Has anyone shipped an upright before? Advice needed

[CelinderMotoMan]

Anyone know the best way to ship an upright and an idea of the cost?

[Dave Hosking]

A link to a previous thread:

DB specific shipping service?

[Droot]

I don't know about a DB, but I shipped a EUB via DHL and they dropped it hard enough that the finger board broke in half and away from the neck. This was my first of two go a rounds with DHL, the other was them dropping a bass cab so hard the magnets came loose from the frames (I had no choice for the shipping because the seller gave no choice and they had the tab). My point is that cheapest is not alway best. Trust Fedex or UPS, both good and they cover you if things go astray.
Droot

[Johnny Atomic]

Originally Posted by Droot

I don't know about a DB, but I shipped a EUB via DHL and they dropped it hard enough that the finger board broke in half and away from the neck. This was my first of two go a rounds with DHL, the other was them dropping a bass cab so hard the magnets came loose from the frames (I had no choice for the shipping because the seller gave no choice and they had the tab). My point is that cheapest is not alway best. Trust Fedex or UPS, both good and they cover you if things go astray.
Droot

UPS and FedEx both have size and weight limitations that would not allow double bass shipment.

DHL no longer exists in the US so that is one less option.

Shipping a DB usually costs between $125 and $250

Also in my experience, UPS denies EVERY SINGLE CLAIM then makes you dispute and prove you deserve payment.

At one point I was shipping hundreds of packages a year by UPS, and they didn't have one bit of problem accepting my money to pay for insurance, but they had one hell of a time letting go of that money when they screwed up and broke my stuff.

[Russell Bergum]

I'm pretty sure FedEx will ship a bass, since Upton Bass is sending mine via FedEx. With a shipment of that size, they will not deliver to your door, and you have to pick it up at their nearest distribution center/loading dock, unless you have a business with a loading dock that they can deliver it to.

You should PM Eric Roy and ask how they package the bass. I think it's in a crate, with a ton of packaging, possibly wires holding it in place too.

It will cost around $325 to ship from Mystic CT to northern MN.

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Originally Posted by Russell Bergum

You should PM Eric Roy and ask how they package the bass. I think it's in a crate, with a ton of packaging, possibly wires holding it in place too.

That's exactly what they do. A while back I found some guy's blog, which had a slide show of him unpacking his new Upton from a plywood crate held together with screws. It looked pretty substantial.

[CelinderMotoMan]

Mine came shipped in an Engelhardt cardboard box. A friend of mine works at a music store that carries band stringed instruments furnished me with a box, and I'm gonna see if he will ship it through the store for me.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by CelinderMotoMan

Mine came shipped in an Engelhardt cardboard box. A friend of mine works at a music store that carries band stringed instruments furnished me with a box, and I'm gonna see if he will ship it through the store for me.

Long & McQuade in Vancouver receives Czech-made double basses shipped in cardboard boxes with some urethane foam support blocks at strategic points.

They are sent from the Czech Republic to Toronto where they are fitted with bridges and strings and then across the continent to Vancouver. I haven't seen any damage in two years...

[MollyKay]

Read this and then decide. There are other shipping options listed.

Shipping a bass by Greyhound Bus...beware!

Hope it helps!!!

[John Sprague]

I've had my best luck with UPS Ground, FedEx National, and FedEx Freight, in that order.

Basses travel best in the upright position. The back of a truck is like a big paint shaker. The bass can only take that level of abuse when standing on its end pin. Any horizontal methods will have the serious weight of the neck levered against the little old neck block. Even if it's supported, there is still some potential for movement. Recipe for disaster. We strap them to skids standing up, then wrap them in black shrink wrap.

As for flight cases, a lot of people use them, but I have broken many basses in them so I'm not a fan. Gage's is the one I've had the most success with.

The best way to ship by far is to put it in your car, and drive.

[pnchad]

I've always used an air freight carrier - most of the airlines have the service.

It's not door to door but safe, insured and I've never had a problem. You have to rent a flight case and drive/pickup from the air cargo area of a major airport but it was only about $60 each way.

So, I rent a case ship the bass and have the case returned the same method OR ship the empty case out plop the bass in it at the airport and away it goes.

About $200 - $250 with case rental. Helps if you're in or near a large city.

p.s. because you load it and/or open it in front of them there can;t be a dispute!

[Ed Holmes]

Air freight in a trunk, lightly padded around the instrument with bubble wrap or similar packing material.