Protecting an Alembic from airline apes

[rraymond]

It looks like I'll have the need of a flight case in a couple of months from now. I've reviewed some of the previous threads on this topic, but figured I'd take up more bandwidth anyway! What manufacturers do you guys, who fly frequently with your basses, trust? It appears that I should NOT lock the case for the flight - that seems scarey enough! I was looking at the SKB Bass Safe on the MF website - it seems like it might be reasonable for a fairly short, no aircraft change, kinda flight. Thanks for your thoughts and insights on this.  
 
Reid
 
(Message edited by rraymond on October 04, 2004)

[keavin]

I travel alot from chicago to vegas,and yes you are not allowed to  lock your case (its not allowed),but secure your axe best you can, my bass (old#12) has been broken twice (headstock)and the airlines dont give a *&&%^%@@#$%^&*.get insured.

[lbpesq]

Reid:
 
  I've also been looking into current air travel with instruments as I will need to bring an acoustic guitar to Key West in December.  I found a very interesting new product called the Clam which is essentially a box made out of corrugated plastic high strength material that keeps your instrument suspended inside with foam blocks, at least 2 inches away from the outer case.  It claims to handle up to 850 lbs. of weight on top.  I got one delvered last week and am quite impressed.  It is a bit large but not heavy and the point is to get my axe there safely.  They have cases for electric guitar and bass with custom foam inserts.  Here is the link:
 
http://casextreme.com/
 
Bill, the guitar one

[bassman10096]

Looks very interesting, Bill.  Sounds like it could work.  Have you heard from anyone who has used the Clam?  I wonder if anyone around here knows anything about them.
 
Bill, the bass one

[lbpesq]

I checked around the net and found a dozen or so acoustic guitar players who all gave it the thumbs up.  If you haven't yet, check out the videos on the web site - especially the one where Bruce Lamb (the inventor) jumps on it.  I called and spoke to Lamb.  Very nice guy.  He says he never even brings a case, just puts his gig bag, (with a $3000 Taylor) in the clam.  No problems.  The one question I still have is size.  My Clam came with a note that suggested checking it in at curbside rather than the counter to try and avoid oversize charges.  The note also said to remember to tip the sky cap  (a definite must.  Remember the Seinfeld where Elaine didn't tip and her bags went to Alaska).  I checked with the airlines. Oversize fees are $80 each way - Ouch!.  But when I checked the measurements that defeine Oversize I realized all of my guitar cases are already oversize by airline standards.  The formula is something like length + width + depth cannot add up to more than 63 inches.
 
Bill, the guitar one

[kungfusheriff]

Ray, if any of your Alembics are SSBs, you can borrow my flight case if you pay for the shipping. It's on par with Calzone or Anvil, but I hate lugging the beast around so it lives in the closet like the Boogeyman.

[gare]

The easiest way to 'dim' something is to take the 2 smallest dimensions and double them, then add that to the largest. In the case of a bass case, width x 2 + depth x 2 + length.
   
G

[rraymond]

Kungfusheriff, what a hellavu generous offer! That's cool! Unfortunately, none of my basses are SSB's. :-(  
 
I've been looking at the Clam, as mentioned above, and am still considering the SKB job. Clearly, insurance is going to be a requirement.
 
Thanks to all for your input,
 
Reid

[jazzyvee]

Fingers crossed my tour may happen this year and so looking for a sturdy case to carry my Europa 5 string with me and wonder if anyone has  used an SKB Bass Safe with an europa 5 string bass in it's gig bag and knows if it fits comfortably? I'm hoping it does so that way I can just use the SKB for the flight and carry the bass with me in it's gig bag for shows.