|
Totally understood...sometimes you just have to
bight the bullet
I have musicproinsurance as well...though I think
they are very overpriced. Have you investigated whether you can get
enhanced home owners or renter's insurance with the same coverage?
I am contemplating getting a new vehicle at the new
year...something that gets better gas mileage than my Jeep Cherokee, but is
not ugly as sin. I won't drive a Prius...they look corny. I
like the VWs...I owned a Passat wagon, which was an excellent car, but not
diesel. I may check out the Jetta diesels.
Kris
----- Original Message -----
Yea Kris, I try to drive when I can but it's not always
possible.
When will they build a bridge to Europe and Asia?
I had a 1920 Larson Brothers Maurer and beautiful highly figured
brazilian rosewood Martin D35 kaboshed in Puerto Rica (75). Had an ugly
valuable vintage guitar lost in Oakland Airport for an hour, finally showed up
in the middle of nowhere, safe in Anvil case. In Oakland!
I have a Jetta wagon. Diesel. Runs great on pure biodiesel
when I can get it (Calif, Wash, OR). Almost 50mpg. They say they
can go 300-400K miles if well maintained. We'll see. I'm at about
150K now!
I love driving. Environmentally bad, but it's my traveling
monastery - peace and quiet. I chucked my cell phones a few years back
just so I could enjoy the rolling monastery in peace.
Good cases are important. I haven't had anything broken (knock on
wood) since getting good cases. I did have a flight case ruined by
baggage savages leaving it out in the rain too long. The 50 year old amp
was okay, though.
Still, I like the idea of hand carrying hardbody electrics etc.
It's a start.
On Sep 24, 2010, at 10:41 PM, Kris Hartung wrote:
I am through with the BS. I have a $6K jazz
archtop guitar, and there is no way any airline is going to have space for
this in an overhead or in their private closets. And I am not checking it in
or paying for a seat for it....I defer to the YouTube video, United Breaks
Guitars. :) I am driving to San Franciso and Santa Cruz for Y2K,
and to Seattle and Portland for other gigs. I may have to by a
Prius to afford the travel, but oh well.
Kris
----- Original Message -----
I'm forwarding this. It's important! I don't
think you have to be a union member to vote.
Dear Musician, If you travel on airplanes, you know the hassle
of bringing an instrument. Some airlines are fine with you bringing an
instrument, some aren't. Some will accommodate you on alternate Tuesdays
following Ground Hog's day providing you're wearing their secret decoder
ring, and some will accommodate you if the flight attendant is in a good
mood. And some airlines that weren't a problem last month will demand you
check your guitar the next time you fly. There's also the gig
bag/hardshell case issue. If your guitar's in a gig bag, airlines are more
likely to let you put it in the overhead compartment. But if they refuse
to do that and you have to check it, don't expect your axe to be in one
piece when you get off the plane. You can check the hardshell case, but
bringing your guitar in a hardshell case probably eliminates any chance of
storing it in the overhead—if the airlines indeed allow that. Well,
help may be on the way. The American Federation of Musicians has taken up
the cause of musicians who fly to gigs, and Congress is debating a bill
that would specify consistent guidelines for carry-on instruments.
According to the AFM: "If this bill passes, musicians will be able to
carry most musical instruments onboard and place them in the overhead
compartment or in a seat (if a ticket is purchased)." This is your chance
to make your voice heard. Here's a link for signing the
petition: http://www.afm.org/departments/legislative-office/carrying-instruments-on-airplanesUntil
this (hopefully) becomes law, call ahead to the airline and ask for their
policy regarding carrying instruments on planes. If possible, get this
emailed or faxed to you so you have written backup should a flight
attendant balk. If the airline can guarantee that using a gig bag will let
you place it in the overhead, fine. Otherwise, you might need to pursue
the hardshell case/checked baggage route. But, note that the case that
came with your guitar might not be the best possible option. Case
companies like SKB make guitar cases that look like they could survive a
small thermonuclear explosion, and while they're not cheap, they're
cheaper than replacing a vintage guitar. Sign the petition!
|