airtravel with my reso

[dirk]

Hello,
in three weeks I'll fly to India. Does anyone know if it is possible to take my reso into the airoplane (as hand luggage)? I think the security agency can not x-ray the metal body of the guitar.

Dirk

[Michael Messer]

Hi Dirk,

It is possible that you can take your guitar in the cabin, but highly unlikely these days. Just use a good case and check the guitar as oversize luggage along with sports equipment and other oversize articles. In a good case it will be perfectly safe.

Regarding the X-Ray or scanner; I have travelled with metal-bodied Nationals many times and I can tell you that they look wonderful on the screen. Everything goes through the scanner.

If you want to guarantee the safety of your guitar in its case, you need to get a Calton Case made, which may not be possible in three weeks. I would strongly recommend you go to www.caltoncases.co.uk and contact Keith Calton as soon as possible.

(I have no business connections with Calton Cases. It is quite simply that Calton cases are the best)

I hope that helps

Shine On
Michael

[thebluesbear( al)]

Hi

I fly often and had this problem , on the advice from MM i got a carlton when it arrived and i looked at it then i knew why

often when i buy a guitar when im away and bring it home i pack the case with plastic bubble wrap........especially under the neck and headstock

good luck

al

[alexandre]

Oct 4, 2011 22:57:02 GMT Michael Messer said:

It is quite simply that Calton cases are the best

I'm certainly not as experienced as Michael about traveling with a reso, but since BAM Cases and their own technology are in the market, I wouldn't be so affirmative about the fact that Calton would be the one and only reference...

I don't have anyone of their model yet, but have already tested the "hightech" model for classical guitar with my triolian:
it's way ligther than any Calton case (and this is a deciding argument for heavy guitars like a reso), and it can fit most of the resos around here (except baritone or twelve string). Concerning its solidity, it let me really confident, and maybe a little more than a Calton...

Some information links to their website:
www.bamcases.com/new/english/string/guitar.php?recordID=21
www.bamcases.com/new/english/history.php
www.bamcases.com/new/english/material2.php

Of course, I have no business connections with BAM Cases.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Alexandre,

Thanks for posting that information.

I had not heard of BAM cases until I read your post. I have looked at their website and the cases do look excellent. Their main advantage (according to their specs) is that BAM cases are lighter weight than Calton, and that is no bad thing as Caltons are quite heavy. The disadvantage, at this point in time, is that compared to Calton cases, BAM cases have no track record, whereas Calton cases have been used by thousands of musicians for over 30 years.

The ONLY disadvantage of Caltons is their weight and I would be very interested to see a BAM case and read some reviews.

The BAM design is based on the Calton, but uses a lighter weight material. Interesting. I have travelled all over the world with Calton cases and while they are amazingly well built and keep the guitars safe, they are extremely heavy.

I cannot find a price list on the Internet. How much was your case?

Thank you for sharing this information with us.

Shine On
Michael.

[alexandre]

Oct 5, 2011 10:33:48 GMT Michael Messer said:

I cannot find a price list on the Internet. How much was your case?

The one I've tested was at 600€, something like two years ago...

Here's a link I've found in the USA:
www.finecases.com/acoustic-guitar-cases-gig-bags/classical-00/bam-8002xl-hightech-classical-guitar-case.html

The only "problem" is that those cases are not so easy to get: it seems that there is not a lot of distributors of BAM...

In France (it's a french company), you can get some via some luthiers, but I haven't seen anyone in any guitar shop !!

In fact, this company seems better known for wind instruments and violins...

[alexandre]

Here's a british link where you can find it at £ 305 ...
www.staffordguitar.com/shop/guitarcasesbam.asp

Once again, the "Classical Guitar Hightech" fits a triolian perfectly, as a Gibson L 0... Tested !

[Michael Messer]

Thanks Alexandre. I have deleted my previous post because at £305 GBP they are priced similar to Calton.

I am going to call them for some information.

Shine On
Michael

[Michael Messer]

I just spoke with the UK dealers for BAM cases. They are £305 + VAT, so the actual price is £366.

The weight of a BAM case is 2.8 kilos and the design is slightly less bulky than a Calton. I need to weigh my Caltons to know what the difference is.

Shine On
Michael.

[Michael Messer]

The weight of a Calton Case is 5.8 kilos.

Now the thing to do is to find out if these BAM cases really are as good as a Calton.

