Best way to pack an amp for a plane trip?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ratou
  • Start date Start date
Ratou

Ratou

Active member
So I'm moving back to France in September and will be bringing back a good amount of gear with me but my main challenge will be bringing back my Mark IV. I've already travelled with tube heads in the past but didn't really have a good experience and I'm looking to do things right this time. I have both a headshell and a rackmount kit for this amp so that gives me a couple options.

So here are the options I've though about to transport the amp:

-Set up the amp in the rackmount kit an then fit it in a 6 space SKB rack i have, pack all separate parts (tubes, footswitch etc.) with a lot of bubble wrap in the left over space in the SKB. I would then check in the SKB case as luggage.

-Leave the amp in the headshell and purchase a flight case in which in would hopefully fit without too much play. I would then pack the tubes and footswitch in my main suitcase. This seems like a good option but I do not know how strong the flight cases are and if they are well padded inside so that if the amps moves around in the case it won't get damaged.

-What I have done in the past: pack the head in it's original packing box, put in a large 'hockey' bag with a lot of clothes and just carry the thing. I brought back a dual rectifier like this without any damage but I don't want to have the same level of stress as I had during that trip!!

If you guys have experience on traveling with heads please give me some on advice on what is the best option! I know I will have to pay an extra charge when checking in because of weight and extra luggae, this is not a problem, I just want to get the amp accross the atlantic in one piece!

Also, if I where to use a flight case, any brands you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Arvid
 
I will be moving soon as well. This will be my first time carrying amps with me. I got flightcases and I think they will be definitely safe that way. I am not sure if taking out the tubes is needed though.. I feel like they can break easier if I took them out.
 
Tell them it's a stroller. Pack the amp in a stroller bag and gate check it.

or

Take it as a carry-on.

or

Pack the headshell stuffed with clothes and the tubes in your suitcase. Take the chassis out and stick it in your carry on bag.
 
Well taking it as a carry-on is not really possible because I'm also bringing 2 guitars as carry-ons... For the tubes, I'm going to take them out and pack them individually in 2 layers of bubble wrap, this is how i received the amp (from Sevenstringer btw, really well packed!) and it seemed really resistant. When I check it in I'm have the assumption that they will throw the bag/case from some height while loading/unloading, not sure the tubes will handle it if they are still in the sockets.

If I where to get a flightcase, any brand or specific type of case I should look for? What about the ebay like these?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/OSP-ATA-Road-To ... 5af4e9afad

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ATA-3-8-CARPETL ... 35c63d994d

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ATA-Case-Medium ... 35d53f1cff
 
Back when I used to own my Engl, I tried to stuff it, and the other three remaining amps that I owned, into the overhead bin. This was around NAMM, everyone else was doing it so I thought, "what the hell". I dropped the 65lbs Engl on an elderly woman, she screamed "I have had it with these motherfucking amps on this motherfucking plane!" and stormed out.
 
I took a job in San Fran last April and brought a bunch of stuff with me. I shipped it with FedEx and was able to choose the day and delivery time. So I had it meet me the afternoon I landed. It worked out perfectly.
 
I always had flight / road cases for stuff I used to ship across the US. But that was just amp head, cab, pedalboard. Guitars went with me on the plane.

If you're shipping using a service like Fedex, UPS, whatever, you better make sure you've got a good six inches around the gear in each direction with 1.5" thick foam packing (not peanuts) and bubblewrap. Then a double wall cardboard box with lots of tape on each corner/edge so it slides instead of getting stuck on the conveyor belts.

Good luck, sir!
 
stratjacket":68szejki said:
I took a job in San Fran last April and brought a bunch of stuff with me. I shipped it with FedEx and was able to choose the day and delivery time. So I had it meet me the afternoon I landed. It worked out perfectly.
Click to expand...

This is the best solution!

Guitar George
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top