Packing/Shipping tips for a Standard?

[silverfacechamp]

I am getting ready to ship out the 4 digit standard to BCR that dgstandard bought from me, and I've called Greg BCR and emailed but haven't heard anything back yet.

The case is a standard Hamer case that form-fits around the body, but the neck just rests on the storage compartment and the headstock is in the open at the end of the case.

How should I pack this thing to make sure that the guitar and especially the headstock are safe? I plan on shipping it back out in the box the case came in, which was one large box, some padding, a slightly smaller one inside that, and then the bubble wrapped case inside the smaller box. So, the case is protected by two layers of cardboard and two layers of approx. 1" thick bubble wrap.

Some say to pack paper around the headstock, others say to leave it open. Some say to detune the strings, others say to not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Lockbody]

The double boxing is great. What you want to make sure of is that the guitar cannot move forward in the case at all. I wouldn't entomb the headstock, but instead pack bubblewrap along the leading edges of the body to keep it from moving forward any in case the box is dropped on the wrong end. Then I might just put a few layers of bubblewrap underneath the headstock for support.

Edit: I tend to detune any mahogany-necked guitar. Maple I generally leave tuned to pitch.

[atquinn]

...I wouldn't entomb the headstock, but instead pack bubblewrap along the leading edges of the body to keep it from moving forward any in case the box is dropped on the wrong end. Then I might just put a few layers of bubblewrap underneath the headstock for support...

+Billions!

-Austin

[BTMN]

Check that the tip of the headstck has clearance in the case too. I take 1 or 1/2 a sheet, about 5 to 10 large bubbles width, and roll it and tuck it under the headstock after putting 1 layer of bubble wrap around the headstock. Sounds like you are on track so far.

[Thundersteel]

This is an excerpt from one of Dan Erlewine's books:

Packing a guitar for shipment

Guitars are shipped everyday without a hitch. Manufacturers use heavy duty, brand new, properly sized cardboard boxes with cardboard inserts to stabilize the lower bout of the guitar case and the neck portion. Often no other packing is used or (apparently) needed.

Good guitars should travel first class, in hardshell cases. If yours has a soft-shell case, buy a better one or keep the guitar at home. This applies to shipping either acoustics or electrics: Start with the heaviest guitar shipping box you can find at your local music store. My favorites are the boxes from Martin, Gibson, Fender and Guild. UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other shippers do a great job of handling all kinds of fragile and expensive stuff. When shipping exceptionally valuable guitars, talk with your shipper to make sure that the full amount you're thinking of is covered in case of a lost guitar. (It happens.)

How I box up a guitar

Remove any unnecessary items from the case's interior accessory box, and pack what you do leave in there well. Make sure that the lid can't open.

Tune down the strings until they're slack. During a fall, pressure from tuned-up strings can easily break a headstock on a Gibson. Fenders can handle almost any fall if packed well. Slide something under the strings, protecting the nut and frets (cloth, paper towel, whatever). Protect an electric guitar's pickguard and pickups by sliding folded paper over them. With an archtop, pad all around the bridge with paper pushed under the strings and tailpiece, or remove the bridge entirely. Be sure that the tuners are securely in the peghead and can't vibrate loose to rattle around inside the case.

See that the neck rests in its support cradle. Don't depend on the cradle to keep the guitar in place. The headstock shouldn't be able to touch the case, and it should be supported all around with wadded balls of newspaper. For acoustics, fold some paper and support the back of the guitar under the neck block area if there's a gap between it and the case.

The guitar shouldn't move inside when you shake the case. If it does, pad the waist and bout areas with paper. Drop a layer of crushed newspaper balls into the bottom of your shipping box, and lower the case into it. Center the case in the box (below) and fill the box snugly on all sides with paper balls; use a stick to push them down where you can't reach.

If your box still has the original cardboard fillers inside, use them and/or the crushed newspaper. Stiff cardboard placed in the right areas can really firm up a box. Use gummed, fiber-reinforced tape to seal the box.

