[Dixielandjazz] Packing a banjo for air travel

[john Petters]

Bill said
> I occasionally fly to a gig and take my banjo along with me.

Why?
John Petters
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ
WWW.Traditional-jazz.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Gunter" <jazzboard@hotmail.com>
To: <ringwald@calweb.com>; <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2002 6:06 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Packing a banjo for air travel


> Hi listmates,
>
 I check it
> through with the regular baggage in my regular banjo case.
>
> The case is pretty sturdy and can take a lot of abuse and the banjo fits
> fairly snugly inside. But I take additional precautions when I pack it.
>
> First I loosen all the strings and lay the bridge flat.
>
> Next I remove the resonator and pack the interior of the banjo with all
the
> clothing (socks, shorts, hankies, whatever) to fill it up and then I
replace
> the resonator.
>
> Then I put the banjo in the case and pack more clothing items around all
the
> spaces not occupied by the banjo (around the head and neck and anyplace
else
> I can squeeze an undershirt or two.
>
> Then I lock the case and go ahead and ship it through.  No problems yet.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bill "Love them banjos" Gunter
> jazzboard@hotmail.com
>
>
> >From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <ringwald@calweb.com>
> >To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
> >Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Trombone On Airlines
> >Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 18:37:43 -0700
> >
> >Stan Brager asked about taking a trombone in a commercial airliner.
> >
> >A year or so ago, Mike Starr trombone & Scott Anthony banjo (both with
Bob
> >Schulz Frisco Band) arrived @ the Oakland Airport to fly Southwest to OR
> >for
> >a Jazz festival.
> >
> >The ticket agent would not let them carry their instruments aboard.
Since
> >neither of them had a travel case suitable for checking, they went back
> >home
> >& did not make the festival.
> >
> >This can happen at any time.  It is not worth taking the chance.  You
might
> >have to either go ahead & check your horn, or go home & lose the money
you
> >paid for the flight.
> >
> >Gary Reynolds, trombone for Fulton Street JB has been sending his
trombone
> >through baggage in the normal case.  I keep telling him that he is crazy.
> >So far he has been lucky but I know his luck is going to run out.
> >
> >After the incident with Mike Starr & Scott Anthony, 4 of us, Ralph
> >Thompson,
> >Scott Anthony, Jim Marsh & I bought traveling banjo cases from the same
> >company that Jack Vincum from Climax JB got his.  We have all used them &
> >they go through baggage just fine with no damage to our instruments.
Both
> >Jim & Jack have taken their instruments around the world many times with
no
> >damage.
> >
> >I strongly advise against checking a valuable musical instrument through
> >airline baggage, even if they mark it fragile.  To some baggage workers,
> >the
> >word fragile on an item means you throw it 20 feet farther.
> >
> >A couple of years ago an airline pilot member of DJML posted a message
> >telling what goes on with your baggage behind the scenes.  If I still
have
> >that message & can find it, I'll post it on DJML.
> >
> >
> >Bob
> >mr.wonderful@ringwald.com
> >Placerville, CA USA
> >Amateur (ham) Radio Station K6YBV
> >Fulton Street Jazz Band
> >See: http://www.ringwald.com
> >Boondockers Jazz & Comedy Band
> >See: http://www.theboondockers.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com
> >http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
>
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