yes Paul but still…i was all fidgety for 7 odd hours. 😮

I know what you mean! I thought about getting a cheaper bass, something like a standard 5 string Fender Jazz, to take on fly out gigs so I wouldn’t have to worry about my G&L getting damaged. The problem would be that I’d spend every gig wishing I were playing my G&L, so I’ve just had to learn to accept the risk of it getting damaged is there and if it happens, it happens. As much as that bass is a part of me and it’s the most important material thing I own, it’s still a tool to be played and there’s no point in having it sat at home just because it might get damaged. I want to be out playing it! The first few times I flew with it, the first thing I did was check it when it came out at the other end was open the case and check it. Now I wait until I get back to the hotel to do that because even if it is damaged, there isn’t much I can do about it at the airport. Again, I’ve just accepted the risk is there and I just get on with it more now instead of worrying.

That said, I’ve done a lot of flying with instruments and it took me probably the best part of 50 flights to stop constantly worrying about whether they’d make it through to the other side intact. I do find red wine helps take your mind off it. Ahhh no, hang on… I drink red wine even when I don’t have my bass. Dammit! 😀

Paul