Clearly print the shipping address on the box. I always print "Fragile, Please" on all four sides (I think that adding the word "please" is important), and draw a picture of a broken long-stemmed wine glass—the international "fragile" symbol. Insure the guitar for more than it's worth, pay the shipping person, say your prayers and you're done. You'll be in good shape.

FROM DAN ERLEWINE'S GUITAR PLAYER REPAIR GUIDE , 3RD EDITION

For what it's worth, I've used these tips every time I've shipped a guitar, and I've NEVER had a problem with breakage or damage.

[crunchee]

+1! I've packed similarily, but if you don't have enough room between the box and the case for balled-up newspaper, I use packing peanuts--but I make sure it is firmly packed in so that the peanuts don't settle too much. Don't pack it in TOO tightly, you want to cushion the case and allow the packing to absorb shock, not transmit the shock.

Good thing you have the newer case with the form-fit body area, the older cases that just have a open space for the body don't keep the body from shifting around in transit very well; in fact, I need to find a heavy duty staple gun to re-anchor the body divider (the one closest to the guitar body) in one of my old style Standard cases, as it has become wiggly with use. I had to ship one of my Standards once using the old style case, and I used a LOT of newspaper padding inside to keep it from shifting around. Don't toss those old cases away, though--people may need to have TWO cases for those older Standards, the original case plus one for actual use.

[gorch]

Hamer hardshell cases are quite strong. There is not very much to do except putting it in a box and having some bubbles around.

Possibly, draw an arrow on the box to signal -this side up- to make the guitar box stand if possible. That would prevent for to much weight pressing on the large sides and therefore prevent for damage.

[silverfacechamp]

It does seem like the case is quite sturdy. There's very little flex at all, and it's strong enough that there would have to be some pretty serious weight on top of the packed case for it to damage anything.

So, from reading the responses here it looks like I want to snug up the body so there is no movement, and then wrap the headstock in bubble wrap and cushion it slightly from underneath.

Thanks for the responses and help.

[Lockbody]

I know what Dan Erlewine say, but if you use paper in any form as packing material and the guitar gets damaged, UPS at least, will use that as a reason to deny a claim. I was told this by an UPS claims adjuster onetime when I had a speaker cab damaged. I'm willing to bet other shippers have a similar policy.

[Feynman]

Unpack it, remove it from the case, put it back on its stand or hangar, rock out like a bad mofo. Scold yourself for considering parting with it. Apologize to the Standard.

[Hackubus]

Unpack it, remove it from the case, put it back on its stand or hangar, rock out like a bad mofo. Scold yourself for considering parting with it. Apologize to the Standard.

You truly do say it best.

[gorch]

Unpack it, remove it from the case, put it back on its stand or hangar, rock out like a bad mofo. Scold yourself for considering parting with it. Apologize to the Standard.

You truly do say it best.

If there's something I learned from this forum,

"Feynman says it best".

[silverfacechamp]

Unpack it, remove it from the case, put it back on its stand or hangar, rock out like a bad mofo. Scold yourself for considering parting with it. Apologize to the Standard.

I think I'd have a rather angry Canadian on my hands if that happened......

Seriously though guys....in nearly 20 years of playing and collecting, this is only the second guitar I've ever sold.

I really think the guitar will be better off with dgstandard.....despite achieving 'collector' status, these things are, first and foremost, built to be played. I'm not exaggerating when say that this thing would live in it's case in the closet for all time, getting played a couple hours a year.

[veatch]

+1 on NOT using newspaper. Does it work? Absolutely. Is it easy to manage (for shipper and receiver)? Absolutely. But as mentioned, it can cause troubles if there is a claim.

Static free peanuts, as much as a pain as they are, is the most affordable route. I get airpacks, and use them for voids when i can, but buy and large, double boxing a rectangular case usually results in very little need for filler.

Most of the other points in the Erlewine writeup is excellent.

