Tweet
From some of the latest threads (sorry to hear about JCF-013) I thought this might be a good idea.
Make sure you get a guitar box. Most music stores toss em out: Become pals with your local GC or the equivalent and get a box. If you can't, then 'roll your own' but make sure that the box is doubled everywhere if it's a homemade job, and do it neatly so the UPS or FedEx folk can't dismiss it before you even get it accepted.
TUNE YOUR STRINGS DOWN. Especially if you have a floyd with the mounting holes in the back. Just enough so there isn't any tension on the neck. If not, and the guitar lands just right - SNAP goes the neck. I have seen this, and it sucks.
Put some bubble wrap inside your hardshell case, around the headstock tip, the butt end of the guitar, basically anywhere there is ANY play or movement. I know that most HSC's are formfit for the guitar, but if this had been done it's likely that many guitars wouldn't get damaged. A tiny bit of play in a case is bad news. While you're at it, make sure that anything left in the case is secure also. If the hinges are bad on the case, tape the thing shut!
If you don't have a HSC for your guitar, at least use a padded gig bag and fill the ends with bubble wrap. This will help protect it. Then make damned sure you are using a good box. Some boxes are made for shipping guitars that aren't in a HSC - these are a Godsend.
Most manufactures from the factory ship guitars in cardboard boxes that aren't a whole lot bigger than the guitar case. If you have one of these, make sure there is plenty of padding at the top and bottom of the case, and you should be ok. I've shipped guitars in oversize (acoustic) boxes before. My favorite of those are Taylor boxes, since they have cardboard inserts that the case will sit in - it isolates the case from the edges. Good stuff! If you aren't so lucky, you can crumple magazines into trash bags (lots - you want it to be nice and fluffy) and then put in one trash bag, guitar case, then another one full of newspaper or magazines. If it's tight enough, then you won't need anything for the sides - the bags will hold the case in suspension. Also peanuts can be used, but never just toss a bunch of peanuts in a box. They can settle and then you're really screwed. Put them in a trash bag FIRST, then into the box. Trust me on this.
One last thing: Be prepared to fight for your insurance money if it does happen. All of the shippers I know of do not just say "ok, we screwed up, here's your dough..." you have to fight them tooth and nail. EVEN AFTER THEY AGREE TO PAY, then they will argue down your insurance amount. Just because you bought 1999 of insurance for that guitar doesn't mean they will pay it... they will want someone to appraise it in most cases. So even if you pay extra for more insurance, it isn't going to help. I always insure packages for what they paid for it, or in the case of a trade, equivalent value. There is no way in hell any shipper is going to pay out a claim of 2 grand for a charvette unless you can get Justin to appraise it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I also ship FedEx with little problems. UPS has been a nightmare at times, and the USPS has lost packages for me. Just make sure your gear is packed like you KNOW it's going to be abused and you should be ok. Never ever pack something half assed... it will come back to haunt you.
Pete
Make sure you get a guitar box. Most music stores toss em out: Become pals with your local GC or the equivalent and get a box. If you can't, then 'roll your own' but make sure that the box is doubled everywhere if it's a homemade job, and do it neatly so the UPS or FedEx folk can't dismiss it before you even get it accepted.
TUNE YOUR STRINGS DOWN. Especially if you have a floyd with the mounting holes in the back. Just enough so there isn't any tension on the neck. If not, and the guitar lands just right - SNAP goes the neck. I have seen this, and it sucks.
Put some bubble wrap inside your hardshell case, around the headstock tip, the butt end of the guitar, basically anywhere there is ANY play or movement. I know that most HSC's are formfit for the guitar, but if this had been done it's likely that many guitars wouldn't get damaged. A tiny bit of play in a case is bad news. While you're at it, make sure that anything left in the case is secure also. If the hinges are bad on the case, tape the thing shut!
If you don't have a HSC for your guitar, at least use a padded gig bag and fill the ends with bubble wrap. This will help protect it. Then make damned sure you are using a good box. Some boxes are made for shipping guitars that aren't in a HSC - these are a Godsend.
Most manufactures from the factory ship guitars in cardboard boxes that aren't a whole lot bigger than the guitar case. If you have one of these, make sure there is plenty of padding at the top and bottom of the case, and you should be ok. I've shipped guitars in oversize (acoustic) boxes before. My favorite of those are Taylor boxes, since they have cardboard inserts that the case will sit in - it isolates the case from the edges. Good stuff! If you aren't so lucky, you can crumple magazines into trash bags (lots - you want it to be nice and fluffy) and then put in one trash bag, guitar case, then another one full of newspaper or magazines. If it's tight enough, then you won't need anything for the sides - the bags will hold the case in suspension. Also peanuts can be used, but never just toss a bunch of peanuts in a box. They can settle and then you're really screwed. Put them in a trash bag FIRST, then into the box. Trust me on this.
One last thing: Be prepared to fight for your insurance money if it does happen. All of the shippers I know of do not just say "ok, we screwed up, here's your dough..." you have to fight them tooth and nail. EVEN AFTER THEY AGREE TO PAY, then they will argue down your insurance amount. Just because you bought 1999 of insurance for that guitar doesn't mean they will pay it... they will want someone to appraise it in most cases. So even if you pay extra for more insurance, it isn't going to help. I always insure packages for what they paid for it, or in the case of a trade, equivalent value. There is no way in hell any shipper is going to pay out a claim of 2 grand for a charvette unless you can get Justin to appraise it. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I also ship FedEx with little problems. UPS has been a nightmare at times, and the USPS has lost packages for me. Just make sure your gear is packed like you KNOW it's going to be abused and you should be ok. Never ever pack something half assed... it will come back to haunt you.
Pete
Comment