Transporting small studio to america... how?

[The Beatsmith]

Hi guys

Not sure this is the right forum but i thought the guys in here might have more experience than most on how to transport studio gear.

In a couple of months i may have to relocate from the UK to the USA for a year. I want to take my studio with me - I don't really have that much stuff but as i've never really travelled much before, and certainly haven't moved a decent amount of gear, i have no idea how it works. I've cut down some stuff already - I'll be selling some stuff like my monitors, some rack gear etc, but some stuff i just want to keep. All i really need to take is:

- Powermac G5 (have original box)
- Large 24inch Flatscreen (have original box)
- Mackie Control (have original box)
- Yamaha Motif 6 Keyboard (no flightcase/box as of yet)
- A few rack gear items (i've whittled it down to just 3 items)
- My Gibson Les Paul (only have a soft-ish gibson gig bag)
- A load of wires, computer peripherals etc
- Small MS-20 synth controller from Korg Legacy Collection (have original box)

Stuff i'd like to take but could leave behind:

- Turntable (no box)
- Stands: 2 x quiklok speaker stands, and a big quiklok double brace keyboard stand that i just bought. I have boxes for both, i think.

I have no idea how to transport this stuff - will it be really expensive?

Also, with regards to the Yamaha Motif and rack gear... if i buy gator flight cases will they be safe if they're transported in there? I have only 3 rack gear items - i was going to buy a 6U flightcase to give me room to grow... but will the case be thrown about when transported, smashing up whatever is on the inside? Is it safer to just put each rack item back in its original box and transport the bits seperately?

The same question applies for the Yamaha Motif.. won't the case be thrown about, thus damaging the keyboard - even if i got a good case? And, would i be allowed to take the guitar onboard myself?

Finally, how should this stuff be transported (what service?), and how can i make sure everything is insured? Via normal airlines, or freight, or UPS...? When i go over to the USA, i'll obviously have standard luggage i need to take over too.

I've never done anything like this before, so sorry for so many novice questions...

Thanks guys

Eddie

[octatonic]

The best thing to do is contact an international tranportation company like Allied Pickfords and ship it over as sea freight.

I am about to move back to the US also and have moved a studio internationally a couple of times now.

Things to do:

Take a full inventory right down to cables.
Take photos of everything- ideally wityh a date burn-in and clearly showing any existing scratches and marks.
Insure everything for the new replacement value.
Sea shipping is MUCH cheaper than air freight but it does sometimes happen that an entire container can be damaged/lost at sea. It isn't common though.
Let the courier pack everything- they have to do a full inventory for your insurance to be valid.

It is going to be expensive- several thousand dollars- price is based on volume and not weight.
Good luck.

[The Beatsmith]

Hey man, thanks for replying...

Several thousand dollars for so few items?! That just doesn't make financial sense to me! I could sell my gear and rebuying out there for that cash. But i don't want to do that. I just want my stuff out there, it works and i'm used to it, and i don't wanna change....

Surely for such a small amount of stuff, there must be a simpler/cheaper way?

What about paying more to the airline and putting the things in the luggage hold? Can't you pay more for special fragile stuff? It really is just 6-7 items...

Thanks again

[firby]

I did this gig once. Fedex it or use DHL. Go directly to the airport and do it there. That was by far the cheapest way for me. 200-300 for a good sized lot of stuff. If you can find someone who has a fedex account it is cheaper for you if you have their account number. Make sure their is somebody who can recieve the stuff on the other side. I shipped my stuff from Amsterdam and it made the trip to my house in less than a day.

[The Beatsmith]

Hey man, how much stuff did you send - was it more/less than what i'm sending?

Also, did you insure it? Were there any issues with customs, or anything i need to know about?

What about packaging?

As it's just 3 boxes (mac, screen, mackie), a keyboard flightcase, a guitar, a rack flightcase, (plus maybe a box full of wires and my mic, for example), and then normal clothes/luggage, surely i don't need to pay for custom freight? Is that too much to put on the plane?

Cheers guys

[joaquin]

Hi. I believe that if you want to take the stuff with you on the plane, there's certain regulations for weight and size...look for the info with the airline. You'll probably have to pay a bit, but if I were you I just take it with me on the flight. I do not think that you can carry the guitar in to the cabin anymore...so, get a hardcase, loose the strings and cross your fingers. Just make sure that everything is well packaged and safe. Also, Make sure that it is not convenient to just sell the stuff and get it new (or used) in America.
The Ship solution make more sense if you are moving many heavy racks, big monitors or a big console...a piano!?
Anyway, Good luck!