j45nick Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 My L-OO Legend arrived safely back home in Florida today, shipped via UPS from San Francisco. I've shipped this guitar twice in the last four months, both times via UPS. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I do take extraordinary care in packing for shipment, particularly after Ol' Fred's heartbreaking recent experience recently with his great old CW. Here's the way I packaged this guitar: Strings detuned to less than 50% tension. Endpin removed and packaged separately within the shipping box, but not inside the case. Nothing inside the case accessory compartment. (learned that the hard way some years ago) Accessories (tuner, capo, strings, polish, picks) packaged separately in a small cardboard box, wrapped in bubblewrap and packed inside the shipping box. Headstock wrapped in a clean cotton dish towel. Another dish towel folded and placed on top of the bridge and strings to immobilize the guitar within the case. This is the last time this particular shipping box will get used, as it's showing a bit of wear and tear. I have molded expanded foam pieces that fit in either end of the shipping box to protect the lower bout and headstock ends of the case. These were actually pieces that came in a shipping box with a Gibson case I bought last year, but I'm glad I saved them. Bubblewrap between the top and bottom surfaces of the case and the sides of the box. Wrapping the case would do the same thing if you had enough bubblewrap. All the rest of the voids filled with plastic peanuts. After Fred's experience, I did not bother to pay for excess declared value, since that isn't really insurance. That saved me about $100 compared to the cost when I shipped it out to SF back in June. This guitar lives in a perfectly-fitting redline repro case, which is a plus. Not saying this is a guarantee of shipping success, but it did work on these two occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Talk about a sweat opening that case each time !! Good God Have to ask though nick, what's the story about leaving items in the neck compartment o the case ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Have to ask though nick, what's the story about leaving items in the neck compartment o the case ? Metal fingerpick got loose, and managed to wedge itself between the back of a guitar and the inside of a case. The results weren't pretty. There is almost always clearance between the top of the accessory compartment and the neck. Ditto between the back of the guitar and at least some part of the case. The same is true for the top of the guitar, of course. I suppose you could make a fitted cardboard box taped shut to store things inside the accessory compartment, but I take the easy way out, and just put that small box inside the shipping box but outside the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Crikey, would never have dreamed such a thing. Good to know good to know. Glad it all worked out lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Glad to here the guitar made the trip safely, as did you! I would guess you were in Frisco for the America's Cup drama - what a show!! Go Oracle! Are you tied up with that team in some way, Nick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 I would guess you were in Frisco for the America's Cup drama - what a show!! Go Oracle! Are you tied up with that team in some way, Nick? Buc, See my long-winded response on this near the end of the "heads up on L-OO Legend" thread yesterday. The bottom line is that I'm the America's Cup technical rules cop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 My L-OO Legend arrived safely back home in Florida today, shipped via UPS from San Francisco. I've shipped this guitar twice in the last four months, both times via UPS. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I do take extraordinary care in packing for shipment, particularly after Ol' Fred's heartbreaking recent experience recently with his great old CW. Here's the way I packaged this guitar: Strings detuned to less than 50% tension. Endpin removed and packaged separately within the shipping box, but not inside the case. Nothing inside the case accessory compartment. (learned that the hard way some years ago) Accessories (tuner, capo, strings, polish, picks) packaged separately in a small cardboard box, wrapped in bubblewrap and packed inside the shipping box. Headstock wrapped in a clean cotton dish towel. Another dish towel folded and placed on top of the bridge and strings to immobilize the guitar within the case. This is the last time this particular shipping box will get used, as it's showing a bit of wear and tear. I have molded expanded foam pieces that fit in either end of the shipping box to protect the lower bout and headstock ends of the case. These were actually pieces that came in a shipping box with a Gibson case I bought last year, but I'm glad I saved them. Bubblewrap between the top and bottom surfaces of the case and the sides of the box. Wrapping the case would do the same thing if you had enough bubblewrap. All the rest of the voids filled with plastic peanuts. After Fred's experience, I did not bother to pay for excess declared value, since that isn't really insurance. That saved me about $100 compared to the cost when I shipped it out to SF back in June. This guitar lives in a perfectly-fitting redline repro case, which is a plus. Not saying this is a guarantee of shipping success, but it did work on these two occasions. I am glad to hear your baby made it home safe, Nick! You have done all within your power to make a safe journey for it and then it gets as the jockeys say after the race: "Every Chance". My last Ebay purchase came in a broken case in a home made box of old cardboard stuck with tape - strings tight, tailpin in, strap on etc.....plus really old rusty strings and dust, skin.....delivery went in ever decreasing circles around the point of origin....... I don't think I can do that again. In your case it might almost be worth buying a nice playable cheapie when you arrive somewhere (a bit of shopping fun!) and when you go home, just leave for some deserving guitarist.....or chuck it off the back of a boat if you want.... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 In your case it might almost be worth buying a nice playable cheapie when you arrive somewhere (a bit of shopping fun!) and when you go home, just leave for some deserving guitarist.....or chuck it off the back of a boat if you want.... BluesKing777. I have a really nice travel guitar, but I wanted one of my "real" guitars with me for a gig this long. It would have been cheaper to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a cheap guitar, but I'm spoiled by my good ones. For the future, however, your advice makes a lot of sense, and it eliminates the risk to any of my babies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 My LG-2 AE arrived last Friday via UPS-ground in it's original & unopened Gibson box. Before opening the box, it appeared that the case had a lot of free movement inside the box. Upon opening the box, only two smallish foam pieces north & south cradled the quite loose case. Upon opening the case, found that the strings were tuned only a half-step down & no extra padding. Multiple red flags, but somehow it still made it in perfect condition! I like Nick's method a whole lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del Nilppeznaf Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Yes..well done Nick. It seems Gibson ship there guitars as mentioned above... just a cardboard box with 2 good quality foam pieces at either end to hold the actual case in correct position inside the box..and obviously cushion any blows. These foam pieces are designed that if the box get dropped on any side the actually case will never touch the surface..and the foam takes all the impact. this is how my HB TV arrived all the way from Bozeman to Dublin anyway. I think the delivery guys are more careful with what the can see is a brand new instrument in its original box ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol fred Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Nick, glad to hear your legend arrived in good condition. I am currently waiting on a check from UPS and they have agreed to let Bill keep the guitar. On a side note, Joe Glaser of Glaser instruments in Nashville was finally able to pinpoint the first digit in the FON, turns out it's a 56, not a 58. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Nick... Glad for the safe arrival. I was in SF two weeks ago, and so hopeful that during my time in between meetings I would be able to see some magic by the water. High winds spoiled it though! Very interesting. And take care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RusRob Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 Nick, One thing that I do when packing a guitar is to completely wrap the neck in bubble wrap to fill any gaps around the neck and headstock. I read that broken necks were the biggest problem with damaged guitars. If the neck is not completely supported and some idiot baggage handler throws the box in the truck it can snap a neck or headstock off if there is no support. You may already be doing that with the towels but thought I would at least mention it so you don't get a nasty surprise in the future. Glad yours traveled well and showed up in good condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 NO SHIPPING-POKER - Rather play safe Had more than a handful of acoustics (several fragile vintage) flown over the Atlantic and 7-9-13 never saw a problem. All in cases stuffed with newpapers-balls, then put in a cartboard box isolated with foam-chips. Oh how I long to unpack another, but the stop-sign is on here. RED LIGHT NO ! Glad to hear you bring a guitar with you when you move out - quite serious there. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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