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Hey All,

I need to ship a guitar from N. Colorado to N. Minnesota. Until now, they've all been hand delivered. But this, and other upcoming units, must be shipped to other states. One will be shipped all the way across the country to the eastern seaboard. Any advice from those of you who are experienced in doing this would be greatly appreciated. Especially in regard to specific needs to ship in extreme cold and potential rough handling experiences. In addition, a reliable insurance source for one off shipments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to those who offer their input in advance, I DO much appreciate it!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Most of my advice has been from the folks at The Podium in Minneapolis who ship tons of guitars in the winter. They look for "windows" where the temps are in the 20's. They also always ship ground which makes sense to me. Shipping air in the winter means that the box will be exposed to fairly rapid temp and humidity changes as it is moved from facility to truck to plane to truck etc. and actually handled more. I had one guitar check after winter air shipment. I think winter shipment with nitro always involves a little risk that has to be accepted.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hi Bill,

Not too much you can do about cold .... if the box sits in a cold truck or warehouse . it will get cold. Its possibel you can request heated transport, for extra bucks .. I know we get wine shiped that way in canada, fedex I think ???

Packing .. just make sure the headstock is well imobilized - I use bubble wrap top and bottom (wrap the headstock in a new cottom shop towel first) such that the case just doesnt quite close - then squeeze it shut. Pad the case inside the box so that it cant move around in there either .. use a double thickness cardboard box if you can (most guitar companies dont even use these, I get them from my case guy here in town), or add extra layer inside a single box.

Insurance - cant help you there, as I have shipping insurance with my business coverage.

Use the shortest delivery time you (or the client) can afford.

Then pray !!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I've shipped 2 guitars via air...one in winter to UK and one in summer to CA from Indiana. No damage to either...perhaps Catalyzed Polyester is more check-resistant. 2 guitars certainly doesn't represent a confident sample size so YMMV.

I used USPS in both cases and was pleased with their service as well as the cost of insurance...about $65 if I remember correctly. I packaged the guitars similar to what Tony described.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I have had a lacquer finish crack right before my eyes even after waiting 4 hours for the package to slowly acclimate to my home. I could actually hear it happening. Had I waited another four hours this probably could have been avoided. It isn't the shipping temperature that cracks the finish, it was the rapid change from cold to hot when I finally opened the package that damaged mine. If I was shipping one in the winter I would give instructions to the customer to wait until the next day to open it if possible.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

The case is a great insulator -- I used to put a min/max thermometer in cases that went from VT to CA via air. The thermometers never showed more than a 5º change, even with a 50º ambient difference (and who knows how much on the plane). That said, waiting a day or two before opening is a good idea and so is not shipping when there's a storm and/or very low temps at either end.

I would never ship via ground. Just the idea of a big, lightweight, fragile instrument banging around in the back of a semi for days with a bunch of heavy hard boxes gives me the chills. Two years ago, trucks were taking as much as 5 days to get through Snoqualmie Pass on I-90: do you want to risk having your guitar sit in an unheated semi by the roadside while the avalanche control crews do their thing?

Recently I've been using the USPS which has been great. Their overnight rates are about what FedEx or UPS charges for 2- to 4- day deliveries, the boxes have arrived in better condition than anything shipped UPS (no boot marks from being walked on, for instance), and the service is at least as good as FedEx. Between FedEx and the USPS, over 150 shipped without damage. But yes, I still insure with the carrier and carry inland marine insurance as well.

+1 USPS overnight. Oftentimes boxes arrive absolutely unmarked. Eastern Washington in dead of winter to Hawaii was the biggest weather change, no problem at all. But then I don't use nitro.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Much appreciated Y'all!

I suppose it would be ill-advised to ship well wrapped and padded, in an HD box, lined with 1/4" plywood and foam? I know there's a bit more weight but this particular one is a gift. And, I wasn't planning on buying a case for it unless the very existence of the guitar is dependent on it.

Again, thanks for your experiences, your help does not go unappreciated.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

That could work. I shipped a guitar from Branson, MO to Spokane, in a good gig bag, in a guitar box with several layers of heavy cardboard stuffed in against all six sides. It was fine.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Whelp! I reckon that set's me at about as much ease as I can have given the season and the reason. Thanks Pat, and and everybody else as well. I'll do what I gotta do and that's about about all I can do.

Catch Y'all later

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

I also use the USPS for overnight delivery and am very pleased with their service so far.