INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: Taking instruments to India. . .

Seriously you may want to check into that as an option. Best of Luck.

Peace,

Remco

How did it get to the US in the first place?
As someone said a flightcase is really safe, but heavy.
You can build one your self. .

Jan

http://www.skbcases.com/product/musical_instrument/percussion.html

Peace,

Remco

I'd tried to get a 10" X 10" tom case from Music 123, man that turned out to be the biggest hassle! They finally sent me a bloody snare case (altho the packing invoice said 10X10 Tom, sheesh), and then I had the worst time getting a refund, as they'd credited, charged, credited about a bazillion times, had to sit down and go through each and every one, and write a VERY nasty letter. .finally DID get it resolved, after a couple months!. . .never did get that tom case either. . . . . .can't remember what brand it was, but supposed to be a really great hardshell. . . . .on a par with the SKB Roto. . . .

Finally just went to Musician's Friend, got myself a 9" X 9" tom case (I'd measured that tumba like mad, knew this'd work alright), SKB Roto X, MOST excellent, it came in like 2 days, and was about $10 bucks cheaper, too. . . . .no billing hassles whatsoever, either. . . . .and I thought a way better case than the one I'd ordered from 123, as well. . . . . . .lined, too, a bit of padding, thin though. . .but better than none, never counted on that to cushion, still nice, though

although perhaps that was a fluke, I'd bought a hardshell case for my Epiphone El Segundo Acoustic/Electric bass last year and didn't have any hassles from Music 123. . .but after that drum case thing, I don't think I'll be buying anything from them again, it was totally ridiculous. . . . .BIG hassle

You'll have to check and see what's in stock, I know they (MF) have a SKB Roto Tom case 9" X 10" in stock at present. . . .just go have a look/see. . . . . .

Yes this case is excellent! I took all the foam that my sitar from Lars came in, some extra bubble wrap, too and wrapped it around the tumba in it's scarf, it works really well, and I am very very pleased with it, having it in a cardboard box was making me VERY nervous. . . .man that'd kill me, something happening to it. . . .

Hope maybe that helps a little. . . .go check it out though. . . .I think mine was $50 bucks or so, maybe $60 ( I think I got a few $'s off too, as I ordered some other stuff, promotion or something), somewhere in that neighborhood though, not too expensive, considering what could happen to an unprotected tumba like that, ya know?

AJ

It would be cool if the online ICM stores would carry some sort of toomba/tom case (Lars - hint, hint). :-)

Pb

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Beenkarji (Sep 01, 2003 01:52 a.m.):
Okay so I know I am going to New Delhi to study rudra veena, and basically thats all I am taking with me.

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Ted,

I hope that when you do actually go, that you share with us your final solution on traveling with the Veena, and how everything works out when you get there (there's Internet cafe's everywhere!) I too am interested in traveling with my sitar, though probably not overseas anytime soon. I'm sure we can all benefit from your experiences.

Do you really think that they will let you bring the instrument inside the plane? Perhaps its possible, i have done so myself but that was before 11.09. So i really dont know how they are with instruments these days.

check with the airliner company and tell ut how they responded!

Jan

The AFM (American Federation of Musicians, the Musician�s Union) has negotiated with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) the right for musicians to carry on their instruments on airline flights. Download and print the document and be prepared to show this to security personnel should there be a problem. The letter, written by Thomas R. Blank, the Assistant Administrator for Security Regulation and Policy, basically states ". .TSA instructed aircraft operators that effective immediately, they are to allow musical instruments as carry-on baggage in addition to the limit of one bag and personal item per person as carryon baggage on an aircraft". The letter further states that "should your membership experience problems at the security screening checkpoints, please advise them to request to speak to a Screening Supervisor for resolution".

Here's the site with the AFM letter:
http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf

That letter sounds like a good thing, but seriously i dont think the AMF or the TSA have any influence elsewhere. Still i made a call to an airliner and they told me i can bring the Sitar as long as i can put it under the seat or in the luggage compartment over my seat. Sinct that would only be possible with the RR travel Sitar ( here we go again. .) that isnt an option really. But i was free to order as many seats as i wanted to fill op with larger instruments. I just had to ask why this all of a sudden was possible, and the guy i talked to told me of the tremendous effort of some thing he called the AMF and the direct orders of the TSA that has a global impact on any airliner. . not really just kidding! He told me that after the security check there was really no reason for why a object that has passed two chekpoints and were not considered an object of massdestruction sould not be able to go on insile the airplane. whatever. .

Jan

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Jan (Sep 08, 2003 06:29 a.m.):
But i was free to order as many seats as i wanted to fill op with larger instruments. I just had to ask why this all of a sudden was possible. . .

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As many of you may know, I am a software engineer supporting mostly American Airlines (and a few others); in fact, I originally was an employee of AA when I started 13 years ago.

I know people who have travelled with musical instruments; as far as I know, AA has always had a policy allowing purchase of a seat for an oversized instrument. In fact, they will sell seats for almost anything (I remember years ago a major florist chain would buy discounted seats for roses.) It has to fit in a window seat that's not an exit row, and can be seatbelted.

There are actually two "standards" they use, "cello-sized" and "bass fiddle size". A ticket for a cello sized instrument can be bought for any cabin window seat. An instrument the size of a bass fiddle must have a first-class window seat. In either case, the passenger must be seated next to the instrument (this would be important to know on a heavily-booked flight where it might be difficult to find two seats next to each other.)

A ticket for an instrument will be just a little cheaper, because some of the passenger taxes don't apply. But here's a bonus: the same baggage rules apply to the instrument! So you can check more baggage and carry-on an extra bag.

I checked this in AA's system, and the last time updated was 8/21/2003, so its current information. Of course AA does not fly directly to India, but I would guess most airlines might have similar policies.

Now, just to see how easy it would be to find such information, I went to Air India's website and looked at their FAQ's. Here is what I found in the FAQ on baggage:

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What does AI have to offer if I need to carry any cabin baggage of fragile/ valuable nature?

You may carry baggage of a valuable or fragile nature on additional cabin seats provided advance arrangements for the same are made with us.

Are there any limitations/specifications to carriage on additional cabin seats?

The maximum weight of such baggage should not exceed 75 kg (165 lbs) per seat.

What will be the charges for each seat occupied by the baggage?

The charge for each seat occupied by baggage will be the applicable fare in effect at the time of booking the additional seat (s).

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I couldn't find any information on when this was last updated, but I have no reason to doubt that the information is current.