What guitars fall under the 50 lb limit?

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Feb 2008 6:47 pm

A question probably more for builders than anyone. With the current 50 lb. flight restriction on baggage, what guitars fall into that category? Not talking about split cases, that adds another piece and takes most of us over the 3 piece limit. I know my Franklin is 47 lbs. in the case, and that's an SD-10. Just curious...

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 23 Feb 2008 6:57 pm

Howdy Mike, it's been awhile.
My GFI Ultra D-10 8x5 weighs in at a lean 40 lbs, in a standard case.

I just did a quick check on the SD-10. (GFI Ultra)
30 lbs (may be a winner!)

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Feb 2008 7:01 pm

Dale, it has been a while. I'd call, but I have bronchitis at this moment and have zero voice...

... wife and kids don't seem to mind...

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 23 Feb 2008 7:07 pm

Sorry to hear that Mike.
Lotsa crap(flu) going around town right now.
(Check my updated edit above)
I'll catch you later, and I hope you're better, soon.
DH

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Feb 2008 7:10 pm

30 lbs.? Man, that's gotta be a record... thanks for the well wishes. I'm sick of being sick...

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 23 Feb 2008 7:27 pm

My Excel single wide keyless U12 w/8+9 in its roadcase tips the scale at 51 lbs. I've squeaked it thru all but once of the dozen or so times I've flown with it. I had the case custom made by a case maker here in the valley who I told to make as light as possible and still be a flyable case. If it had 3 or 4 less knee levers it would probably be well under 50. You might have around the same weight in a similar format instrument by GFI or Williams in the same kind of case. I would think as soon as you get into a double wide body or a standard keyhead and the extra weight a larger flight case would add,you can fugitaboudit.

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 23 Feb 2008 7:40 pm

Check them out Mike, you might like one...being over the hill and all....
Charlie Whitten has one (SD-10) and really likes it.
I remember back to what I said about the first GFI that I ever saw up close. (Fred Newell's at the Opry)
I thought that it was ugly, and sounded worse than than a stepped on monkey.
I've since changed my mind. And, coming from an Emmons (push-pull) my sudden conversion seems weird, sorta like Hugh Hefner becoming a Jehovah's witness.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Feb 2008 7:54 pm

Dale Hansen wrote:Check them out Mike, you might like one...being over the hill and all....

You dog, you...

I remember back to what I said about the first GFI that I ever saw up close. (Fred Newell's at the Opry) I thought that it was ugly, and sounded worse than than a stepped on monkey.

Well, that was because of Fred...

Dale Hansen · Post by **Dale Hansen** » 23 Feb 2008 8:06 pm

I just proved that you are over the hill Mikey.
A younger, more cautious fella wouldn't have come out and just said it.
You did.
( I wanted to.)
Honestly though Mike, using your dad as a fairly reliable gauge, you ain't even to the hill yet.
You're still in the back seat, incessantly asking "are we there yet?"

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 23 Feb 2008 8:07 pm

What a great excuse to use on the wife when a bad case of GAS flares up: "Hey honey, I need to spend $2,000 on a lighter guitar so I won't have to pay $50 freight on the one I have now."

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 23 Feb 2008 9:47 pm

I would think that a nice Pro-1 would weigh in under the 50lb. limit. I've never weighed my green-machine, but for each Lb. of weight it has 2 lbs of tone!!!

Casey

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Feb 2008 10:08 pm

Casey, probably, I've never weighed it; but I would not really want to put something so irreplaceable in a plane belly... or in a bag handlers grip!

(Wonder if I could get Wimpy to tell his p/p horror story?)

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 23 Feb 2008 10:50 pm

My Williams SD-10 (4 pedals and 7 knee levers) weighed in at the airport(s) at just over 50 lbs. in standard case, and the case inside a carton, with various lightweight packing materials inside the carton and the case. Once they charged, once they let it slide.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 24 Feb 2008 2:07 am

Keyless Williams U-12 7x6 in flight case 50 lbs .

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Feb 2008 2:24 am

Carter D10s come in around 38 lbs out of the case, probably around 45 in the case.

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 24 Feb 2008 3:50 am

Another good reason for a Millennium. A D10 is around 32lbs without the case, SD10 a lot lighter.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Feb 2008 5:43 am

My Millenium D-10 with 9+9 in my Wheel-EZE case is just a tad over 50 lbs, so I carry the pedal rack separately and then it's under 50 lbs. I'm sure with a standard (8+5) setup, there'd be no issue of getting it under the limit.

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 24 Feb 2008 6:21 am

SD10 GFI Ultra is right at 30 lbs. Lonestar SD10 is 31lbs

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 24 Feb 2008 7:09 am

My Carter S12U, 7x5, is 48.5 lbs in the case.

Mike Ester · Post by **Mike Ester** » 24 Feb 2008 7:11 am

Tony Prior wrote:Carter D10s come in around 38 lbs out of the case, probably around 45 in the case.

According to Carter's Web site, their D10s are 56 lbs in the case.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 24 Feb 2008 8:28 am

BMI makes a sweet S10 that comes in under 50 lbs with a case. Those guitars are built like tanks also.

I used an Emmons PP S10 as a fly guitar for a while. I packed it up in a SKB shotgun case. Came in just under 50 lbs.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 24 Feb 2008 4:21 pm

A Zum StageOne,is around 30/32 lbs in the case and would fit in an overhead bin if you got on the plane first
JE:-)>!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Feb 2008 5:51 pm

Mike,I'm pretty sure the new Desert Rose guitars are under 50 with the case...It's a Single neck on a body and a half..like Kirstie Allie.
Stu

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 24 Feb 2008 8:54 pm

You could pimpout a used Carter-Starter & have a very light-weight guitar at a very reasonable price.

Casey

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Feb 2008 10:38 pm

My U-12 Millennium weighs 29 pounds without the case. The flight case it came in weighs an additional 28, bringing the total weight up to 56 pounds, but the Sierra Wheel-EZE case is 10 pounds lighter.