Shipping a guitar so that it arrives in one piece?

[Heririck]

So what is the proper way to ship a guitar? I've heard with the strings loose. Assuming it's in a case, how strong of a box do you need? How many roles of duct tape? If I don't have or want a Paypal account. Is there a safe way to get payed? And no, I'm not selling my 150 Ultra. Ever!

[FrankS]

Here is a link to Dan Erlewine's instructions on how to pack a guitar. http://www.danerlewine.com/freestuff/shippingaguitar.pdf

[tbonesullivan]

The first step is to make sure the guitar is immobilized inside the case, and that there is support on both sides of the headstock. Ideally, you can then put the case inside a box just bigger than the case, and then put that inside a bigger box with a layer of bubble wrap and/or peanuts in there. That's how guitars and amps I have gotten from Dave's guitar arrive.

[tulk1]

Heritage ships their guitars in a single box. Guitar inside the hardshell case, strung to tension. There is bubblewrap in the bottom to keep the case from bottoming out, there are two squareish side fill cardboard pieces that fit down against the horn flare on the case (keeps the case from shifting in the box). Then bubblewrap on top to keep the top of the case from topping out. And that is all. Had several shipped to me that way from the plant via UPS. All arrived in fine condition.

[Thundersteel]

The latest guitar I received had the strings loosened a bit. Then, the box was stuffed full of newspaper wads.

 

When I ship a guitar, I do it like Dan Erlewine suggests in FrankS's post.

[kath]

Heritage ships their guitars in a single box. Guitar inside the hardshell case, strung to tension. There is bubblewrap in the bottom to keep the case from bottoming out, there are two squareish side fill cardboard pieces that fit down against the horn flare on the case (keeps the case from shifting in the box). Then bubblewrap on top to keep the top of the case from topping out. And that is all. Had several shipped to me that way from the plant via UPS. All arrived in fine condition.

I had one Golden Eagle shipped to me from Heritage that came with a one inch crack on the top. Had to have a new Golden Eagle built.

 

BE VERY CAREFULL

 

Allan

[big bob]

the most important part is making sure the guitar is immobilized in the case. I don't like putting anything around the headstock unless I have to.

[tulk1]

I had one Golden Eagle shipped to me from Heritage that came with a one inch crack on the top. Had to have a new Golden Eagle built.

 

BE VERY CAREFULL

 

Allan

 

Allan, that's a bummer, for sure. Definitely want to be careful when shipping guitars. Bottom line - if the carrier is going to f'up a guitar, they're going to f'it'up. The forums are full of horror stories about double boxing, bubblewrapping, etc. And the carrier still manages to break the guitar. Can you imagine the force of the hit your guitar must have taken to break it in the case? Probably lucky all that happened was the crack in the top. Makes me shudder thinking about it.

[GuitArtMan]

I've heard several packaging people suggest against wadded up newspaper. The stuff will eventually compress and just lets a blow get through.

[big bob]

I've heard several packaging people suggest against wadded up newspaper. The stuff will eventually compress and just lets a blow get through.

I use news paper, like it far better than p-nuts. I would think it would need to be in storage for a long time before the paper would compress.

[kath]

Allan, that's a bummer, for sure. Definitely want to be careful when shipping guitars. Bottom line - if the carrier is going to f'up a guitar, they're going to f'it'up. The forums are full of horror stories about double boxing, bubblewrapping, etc. And the carrier still manages to break the guitar. Can you imagine the force of the hit your guitar must have taken to break it in the case? Probably lucky all that happened was the crack in the top. Makes me shudder thinking about it.

Took 3 years to rebuild by Byrdland Golden Eagle. Look at my other sites and you will see my Byrdland. UPS doesn't own up to their mistakes very easily.

 

Allan

[GuitArtMan]

I use news paper, like it far better than p-nuts. I would think it would need to be in storage for a long time before the paper would compress.

Wad up some newspaper, stuff it in a bag, hang it on the wall and punch it! Now tell me it doesn't compress. I'd sooner do that with tightly packed, packing peanuts than newspaper as they will absorb the shock. Yeh packing peanuts are a pain, and can shift if you don't stuff enough in there, but they are better at abosrobing shock than wadded up newspaper.

