How to pack a double bass for movers?

[ckmclau]

Sorry if this has been discussed recently but my search came up empty. I need to pack a double bass for sea transport from Europe to the US along with my household goods. I'm in need of advice regarding the best way to pack the bass in its gig bag for shipping. Are there special shipping boxes designed for this? It's a relatively cheap bass so I can't justify a flight case.

Also, I plan to loosen the strings until they are just tight enough to keep the bridge and sound post in place. Is this a good idea, or should I remove the bridge and worry about resetting the sound post later?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Jake deVilliers]

Visit a large music store and ask them for a box they had a bass shipped to them in. I would recommend knocking down the sound post and removing the tuning machines too, to save the bass from secondary impact damage.

Good luck!

[Bill Bentgen]

My bass shipped direct from Pöllmann came in a cardboard box with the soundpost removed. Having experience with movers in the U.S., I would recommend renting a bass trunk.

[robobass]

I had a neighbor with a woodshop build me a crate from 1/2" plywood, which I airfreighted. A cardboard crate should be ok too, but make sure to pack it very tightly with foam peanuts.

[Erik Turkman]

I would also recommend renting a bass trunk. Because your bass is likely to pass through many hands before it reaches its destination, you want it to be clearly recognizable as to what it is, that it is fragile, and how to move it. A generic box or crate might not make these things obvious, increasing the likelihood of damage. A well designed bass trunk is made specifically for this task. Why not use the proper tool for the job?

[Sam Sherry]

Originally Posted by ckmclau

I need to pack a double bass for sea transport from Europe to the US along with my household goods.

a) If you have a solid-wood bass, picture your instrument sitting for xx days dockside in an unventilated shipping container, then floating on a boat in the same container for another xx days, then sitting for xx days dockside upon arrival, then riding atop a container-truck for another xx days. If you are willing to bet your bass' health on that you have more confidence than me.

b) No matter whether laminated or solid, make sure your bass is on top of everything else in the container, and that there is no possible way whatsoever that any shifting box could hit it even during the most violent weather

Originally Posted by ckmclau

Also, I plan to loosen the strings until they are just tight enough to keep the bridge and sound post in place. Is this a good idea, or should I remove the bridge and worry about resetting the sound post later?

Take it down. Don't forget to put a cloth under your tailpiece as you do so it won't scratch your top.

Good luck and smooth move!