. Strangely enough my first thought was two weeks without my guitar. I'm considering possibly rolling the dice on checking the guitar but I don't know. I've heard so many horror stories and have seen first hand how baggage handlers work. It would probably cost a fortune to ship UPS to Dublin and back. Any suggestions?
Members totamus Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 1) travel guitar2) Back up full size guitar (ie a guitar that you wont cry about losing, but a decent player)3) adequate insurance and take your good guitar. I have taken good instruments and never had a problem, but I have heard horror stories and seen pics of destroyed guitars. Unless they have changed their MO, they make you sign a waiver when you check a guitar. The waiver states you are checking improperly packaged items and will not hold the Airline responsible for damage. So make sure there is a rider on your homeowners to cover. If you get a travel guitar, I like the Little Martins...
Members Queequeg Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 hand check it (carry it to the gate) if possible on int'l flights now. might not be in a "post 9/11, Homeland Security, TSA, take-your-shoes-off, is there anything else we can do to make you more miserable on your journey?" world. then you pick it up when you disembark & it never goes to baggage area (or, more to the point, through their baggage system blender)Call your air carrier in advance and discuss it with them.
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 Wow! You lucky so & so...Geeze...that's a tough decision. Take your Fullerton you have for sale....maybe you can sell it while you are over there and not have to bring it back? Personally I have no idea since I've never travelled over seas with a guitar but if I was to bring my Martin I'd buy a seat for her. Sometimes I have heard that if there is room in the closet they will let you keep it there for the flight as long as they can look at it and make sure it wont explode or anything. I am just way too paranoid to bring my guitar on a plane and watch it go onto a conveyor belt and disappear to maybe never be seen again or worse in splinters.
Members T.B. Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 hand check it (carry it to the gate) if possible on int'l flights now. might not be in a "post 9/11, Homeland Security, TSA, take-your-shoes-off, is there anything else we can do to make you more miserable on your journey?"world. then you pick it up when you disembark & it never goes to baggage area (or, more to the point, through their baggage system blender)Call your air carrier in advance and discuss it with them. +1 It just so dang iffy. I would probably be best if you take a travel size, 00 or 0 size guitar. I travel aboard with my Cort parlor, no problem. My colleague travels with his classical guitar at all times and has never been asked to check it. Are you traveling business/first class, does you company use a particular carrier cuz they seem to give those travelers preferential treatment. Or should I say, they appear to be more accommodating. Trina
Members Simon76 Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 I wonder how many good guitar stores there are in Dublin. There might be some cool instruments that can bought there. Crafter is one brand that comes to mind that I would check out. You could even contact Emerald and ask for a tour. An Emerald X5 may be in your future. Maybe it's destiney that's taking you to find the one. Contact Information Alistair Hay (President/Manager)info@emeraldlife.com Postal Address Cavanacaw, St. Johnston Co. Donegal, IRELAND Tel. (011) 353 7491 48019 Fax (011) 353 7491 48070http://www.emeraldlife.com
Members Berkleo Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 A cautionary tale: January 28, 2006 AMERICA WEST DELIVERS TOOTHPICKS TO FOLK SINGING TERRORIST! You've probably all read about my horrible experience with Delta Airlines last summer and their policy of not gate checking guitars. Other luggage is okay. Tubas are apparently okay. Banjos are okay. Ukeleles are fine too but guitars are specifically listed as not okay to gate check. Well my friend Jon Pousette-Dart was on an America West flight recently. He checked in one guitar and carried another on board in a soft gig bag. Before the plane left an America West employee boarded the plane and told Jon that the guitar would have to go underneath or Jon would have to get off the plane. Jon asked what the problem was and the guy told him that terrorists could use the guitar strings as weapons! The guy was not exactly nice about the situation when Jon tried to plead with him... "The instrument is expensive, it could get damaged down below, please - isn't there something we can do?" The answer was simple "The guitar goes underneath or you get off the plane." With no other options, Jon gave them the guitar. When he got off the plane they handed him a soft gig bag with very expensive toothpicks. They absolutely ruined his guitar! It is beyond repair. I believe the airlines have gone too far with this. How is the working musician supposed to get from one place to another? If airline employees are having a bad day they can become bullies and if we stand up and ask questions we are terrorists. What interesting times we live in. I shudder to think what kind of guitar went into the creation of those premium toothpicks. When I read this I wanted to on his behalf...
Members Queequeg Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 Emerald is out of bidness.Probably get a Lowden there. customs will want a short concert and your wallet when you re-enter the US.
Members Queequeg Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 You've probably all read about my horrible experience with Delta Airlines last summer and their policy of not gate checking guitars. Other luggage is okay. Tubas are apparently okay. Banjos are okay. Ukeleles are fine too but guitars are specifically listed as not okay to gate check. "Tell the pilot to take this plane to Cuba, or else I'm gonna unleash some Oh Suzannah and Kumbaya on you, and I don't mean maybe!" Delta will be swallowed up in the next 10 days or so.
Members missedmyexit Posted January 18, 2008 Author Members Posted January 18, 2008 I wonder how many good guitar stores there are in Dublin.There might be some cool instruments that can bought there.Crafter is one brand that comes to mind that I would check out.You could even contact Emerald and ask for a tour.An Emerald X5 may be in your future.Maybe it's destiney that's taking you to find the one.Contact Information Alistair Hay (President/Manager)info@emeraldlife.com Postal AddressCavanacaw,St. JohnstonCo. Donegal,IRELANDTel. (011) 353 7491 48019Fax (011) 353 7491 48070http://www.emeraldlife.com The buy a guitar there, solution has crossed my mind.. Anyone on this board from Ireland. I wonder what the prices are like there? Lowden's are not in the price range. They actually are so far away from the "Range" that they can't see the topside of said "Range" with the Hubble Telescope.
