Care while shipping guitars

[Vimal]

Hi All,

I am shipping my guitar by sea to europe since I am migrating there. I know I had read a post on Soft some time back on the precautions and care to take while packing the guitar in the hardcase. I don't seem to find it anywhere.

Can someone point me to that thread or give me instructions on what to do. I know the following. Please add points to the below if I've missed out some

1. Definately a good quality hardcase with a lot of cushion
2. Loosen the strings
3. Stuff up with crumpled news paper near the headstock area.
4. Cover the neck with news paper.
5. Insert some silica packets or wrapped coal or wrapped rice in a cloth to absorb the moisture.

Anything else guys? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all.

Vimal.

 

[Dime]

if its a strat just dismantle it.

 

[jskadiang]

this is quite obvious but a lot of people do it. don't cheapen out on the shipping. some people buy flat-rate boxes to ship their rack then wonder why it's scrap metal when it's delivered. you shld be all set for the rest though. if you're paranoid you can put it into a larger cardboard case and pack peanuts in too.

 

[Vimal]

if its a strat just dismantle it.

Hey bro it is a strat but i am a little scared to dismantle it..setting it up will be a pain later...will the guitar really get spoilt if I don't dismantle it?

 

[marauder786]

shipping guitar

Hi Bro!! the best way is hand carry as what i did, less prob ,no need to worry soo much, cos the stuff with you.

 

[Rhizopus]

Hey bro it is a strat but i am a little scared to dismantle it..setting it up will be a pain later...will the guitar really get spoilt if I don't dismantle it?

Leo Fender designed it to be easily dismantled, son.

 

[kaiwenny]

yeah. fenders are quite easy to dismantle actually

 

[legless]

Don't forget the insurance!

 

[Vimal]

Hi Bro!! the best way is hand carry as what i did, less prob ,no need to worry soo much, cos the stuff with you.

Do they allow it as hand luggage or do I need to check it in as normal luggage? I am flying british airways. I have heard lots of stories of how inflexible british airways staff is and dont allow anything that is odd sized like the guitar case as hand luggage.

 

[taypeng81]

bubble wrap it. double box it. my friend worked in the airlines cargo before. They throw stuff onto the conveyor belt.. including guitars. so.. double box...

 

[Liquidribs]

Best also handcarve some thick styroform for delicate parts

 

[Maidendroogie]

Do they allow it as hand luggage or do I need to check it in as normal luggage? I am flying british airways. I have heard lots of stories of how inflexible british airways staff is and dont allow anything that is odd sized like the guitar case as hand luggage.

I took my guitar on a plane once. They just kept it in the crew's section. It was Emirates though. I dunno about british airways

 

[marauder786]

guitar aboard

Hi Vimal, no harm of asking? you can check with them 1st the earlier the better soo you won't panic ? for my case am carry with a soft case soo no much prob, i was on the SQ flight.they allowed me to do so.

 

[junkiemanxl]

Some airline companies allow u to hand carry onboard and leave it in the crew section. I took an SQ flight once and they didnt allow me to leave it with the crew as it poses some kind of security breech. I had my guitar checked in instead ( properly, tightly packed of cos )

Strats can come off quite easily. just four screws and take out the strings. pack them properly and leave it in the baggage compartment above u. It will be able to fit if u dismentle the strat. It will save u some shipping $$$ if you can manage to do that. Check the rest of the stuff in and you are on your way.

hope this helps.

 

[peeyan]

Just my personal experience. I've travelled a few times with my guitar in a gig bag and they all allowed me to hand carry it (various airlines SIA, United, Northwest). Guitar was stored in jacket closet (or whatever that compartment is called).

However, my last experience on SQ flight was that I was not allowed to bring on board and had to check it in. Imagine my fear since it was only in a padded gig bag. The 6hr journey felt sooooo long.

So my view is that while most of the time you are allowed to hand carry it up. You may be caught in a situation where you have to check in your guitar. So, just to be safe, provide your guitar with the necessary protection as adviced by some of the members and check it in anyway.

 

[killinghall]

You'd certainly want to box up the guitar case with strong-weight cardboard and pad it all over within, in addition to those points you mentioned.

I shipped my 4 guitars close to a year ago. They arrived status quo. Phew!

 

[LadyInTears]

well, you need to give your axe the best treatment..

 

[charles]

Do they allow it as hand luggage or do I need to check it in as normal luggage? I am flying british airways. I have heard lots of stories of how inflexible british airways staff is and dont allow anything that is odd sized like the guitar case as hand luggage.

hey man, abt this, i went on an exchange program to shanghai. and i had to perform there. my first gig! haah, i brought my lespaul onboard the plane, no problem. it was with the hard case. the only problem was that the security at the singapore customs asked me to open up the case cos they thought my slide was some drug/illegal shit i dunno, but after that no problem. just put in the overhead compartment, or the cabin crew has some special compartment for putting special hand carry luggage. like, big stuff like, skis, snowboard, etc. no problem la, just carry onboard. better in ur hands than other people right?