shipping heavy, large amp and cab--advice?

Scott Thomas · Posted 4 May 2007 10:17 am

Has anyone had any experience either shipping (or having shipped to you from a store) a heavy Fender type amp head like a Showman and large cab across country? Is that practical?

I'm in contact with a used music store and they are saying that they don't usually ship items that large, but it may not be impossible--just expensive.

I'm wondering whether or not to push it. Maybe they are trying to tell me something (like, it's just not a good idea).

They ship UPS. Do you think the possibility of damages in transit is real enough to perhaps pass on the deal? (I've heard the stories).

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I have packed and sent amps and cabs across the country, they arrived ok because I packed them properly.

I have received items of weight where it was simply amazing that they were not damaged, not because of the shipper but because of poor packing. A so called box full of foam peanuts that settled down to 25% of the box .Yipes !

IF you can speak with the seller and discuss the packing that would be appropriate.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

You can ship those big cabs, but you are better to pull out the speakers. If you don't and someone drops the package, the weight of the speakers will rip out your baffle. Put the two speakers together face to face and LIGHTLY bolt them together, careful not to over tighten. Take the two speakers and bubble wrap into a ball and box it. NEVER use peanuts with speakers.

Back to the cabinet, cut a peice of wood panel or 1/4" plywood and tape over the grill area to protect the grill. Put painters masking tape over the area where the plywood touches the tolex of the cab, so that the tolex is protected. Bubble wrap the cab now and box it. I myself would pay a little more and have UPS box it, that way they can't deny a claim if the worst should happen.

If you are getting the amp head, too, have them number each tube and pull them and wrap them individually. That way you can put them back in the right sockets. Again, bubblewrap the head and box. This is how I send the biggees. Hope this helps.

Scott Thomas · Posted 4 May 2007 11:29 am

Donny, the amp is by no means cheap, but does fall into the really hard to find catagory. It's a blonde brownface Showman with matching 1X15 jbl tone ring cab. If you're into surf/instrumental music, this qualifies as a "holy grail". That's what makes it so hard to walk away from . . .

I sent a reply email to them, baically asking for a shipping estimate and saying I would be willing if they are. They may opt out because of the packing hassles mentioned here--we'll see.

Thanks all, for your thoughts. Shipping is always something of a crap shoot. Packing is the key to minimize problems, for sure. I personally have never had problems, but then again, nothing this complex and bulky either.

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

I have packed amps properly and had them damaged by UPS. Nothing can survive those 5 feet drops off their conveyor belts. They could break a steel ball with a tooth pick in a rubber room!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Jim, you are 100% correct. That's the right way to pack an amp. Do you ever pull the tubes and pack them separately?

A lot of new amps (such as Fenders) are shipped from the factory with just those corrugated corner deals and nothing but air between the amp and the inside of the carton.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Rick - yes, I'll sometimes pull tubes, wrap them and secure them inside the amp...but often I pack the interior space of the amp with bubble wrap, which keeps the tubes padded and in place, plus protects the speaker cone (in a combo) from being torn by anything that might break loose or be floating around (it's amazing how often a loose screw shows up under the edge of a reverb spring bag, and that can puncture a cone). If the buyer has little experience with tube amps I'll always leave the tubes in place but secured - it's easy for a novice to inadvertantly switch a power and rectifier tube (really bad) or mix up 12AX7's and 12AT7's..

Another tip - don't waste Sharpie ink or stickers for notes saying "this side up", "fragile", handle with care" etc. or bother to pack an amp upside-down to keep weight on the "bottom". 95% of the package handling is mechanized, and machines ignore that stuff. Winking

And human employees are moving very quickly - they scan and move thousands of packages a day and those notes are completely irrrelevant to them, even the drivers. Same thing with exposed handles - all they do is get caught in machines - the only one who could possibly use a handle is a driver, who is the least of a shipper's worries. Exposed handles also can cause insurance problems, treated as "inadequate packing" according to several UPS and FedEx employees.

FWIW I've had zero damage on anything I've shipped (thousands of fragile packages), and use UPS 95% of the time with the USPS getting the rest.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Good advise above ...I will add one more thing to the packing list ....Since the transformers are very heavy , take whatever combo, or head, that you are shipping, and turn it upside down !!...I know it sounds crazy, but the weight of the transformers will now be at the BOTTOM of the box , and are not subjected to pulling out of the chassis should ( WHEN !!) the amp be dropped ... I have had vintage amps with thin baffle boards sent to me , and if not packed properly, the speaker get's ripped right out of the baffle board, and you will have a transformer sticking into the hard to find speaker !!...I speak from experience ... Imagine the force that it takes for a transformer to be RIPPED right off a chassis ?
These shipping companies don't care about your amp, so you better pack it safely ...Jim

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

I don't know if they actually treat packages better than anyone else, but FedEx Ground has good service and rates.

Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

I have sent amps on Greyhound Bus before with excellent results.
Jerry

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

James, if you re-read my post above yours, to shipping companies there is no "top" or "bottom" to a package, and what is "upside down" to you as far as packing means nothing to the automated picker/conveyor system moving thousands of boxes an hour.

I used to pack that way as well, until I discussed it with warehouse managers at several of the major shippers, who laughed at the notion. A machine doesn't know where the bottom of the package is...
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Robert Leaman · From: Murphy, North Carolina, USA

A friend of mine has a vintage Mastertone banjo that he bought almost 50 years ago. It's his pride and joy. He played the circuit for many years and of necessity had to ship the banjo various times. He swears by Greyhound Bus. Yes, the instrument must be taken to the depot and picked up at the destination depot but his banjo has never been damaged in any manner and ----------------------

HE NEVER PACKS IT. HE PUTS IT IN ITS CASE AND GREYHOUND TAKES IT WITHOUT ANY PACKING.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I've shipped quite a few large amps and have had success with every attempt. The Showman would not be that difficult to ship. Of course, separate boxes. Another great packing material I've discovered and used is Brawny (or your favorite or least favorite brand) paper towel rolls, in full, wedged around the amp and in the corners. Cheaper than the other materials and IMO just as effective.

Another time I shipped a mint cond. 66 Super Reverb. I simply removed the chassis from the cab and shipped it separately--it was that important to me and the client was willing to pay.

I recently purchased a blackface Showman head and had a combo cab made for it in blonde with oxblood grill cloth, with a JBL D130. Just superb!
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

Here is one packed and shipped by UPS. Just got it in today. Don't they do a nice job!! Not enough packing it would appear. Notice how delicately they handled the box. This could have been your Session 400!!
The knob was missing (fell out during shipment) and the fragments of the pilot light were no where to be found ion the box as well.
I ship only by FedEx and USPS mail. I have seen this over and over again for the last 6 years! I am a UPS, FedEx and USPS shipper. I will not send any amp UPS!!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Kn - In all honesty, that's not a good packing job at all - a loose chassis in loose bubble wrap, single-boxed in a box that obviously was hand-bent to try to make the end fit (hence the tear - there's no natural fold there) and no tape reinforcing the corners.

That sure as heck isn't the *shipping* end of UPS's fault. One thing not mentioned earlier is to NEVER have the UPS store pack anything - often it's just a kid working there, and they do not know how to pack electronic equipment (I've never seen them use a non-fitting box though. That seems really odd). They're just a franchise, and not owned by UPS. Whover shipped that needs to learn how to pack, and whoever had them do it apparently didn't know much either.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

My point is they do not care! I have never had boxes ripped and crushed by FedEx, not ever. It happens all the time with UPS. They are just too big and do not care. They deny ever insurance claim they get. I had to fight with them for three months over a well packed Transtubefex. It was ran over by their truck. I submitted digital photos showing the tire marks on th e package. They will deny a claim if the box is not qa new box! Read careful about what they will cover. I am a UPS shipper and have their guidelines. Like you I have shipped many items, probably close to a 1000 in the last 6 years. I have seen repeated abuse of items received here from customers and vendors alike that were packed according to UPS guidelines.

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

They can't deny a claim if THEY pack it. Spend a little more and have them pack it.

Also, it might be time to start a class action law suit on these shippers. If they refuse to pay insurance claims on even the obvious, then if they SOLD you the insurance, they are actually fraudulent. You also CAN go above them to the state insurance commisioner of the state that their home base is located, that usually will get their undivided attention.

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

They packed that one!

James Morehead · From: Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.

Go over their heads---make 'em pay. They are frauds at this point selling you insurance, and if they refuse to honor a claim that they packed and they destroyed, they are just taking your money for the "insurance". They are frauds. Sue them. That's outrageous!!

David Doggett · Posted 8 May 2007 12:11 pm

Whether it is legal or not, UPS, Fedex and other shippers will automatically honor the insurance claim only if a package is completely lost (and then only after an extended period of time). If it is merely damaged, they will stonewall you and claim inadequate packaging. I'm not sure how that practice is altered if a shipper packages the item. Some shippers are independents and are not true agents of the shipping company. Even if the shipper packages the item, you better look closely at the fine print. It might put the issue in the gray area where they can weazle.

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

as far as choosing a "shipper" I would chose DHL Ground Insured. I would trust no one else with such a prize !!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Ken - where exactly was that one packed? As I mentioned, I'd never have something packed at a UPS Store, no matter what the effect on insurance coverage.

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