Where to get shipping boxes for amp heads?

[sixesandsevens]

If you don't already have a box and you can't sweet talk one out of a local music store, who sells boxes that are approximately the right dimensions for shipping an amp head?

Bonus question:  Aside from assloads of bubble wrap and/or folded extra cardboard, what else should I pack it with?  I get the impression packing peanuts are no bueno both from a practical standpoint (with heavy items) and a karmic one.

[crunchee]

I usually go straight to the dumpsters behind the music stores, though I normally ask permission to box hunt first.  Music stores don't like keeping boxes inside the store unless there's a reason, otherwise they get thrown out back ASAP.  Even broken down, the boxes are usually usuable, provided that the ends weren't cut out first rather than being opened via the closed/sealed end flaps, or ripped up.

A good time to look for boxes suitable for amp heads is generally when they get shipments of musical instruments for High School bands, for the new school year.  Some of those boxes can get pretty big, depending on what comes in, like for larger brass instruments.  You can ask the staff when/if they expect their shipments to come in, so you can get your hands on them before the trash guys do.

Nowadays, it's not unusual to see what I call 'pillow' packing, which are basically sealed air-filled bags that look like little pillows.  Resist the urge to pop these, as they're handy for filling the empty space in a box, while somewhat protecting the contents.   They're decent for guitar packing, though probably not good enough for amp heads.  The alternative that I do see is a type of foam packing, it isn't styrofoam but more like laminated sheets of air-filled plastic foam that are glued together then cut or jigsawed into shape, and lots of electronics use them nowadays instead of styrofoam, to keep items (like amps} from moving or shifting inside the box while protecting them too.  The hunks of laminates are usually easily separated into small blocks, and they're very durable yet soft and cushiony.  I found a big slab of the stuff behind a music store once, and I use it for putting guitars and amps on it as a working area, if I have to change a speaker or tighten hardware.  Not only is it durable stuff, it doesn't scratch whatever you put on or against it.

[DaveL]

 

    One thing I like to do is wrap the amp head/amp etc in cardboard cut from a larger box

(specially around the edges etc)     THEN,  add bubble wrap and put it in a nice larger box. 

packing peanuts, not into em...  they shift, and also break apart and can cause matter to go anywhere

like inside the chasis... so not a good choice... 

[crunchee]

Another item for packing a amp head is styrofoam insulation board, the stuff they use for lining walls.  They usually have a foil-type facing on both sides, which keeps the board in one piece when cut to size, and keeps the styrofoam from getting beat up and falling apart.  This is what my local UPS Store uses for packing amps, they cut it to size depending on the size of the amp and the box.  I think this method is mentioned in the Dan Earlywine Guitar Repair book, too.  You can find the styrofoam insulation board at any big hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe's.

[Dave Scepter]

5 hours ago, crunchee said:

Another item for packing a amp head is styrofoam insulation board, the stuff they use for lining walls.  They usually have a foil-type facing on both sides, which keeps the board in one piece when cut to size, and keeps the styrofoam from getting beat up and falling apart.  This is what my local UPS Store uses for packing amps, they cut it to size depending on the size of the amp and the box.  I think this method is mentioned in the Dan Earlywine Guitar Repair book, too.  You can find the styrofoam insulation board at any big hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowe's.

^^This^^ & I always wrap the amp in a thick super heavy duty "black" garbage bag, then a layer of bubble wrap then line the inside of the box with styrofoam "not peanuts"... if it's a tube amp, pull & label tubes & chassis location... then wrap tubes individually with bubble wrap... be sure to contact your shipping company on insurance requirements as some will not honor insurance claims unless there is a minimum of 3 inches of protection around shipped item... 

[sixesandsevens]

1 hour ago, Dave Scepter said:

be sure to contact your shipping company on insurance requirements as some will not honor insurance claims unless there is a minimum of 3 inches of protection around shipped item... 

Do you guys happen to know what the UPS and USPS requirements are in this regard? 

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, sixesandsevens said:

Do you guys happen to know what the UPS and USPS requirements are in this regard? 

Offhand I do not, it's just best to call them yourself and describe what you're doing and they may even give you pointers... never trust them to package your items as I have found they do an absolutely horrid job... I've always packed my amps as if it could stand a drop of a couple of feet... oh & take some pictures of the packing progress

[G Man]

I thought the only way to buy boxes to ship gear in was to buy gear shipped in boxes.  

[crunchee]

2 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

Offhand I do not, it's just best to call them yourself and describe what you're doing and they may even give you pointers... never trust them to package your items as I have found they do an absolutely horrid job... I've always packed my amps as if it could stand a drop of a couple of feet... oh & take some pictures of the packing progress

UPS has what they call a 'Pack And Ship Guarantee'...where, if they pack the item, then it's all on UPS if it gets damaged when they ship it.  I've sent a couple of amps through UPS that way.  One of them (a non-vintage Fender combo) had one of the back panels broken in transit, and UPS took care of getting that fixed without any fuss.

[sixesandsevens]

12 hours ago, G Man said:

I thought the only way to buy boxes to ship gear in was to buy gear shipped in boxes.  

