international moving with 70+ guitars?

[grazioso]

hello folks, i am relocating to europe. it will happen in january or february perhaps march at the latest. some of you knew that this was cooking so now it has boiled over. someone has to take care of my folks and i am the only capable relative left. anybody has any experience with any international moving company? i need to know both good and bad. the problem is that in my 10+ years that i spent mostly in usa i have managed to pile up 70+ guitars, amps and whatever and about half a ton of books that i am not willing to give up. until the last week i also had 55' buick wagon to move but "fortunately" 75 year old blind bat behind the wheel took care of that right in front of my house ....so now it is just books and instruments - like that made it any easier. any help/advise please do not hesitate to write here or pm.

[collin]

Pack them all up as good as you would shipping a single guitar to Europe, Insure the living daylights out of them, and pack all your guitars/books/life into a shipping container from a well-known reccommended proper shipping freight company, and wait 6 weeks.

That's the only logical and price effective solution I can think of. Also, if there is a specific guitar or two that you would be devastating if something happened- bring them with you!

Good luck to you, Dusan. That's going to be quite the ordeal from start-to-finish.

[BlueAngel]

Also, if there is a specific guitar or two that you would be devastating if something happened- bring them with you!

I'm not sure that's safer, given the way airlines treat luggage! You're unlikely to be able to carry it on, on an international flight, so it will go in the hold. I would avoid that if at all possible unless it's in a full tour spec armored flightcase (and even then it's a risk) - the way baggage is handled, especially at large airports, is horrific for anything that could be damaged by being dropped from a height in any orientation, or randomly crushed under heavier cases at the bottom of a chute... not to mention simply being lost (AKA stolen). I have written sadly far too many insurance valuations (often write-offs) for guitars smashed or vanished during air travel. Commercial cargo is actually treated way better.

Other than that, what collin said. Good luck!

[jps]

Dusan, you should really try and get to MARF before you leave!

[grazioso]

thanks, i know i should get my butt out and go to marf but that is going to be tough call.
i am teaching my kids at home this year since it didn't made any sense to put them to school for a few months. i am looking at the 15th nov 2008 over and over in my calendar. i am not anywhere even close to new jersey. so i would shoot for cerf - central european ric fest 2009-10 when i am there or anything later here since i'll be just 6 hours away.

[jps]

You should organize CERF once you are settled in back home.