Posted on 09/13/2006 9:57:26 AM PDT by presidio9
Are these containers at risk of being opened and having their contents made unsecure? (i.e. the guitar, cello, ..., is not placed back securely in its well). Are they lined with temper-pedic material? What g-force differential can they withstand? And of course, how much? (probably pittances compared to the priceless instruments).
The finest guitar cases I've seen can still be dropped. For an aging instrument this can be disasterous.
Osama Bin Laden is an Architect by trade.....
How is it possible that this thread has made it 40 posts without a "Bush's fault!"
While not a Strad, he has a $4500 violin. He is going with a large group through a tour company that specializes in this so they should know this issue already.
But just to be safe I am going to make sure it is addressed.
Don't take your instrument on tour unless you fly a private plane. Rent when you get there, or buy when you get there and sell whatever is left intact after the concert like the rock groups do.
Ask him to sit down and play the opening bars of "She's a Grand Old Flag"
If you're going to have a son who plays violin internationally in orchestra, you're going to ~have~ to change your name. It doesn't fit. :~)
The flights for the tour have not been made yet but one possibility is that they connect through Heathrow. So... it might be an issue there.
They MAKE $4500 violins? It's just wood and glue and catgut and horsehair, right?
Air transportable cello case $1000. Oboe, bassoon, viola cases can take a drop from 5 miles no problem. Stringbass cases cost more than the instrument. Rent the stringbass when you get there. Bring the bow, which is worth more than the instrument.
Midget lesbian xylophonists and color blind trumpeters hit hardest.
And your next concert ticket will cost $24,700.
Ah.. I see, please disregard the previous transmission...
They make $4500 bows.
I have friends who are competitive shooters & many will only drive to events now. Too many times their weapons have been "inspected" and delayed.
Do you have any idea how many hours go into making a decent wood instrument? And how long it takes to learn to make one properly?
If you figure out pay by the hour, most luthiers make a pittance. And that doesn't factor in cost of materials, tools, the proper environment (instruments don't care for humidity or temperature extremes), etc.
Personally they are much better off not being responsible for such a string instrument as most at that level have. A man willing to buy a second ticket just so that cello can fly (common practice) should be a rather large clue. We are talking the equivalent of buying a house up to and including buying a mansion. These things are huge investments.
We do not even let the security people at the airports touch the violin we have if they want to take a closer look. My son takes it out of the case and holds it for them while they look.
If it comes to this then we will have no choice but to not let him fly. Allowing a 200 year old instrument that your whole live savings are tied up in to be thrown around by ground crew is not an option period.
Are they made out of gold?
The powers that be are idiots, and when they spend their energies stopping world class musicians instead of muslims they increase the probability of "more air crashes" rather than lessen them.
Reasonable precautions could be taken for these musicians and for me too. (Ever hear of a security clearance?) Your support for this sort of restriction disgusts me.
ML/NJ
My bassoon was always with me. It fit nicely under the seat in front of me or in the overhead.
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