I'm afraid I must second Judith's advice, and go even farther. The ideal setup would be a hard case that will hold your gurdy IN its soft case. That way, when you get to your destination you can park the monster in your hotel room and just carry the soft case around. But it's tricky finding a way to do this within the airlines' size requirements. I've been dinged with an oversize charge once in seven flights because my behemoth wood crate is 64 linear inches instead of the required 62.
Be aware that what TSA allows you to carry through the security check, and what the airline allows you to carry on board the aircraft, are not the same thing, and you are totally at the mercy of the airline as far as whether they let you carry an instrument onboard that will not fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you (if, indeed, you have a seat in front of you). My volksgurdy in its soft case -- in fact, even without the case -- is too large to fit in either place on most aircraft. I've heard many people tell me they travel with their instruments in the cabin all the time, but I have also watched airline personnel stop people at the boarding gate and refuse to allow them to board with their instruments, despite all protestations about the value of the instrument, etc. The late, great Pierre Imbert even got arrested once over this. Bottom line: it's up to you whether you want to throw yourself and your instrument on the mercy of people who don't have to be nice to you. Anna Peekstok Seattle, WA
