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Topic: lightweight for flying? |
BoFrazer
From:
Melbourne, FL
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 5:36 am |
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I love my old Mullen S12, and my old Easy Rider packseat is ok, but I am going to have a bunch of fly dates this year and... last time I flew (to St Louis), the client picked up the extra airfare, which was $75 each, each way, for my 55# steel and 60# suitcase that hid my packseat and toys. And that was a "good airline". $300 surcharge is not cool.
I don't want to sacrifice excellent craftsmanship, but is there a lightweight alternative? Flightcase and steel would have to be under 50#, and I might go for a "packseat lite" that allegedly fits under the airplane seat.
I have found the forum-connected community to be a fantastic resource for locating an ax to borrow or rent, wherever, and this might be an option. Although I only need E9 Emmons set-up, I dread imagining what your average backline company will show up with, and that's what I'm facing.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
_________________
Peace thru music,
Bo |
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Doc Hall
From:
Galveston, Tx
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 7:25 am
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| Excel Superb. Lightweight models 10 and 12 string. |
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Craig Bailey
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 8:53 am
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Mullen Discovery is a great choice.
_________________
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Mullen G2, Mullen Discovery, GFI D10 Ultra,
'76 Rosewood Emmons PP, '79 Black Emmons PP
Telonics Amp, Stereo Steel, Fender Vibrasonic & many Telecasters (You can't have too many) |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 9:03 am
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| Brand X cases solved that problem for me- fly two pieces under 50, guitar in one case, legs/vp/the rest in another. Great protection. I'd leave the seat at home- you can hustle up the right chair at the gig. Carry-on for wardrobe, if it's just a few shows. That said, if the boss is paying, use a traditional flight case with wheels. |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 10:58 am
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A Sierra S12 with 7&5 in a Thomas case is 46 lbs. Case alone: 15.5 lbs
A S10 3x5 in Thomas case is 39 lbs. Case alone: 14.5 lbs
Both fit in an overhead bin. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 11:27 am
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| Asa Brosius wrote: |
| Brand X cases solved that problem for me- fly two pieces under 50, guitar in one case, legs/vp/the rest in another. Great protection. I'd leave the seat at home- you can hustle up the right chair at the gig. Carry-on for wardrobe, if it's just a few shows. That said, if the boss is paying, use a traditional flight case with wheels. |
The problem I have with split cases is that you still have to pay to check the second piece (even if it's not overweight) and you still need a third piece for clothes, paraphernalia, CDs, and whatever you're carrying. So, for my D-10s, I use two SKB molded cases ("Wheel-EZE" type): one for the steel without legs and pedal rack and the other for the legs/rack plus my clothes, etc, etc. I can keep them both under 50 lbs. Then I try to fly Southwest when I can, since you can check 2 bags for free.
But the caveat is that it's not really a road case. I've been lucky so far with no serious damage but if I had a real road gig, I guess I'd have to buy a road case and deal with the costs...
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com
Last edited by Jim Cohen on 23 Jan 2019 1:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 1:47 pm
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| I vote Excel Keyless with one brand X case. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 2:16 pm
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Somehow, I'm just not comfortable with 50-pounds of steel in a hard case...just over my head (or someone else's).  Those overhead bins have been known to come open in heavy turbulence.
But that's just me. |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 10:00 pm light weight for flying ?
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What do your steel's legs weigh? Some companies make aluminum legs that weigh about 1/2 the adjustable steel legs many steels have.
Would aluminum legs cut the steel's weight enough that you would not have to pay a penalty for baggage? |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 2:28 am
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Original `79 pp legs vs light weight legs:
With the light weights you will save about 3,65 pounds or 1,65 kilos (set of four)
With the light weight legs my Infinity U12 weights 50 pounds in the SKB case, so it makes a difference when flying.
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Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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BoFrazer
From:
Melbourne, FL
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 2:34 pm update
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Just ordered! Mullen "Discovery" weighs 47# in the case
 
_________________
Peace thru music,
Bo |
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Donn Lewis
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 3:14 pm Re: update
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| BoFrazer wrote: |
Just ordered! Mullen "Discovery" weighs 47# in the case
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Great choice!
_________________
Mullen Discovery 3x4
Milkman half and half 12" combo
Goodrich 120, Steeler's choice seat, Mud Stand, BJ's bar, Peterson Strobostomp HD |
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Russ Tkac
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 3:19 pm
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| A man of action. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 3:28 pm
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| Congrats on you solution Bo. Olli, less than 4# total gain on a set of 4 lightweight legs v. original steel? I've been considering getting a set for a D10, but that doesn't seem like much weight savings. I was hoping for more. |
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BoFrazer
From:
Melbourne, FL
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 5:14 pm Leg weight
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Fyi I just returned from the local grocery store where they have a scale, and my 4 legs plus rods and carrying pouch, = 8 lbs. Which means my steel without = 48#. Am I sorry I ordered the new Mullen? Nope!
_________________
Peace thru music,
Bo |
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Jack Stanton
From:
Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
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Posted 24 Jan 2019 10:49 pm
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Bo,
Off topic, but are you coming to the great north east? |
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BoFrazer
From:
Melbourne, FL
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Posted 25 Jan 2019 4:00 am Hey Jack Stanton!
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Aw no, don't think so, not near you. DC and Buffalo are the only NE-ish places so far. But like the curse/blessing of a free-lancer trying to keep the calendar in some kind of order, the target is sometimes moving. Check out
http://ilovesoulfood.com/events/
And don't let on to these nice forum folks I'm a poseur fiddler faking my rudimentary steel stuff! And PLEASE don't carry me off the stage like that one time at Landry's!  Good times.
ps - just to prove my point - I just now see Buffalo has disappeared and Joliet IL has appeared! 
_________________
Peace thru music,
Bo |
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Donn Lewis
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 25 Jan 2019 5:48 am Re: Hey Jack Stanton!
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| BoFrazer wrote: |
Aw no, don't think so, not near you. DC and Buffalo are the only NE-ish places so far. But like the curse/blessing of a free-lancer trying to keep the calendar in some kind of order, the target is sometimes moving. Check out
http://ilovesoulfood.com/events/
And don't let on to these nice forum folks I'm a poseur fiddler faking my rudimentary steel stuff! And PLEASE don't carry me off the stage like that one time at Landry's! Good times.
ps - just to prove my point - I just now see Buffalo has disappeared and Joliet IL has appeared! |
DC in August? I'll try to stop by and say hello to a fellow Mullen Discovery owner!
_________________
Mullen Discovery 3x4
Milkman half and half 12" combo
Goodrich 120, Steeler's choice seat, Mud Stand, BJ's bar, Peterson Strobostomp HD |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 25 Jan 2019 7:07 am
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My fly guitar is a SD10 Fessenden 4x7 with the lightweight legs and clocks in at 48 pounds total in the SKB case. SKB has been all over the world without any issues.
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
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