HELP!! Shipping a 7 ft console coast to coast

Terry McInturff · 21st May 2007

I want to buy a console located all the way across the USA from me. The owner cannot crate it. It is aprox 7 feet long.

What do I do, and how much should it cost (aprox)????????????
Hoe does one hire an unknown person to properly package a vintage console for shipping?

Audio_Vault · 21st May 2007

Shipping consoles is HELL!! i just shipped a 9 doot DDA console from LA to Seattle and it was chaos. Just for an idea i spent about 1500, to package crate and ship it. So expect upwards of 2500 across the country. INSURE it! and make sure you have a crew when it arrives at your location becasue they guys they bring are used to moving couches and arent very careful. Good luck man

idylldon · 21st May 2007

Call North American Van Lines and ask about their blanket-wrap service for electronics. I had my Neotek shipped from OH to CA this way and they did an amazing job and delivered it right on schedule. I think it cost me $700.00 or so three years ago, but since I live in a rural area it was a bit more money that it would've been had I lived in a city.

BTW, don't know if you remember me, but I bought a custom Glory Standard from Fred's Guitars quite a few years ago. Freddie and I actually spec'd it out with you at NAMM. It's the one with the buffalo inlay on the 12th fret. Still have it and still love it.

Cheers,
--
Don

AlexLakis · 21st May 2007

ROAD TRIP!

Jim Kerr · 21st May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexLakis

ROAD TRIP!

Nice!! There ya go!
I'm about to do the same. Just back the truck up against a wall when you park it for the night. Not that anybody would be running down the street with a console but you know what I'm sayin.

stereobongos · 21st May 2007

A few months ago I helped a friend move his 'new' Trident. What I learned, and perhaps you already know this, is that you really really really should make sure that whoever moves it takes all of the channel strips out. A 7 ft. console will bend and flex as it's being moved. This could cause havoc ($$$) with the sockets that connect the strips to the console. And of course it will be lighter and easier to move. My friend did the right thing and he and his board are quite happy.

octatonic · 21st May 2007

Don't know about coast to coast but I shipped my 9ft D&R console from Switzerland to East Coast (NJ).
The frame was put in a wooden crate.
In addition I removed all the channels and double wrapped them in bubble wrap and put them into a bunch of boxes.
Those boxes were put in larger boxes with packing peanuts.

The only thing that got damaged were the side cheeks - which weren't packed particularly well- but were easily replaced with hardwood.

drBill · 22nd May 2007

I've had lots of experience in this. Real world situations.

#1 - wooden crate. Don't do the blanket thing. I've done it before and it can work fine, but it leaves all the important details in the random hands of those handling the console. I agree with United Van Lines, but keep in mind they will be making several stops along the way and will be moving the console several times. Wooden crate or thick cardboard over wooden frame - by someone you trust with pictures taken BEFORE shipping.

#2 - INSURANCE. INSURANCE. INSURANCE. Insure it for what it will cost to have one made quickly and to your personal specs. That usually means 2-3X's what it is worth. If it is a vintage console that is not easily replaced - make it 4X's the value. Cheap out and you will quite possibly be sorry. Very sorry. I just had a buddy that had a console go out. Double wrapped in plastic, then trucked directly to the airport and sent back to the factory overseas for a checkup before being delivered to the final buyer. 6 months of sleepless nights later the insurance company finally paid out, but there were fingers pointing everywhere and a console that will be destroyed so that it cannot be "re-furbished" and sold to some unsuspecting buyer. (It's a very long story that involves a hole in the crate, sand, and hoplessly oxidized electronics.) Whose fault was it? His, the land transport in the US? The Airline? The land transport overseas? Storage overseas? The factory? See what I mean? Once it leaves you have no idea what's going to happen to it. We once had a 10' long , 1200lb console shipped ON END. Twisted the frame, bent modules, etc. Ugly. Get insurance.

#3 - Like I said before United Van Lines. Their trucks ride on air shocks. Having your console banging up and down in a half loaded 18 wheeler for 2000 miles is not a good idea.

It's expensive, so if you can't do it right, I'd look for one closer that you can pick up yourself. I've got so many horror stories that I don't want to scare you anymore. Take all the precautions and you'll be good to go! Good luck.

