I am going to Germany and I need advice about travel...

[TexEuph96]

I am going to Germany with my dad and my twin brother this summer to this academy program to improve on my German (half my family is German, the other is Persian)and perhaps go to the Sterling,Miraphone, and Besson shops for fun. The school is in Frankfurt and I will be flying to the Frankfurt International Airport from the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport so the security is very strict both ways. How would I take my euphonium through security so they do not abuse it and how do i take it onto the plane as well? My brother doesnt have this problem because he plays flute and everybody knows what a flute is. I will be gone for the whole month of July so not practicing is not an option. Any advice?

[daruby]

I asked Steven Mead this question. His solution is to carry his horn in a Cronkhite gig bag himnself and put it in the overhead. I have traveled to the UK this way 4 times now. It makes walking and getting around on public transportation in Europe MUCH easier than carrying a case. In times past, I saw Adam Frey use a custom "steamer trunk" style case with cut foam padding. It was huge and heavy.

Alternatively, I know three different euphonium players that had the bells of their new horns damaged last summer when checking them in the standard issue casses. This happened to Demondrae Thurman's Miraphone 5050, Dave Childs Besson 2052, and a young man's new Adams at IBBSS.

My advice: Carry it. I have had no problems on Southwest Airlines in the US or on internation British Air flights. HOWEVER, this can backfire if you end up on a commuter flight or some domestic european flights that have smallish overhead compartments.

Doug

[tonewheeler]

Interesting and a bit funny. I recently sold my old Yamaha 321 on eBay to someone on the east coast. When I asked him how he wanted it shipped, he told me to just ship it in the case and put some duct tape on the latches. I thought he was nuts, so I went to my local UPS store guy and ran it buy him to get his opinion. He said I'd be crazy to ship the horn like that. At the buyers insistance, I shipped it like he wanted, but my UPS friend decided to double-shrink wrap the outside of the case as a precaution.

I normally don't check up on eBay shipments but I decided to do it this time. They buyer told me the horn and case arrived safe and sound. I was astounded. Would I ever ship a newer horn like that? Not on your life, but it worked this time.

[TexEuph96]

i see, i guess ill start looking at some gig bags, maybe a protec because my friend has one or a reunion blues, my teacher can tell me the best place to buy those. Thanks for the advice

[pam]

Originally posted by: TexEuph96

i see, i guess ill start looking at some gig bags, maybe a protec because my friend has one or a reunion blues, my teacher can tell me the best place to buy those. Thanks for the advice

Why would you put a $5k horn in a $100 "one size doesn't quite fit any" bag (Protec)? In terms of protection, it's not anywhere close to the same league as an RB. You'll burn through the money you save on the Protec bag several times over in repair bills.

The current generation of post-Cronkhite Reunion Blues bags are a huge step up from the Protec in terms of protection, but for the same money, or slightly less, you can buy a Cronkhite bag (of which the RB bags are copies) that is custom made specifically to fit YOUR horn, and which is a step up from the RB in terms of protection AND QUALITY.

[TexEuph96]

i definitely look into that, if it is fitted to the model of my horn and is the same price as a protec, then it should be worth it

[Brian]

Go online and look for a shop in Franfurt that will rent you a horn for a month.

[pam]

The Cronkhite is the same price as the Reunion Blues, not the Protec.

If you just want something to carry your horn in, buy the Protec; if you want something that will also offer a decent amount of protection, get a Cronkhite. If I were going to be flying across the Atlantic with my euph and stuffing it in an overhead bin, along with all the other passengers' carry-on luggage, I know which one I would buy.

[davewerden]

Back in the days before bicycle helmets were so universally accepted, one of helmet makers had a slogan something like:

How much you spend on your helmet is a reflection of the value you place on what it will contain.

I'm going to ITEC and was thinking about using a gig bag, but Doug's comment about getting stuck on a small plane is making me rethink the situation!

[daruby]

David, send a note toSteve Mead and see what he would recommend re: gig bag and inter-European flights. I am certain he can give you good advice.