Author Topic: Moving overseas - how do I pack my Alembic? (Read 547 times)

LMiwa · « **on:** July 08, 2015, 12:58:13 PM »

I am moving overseas and am having a moving company ship my belongings. They will be packing/padding the outside of the case for shipment, but I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions about how I should pack the bass inside of the case.

Does the case support it sufficiently already or do I need to add additional padding somewhere?
Should I loosen the strings / truss rods?
Any particular orientation in which the case should rest for shipment - edge/back/end?

LMiwa · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2015, 01:03:38 PM »

The United Airlines site says:

Musical instruments as carry-on

As part of the allowance of one carry-on plus one personal item, a passenger may carry a violin, guitar or other small musical instrument onboard the aircraft as carry-on baggage if:

The instrument can be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of the passenger; and
There is space for stowage at the time when the passenger boards the aircraft

Musical instruments transported onboard United and United Express aircraft must be in hard-shell cases

Has anyone tried this???

tbrannon · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2015, 03:26:39 PM »

Loch,

The Rogue you bought from me made a trip to NZ when I bought it from Charles and then made a trip back in a shipping container when I moved back. I left it strung up and what I did was use the case, then placed it in a bigger box, then filled it with packing peanuts.

Where you moving to?

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2015, 03:58:11 PM »

I have had my basses moved cross country by moving companies a couple of times. I used rolled up towels under the necks to give additional support. I also added some small towels around the headstock to keep it from bouncing. I then had them boxed up in wardrobe boxes with padding on the bottom, top and around the cases to keep them from moving. Whether it was overkill or not I will say I never had any damage to the instruments or cases.

One this you should look into is insurance coverage for the basses. Typical movers insurance hardly covers anything if you can even collect.

Keith

JimmyJ · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2015, 04:08:07 PM »

Hey Loch,

Wait to hear from others here about any additional packing needed for shipping. Either Mica or somebody who has recently received an instrument from Alembic could describe what additional steps you should take.

Regarding the Airlines; I never ever attempt to bring my instruments on as carry-on. Even though there are now rules in place giving musician's the right to do that - the key word is small musical instruments. Violin, mandolin, viola, a Strat in a gig bag if you're lucky. But even an acoustic guitar in a case is likely too large and would then be subject to being checked at their discretion. Much less our 4-FOOT-long Series basses! There are still a few planes which can accommodate something that big in a soft bag, but I can't imagine our hard case would fit on any plane. And if you were able to bring it on in the soft bag you'd get to watch other passengers jamming their roll-on suitcases on top of your axe.

Our instruments are solidly constructed and built to survive the rigors of touring so I'd be pretty confident about handling by pro-movers and/or shipping via container with your personal belongings.

More tips coming from others but I'd say if you're using Alembic's hard-shell case my first advice would be to tape it closed.

Jimmy J

LMiwa · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2015, 11:52:19 AM »

Called United and they said Yes, but at the boarding agent's discretion. So that isn't happening!

As others have said, Mica agreed that keeping the bass from moving inside the case is the key. After that, sufficient protection for the case would be wise.

She pointed out that they ship instruments by common carrier (thrown around by gorillas I'm sure) and rarely is there an issue. A moving company specializing in getting furniture safely to its destination should be better than that.

So now my Alembic is off to Ireland - Galway, not Dublin!

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2015, 12:33:26 PM »

My father used to work for the merchant ship line HAPAG LLOYD. He once purchased some Scandinavian furniture and had it shipped to San Francisco with that shipline ,in a huge shipping container along with all kinds of fragile family heirlooms . He thought at the time that it all worked out perfectly safe and sound . I was still quite young then , about 6 years old or so. This is a very old company ! Lots of history. He often took me on the ships when his Sailor buddy's docked in our area. We used this shipline a few times to get some of our stuff to America. It was always safe with them . Please be safe yourself my friend on your journey . I wish you and your family the best .