As far as in the case, i will add foam around the BODY ONLY until the guitar does not move when the case is closed and shaken. If the headstock is touching the bottom of the case, additional padding may be needed under the neck at the support. Bubble wrapping the headstock in general for a gibson style headstock is not the best idea. The best thing to have around the headstock is space. Bubble wrap removes that space.

And as (i think) everyone else has sed, slack the strings.

Just my opinion, though. Others here have shipped more than i have...

[tommy p]

Well, first you're gonna need my address!

[Armitage]

I slacken the strings, pack the headstock in bubble wrap, place a few blocks of Styrofoam in the case so it can't be crushed, and fold up one sheet of newspaper to go between the strings and frets...

Bubble wrap comes in different sizes, I use the small stuff to tighten up around the body if need be, and the big stuff around the headstock. I take off the toggle switch tip and put it, and the case keys, trem arm and Allen wrench(s), into an envelope I've folded a couple times (and taped) into the case compartment. Something as simple as a loose case key can ruin a guitar bouncing in a UPS truck.

I try to use an over sized shipping box and bubble wrap the case to a snug fit. Bass shipping boxes are great for Standards.

If you don't think you can drop the guitar from any angle from 5 feet and be comfortable... don't ship it, because someone will.

Hamer and most guitar companies just drop the guitar, tuned, into the case, into a box and ship... which explains why Hamer broke my headstock... It seems that that $3,500 guitar you've lusted over and got a special deal on... is only $350 worth of wood to the factory. The time and labor to pack it well is just too expensive compared to the odds of breakage... ouch. They can write it off, I can't.

B&J, the Canadian distributor of Hamer guitars, got a bunch of cheap guitars in with a finish flaw and they were told to destroy them... they were simply too expensive to fix. So the guys took them out to the parking lot to play with. They were surprised to find that dropping the guitar back-words seldom broke the headstock but dropping it forward did. With the strings detuned, it took real effort. Hockey sticks take a hell of a beating...

[crunchee]

I take off the toggle switch tip and put it, and the case keys, trem arm and Allen wrench(s), into an envelope I've folded a couple times (and taped) into the case compartment. Something as simple as a loose case key can ruin a guitar bouncing in a UPS truck.

If you don't think you can drop the guitar from any angle from 5 feet and be comfortable... don't ship it, because someone will.

+1! I once shipped a Archtop GT (AKA Studio GT) to myself when moving several years ago, and the switch shaft broke--no damage to the box or case, apparently it just happened from getting bumped around, the guitar was fine otherwise. I detune strings on guitars when shipping, it makes sense to me. The length and angle of Standard headstocks are an accident waiting to happen, if you're not careful.

P.S. I wonder how much beer was consumed during the 'crash testing' of those 'flawed' guitars?

[silverfacechamp]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions, guys.

The guitar went out today (well insured) to Greg BCR. It was a form fitted case, so I packed crumpled newspaper around the body and neck joint until it wouldn't move around any more. Then, I slackened the strings, turned all the tuning keys parallel to the case, and wrapped one layer of bubble wrap around the headstock. I then made a small bubble wrap pillow and supported the area directly behind the nut. Then, I packed bubble wrap all around the headstock and laid a layer over top of it.

Oh, and I put paper between the strings and the fingerboard.

Fingers crossed!

[dgstandard]

Thanks for starting this thread and thank you all that have contributed.

So, in anticipation of receiving this guitar back from Greg, what should be the first riff I should play? Got some time to practice/bone up. Can't drive 55...too obvious? Wait, I've heard that saying recently...

What ya got?

[bubs_42]

Thanks for starting this thread and thank you all that have contributed.

So, in anticipation of receiving this guitar back from Greg, what should be the first riff I should play? Got some time to practice/bone up. Can't drive 55...too obvious? Wait, I've heard that saying recently...

What ya got?

Only one I can think of.

[mathman]

A 4-digit standard should always play this:

I'm not the only boy