Broken string during shipping?

[alembicbones]

Every bass I've shipped and every bass that was shipped to me, even from Bellevue, Washington, has been tuned to pitch and was pretty much in tune when they arrived at their destinations.

Slightly off topic but I grew up in Bellevue, Washington. I'm guessing the bass you received from that town was an awesome Mike Lull bass.

Bones

 

[Dragan]

1st time l hear "don't ship your bass tuned" advice

 

[Geri O]

Slightly off topic but I grew up in Bellevue, Washington. I'm guessing the bass you received from that town was an awesome Mike Lull bass.

Bones

LOL, yes, actually 3 of them!

I'm a fan.....

 

[Ric5]

This is most likely my fault. I left the bass on pitch.

Last week I shipped a bass from California to Maine. It arrived today. The feedback I received was the G string was snapped upon arrival. He’s not asking for any compensation. Have you guys experienced this? Is it possible due to a combination of the weather and handling?

instruments are supposed to be shipped tuned to pitch or detuned 1 step

 

[Pilgrim]

The shipped bass was not a string through. It could be. But wasn’t.

I’m trying to come to peace as to what happened.

Really??? Chill.

I've shipped and received basses strung at various tensions, and never had a string break. But I usually replace strings anyway as soon as I get the bass.

IMO it was a string that was marginal anyway. Install your favorites and go on with life. Not worth "coming to peace" over.

 

[ChrisBowsman]

Crap happens. Every business everywhere is in a weird place being understaffed. It's possible the string was defective. I shipped a mandolin from Ohio to Texas, in a hard case, packed to survive an atomic bomb. It arrived with a broken string and no damage otherwise.

 

[Lenny JG]

Carrots were the culprit

 

[DWBass]

I'm betting the new owner over-tuned it and is trying to blame it on shipping.

 

[Dominic D]

The idea of using someone else’s old strings grosses me out. They’re pretty much thrown out as soon as I get the bass.

 

[JimB52]

Highly unlikely that a string would snap only from being tuned to pitch during shipping, unless it was not properly packed, protected or handed. I'm superstitious, so I detune about a half step before packing and box really securely

 

[sotua]

Ship 1/2 cent detuned, or tuned.

And pack it like you would want it shipped to you.

Done

All the basses/guitars I've bought lately from GC have arrived (approximately) tuned to Eb standard. Sounds like a good policy.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Every bass I've ever bought or ordered online was tuned to pitch when received.
They are made to be under string tension for long durations.
Bass strings don't just break on their own.