Thanks Mark,
 
I was actually going to ask you for that info in the near future here as I saw you mention it in your thread so you beat me to it!
 
I am going to check with my business carrier and then I will call your guy and see what kind of prices and coverage I can get.
 
Very nice of you, thanks again, Paul

Glad to help, Paul.  I actually heard about Heritage from other club members here.  For a gruesome and heartwrenching story of something you'd never want to experience with your bass, see this thread: https://club.alembicguitars.com/Images/393/23959.html
When club member Steve had his Series II decapitated horrifically, Heritage stepped up and got him a new one, salvaging the electronics and usable parts, and paying for the rest.  This told me exactly what kind of a company they are... the kind I want to have covering my back in the case of unexpected tradgedy.

Woo Hoo!  The countdown continues!!!  If all goes well, I'll be playing this awesome bass a week from right now!!!
 
Mica, Mary probably told you I called yesterday, but apparently y'all were getting slammed, so I'll try back today or tommorow to see if where we're at, and to get your estimate of the finish time.
 
Depending on when it's done, and other variables, I may either have it shipped to my work, my home, or my good friends comic shop -he's as trustworthy as they come, and he's always there during delivery time.
 
Woo hoo, thanks again for everything, it looks awesome, and I'm REALLY psyched!!!

We're still thinking the ship date will be the week of September 10th. If you want the wooden shipping crate, it might take a week longer since I don't stock these as they take up a good deal of room.  
 
Until the day the bass is packed and ready for the carrier, there's no point in deciding where you want it to arrive since you're working with so many variables. Probably the best thing is for you to decide if you want the wooden shipping crate, and then we'll call you when it's all packed up and you can then tell us where it should arrive. Sound like a good plan?

MUST SEE THE BASS!   MUST SEE THE BASS! ! !

Hi Mica, nice to hear from you!  (As you probably know) I tried to get a hold of you a couple times again today, but you were occupied with other calls again, and I wasn't available for you to return the call at work (Mary offered)!
 
Mary DID tell me my bass is in setup, and I'm thrilled no end!!!  And it's great hearing you think it'll probably ship next week!  Bassed on past conversations -PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG- I'm assuming the shipping I paid Beaver for is the 2cnd day delivery you generally recommend.  And I seem to recall you prefer to ship on Monday or Tuesday -Wednesday at the latest- to avoid staying in the warehouse over the weekend.
 
So hopefully it'll ship out on either Monday or Tuesday, and I'll get it two days later.  At this point, it's most likely I'll either take the day off and get it at home, or have you ship it to my extremely reliable and trustworthy friend Jim at his store -he's always there during normal UPS delivery times, and he's already aware of the situation and happy to sign for it and keep it in a secure place til I pick it up (which would be as soon as I get the call).  There are complications getting it shipped to work... drama and silliness.  I can do it if necessary, but would probably prefer to avoid it (I'll spare you the reasons).
 
I'M PRETTY SURE I WON'T GET THE CRATE.  I'll probably either get the standard case, or the most basic road/flight/travel case.  HOW MUCH MORE DOES IT WEIGH, AND HOW MUCH BIGGER IS IT?  The reason I ask is because I keep my instruments -in their cases- in a safe, and I'm wondering if the road case would fit.  I wouldn't want to have to take the bass out of the road case and put it in the safe without a case.  My 8-string has no problem fitting (in the case).
 
Since you posted info on the bass, I may or may not call you tomorrow.  If possible, PLEASE UPDATE ME on the status of the bass tommorow or over the weekend... how likely is it to be ready to ship on either Monday or Tuesday?  I'll call you up first thing on the day it's ready to ship, and give you a decision on what to do.
 
Thanks again for all your help, patience and support, you folks have been wonderful!  I appreciate all your efforts, and I'm grateful for this opportunity to get another wonderful Alembic, and to have it be pleasant for all concerned.  Special thanks again for the wood selections... the Coco Bolo looks stunning, mesmerizing... I'll always appreciate it and be grateful to Alembic... to you and Bob... for getting me a board that's as close to perfect -for my specific idosyncratic preferences- as I could've rationally hoped for!!!
 
Jim, thanks for you're enthusiasm and support!  I really think you've scored one of the most awesome looking Quilted Maple Alembics ever... and I think I've similarily scored one of the most awesome looking Coco Bolo Alembics ever!!!

