Re: Shipping Guitars?
For those of you who have shipped guitars, how do you do it? I'm assuming a hard shell case is necessary? And some sort of packaging to cover it? Are boxes used, and if so, how would you find the right sized boxes? Also, what service works best for it? UPS, FedEx, or USPS?
I've shipped many guitars, rarely ever with a case. Double-boxing works very well: a small triangle box inside a larger rectangle one. Remember they charge on both weight and size, so keep the boxes as small as you can. You can usually get guitar from a music store (or the dumpster outside). Shipped packages run on conveyor belts & take some falls, so prepare for the worst & you should be okay. The key word is "padding." Shipping in a hard case will add sigificantly to the weight & cost.
Inside the small box, you should put the guitar in a soft protective sleeve (they come like this from the manufacturers). Use bubble wrap all around the guitar and neck, and put extra padding all around the headstock, as this is where most breaks happen. A special styro neck arch for support will help here too (they're glued into guitar boxes). You should also have styro at the bottom end of the guitar. Tape the triangle box firmly shut with sealing tape. The guitar should be in there solid with no movement. If you ship it in a hard case, remember that guitars can move around inside some of them, and padding is a good idea inside the hard case. Basically a hard case takes the place of a triangle box.
Put the triangle box inside the rectangle box, and use balls of newspaper or other padding between the boxes for protection against falls or punctures (uncommon but it happens). Ideally, you'll have padding between the boxes on the sides, top & bottom. This is great protection. Again, everything should be firmly in place & not move. Tape the top shut, and add some tape to the bottom of the box too. You want it airtight, to protect against changes in temp & humidity. Use lots of tape.
Fed Ex is usually the least expensive. UPS is good too. Both have excellent online tracking. You can use the post office (which is a viable option), but the tracking is poor.
Always insure for the full value. Every carrier has damaged & lost packages from time to time, but all deliver the vast majority intact. Even if you use the shipper's tags, write the address & phone on the box too and cover with sealing tape, in case the tags get wet or come loose. I always use ground, as express is far too expensive.
Let me know if you have any questions.
