Double Bass Experiences shipping double basses in two parts

[Baxel]

Greetings everyone, I'm new to the forum, thank you very much for accepting me, to the point, I'm thinking of buying a Romanian double bass on ebay but I'm from Chile, they are offering me a shipment in two parts, the neck and the body separately, what that would be attached here in my country...

Does anyone have experience sending double basses that way? Is it a good idea to buy online? here in my country it is very difficult to get solid wood double basses that are not Chinese or of some superior quality, so any help would help me... I was investigating the seller and he seems reliable, he seems to have experience in shipping worldwide, In the same way, it's a lot of money that is difficult to get here being a musician... anyway, website here (excuse my poopy English).

TODDOMUSICA

Golden ToneWood – Online Wood Shop for Luthiers

 

[bassmanbrent]

This is an interesting idea... I've never heard of anyone offering this before. Do you know a luthier locally that you trust to install the neck correctly for you? I'm pretty sure it's not as simple as it might sound - especially if the seller doesn't take the time to fit the neck well before shipping it to you. If you don't know a good luthier, I wouldn't consider this situation if it were me.

 

[Kenan]

Talk to Steve Swan, a bass dealer here in the California Bay Area. I believe this is his preferred method for shipping overseas and he has a whole method for safely packing it all up in a crate. As mentioned above, you'll need a local luthier to assemble on the receiving side

 

[TheBassPreacher]

From a shipping standpoint it certainly makes sense. It seems like it would be more secure because you wouldn't have a large box with a small piece (in comparison) sticking up that could be broken. I'm guessing they probably came to that conclusion after having some arrive with broken necks. As others have said, you will need to make sure you have a good luthier on your side to put it all together and get it setup for you. Though that would probably be something you will need if a bass is being shipped internationally anyway, even if it is shipped whole.

 

[Don Hergert]

It seems like if a builder is going that far, why not make the neck permanently removable/adjustable so the new owner has the advantages of being able to assemble and setup the instrument themselves, as well as being able to disassemble it later for travel convenience. There are builders -- some that frequent here in TB/DB -- that will do that. Some very nice neck-adjust ability can be had that way.