Shipping Without a Case

[Dana R Gregory]

I am shipping a bass guitar across the country via Fedex. It does not have a hard case or a gig bag. I have heavy gauge cardboard to construct a box with a neck support to properly fit it and will wrap the entire bass in multiple layers of bubble wrap. The bass will not be able to move around inside the box. I have never shipped without a case before and would like some input if this will be sufficient to make the journey. The bass is worth $800 and will be insured with a signature required from the recipient. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[JGbassman]

They make styrofoam mailing boxes for basses you might check out. Not sure where you might get one but I bet the all knowing google might.

I've had two basses shipped this way and it's a solid way to transport a bass

 

[Bodeanly]

If you don't get that ^^^, try to double box it. Maybe buy an old, used gig bag to throw in for added protection?

 

[5544]

Music shops use a box to put the instrument in and then pack that box into a bigger box with air pillows (no idea what the name actually is but you get the idea).

 

[jallenbass]

I am shipping a bass guitar across the country via Fedex. It does not have a hard case or a gig bag. I have heavy gauge cardboard to construct a box with a neck support to properly fit it and will wrap the entire bass in multiple layers of bubble wrap. The bass will not be able to move around inside the box. I have never shipped without a case before and would like some input if this will be sufficient to make the journey. The bass is worth $800 and will be insured with a signature required from the recipient. Thanks for any suggestions.

I've done exactly that many times. No problems.

 

[bassdude51]

If you have any scrap pieces of 1/4" plywood or pressed fiber board, some on both sides of the inner box would give excellent protection.

The bottom line is that if FedEx or UPS, etc want to destroy your bass, it doesn't matter how well it's packed or if it's in a HSC. It will die!

Looks to me that you have an excellent box and packing for your bass already.

Good luck.

 

[JGbassman]

I couldn't find any styrofoam cases, but these would work. I added a how to as well. Good luck.

How to Ship a Guitar

Guitar Box in Stock - ULINE

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3-Pack Boxes: Reverb Guitar and Keyboard Box - Fits Most Sizes

 

[Stumbo]

Box in a box with the inner box padded with bubble wrap. Corners can be purchased to protect weak points.

 

[twinjet]

Won't shipping companies shrug off liability if it isn't packed right in the first place?

 

[Tom Bomb]

This is the sort of proportionality you should be looking at

for your box.

I used to get stuff arriving with nothing but very course, crumpled-up, brown paper inside the box. Later on they started using bubble-wrap – excellent double-walled boxes are a must – very robust boxes only. A hard case is ideal but not necessary. A little bubble-wrap is enough if you don't have the case or the gig bag. That's just to protect the finish really.

The secret is the isolating and suspension of the instrument inside the box – just like an egg yolk inside an egg. The box can then be hit pretty bloody hard and nothing can possibly happen to the instrument suspended inside. They're pretty tough, as any gigging player knows Those boxes, like I said, were extremely strong. And, proportionally, BIG. That's the key, along with the albumen-like packing - not too tight but just right, to keep that axe well away from those inner walls, under normal shipping conditions.

Be sure to have arrows showing up from down and prominent "FRAGILE" signs too.

 

[mapleglo]

I went a little crazy when I shipped this bass. I cut out a million pieces of cardboard.

Then put some fabric in for additional protection.

And placed it in the box. It arrived in one piece.