Members Queequeg Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 Darksun is from Ireland. Emerald Guitars has stopped all normal production. the founder/owner of Emerald Guitars states that the reason that they had to stop is that Parker refuses to sell them any more necks - no explanation given.
Members Simon76 Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 That could be a good thing if local dealers want to blow out the remaining inventory because of no warrenty work. I'd love to have a green Emerald X5. Especially if I could get it at a blow out price.
Members brahmz118 Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 Darksun is from Ireland. Emerald Guitars has stopped all normal production. the founder/owner of Emerald Guitars states that the reason that they had to stop is that Parker refuses to sell them any more necks - no explanation given. Parker was taken over by US Music Corp (the company that owns Washburn), and under the new management supplying Emerald with fingerboards became less and less of a priority. Eventually the relationship ended altogether. Alistair said that he did finally figure out another solution, which he used to fill all his remaining orders. The reason he closed the factory was to spend more time with his family, and also to devote more time and energy to various humanitarian causes, such as orphanages in Africa. Alistair and I had several email exchanges about my own work with children (using a couple of his guitars!), and I know that this recent change in his priorities is sincere. I asked for a list of all remaining inventory, floor models, etc. as soon as he sent his first email notice, but apparently they were all gone already.
Members rsgars Posted January 18, 2008 Members Posted January 18, 2008 Emerald is out of bidness.Probably get a Lowden there. customs will want a short concert and your wallet when you re-enter the US. Or an Avalon
Members Berkleo Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 "Tell the pilot to take this plane to Cuba, or else I'm gonna unleash some Oh Suzannah and Kumbaya on you, and I don't mean maybe!"Delta will be swallowed up in the next 10 days or so. NO NOT KUMBAYA - ANYTHING BUT KUMBAYA.....
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 Wonder what decent, but moderately priced, guitars might be available in Dublin? To me, it's a question of "buy a playable guitar while I'm there, then sell it for whatever I can, just before I leave" or "risk the cost of one of my guitars being stolen or ruined by the airline gorillas"... Airline luggage handler training seminar instructor Me, I bite the bullet and buy an extra seat if I can't drive, take a bus or train...gets expensive, though!
Members guitarist21 Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 You might consider getting one of these (or a variation of it), assuming you've already got a hardshell case. AG magazine gave it a pretty good review: http://www.casextreme.com/madels_pages/clam_standard.htm If you have one of those and you really, really pack your guitar in there, the only type of damage that doesn't really protect against would be some kind of freak accident. Like along the lines of getting stabbed with the tines of a forklift. Personally, that'd be enough protection for me, but that's partially because none of my acoustics are irreplaceable. I just ran through the UPS calculator of shipping costs using measurements from the flight case link and my Epi Masterbilt EF-500R (fairly similar to your Martin, missedmyexit, in dimensions) for reference. According to UPS, it would take 3-5 days and $280-$380 (depending on how much I want to pay and what UPS service I use). For that much, and probably more if I buy it a seat on the plane, I'm buying a beater when I get there. Ellen
Members Berkleo Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 Just for giggles I Googled Dublin + guitar + stores. Here's a random sample:http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?cPath=60_61&products_id=1248Oakman MJG28C Acoustic Guitar Cutaway[03AOAK-MJG28CVS] 129.00EUR Click to enlarge Oakman is a great value acoustic guitar brand. The MJG-28 is part of The Mini Jumbo series. Basswood With Filmed Tiger Maple top, Basswood back and sides, Natowood neck with Rosewood fingerboard. D'addario strings; Die Cast Gold Machine Heads. Graphtech Nubone Bridge Saddle for extra quality sound. Available in Vintage Sunburst, Blueburst, Wine red burst and Black burst. This is the Cutaway model129.00 EUR = 188.636 USD 1 EUR = 1.46230 USD 1 USD = 0.683855 EUR
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 129.00EUR Click to enlarge Oakman is a great value acoustic guitar brand. The MJG-28 is part of The Mini Jumbo series. Basswood With Filmed Tiger Maple top, Basswood back and sides, Natowood neck with Rosewood fingerboard. D'addario strings; Die Cast Gold Machine Heads. Graphtech Nubone Bridge Saddle for extra quality sound. Available in Vintage Sunburst, Blueburst, Wine red burst and Black burst. This is the Cutaway model 129.00 EUR = 188.636 USD 1 EUR = 1.46230 USD 1 USD = 0.683855 EUR Be cheaper than a luthier's repair bill...and you could probably get 50% of your $$$ out of it when you sell it, so it'd really only about $95 or about $47.50 a week! You know, one of us oughtta start a guitar rental service for traveling musicos who don't want to risk their nice axes...a string bassist I gig with occ. also plays in a 9-piece trad. jazz outfit...he and the drummer always rent instruments for their foreign tours!
Members Samilyn Posted January 19, 2008 Members Posted January 19, 2008 A friend of mine, the fortunate owner of an uber-expensive Martin, was recently faced with the Airline Dilemma for a relatively short flight and had encountered too many Airline A$$holes in the past. He called a charter service and found out it was actually less expensive to charter a small plane than to replace his beloved Martin. He told me that the charter service was extremely accommodating to him and took a great deal of extra care with the git. Also said that though the trip took longer than if in a jet, it was so much more relaxed and hassle-free that he now flies "non-commercial" whenever possible. Factor in the cost of an airline ticket, the cost of an expensive git and/or equipment, and what your time is worth getting through all the airport hassles, I think charter flights might a better deal than one would think, especially if a couple of people can split the cost. Obviously not an option for overseas travel, but worth looking into in lieu of domestic airborne cattle cars.
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