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V-Accordion on an airplane

  • Thread starter Thread starter BrandyD
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The FR-5, FR-5b, FR-7, FR-7b , FR-7x, FR-7xb, FR-8x , and FR-8xb will not fit in a overhead.
 
Still a popular problem, and the fact is that a V-Accordion is a bit better suited for flights in the cargo hold better than an acoustic (no need to block the bass mechanism, for example).

Anyone have any thoughts on using a Pelican case as a solution?

 
Thanks for the youtube link Jerry. It's encouraging that he mentions a dozen flights with that case. The photographers and tech guys I know swear by Pelican cases, I've not heard a bad word spoken of them yet.
 
Howie said:
Thanks for the youtube link Jerry. Its encouraging that he mentions a dozen flights with that case. The photographers and tech guys I know swear by Pelican cases, Ive not heard a bad word spoken of them yet.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Pelican cases are fantastic, but make sure you get the later ones, the ones with the pressure equalization portal and the better quality clasps. Here, it is wise to spend the extra to get the best case possible.

This case is in my future for sure. :)
 
For what it's worth, I just recently went through this consternation. I live in Florida and am playing at the Cotati Accordion Festival in Sonoma County in CA in August. I examined the following methods

1. Ship the accordion to someone out there UPS/Fedex and then pick it up when I get there This was a good possibility because we know that the accordions are shipped from Castelfidardo either UPS or Fedex, with the basses blocked and I don't think there are many problems at all. The little problem was I don't know anyone there to ship it to and I didn't want to take a chance shipping it to someone I didn't know well enough to trust. Another issue with this was that in order to insure it getting there in a timely fashion, I would be w/o my accordion for 4-5 days prior to leaving the east coast then again 4-5 days after I returned. I didn't like all the cons on this one.

2. Buy the accordion a ticket and have it sit next to me. I had a conversation with a ticket agent for Delta airlines and discussed this with her. She told me that Delta's regulations did not have an issue with this, provided it fit in the seat and was able to have the seat belt around it. Honestly, my Borsini is a 5/5 and when in the case, that might be an issue, particularly if I get a flight attendant that wants to nit pick. My Borsini, also, BTW, will not fit in the overhead bin in any type of case, unless I use the accordion shrinker on it ! LOL! In addition the flight changes planes at LAX. Very often when airlines make connections, they'll make the second shorter leg with a feeder airline ( not always their planes) and that airline might have a rule against the accordion in the seat. That has happened and been documented by a couple of cello players a few years ago. I addressed this with the airline and they said that the other airline connecting to Sonoma County airport didn't have an issue, but she didn't work for them. One non stop flight.....not too bad. A flight with a connection could be disastrous. Imagine getting to your stop and they tell you that you cannot bring your instrument on, even though you bought it a ticket. I'd flip out. Further with all the overbooking, I wonder who/what would get booted off the airplane if they really needed the seat. I know this all sounds rather paranoid, but I think it is also a bit of reality. Baggage handlers for the airlines think they are doing an olympic event. I would never check my accordion.

4. Luckily a friend that I met there last year, who has a music store in Eureka, CA ( about 8 hours north of Sonoma) offered to bring a new Dino Baffetti down for me to use for the festival.
That seemed like the most logical way to resolve the issue and was a lucky break for me.

Granted that is not going to help you, but if I had to pick from the first two, I would block the basses and ship UPS/FDX if you could manage the time. If not and the trip was non stop, I would buy it a ticket and sit it right next to me. If it does have a connection, I would call both airlines and try to be as safe as possible.

Sorry, this was such a long reply, but, as I said, I just finished this exercise in futility about a month ago.

Ed
 
Ed,
I'd be wary of solution 2 if it's Delta Airlines as they may well drag your accordion off the plane and kick two of its keys in :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
JIM D. said:
The FR-5, FR-5b, FR-7, FR-7b , FR-7x, FR-7xb, FR-8x , and FR-8xb will not fit in a overhead.
Click to expand...

The Fr4x fits perfect in the overhead...
 

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If the 4x can do this, then an 8x should be able to as well, no? Anyone know the height difference (height from bass to treble direction) of the two?
 
So we are looking at no more than 1 inch difference in height and 5lbs difference. I suspect that it can fit in the overhead... perhaps a bit snug but shoukd be ok. Now, whether they let you do that or not... that's another thing. :)
 
It is not just the size, but weight can be the main problem. For many demastic flights, the limit is 10 pounds. Even in larger airplanes for international flights, the weight limit is around 20 pounds. The 8x is simply too heavy. Ive flown quite a bit with my FR7x with a particular airliner, and their limit is around 22 pounds. I never let them weigh my gig bag, but the last time they wanted to weigh it. Ah, I had a 3x, not the 7x at the time. One time, I flew by an airliner which has known for their world class service. Their limit? 10 pounds. I talked to the manager. They said that I could board the airplane with it only to be stopped at the entrance. They took away my 7x. I couldnt go to sleep during the 14 hour flight!!! Luckily, it came in one piece when I got it back. Flying back home, my son was on a differnt airliner. I let him take my 7x. Rat, my boy charged me $100 for his service. I have a friend who goes to Sweden all the time. Hes got the FR1x. He has no issue whatsoever.

One time, I traveled with my FR1b. That thing is so small. It was so easy to take it out of the case at the airport, play a tune, and put it back in the bag. Walking around at the airport with an accordion can be tiresome. I bought a real cheap, light plastic hand cart - something like this but I only paid $15 shipped http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wincspace-L...794908?hash=item2834660c5c:g:4XMAAOSwurZZGwLw .
 
Its 4:30am for me but the most obvious and east solution came to mind... If possible just rent a V-Accordion locally. Just copy to USB stick whatever your special programming is and then write that to the rental... Instant duplication of your setup! Use while you are there, then reset the unit to factory before returning it! You could not do that with any other accordion around and a V is likely easier to rent than most other accordions. So in essence, you fit your "V" with you in your pocket on a USB stick. ;)
 
One of my my decisions to buying the 4x was the size. just recently air travelled and it fit in overhead easily. Went through security without taking it out of the case and playing a few tunes. :ch
 
JerryPH said:
Its 4:30am for me but the most obvious and east solution came to mind... If possible just rent a V-Accordion locally. Just copy to USB stick whatever your special programming is and then write that to the rental... Instant duplication of your setup! Use while you are there, then reset the unit to factory before returning it! You could not do that with any other accordion around and a V is likely easier to rent than most other accordions. So in essence, you fit your V with you in your pocket on a USB stick. ;)
Click to expand...

Nice idea! But you have to write down the Utility and Set Common. The USB only saves UPG and Set on 4x. Not sure if this is true with 8x? my Korg arranger has a hard drive, drag and drop settings programs from a PC.
 
JerryPH said:
If the 4x can do this, then an 8x should be able to as well, no? Anyone know the height difference (height from bass to treble direction) of the two?
Click to expand...

I had a couple inches to spare on the accordion. Like I said in an earlier post, I fit my fr7 in overhead.
I did have one of the gate attendees in Fort Lauderdale airport confront me. What the Hech is that, it will never fit in overhead. I responded yes it will. He then, did not respond. I entered the plane. Although, early boarding is a must! :b
 
Keymn said:
Nice idea! But you have to write down the Utility and Set Common. The USB only saves UPG and Set on 4x. Not sure if this is true with 8x? my Korg arranger has a hard drive, drag and drop settings programs from a PC.
Click to expand...

If you wanted to duplicate your setup on another you need to have 6 pieces of data on a USB stick:

1 - A copy of the latest firmware
2 - A copy of all expansion sets (if you use them)
3 - A copy of all your custom settings (if you use them)
4 - A copy of all your UPGs (user programs, if you use them)
5 - A copy of all your Richard Noel files (basically UPGs as well, if you use them)
6 - A copy of any custom sets that did not come with the accordion (if you use these too).

With those files, I can turn *any* 8X in to my 8X and feel right at home with zero acclimation time on someone elses 8X. The only thing that is NON-restorable is the firmware, once you are at the latest, you should never downgrade it as it can cause serious issues. Total investment in time, about 15 minutes, including re-downloading the factory expansions and latest firmware in case you never saved those to a safe location.

Even if you ever did a full factory reset, the 8X retains the same firmware that is there, and I believe keeps the same expansions, but you lose all other factory settings, all UPGs and any custom sets. All of this combined, we are looking at about 400-500mb total in terms of file sizes... way under what even the smallest standard USB stick can store today (today averages are 4gb and up).

Now, if one was particularly sharp, one would then copy those same files on to several more USB keys for even more redundancy/safety, keep one in your pocket, one in each piece of luggage and one in the case with the 8X, all for a few more dollars of investment. ;)

Additional info:
How to upgrade the firmware is HERE.
Export/Import sets on pg 44 of the 8X manual
Export/Import UPGs on pg 64 of the 8X manual

Keymn said:
I had a couple inches to spare on the accordion. Like I said in an earlier post, I fit my fr7 in overhead.
I did have one of the gate attendees in Fort Lauderdale airport confront me. What the Hech is that, it will never fit in overhead. I responded yes it will. He then, did not respond. I entered the plane. Although, early boarding is a must! :b
Click to expand...

That is the one big factor beyond our control... if you meet someone that is a stickler to the rules, your V is going in the hold to get manhandled/damaged. That is where the Pelican case comes back in to the picture... or the rental of another V and your backups.
 
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