Anatomy of a Pack - Chapter 19: The Falcon Takes Flight!

[rlord1974]

Well, I never thought I would see this day come, but I decided to let one of my old favourites go – my 1994 Gretsch Silver Falcon.

Let’s start off by taking a critical look at her before she’s released from her nest…..


These pics were taken the week of June 13:

And these pics were taken June 25, the night I boxed her up for her flight…..

Now, time to get on with the pack. Due to the large size of the guitar case (this is a 17” hollowbody folks!), I couldn’t find any regular guitar shipping box to hold it. As a result, I ended up picking up an extra large wardrobe box and converted it into a guitar box, as follows…..

Once the box was “reformatted” as required, it was time to line it with styrofoam…..

Then, lots of packing paper…..

Add the top layer of styrofoam…..

…..and it was time to seal it up!

The final step?.....Labels!!!

There. All packed up and ready for its voyage!

The guitar shipped out this afternoon, Bill. Further details to follow via PM. Let me know when it arrives!

 

[tfridgen]

Holy crap, you still have those shoes?
On topic..... killer pack!!!!!!!!!

 

[rlord1974]

I wear those shoes to bed.....

 

[TeleBlaster]

Mediocre at best, hope it makes it in one piece.
Edit: Not trying to make enemies, but seriously?? Some wadded up paper and beer cooler styrofoam? And written instructions that translate into "Kick me" and "Spear me with a forklift"?
I've received guitars with tire tracks on the boxes, really.
A beautiful guitar like that needs to be prepped for nuclear war. I'd be afraid of the case shifting around in the box, the guitar battering around inside the case, the burst weight of that box.
Packing OK I guess but not great.

 

[tfridgen]

Mediocre at best, hope it makes it in one piece.
Edit: Not trying to make enemies, but seriously?? Some wadded up paper and beer cooler styrofoam? And written instructions that translate into "Kick me" and "Spear me with a forklift"?
I've received guitars with tire tracks on the boxes, really.
A beautiful guitar like that needs to be prepped for nuclear war. I'd be afraid of the case shifting around in the box, the guitar battering around inside the case, the burst weight of that box.
Packing OK I guess but not great.

Are you serious? What would you do differently?

 

[TeleBlaster]

1) I'd line the top and bottom large surfaces of the carton with heavier corrugated board to provide structural integrity, protection from crushing and piercing. I see this was done somewhat, but can't tell if it was glued in or just taped in place which won't do much. Standard C flute board is not the best, double corrugated board is awesome but difficult to find, this is why you should laminate the material together.
2) We can't see if he did or didn't, but if the guitar has any movement inside the case I would us packing material inside the case as well as filling all voids in side the case, this will prevent the guitar from battering and provide crush protection.
3) Positive location of the guitar case inside the carton, many times with guitars (and guns) in cases, I've seen them shift to one end of the box and actually start to pound open the carton from the inside.
4) Erect carton using carton glue or staples on the flaps. This provides integrity to the case whereas when taping the top flaps shut only, a drop on an end or corner can burst the tape or the carton itself.
5) Use a mile of fiberglass reinforced tape. So nothing will tear open, going to have to cut your way in.

Not at all trying to anger anyone, I just see potential for disaster. I've been on the receiving end of smashed guitars that the carrier ruled were packed inadequately. If something happens, and I certain hope it does not, I don't know what the carrier would say.....

 

[rlord1974]

Mediocre at best, hope it makes it in one piece.
Edit: Not trying to make enemies, but seriously?? Some wadded up paper and beer cooler styrofoam? And written instructions that translate into "Kick me" and "Spear me with a forklift"?
I've received guitars with tire tracks on the boxes, really.
A beautiful guitar like that needs to be prepped for nuclear war. I'd be afraid of the case shifting around in the box, the guitar battering around inside the case, the burst weight of that box.
Packing OK I guess but not great.

Wow. I'm VERY surprised by your response.

The pack job I did is as good or better than the pack for every guitar I have ever purchased - even those coming direct from a manufacturer (e.g., Fender, PRS, etc.). Most manufacturers use a box with about an inch to two inches spacing between the guitar case and box sides/ends, and simply place a foam corner at each end of the case. The pack I did surrounded the entire guitar with styrofoam insulation and every edge of the guitar case is at least 2.5 inches from the edge of the box (in most cases, significantly more).

The voids between the guitar case and styrofoam lining were filled with firmly packed packing paper. The guitar is NOT going to move a fraction of an inch in that box. I rolled it over every way I could once the box was sealed up and nothing was moving. The guitar case is firmly placed in the centre of the box and will not shift AT ALL.

