How to Ship a bass internationally??? Help!

[Leo Morales]

Hey, guys!
So this summer I will be studying in Valencia, Spain at the Berklee College of Music. I was wondering what the process is of getting my bass from the States to Europe. Is it safe? How should I do it? Do I just take it on the plane? Will materials be an Issue?
Any information and tips will help me tremendously!
Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[Stumbo]

@JimmyM ?

I suggest contacting the airline.

 

[Christophe C]

It depends what you need on location. If I were you, I would buy a Harley Benton bass on thomann.de
For 100 euros, you will get a playable bass guitar. They deliver fast and they have an easy return procedure.
You can easily sell it when you go back to the USA.

 

[knight of ni]

Take it with you on the flight in a flight case (it will go on the bagage hold). I do that every year when i go abroad in vacation at my in-laws, never had a problem. Once I came back with a small wood table which was so poorly packed/wrapped it was embarrassing. It came home without a scratch. Remember that all new instruments that are shipped by plane are shipped in cardboxes. Of course, check with the company it is insured to its real value.

 

[JimmyM]

I used to take mine in a gig bag and put it in carryon, but after 9/11 it became a real crapshoot whether they let you or not, so now I use one of those SKB Roto Cases and a gig bag. Then when you get there, you can just tote it around in the gig bag.

 

[B-Mac]

Remember that all new instruments that are shipped by plane are shipped in cardboxes.

That is so true! I just got a brand new bass from Chowny that was double boxed with bubble wrap as it was not sold with a case or gig bag. It was fine upon arrival.

 

[TolerancEJ]

I have no experience in flying with instruments.

If I was going there, I'd already have 2 side trips planned:
Looking quickly at Google Maps, Invalid Link Removed in Madrid is 2 hours away from Valencia. I look at their used and new inventory online often.

Another store I like checking out online is Invalid Link Removed in Burgos but that's more than 5 hours away. According to their website, they'll give you one free night's stay in a hotel if you buy a new bass valued 1000 Euros or more.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

It seems gate agents have no rhyme or reason as to what they allow to carry on despite what regulations or airline policy states.

 

[Jeff Scott]

... Invalid Link Removed in Burgos...

Oh no!!! He's over there, too?!?!?!?!?

 

[StyleOverShow]

I’ve pulled the neck off and packed the two pieces in my checked bags padded with clothing. Requires some skill and a few tools but totally doable.

I like the buy one there option myself.

 

[JES]

I put a short scale in Mono Vertigo, inside a SKB golf case, and checked it for a 4 month trip from Canada to Berlin. Plus there was plenty of room for pedals and sweaters.

 

[Dynacord]

I’ve pulled the neck off and packed the two pieces in my checked bags padded with clothing. Requires some skill and a few tools but totally doable.

I like the buy one there option myself.

I live in Europe and travel back to the U.S. every year (where I'm from). This is the most reliable method in my experience. I usually use a cardboard shipping tube to protect the neck. Just one phillips head screwdriver.

Taking one in a gigbag is much less reliable than it used to be. Also used the SKB shell cases that a gigbag inserts into but those usually get charged as oversized and TSA never puts them back together right...

Also be aware of CITES issues if it has a rosewood board.

 

[Drucifer]

The first time I checked a bass with an airline, it was damaged (the case, anyway). It looked like someone drove over the edge of the case (molded Fender hardshell case) with a forklift. They offered to send it to their contractor for repair, I didn't bother. I wouldn't fly with anything irreplaceable, and would use a flight case if you can't carry it on. Shipping separately or buying a new bass sound like better options to me.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Lest you forget.
CITES - What every bass player should know

 

[tradernick]

It depends what you need on location. If I were you, I would buy a Harley Benton bass on thomann.de
For 100 euros, you will get a playable bass guitar. They deliver fast and they have an easy return procedure.
You can easily sell it when you go back to the USA.

