So my wife and I are moving cross country to be closer to our grandkids. The move is from Cailfornia to Maryland. Need advice on the best way to move my basses/guitars (5 basses /8 guitars) and amps (4) biggest amps being a Ampeg an a Ampeg BA1152 and a B-15N. Need suggestions/advice on moving everything.
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Moving Cross Country need suggestions/advice
- Thread starter JKB1957
- Start date
On my last cross-country move, we rented a minivan for the music instruments, electronics, tube amps, other large delicate items, and the papers we would need to continue working for the couple days before the movers arrived. Wife drove the car, I drove the minivan, movers carried everything else including the solid-state bass amp.
Move them with all your other stuff in the moving truck? I don't see the dilemma as long as they're well boxed/packed.
Instruments, I'd wrap/tape the latches and bubble wrap the interior of the cases to keep the instruments from shifting... it wouldn't hurt to invest in some "this end up" stickers.. Take a look at some of the posts in TB about how to prepare a bass for air travel.
Actually, shipping stuff with a moving company is much safer than air travel. The objects go onto the moving van while you're there, they don't get shifted till they come off the moving van at the destination while you're there. Far better than the airport where every knucklehead and gorilla in the place gets a whack at your fragile instrument.
Moving companies will transfer loads between trucks on long hauls. But, yes, they're going to be more reliable with regards to preventing damage and theft than an airline will.
seperate van with you driving it all
....moving companies can break things, i wouldn't trust my gear with anyone else really, unless they're a musician...and even still.
....moving companies can break things, i wouldn't trust my gear with anyone else really, unless they're a musician...and even still.Having dealt with several moves, ensure you have accurate documentation of your inventory. My last move I actually ended out with more stuff than I shipped, to include the dolly the movers were using to move my stuff. ardgedee nailed it, not only are there transfers, but many times items are stored in a warehouse at the destination point.
Unless you're transporting a van full of pre-CBS Fenders, renting a van one-way for a cross-country drive would cost more than the gear is worth once you factor in gas, food, hotel, etc.seperate van with you driving it all
Looking forward to hearing about your move, as my wife and I are also considering one to be closer to our grand babies.
Are you long time Californians? Weve lived here our entire lives, even though we're well traveled, the idea of ripping our roots up and settling elsewhere is...scary.
For me, most of my gear can ride in the moving van, whatever. .. but.
My primary bass would be with me, one way or another. Never leave it in your car or truck at hotels. Take it in with you.
Are you long time Californians? Weve lived here our entire lives, even though we're well traveled, the idea of ripping our roots up and settling elsewhere is...scary.
For me, most of my gear can ride in the moving van, whatever. .. but.
My primary bass would be with me, one way or another. Never leave it in your car or truck at hotels. Take it in with you.
About 3 years ago I moved from Seattle to Austin. I had a bunch of guitars and basses, and here's what I did:
Each guitar/bass was in its own case or gig bag.
Each case or gig bag was then packed into it's own cardboard guitar/bass shipping box (you can usually get free boxes from your local Guitar Center, though it may require a little dumpster diving).
I then bought some large wardrobe boxes from a local storage facility. Each wardrobe box could hold 5-6 guitar/bass boxes.
So, when it was all said and done I had 4 of these large wardrobe boxes, each one containing 5-6 guitars/basses, each guitar/bass in its own box and in its own case or gig bag.
No mover, or anyone else looking at the wardrobe boxes, would have a clue what's inside. And it would be a real challenge for someone to try to run off with one of these wardrobe boxes. And I had peace of mind that my instruments were very safely packed and unlikely to be damaged.
I used U-Haul's U-Box service for my move (kind of like PODS), which worked out great and was a lot cheaper than a moving company. But I would have packed the guitars and basses the same way regardless. I didn't have any tube amps to worry about. I did box up my amps and speakers cabinets as well though, not in wardrobe boxes but in seperate boxes for each amp or cab.
Each guitar/bass was in its own case or gig bag.
Each case or gig bag was then packed into it's own cardboard guitar/bass shipping box (you can usually get free boxes from your local Guitar Center, though it may require a little dumpster diving).
I then bought some large wardrobe boxes from a local storage facility. Each wardrobe box could hold 5-6 guitar/bass boxes.
So, when it was all said and done I had 4 of these large wardrobe boxes, each one containing 5-6 guitars/basses, each guitar/bass in its own box and in its own case or gig bag.
No mover, or anyone else looking at the wardrobe boxes, would have a clue what's inside. And it would be a real challenge for someone to try to run off with one of these wardrobe boxes. And I had peace of mind that my instruments were very safely packed and unlikely to be damaged.
I used U-Haul's U-Box service for my move (kind of like PODS), which worked out great and was a lot cheaper than a moving company. But I would have packed the guitars and basses the same way regardless. I didn't have any tube amps to worry about. I did box up my amps and speakers cabinets as well though, not in wardrobe boxes but in seperate boxes for each amp or cab.
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No matter how you do it, get replacement value insurance from Music pro or another reputable company.
I just moved last month, only a few hours but still involved a mountain pass and did pretty much the same thing as Danny O Danny. I went with Uhaul U-boxes that they pick up and move. I wrapped my amps in cardboard with some bubble wrap and then put all my basses in their respective gig bags and loaded them at the top of the containers loosely strapped to the top to allow a little movement. Everything came out find at the other end with no damage.
I bought extra blankets to wrap the basses in that I didn’t have cases for. They rode on top of the pile in the back of my S U V. Below them were the amps and cabs also in movers blankets. All arrived safely with nary a scratch. Some kitchen small wears that went by moving van never were seen again. The other play is to sell everything and by new and improved when you arrive.