Bill

21st May 2007	#7
octatonic Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,450	Don't know about coast to coast but I shipped my 9ft D&R console from Switzerland to East Coast (NJ). The frame was put in a wooden crate. In addition I removed all the channels and double wrapped them in bubble wrap and put them into a bunch of boxes. Those boxes were put in larger boxes with packing peanuts. The only thing that got damaged were the side cheeks - which weren't packed particularly well- but were easily replaced with hardwood. __________________ Regards, Jim Richmond "I don't go to mythical places with strange men." Douglas Adams

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21st May 2007	#1
Terry McInturff Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Pittsboro NC Posts: 543 Thread Starter	HELP!! Shipping a 7 ft console coast to coast I want to buy a console located all the way across the USA from me. The owner cannot crate it. It is aprox 7 feet long. What do I do, and how much should it cost (aprox)???????????? Hoe does one hire an unknown person to properly package a vintage console for shipping? __________________ Terry McInturff President, Terry C. McInturff Guitars, Inc. www.mcinturffguitars.com tcmzodiac@yahoo.com

21st May 2007	#2
Audio_Vault Gear nut Joined: May 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 100	Shipping consoles is HELL!! i just shipped a 9 doot DDA console from LA to Seattle and it was chaos. Just for an idea i spent about 1500, to package crate and ship it. So expect upwards of 2500 across the country. INSURE it! and make sure you have a crew when it arrives at your location becasue they guys they bring are used to moving couches and arent very careful. Good luck man

21st May 2007	#3
idylldon Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Idyllwild, CA Posts: 2,611	Call North American Van Lines and ask about their blanket-wrap service for electronics. I had my Neotek shipped from OH to CA this way and they did an amazing job and delivered it right on schedule. I think it cost me $700.00 or so three years ago, but since I live in a rural area it was a bit more money that it would've been had I lived in a city. BTW, don't know if you remember me, but I bought a custom Glory Standard from Fred's Guitars quite a few years ago. Freddie and I actually spec'd it out with you at NAMM. It's the one with the buffalo inlay on the 12th fret. Still have it and still love it. Cheers, -- Don

21st May 2007	#4
AlexLakis Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,631	ROAD TRIP!

21st May 2007	#6
stereobongos Gear interested Joined: May 2007 Posts: 6	A few months ago I helped a friend move his 'new' Trident. What I learned, and perhaps you already know this, is that you really really really should make sure that whoever moves it takes all of the channel strips out. A 7 ft. console will bend and flex as it's being moved. This could cause havoc ($$$) with the sockets that connect the strips to the console. And of course it will be lighter and easier to move. My friend did the right thing and he and his board are quite happy.

22nd May 2007	#8
drBill Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 11,512	I've had lots of experience in this. Real world situations. #1 - wooden crate. Don't do the blanket thing. I've done it before and it can work fine, but it leaves all the important details in the random hands of those handling the console. I agree with United Van Lines, but keep in mind they will be making several stops along the way and will be moving the console several times. Wooden crate or thick cardboard over wooden frame - by someone you trust with pictures taken BEFORE shipping. #2 - INSURANCE. INSURANCE. INSURANCE. Insure it for what it will cost to have one made quickly and to your personal specs. That usually means 2-3X's what it is worth. If it is a vintage console that is not easily replaced - make it 4X's the value. Cheap out and you will quite possibly be sorry. Very sorry. I just had a buddy that had a console go out. Double wrapped in plastic, then trucked directly to the airport and sent back to the factory overseas for a checkup before being delivered to the final buyer. 6 months of sleepless nights later the insurance company finally paid out, but there were fingers pointing everywhere and a console that will be destroyed so that it cannot be "re-furbished" and sold to some unsuspecting buyer. (It's a very long story that involves a hole in the crate, sand, and hoplessly oxidized electronics.) Whose fault was it? His, the land transport in the US? The Airline? The land transport overseas? Storage overseas? The factory? See what I mean? Once it leaves you have no idea what's going to happen to it. We once had a 10' long , 1200lb console shipped ON END. Twisted the frame, bent modules, etc. Ugly. Get insurance. #3 - Like I said before United Van Lines. Their trucks ride on air shocks. Having your console banging up and down in a half loaded 18 wheeler for 2000 miles is not a good idea. It's expensive, so if you can't do it right, I'd look for one closer that you can pick up yourself. I've got so many horror stories that I don't want to scare you anymore. Take all the precautions and you'll be good to go! Good luck. Bill