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Topic: Touring the UK with Steel... |
Steve Wood
From:
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Jan 2012 9:58 pm |
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Hello all,
Not sure if this is the most appropriate section, but here goes...
My band is looking to tour the UK in the summer/fall (likely southern England and Wales).
I'm in Canada, and I'm looking for advice from people who have toured the UK from North America and from those who live in the UK.
Is it better to bring your own steel and rent accessories there? Is there opportunity to rent an entire rig in the UK?
I would like to make the flight/gear transport as smooth and as cost-conscious as possible.
Any thoughts?
cheers,
steve |
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Chris Tweed
From:
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 1:15 am
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Hi Steve,
I can't offer advice directly as I haven't had to hire a steel, but I would suggest you post something on the British Steelies Society Forum at:
http://www.thebritishsteeliessociety.co.uk/
You will have to register to do so, but that's not too difficult.
I'd be really keen to see you playing with your band when you're touring. Can you post some details please?
Chris |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 2:19 am
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Chris you could contact Peavey in Corby UK they use to supply gear for all the USA and OZ acts that we backed.
PEAVEY ELECTRONICS LTD
Great Folds Road
Oakley Hay
Corby
NN18 9ET
Northamptonshire
Phone: 01536 461234
Fax: 01536 747222 |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 2:20 am
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Chris you could contact Peavey in Corby UK they use to supply gear for all the USA and OZ acts that we backed.
PEAVEY ELECTRONICS LTD
Great Folds Road
Oakley Hay
Corby
NN18 9ET
Northamptonshire
Phone: 01536 461234
Fax: 01536 747222 |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 2:30 am
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| Sorry the above post was for Steve |
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Dave Harmonson
From:
Seattle, Wa
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 6:31 am
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I'm playing in the UK now. My two cents, bring your steel and effects and pick up an amp to use. For me who plays the Jimmy Day copedant I knew it would be unlikely to find a steel set-up friendly for me. My bugaboo so far is I didn't bring my pack a seat for baggage economy so I've had various seat heighths to deal with. I did pack a little rickety 3 leg camping stool if nohing else is available. Haven't needed it as yet.
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www.facebook.com/countrydaveharmonson |
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Steve Wood
From:
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 9:56 am Thanks...
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Gentlemen,
thanks for all these suggestions...I'm compiling a master list of contacts, addresses and such that I can go through.
Your help is very much appreciated!
Keep the advice coming, please!
steve
My band is named Steve Parkinson and The Stony Lonesome, an all-original country act from Ontario, Canada. We have the rare opportunity to get over to the UK this summer so we thought, "why not?!!!"
www.facebook.com/spslband |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 10:36 am
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Steve it may not be addressing your concerns right on, but this is my experience from taking a steel to England:
I flew Air Canada from Pearson - Heathrow and from there a 2 1/2 hr bus ride to Leicester.
In TO I checked the steel in as part of my luggage, thereby getting it over there for free so to speak. I placed the steel on the Fragile belt. They claim it gets handled nicer that way. When I got to the pickup belt at Heathrow, the steel was standing on the floor waiting for me. Then I wheeled it thru the airport to the bus terminal (which is part of Heathrow), the bus driver was very helpful assisting with loading the steel into the luggage compartment. Upon arrival in Leicester - same help there. Then it was over to the closest pub with Dave Seddon, the recipient of the steel for a well-deserved pint.
In all-- a totally safe and satisfying trip.
This was in Aug 2009.
Now you are allowed only one piece of checked luggage thereby limiting you to the following:
bring only the steel as checked luggage and make do with a carry-on for your essentials, or pay about $90 for one extra piece of checked luggage, like I did when I brought a steel with me to Norway last year.
If this advice is of any value to you, PM or email me and we can elaborate on the phone if you wish.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Ken Byng
From:
Southampton, England
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 10:47 am
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Steve
Can you publish an itinery of where you are playing and the dates?
_________________
Show Pro D10 - amber (8+6), MSA D10 Legend XL Signature - redburst (9+6), Sho-Bud Pro 111 Custom (8+6), Emmons black Push-Pull D10 (8+5), Zum D10 (8x8), Hudson pedal resonator. Telonics TCA-500, Webb 614-E, |
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Steve Wood
From:
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 12:07 pm
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Bent, thank you! I have yet to check out Air Canada's rates, but I think you've nailed it, I will have to live out of my carry-on, and use any steel stuff as luggage.
