Topic: Which guitar to bring to PT

[uncle bud]

I've left everything till the last minute. I'm trying to decide which guitar to bring based on flying with limited case protection. My options: buy an arched top hardshell case (which offers more top sturdiness than a regular hardshell case) and bring my Larrivee OM. This is the guitar I've brought many times. Option 2: use a regular classical-sized hardshell case I already have and bring the old parlor I got from Todd Cambio. No Calton or Clam options at this stage in the game. It's too late.

The difference: no arched top on the classical case. It's a smaller surface area though, so the top is probably sturdier than a regular dreadnaught case. The other difference, a smaller guitar, which I prefer to play, for comfort reasons related to tendinitis.

The problem: the parlor is obviously going to be more fragile so possible damage could result from being banged around, and it is more rare, harder to replace etc. It is not extraordinarily valuable at all, just a nice old guitar fixed up by Todd.

I'm flying on Northwest: Montreal - Minneapolis - Seattle.

Any opinions? Thanks!

[Slack]

No brainer.  Bring the Parlor.  It's cool, it's comfortable to play, you wanna bring it, we wanna play it.

If I can bring my 1928 L-0, you can bring your Parlor. If you drink too much and step on it in the middle of the night - Todd can fix it. 

Cheers,
slack

[GhostRider]

Unkie Bud:

I recently purchased a Kalamazoo KG-11 guitar in the US of A and was able to bring it back to Canada via the overhead bins, on Delta. If you bring your parlor, you should easily be able to fit it in the overhead storage and not have to worry about the baggage-handling savages.

And it's easier on your hands? A no-brainer decision.

Alex

[Cambio]

Yeah, I can fix it, I can fix anything .
Bring the parlor, that's my vote.

[uncle bud]

Parlor it is, then. Thanks for the reassurance fellas. 

Alex, it is in a classical sized case, so not at all sure I'd be allowed to carry it on. I work from an assumption that I won't. I have never been able to before.

[Stuart]

UB:

A phone call to NWA might be in order. In April I did Newark-Seattle--Newark on Continental. On one of the flights a fellow had a smaller  guitar in a hard-shell case that he was able to put in the overhead bin. I  was seated in the back, so we boarded first (after first class), so that might help. Some airlines also  use to have "special handling" available--I used it back in 1997 with Continental, but its NWA this month that you need to know about. I assume that you will change planes in the Twin Cities, which may add an extra step or two.In any event, may you  and your guitar have a safe journey.

Hope this helps,

Stu

[uncle bud]

Thanks Stu. Yes, I usually do the special handling routine. It seems to be fine, although for tight connecting flights it can get a little hairy waiting for it if you have to pick it up to clear customs.

[GhostRider]

UB:

The case was "normal" sized. And fit OK.

It it was "old", not well padded.

No need since it was carried.

Ales

[jed]

UB,

To my recollection, you've had pretty large guitar cases.  A classical case ought to fit overhead.

On NWA, United, SW, Alaska and whoever else, I've always been able to get my L-Jr onboard and into an upper bin.  Maybe they take pity on the old case (41 x 16 x 6), but it's little more scuffed than when I rescued it from Jacques Mazzoleni some dozen yrs ago.

FYI,
Jed

[ROOTSANDBLUESLADY]

When I came to PT 2 years ago I had an anxiety attack when the sstewardess took my L0, in a padded hard case, out of my hands at the gate, to put in with baggage.  You might get the guitar up to the gate, and then have to hand it over.  I'm bringing the LG this year.

Rochelle

[thumbstyle]

Wrong thread, perhaps, and a little late to be asking, but what's the best approach for airline checking a guitar these days? Last time I flew to PT was before 9/11 (I think), and back then I would put my axe in its hardshell case (padding behind the headstock to prevent breakage there), then put the whole thing in a guitar shipping box with bubble wrap between the box and the hardshell.

These days I understand that everything checked needs to be open-able for security inspection, so I don't think the outer box is practical. Do I have to just put the guitar in the hardshell, leave it unlocked, and hope for the best? Yikes!

FYI, I'm bringing a newer National, with its not-great original case.

Thanks for any advice!

Dave

[Slack]

Hi Dave,

I wrap a bungy chord around the waiste of my case - it offers some back in case the latches come undone and it is easy for security to unbungy, open, re-bungy.

Cheers and see you soon!

[thumbstyle]

Thanks, Slack. Really looking forward to seeing you and the whole crew!

Dave