Shipping a P-Bass

[kurosawa]

Immobilize the bass in the case with bubble wrap (only use the wrap with big bubbles). Then inside the box containing the case, pad 3 inches on each end to prevent damage from dropping on the end. Take up the space between the sides and the box by wrapping three 1-foot strips of bubble wrap around the case. Shipping without a case is much easier. Wrap bubble wrap around the ends of the bass so it won't move in the box. Let it stick out so it's a crush fit lengthwise also. I had some really good foam (I think it was acoustic foam) and that worked, too. I also slide a piece of tiny-cell bubble wrap between the frets and the strings so there's no chance they'll meet.

 

[Unrepresented]

My wife comments on my "over taping" all the time. She thinks it's ridiculous.

Tape is cheap. The goods inside ain't. Apply ratios accordingly.

 

[SirMjac28]

I'm not sure you better ship it to me so I can figure this thing out it may take some time but the knowledge we both gain will be very valuable.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

I really like the case my bass gets shuttled to gigs etc in to look pretty decent. Have you all seen what shipping companies do to shipping cartons??
I still say hard case in a guitar box. Would never ship a taped up hardshell case. Now you may have to deal with sticky residue all over the case. No thanks.

 

[Iridescentone]

If the headstock breaks how are they gonna know if you loosened them in the first place?

I see a way around this .

May require lying, but it's there.

Not saying I would do it , just pointing it out.

They ask. And they inspect. And an adjuster makes a "determination" based on evidence.

Let's say you're the sender, via UPS. The bass reaches its destination (the buyer) and headstock is cracked. A damage claim is started either by you or the buyer. UPS informs the buyer to keep the box and all the packing materials in situ until an adjuster can inspect.

The insurance adjustors are fairly adept at their job, and are on alert for scammers. They work for the insurance company, not for you. You're pretty much at their mercy. And I wouldn't expect your buyer to lie for you either, all he wants is OUT, and he'll do whatever they tell him to do.

 

[BurningSkies]

Actually, they don't 'request' it, they insist that the strings be slackened, or their insurance provider may not have to pay for damage to the instrument, no matter how many boxes it's in, or how well it's otherwise been packed.

This is especially true if the outer box still looks fairly undamaged, but the bass itself has been damaged from impact. You're better off if the package is demolished. That way, they have no excuse not to pay the claim.

With strings tuned to pitch the headstock is susceptible to breakage. It bears the full tension of all the strings, sans any help from the trussrod to counteract that tension. One good impact can crack/break the headstock, but leave the shipping box unscathed.

I learned this the hard way, and fought with UPS for months to no avail. The strings were tuned to pitch, the bass was in it's G&G hardcase, the headstock nicely supported with bubble wrap, great packing job, inside a U-line guitar shipping box. UPS managed to crack the headstock and the neck without crushing the U-line box. I ate the damage, learned the lesson. This will not happen to me again.

That's too bad. I shipped my 73 Precision up to pitch by way of FedEx from an actual FedEx shipping warehouse (Air/overnight shipping). They insured for $2.5K, didn't ask me or tell me otherwise about the strings. It was plainly recorded as a bass guitar on my receipts. It arrived fine. I would never ship a bass by UPS anyway. They've burned too many bridges when delivering basses or other packages to me.

 

[BurningSkies]

I really like the case my bass gets shuttled to gigs etc in to look pretty decent. Have you all seen what shipping companies do to shipping cartons??
I still say hard case in a guitar box. Would never ship a taped up hardshell case. Now you may have to deal with sticky residue all over the case. No thanks.

No one in this thread has suggested taping a hard case shut and sending it.

 

[R&B]

Fender ships their new MIA basses in the hard case (not fully immobilized) with strings at near tension IME. Not optimal, but seems to work.

No way would I like to receive a bass in the hard case with no box. Definitely use a bass box. If shipping in gig bag or with no case at all, I put extra stiffeners alongside the neck and extra padding at both ends.

I'd agree with nearly all that's been said here. String tension? Possible trap I guess, but I just loosen them a bit. Foam peanuts? The work of the devil!

 

[Iridescentone]

That's too bad. I shipped my 73 Precision up to pitch by way of FedEx from an actual FedEx shipping warehouse (Air/overnight shipping). They insured for $2.5K, didn't ask me or tell me otherwise about the strings. It was plainly recorded as a bass guitar on my receipts. It arrived fine. I would never ship a bass by UPS anyway. They've burned too many bridges when delivering basses or other packages to me.

It's a good idea to inquire with any carrier about this specific "strings" issue. Just because the person behind the counter doesn't mention (or even know) all the packing requirements as related to insurance coverage, doesn't mean they don't exist. Better safe than sorry, I say.

I'm not crazy about any of the carriers and have had problems with UPS, FedEx Ground, and USPS. For me, USPS has probably been the worst for shipping large packages.

 

[radmin]

I was looking at a repair place web site and saw this:

Please do not use bubble pack or foam packing against a nitro-cellulose lacquer finish!
These materials could damage the finish of your pretty baby. We are not responsible for incorrect or poor packaging. We want your instrument to return home in the same condition you sent it in.

thoughts?

 

[Laurent]

I'm not crazy about any of the carriers and have had problems with UPS, FedEx Ground, and USPS. For me, USPS has probably been the worst for shipping large packages.

I have a different take on this. I have seen more problems with UPS, and fewer problems with the USPS. Fed Ex is generally OK and falls somewhere in between. UPS can be horrific, I once had the metal handle of a Mesa Walkabout bent and pushed inside the metal case of the amp. The only way to do this is hit the box (which was beefy) with a forklift. USPS seems to be really gentle on packages and will accept the dimensions of a bass box.

 

[Camaro69]

I have had more stuff delivered to me damaged by UPS than not. Please use someone else

 

[shrimpflea]

I've used FedEx and UPS with no issues...would never use USPS.

How to Ship a Bass

 

[Pilgrim]

Don't use any packing materials which can flatten out and let the instrument or case move around. Wadded paper is not aproppriate. Bubble wrap and peanuts are OK.