How to properly ship a guitar?

[Jake]

Hey guys, I'm planning on selling my Jackson soon, since I don't play it too often (nothing is wrong with it, I just hate Floyds). But before I put it up for sale, how do I ship it? I have no hardcase or gigbag to ship it with, so I assume I'd need to find a box and get alot of styrofoam packing? Does a place like UPS or FedEx have boxes you can use?


I'm a total idiot with this stuff since I've never shipped anything before. Thanks.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

If you want to be able to insure the guitar, it has to be packed with at least 2" (if I remember correctly) of peanuts between the object and the box edges. The UPS store or Pak Mail will pack it to specs and ship it for you. Depending on the actual size of the guitar, they may have to build a custom box for it....if that's the case, the price goes up.

To ship my Taylor Acoustic in it's hard case cost me $85 because they had to build a custom box. Take it in and get estimates, and remember that Fed Ex ground is the cheapest way to send stuff...way cheaper than UPS.

 

[rspst14]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

Jake, I have a Fender gig bag you can have cheap if you want at least some protection. Shipping a guitar with no case/bag at all is just asking for trouble.

Ryan

 

[Jake]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

Jake, I have a Fender gig bag you can have cheap if you want at least some protection. Shipping a guitar with no case/bag at all is just asking for trouble.

Ryan

How much money are we talking here? I want a fair price but I'd rather not rip you off.


That makes sense jeff.

 

[rspst14]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

Check your PM's.

Ryan

 

[Grandor]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

I ship guitars in packed hard cases surrounded by bubble wrapping then cardboard.

Very good protection of the case and axe... and Australia post over here thinks thats enuf to insure it...

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

I go down to the local guitars store and ask if they have any boxes There
throwing out? If they say NO ! I raid their garbage on trash night. :13:
you can get bubble wrap at your local Staples. wrap the guitar up with
the bubble wrap,Then get a newspaper and start balling it up pack it
in the box so the guitar don't shift around during shipment. UPS is the
way to go. Get Ins. and a tracking # you can email to the buyer. If you
let them box it up for you at one of the them shipping centers They
charge a Arm and a leg!!

 

[seafoamer]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

2 words: Bubble wrap

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

I've shipped more than a few items online myself.

For guitars, it's essential that you make sure that the guitar does not move. To avoid any future problems, I recommend two guitar boxes be used to protect the guitar. Bubble wrap is extremely useful. Newspaper works well to fill the "inbetween" spots. Make sure the guitar itself is not against one edge. Keep it in the middle supported evenly on all sides by proper packaging materials (like I listed above).

When it's all closed up, I go buck wild with packing tape. I use packing tape along the sides and often on corners to add extra reinforcement. With a little time, you'll get the hang of it

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: How to properly ship a guitar?

I would definately get a gigbag to ship the guitar in at the very least. I would wrap the gig bag and guitar in a load of bubble wrap and fill the box with foam peanuts. Be sure you spread the foam peanuts around so that there is even support throughout the box for the guitar and so the guitar has no way of sliding. You should be able to shake the box without being able to hear the guitar moving or banging around in the box. If you go to Guitar Center or some other music store you should be able to access a guitar box to ship the Jackson in. Be sure to tape the hell out of the box. Always better to overtape than to not tape enough. Leave it up to the buyer if they wanna insure the guitar. If they wanna insure it and provide you with the extra money for insurance GREAT, if not, it's noone's fault but their's if the guitar gets lost or damaged during shippment. IMO anyone who doesnt insure a guitar is a dumba$$.