Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 12:33 PM

The problem is not just the case -- the whiplash thing can happen without the case showing any damage. That's what happened to my brother's guitar. It's possible that the right packing would absorb the shock - something that gave the quitar no room to shift and at the same time absorbed the impact of being tossed or dropped 15 or 20 feet.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 12:46 PM

I've read a suggestion that you pack the area of the case surrounding the headstock tightly with crumpled newspaper (or whatever) to prevent that "whiplash" effect. Assuming that the body/soundbox fits snugly in its part of the case, it shouldn't be necessary to immoblize every inch of the neck between the headstock and body, as long as the guitar is held firmly in place at both ends.

That said, I haven't tried this approach myself, nor do I plan to. As a rank amateur, I never need to take my guitar on a plane trip, since I'm not flying from gig to gig nationwide (or worldwide). The only way I travel with my guitar is when I'm driving.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 01:36 PM

Why not ship the guitar by FedEx or UPS? They have much more incentive to deliver the instrument in undamaged condition than the airlines do. This is not to say that an instrument would not be damaged by either delivery company, but I've had good results with shipped instruments thus far.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 01:46 PM

Sorry, Kendall, I missed seeing your earlier post about UPS breaking your guitar. I guess nothing's foolproof, but I'm still willing to bet that UPS's record is better than United's!

My biggest problem with UPS was that the rep I'd phoned left my box in the costomer-service area for me to pick up, and the workers there walked around it to go into the back and look for it. One of them left his electronic input device ON the box before leaving the room. I waited and watched bemusedly till they returned before I said, "Umm, guys, isn't this package mine?" The entertainment was worth the delay!

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 02:12 PM

I should have mentioned that the box I described had contained a Taylor classical guitar in its case and surrounded by packing material, so the box was a sizable beast. Hard for the UPS guys to miss, but they managed somehow.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 02:15 PM

Kendall did, Sharon. It arrived severely damaged. See above.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: kendall
Date: 10 Jul 09 - 07:45 PM

And the case my Taylor travels in is so strong I can stand on it!

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 09:58 AM

YouTube now shows over 2 million hits on the video. United has made a peace offering to Dave Carroll.

UPDATE

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 10:09 AM

It's nice, but the key was having United pay for the damage done to the guitar. That would have set a tone for other carriers to follow. I know damned well my guitar was outsine in below zero weather and that some klutz, intentional or otherwise, dropped it and the neck broke. Thanks to a very concerned person with the airline, my guitar was repaired by a great luthier in Edmonton at no cost to me.

It's nice that United will take the tax break and try to improve its reputation in this, but anyway, it's done.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: EBarnacle
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 12:44 PM

The real point is the power of one literate, angry person.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: GUEST,Petaluma Pete
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 01:05 PM

Here's a tribute video we put together in response and support of all the Dave Carrolls of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hRr0YlHsjo

Enjoy!

- JM!

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: SharonA
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 10:48 AM

Petaluma Pete: I don't know about the rest of the Forum, but I'm not terribly impressed that an electric guitar in a (reinforced foam?) case survived that drop intact. Try that on an acoustic guitar with no truss rod... but first, leave it out in sub-freezing temperatures for a while, so it'll get nice and brittle like Peace's guitar did. Then maybe you'll impress me.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: open mike
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 11:41 AM

now Dave Carroll says he does not want them to pay for the guitar, just says he wants United to donate to charity and let him know
which charity they choose.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Amos
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 12:33 PM

Some discussions about the Xtreme Clam, which is the case both Chance and i use. It suspends your guitar, in its own hard case, in a series of C-shaped wedges, keeping it free from shock transmitted from without. It has a hammer-proof exterior and is only slightly awkward to transport. I have been to three Getaways using it to protect my precious D35 and have had no misfortunes as far as the guitar was concerned.


A

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 11:40 PM

Since air travel isn't safe and really just a dangerous fad I won't ever have to worry about my instruments getting ruined by an airline.

Don

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: EBarnacle
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 12:01 PM

Open Mike: Consider that the reason for Dave's decision is that he was offered two replacement instruments by Taylor. As an ethical person, he decided to help others with the settlement.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 12:19 PM

Kendall... "And the case my Taylor travels in is so strong I can stand on it!"

Might be okay for airlines but what about the 500 pound guy at the post office with the "FRAGILE" stamp on the end of his pogo stick?

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 12:20 PM

Sorcha has a post horror story that is sickening.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Peace
Date: 20 Jul 09 - 07:58 PM

Thing I just found out:

True, Air Canada can still break things, but though I had to send my guitar in the baggae thingy, at least Air Canada has Air Canada employees moving the baggage. Most other airlines contract out. FYI.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: jeddy
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 08:44 AM

yay.. this has reached the top of the charts in the uk AND it has made the news!!!!!!!

go people power!

take care all

jade x x x x x x

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jul 09 - 03:13 PM

Here's the Guardian story about it. With the song video.

I love this one.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 25 Jul 09 - 06:44 PM

This thread should be re-titled "Guitar breaks United".

Well done.

Don T.

Subject: BS: United Breaks Guitars!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 09:19 PM

Here's a great little music video about the perils of modern air travel...

http://www.voyageairguitar.com/UnitedBreaksGuitars.htm

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: meself
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 10:24 PM

Um, Little Hawk ... have you read any of the posts on this thread? Just read the first one, and you'll get the idea ....

