Silly Non-Sense in Packing Guitars?

[Michael_B]

I sold a couple of guitars, this weekend, and I'm packing them up to ship. I feel obliged to do a couple of things that don't make any sense to me.

The first is loosening the strings. I just don't get the theory on why one would loosen the strings, prior to shipping. Maybe in winter? What's the theory on why this is a good precaution?

The second is packing something under the headstock. What's the idea on that? Is it a question of the headstock breaking due to momentum? Or something breaking through the box, wrapping and HSC to knock the headstock?

The third is packing a gram of bud with the guitar. Just because I'm selling a guitar, doesn't mean that I've got an extra gram lying around. I don't even see how that makes any sense.

[tomteriffic]

And then there was the time that Albert King sent his Vee to Dan Erlewine on a Greyhound bus wrapped in nothing but brown butcher paper.... And it got there just fine. Go figure.

ETA: Upon re-reading this post: I wonder howinthehell they wrapped that bus??

[hamerhead]

Yeah - I got a tuned-to-pitch 12-string Dano from California in nothing more than the factory triangle-shaped cardboard box (no case) with 2 pieces of tape holding it shut.

Not a scratch.

[veatch]

Learned a few things in this thread - since i was shipping a guitar, i took pics (i always do anyways in case there is a shipping claim...).

Thoughts?

1> Remove *everything* from the case compartment - in this case, a trem arm - i wrapped in bubble wrap which will be taped to the top of the inner box:

2> I slack the strings - on a Floyd Guitar, i would put foam behind the trem to protect the body, but this trem doesn't need that. I also put a foam sheet under the strings to protect the fretboard and pup covers. Probably does absolutely nothing but i have enough of this stuff that it's no big deal. If the case is not form-fit, i add foam to ensure the body is snug and will not move when shaking the case when closed. In this case, the guitar is tight and no foam is needed. *No* foam or packing around the headstock. Physics, here - if a blow goes to the case, you do not want the force transferred to the headstock. Let that thang wiggle free. Since the body is tight in the case, the headstock should not be hitting anything and will be safe.

3> Wrap the case in bubble wrap:

4> Place in inner case. Uline S-14224 works perfect for most guitars. In this case, i had just received a guitar that was triple boxed - the inner box was two of the Ulines inside each other. I couldn't pry them apart, so i left it. A little extra cardbard never hurt anyone... Pack the sides with what's available - in this case, i used the brown paper. I've used airpacks if i have the sturdy ones. Peanuts are evil, here. I publicly apologize to anyone i have done that to in the past...

5> Tape the top closed with blue painter's tape or something similar that is easy to remove. Bubble wrap the inner box, but *not* the top.

6> Place in outer box - Uline S-4922 works perfect for this. Tape the trem arm to the top of box. I will reuse inner boxes, but not outer boxes. If the outer box is reused, that may have an impact on a claim.

7> Fill with air-packs and seal. Mark the outside of the box to show which end to open. If done right, the receiver opens the outer box, removes the air-packs/padding or whatnot, retrieves the trem arm, opens the inner box (without having to remove it) and pulls out the case. Remove bubble wrap, and that's it.

All of this costs $$$ - Uline boxes, bubble wrap, etc. I ask buyers to pick up the full cost of shipping - i pick up the cost of the packing materials. I think it is worth the cost to ensure the guitar is protected. If there *is* an issue from handling/abuse, the shipper would be hard pressed to claim i did not provide reasonable packaging...

Anyways - i'm open to thoughts. I don't know if this is all the best way to go, but it has worked for me so far - probably around 15 to 20 guitars shipped this way.

[atomicwash]

Damn that guitar is good looking! And well packed, but I missed the bud shot.

[Caddie]

I slept on it and came up with the Perfect Solution!

No Shipping. Local Pickup Only.

[Caddie]

How bout this for some context:

When you put the coffin into a burial vault how do the bugs get into the coffin to complete the process? Why do we double box? Why not triple box?

I'll tell ya, country clubs and cemeteries biggest wasters of prime real estate. (Al Czerwick ... Rodney in Caddysnack.)

I'll tell ya, butcher paper and corrugated double boxes biggest wasters of perfectly good trees. (caddie in Tibetan Monastery)

I suggest that instead of styro packing peanuts we use popcorn, real popcorn, like the stuff you get out of your microwave or the stuff they guoge you for at the movie theatre. Yeah clean up will still be messy, unless you have a dog or two, but the aroma of fresh popcorn will nullify the cleanup.

Just musing.

Cheers!

caddie

[Hbom]

I don't think I'd want the butter all over my case.

[veatch]

...and the smell of popcorn will help mask the smell of cat urine and cigarettes.

[cynic]

^^ Oh man....I received a beater MIJ LP last week. It arrived in one piece despite being packed in a gig bag, knocking around fairly loose in a well used cardboard box.

The stench of cigarettes was so bad it made my throat hurt to be near it indoors. Everything but the guitar went into the trash immediately, and I went over the guitar with a rag damp with naptha.

I'm a reformed 30 year pack-a-day smoker, and I do my damnedest to be tolerant of smokers and their associated smells, but this was just over-the-top bad.

Sorry for the temp hijack.....back to packing

[Steve Haynie]

^^ Oh man....I received a beater MIJ LP last week. It arrived in one piece despite being packed in a gig bag, knocking around fairly loose in a well used cardboard box.

The stench of cigarettes was so bad it made my throat hurt to be near it indoors. Everything but the guitar went into the trash immediately, and I went over the guitar with a rag damp with naptha.

I'm a reformed 30 year pack-a-day smoker, and I do my damnedest to be tolerant of smokers and their associated smells, but this was just over-the-top bad.

Sorry for the temp hijack.....back to packing

One day someone is going to hose off a guitar or put it on a stand in the shower.

[Caddie]

I don't think I'd want the butter all over my case.

But it will lend credibility when you say "it plays like buttah" in your FS ads!

Cheers!

caddie