erisu Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hi guys, I posted this reply on the "Flying guide" sticky in this section of the forum but I have yet to receive a reply so though I'd start a new thread if it's ok. I have a gig in Barcelona soon flying with Iberia and I'm going to buy a Hiscox hardcase to check-in my jazz bass with. I've heard the recommendations of don't lock the case but do put bubble wrap/old clothes in the case for protection and also to de-tune the neck. But what about travel insurance incase the bass gets damaged/lost? I've been looking around and see there are travel insurance for baggage and I've found Tesco to be the cheapest at just £6 for a single trip! Should I go with this? Or should I go with music instrument insurance specialists such as Musicguard? I'm not sure if you can cancel Musicguard after a month? It's really just a one off trip I'm doing so won't Musicguard it annually. Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 My old funkrock band did a mini tour in Barcelona back in 98'...t'was great fun!!! I flew Easyjet with my bass packed in bubble wrap etc - it was checked at customs too. You'll have a blast, great crowds out there that seem more up for dancing than your average uk crowd in my opinion. Very jealous, wish i was out there again; i could write a book about our little hedonistic driven tour out there See if you can blag Catalonia tv coming to a gig also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 [quote name='erisu' post='1128202' date='Feb 15 2011, 12:10 PM']I have a gig in Barcelona soon flying with Iberia and I'm going to buy a Hiscox hardcase to check-in my jazz bass with. I've heard the recommendations of don't lock the case but do put bubble wrap/old clothes in the case for protection and also to de-tune the neck.[/quote] I'm not really up on insurance,but I've flown quite a bit with my bass. The first couple of times I used a hardcase and checked the bass in,but since then I'll have my bass in a decent gig bag and take it on as hand luggage-it will fit it the overhead lockers easily. There are a couple of schools of thought regarding detuning the strings. Some people say you should loosen them so that there won't be any tension on the neck-but when you tune back up,you will probably need a slight tweak of the truss rod. However,I have read from some shops and manufacturers that it is better to keep the instrument at pitch throughout the flight. Personally,I keep the bass tuned up and don't slacken the strings,and I have never had any problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Don't let your credit/debit card out of your sight! Seems to be the skimming capital of europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mlucas Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I would secure all your belongings which would be on your person with a chain or something of the like, Barcelona is renowned for pick-pocketers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Me and a mate got robbed at knife point in Barcelona. I had a knife to my throat and the other guy tried it with my mate also. Le Ramblas can be dodgy as hell especially the side streets. My ex boss went there with some ex army friends and they got attacked by a very large gang on Scooters down one of the side streets. Plus when I went to the GP, quite a few people who got on the train found they had been pick pocketed so yes, take extra care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erisu Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Cheers for the replies all. Spain is indeed an awesome place to have a gig in! We played in Malaga a few months ago and the crowd were literally crazy! Best crowd we had so far tbh! Would you guys recommend me wrapping the hardcase in the transparent plastic film? Just thought I'd like to secure my bass as much as possible and I know they offer this service at Heathrow, however there are mixed perceptions about this method mainly to do with customs being suspicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmig Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Don't make any decisions based on this, but, I always manage to carry my bass into the plane in a hard case. I've done this numerous times in various countries. Approach followed: - Don't say a word when checking in - When going through various security scans, they either ignore or assume that it's already been "checked". - At the plane, simply board with the thing. At this point, they will spot it on the way in the door...since you're some sort of musician they'll usually be a bit nicer than they would otherwise. In my experience they will say, "Oh, we can't fit that, we'll have to put it down in the hold", but every time so far, they've managed to put it *somewhere*. Have done this between Europe/USA/Asia. Anyone have a contrary experience? Have been mugged in Barcelona myself (sidestreet of Ramblas/Rablas, whatever it's called), but was drunk/stupid/couple of years younger, mugged the two lads and went on my merry way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erisu Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 [quote name='schmig' post='1129617' date='Feb 16 2011, 01:38 PM']Don't make any decisions based on this, but, I always manage to carry my bass into the plane in a hard case. I've done this numerous times in various countries. Approach followed: - Don't say a word when checking in - When going through various security scans, they either ignore or assume that it's already been "checked". - At the plane, simply board with the thing. At this point, they will spot it on the way in the door...since you're some sort of musician they'll usually be a bit nicer than they would otherwise. In my experience they will say, "Oh, we can't fit that, we'll have to put it down in the hold", but