The countdown continues!!!  More excitement!  More thrills!!!  The bass is in setup!!!  Mica sez she still thinks it'll ship next week!!!
 
WOO HOO!!!
 
And... as of today, the bass is officially insured through Heritage!!!

A road case is a custom ordered item. I've never kept track of their weights or sizes, they are what they are depending on the bass or guitar they protect. Sorry I don't have better data on this for you. You will wait 2-4 weeks for any road case to be constructed.  
 
Where you live, UPS delivers guaranteed 2 days by ground service. Even if you pay for 2nd day air service, the package will likely be delivered via ground transportation. So upgrading the service to air isn't needed based on the delivery location. It's more the number of days in transit that we care about.  
 
I can't really tell you how likely a ship date will be more than we already have. We're hoping for early next week, and nothing so far has changed that estimate. I'll let you know if there is a change to that. I'll also let you know when the bass is packed up and ready to ship so you can tell me the destination address.  
 
Getting very close!

Thanks for the update, Mica.  I actually DID NOT see the above post when I spoke to you earlier today.  Sorry, I can't hear too well on my cellphone sometimes, so I lost a little of what you said... I thought you were referring to another post.
 
Anyway it's great it's getting close.  Hmph.  I thought Jason said you had some road cases in stock, but apparently I misunderstood him.  I don't feel like waiting additional weeks... plus money is REALLY TIGHT... so I guess I'll just go for the standard case, and ask you to please PACK DAT LIL' PUPPY UP JUST AS SAFE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN with the standard packaging.  Hopefully, my bass won't be one of the ones that gets f@*!#d up by the boneheads at UPS... but if it is... it's now covered by Heritage.
 
I know this... if the peghead gets broken off or the neck is snapped, I'll want to salvage the Coco Bolo on the front and back... 'cause it looks exceptionally awesome!!!
 
Hey... I doubt you offer color choices for the case interior... but just in case, all things being equal, my preference is for blue, black, or purple... in that order.
 
So... pack it up nice 'n safe, and ring me when it's ready to ship... and I'll promptly call back and give you a shipping location... probably to my friends store or to my house.
 
I guess that covers everything except the final shipping decision... so I'll talk to you when the time/call comes!  Looking forward to it, and thanks again for everything!
 
Oh yeah, hey, one more thing... there are two additional items I want to receive with the bass: (1) a spare set of strings; and (2) an EXTRA LARGE claret red Alembic shirt -should go great with the Coco Bolo.  Go ahead and pack 'em in the case with the bass.  I ALWAYS have my credit card with me, and I'll whip it out when you contact me for the shipping info!!!

Okay, getting pretty close here!!!  It's Sunday night... and tomorrow could be the day... the day the bass is in the box (and then ready for shipping)!!!
 
It's been a great weekend -cause I've finally been off for two days in a row... and it's been extra enjoyable because of the wait.  That may seem paradoxical; but the wait makes time go slower, and since I was off, it made my weekend last longer!!!
 
But now... the new week is about to begin, and it's a great thrill thinking I'll probably get it this week, and the long wait will be over.
 
I'm really looking forward to it.  It looks fantabulawesome in the pictures... but they don't do justice to the in person beauty of these instruments!
 
Just a few more days...

Woo Hoo!!! The countdown continues!!!  Will today be the day my trebling fingers get the call on my vibrate only cellphone, and open it up to see Alembics' number calling me to tell me my bass is in the box and ready to ship?  I guess we'll see!  Won't be long now.  (I got that Beatles song stuck in my head now!!!)

While the bass is rubbed out and ready for setup, it's not likely the bass will be ready to ship before the end of the week, so that's probably a September 17th ship date. I'll keep you updated as things progress.

Nooooooo!!!!  Say it's not sooooooo!
 
(Regaining composure)
 
Well, thanks for the heads up.  I'll prepare myself for the horror of not getting it this week after all.
 
The horror... the horror...

An-Tic-I-Pay-ya-shun is makin' you wait!!  
 
Hang in there, Mark! Good things happen to those who wait! Patience is a virtue and all that stuff! I know that doesn't make it any easier, but it wuz worth a try!! Another coupla daze for a LIFETIME of enjoyment!!
 
Good Luck!  Mike   (the 'Ho)......

If I had patience, I'd be a doctor!!!