[H & Rick]

Just wondering if anyone has taken any musical instruments to NZ?

We have 5 guitars to transport as well as a couple of amps.:D

We know we cannot ship them because of temperature implications :no .

Has anyone used an Air Freight company, if so which ones are the best.

Also how did you pack them?

[Mal]

Can't offer any advice on shipping I'm afraid, but I did manage to bring my beloved Martin D1 acoustic over on the plane with me intact. i followed the instructions at http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenMaint/Packing/packing1.html

Basically, pack really tight around the neck to stop it whipping around and gaffer tape over the clasps on your case to stop them popping open by accident.

[gil]

Hi Heidi,
We shipped 1 keyboard, 1 half-size violin and 3 guitars (2 acoustic, 1 electric and 2 amps) and brought 1 electric guitar on as luggage in the hold. All arrived safe and sound, no damage and were included in our insurance. Mind you, none of them was particularly valuable.....:D

Gil

[Nathan]

I've not shipped yet. I'll be shipping from USA.
I called Martin and was told that while they can't make a recommendation, they've had excellent results from UPS shipping guitars internationally. That's how I'll ship my flat-tops. My upright bass is too big to go UPS, but can go air cargo for a reasonable price. I'll carry my mandolin....unless airline security gets even squirrelier. My luthier recommended against using the container that we'll ship household good in.

[H & Rick]

Thanks for replies. The frets.com link is particularly informative. I'm planning on taking four guitars including a nylon string electric, an amp, a host of effects systems and my studio gear.

I'm considering using a crate to pack it all into so it all goes as one and hopefully arrives as one !

It's nice to see more musicians making the move ..... :nice1

Rick (the OH of H)

[StevieD]

OMG I never really thought of this, I have my electro acoustic and I was going to put it in the container, suitably crated up. I am not taking it on the plane after I had 2 broken by TWA in the 80's, and that was with all the special fragile tape on and extra payment to protect them! And I got nothing off the insurance either. Ended up having to get them repaired myself.

I would have imagined that plenty of silica gel packs and a reasonably secure box would be ok in a container. And I am supposed to be putting my Strat in as well...... re-think.

[Caroline and Dave]

Does the same thing apply to Keyboards. I have a yamaha Keyboard that I was going to put in the container but now after reading this I am a bit concerned .Has anyone else brought keyboards over in their container?

Dave and Caroline

[Nathan]

D&C, the issue with the guitars is that they can come unglued in the high temperatures. A nice acoustic can quickly become a very expensive piloe of toothpicks. Humdity extremes are also an issue. Both can be problematic with solid body electrics, too. (Altho' I've baked my Precision bass in the sun in a closed car and froze it in sub-zero temps, I don't recommend treating instrumernts that way!! It was a hazard of road work.)
As for electric keyboards, I don't think they're any more sensitive than any other electronics. (You don't want them to get salty, I suppose!) I plan to seal up my mixer, mics, etc... with some silica in the bag,, and put it in the container.
I don't know what to do with the piano other than seal as best we can and put it in the container. And insure it!!

[gil]

Does the same thing apply to Keyboards. I have a yamaha Keyboard that I was going to put in the container but now after reading this I am a bit concerned .Has anyone else brought keyboards over in their container?

Dave and Caroline

We brought a Yamaha keyboard in our container, packed by John Masons and it's fine.

Gil

[DB]

Well, I'm glad I didn't read this a few years back, as I had a couple of guitars, keyboards, combos, drum kit, a PA, some synths, and more all in the container.

My mate Rob had about a dozen guitars, including some fancy ones, in his container.

Nowt wrong with containers, as long as your shipper uses a "reefer" or refrigerated container. They don't actually plug the refrigeration unit in, they just use it as a big insulated box. Our container had a couple of garden style max / min thermometers packed in the boxes, and the temperature range when we got them out was 6C - 33C. I've had bigger extremes than that in the back of the truck....

[Lara Croft]

My hubby collects guitars and amps (mainly old-ish ones), and is hoping to bring his collection with him - or at least a good part of it! In addition we have a drum kit (electronic), pedals & effects, keyboard and mixing stuff.
If we can't pack it into the container it is going to cost an arm AND a leg to take it with us!!

Someone mentions a refrigerated container - is that OK to move them in?