What type of packing do you do when shipping a guitar for extra extra protection?

[Shreddy Mercury]

I haven't shipped a guitar in forever and I never pay too much attention when I unpack one. Are those air pouches the best way to go or still bubble wrap or what? I'll also need to eat up space in the box to get it to fit more snuggly so there's less room for the case to slosh back and forth.

 

[griff10672]

you shipping without a hardshell case ??

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Nope, hardshell included

 

[VonBonfire]

I detune it, and try to pack some foam/bubble wrap/packing paper around the headstock area, snug, not tight. I fill any movement areas in the case with the same sort of stuff. The bubble wrap works great on the case exterior and I try to load up enough extra packing stuff so the case doesn't shift a lot in the box. I've even used old rags/towels and stuff. Snug, but not tight. I shipped off a viper a few weeks ago like that with good success, the buyer was pleased.

The best way is double boxed but guitar boxes are pricey if you have to buy them. Maybe that's a good excuse to hit guitar center for that neo soulful PRS you've been talking about getting.

 

[japetus]

Ed Roman told me to always, double box. So, I do.

 

[VonBonfire]

Ed Roman told me to always, double box. So, I do.

Yeah but you only play strats. Those are almost impossible to break.

 

[Geo]

Bunch up newspaper and cram it under the neck for support.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I just got a guitar, and the way it was packed was flawless. It was in its hard case wrapped in about 8" of bubble wrap, then shoved into a box that barely could contain it. I think they could have dropped it three stories

 

[VonBonfire]

I just got a guitar, and the way it was packed was flawless. It was in its hard case wrapped in about 8" of bubble wrap, then shoved into a box that barely could contain it. I think they could have dropped it three stories

They knew that if something happened to it during shipping that you would destroy them.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

They knew that if something happened to it during shipping that you would destroy them.

That is kind of funny because I was worried that it may get damaged in shipping, so I had it shipped to GC for pickup just in case it was damaged so that I could avoid any back and forth. Thing came out perfect!

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I've used newspaper in the past. Crumpled it up into balls and packed it until it couldn't move.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I'll say this, get a guard to go over the fretboard, under the strings. A ding on a ss fret cost me $100. Lesson learned.

 

[Little B]

Above comments are excellent. Not much to add here,
Detune guitar,wrap headstock and put packing against butt end strap pin.my dad was head of a shipping dept for 40 yrs and saw butt end strap pins broke up into the guitar from shippers slamming box on ends.I also put a paper towel over the fretboard.Guitar should not be able to move loosely in its case.Also get the formed foam ends to hold the case inside the box.You can bubble wrap the whole thing too.double box is good too.And take pics of your box before shipping.You can also draw this side up arrows on box although some guitar boxes already say that.I remember my dad saying how he hated peanuts for shipping as they always settle on the bottom.Gc is infamous for using peanuts. I had a guitar shipped to me once in peanuts from gc.Worst packing I ever saw.I ask and specify proper packing of a guitar if it's coming from gc.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Is there anything extra special I need to do in case the unfortunate happens and UPS loses or breaks it? I'm getting the insurance for what the guitar is selling for, but I've seen many stories of UPS or Fed Ex denying insurance claims on guitars and someone just winds up with a broken or lost guitar and out their money.

 

[CoreyW]

I prefer packing paper to bubble wrap, I use to have to ship aviation parts all over the world. You want your void fill to be able to give and absorb impact incase it is dropped, I do pack it tight but I don't want it bouncing inside the box. I support the neck, detune strings, and up until today I have never though about the bottom strap button.