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Topic: lap steels and airlines |
Gerard Ventura
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 4 May 2007 5:14 am |
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Hello, it seems laps are small enough for carry-ons.
I'm just wondering if anyone's had trouble with slides going thru security...a heavy shiny metal object I'd think would be a problem? thanks! |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 4 May 2007 5:21 am
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I have never had a problem carrying a lap steel in a hard shell case aboard an airline and stowing it in the overhead. I've only flown Northwest Airlines and they've never given me an ounce of hassle. I did however stow my metal bars in my checked luggage.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website
Last edited by Gerald Ross on 4 May 2007 5:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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David Cook
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 4 May 2007 5:36 am
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| Hi, I've been taking my lap steel in a soft shell banjo case on Continental with no problems whatsoever. I even put the picks and bar in the case. |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 4 May 2007 9:16 am
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Generally no problem...I usually carry my steel in a (light weight) tote bag and store it overhead. On one trip I was paged to report to Security in the Vancouver International. After being ushered into a small Security (closed circuit) monitor room, I viewed a guy down in the loading area carefully examining my Red Rajah along with a steel chrome bar which were both packed in my suitcase. I'm sure they must have thought the R/R was a small stick of dynamite !
I convinced them it was perfectly safe...akin to a violinist's bow. I came away from this incident with a feeling of comfort...happy in the knowledge that Security for the most part are doing their job.
http://www3.telus.net/public/lake_r/ |
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Fred Kinbom
From:
Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.
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Posted 4 May 2007 10:03 am
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I have been travelling with my Diamond Bottlenecks lead crystal bullet bars, and over the last two months it has been examined by:
1. UK customs official at London Waterloo International railway station ("What's this?").
2. German policewoman as me and fellow steeler Jim Petit were pulled over by border police ("Was ist das?").
3. German airport policewoman at Köln/Bonn airport (who admiringly showed it to her colleague).
4. Yet another UK security ay Waterloo station.
My Lazy River has also twice been given this "little-piece-of-fabric-that-picks-up-traces-of-explosives" treatment twice.
Sorry to stray from the topic a bit. I have managed to carry acoustic lap steels onboard several times, so I think an electric lap steel shouldn't be a problem. Provided that you are nice to the check-in people.
Fred
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium |
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Mike Ihde
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 4 May 2007 10:18 pm
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| Usually no problem, but going to England back a few years to play at Gerry Hogans show, they stopped me for the steel bar. I guess it looked too much like a projectile or something. |
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Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
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Posted 5 May 2007 5:40 am Just to be safe
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I think I would have my steel in a case that could be checked at the gate, just in case you get an idiot who won't let you take it on with you. If you have to check it, you don't want it in some flimsy bag or chipboard case that will come open when the gorillas get ahold of it.
I have a friend who had this happen to him. They weren't letting him on the plane with the lap steel, even though he specifically checked with the airline before heading to the airport. He was not a happy camper. Fortunately, his steel made it OK, as it was in a pretty decent case.
TJW
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 5 May 2007 5:44 am
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I agree with Todd...........
I boxed mine for shipping and they still wanted to xray the box before allowing it as cargo.....
Anything could happen these days... |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 5 May 2007 11:45 pm
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...an even better trick is to leave with an instrument and come back without it ... or go without one and come back with one. Nobody ever questions whether a musician has bought an instrument or sold one, which would of course generate a duty and sales tax liability...  |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado/ Lives in Arizona
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Posted 6 May 2007 3:42 am
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I have flown with my lap steel several times. Not one problem. I get some funny looks but I'm not sure it is about the steel.
One thing I do is put the bar in a pouch with the picks, cord and PX-3. If questioned i just slide it around and they let it go to get rid of me.  |
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 6 May 2007 11:57 am
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| I took my EH-150 with me on a receent trip. When I approahed the ticket clerk, two TSA employees approached me, then from behind them, a guy in fatigues with a M-16 ppeared and leveled his weapon on me and told me to lay the "package" on the floor and to put my hands up! They took my guitar case to the parking lot using a remote-controlled robot and put a satchel-explosive on top of it and detonated it, destroying both the case and the Gibson. I was shook up and furious! I asked the TSA guy in charge if they do this to all the musicians who carry on cases and he said, "of course not, but we have heard you play." |
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Colin Alder
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA
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Posted 7 May 2007 7:56 pm
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Ya got me  |
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