How to ship a vintage acoustic guitar?

GeneralElectric · #1 06-26-2009, 04:09 PM

How would you folks ship a vintage acoustic guitar?

The store up the street from me sells new Gibson acoustics by the bucketload, so I'd have a box ready to go. But what shipper to go with? I've heard that more than a couple won't accept insurance claims on vintage instruments.

Just curious because a few people have inquired about an acoustic I'm getting rid of.

tplyons · #2 06-26-2009, 04:12 PM

Whatever you do, overnight it, or two day. And only ship on a Monday or Tuesday.

When it arrives, make sure the new owner lets it acclimate in it's case overnight.

bassteban · #3 06-26-2009, 04:33 PM

I'd bubble-wrap the bejeezus out of it, put it in the HSC, then into the cardbaoard box, then build a wooden shipping crate around the whole shebang. Of course if all this destroys the profit margin I'd stay local.

T-Bird · #4 06-27-2009, 01:06 AM

Hi.

I'd rent an ATA case. Preferably from a company that has offices on both ends of the journey.

A cardboard box You're thinking about? Either the guitar isn't that vintage, that valuable, or You have a great trust for the shipping companies.

Regards
Sam

GeneralElectric · #5 06-27-2009, 12:02 PM

The guitar is from the early 70s but it comes with the original gig bag which ups the value a bit. I was planning on shipping it for $950 delivered, which isn't a huge sum, but its nothing to balk at.

My original plan was to get the box from Mandolin Brothers. They've got reinforced cardboard, and all those handy FRAGILE! markings all over it as well as they stuff inside the box from being crushed. I was going to slide the whole thing into that and fill the entire deal with packing peanuts, styrofoam, and bubble wrap.

My only problem here is the shipping company. I don't know which ones will allow you to insure vintage instruments. I know that some don't as a matter of policy.

warwick.hoy · #6 06-27-2009, 12:25 PM

I hate those packing peanuts. When I get a package and it's full of peanuts they usually windup all over my floor. It's a minor annoyance, but take it into consideration. The buyer may be cleaning Styrofoam out of the sound hole for weeks. If it has F holes than forget it. Bubble Wrap or those air bladders.

bassteban · #7 06-27-2009, 01:18 PM

Beyond the cleanup factor, packing peanuts suck because after a very short ride in one position, they all shift to one end of the box, leaving the other end of the packed item unprotected. So when the UPS/Fedex monkey throws your nice ax on the next vehicle, it takes a nasty impact at that end.

**SoComSurfing** · #8 06-27-2009, 01:23 PM

The guitar in the bag should be fine as long as its packed well. A lot of guitar companies are shipping out their instruments with cardboard supports at the top and bottom of the case inside the box, and no other "support" packing (styrofoam, air bladders, etc). When I worked in an acoustic shop we sent and received things like this all the time. We always shipped UPS unless the customer asked for another courier.

GeneralElectric · #9 06-27-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

The guitar in the bag should be fine as long as its packed well. A lot of guitar companies are shipping out their instruments with cardboard supports at the top and bottom of the case inside the box, and no other "support" packing (styrofoam, air bladders, etc). When I worked in an acoustic shop we sent and received things like this all the time. We always shipped UPS unless the customer asked for another courier.

Yeah, the one up the street gets them from Gibson in those heavy boxes, so I planned on taking one.

I'll looking at the UPS site now for their policy on it.