taking off a stingray/sterling neck for postage

[markandsophie]

Hello out there. Ive imported a few fenders from the states and japan with the neck being taken off the body and then both sent as this reduces the cost of postage and isnt considered oversize. I generally get a luthier to put it back on and set it up etc.

Im assuming i could do the same with a musicman either sterling or stingray.
Has anybody done this and all things considered easy to do?

Thank you

mark

 

[Figjam]

Yes you'll be fine.

 

[bovinehost]

We have a fair contingent of Aussies on the board and at least one or two of them have purchased used basses and had them shipped with the neck removed.

I expect they'll turn up in this thread soon enough, but the general consensus is that it works just fine except maybe the neck doesn't show up until two weeks after the body sometimes.

Jack

 

[Aussie Mark]

We have a fair contingent of Aussies on the board and at least one or two of them have purchased used basses and had them shipped with the neck removed.

I expect they'll turn up in this thread soon enough, but the general consensus is that it works just fine except maybe the neck doesn't show up until two weeks after the body sometimes.

Jack

Jack's correct. I've had a Stingray (plus a number of other brands) shipped from the US to Oz via USPS with the neck removed, and the neck did show up a little later than the body, but I think that was just an Australian Customs guy fugging with me. Reassembly requires a screwdriver, and perhaps a slight truss rod tweak, depending on the humidity variation between point of departure and your house. Easy job for your local luthier if you're not confident doing it yourself.

 

[markandsophie]

sounds pretty simple. To all the aussies would you mind telling me the postage cost for the neck and for the body. Customs wise id assume its 10% to the government.

Am i correct

Cheers

Any particular places besides ebay people would recommend for use musicmans?

Thank you

 

[Aussie Mark]

sounds pretty simple. To all the aussies would you mind telling me the postage cost for the neck and for the body. Customs wise id assume its 10% to the government.

Am i correct

Cheers

Any particular places besides ebay people would recommend for use musicmans?

Thank you

USPS postage is around $US70-100, including tracking and insurance (to ship in a hard case via Fedex or UPS would cost around US$200-250)

Costs at your end are 10% GST on the total (value + postage). There is zero import duty on solid body electric bass guitars (make sure the shipper describes the package as such). Sometimes, when shipping the neck and body in two separate packages one or both packages will slip through Customs without being slugged GST.

Bass Central and Bass NW both have good inventories of used MM basses at their websites.

 

[scottbass71]

Also note that EB policy says US dealers cannot send new instruments out of the US I don't know about second hand ones

 

[Colin]

Also note that EB policy says US dealers cannot send new instruments out of the US I don't know about second hand ones

Second hand is fine

 

[Aussie Mark]

Second hand is fine

Absolutely, since there are no warranty or distributor margin issues involved with used instruments.

 

[markandsophie]

Just emailed both the bass shops as above and all out of used basses at this point in time. MMM off to fleabay to try out my luck. Ebay can be such hit and miss these days with all the scamming. Thanks for all the replies and information. Very much appreciated.

 

[Colin]

Just emailed both the bass shops as above and all out of used basses at this point in time. MMM off to fleabay to try out my luck. Ebay can be such hit and miss these days with all the scamming. Thanks for all the replies and information. Very much appreciated.

Where are you located? Someone on this forum may have a second hand bass they might want to sell. Worth a try.

Colin

 

[markandsophie]

Im located in Melbourne. Second hand basses here go more for then if i bought a new one from the states etc( although i cant buy a new due to the policy etc). No great second hand market here. But if there are any people who want to sell their rosewood neck stingray or sterling id be interested.

Thanks

 

[Aussie Mark]

Im located in Melbourne.

For those playing at home, he doesn't mean Melbourne, Florida