Removing neck and shipping vs. flying

21niko21 · #1 08-17-2011, 11:22 AM

I'm considering removing the neck on a very nice bass to make it easier and cheaper to transport. At first I was going to remove it the night before and then fly with it. Then, I thought of shipping it. If I shipped it, I'm assuming I would need to completely loosen the truss rod and then it would need a complete set up. Would it be possible to even set it up in one night with the amount the truss rod would need to be adjusted? Would it need a complete set up if I took it off the night before and flew with it or just some minor adjustments? How dangerous is this plan overall to the neck? Thanks.

**Coolhandjjl** · #2 08-17-2011, 02:46 PM

Why take the neck off to ship? Leave it fully tuned/set up and put it in your hard sided case. Keep it firmly in place by adding some cushioning where needed. Get a guitar shipping box from GC or a shipper, and slide in your guitar case. Fill any voids with some cushioning. Done.

john grey · #3 08-17-2011, 03:13 PM

I agree; I think you might be safer w/ a hard-shell case and shipping it in unison. However if you are talking about a quality instrument (speaking personally) I would insure it for 2x it's value.

The issue I see aside from general stability is that by taking it apart, you are exposing untreated areas to humidity alterations more so than by the above method.

21niko21 · #4 08-17-2011, 11:35 PM

Thanks guys, the ATA case has been bought. Insurance through musicpro will be bought before departure. The only reason I was thinking of doing that was money issues. I never even considered the untreated areas having more alterations than the rest.

JLS · #5 08-18-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

I never even considered the untreated areas having more alterations than the rest.

That's because it's a non-issue-"untreated areas"?

john grey · #6 08-18-2011, 02:07 PM

Devils advocate stuff....But based on bad experience.
Guy ships the bass (taken apart; shipped in common cardboard container) and body/neck heel are exposed to water, Pepsi, Lord knows what. Wood of high porosity (Alder, whatever....) gets seriously wet during shipping.

Only reason I even bring it up is experiences with UPS. Received guitar in hard case; found hole in cardboard that came close to puncturing Music Man case. Bottom of cardboard wet to such a degree that it looked like it SAT IN 2" of WATER for a week +. The case slid out of cardboard w/ no unwrapping due to end of cardboard becoming PULP from water immersion. Very nasty.