TubaForum.net

I consider myself to be fairly resourceful.

Over the years, I think I did a good job of rounding up a bunch of really nice used California-made bags for all of my instruments without spending a fortune.

Lately, I’ve made the decision to move over to hard cases for everything, as I’m just tired of the minor damage that inevitably occurs with bags (whether those bags are inexpensive or top quality). Even though I can take care of that damage at no cost to myself, I still don’t welcome it occurring in the first place.

I’ve been pretty darn resourceful in rounding up a menagerie of molded cases for my instruments, and I would like to thank anyone who had a part in bringing any them to me as a coordination between their unrelated travels or with them coming here for repair work. I realize that schlepping cases is a bulky proposition, and I really appreciate the favors.

I will try to make myself as available to others as others have made themselves available to me - in regards to coordinating any possible trips anywhere near someone with possibly carrying instruments or cases to them, as shipping has become so expensive.

I've wondered if it is possible to start a "musical instrument transporting business" and make a go of it. Pianos, for example --- and fragile instruments in general, something that can't be reliably packed with enough padding to resist the gorillas.

I've also wondered about a relay system; seller is really far from buyer, and intermediate people who were willing to travel a few hundred miles could take the package, transport it to the next one in line, and do it for no more than the cost of shipping with one of the Guaranteed Damage Or Loss Carriers.

Mary Ann, that's sort of what uShip is, although it's far more extensive about what can be hauled. I very nearly just sent a tuba that way, but schedules didn't line up with the best sounding carrier. The one who was available on my timeline was too pushy, red flag for that!

I used to joke that tubas in hard cases get damaged less, because nobody takes them anywhere.

Laabs Music waits until enough tubas and pianos are sold, and then sends out two guys with a bob truck to deliver them - their own employees, sometimes, the owner himself - over a WIDE geographic area.

bort2.0 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 03, 2022 12:08 pm Mary Ann, that's sort of what uShip is, although it's far more extensive about what can be hauled. I very nearly just sent a tuba that way, but schedules didn't line up with the best sounding carrier. The one who was available on my timeline was too pushy, red flag for that!

I used to joke that tubas in hard cases get damaged less, because nobody takes them anywhere.

Yeahbut some hearsay I heard said was that with uShip "quality and honesty" are up for grabs. Sometimes good sometimes not so good. For some of us, it's not the fact that the instrument (like an old Italian violin, for example) is insured, but that it is dear to one's heart.