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Saxophones Holiday Soprano - rent or buy?

Profusia

Profusia

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Unable to face the idea of 12 days without a saxophone I'm looking at getting a curved sop so that it will fit into airline hand luggage for an upcoming holiday.

I figure that as a relative beginner to sax full stop, and intending this one as probably an occasional instrument, plus considering the inevitable risk of sand in the workings and/or travel damage, I should go for something very cheap and cheerful.

I plan to try Gear4Music and Odyssey curved sops this weekend but wondered if anyone had any better suggestions/recommendations, and also what people's views are on short term renting versus buying, and the best place to go for that option?
 
I'd buy. No reason for it to get wrecked.

There were a couple of JPs in the yard sale. Worth considering.

I pity your fellow holiday makers.>:)
 
kevgermany said:
I pity your fellow holiday makers.>:)
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Agreed. If I had a soprano newbie in the next room, I think I would be looking for a refund...... Thomas, I took a sop away for 7 months travelling round Asia and Aus and it didn't suffer in the slightest (unlike the people staying in the same hotels). If you have a decent case and take care of it, there's no reason why it should get damaged.
 
Profusia said:
Unable to face the idea of 12 days without a saxophone I'm looking at getting a curved sop so that it will fit into airline hand luggage for an upcoming holiday.

I figure that as a relative beginner to sax full stop, and intending this one as probably an occasional instrument, plus considering the inevitable risk of sand in the workings and/or travel damage, I should go for something very cheap and cheerful.

I plan to try Gear4Music and Odyssey curved sops this weekend but wondered if anyone had any better suggestions/recommendations, and also what people's views are on short term renting versus buying, and the best place to go for that option?
Click to expand...

Depending on where you are traveling you could probably bring your sax with you without having to get another one.
I've done plenty of traveling both in Europe and USA on different tours without having any problems getting my tenor sax (case that is moulded after the body) inside the plane.

No matter what any airline employee may say it is always up to the flight crew and finally the captain of the aircraft to decide if you can bring it or not. 50+ flights and no problems!

However, if you are looking to get another saxophone anyway I would buy it if it's in a good price range and sounds great.
You can never have too many saxophones!!! ;)
Play on!
/Greger
 
JP or Jericho. Jericho's owner is a member here and there was some discount for Cafesaxophonists.
 
aldevis said:
JP or Jericho. Jericho's owner is a member here and there was some discount for Cafesaxophonists.
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Would that be through StudentMusicSupplies or is Jericho separate/have its own outlet?
 
Hi - my name is Grahame. Just registered on Cafe Saxophone. I want to take my soprano on a flight overseas in a gig bag as cabin luggage. Never done this before. The gig bag is about 10cms too long. Anyone have any ideas other than separate the neck and the body and put both in a smaller bag? Are airlines generally sympathetic? Gods knows what I would do if it was the tenor that was coming with me. Would appreciate any advice.
 
Grahame said:
Hi - my name is Grahame. Just registered on Cafe Saxophone. I want to take my soprano on a flight overseas in a gig bag as cabin luggage. Never done this before. The gig bag is about 10cms too long. Anyone have any ideas other than separate the neck and the body and put both in a smaller bag? Are airlines generally sympathetic? Gods knows what I would do if it was the tenor that was coming with me. Would appreciate any advice.
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HI!

I travel with my tenor as carry on all the time. Never been an issue. So, with the soprano in a slimmed hard case you shouldn't have any problems. Remember, it's the captain of the aircraft that has the last say, NOT the person working at the check in desk or even the flight attendants. However, it has never come down to me having to ask the captain.

To avoid questions about the saxophone, just don't show it off at check in.
Now, if your traveling with Ryanair on the other hand, You'll have to buy a separate ticket for the sax. For real!

Hope that helps you.

PLAY ON!

//Greger
 
Hi Greger
The gig bag is very study. I'm comfortable with that. I'm going to strap the gig bag to my cabin luggage bag and then when at seat unstrap it and make sure it is either the 'last in and first out' of the overhead locker or keep it with me an try and put in under the seat in front. The fact that you regularly carry on your tenor gives me a lot of confidence. I'm flying with EasyJet. I'm booked on and I have just checked that there are still flights available and I am now quite close to the flight date. Have a feeling that the flight will not be full.
Thanks for your advice.
Grahame
 
Grahame said:
Hi Greger
The gig bag is very study. I'm comfortable with that. I'm going to strap the gig bag to my cabin luggage bag and then when at seat unstrap it and make sure it is either the 'last in and first out' of the overhead locker or keep it with me an try and put in under the seat in front. The fact that you regularly carry on your tenor gives me a lot of confidence. I'm flying with EasyJet. I'm booked on and I have just checked that there are still flights available and I am now quite close to the flight date. Have a feeling that the flight will not be full.
Thanks for your advice.
Grahame
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I would not trust Easyjet to allow you to take it on. The one and only time I flew with them the gate staff were absolute jobsworths. My carry on was 10.3 kg and they told me I either must either ditch the 0.3 kg or go back (through security) to check in and pay for the extra .3kg.

They were making everyone weigh and fit their carry on bags into the teeny measuring receptacle and some people did have to go back and check in bags that were slightly oversize.

It may be there is a musical instrument policy, but you need to check with the fine print of the airline's regulations.

They certainly are unlikely to let anything at your feet that won't stow completely under the seat, that is a safety regulation which is generally non negotiable.
 
Thanks for that Pete. I'll check the fine print. Weight will not be an issue. I'm only going for a long weekend. It's just the size.
 
Grahame said:
Thanks for that Pete. I'll check the fine print. Weight will not be an issue. I'm only going for a long weekend. It's just the size.
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Yes, I just gave the weight example to show how pedantic the Easyjet staff can be. It may also be the case that their overhead lockers are a certain size, and it won't fit in even if they were going to be nice to you.

If it was me amd I found the size was over the carry on regulations, I'd put the soprano case inside a regular suitcase surrounded by clothes, and check it in with the hold baggage. I would not rely on the niceness of the gate staff (or the captain) bending any rules.
 
Grahame said:
Thanks for that Pete. I'll check the fine print. Weight will not be an issue. I'm only going for a long weekend. It's just the size.
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Hi Pete. Just found this on Easyjet website. Looks like I'm going to be OK except that I'm going to have to put my socks, pants and vests in a ladies handbag.

Musical instruments are permitted for carriage as Hand Baggage provided that the instrument, including its case, does not exceed 30cm x 120cm x 38cm. Violins, violas, piccolos, flutes, clarinets, bugles and trumpets all fall within these dimensions. Carriage as Hand Baggage is subject to available space in the overhead lockers and strictly at the Captain's discretion. Please note the instrument will be classed as Your one allowed piece of hand baggage.
Larger instruments (with the exception of cellos) must be checked in as Hold Baggage, subject to payment of the baggage fee, and cannot weigh more than 32kg.
When it is not practical to combine the instrument with another item of Hand Baggage into a single piece in accordance with our hand baggage policy, You can carry one small additional piece (e.g. ladies handbag or laptop) if it is not practical to check this item as Hold Baggage.

 
Pete Thomas said:
Yes, I just gave the weight example to show how pedantic the Easyjet staff can be. It may also be the case that their overhead lockers are a certain size, and it won't fit in even if they were going to be nice to you.

If it was me amd I found the size was over the carry on regulations, I'd put the soprano case inside a regular suitcase surrounded by clothes, and check it in with the hold baggage. I would not rely on the niceness of the gate staff (or the captain) bending any rules.
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Thanks again Pete. I'm now going to take a printed copy of their rules with me.
 
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