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Shipping a Les Paul advice.

Zowenso

New member
Joined
May 23, 2018
Messages
24
So, I’m going to be shipping a Les Paul from Massachusetts to Lays Guitar shop in Ohio. I have two boxes. As you can see, the Gibson box is taller and wider. The plain box is made of a lighter cardboard and has a corner seam that I could tape up. The smaller box will probably cost less (not overly concerned with cost) and draw less attention. I feel like the Gibson box is a better choice, but do you think it saying Gibson will work in my favor or against me? I’d hope maybe the mail carrier would say “this is a Guitar, I’ll go easy” but who really knows. I also don’t want to give up the Gibson box, but safe shipping is a priority obviously. Thoughts?





 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
The Gibson box offers a great deal more protection. If you are shipping it to Lay's you know it is worth something.
How much is that same guitar worth if it gets damaged? How many headaches and how much frustration?
Put craft paper in the box with the guitar, make sure nothing moves when you shake the case. Put some rags or paper on top or the neck to keep it from jarring front to back.
Put bracing in the bottom of the box- even wadded newspaper. Wrap the case- I use a couple of old terry car towels.
Lots of wadded paper, even empty plastic water bottles to keep the case from moving inside the box side-to-side.
More wadding at the top.
Seal the box.
Shake it again.
People yawn as they open the box.
I have shipped with strings in tune, or loose- YMMV.
 

ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
Double box it mate...job, jobbed.

I wouldn't worry too much about the carriers reading the fragile stickers, in my experience most of the buggers haven't perfected the art of reading the bloody address labels yet....

It'll be fine. Good luck. :salude
 

Don

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
Take the switch tip off. My case tipped on it's side one day and the switch tip shattered. I checked it right away and the little pieces were all over the place and were sharp. They'll scratch it up.

Also, nothing int he case pocket- no key, switch tip, etc... They can make they're way out and scratch up the guitar.

Finally, no bubble wrap inside the case. It can leave little ghost dots that won't polish out all over the guitar.
 

Zowenso

New member
Joined
May 23, 2018
Messages
24
Finally, no bubble wrap inside the case. It can leave little ghost dots that won't polish out all over the guitar.

Wow I’m glad you said that! I was actually wondering about that. I also collect skateboards and I’ve seen that happen on them. The little ghost bubbles. Thanks for suggesting that. How about plastic bags from a supermarket? Think I could stuff those in the case to fill gaps? I’ve also seen newspaper used to fill gaps and under strings. No stories of the ink leaving marks?
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
https://reverb.com/news/how-to-ship-a-guitar

this is pretty good and this is how I do it for the most part

I think a key thing is elevating the neck so the headstock cannot slam back against the back of the case-- and wrapping the headstock in bubble wrap

buy a bag of peanuts and some bubble wrap

put a layer in the bottom

after you put the guitar in the box drop the peanuts (and newspapers if you want around so the guitar is essentially floating in the box

as OMITN said a box in a box is probably the SAFEST way to ship

but I've shipped lots of guitars this way no problem

I did have one headstock break in shipping and I had not elevated the neck off the case (it was an ES-335 too and that is a very fragile joint) hard lesson to learn. it was insured though.

if you pack it right you don't need to do the insurance.

or just have UPS or FED EX pack it-- and then if there is an issue with shipping its much easier to get reibursed
 

Zowenso

New member
Joined
May 23, 2018
Messages
24
So I ended up double boxing and really packed it well, so well that when I called Lays to see if it arrived ok, the guy I talked too said I was a hero to the shop. They said is was probably one of the best packing jobs they had seen and was exactly how a Guitar should be packed lol. Thanks for the feedback and help.
 

Phoenician

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Messages
88
I’m shipping a LPC this week. I can use either the standard case or the rectangular case. I’m thinking rectangular is the way too go.

I’ve also hear one should put some packaging around the headstock. I’m wondering how tight I should make it.
 
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