Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys: I've finally completed guitar number 5 (I'll post some pics once I take them). This is the first time I'll have to ship one to a client.

Can I get some of you veterans to chime in and advise me as to the best way to package up one of these things for a SAFE journey to its new home?

Help in this regard would be greatly appreciated, it took me forever to build the thing and I'd hate to make a stupid mistake at this point.

Greg

You could get a box from the local music store, but you might want to consider taking it to one of those shipping box stores and allow them to pack and ship. This way they are responsible for any damage. Make sure it is insured well. Are you including a case?

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RJS

I am shipping it in a good quality case, but I was more interested in what you pros do for packing inside the case.

Do you ship with the guitar strung to pitch? Or without strings?

Do you support the head stock in any way?

Any other considerations?

Thanks... Greg

This is just what I do.
I de tune 1/2 step. I make sure the guitar fits good in the case. Depending on the case this might include stuffing some bubble wrap between the case and the waist or shoulders. I support the headstock with bubble wrap. If I think the bubble wrap might scratch the headstock I put a (new) sock over it. (If the customer has ticked me off I might use an old sock LOL) I make cardboard gussets to keep the case from moving inside the box. I don't use a tapered end pin, but if that's what the guitar has I'd remove it also. If you put anything inside the case compartment tape the compartment shut.

IMHO the most important thing I do when shipping is to ship with USPS.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I spin the strings 'til they're loose-ish (won't ring anymore) and pack the case densely with towels or paper wherever there's airspace. Then I tape it shut with duct tape, just in case. I put a layer of soft foam under the back and on the top to absorb a little extra bumping there.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

I favor doing the packing yourself. The pack-and-ship people don't know about guitars (there may be exceptions) and the ones I've received have been in HUGE boxes with LOTS of packing -- that is, very big and heavy and expensive to ship -- but without the most important padding and packing.

Frank Ford covered most of the important points in the Frets.com piece. I cut wedges of 4" minicel foam (a firm, closed-cell foam often used in kayaks) to fit the case above and below the headstock. Supporting and protecting the headstock is crucial!! Strings loose, a piece of thin foam between strings and fingerboard (unnecessary but impressive). If the case is a sloppy fit, pad it. No, that's wrong, get a better case.

Put the case in a big plastic bag if you have such. Usually irrelevant but sometimes boxes get wet. Between case and box, use foam on top and bottom. I've used styrofoam, minicel, and cut up mattress foam as available. Then use foam peanuts in garbage bags to pad all around the case. When you're done, the case should be firmly held in the middle of the box and there should be at least 1" of padding everywhere.

Now get a pile of "FRAGILE" and "THIS SIDE UP" labels. Generously affix them all over the box. It may help, who knows?

Put the waybill on the top or a narrow side, not on one of the broad faces. This makes it a little more likely that the handlers will have that side up.

Make sure someone will be at the far end to receive it.

Now, take the package to FedEx and ship 1, 2, or 3 day air. Do not take it to UPS. Do not even consider taking it to FedEx Ground. The USPS may be a reasonable second choice (some people really like shipping guitars priority mail) but FedEx has the best record of safe delivery -- in my experience, at least. The guitar is a big, fragile, lightweight object. With FedEx, it's likely to be in a pile of envelopes and small packages. With the others, it's more likely to be a large target surrounded by small, heavy projectiles.

Look into your own insurance rather than pay the exhorbitant rate of any shipper.

Finally, hold your breath, cross your fingers, say a prayer or sacrifice a goat -- whatever you can think of to help it on its voyage.

Thanks Laurent for the excellent link and all the rest for their insights.

I'll brush up on my goat sacrificing just in case.

Wish me luck

Greg

BBQ goat isn't too bad if you drink enough tequilla. DAMHIKT

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Packing bubble wrap above and beneath the peghead is one of the most important tips that I can think of. Make sure the peghead cannot move in either direction. This will greatly reduce the risk of whiplash, which is one of the most common breaks that occur in shipping.

I place a piece of bubblewrap beneath the back and one on the top. I had a couple of cases which had hardened glue beneath the velour. When the guitar arrived at the destination is was pock marked from the hidden glue. Hence the reason I default to using bubble wrap on top and bottom. From standard tuning I back off each tuner 1-1/2 revolutions.

I found some dense 1/2" thick packing foam which I have cut into strips that fit the bottom of the box. I place 3 pieces of foam in the bottom of the box then set the case on that. I save styrofoam peanuts and store them in plasit grocery bags. I place two bags of peanuts on each side of the neck area of the case inside the box. Next is three more pieces of foam on top of the neck end of the case.

Tape that box up. That box is then slid inside of another carboard box that has three pieces of foam on each end of it. Why all of the foam? Read the fine print on a UPS, FedEx or USPS insurance claim form. They stipulate that you MUST have at least 2" of packing ALL the way around your item or they can void the claim. Learned this lesson the hard way!

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

One more thing, that I believe is important. Take plenty of pictures while you're packing it. They might be helpful if there's a claim.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/