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OT (Sort of): Shipping a Guitar
 

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

5/9/13 8:58 AM

OT (Sort of): Shipping a Guitar

I may have raised this question at some point in the past, but I'm too old to find it (or care).

My oldest son, Jesse, is getting married in August in Iowa. I live in Connecticut. I have to fly to IA. Jesse wants me to perform at his wedding, which I'm happy to do, so I would like very much to take along my 1974 Martin OO-18 guitar (in its hard shell fiberglass case), BUT.

(a) An airline will charge through my freaking nostrils and probably break the guitar in the bargain.

(b) Carriers like UPS seem to want c. $100-300 (depending on carrier) each way.

From bicycle shipping experience, can anyone recommend a decent way to handle this situation? The more I think about it, the less renting an instrument after I arrive appeals to me...

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

5/9/13 9:10 AM

caution well advised

I don't know how to ship it, but I recall seeing Loudon Wainwright awhile ago, and he had quite an extended recounting of an airline destroying a cherished guitar. I think he got to watch it occurring on the runway.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

5/9/13 9:13 AM

Danger Will Robinson

I'd be taking my Jasmine/Takamine. Especially if there is, or looks like there is ANY Ebony on the Martin. Or Mother of Pearl, pink, red or green abalone for sure.

Problem is if some tool wrongly decides your git fits the confiscation criteria, you will have a shit fit getting it back. And it may be in others hands way too long if you can even get it back. Fuck That I say.

Maybe go to Guitar Center when you get there, buy something. Even the used gits @ GC have 30 return, no questions asked...

That said, I think American Airline still allows carry on if they fit certain criteria, not sure an Acoustic would though, too deep...


https://ibma.org/node/52

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Tom Phillips
Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 937
Location: Humboldt, CA

5/9/13 9:38 AM

I've flown with guits a couple of times, once in a burly hard case as baggage, once I carried it on (on another's advice), and it went into some secret compartment behind the cabin. Both times it worked out fine. Might check one of the acoustic guitar forums, musicians fly with these things all the time.

I believe as long as you stay domestic you are good to go as far as CITES restrictions.

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

5/9/13 10:56 AM

Woodn't I?

There should be no problem--it's mahogany back & sides & neck--the only rosewood on this guitar is in the bridge and the fretboard, and both are pretty clearly straight-grained. It's an 18, so I don't think there's anything fancy in the decorations at all. But...

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

5/9/13 11:40 AM

"some secret compartment behind the cabin"


I used to get my Les Paul Custom put in where the Crew stows their jackets etc. I do wonder with a much thickerer acoustic in hard shell if a pretty please is going to cut it. I would seriously consider the Guitar Center route and return it... Buy one with a pickup system and an acoustic amp while you are at it if yo are going to play in front of a crowd. My Fender Acousti-sonic Amp takes a guitar and a mike great and has 80 watts Stereo [40/40] and is a loud little sucker. Has 2 8" speakers and a Piezo. useful little sucker.

I have used it outside at a big party with a CD player and had to turn it down so folks could talk.

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

5/9/13 7:23 PM

No...

This is a guitar I've had for a very long time, and it's the one Jesse has seen me playing all his life. It's silly, but it's significant. So it's the one that has to somehow make the trip.

The only question is how ...

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

5/9/13 7:34 PM

Get a new Audi R8 V10 Spyder and drive?

Although not sure the luggage and guitar will fit...

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

5/9/13 9:01 PM

Technically...

we are not yet inside.

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ErikS
Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 8337
Location: Slowing boiling over in the steamy south, Global Warming is real

5/10/13 3:50 AM

Tie a pice of rope to it and just throwit over your back.

Then hitchhike across the nation there and back, I see people do it all the time so it must be safe and effective.

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dan emery
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 6884
Location: Maine

5/10/13 9:24 AM

obvious solution

http://vimeo.com/35079604

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Andy M-S
Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 3377
Location: Hamden (greater New Haven) CT

5/10/13 9:28 AM

You know...

That's so crazy it just. might. work.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

5/10/13 9:28 AM

Amtrak? with all the stops you might as well bike there... ;)

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