A decent idea, but if he's going to Spain to study at Berklee, there may be a bit of reluctance to show up with a $150 instrument. As a young guy going over as a player to hang with other players, there'd be a bit of that thought in my head.

Gate check is a crap shoot but we've been forced to do it. The thing is, if you show up with just a (good) gig bag and they won't let you take it on, then you're stuck. If you're not flying multiple times it should be okay but...

You should find out what plane you're flying and look at the layout. There's a closet at the front of many bigger planes and it will take a gig bag standing up vertically. I've begged and pleaded my way into that spot many a time.

I really admire guys who have enough skill to detach a neck from a bass an then re-attach and set up on the fly. Seriously, I should have learned more about my instrument. There is no way I would ever do that, especially if I had to arrive and gig.

 

[Dynacord]

You should find out what plane you're flying and look at the layout. There's a closet at the front of many bigger planes and it will take a gig bag standing up vertically. I've begged and pleaded my way into that spot many a time.

Have done the same in the past though those closets have been eliminated on many planes...

Also this is not going to be any easier as most airlines - even Lufthansa - are now selling carry-on only tickets/charging for the 1st checked bag on Europe/U.S. flights.

I really admire guys who have enough skill to detach a neck from a bass an then re-attach and set up on the fly. Seriously, I should have learned more about my instrument. There is no way I would ever do that, especially if I had to arrive and gig.

On a Fender/Fender-type of bass it's generally only 4 wood screws - not much different than what needs to be done to adjust the truss rod on many of the same. The only complicating factor is if the neck was shimmed, one has to pay attention to where it was and put it back in the same place (personally, I loosen the truss rod 1/4 turn and retighten the same just before reattaching the neck though this might not be necessary for that amount of time). Other than that it's just put the neck and strings back on and tune up. Usually no more adjustment needed than any other bass after being flown/changing climates.

 

[Dynacord]

I use one of those SKB Roto Cases and a gig bag. Then when you get there, you can just tote it around in the gig bag.

The thing with this (and road cases) is that on European flights you can be charged both oversized and overweight fees which can often be 100 Euro or more EACH (if it is both) and are often applied to each flight if there are connecting flights.

EDIT the roto cases would only be oversize. They are not heavy. This is probably what I would use for a neck-through or set neck bass - but would be prepared for the up-charges.

 

[knight of ni]

The thing with this (and road cases) is that on European flights you can be charged both oversized and overweight fees which can often be 100 Euro or more EACH (if it is both) and are often applied to each flight if there are connecting flights.

Check with the company as they may have a specific policy for musical instruments, for which basically the oversize limit is waived. You still have to pay for overweight fees if applicable, but that is true wether you put it disassembled in a suitcase or in a flight case. Of course you have to pay for the flight case weight but you can also carry your bass around in the flight case rather than have to bring a gig bag.

 

[Dynacord]

Check with the company as they may have a specific policy for musical instruments, for which basically the oversize limit is waived. You still have to pay for overweight fees if applicable, but that is true wether you put it disassembled in a suitcase or in a flight case. Of course you have to pay for the flight case weight but you can also carry your bass around in the flight case rather than have to bring a gig bag.

Good point. Though I've never been over the standard weight limit with a disassembled bass in a suitcase.

 

[Stumbo]

Have done the same in the past though those closets have been eliminated on many planes...

Also this is not going to be any easier as most airlines - even Lufthansa - are now selling carry-on only tickets/charging for the 1st checked bag on Europe/U.S. flights.



On a Fender/Fender-type of bass it's generally only 4 wood screws - not much different than what needs to be done to adjust the truss rod on many of the same. The only complicating factor is if the neck was shimmed, one has to pay attention to where it was and put it back in the same place (personally, I loosen the truss rod 1/4 turn and retighten the same just before reattaching the neck though this might not be necessary for that amount of time). Other than that it's just put the neck and strings back on and tune up. Usually no more adjustment needed than any other bass after being flown/changing climates.

Prolly be a few players at the school who can do setups.