Ken, we haven't nailed down our itinerary yet, we're in the VERY early stages. I just want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to transportation,etc. so Im not behind the eight ball.
I will certainly post/PM our dates when things get settled. I suspect this will go a long way in determining the cheapest/most efficient way to travel with/without my gear.
Cheers again, fellas.
steve |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 12:44 pm
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| Steve Wood wrote: |
| Bent, thank you! I have yet to check out Air Canada's rates |
Steve, It doesn't matter if its Air Canada or whatever...same luggage, weight, Fragile belt... is the same for all airlines. What you do is get the cheapest direct flight from an online agency.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Malcolm McMaster
From:
Beith Ayrshire Scotland
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 12:46 pm
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Steve check with airlines, some give you special rates for musical instruments/Sports equipment.It is not cheap but better than the excess baggage charge If you are hiring van here then your transport is solved, the UK is pretty small and this would probably be cheapest way to get around.Remember voltage here is 230/240 so you will need to hire amp here, and you will need appropriate wall warts for effects etc.When flying from UK to Europe I check in guitar (instrument rate) put my pre/amp effects in hand luggage and request promoter hires any good Peavey or Fender amp.I now use MB200 which is about 2lbs and Digitech RP150 which both take up little space and request a good quality cab.Previous poster was right take along one of those folding camping stools, takes up virtually no room and very light.
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MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 1:12 pm
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When I last went (Oct '0 Peavey (UK) loaned me a 112 and the right wall-wart for my Profex! They were really helpful.
I took my steel into the cabin with me (there and back) - I've never fancied checking such a heavy, yet fragile, item.
Here's what I wrote before.....:
"
The wheel-Ez case, as you may know, has a handle at one end and wheels at the other. I approach the check-in and hand them the case I want to 'check' (usually full of dirty clothes). While doing this I'm wheeling the steel and I prop it aginst their desk - it's then out of their line of sight. at a glance I could be wheeling a carry-on item.
Once they've lost interest in me I go to the security-line. As long as I'm able to heft the steel up onto the roller-thingies (I already know it'll easily run through their little 'tunnel affair') they accept it as a permitted piece of cabin baggage. They're often a bit puzzled by the x-ray picture but I'm able to satisfy them.
Then I lift it off their belt and I head for the Gate. As I'm walking, my coat or jacket draped over the hand pulling the steel will disguise its size; just the bottom with the wheels is visible and it looks like one of those slide-under-the-seat bags. At the gate the staff there are generally only concerned with getting us all aboard as efficiently as possible. If it's a big aircraft there are any number of cupboards and cavities that will accommodate my case. They sometimes ask what it is and I simply say - 'Steel guitar' (One steward gave me a hand with it and muttered: 'Yeah: solid steel!!!').
On a smaller plane (737s downwards) I know the steel will fit in an overhead bin so, having already booked myself into a rearward seat I know I'll usually be embarked earlier rather than later and the bins will be empty. I find an empty one and - heave-ho - up goes the Emmons. It does make my eyes water a bit, but it hasn't failed yet.
I always prefer to sit somewhere that's not directly under the bin holding my steel - after all, there may be some turbulence...
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RR "
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Steve Wood
From:
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 5:52 pm
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Wow. still more great advice. This is so helpful, gents. Im poring over everything.
It will be a low-key tour, so I think do-it-yourself will be the name of the game.
Forgot about the conversion of electronics, too! Saved me a fire, you did.
Keep it coming, please! |
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Malcolm McMaster
From:
Beith Ayrshire Scotland
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 11:03 pm
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Steve, if using budget airlines either within UK or to Europe Rodger's trick won't work They are extremely strict on hand baggage and do check it for size(and weight) at both check in and gate, and can end up costing you a lot of cash.
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MSA Millenium SD10, GK MB200, Sica 12inch cab, Joyo American Sound Pedal/ Jay Ganz Straight Ahead amp, Telonics 15inch in Peavey cab, Digitech RP150, Peterson tuner.Hilton volume pedal.Scott Dixon seat and guitar flight case. |
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