While some local bassists drop off their bass guitars, most live outside of the logical drive-by delivery range. Even if you're an hour away, this turns into a two hour drive. Time and money dictates what you want to do. For most it's just easier to ship the bass and pay for the return shipping. Also for most, this begins the freaking aggravation of acquiring a box to ship the bass.
It's one thing for a bassist to enter a music shop to request a box to ship their bass in. It's another thing for a known "competitor" (me) to do this. It's just not done for a number of reasons. And even for the bassist seeking just one box, these music shops will probably charge you a minimum $10 fee. But that is your best bet so try there first.
The cost of boxes for shipping bass guitars, in case you have not tried to obtain one, is not cheap. One place online for you to check prices is
uline.com, but you'll have to buy a minimum of 5 boxes, and there's a catch to that too~! You also have to pay for the size of the box and these boxes are larger than they really need to be if you're shipping a standard size electric bass guitar.
The boxes at Uline.com are just not right for bass guitars. One is okay for Acoustics though but you still have the minimum order of 5 boxes plus shipping.
Where do you get just one box?????
YOU CAN'T~! Unless you buy one from me.
The average box is 46" to 48" long x 13" to 14" wide x 3" to 5" high.
Standard 34" Scale basses require a box 48" x 14" x 3" minimum.
Standard 34" Scale Bass in a Gig Bag - 48" x 18" x 4" minimum.
Short Scale basses can get away with a box 46" x 14" x 3" minimum.
Standard Acoustic basses require a box 48" x 14" x 5" minimum.
Short Scale Acoustic basses require a box 46" x 14" x 5" minimum.
In order to get the cost of shipping boxes into an economical range, it's usually necessary to order a minimum and divide the number of boxes ordered into the shipping cost for that order. In other words, I have to order a minimum number of boxes to be able to get the cost of each box to $10 or less. Seems like a pain in the ass right~? It is~!
The worst thing about ordering a box is you still have to pay for the size of the box. You save on the weight because it's almost shipping empty. I add cardboard stiffeners so the clowns in the delivery trucks don't drop boxes through the bass box. Did I mention this is a real pain in the arse~? That's because I still have to make them~!
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