robertojai - 4-18-2010 at 12:44 PM
I am wondering what people have found to be the best way to ship an oud, how to package it and what are the costs. I once paid a $125 to ship an oud
in a big big box packaged in foam for extra precaution, since airlines (especially british airways) have broken many a fine oud in a hard shell case.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I have a hardshell case for this oud, the tight fitting old turkish style and the neck part has a lot of flex in
it.
bibo10 - 4-18-2010 at 03:20 PM
i received few ouds shipped from egypt and syria n they arrived fine. Honestly they were both well packaged, a hard case i think is a must, plus make
sure there is no room for the oud to move. so yes use alot of foam. also make sure you use the fastest shipping possible.
I had a question, how significant is it to tune down the oud strings for international shipping. could someone shed some light on this issue?
Thank you
Hatem_Afandi - 4-18-2010 at 09:04 PM
Robert,
Michael is right. A hard case is mandatory!
I received two Azar ouds from Syria. He knew how to ship the oud with enough protective padding inside the case. No wonder, he is a civile engineer
:-).
However, I had to replace the locks because they always get damaged in transit.
If ordering from Egypt, the oud usually gets packaged in a good quality sponge-padded case, then, it is placed inside a black cheap hard case (made of
cardboard). In both cases, the ouds arrived with no trouble.
Good luck, I know it is a "worrisome" issue!
paulO - 4-19-2010 at 08:08 AM
John Merjanian used to ship his ouds in a rectangular plywood box, with customized foam inserts that would allow any sized oud to be held securely.
The top was foam lined and had about 30 wood screws attaching it the box. This whole contraption fit inside a shipping carton. Never had an instrument
damaged, but then again, you have to build such a crate, and be willing to pay the shipping both ways.
Regards..Paul
bibo10 - 4-19-2010 at 10:17 AM
Hatem,
of course he would be an engineer hahah 
robertojai - 4-19-2010 at 03:21 PM
So on the ouds from Syria and Egypt, the outside of the package is actually the black case itself with the shipping address pasted on? Is that the
hard cardboard cases sort of standard for arabic ouds?
My problems is my plastic hardshell case is form fitting (tight to the oud) and there is no place for foam on the inside. The neck part is not
that stable for hard hits so I will have to brace that part somehow. I appreciate everyones help and would like to hear some more ideas.
ON DETUNING the oud-I learned to always detune my guitar when flying because the change in air pressure can put extra tension on the neck. In the
cabin my oud seems okay because it held the tuning once when I forgot to detune, but many times they have forced me to check my oud under the plane
last minute (as when I get on the plane) so I quickly detune it and praise Allah to watch my oud.
bibo10 - 4-19-2010 at 03:46 PM
Thanks for the reply, and no the black hard case should be inside the cardboard box for extra protection and to maintain the hardcase
Hatem_Afandi - 4-20-2010 at 09:28 AM
Battal sha2awah ya Bibo !!!
bibo10 - 4-20-2010 at 10:06 AM
hahahahah 7ader ya fandem. by the way, i have good news. I will send you an email, I lost your fone # 
Roberto,
What you could do is wrap the plastic hardcase with foam all around or at least around the neck and then put it in the cardboard. hope you find that
helpful