Zen AF right there.

[sixesandsevens]

11 hours ago, crunchee said:

UPS has what they call a 'Pack And Ship Guarantee'...where, if they pack the item, then it's all on UPS if it gets damaged when they ship it.  I've sent a couple of amps through UPS that way.  One of them (a non-vintage Fender combo) had one of the back panels broken in transit, and UPS took care of getting that fixed without any fuss.

Do you recall what their charge was for that service?

[Dave Scepter]

13 hours ago, crunchee said:

One of them (a non-vintage Fender combo) had one of the back panels broken in transit, and UPS took care of getting that fixed without any fuss.

That's great however, my point is why risk it?.. what if that had been a vintage amplifier?.. I've had numerous broken items due to UPS/FedEx employed packaging... Just recently I bought a amp head and they 1st placed the footswitch "buttons up" in the box, then place the amp head "face down with control knobs" right on top without ZERO padding in between... talk about pissed!.. Never again!.. but if you're having a hard time finding supplies, this may be your best option... try these... also try Uline & Reverb.com sells guitar boxes not sure about amp boxes... & if you do decide to package yourself, I highly recommend double boxing

http://www.fedex.com/us/office/packandship/packing-services.html

https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/sri/help-with-packaging.html

[Steve Haynie]

Find a place that rents moving trucks and sells moving supplies.  If they get their supplies from a source other than the truck company they can likely order boxes for you in the size you want and the thickness you want.  You will be at the mercy of when the store makes its next box order. 

I sell boxes and have made special orders. 

[crunchee]

On 4/28/2017 at 8:42 AM, sixesandsevens said:

Do you recall what their charge was for that service?

Packing and materials provided by my local UPS Store was about $15.00 for a larger/heavy 1x12 combo amp, shipping was their usual charges (depends on distance, size, and weight, of course), plus extra for Signature Confirmation (I normally want somebody to SIGN for any shipment that's considered high value, and often even if it isn't).  IIRC, the criteria was that as long as they (UPS) provided the packing materials and did the packing (and you paid for the privilege, of course), it qualified for the 'Pack And Ship' guarantee.  If you pack it yourself with your own materials, it won't.

The problem I've had with other UPS shipping outlets, is that their prices tend to vary all over the place...especially the 'Mom and Pop' shippers who AREN'T actual UPS Store franchises.  Those tend to be ultra-expensive!

I've been shipping regularly with my local UPS Store for years (and no, I don't actually have a UPS account there, I don't use UPS THAT frequently), I know them well and they know me well.  They may or may not be giving me a break on the pricing, at least in comparison on what other UPS Stores charge; but as long as the item I'm shipping is insured and covered, I'm a pretty happy and relatively undemanding customer, and I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, knowwhutimean? 

[sixesandsevens]

On 4/28/2017 at 11:23 AM, Steve Haynie said:

Find a place that rents moving trucks and sells moving supplies.  If they get their supplies from a source other than the truck company they can likely order boxes for you in the size you want and the thickness you want.  You will be at the mercy of when the store makes its next box order. 

I sell boxes and have made special orders. 

I ended up buying a golf bag box from the U-Haul store for like $7.  It's a bit too long, but easy to trim down to shape on that one dimension.

Thanks for all the tips folks!

[tbonesullivan]

Shipping amp heads is a PITA, but manageable. Making a custom box out of a larger one is often the best way to go. Maybe put a box directly around the amp, padding, and then another box.

Shipping combos is a nightmare. Be thankful you're shipping a head.

[Steve Haynie]

On 5/3/2017 at 1:23 PM, tbonesullivan said:

Shipping combos is a nightmare. Be thankful you're shipping a head.

A combo arrived with a the baffle board separated from the cabinet.  It was fixed in a cabinet shop, but the person who fixed it decided to add a bunch of silicon caulk. 

[sixesandsevens]

On 5/3/2017 at 1:23 PM, tbonesullivan said:

Shipping amp heads is a PITA, but manageable. Making a custom box out of a larger one is often the best way to go. Maybe put a box directly around the amp, padding, and then another box.

Shipping combos is a nightmare. Be thankful you're shipping a head.

Surprise ending:  The buyer got paranoid about UPS dropping it so we're meeting between us (not too far away, in Amish country).  

So...  where do I get a box big enough to ship a golf club box?   

[LordsoftheJungle]

Rather than trying to use a wrong-sized box I've had them made-to-order at a box store,,, they didn't cost much IIRC.

[sixesandsevens]

On 5/10/2017 at 9:18 AM, LordsoftheJungle said:

Rather than trying to use a wrong-sized box I've had them made-to-order at a box store,,, they didn't cost much IIRC.

Nice!   The golf club box is great for a well-padded amp head except on the long dimension, but that's just a few cuts to get it down to size.

[tomteriffic]

Handy tool for cutting down boxes and foil faced insulation board, etc.: The Wedding Gift That Won't Go Away.  That's right, the electric carving knife.  Somebody you know has one and is dying to get rid of it.