When we shipped her bass from MI, it wound up being a HUGE expense, even with insurance.  The difference in climate contributed quite a lot to it, for the instrument must acclimatize to the humidity/lack thereof, etc.  The bridge is always broken down, strings off, etc. to prevent warping in shipping; however, the fingerboard separated from the neck, so there had to be some replaning, etc.  Not fun or cheap.

 

She's learned that large symphonies ship their instruments in what is basically a large humidor!  basses and cellos on one side, cigars on the other...rofl...makes sense though. 

 

Her bags arrived.  Now, we can pretend like it's  anormal holiday .. .hehehe

 

I hear you about copying parts...that's one of the things that did me in as a music major...that and piano proficiency.  You're a pianist, so you probably know this...but to read piano music, you must conceive of music differently than a 'line-by-line' reader.  I first learned solfeg (yes, my dad made us learn shape notes!) at church...singing 4 parts out of old hymnals...so chords...I just hear them.  But I learned to read lines and spaces playing clarinet.  Just follow the line...lol...when it came time to learn piano music, man my brain did somersaults.  Not lying...I actually felt myself beginning to think differently. 

 

I decided the world has enough 'adequate' musicians...so I play in my living room these days...hehe