The box itself was a double-walled wardrobe carton. Based on the way I reconfigured it, it basically became a triple-walled cardboard box. With the copious amount of high quality packing tape I used (2 rolls at $10 a roll, not the $3 per roll junk that I usually see people use), the box is as solid as a rock. I have no concerns with respect to burst strength.

As for the labelling: I tried to make it clear that the parcel contained something that was fragile. What is wrong with that? If I was handling the box, I personally would treat it with more care as a result of the labelling. If they don't, well, they have some pretty lazy employees on hand that need to be grateful they have employment in this economy. In the unfortunate event of a claim, FedEx certainly cannot claim that they were not informed of the value of the contents (it was insured for full value) or its fragile nature.

As for the "tire tracks" comment: sure, I guess accidents due occur occasionally. That's the risk we all take shipping items. If I saw tire tracks on my parcel conspicuously marked as being 'Fragile' and the contents end up being damaged, I would like to see FedEx try to talk themselves out of paying a claim. The visual evidence would be pretty damning......

 

[TeleBlaster]

Really, I had a FedEx box that had a tire track across it and a smashed guitar inside that they denied the claim!

 

[rlord1974]

1) I'd line the top and bottom large surfaces of the carton with heavier corrugated board to provide structural integrity, protection from crushing and piercing.

It's a double-walled cardboard box, with an added third layer. How over the top does a person need to go?

2) We can't see if he did or didn't, but if the guitar has any movement inside the case I would us packing material inside the case as well as filling all voids in side the case, this will prevent the guitar from battering and provide crush protection.

I did. Inside the case, there is bubblewrap under the guitar itself as well as supporting the neck and headstock. There is in fact a picture of this above. The guitar will not move inside the case.

3) Positive location of the guitar case inside the carton, many times with guitars (and guns) in cases, I've seen them shift to one end of the box and actually start to pound open the carton from the inside.

As mentioned in my previous post, the guitar is NOT going to move an inch. It is firmly surrounded by tightly packed paper, not a few loose pieces. It's solid as a rock.

4) Erect carton using carton glue or staples on the flaps. This provides integrity to the case whereas when taping the top flaps shut only, a drop on an end or corner can burst the tape or the carton itself.

The box weighs 30 pounds. I used fiberglass reinforced tape - and a lot of it (see below). The ends are not going to burst open, even if the box were to fall 20 feet.

5) Use a mile of fiberglass reinforced tape. So nothing will tear open, going to have to cut your way in.

Again, 2 rolls of fiberglass reinforced tape at $10 a roll. No one's getting into that box without using a box cutter.

Not at all trying to anger anyone, I just see potential for disaster.

I know. Personally, I just disagree and believe it is more than adequately packed. In fact, it has more protection than all of my other Gretsch guitars had that came to me in the manufacturer's shipping containers!

 

[marvcus]

With enough compaction/compression, that box is fine.

Years ago when I worked for a guitar store *shudders* we'd get in Peavey Wolfgangs - the USA standards - attached to thin cardboard sheets with heavy shrink wrap with a bit of styrofoam on the ends straight from Peavey. I remember thinking how crazy that was, but once we cut off all that shinkwrap, those things were mostly still in tune and were fine cosmetically.

These threads are always entertaining and you are certainly the packing extraordinaire, btw. Reminds me of Phil Hartman on SNL doing the anal retentive carpenter!

 

[rlord1974]

Really, I had a FedEx box that had a tire track across it and a smashed guitar inside that they denied the claim!

How did you let that happen?! What possible argument could they have had in support of their position?.....

"You need to pack a box to withstand the weight of a vehicle driving over it"?

That's ridiculous. I would have hounded them until they paid. To have something get damaged because the box was dropped a few times during transit - fine, shit happens. But to see visual evidence that the box was driven over is entirely unacceptable. That is just gross negligence on their part and they would lose in a court hearing.

 

[rlord1974]

These threads are always entertaining and you are certainly the packing extraordinaire, btw.

Thanks. Even though entertainment value isn't my goal, I do appreciate the kudos!

Reminds me of Phil Hartman on SNL doing the anal retentive carpenter!

 

[TeleBlaster]

Really, I had a FedEx box that had a tire track across it and a smashed guitar inside that they denied the claim!

How did you let that happen?! What possible argument could they have had in support of their position?.....

"You need to pack a box to withstand the weight of a vehicle driving over it"?

That's ridiculous. I would have hounded them until they paid. To have something get damaged because the box was dropped a few times during transit - fine, shit happens. But to see visual evidence that the box was driven over is entirely unacceptable. That is just gross negligence on their part and they would lose in a court hearing.