Wolf

https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/home.html

bigredbass · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2015, 10:53:13 PM »

Man, these guys have it all together !

I went plumbing thru the H-L website and found a list of their publications:

https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/press_and_media/publications.html#brochure30647

. . . . and about halfway down the list I found their 'Reefer Brochure', entitled Keep Cool, We Care, so I'd certainly feel safe shipping with such happy crews ! Here's where GPS REALLY pays for itself.

Joey

sonicus · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2015, 12:38:37 AM »

Loch /Imiwa ,

What kind of case do you have for that swell bass of yours ? I my self would be inclined to have a nice Anvil typetype case for such a trip.
. . . _ _ _ . . . but then that is just me . I seem have the propensity to over compensate and be every where too early as well . Better safe then sorry I say, but others tell me it is my OCD.

Joey,
At the time when my Father worked for Hapag Lloyd he was a credentialed
Second Mate Navigational Officer in the deck department with navigational charts. That was a time long before GPS although RADAR and other various modernism's appeared later in his career. .He actually knew how to use a sextant to navigate with and learned his craft as a teen age kid as cadet in a merchant sailors school in the 1930s on the old Tall Ships . He did mention for a fact that H-L shiplines really did care about their crews happiness and if you are a Deck Officer that is really important on a ship to avert mutiny ! . LOL !
He said he made sure everyone was well fed and happy !

Wolf

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2015, 03:17:30 AM »

I brought my MK back from New York in 1998 on Virgin Airlines, they stuck a load of fragile stickers on it and it was is the 'coffin' case I got with the bass. It suffered no damage whatsoever.

keith_h · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2015, 05:12:54 AM »

When I used to fly regularly with my bass I would only gate check it if there wasn't room in the closet. While it still traveled in the hold this avoided it having to go through all of the baggage handling areas. It also meant that it traveled on top of the load since it was typically last to go on. Upon arrival it was first off and returned to me at the gate.

Keith

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2015, 09:09:02 AM »

I've traveled extensively with everything from orchestras and bands to small ensembles, and the best advice I've received is to rent or buy as beat-up a road case as you can find (88-key keyboard cases usually fit) and take it to an upholsterer to fit the foam to your instrument.

This took me about thirty seconds to find (I'm not connected in any way with it, just as an example):

http://tinyurl.com/oslba4v

If you want to sell it afterward, make sure the foam is removable. Hot tip: always list the INSIDE measurement on road cases, to drastically increase your chances of selling it. I've done this a bunch of times, and nobody ever seems to consider that.

Stencil table legs or something equally innocuous on the case and invite the neighbor's kids over to beat the hell out of it. The more trashed and uninteresting you can make it, the less likely it is to be stolen (not counting table leg theft rings, of course.)

After the journey, you can sell the case. Lighter fluid removes paint from ABS just dandy, but be careful not to breathe it, and use gloves. Lighter fluid = naphtha = benzene, the most carcinogenic substance known to man.

Ship it via DHS or FedEx, because they track it over every inch of its journey, unlike airlines.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2015, 10:45:13 AM »

Lighter fluid = naphtha = benzene, the most carcinogenic substance known to man.

Gee, thanks - but I really didn't want to know that. Gave up tobacco 35 years ago, and haven't missed it, but I have missed my Zippo; just made that first drag sooo good! Of course it had to be poison..........

Oh, well - too late to worry now.

Peter (who may have kept using the Zippo after giving up the cigs, allegedly)

LMiwa · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2015, 07:52:40 AM »

I'm now happily relocated to Galway, Ireland. And most important, all our stuff arrived after two months in transit. Best part - my basses arrived in perfect condition! There are boxes everywhere, but the Alembic is unpacked and I took a break to play a bit.

elwoodblue · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2015, 10:04:25 AM »

What a trip !
Great news, I'd love to see what Galway looks like (especially if there's an Alembic in the frame).