juliusmonk Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Well it seems I just got unlucky with couriers lately... after many perfect shipments. So a perfectly ok bass arrived at its destination with this: [IMG]http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a592/juliusmonk/3FA5CB6E-D5FE-418B-9DF2-544F3F0628DE-429-0000003943ED610C_zps5be675ec.jpg[/IMG] For clarity, the area in question is the joint between body and neck, on the rear of the body. It looks like a lacquer crack? Apparently, the hard case and the external cardboard box arrived intact... I bubblewrapped the bass inside the case and the case inside the box as usual. So to shake away my stress over the whole situation, I thought I would take advantage of your wisdom: does anyone know how can this be produced in transit?? Package mishandled? Sudden temperature change? I have no idea... Anyone that can shed some light on what it is and how it can happen? It would help me in my discussions with the courier. Many many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Almost impossible to prove or disprove but yes a dramatic change in extremes of temperature could cause it but my money would be on a sudden shock - enough to travel down the neck and cause movement enough to break the lacquer. Edit - were the strings detuned? And was the hard case one where the neck is actually put under tension when shut? Edited January 16, 2015 by Moos3h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Thanks! I think I shipped with strings at tension. The hard case is a standard Hiscox hard case, if that helps. Could excessive care (read bubblewrap) have put pressure on the neck away from the body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I had a bass sent to me wrapped ONLY in bubblewrap, nothing more, and it arrived without a scratch... I doubt you could have put too much on the instrument before it went inside the hard case. I'd go with the rapid temperature change idea, particularly if it spent a couple of days in transit in very cold temperatures and then somebody opened up the case in a warm room immediately after receipt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Only in bubblewrap! I am usually uber protective when shipping and not used to these mishaps. So it seems that my initial impression could be correct - either mishandling or temperature? - however impossible it might be to prove that it wasn't my fault 😞 Do you guys know if this type of thing can be repaired without too much trouble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 More pictures would be useful to let us see the problem better. But I guess you're relying on the pic from someone who has bought it from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Yes, that is the case indeed. I also got this close up: [IMG]http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a592/juliusmonk/C2F99E54-5D8F-4313-8372-784241642674-482-0000005EA4AD649C_zps70d655dd.jpg[/IMG] Any help appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 If temperature change was the cause then it seems odd to me that the only cracking of the lacquer would be at the neck joint - and indeed one side of the neck joint only, which suggests stress in one direction. To me, neck joint suggests a bump of some kind. What is the purchaser asking for? I might give them what they wanted if it could be better than the trouble of telling the purchaser to return the item in my original packing and then give a refund so that I could sort the problem myself, which would probably be my preferred option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 By the way, I would always leave the strings at proper tension and pitch for transportation, not tuned down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Many thanks - the strings were at tension, if I remember correctly (I only do otherwise if explicitly requested by the buyer) The buyer is being really patient and I will strive to sort it out in the best way possible, but damn, the bass was in great shape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I agree with most others it looks like a "shock" crack or some kind of impact hope it all gets sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Looks more like a 'shock' crack to me, too. Any decent luthier should be able to 'flow' the lacquer back to almost, or completely, invisible, I'd say. A pain in the b**, certainly, but nothing to cry oneself to sleep over. Where is the bass now..? Maybe someone could recommend a local luthier to look it over..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliusmonk Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Thanks again for your help guys, much appreciated! Great to know this can be repaired fairly easily - the bass is now with Martin Sims to retrofit some leds, maybe he'll be able to do something about it... Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 (edited) I wouldn't trust any courier. I sent a combo in a box with very adequate packing. The guy mailed me and said the tweeter was hanging off and one of the main speakers was blown. There was a big bash in the grille too. I had to get him to send it back to me. I was royally cheesed off. There was a programme on telly a while back that showed the lack of care that some of these places have. They don't give a f***! Edited January 21, 2015 by ubit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeswals Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 (edited) [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1421514216' post='2662165'] I wouldn't trust any courier. [/quote] You do know that these products get to the stores by courier also, right? The Status in question looks like the bubble wrap created a high point inside the case, and the result is the lacquer crack. But yeah easy fix. Edited January 20, 2015 by mikeswals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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