I have started using pieces of those 'noodle' floats that kids play with in pools. You can get them for about $1.50 at Walmart, Target, etc. I just cut them in appropriate length pieces, slit the pieces lengthwise down one side of the tube, and then tape it on the end/edges of the bass so it acts like the bumper on a car. These three basses shipped to Japan in a single box and arrive safe and sound...
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How to Ship Bass without Case
- Thread starter James Willie
- Start date
What I would do is go to Walmart and purchase two of their large cardboard boxes that are about $2 each. Also pick up a roll of bubble wrap. I split the two boxes and make cardboard coffin by alternating wrapped layers of cardboard around the bass (and taping them) (glad I caught spell check changing the t to an r). Put a layer of bubble wrap under the strings. Put a triple wrap around the headstock. Make a pillow for the bottom of the bass in case it’s dropped. I add cardboard around the neck to give it more support. Then put that in a FedEx instrument box.
Packing aside, you’ll spend about $150 to ship coast to coast. If it’s not an expensive bass, Craigslist is appealing even if you get a little less for it and don’t have to deal with shipping.
Packing aside, you’ll spend about $150 to ship coast to coast. If it’s not an expensive bass, Craigslist is appealing even if you get a little less for it and don’t have to deal with shipping.
So if the damage on that bass from the bubble wrap are those circular marks, you should be able to polish them out. To me it looks like it was fairly fresh nitro that was still gassing off, but nitro can be a pain sometimes. Not much can hurt a Poly finish, so I wouldn't worry. As a builder and refinisher, I have not seen that type of damage before. If the finish reacts to bubble wrap, I would be concerned about wrapping in newspaper due to the chemicals in the ink. Plain paper would be best IMHO.
Yes, the damage from the bubble wrap was the circular marks, but it wasn't nearly as simple as just polishing them out, which left glossy patches all over a heavily aged finish. I basically had to re-relic the bass. It was a lot of work to get everything to blend seamlessly, but it turned out fine.
FWIW, using newspaper was recommended by a number of experienced TBers, including a couple of luthiers, but I'm sure your suggestion is right and plain newsprint or butcher paper would be the safest bet.
I shipped a bass like this not too long ago.
Arrived safe and sound but probably took the buyer about an hour to get through all the bubble wrap
If you have Amazon, $25 for a gig bag and wrap in bubble wrap. Let FedEx pack it, they're generally way cheaper for that than The UPS Store. put some cardboard under the strings so they don't dig into the frets. If you're lucky, the bag will come in a long case, but that's unlikely unless you get the extra padded bags that can't be folded.
Reverb will ship three nice bass boxes to your door for 35.00.
They are nice and thick.
They are nice and thick.
Very nice work!I sent an Ibanez 5 string Portamento via Fedex ground, with no padded bag or hard case from Central FL to Sacramento, Ca packed like this and it made it unscathed.The buyer was very pleased.
Gotta love bubble wrap.
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To be really secure: Do this. Make sure it all fits snugly. Then put inside another slightly bigger box and fill the gaps from all sides in some more bubble wrap. This will provide pretty good mechanical and thermal protection.
The part that is going to be most prone to failure in this case is the headstock. Make sure there's good padding between it and the "wall" of the box, but also that this padding won't collaps, so that the headstock doesn't get banged agains the box when the box is dropped "head first" on some conveyer or some such.
Wow. I'd definitely buy from you!I sent an Ibanez 5 string Portamento via Fedex ground, with no padded bag or hard case from Central FL to Sacramento, Ca packed like this and it made it unscathed.
Gotta love bubble wrap.
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Wrap the body and neck in foam sheet (the thin white stuff). place a layer between the loosened strings and the fretboard. then wrap the whole guitar in layers of bubble wrap. Build a thick pad out of bubble wrap or something thick and cushy, place in the bottom of the box. Place the guitar in the box and stuff newspaper around all sides top and bottom until the guitar is virtually centered in the box. Worked for me so far.
I'd double-box it.
First, wrap the bass in several layers of bubble wrap, stick it in the first box, then put the first box into the second box. The outer box should be big enough to allow at least 4 inches between the boxes on all sides so there's enough room for plenty of foam peanuts.
The trick here is to make sure that the inner box is completely suspended by the foam peanuts inside the outer box... in other words, the inner box shouldn't touch the outer box anywhere. Before you slide the inner box into the outer box, make sure to put several inches of peanuts into the bottom of the outer box. Then slide the inner box in and add more foam peanuts along the sides. And make sure you use enough peanuts so that when you close and tape down the top flaps you have to make an effort to hold the flaps down against the peanuts... this will ensure everything's nice & snug and the inner box can't move around in there.
Das it mane.
EDIT: before wrapping it in bubble wrap, wrap it with a thin sheet of foam to protect delicate finishes.
NOW das it mane!
First, wrap the bass in several layers of bubble wrap, stick it in the first box, then put the first box into the second box. The outer box should be big enough to allow at least 4 inches between the boxes on all sides so there's enough room for plenty of foam peanuts.
The trick here is to make sure that the inner box is completely suspended by the foam peanuts inside the outer box... in other words, the inner box shouldn't touch the outer box anywhere. Before you slide the inner box into the outer box, make sure to put several inches of peanuts into the bottom of the outer box. Then slide the inner box in and add more foam peanuts along the sides. And make sure you use enough peanuts so that when you close and tape down the top flaps you have to make an effort to hold the flaps down against the peanuts... this will ensure everything's nice & snug and the inner box can't move around in there.
Das it mane.
EDIT: before wrapping it in bubble wrap, wrap it with a thin sheet of foam to protect delicate finishes.
NOW das it mane!
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FedEx will box it up for an additional $20 last time I asked. Just avoid the bubble wrap touching the bass as mentioned. Wrap it in a sheet or something if you are concerned.
And since FedEx boxed it, they will guarantee payment on a damage claim it it gets damaged in shipping.
And since FedEx boxed it, they will guarantee payment on a damage claim it it gets damaged in shipping.
These are nice boxes. I’ve gone through 6 of them AND the box they came in!
Shipping basses is expensive! Be prepared for that shock. The box ($5-13), bubble wrap($7), packing peanuts($5/bag - need about 2 bags), the packaging tape ($5). But that all pales in comparison to what the shipping companies charge to ship a bass across the US. (hint: without a corporate account, the smallest bass box will cost you $100, a larger box going coast to coast could run you $200! Don’t forget to add insurance.)
I’ve sold 16 guitars/basses on Reverb in the last 2 years. It seems most people who buy from me are on the East Coast, while I’m on the West Coast. I only set a fixed shipping fee that covers all the packaging materials and a small % of the shipping cost. (I keep forgetting and then I join one of their 15% off sales and someone buys something and then I see what my net $$ amount to me after shipping and fees, and say “doh!”.)
I'm just happy that you asked the question before posting it for sale. I've seen posts in the past I've sold a bass. How do I ship it? If I was the buyer, that would create a knot in my stomach.
