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Topic: Steel Legs on Airplane |
Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 10:49 am |
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I do a lot of fly-to dates where I have to check my steel. Last Spring, my steel was dropped from an airplane's hold and sustained quite a bit of damage. This got me to thinking that the only real way to protect my travel steel is to bring it on the plane. I am currently having a soft case built which will hold the body, legs, and pedalboard (all of which is still smaller than the double soft guitar cases my bandmates travel with and put in the overhead bin).
I, of course, now have to deal with the subject of whether the legs will be allowed on the plane. I even called the TSA directly and, after quite a bit of discussion, the person gave me the definitive answer of "I don't know." LOL! He told me that "blunt objects" are not allowed on the plane but more or less said it's up to the agents that I encouter during security.
Just out of curiosity, I am interested in other steelers' experiences and whether you have been stopped from taking the legs onboard. I want to prepare myself for the percentage of times I will have to go back to the desk to check the legs.
Thanks in advance. Boo |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 11:37 am
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| How about checking the legs and pedal bar and just take the guitar body on the plane with you? |
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Tom T Taylor
From:
Western Australia
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 11:51 am
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I'm due to fly up to a gig today - kinda wishing I hadn't opened this topic before I left 
TT
_________________
'78 LDG.Peavey Classic 50, Laney 250BC ,Fender basses |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 12:41 pm
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Do like Roger said.
I would take the guitar body on the plane. Check a clothes bag with: Chair; Clothes; pedal bar and legs and you good to go.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com |
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 1:03 pm
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Thanks to everyone for their input. I had originally planned to just take the body of the steel onboard and check the legs ... and, ultimately, that may end up being what I have to do. That said, many of my gigs are International (mostly Mexico) and it would be a nightmare if the legs go missing or show up on a later flight because of some mishap. If at all possible, I would like to try to keep all the pieces together.
If no one has had any experience with this, I will be the Guinea Pig and let you know how it goes. I'm expecting the case in the next few weeks and will report back.  |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 2:05 pm legs
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Boo I travel with my Excel all the time and carry it on. the only thing I have had to remove was my little tool kit with the Dreaded Wire Cutter! Larry
_________________
Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side
Last edited by Larry Allen on 1 Oct 2012 12:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 3:08 pm
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Boo, I've done it many time. The legs put my flight case over the 50lb limit so I just carry the leg bag in one hand as a carry-on. Regulations say that umbrellas and 'personal items' are permitted. The leg bag is sort of umbrella shaped...
The TSA screeners have sometimes asked me what they were -- and have always looked confused by the answer -- but waved me on through.
The tone bar, on the other hand, always gets flagged and I have to explain it in more detail, even though I've placed in plain view in the open bowl for the x-ray. It's kind of fun to watch the inevitable look of concern on the guy's face when he spots it. Then the supervisor gets called over and they talk for a second. Heads are scratched. Then they ask me what it is. |
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 3:33 pm
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Larry and Tucker -- You've both given me some hope! If I can get it on the plane and keep all the parts together, I will be a very happy camper!
Tucker -- I also deal with the bar situation every week. I now carry a photo of a close-up of a bar being used on a steel. The funniest experience was the time they kept calling different agents over to look at the bar -- each one shook their head and got another agent over. Finally, they took it over to their supervisor. He came over with a very funny look on his face and said, "I won't even tell you what I assumed this was ..." Steely Dan, perhaps? LOL! Thank you all for your help and advice. Boo |
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Glenn Taylor
From:
Denver, CO, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 4:00 pm
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When flying I used to carry the legs in the case (I play a single 12) but one time flying out of Newark I was unable to bring the legs thru security. Let's face it, the legs would be pretty effective weapons. I had to check the pedal steel with the legs (boy did that make me nervous) and the steel made it to my destination, albeit with new scratches because the TSA boneheads (God love 'em) didn't pack it back up properly. Since then I've checked the legs, and carried on the body.
There was the time that my checked bag didn't make it--I had to play a rehearsal with no pedals--but the bag showed up the next day, in time for the gig.
_________________
moyo volume pedals:
https://glenntaylormusic.us/
https://reverb.com/item/4390294-moyo-mini-volume-pedal |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 6:47 pm
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It sounds like hard work bringing it on the plane,[ overhead luggage racks etc] i'd opt for a bulletproof flight case because they are rough with luggage, however it seems like trying to explain all this stuff on the fly create's more havoc than actually going the normal luggage route...Almost all flights i'm on, there's barely enough room left for a clothes bag, with what everybody needs to brings to travel these days, i would not want to try and load a Steel guitar onto a plane and explain everything to everybody and have people cussing and swearing about space. I saw some people stuffing a laptop into a dinky hole in the rack not long ago, and it wasent good 
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A.K.A Chappy. |
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 7:36 am
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Thanks again to everyone for their input.
The sad reality is that it is very unpleasant and nerve-racking to fly with an instrument these days. Unfortunately, a really strong roadcase is not an option for me as I fly so much -- in addition to overweight charges (for which I end up waiting to get reimbursed), I do not have a roadie. It is my responsibility to "schlep" the beast through Customs and through the airport and into the van and onto stage. My poor back just can't do it anymore!