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 01:34 PM

Marvelous! I had not read the thread before, but have now. I'm glad to see that United got their just desserts for wrecking Dave Carroll's Taylor guitar.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Tootler
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 04:42 PM

Not so much for wrecking it, but for their refusal to accept responsibility and to pay for the repairs. I reckon if they had accepted that they had a responsibility to their paying passengers to put right damage due to their negligence none of this would have happened.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 05:13 PM

What happened was that I came upon the video while surfing the Voyage-Air guitar site (nice travel guitars!). I decided to launch a thread about it, not realizing that there had been a thread launched about it here long ago. Some helpful clone moved my new thread and post directly to the original thread...and here we are.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: harpmolly
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 09:27 PM

Can't wait for songs #2 and #3!

Also, I think I want to marry Dave Carroll. Is there a support group for this, does anybody know?

(starts digging for her "I Heart Canadian Boys" t-shirt)

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 10:01 PM

Sorry sweetie, he's already married -- has a sweet looking wife Carol and the video for #2 is just completed, but not yet edited. All of which I learned by going to his website and then to his FB page.
I too am waiting to see the next round.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: quokka
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 12:55 AM

Love the song, and the story...can't wait for the movie.
Btw, is Dave's wife really called Carol Carroll?

Cheers,

Quokka

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 01:18 AM

You could try for Little Hawk, harpmolly. He's Canadian, and the closest thing he seems to have to a spouse is Chongo....

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: harpmolly
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 01:45 AM

*snerk*

How could I possibly compete? ;)

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: semi-submersible
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 04:14 AM

Unfortunately the ChronicleHerald doesn't keep their stories online for long. Sandy Mc Lean's first link above already gives a "Story not found" error page, so the "update" link will soon follow.

The Guardian story linked by McGrath above and Dave Carroll's own website are still there anyway.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: eddie1
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 03:34 PM

I see from Dave Carroll's website he hoped to get 1 million hits on his You-tube video in a year. When I checked this morning he had nearly 5 million - that's in a month!

Eddie

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 06:55 PM

All in all it sems to have been a lucky break for Dave Carroll.

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:19 PM

My mistake, harpmolly. Female at the shoot ID'd as Jill Carroll and relationship to Dave unspecified. Could be a sibling or sibling spouse, I guess. Think his brother sings with him sometimes.
So if you want the fax, mam, guess you should do your own research.
Looks like video #2 due out shortly, I can't wait.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 06:49 PM

The latest news is that Air Canada has just lost Dave's luggage on a flight to the USA.
Now Air Canada's customer relations really suck but I'm betting that they don't tell him to "kiss off" like United did. If they do stay tuned...............

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: semi-submersible
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 07:39 PM

Customer at baggage check: "Now while I'm flying to Chicago, I want this suitcase to go to Honolulu, this one to Melbourne, and the other to Rome."

Airline ticket agent: "But we can't do that!"

Customer: "Why not? You did last time."

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: harpmolly
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 10:46 PM

LOL! I'll bet Air Canada's customer service agents are shaking in their boots right now ;)

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: quokka
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 10:09 PM

According to his Myspace profile he's single...

(sigh)

Cheers,

Quokka

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Tinker
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 09:00 AM

The Second song is now out

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: Tinker
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 08:59 AM

refresh

No interest in the second song??

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 09:12 AM

It doesn't add a lot, does it?

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From: harpmolly
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 11:52 AM

I don't think it's quite as catchy as the first, but the video is totally fun. I like how he's continuing the trend with the lederhosen. ;) (Gotta get his money's worth out of those mustaches...)

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From:
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 06:58 PM

Second installment now available at Youtube Ms Irlweg

Subject: RE: Guitarist's Revenge / United breaks guitars
From:
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 07:14 PM

Sorry.That was the wrong url. Should be this one

Ms Irlweg Responds
2nd song from Dave

Subject: United Airlines Smashes Guitar - Payback
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 05:31 AM

From: ausfolk(at)folkalliance(dot)org(dot>au

Subject: What to do if the airlines refuse to pay for your damaged instrument!

One Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines who apparently damaged his treasured ($3,500) custom Taylor guitar. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for guitar damage caused by baggage handlers. During his final exchange with the UA Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded: "Good luck with that one, pal."

So he posted a video on Youtube. The video has since received over 6 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician offering settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Dave responded: "Good luck with that one, pal."

Taylor Guitars sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the video's product recognition which has led to a sharp increase in orders.

Here's the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5YGc4zOqozo

cheers, Kate Maclurcan

---

Two threads (2009 & 2012) combined. (And 3rd party e-mail address obscured.)

Subject: RE: United Airlines Smashes Guitar - Payback
From: kendall
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 07:13 AM

Beautiful! I swore off United years ago.
Someone could write a book on this subject. Remember Tom Paxton's song about Republic airlines? They broke his guitar on his way to perform with the Kingston Trio.

UPS damaged my Taylor a few years ago. I sent it by UPS because I didn't trust the airlines!

Subject: RE: United Airlines Smashes Guitar - Payback
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 07:47 AM

What absolute arseholes, this is a fantastic video. I would never fly United Airlines.

Subject: RE: United Airlines Smashes Guitar - Payback
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Apr 12 - 08:16 AM

That's the way to complain!
Brill.