[Heririck]

Wow! I really appreciate all of your responses. I will never get over how helpful, intelligent and friendly the members of the HOC are. Everyone please pat yourselves on the back. Go ahead, nobody's watching.

[rjsanders]

Heritage ships their guitars in a single box. Guitar inside the hardshell case, strung to tension. There is bubblewrap in the bottom to keep the case from bottoming out, there are two squareish side fill cardboard pieces that fit down against the horn flare on the case (keeps the case from shifting in the box). Then bubblewrap on top to keep the top of the case from topping out. And that is all. Had several shipped to me that way from the plant via UPS. All arrived in fine condition.

 

 

i just received a guitar from Wildwood Guitars in Colorado and it was packed like this. i received it fine w/no issues and it was still at pitch & in tune.

 

notes:

- UPS 2nd day air

- it actually arrived <24 hrs

- Wildwood says they ship apx 30/day and in the last 2 yrs (to the salesman's recollection) have had 2 reports of minor probs, neither of which involved a claim

 

if selling, i'd use Dan E.s instructions & recommend air over truck. also, my luthier buddy, Bill Chapin, never ships on Fridays or when a guitar might sit on a dock over the weekend.

[big bob]

When I shipped the 445 out I tried a new technique. After I placed the guitar in the case and latched it shut, I drilled a small hole in the side of the case and filled it with expanding polystyrene foam.

that way the headstock will not be able to move, ever, at all.

[hubberjub]

The secret to packing peanuts is to slide a garbage bag down along the sides of the guitar in the box. Then fill the garbage bag with peanuts as tightly as possible and tie the bag shut. This keeps the peanuts from shifting and keeps them from spilling all over your living room when you unpack a guitar.

[tulk1]

When I shipped the 445 out I tried a new technique. After I placed the guitar in the case and latched it shut, I drilled a small hole in the side of the case and filled it with expanding polystyrene foam.

that way the headstock will not be able to move, ever, at all.

I'm going to start using this method.

[JamieD]

The U-Line S-4922 carton ships with no oversize charges from the shipping companies.

 

I use a couple pieces of styro sheet on the sides, and top and bottom.

 

Requires a tick more than 3 cubic feet of styrofoam peanuts.

 

Rugged boxes. I've shipped several instruments with no issues.

 

Jamie

[peacemaker]

Yikes . . . y'all are freaking me out with your guitar-broken-in-shipping tales. I've got my 575 on the way right now!!

[Jazzpunk]

Yikes . . . y'all are freaking me out with your guitar-broken-in-shipping tales. I've got my 575 on the way right now!!

 

Don't worry, I used Big Bob's method. It'll be fine!

[kbp810]

When I shipped the 445 out I tried a new technique. After I placed the guitar in the case and latched it shut, I drilled a small hole in the side of the case and filled it with expanding polystyrene foam.

that way the headstock will not be able to move, ever, at all.

 

That method worked out well - not a scratch on her!

sty_guitar.bmp

[Orangepicker]

The "proper" way to package a guitar is to make sure that it doesn't move inside the case. It is extremely important to package around the headstock. It is always best to loosen the strings, place a sheet of packing paper under the strings to keep them from scratching the the frets or pickups. The most common problem with a guitar is that the shipper drops the package and the tension of the strings snaps the headstock so the idea is to take some of the tension off of the headstock and keep the headstock from moving. Also use bubble pack or foam peanuts to buffer the case from a blow or drop. Don't use a box that is the size of the case, you need room for packaging. I ship guitars all over the world and have never had a broken headstock but I have had others ship them to me and had them break.

 

[big bob]

The "proper" way to package a guitar is to make sure that it doesn't move inside the case. It is extremely important to package around the headstock. It is always best to loosen the strings, place a sheet of packing paper under the strings to keep them from scratching the the frets or pickups. The most common problem with a guitar is that the shipper drops the package and the tension of the strings snaps the headstock so the idea is to take some of the tension off of the headstock and keep the headstock from moving. Also use bubble pack or foam peanuts to buffer the case from a blow or drop. Don't use a box that is the size of the case, you need room for packaging. I ship guitars all over the world and have never had a broken headstock but I have had others ship them to me and had them break.

 

Where are you in Florida. I'm in G-ville.

 

Maybe we all should have a florida chapter get together