I have been using an SKB trap case (which I learned about on the Forum) with padding, which worked great for nearly two years until the handlers decided to give it a swan dive off the plane. I'm hoping the soft case will give me a bit more comfort that I'll have an instrument in one piece when I get to the show. It may turn out that the legs are a "no go" -- I guess I'll find out pretty soon. I'll share my experiences with you all once I've had time to test drive it. Thanks again. |
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Jim Hollingsworth
From:
Way out West
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 8:51 am
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Hi Boo,
A few months back I took possession of a special Rittenberry C6 Universal that Gary built to come in under the airline carry on weights. It is a 3/4 body with 7 pedals & 5 knees & weighs in at 51#!!! I got it while in Washington DC & carried it thru airports & in overhead bins thru DC, Seattle, Anchorage, Honolulu & finally Kauai! I was never hassled by TSA or asked to check it. But boy!- lugging a 50 lb axe across all those airports sure made my back sore.
But it can be done.
Jim |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 9:03 am
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I use the SKB Wheel-EZE case and either my Franklin D10 or my Millenium D10 come in under 50 lbs in the case, as long as I leave out the pedal rack and the legs. So I put those in my suitcase (where they just fit along the angle), since I always need to check a suitcase anyway to carry my clothes, CDs, volume pedal and other chazerai (that's a technical term.  )
Strictly speaking, my suitcase is a little bit oversized but, so far, they haven't dinged me for that yet. So this system works well for me.
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 9:14 am
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Jim H. -- That's great to hear! What were you carrying the guitar in -- was it a soft case?
Jim C. -- Did you mean that you take the SKB case onboard or that you check it?
I travel with two guitarists who each carry two guitars in a double gig bag. They actually fit fine in the overhead bins. They are sometimes given some hassle by the airline personnel but always seem to be able to talk them into letting them take their guitars on. In the soft case, I believe my steel will still be smaller in size than their loads.
I'm sure carrying the steel through the airport will not be particularly pleasant even on my back. I guess the question is what is the lesser of all of the evils. After my experience of spending a week in Mexico with a damaged instrument that was giving me tuning nightmares, I'm going to try the route of physical discomfort vs. aural discomfort! LOL!
You guys are the best. Thanks again! Boo |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 9:16 am
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Boo, no I check the guitar in the SKB case. Never had a problem but if I had, like you, I'd learn my lesson pretty fast. So far, I've been lucky, I guess.
But I was really addressing what to do with the legs and pedal rack. If you have to check one bag anyway for clothes, etc., consider getting one big enough to hold the legs/rack in too, then that problem is solved (and you can carry something else onto the plane instead as your 'personal item', like a laptop or whatever.)
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 9:55 am
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So far I've been lucky - I've never had to check the steel (a D-10 Emmons) but I have managed to take it on board as 'carry-on'.
This has been my experience, anyway. I go to the ticket-desk wheeling the steel in its Wheel-Ez case (same as the SKB, I believe) and, with my coat draped over the handle, it looks at a glance like a typical carry-on piece. I check my suitcase then go through security. I get some strange looks as the steel in its case rolls along through the Xray thingie (moments earlier I manage to look as though it's easy lifting it up onto the rollers!) but they've never flagged me.
After that I'm at the gate and I've found that there their only concern is getting everyone aboard. If there's a closet on board I can usually get to use that but, in extreme cases, I have to heft the whole thing up into the overhead bin! (Not easy at my age!)
I also make sure I'm not seated immediately under that bin - turbulence can be a funny thing!
It's always worked so far. It's not my intention to defraud the airlines but, rather, to keep my instrument with me at all times. The Wheel-Ez is a fine case unless you're entrusting it to baggage-handlers.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 9:57 am
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PS:
Boo - I've also bought myself a soft keyboard case which is close to being a good size for my guitar's body; like, Jim, I figure that the legs and oddments will fit at an ahgle across a normal suitcase. I've yet to resort to travelling with my steel in this manner, though.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 10:02 am
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| Thanks, Jim. Yes, checking the legs is my fall-back position and, in fact, it's what I had originally planned to do. Then I started thinking about the dilemma that I face if the legs went missing ... especially in Mexico ... and freaked myself out! That said, the TSA may end up making the decision for me. If I run into a big problem, I'm going to be thinking, "Why the heck didn't I listen to Jim and the others?" LOL! I won't have the case for at least another few weeks. Then I'll ask that you all send me some good vibes as I start this adventure! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 10:10 am
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Roger -- Sorry, you had posted just as I replied to Jim. This is very good to hear. If you can get a hard case onboard, then (hopefully) I should be able to get the soft case on.
Jim C -- Loved the vibes line. You're a mushugana! LOL. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Jim Hollingsworth
From:
Way out West
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 6:41 pm
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Hi Boo,
The Rittenberry "Islander Model" was actually in the original case that Gary shipped it in! I think it'll weigh about 42 lbs in the SKB trap case! And it'll be a lot safer!!!!! But I was desperate and had to take my chances on getting on with me. And it fit into the overhead bins perfectly too.
Gary has a photo of it as the poster child for his website.
Jim |
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Boo Bernstein
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 6:55 pm
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Jim H -- Thanks for that info. I'm amazed and encouraged by the fact that you got that onboard.
Jim C -- Thanks for pointing out Matt Parks' post. That crystalizes my fear ... my schedule is usually so tight (both in and out) that I may be back in Los Angeles before they locate the missing piece. |
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