I'll be back!

Shine On
Michael

[alexandre]

3 kilos of difference = a light steel body resonator guitar (mine is just over 3kg)
Talking about guitar cases, it's quite a bit !

You could also check the "isotherm" qualities of BAM Cases, by the way...

[jackstrat]

I've got a Hiscox case for my squareneck and it's been great for airtravel thus far. Toured in the Czech Republic last year and again just a couple of weeks ago...each time the guitar was perfect coming off the plane, in and out of taxis, buses and trains...no worries.
I probably should explain however that Hiscox don't make a specific squareneck dobro case, so when buying, after a lot of investigating I got a classical guitar case which was a perfect fit in terms of the body etc. but I had to modify the inner moulding slightly where it cradles the neck to allow for the square shape. Taking care and time to do the modification it worked out perfectly and has served me very well so far. The Hiscox cases are relatively lightweight and while I'm not sure of the cost of the Calton cases (which are really really good) I know the Hiscox are significantly cheaper.

Niall

[Michael Messer]

Hi Alexandre and others interested in air travel with guitars.

I recently saw a Bam case with a National in it, and I have to say it is a beautiful looking incredibly lightweight case. I was so impressed, but unsure of its strength that I decided to write to the manufacturers and ask about their product. I was so surprised with the reply that I thought I would post our communication on this thread.

If Bam cases are not recommended for 'unsupervised handling', at £370 (including VAT), what are they actually designed to do?
(The Flight Cover that is talked about in their email to me, is essentially a £200 gig bag that adds nothing to the strength of the case. As far as I can tell, it just protects it from getting scratched). The complete package is not far short of £600.

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Dear Bam Cases,

I am enquiring about your High Tech Bam guitar cases.

I have seen one and it is beautiful - and I am interested in buying two cases for travelling with my guitars.

I have been using Calton cases for 20 years. I go through a lot of airports and I need to know my guitar is safe. Calton cases are fantastic, but they are so heavy that I am thinking about using Bam Cases.

Can you tell me if your cases are safe to check in at airports and go through the rough journey of being thrown around by baggage handlers. I fly a lot and I need to know my guitars are safe.

Please can you tell me if your cases are guaranteed to be strong enough for this use?

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REPLY>
Dear Michael,

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in Bam cases.

All our cases are intended to give the best possible protection to the instrument for the everyday commute and use. Nevertheless, we do not recommend to put any of them (except for the Flight Cover) in the cargo of a plane since it is a completely different use and risk. Even if our cases offer excellent protection, they are not intended for rough and unsupervised handling*. If you still use your case for air travel, please remember to protect it with thick layers of bubble-packaging for example, before gate-checking it.

Best regards,
Romain

Aurélia LEMARINEL
BAM
Rue de la Vignerie
14160 DIVES-SUR-MER
FRANCE
Phone : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Email : [e-mail]
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Dear Romain,

Thank you very much for your detailed reply.

This is difficult. I want to buy two of your High Tech classical cases, but my only reason for getting them is to use for air travel. I currently use Calton cases; I do not bubble-package them, I just lock them and gate-check them. I have used these cases for over twenty years, but when I heard about BAM cases and saw how little they weigh, I really would like to get some, but not if they are too fragile to check through at airports. If your cases are not designed for air travel, I cannot see the value in spending 350 Euros on one. Calton cases handle rough unsupervised handling with no problems at all, but they weigh nearly 6 kilos!

I would really like to be a customer of yours as your cases are beautiful, but I am not able to buy a 350 Euro case that is only to use in the boot of my car.

Best wishes,
Michael
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In addition to writing to Bam, I have asked some friends in France to find out if there are any testimonials written by customers who are regular air travellers. Nothing yet.

Shine On
Michael.

[Blues Pertti]

Hi,

very interesting answer from Bam-cases. It seems to be so that extra weight of Calton cases is needed to make case strong enough for airtravel. Or at least to be sure that they are safe enough. So... Calton rules! ;D

Regards
Pertti

[Deleted]

I'm not sure if Romain is asking you to protect their precious case with bubble wrap or your guitar! Anyway, it may just be one of those disclaimer / caveats that should you get a scratch on either in transit, they won't be liable. It would be interesting to see if Calton give a similar reply to a simliar enquiry. I've stuck a few bog standard cases through long hauls (sydney & back) and never had any damage. I'm much more careless at a gig.
TT