Shipping my basses - thoughts please?

[mikewalker]

Hey all - so it looks like I may be relocating (back) to the UK ... a logistical nightmare but what’s keeping me awake nights are my babies - ranging from a ‘62 Violin to ‘65 Rick 4005 with a couple of P’s and J’s and White Falcon thrown in for good measure. I don’t feel that I can just stick them into an ocean-going container with all the other stuff ... can I? I can’t take them on the plane with me .... anyone have any experience/advice?? It’d be much appreciated!

My advice: IMHO a ten inch thick layer of bubble pack all around the case is a great form of insurance...

My experience: I shipped 5 instruments via 'cheap' freight container across the Atlantic in 2001, and they all arrived OK. (All were in plastic SKB hard cases, but not actual flight cases)

 

[Watchootognbout]

Wish ever rout you choose first be sure to look into the endangered woods laws ! (before anything!) as customs could and most likely confiscate any instrument($) that are made with endangered wood such as some cocoabolla and many more on the endangered wood species list! good luck on your move and shipping your axes !

And what would those endangered wood laws be called?
........CITES?Perhaps?

 

[bassbenj]

Well, according to all the self proclaimed "experts" here on TB, never use UPS, FedEx or the USPS. They will literally destroy and and every instrument they come into contact with.

Simply not true that they literally destroy each and every bass they come in contact with! I've bought maybe 10 or so SX and Squire basses shipped that way and some even shipped from China in nothing but a simple cardboard box with no packing at all that arrived in pristine condition! Truth is they only destroy expensive, rare and irreplaceable basses. Luckily I own few of those.

 

[lz4005]

I don’t feel that I can just stick them into an ocean-going container with all the other stuff ... can I?

If they were made in another country they've all traveled in one before.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Simply not true that they literally destroy each and every bass they come in contact with! I've bought maybe 10 or so SX and Squire basses shipped that way and some even shipped from China in nothing but a simple cardboard box with no packing at all that arrived in pristine condition! Truth is they only destroy expensive, rare and irreplaceable basses. Luckily I own few of those.

Lol,!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Next summer things MIGHT get easier if the "CITES II" regulation is implemented. I looks like there may be exceptions for musical instruments coming up. I think we're talking June or July 2019. So if you can delay shipping anything containing rosewood until then you may save yourself a lot of trouble. I think there's supposed to be a vote on the matter around May.

(I'm kinda gamling on it as I swore I would never buy a rosewood instrument ever again, too much hassle for touring, but after I heard about CITES II I've purchased two rosewood basses last month! Fingers crossed!!!)

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I swore I would never buy a rosewood instrument ever again, too much hassle for touring, but after I heard about CITES II I've purchased two rosewood basses last month! Fingers crossed!!!)

 

[Deleted member 271037]

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LOL