Buy a case for a double bass?

April 14, 2010 3:15 PM

Mrs Singingfish has the opportunity to have her double bass transported from Europe to Australia in a shipping container. At present she has no case for it, but the container she's getting it shipped in will also going to have a baby grand piano in it, so the container will be being packed by professional instrument movers, so the bass will be crated etc. Do you think she should buy a soft case for extra insurance? A hard (flight) case is out of the question due to cost and bulk.
posted by singingfish to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

You should call the shipping company and ask – after all, it's their expertise. Personally, I would buy the case, absolutely. ~$150 seems like a small amount to pay for some additional peace of mind.

Speaking of insurance, make sure you know who will be liable in the event of damage.
posted by halogen at 3:30 PM on April 14, 2010

If professional instrument movers are involved, she probably only needs to get a soft case if they require it. I would assume that they know how to properly pack it to protect it from the minor scratches that a soft case would prevent. In fact, they most likely have packing materials that will fit much more snugly without a loose-fitting case in the way. But she should make sure of the moving company's policy regarding accidental damage and she should probably look into travel insurance if their policy isn't sufficient. Crates can be dropped or otherwise damaged by airlines and a soft case wouldn't be any help with that.

On the other hand, bass bags are relatively cheap and would protect her instrument better when she's taking it home from the airport (and when it's just sitting around afterward).

I'm speaking as someone who opened up the crate containing her uninsured cello on a trip to London to discover a great big hole punched through the side of it. A soft bag wouldn't have helped a bit. However, my cello wasn't packed by professionals, and the crate wasn't designed for it, so it's not really the same situation.
posted by Dojie at 3:33 PM on April 14, 2010

Oh God yes. Is this shipping container going by air or by sea? I've seen instruments inside hard flight cases broken -- some irreparably so --- and shipping container or no, I'd be extremely worried about air travel without substantial impact-resistant packaging of some kind. I've never shipped a string instrument by sea, but humidity seems like it'd also be a concern. Maybe somebody else has better ideas about that.

Also -- before it goes, no matter what, drop the tension on the strings a bit -- tune them down about a step or so. Too loose and you risk the soundpost falling out, but you don't want them at full tension either. And put bubble wrap or something similar around the bridge, and to fill up the spaces between the fingerboard, tailpiece, and the top.
posted by dr. boludo at 3:36 PM on April 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

If the neck even cracks, you're looking at a repair that will be much more than $150---get the case!!
posted by availablelight at 4:27 PM on April 14, 2010

If the neck even cracks, you're looking at a repair that will be much more than $150---get the case!!

A soft case isn't going to protect it in the slightest from a cracked neck. Soft bass cases fit pretty loosely over the instrument - they don't provide structural support. Assuming the crate is specifically built to support the bass where it needs to be supported (and if it isn't - don't ship the thing - it will be destroyed), a soft case may actually prevent the instrument from fitting securely without shifting around. Again, the professional instrument movers are the experts and they are going to know the best way to get a solid fit. Lots and lots of bubble wrap and other cushioning combined with a well built instrument crate are going to protect it from the kinds of forces it will face. A soft case will only protect it from scratches.

dr. boludo is absolutely right about loosening the pegs a bit and filling in all the spaces with bubble wrap - whether it's in a bass bag or not. I would add that you should inspect the crate and make sure that there are no exposed bolts (even behind padding - that's what killed my poor cello) and that the neck is solidly supported.
posted by Dojie at 5:42 PM on April 14, 2010

Wait, so she doesn't have a case at all? What if it's pouring rain when they are (un)loading it? It seems like some kind of gig-bag or soft case would be a great thing to have for it in any circumstance. But for this specific instance, wrapping it in bubble wrap would be just as effective. I agree with halogen, though - it can't hurt to ask the shipping company what they prefer to work with.
posted by aimedwander at 6:55 AM on April 15, 2010

Is the moving company actually versed in moving musical instruments, or do they just happen to have a piano shipping in a container? What are their policies for moving a double bass? Will they insure the instrument?

My experience with flying (which is different, but has many similar aspects) is this: If there is damage, they will not be liable unless you have packed the instrument in a very very specific way and a very specific type of case. Just a hard case is not enough, it needs to meet ATA specifications. If it doesn't, than any damage to the instrument is not going to be covered.

Contact the company moving it, ask them how it should be packed before it is crated, and make sure that they will insure it. They may only insure it if you have them pack it ahead of time (for a fee), which you should do.

Expect that it will be broken in transit, and do everything you can to plan for that result. Then, if it arrives in great condition, you lucked out!
posted by markblasco at 12:26 PM on April 15, 2010