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Shipping a bass/best practices

#2
Gem of a tip - print the label twice. 1 to place on the box and 1 to put inside, on top.
Should the box/label become damaged and unreadable, it will end up in a room where the contents will be opened. If there is a label inside, you've just avoided a huge headache and possible loss of item.
 
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#3
Loosen strings about 2 turns. See how the bass sits in the case. Some still need a little additional padding to keep it from shift around in there. I would use a box. Padding inside the box to minimize movement. I'd have 3 copies of the shipper; inside the case, inside the box and on the outside (put clear tape over the label). Cross your fingers and let her fly.
 
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#4
ejnachtrab said:
I’m having a bass shipped (in/with its case) from Canada to the US. Does anyone have recommendations for which carrier to use, whether to tape up the case or box it (leaning towards a case in a box) or any other suggestions, cautions, anecdotes? Much appreciated.
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DON'T use FedEx. Thy lost my Taylor Acoustic bass when I ordered it.
 
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#7
I only had one bass shipped to me from a reverb sale, it had been dropped on the headstock end of the box.
It was in a case, in a box with bubble wrap. Nothing in the case to keep the bass from shifting. the headstock busted a hole in the hardcase. The bass was undamaged, but the shame is it was a custom shop case that was destroyed.

What would have saved the day, fill any and all voids in the case to make it impossible for the bass to move in the case no matter what.
Pretty sure in this case it was UPS.

Fortunately the seller was able to do a swap and get a suitable replacement.
 
#8
Package it with care like it's going off to war, both inside and outside of the case. The headstock will want to move around in a hard case, use a lot of bubblewrap or brown paper to hold it in place. Use LOTS of foam padding at the ends of the box -- the spot that'll take the blow when the box (almost certainly) gets dropped -- and best practice is to reinforce the corners of the box with additional layers of cardboard on the inside. It usually takes me a good 30-45 minutes to pack up a bass well.

Don't let a pack-n-ship place box it up, I've never seen them do better than a mediocre job.

I usually ship with FedEx but UPS is fine too, they're both OK most of the time but horrible if you have a problem (I have a few stories).
 
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#9
ejnachtrab said:
Has anyone shipped a lot of instruments? Sold or bought a lot on line? Is there a carrier that you prefer?
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I’ve sold several hundred guitars on eBay. Always use guitar shipping boxes. I dumpster dive the local GC for my boxes. I’ve shipped UPS, FedEx and USPS. Mostly used UPS for years. But now I use FedEx almost exclusively because it’s cheaper here. Haven’t had any problems with FedEx. Both UPS and USPS have broken or lost shipments a couple of times in the past. Making insurance claims was a real hassle. Knock on wood that FedEx will continue to deliver (pun intended).
 
#10
My method (based on basses I've received and learned "WHAT NOT TO DO"...)

Leave the bass tuned to pitch. (as manufactures do)
The "shake test" is key; making sure the bass is not loose and firmly secured in its case.
Continuously video the packing and boxing. (inexpensive phone tripod from Amazon)
If you have accessories, secure them in a padded envelope, or similar and make sure they cannot move.
If they're in a compartment, make sure the lid cannot come open (using bubble wrap to fill the void between the lid and top of the case).

Supplies.
  • Bag of clean white painter rags. (Home Depot, Menards, Walmart, etc)
  • Bubble Wrap. (small for in the case, large bubbles work well between the case and box.)
  • Masking tape and or "stretch-wrap".
I Basically "mummify" the bass, starting at the headstock, with the white rags, moving down the neck, before placing it in the case.
wrap the headstock - secure (I use the stretch wrap, using light pressure.)
Next, leaving the strings tuned to pitch, I put rags between the the neck and strings**, and then wrap rags around the neck and over the strings, and secure with stretch wrap
Now I put the bass in the case, placing bubble wrap under / over the headstock & neck, (both protected by the rags) making sure the lid closes - just making a little contact, but without pressure.

Now I cover what's rest of the body, and roll up rags around the perimeter of the body between the case - wherever there is slack or movement.
The bass should not be able to slide at all in the case.
Finally, fill the rest of the voids with bubble wrap (which never directly touches the bass itself) - all while opening / closing / shaking the case as you go.

