I don't trust those guys

David Weisenthal · Post by **David Weisenthal** » 7 Jun 2016 12:23 pm

Did somebody ship it like that?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 7 Jun 2016 12:25 pm

If that 'assembly' goes into a double box, might not be bad.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 7 Jun 2016 12:29 pm

Now you just need a few hundred yards of bubble wrap, and put it in a crate like the one below, and you're all set!

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 7 Jun 2016 12:30 pm

I agree with Jon . That'd be great in a double wall carton. I feel there is more to the story though. Is that a Chinese steel knockoff ?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 7 Jun 2016 12:52 pm

That's for Chinese pedal steels, if it falls off the container ship, it will float.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 7 Jun 2016 3:19 pm

Some context would be helpful, Ken.

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 7 Jun 2016 6:35 pm

That is how I ship a steel. In fact, it's a tad under-protected! I then build a double-layer cardboard box around it. I've had two guys tell me that they've never seen such impeccable, and safe, packing. I figured they meant "OCD" packing. So be it! That guy used regular Styrofoam chunks, I use 2-inch sheet insulation board. It's awesome! Ha Ha......

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 7 Jun 2016 6:45 pm

Well,
I was joking about the 200 yards, but I do wrap the case in a double layer of bubble wrap, then cover that with foam insulation boards, then single box it. As we all know, the most critical thing is bracing everything inside the case so it can't shift.

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 7 Jun 2016 8:15 pm

Yep... if the leg and pedal bar compartment doesn't have a few bracing blocks in it... the damage will be from the inside out.

Would also prefer to see the strings off during transport.. to protect the changer fingers against gouges.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 8 Jun 2016 3:27 am

It has wood blocks in the pedal side and was wrapped in double cardboard. I know 99% ship without incident but I don't like the double box full of peanuts shifting around.
They don't want the handle out to insure it. Shipping is always nerve wracking for me.
I had one steel fell off the radar in shipping for a month and then just popped up and arrived unscathed.
Also had a Twin smashed by UPS...

Normally I just let them pack it but I happened to have access to this stuff and some spare time.
It's a lot of work and hassle when you are not set up for it.
I just thought it was a funny picture and yes it probably is the minimum of protection.

Dan Beller-McKenna · Post by **Dan Beller-McKenna** » 8 Jun 2016 3:39 am

Two things I find invaluable for shipping:

1) There is a place near me that makes shipping boxes to order for very little money. I usually can get a custom made heavy duty box for @$10-15.

2) Order used things from Guitar Center. The people packing the stuff must get paid by how much bubble wrap they use. Ordering a mid-size amp often yields a year's supply of bubble wrap. In fact I have had to toss some at times because I simply ran put of places to store it! I have a Randall Rg-80 arriving tomorrow; should keep me in bubbles for a long time.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 8 Jun 2016 4:37 am

Now it makes sense, Ken. There were two ways to read your title.

1) Look at the crappy way those guys packed this. I don't trust them.
2) I didn't trust those guys so I packed it like this for protection.

Now I understand.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 8 Jun 2016 7:05 am

If I may make a couple of suggestions.......

There have been a couple of threads recently on this packing/shipping topic.
A lot of verbage has been written on how to do it or not do it.
But AFAIK only one person has ever put together a photo package on it (Greg Cutshaw?).

So the next time:

1) When you pack a steel or amp or guitar for shipping, why not take a few extra minutes and take some photos as a step by step guide.

2) If you receive a steel in shipping, why not take a few photos as you unpack it as well.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 8 Jun 2016 7:45 am

Dan,
I agree with you about Guitar Center. I had a couple of amps sent to me from a store on the East Coast and the boxes they were in were so large I couldn't hardly get them in the back of my Jeep.
BTW: They will ship to another GC store in your area at no cost, what a deal!

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 8 Jun 2016 3:17 pm

Tom Gorr wrote:Yep... if the leg and pedal bar compartment doesn't have a few bracing blocks in it... the damage will be from the inside out.

Would also prefer to see the strings off during transport.. to protect the changer fingers against gouges.

I'm not sure if the fingers risk gouging unless something is pressing the strings onto the fingers, like a support block under the changer.

But I certainly agree about the leg and pedal bar compartment. Inside damage can be as destructive, if not more, as outside damage.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 8 Jun 2016 6:53 pm

I shipped a guitar without a case across Australia (roughly the same size as continental US) like this. Arrived unscathed

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 8 Jun 2016 7:23 pm

It's all a coin toss. I just got a Guild 12 string acoustic guitar from Florida. The guitar was in a gig bag, wrapped in egg crate foam and in a guitar box marked "FRAGILE" all over it with arrows pointing up.

I expected a pile of firewood in a box, but happily got an unscathed guitar

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 9 Jun 2016 10:10 am

Honestly. I think Fragile stickers are the second most important thing next to blocking the pedal rack compartment. Lane might know the inside scoop on Fragile stickers

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 9 Jun 2016 11:36 am

I always thought a "fragile" sticker was a euphemism for "stick forklift here", but obviously there are some kindhearted souls out there moving your big money instruments safely around the world

Me... cynical? Never!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 9 Jun 2016 12:08 pm

In the days of the conveyor belts and carts for stuff the wrong size/weight for the belts, fragile stickers are of benefit only at the ends of the belts. For steels and amps, you have to pack and brace to withstand a three or four foot drop to concrete. There's a risk it'll happen.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 9 Jun 2016 5:48 pm

I use my wife's business account for Australia-wide road transport. She is in the antiques and artwork business. If she labels something "fragile" then they take note, because they don't want to lose that account(I hope. And she has rolls and rolls of that "fragile" tape

Ollin Landers · Post by **Ollin Landers** » 10 Jun 2016 4:14 pm

I went to work as a driver at Federal Express in the 80's right out of the military.

I picked up a package from a lady who asked me "If I write fragile on the box will you take care of it? It's very important and it can't be replaced if broken"

I said of course. Why did you feel the need to ask. She said "I was told not to write fragile on the box if I was shipping it UPS. I was told UPS would treat it really bad if I did that"

I said lady if you write fragile on that box I will make every effort to handle it with the utmost care, and when I get it to the station tonight I will personally throw it on the fragile pile.

She was actually amused.

William Polka · Post by **William Polka** » 11 Jun 2016 8:25 pm

http://www.cracked.com/personal-experie ... t-ups.html