Shipping a Viola - what's the best way to go?

February 6, 2007 at 02:04 PM · Who cares about the cold? It won't hurt it. The temperature change will be gradual--on account of the packing material and the case. And I wouldn't do anything about humidity either. Low humidity is only really a problem when you heat winter air; winter air is not so dry when it is cold. During shipment it will not need any humidification--and you don't want a spill.

BTW temperature has very little effect on wood--it is humidity that really makes for changes. Fortunately the structure of a violin is arranged to minimize the effects of humidity (I would imagine that this was very purposefully done by the inventors of the fiddle--but no "proof" exists.)

Just remember that all those Stradivari and Guarneri lived most of their lives trundled around on the backs of stagecoaches and they still sound great!

P.S. I shipped a viola UPS ground a few weeks ago--to Cleveland--and there were no complaints.

February 6, 2007 at 05:32 PM · I just shipped a Scott Cao violin that I was trying out back to the dealer via UPS. I insured the package, and they scanned the pickup. After that, it dissappeared. It's been 2 weeks and they can't find it. I'm assuming that it will take MANY weeks for UPS to give me the money that I insured it for.

I'll never use UPS again.

February 6, 2007 at 06:08 PM · Wow! but it is insured so an unfortunate yet recoverable circumstance.

I had a charango disappear in the mail. It was shipped from Argentina by the Argentine postal service. Being fully insured it was no problem for the luthier to make another and try again which, after about 3 weeks, arrived safely, encased in a custom styrofoam box.

I've shipped a lot with UPS and while that is an unfortunate story, I would still trust them quite highly. In my bsiness, we've moved $20,000 pieces of specialty electrical devices internationally with UPS for 5 years without incident.

February 6, 2007 at 08:28 PM · Thanks for the input! Joseph Curtin violins recommends FedEx, and it's a little cheaper to insure it for full value with them, so I may go that way. Esp. after your UPS horror story....

February 7, 2007 at 01:35 AM · I think the best kept secret in shipping is USPS Registered Mail. It is the most secure and includes insurance. There is a size restriction but violins are okay, I think a viola will be fine also.

An important point about the box, it has to have paper tape on all seams. They stamp the seams to prove it wasn't tampered with.

I have send many violins that way and they arrive fine.

February 7, 2007 at 02:58 AM · Doesn't the USPS have a $5000 limit on how much you can insure a package for?

February 7, 2007 at 10:54 AM · Overall I've had much better results with FedX than with UPS.

For example, a violin shipped to me via UPS was just left on my front porch. They didn't even ring the door bell. The package even had a sticker on it which stated, "Signature Required".

I also often use Post Office Express Mail. About $50, and next day service to most places in the US, so time at the wrong temperature and humidity is kept to a minimum.

When shipping, use a suspension case, and augment the pad in the lid which presses on the lower block area with somthing stiffer. Float the case in a box large enough to have at least four inches of padding all the way around. Put pads under the fingerboard and tailpiece which are also up against the bridge to prevent damage from loose parts if the strings should loosen.

Low temperature alone may not be a problem, but as the temperature drops, the relative humidity in the case rises and can easily reach 100%. For example, if you pack the viola at 70 degrees and 50% humidity, the humidity in the case will rise to 100% if the temperature drops to 50 degrees.

Regarding insurance, see if your own insurance company will cover shipping, and if they will, insure through the shipper for your deductible.

Yes, many Strads and Guarneris were trundled around on the backs of stagecoaches, but I spent a good part of my life repairing the resulting damage.

David Burgess

http://www.burgessviolins.com

February 10, 2007 at 01:31 AM · My wife (Emily from Emily's Violin Supply) ships everything via DHL Express. She imports a lot of stuff from China and DHL is the most responsive and least expensive.

February 12, 2007 at 04:20 AM · cannon. but no insurance... it's a ripoff.

seriously though, i think anything is about as good as anything else. maybe dhl? that's what i just sent my broken computer to apple with, so i guess they're good.