International Transport?

[starscream67]

Hi guys,

Has as anyone here moved their guitars internationally before?

I moved from Australia to UK about 10 yrs ago. I hope to move back again in the coming years.

My issue is, on the way here I packed my guitars in their cases and sent them via sea with the rest of my stuff. Only one guitar got trashed I think due to damp getting in, but it was my first guitar so a really bad LP clone from 1994.

However, now I have 2 USA PRS, 1 PRS SE Acoustic,1 MIM FSR Fender, a peavy bass and still have the trashed LP clone. How would guys transport this lot? Sea? Air?

I saw these as potential solutions:

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[CoreyT]

I have two of the top case you posted, they are watertight and strong.
The bottom one looks like they could move around too much?

 

[starscream67]

Thanks, Corey. If you got 2 flight cases - did you keep any PRS cases or sell them?

 

[CoreyT]

You are welcome.
I have all of my gig bags and also two extra PRS hard cases.

 

[shinksma]

The bottom image is not a shipping solution, just a convenient "rack" when you control everything about moving that box.

The water-tight flight cases are the best solution. Sending via air may be more money that the guitars are worth...but they may be worth it to you.

If you use the flight cases, you can then put them into a larger container/crate that could also be water tight / resistant, and have that larger container/crate sent by sea.

I dunno. I've moved across the Pacific twice, but it was back when passenger cruises actually went back and forth regularly, so freight was shipped on those passenger ships and was not in any danger of getting wet (unless the ship sank, I guess). Nowadays, with freight being so casually put onto container ships that seem to get swamped far too easily, I would want to ship by air.

Maybe contact a freight-forwarder, who can advise you on the best cost-effective manner?