Double Bass How to ship bass overseas?

[sowhat59]

An old friend of mine who lives in Japan wants to buy my bass, which I've been thinking of selling.
I just sold a flight case because I had no plans to tour in foreign country anymore. What a great timing....

Anyhow, somehow if I buy a flight case again to ship a bass, what'd be the best way to ship?

I looked up USPS package restriction but I couldn't find size and weight specification.
FedEx or UPS is another option but they'd be extremely more expensive as they consider size of the package for pricing.

He looked up Japanese overseas moving company and it might be possible to use them.
But according to "general understanding" Japanese moving companies don't really handle items carefully and there're millions of lawsuit regarding broken items. So he's reluctant to go with a moving company.

Another question, if no flight case can be used for shipping, what do you suggest? (I know this is a sort of ridiculous question...)
I'm thinking super heavy padding all around the bridge and neck. Neck would have a serious padding so its thickness would be parallel to the body. (am I explaning myself here?)
Then, of course padding and wood structure protectoin. (thinking of buying wood panels from home depot..)
So it'd be sort of a self made flight case.....
This is just an extreme option in case WE can't find an uses flight case on CL... he can't afford to buy a new one AND pay for shipping...

 

[elgecko]

If it's a bolt-on, remove the neck and put it in a smaller box.

 

[Ross Kratter]

If it's a bolt-on, remove the neck and put it in a smaller box.

This is the DB forum.

 

[Ross Kratter]

When I've imported basses they have been shipped in a guitar case (the regular molded plastic kind) and just a sturdy cardboard box. No special padding on the bass or neck. I've not had anything bad happen with any of them. I would not use a "moving company" but rather one of the usual shipping companies like UPS, DHL etc.

This is the DB forum.

 

[elgecko]

This is the DB forum.

This is the DB forum.

 

[pnchad]

the absolute best - and BTW possibly the cheapest is as follows:

he rents a proper case - might have to be for 2 weeks - ships the empty case airfreight to you, you ship back loaded or,

you rent case, ship to him - he ships back empty case

I've done it several times inside US (no reason it won't work int'l) from Wash. state to Miami - can't get much further cont. US

it's not REAL expensive - only inconvenience is that you have to deliver & pick it up at the airfreight warehouse (usually just outside the larger airports) but that's good too because you can verify condition in front of the shipping clerk both ends - no getting it home and finding damage you can't prove

the insurance is good and not too expensive - cross country cost including case rental was < $300

 

[sowhat59]

Thanks everyone. Both elgecko and pnchad's method sounds great.
I just moved to LA from NYC and don't know much around here as far as luthier and shops go.
I've heard about remodeling the bass for "travel friendly bass" which sounds like pretty much what elgecko suggested. Don't know how much that costs. But since my friend will be traveling a lot, that'd be a good option.
But I think we both sort of want to ship off/receive the bass as it is, which will involve pnchad's suggestion.
$300 sounds way too good. Almost unbelievable.
I looked at a cargo shipping option through a few companies out here in LA and based on a flight case size and weight, they charge about $1200 and that's only airport to airport, excluding airport fee, tax, duties, etc.
Oh man.. I don't know...

 

[pnchad]

Well - I think you need to do more research - it should NOT be $1200 unless you are looking at duties or import fees - I don't know about those in Japan

First - renting a proper flight case should not exceed $200/week

Shipping each way airfreight w/full insurance ($10k) was about $50 from Seattle to Miami

I don't think you've done the research yet

Btw you rent a flight case from a classical string instr dealer not a luthier (although they might be both) i used Hammond Ashley I.e.

It is not the BD it seems - how do you think classical players do it?

 

[james condino]

Have you considered buying a plane ticket and paying the extra fees for bringing the bass along?

Another option is to have a local luthier remove the neck and then ship have it re glued back in Japan. I can typically ship just a bass body for 1/3 of what it costs for a complete bass. In regards to the FedEx shipping, look at FedEx freight- a separate division of the company that handles the larger items. As an exapmle, the local fedex standard dropoff place for regular sized pakages always quotes me about $800 or more to ship a complete bass coast to coast domestically, but fedex freight charges me $300 for the same large packaged up bass, and only $100 for just a bass body.

Good luck and let us know what you wind up with.

j.
www.condino.com

 

[Violen]

I know KC Strings rents hard cases for basses, im sure other shops do too. I would suggest renting the case, and flying with the bass.

Then you get sushi.