On Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:44:17 GMT, Mike wrote:

I thought this would be easy but not so...
Basically I want to send an electric guitar as an Xmas present to someone in the
uk (I'm also in the uk).

First of all I don't have anything big enough to put it it - so anyone know
someplace I can buy a HUGE jiffy bag or eqiv? I thought to wrap it in several
layers of bubble wrap then wrap than in brown paper - but because of the weight
and spiky shape that may not be the best. In the past I've received courier
parcels than arrive in the couriers own substantial plastic bag. Is that
something *they* put their parcels in - or is it something I can get from them?

The other thing is who which courier to use? I've just spent 1/2 hr reading the
merits of several shipping companies... DNL say their max insurance cover for
any "parcel" is £100 and the guitar is worth about £250. Mind you I did like
their straightforward online order form - at least it is easy to fill out.

Sigh - this is going to take until after Xmas to send :-)
Sorry for what may a seem a trivial post.

Musical instruments are extremely susceptible to knocks and bashes -
so the key to a successful delivery is padding, and lots of it.
Bubblewrap is insufficient, and gives very little shock protection to
something as weighty as an instrument. One decent bash in the van and
the neck joint might crack. End of guitar.

Ideal the guitar should be in a hard case, suitably padded inside and
then fitted into a padded box.

I'm assuming all you've got is the cardboard box the guitar came in.

What you need is foam, and lots of it. Best place to find this is at
your local tip - old sofas and chairs are a great source for six inch
thick slabs of foam...and you probably won't even have to pay for it.
While you're there, check out the cardboard bin for a huge box. You'll
more than likely have to grab a couple of boxes and knock up your own.
If you can find large lumps of polystyrene, so much the better.
If you see any thin hardboard, grab that too - a layer of this over
the front and rear of the packing box will protect the instrument from
puncture damage. Even a strip will do, running parallel to the neck of
the guitar.

Before packing, make sure the strings are slack - and if there's a
whammy bar ( tremolo arm ) fitted, remove it and wrap separately.
Wrap the guitar in paper. If it came in a polythene bag, use that.
Pack the guitar in its box, ensuring there's sufficient foam around it
to prevent it sliding around, then tape the box up.
Construct your shipping box, ensuring that you have space for at least
three inches of foam all the way round ( half the thickness of a sofa
cushion will do ). Use double the thickness at the ends.
A sharp, serrated bread knife will cut foam a treat.

This should ensure protection against the standard courier drop ( i.e.
two feet, off the back of a Transit onto the floor ).
You'll end up with a pretty heavy parcel - but at least you'll know
it'll get to where it's going in one piece.

I can't recommend any specific courier company - I see damaged
instruments all the time from a variety of courier accidents, and in
every instance the damage could have been avoided by proper packing.
Got any mates heading in the general direction of where the guitar's
going? A £20 bribe is often enough to persuade them to do a drop-off,
and saves all the packaging hassles.


Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk