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Post by Si on Jul 15, 2006 2:03:47 GMT
I am thinking of taking it back home for my hols in UK (so i can practice for 2 weeks).
Any thins I should know to prepare before I do this.
I have no case yet - any types is best?
Check in or carry on and stow in overhead compartment?
Will it split due to temp pressure change?
Cheers
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jul 15, 2006 15:17:27 GMT
A few weeks ago, I saw a man take his guitar on a plane. The air stewards took it and placed it somewhere in front of the plane where there was space to store such things. I'd assume that you can take a qin onbroad (provided it is not in a hardcase, otherwise, it will have to be checked in with your luggage), and I've heard similar stories like that. You should ask the airline first, just in case. If you want to check it in, you need a hardcase. Not only that, a soft case, plus a lot of newspaper to pack into the case to stop it from moving about. Also, you need to think about it as they don't pressurise the luggage compartment, meaning your qin may get damaged. Then, you might have to pay extra for something so bulky (but I've seen cellos being checked in with no probs). You will have to tape the edges and stick fragile stickers on, etc). If you can take it onbroad, you need it in a soft carry case (best combo is silk first, then another nylon one over it).
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Post by carol on Jul 15, 2006 16:18:58 GMT
I've carry my qin on plane several times without problem. I used a soft case with a shoulder strap. The staff always helped to find a place for putting it.
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Post by Si on Jul 15, 2006 17:28:23 GMT
My soft case i realy a long silk looking sock (with chinese pattern)that you put the qin in and the carry over the shoulder. Seems a bit cheap and easy to bag the qin!
Are the soft case you refer to more durable with some closers ect. I was hoping for soemthing like a long sports bag?
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jul 15, 2006 19:02:47 GMT
There's the silk (or silk substitute/cloth) one which is basically a foam padding lined with the silk (plain or otherwise) on the outside and felt-like cloth on the inside. The nylon one uses that plastic weave polyester type material used in sports bags, school bags, etc. The padding is thinner than the silk one, but it is stronger. Both can be gotten from CCN or places in China.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Aug 12, 2006 17:31:54 GMT
Well, I don't think we can take a qin on the plane after the hoo-haa that's happened as of recent...
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Post by Si on Aug 12, 2006 17:37:12 GMT
all this hoo hah, is it only a temporary measure, do you think?
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Post by Charlie Huang on Aug 12, 2006 18:05:29 GMT
Hopefully! Don't think you can get away with just sticking your qin in a clear plastic bag! LOL
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Post by Si on Sept 5, 2006 13:10:18 GMT
Has anybody heard from any musician friends recently about carry on instruments. Maybe Gong Yi had a problem with his qin on the way back home. Cos I need to decide how to carry my qin and if its still feasable after all the cerffuffle!
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Post by Charlie Huang on Sept 6, 2006 9:09:57 GMT
Don't think GY did have probs coz it was pre-terrorist plot scare day. And I don't think he had a hardcase, but maybe he did... who knows?
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Post by Si on Jan 23, 2007 17:10:11 GMT
I still want to get a nice soft case but I think there ought to be water-proof ones. Anyone heard of them.
Its often raining these days - what can one do?
THere must be better than that silly silk thing - its so cheap and thin
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 23, 2007 17:15:09 GMT
The nylon ones from CCN. However, you need to slip the qin in the silk before sticking it in them.
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Post by guzhenglover on Jan 24, 2007 2:39:02 GMT
From what Charlie is saying, it appears that it's probably best to try and have the guqin on board with you rather than have it go as check-in luggage. I'd be a bit concerned about whether airlines these days would indeed let us do that, though. Aren't they saying now that apparently we can't even have liquids in any form with us on board? The other thing to worry about is that airlines now seem really strict about how much/heavy your luggage is, whether it's carried on or checked in. I travel a lot each year and have noticed that some routes and/or some airlines in partcular are strict as anything, for example routes between Australasia and the rest of the world.
I thought you were coming back to Singapore for CNY, syburn? Or is UK home for you? Just curious. Anyway I think your other question warrants an answer - whether things like the temperature, air pressure and/or the climate of the destination may have an adverse impact on the guqin. I've been told ways of overcoming that problem, but it'd be good to be hearing from fellow experts who are actually experienced in travelling with their qins from/to different countries. For e.g., I hear that it's not so much a problem flying with the guqin from a dry or dry-ish climate to a wet(ter) climate, but it's a headache if it's the other way round. I understand that you can cover the sound holes with a piece of damp cloth with a bit of clearwrap between the cloth and the qin, and just pierce a few holes in the clearwrap to help with the air circulation. Just make sure that the cloth isn't too wet or soggy and don't remove the cloth right after you and the qin arrive in the destination as you'd need time to take other measures in order to help the qin adjust to the new climate (which could mean getting a humidifier, etc.). BUT PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. I am no expert and haven't actually travelled with my qin yet and I am just letting you know what someone told me when I bought my qin...
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 24, 2007 13:14:05 GMT
I'm sure the musical instrument thing is relaxed now. Always check with the airlines before travelling.
I would be reluctant to stick it in with the luggage after the Heathrow luggage fiasco...
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Post by Si on Jan 24, 2007 15:08:48 GMT
Well this was an old post rivived, but today I did see the nylon bag and although it looks waterproofish it seem badly designed and the strap is too low so the qin hangs badly on the shoulder.
GZL you have raised a worrying thought. Yes I am planning to bring my qin to singapore for the week of CNY. I wonder if i will have a problem with the humidity.
I dont expect alot of problems taking the qin on my shoulder in the China Eastern flight from Shanghai (qins are a chinese cultural icon afterall), but coming back on the singapore side they might not like a 1 metre long bit of wood bringing into the hold. I hope they will not really notice it as its behind me on my back.
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Post by guzhenglover on Jan 25, 2007 2:54:05 GMT
What Heathrow luggage fiasco are you talking about? Anyway it's good that you believe airlines are more relaxed now about taking guqins etc. on board. I'd like to do that rather than part with it during flight. The other thing though would be whether there'd be any additional cost involved. I also know for a fact that, in some countries like the US and Australia where small planes are used for the less frequented routes, airlines actually insist that the carry-on luggage not be more than what they normally allow. Just something to think about.
I also get the feeling that Chinese airlines are a lot more relaxed about things like the weight and the size of the accompanying luggage, whether carried on or checked in. But that might have something to do with the routes.
Are we meeting up when you are back in Singers, syburn? Anyway I don't know that it would be a problem temperature/climate-wise for your qin to come back with you from Shanghai as Singapore is (from what I gather) a more humid and wetter place than Shanghai. BUT DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, I COULD BE WRONG.
Charlie, I thought that it's always desirable to have the guqin in a proper hard case than the soft nylon case? Wouldn't measures have to be taken to try and minimise the qin being knocked about? Currently I have a hard case - which isn't actually as hard or heavy as I thought compared to a guzheng hard case - and for the inside I still use a soft silk casing to slip the guqin in. I can still ask for a soft nylon case, which is actually the one I was given earlier when i bought my qin; however the person whom I bought the qin from suggested that the hard case was better if I am to travel with my qin. Of course weight-wise I'd have preferred the softer nylon case, but that's what I was told!
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 25, 2007 10:05:18 GMT
What Heathrow luggage fiasco are you talking about? This fiasco: Airline tackles luggage mountainBA 'clears Heathrow luggage pile' Basically, many lbags have gone missing, and then there's the 45 day dealine for baggage retrival otherwise they auction/destroy your baggage... Yes, but a hardcase is hardly practical! As I said, the best thing is to take it on the plane in a soft case. Then you'll know it won't get banged about in the luggage hold, or worst, lost. |
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Post by Si on Jan 25, 2007 15:00:22 GMT
yes - i concurr - sof case is best
just wish they would design nice ones that are comfy!
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Post by calden on Jan 25, 2007 15:18:21 GMT
Okay. Being the nosy forum guy that I am, I've been reading this thread. (I don't snoop around the whole forum, just ones that tweak my interest.) Among professional acoustic instrument musicians there is one case that stands WAY above the others. Taking an instrument on a plane in a soft case is probably the best way to transport it, provided you can assure proper handling. But if you need a case that will protect an expensive and treasured qin from almost any other kind of handling, get a Calton. www.caltoncases.ab.ca/frame_home.htmThese things are almost indestructible. I have a friend in Alaska who took his Martin guitar to an event on the edge of a glacier, via a river raft, to an inland lake. No problem, river was not high, easy trip, etc. While unpacking things, the guitar was among other items 100' from the shore up on dry land, and the glacier calved a berg - a huge chunk of ice split off and fell into the lake. It created a giant tidal wave which washed WAY up on shore and took everything down with it. HUGE wave - full of silt, rocks, gravel, mud, kitchen sink, etc. Most of the stuff was washed away, but he found his guitar among some boulders half a mile away. The case was scratched up a bit, but after he wiped it off, he opened it to find his guitar totally dry and completeley undamaged. Nary a scratch. I bought one for my cittern (thing I'm holding in my avatar picture at left) for my 2001 Asia trip. This flew to Japan and China with me, and was like a steel safe.  I've only heard of one incident of an instrument damaged while in this case, and they figured it must have been dropped from more than 50' and landing on end to cause the damage it did. Not cheap - they're now about $650 and up. But you can buy a shell, and give them the dimensions of your instrument and they will mold the inner liner to your specs. Just a suggestion. Carlos |
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 25, 2007 16:05:43 GMT
Oo! There's one in Hampshire!
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Post by calden on Jan 25, 2007 17:09:21 GMT
Oh yeah, for all you Brit qin types, the original Calton factory is in the UK with yer own website (feel free to use all those oddball spellings:) www.caltoncases.co.uk/Carlos |
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Post by Charlie Huang on Jan 25, 2007 21:26:54 GMT
Probably get one when I get a very good qin and have spare dosh.
BTW, got your e-mails of ZGSFDZD, thanks.
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Post by Si on Jan 27, 2007 5:02:29 GMT
"Heathrow luggage fiasco"
The one I was refering to was that thing where they stopped the terrorists plotting and then clamped down heavily on the hand carry baggage. Not aware of another one - but I would not put it past Heathrow / BA.
YES I will still be spending CNY in Sinagpore.
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