Oh man it's even better than that. The guitar was packed similarly, with styrofoam and paper. This is why I'm not a fan of packing paper. Anyways, the case was crushed, the neck bolts were pulled out, body cracked. So FedEx picks it up for inspection at their facility. After a couple weeks of me freaking out, they finally send me a letter denying my claim. Well, I want the guitar back then, right? They said they sent it back!!?!
Turns out they sent it back to the seller and left it on his porch where it was NOT signed for, and stolen...
So they notify me, no payment on the claim, and basically accuse me of conspiring with the seller to ship a broken guitar across country, filing a fraudulent claim, and stealing the guitar back from FedEx!!!!!
Fortunately for me, I'm a vendor for a huge international corporation, and have frequent communication with their head shipping manager. I asked her what I should do, and she made a few phone calls on my behalf.
A couple months later I got a PARTIAL payment on the claim and consider myself fortunate.


As far as Peavey Wolfgangs go, I have to call BS. I was supported by Peavey for awhile using Wolfgangs, and when they sent them to me I received them in heavy, heavy double ply cartons, thick and heavy expanding foam in every square inch of void area in the carton, huge carton that had at least 2" of foam all around the case, case in a plastic bag, guitars had fret protectors on them and some packing material in the voids of the case.

 

[marvcus]

As far as Peavey Wolfgangs go, I have to call BS. I was supported by Peavey for awhile using Wolfgangs, and when they sent them to me I received them in heavy, heavy double ply cartons, thick and heavy expanding foam in every square inch of void area in the carton, huge carton that had at least 2" of foam all around the case, case in a plastic bag, guitars had fret protectors on them and some packing material in the voids of the case.

Nope - true, bro! This was about 2000-2001, before the EXP line came out. Green and Cherry Sunburst were the newer colors - got a green one that way.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Unbelievable. At least the custom shop knew what to do.
I got a guitar from a builder in a neighboring state that came with the box crushed. What saved it was that the box was large and was packed with 17 cubic yards of foam peanuts that were tightly packed in.

 

[rupe]

Late to the party...been away from my computer for a few days and this thread was taking too long to load on my Droid. Thanks Rob, I think the packing job looks great As a former guitar shop manager, I can confidently say that nothing that was shipped to me from Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Anderson, Jackson, Charvel, BC Rich, G&L, Parker, Washburn, Guild, or PRS (or any other manufacturer that I may be forgetting) was ever shipped in anything more than its own case and a minimally protective box...even high end Gibson archtops and acoustics.

Only an act of extreme abuse has a chance of damaging this guitar...and no amount of packing is going to prevent a fork-truck from spearing a box.

As for "fragile" signs being a cue for extra abuse, perhaps...but I kind of doubt it when we're talking about a package insured for $2500. I can't imagine too many delivery drivers want that on their record.

Thanks again Rob...looking forward to getting this one!

 

[tfridgen]

Late to the party...been away from my computer for a few days and this thread was taking too long to load on my Droid. Thanks Rob, I think the packing job looks great As a former guitar shop manager, I can confidently say that nothing that was shipped to me from Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Anderson, Jackson, Charvel, BC Rich, G&L, Parker, Washburn, Guild, or PRS (or any other manufacturer that I may be forgetting) was ever shipped in anything more than its own case and a minimally protective box...even high end Gibson archtops and acoustics.

Only an act of extreme abuse has a chance of damaging this guitar...and no amount of packing is going to prevent a fork-truck from spearing a box.

As for "fragile" signs being a cue for extra abuse, perhaps...but I kind of doubt it when we're talking about a package insured for $2500. I can't imagine too many delivery drivers want that on their record.

Thanks again Rob...looking forward to getting this one!

For real, my JPXI got sent to me from a dealer in it's original packaging; the hardshell case and a protective cardboard box that just fit the case inside of it.
You're right, just knowing the item is insured for so much and having so many labels on it means that the person sending means business.

 

[rlord1974]

Just thought I would connect the dots and "close the case" with respect to this pack that seemed to ruffle some feathers...

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=120169

 

[steve_k]

Just thought I would connect the dots and "close the case" with respect to this pack that seemed to ruffle some feathers...

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=120169

Rob - did you ever play a Duo Jet? Sort of had an eye out for one without the tremelo. Wondering how the Gretsch handles and how it sounds thru some high gainers? I see Chris Cornell with a few of them, and developed an itch for one.

Steve

 

[rlord1974]

Yeah, I have had a few of them. I don't currently have a Duo Jet, but I do have a White Penguin, which is essentially a Duo Jet in a white tuxedo with a lot of gold jewellery on.

The Bigsbys can definitely be finicky at times, but they're cool as hell too. The non-trem versions have their own character as well. Regardless, I've always found the tones to be decent for mild-breakup through crunchy rock. I don't think I'd recommend a Duo Jet for metal though - at least not without considering a pickup upgrade. I think SD will make you a regular humbucker (e.g., an Alnico, JB, etc.) in a Filtertron housing. That might get you there.