Now "test fit" the case into the box; I put an extra layer of bubble wrap at the bottom of the box. (or tape it to the bottom of the case)
Bubble wrap the bottom 1/2 of the case, using masking tape to hold it in place. Fit it (& refit it) until there's enough bubble wrap until it's snug.
Once you have a good fit, cover the top 1/2 of the case with bubble wrap, but it doesn't have to be snug - it's easy to put more bubble wrap in the top 1/2 of the box once the case is in the box. Once the case is entirely in the box, enough Bubble wrap to the top 1/2 so it's snug and seal it up.
(I prefer using the brown carton-sealing tape 1st, then good quality 3m packaging tape.

**(I've once received a feretless with some pretty good marks on the fingerboard. The box likely to a blow or got dropped, causing the strings to slap against the fingerboard. Fretless or Fretted, that can't be good, and the rags are an easy solution)


Oh - and always UPS / Pirateship
 
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#14
I have luckily never had a problem going either way - usually Fed Ex. Bass in a gig bag if possible. Loosen strings, put a piece of thin foam or carboard under the strings to protect the fingerboard. I save large boxes (flat) and put 1-2 extra layers of cardboard around the bass front and back. Bubbles top and bottom. However, you never know what is going to happen! My friend just shipped an acoustic guitar that got damaged INSIDE it's hard case, and the case was not damaged! A mystery. Ship and pray.
 
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#15
My Aerodyne was shipped from Japan via FedEx, and it arrived in two days. This is how it was packed (no oversize charge):

1758864614496.jpeg

1758864688326.jpeg

1758864717608.jpeg
 
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#16
jimmyb said:
Gem of a tip - print the label twice. 1 to place on the box and 1 to put inside, on top.
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Twice ?

I do more than twice. Outside top face of the box gets 2 labels printed at A4, think that's US Legal pad. One gets placed portrait, other landscape.
Bottom outside face gets the same. I don't miss the 4 sides, long edges get 2 labels, just the one label for the short edges.

When I first started using 10 labels per parcel fella in the courier office took 1 look then raised the .👍 Drivers can see and scan your parcel from any angle, saves moving it or spinning it round. Make life as easy as possible for the driver.



@ejnachtrab

I've shipped basses to the US, EU, Eastern/Central Europe and Africa; never had a problem.


You spotted the vital thing the folk here have missed ? Not one has mentioned paperwork for customs 😄

Normally you include 3 copies but play it safe and go with 6, split into 2 clear bags. Use a good clear packing tape to secure them. Don't fret over the hard shell case, go with sturdy over fancy.

Read the insurance T's & C's carefully. Couriers will take your money but often have get out clauses in the small print. Sometimes high value items mean 'enhanced' insurance but certain items are exempt from enhanced cover or can only be covered up to a price point. Another is musical instruments must be shipped in a hard shell case but the case itself is not covered for damage; hence my advice for sturdy over fancy.

Don't lie on the customs paperwork. If it's a $4k bass then put $4k on the form. Customs aren't stupid, they'll apologise nicely should your $4k bass (marked down as $2k) be dropped and damaged; they'll also help fill out the insurance claim for $2k .

Take photos as you inspect the bass before packing and photos as you wrap the bass for transport. Photos before closing the case and photos when it's in the cardboard shipping box. You'll want them should the buyer cry foul.
 
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#17
#18
Lowbrow said:
FedEx cause it’s cheaper and I’ve never had a problem.
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except they never deliver it when there supposed to. I had a bass "out for delivery" for a week.
On the truck - driver just didn't want to go out of his way - 1 1/2 mile off the main highway.
Maybe it's a regional thing...
Curious; are you comparing to UPS rates on Pirateship??

(IME) UPS on time every time, unscathed, for four decades - 3 different businesses.
 
#19
J-Bass RMR said:
except they never deliver it when there supposed to. I had a bass "out for delivery" for a week.
On the truck - driver just didn't want to go out of his way - 1 1/2 mile off the main highway.
Maybe it's a regional thing...
Curious; are you comparing to UPS rates on Pirateship??

(IME) UPS on time every time, unscathed, for four decades - 3 different businesses.
Click to expand...
I've never had a problem.
 

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