Anybody have any experience buying a bass guitar from the States?

1) Is it taxable?

2) Can we hand carry it in to the cabin or do we need to check in.

3) If checking in, how do we protect the bass guitar?

Any info is most appreciated.

Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by HoyHoySum: Nov 28 2007, 06:31 PM

if you hand carry, usually no tax.

i dont think a bass can fit into the overhead compartment.

how to protect? use common sense.
lots of padding, loosen strings, hardcase etc.

^ Yup, no tax for hand carried items.

As long as it will fit in the overhead, it is fine. I've flown with a guitar three times and they never hassle me about anything.

But with a bass, and possibly a hardcase, I doubt it will fit. There is hope though - I flew MAS on one of my flights back and they actually took my guitar (w/hardcase) and put it in a coat closet/wheelchair storage bay in 1st class (I was flying economy, btw). I don't know if this is the norm, but the steward guy was really nice and took it as soon as I boarded the plane, and later delivered it to me at the exit. I think this is called gate check-in or something to that effect - enquire with the airline to see if they provide this.

Please DON'T even think about checking it in, UNLESS you have a flightcase (which would probably cost about the same as the flight!!)

u can carry the gutiar on cabin.no issues some airlines want u to check it in but u can put fragile stickers some allow u to carr to cabin they will put it at the cabinets where they put all the suites and return to u and the end of the flight. good to carry to cabin if yer using softcases, hardcases just check it in

I carried my bass back from europe. Got a soft gigbag and loosened the strings. Asked the stewardess to put it in the coat compartment. No hassles. Then on the return flight i put it into the overhead compartment. No custom officer bothered to ask me about it, i just walked down the green lane.

I agree with monosyllabic and would insist on carrying it in if I were you even in a hardcase. If i'm not mistaken, the cargo storage area in a plane is usually not heated so the temperature is usually below 0 there. And I don't think that's good for the wood. So better not take chances.


This post has been edited by Bassix: Nov 30 2007, 05:13 AM