every time so far, they've managed to put it *somewhere*. Have done this between Europe/USA/Asia. Anyone have a contrary experience? Have been mugged in Barcelona myself (sidestreet of Ramblas/Rablas, whatever it's called), but was drunk/stupid/couple of years younger, mugged the two lads and went on my merry way [/quote] I've heard about this as well but it's a 50/50 chance to be honest. We're flying with Iberia (Operated by BA) but I think we'll try our luck of getting it on the plane first but if that fails, we'll check it in as myself and our 2 guitarists all have hardcases. Barcelona sounds dodgy! Think I'll take my metal wallet chain with me in the streets of Barcelona, it'll make us look more rock anyway haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raslee Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Jeez really shocked at all the Barcelona horror stories.....seems a different place as mentioned here to what i went to in 98 . Although tbh our band looked dodgy as f%$£ out there....perhaps that why we never got mugged or had any hassles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62P-Bass Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Personally I wouldn't be too reliant on being able to take a hard case on board. Companies like Easyjet are getting very good at saying, "no that won't fit, it's going in the hold and your gonna have to pay extra for it", especially now that airlines are charging extra for putting luggage in the hold - consequently everyone is taking as much hand luggage as possible and the storage in the cabin can get really full. The Iberia website seems to make no mention of musical instruments at all so it's even harder to tell what might happen. British Airways are generally cool and they seem to have a link up with them so maybe they will be too. I always use an SKB Bass Safe and put it in the hold. I never use extra padding, but it's in the gig bag already so it should be okay. A guitarist I've travelled with a lot just has a fairly knackered Hiscox case with loose catches - never does any extra padding or taping and his guitar has always been fine!! Luck of the draw I guess. Question is... do you feel lucky?? Never bothered with detuning myself. Hope some of this helps! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapolpora Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Don't wear your Arsenal shirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 [quote name='lapolpora' post='1130492' date='Feb 17 2011, 12:26 AM']Don't wear your Arsenal shirt [/quote] Yeah, good point. If you do, things might get Messi *sorry, i couldn't resist* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilkyBarKid Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 My Mexican friend was most disconcerted to find when he visited Barcelona that they'd made Manuel into a Mexican. He greatly enjoyed telling his Spanish hosts about Manuel's true home!!. [quote name='TheGreek' post='1128670' date='Feb 15 2011, 06:11 PM'] [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi, yes, I know I'm new, but felt I should stick my neck out here. Used to work in travel insurance. Your bass will [u]not[/u] be covered. At all. Right at the back of the policy wording in tiny writing under General Exclusions, usually, it will say 'We do not cover...' and on about number 7. 'Musical Instruments, spectacles and contact lenses' or some such get out. There will be other exclusions such as work equipment, tools, business purposes and the like, but the one quoted gets them out of paying for anything in any case. GET SEPARATE INSURANCE (right, I'm off back to lurk again, now....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 [quote name='JoT' post='1133966' date='Feb 20 2011, 01:27 AM']Hi, yes, I know I'm new, but felt I should stick my neck out here. Used to work in travel insurance. Your bass will [u]not[/u] be covered. At all. Right at the back of the policy wording in tiny writing under General Exclusions, usually, it will say 'We do not cover...' and on about number 7. 'Musical Instruments, spectacles and contact lenses' or some such get out. There will be other exclusions such as work equipment, tools, business purposes and the like, but the one quoted gets them out of paying for anything in any case. GET SEPARATE INSURANCE (right, I'm off back to lurk again, now....)[/quote] No! Come back! very useful info. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erisu Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Cheers for replies all, alot of stand comedians here on good ole Basschat Replying to JoT: Thanks for the heads up. I actually got a quote from www.insuranceandgo.com and they have told me over the phone that a bass guitar would be classed as valuables and would be insured for the amount no more than £200 apparently which is great news to me as the bass I'm taking isn't worth more than £185 with a hardcase. Can you give your insights into this? I read their T&C's PDF document before clicking on "Buy" and it does seem musical instruments is listed under valuables. [quote name='JoT' post='1133966' date='Feb 20 2011, 01:27 AM']Hi, yes, I know I'm new, but felt I should stick my neck out here. Used to work in travel insurance. Your bass will [u]not[/u] be covered. At all. Right at the back of the policy wording in tiny writing under General Exclusions, usually, it will say 'We do not cover...' and on about number 7. 'Musical Instruments, spectacles and contact lenses' or some such get out. There will be other exclusions such as work equipment, tools, business purposes and the like, but the one quoted gets them out of paying for anything in any case. GET SEPARATE INSURANCE (right, I'm off back to lurk again, now....)[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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