Posted by Michael Darnton on May 11, 1999 at 17:18:16:
In Reply to: Re: Packing cello for shipment posted by J. Butler on May 11, 1999 at 14:29:42:
The company that I sell instruments for has a simple policy: no shipping of cellos. The damage rate is too high, especially if they are sent set up.
: I'd add that it is best to take the strings off and remove the sound post. The worst damage an instrument can sustain is a soundpost crack in the back. This happened to a colleague of mine whose cello was shipped UPS. It was packed professionally, but the cello was shipped set-up and it arrived with a soundpost crack in the back. It was being sent to a shop to be placed for sale, now it is doubtful as to whether it will actually sell.
: It may some hassle to have the cello set-up again at your destination, but this is the only way I would ship a cello. And I'm also of the opinion that FedEx is safer to use than UPS.
: As a final note, the last cello that was shipped to me had been taken down, and it arrived with the fingerboard having come off in transit. The instrument repair person I use said it must have sustained a significant blow, causing the neck to flex enough that the fingerboard popped off. It was his opinion that if the cello had been set-up, it may have been seriously damaged.