The Steel Guitar Forum

Howdy.....I was just wondering on how do you ship such a heavy instrument like a 75lb D-10 PSG?
Obviously within it own case, but do you wrap the case with tape or do you put the case inside another box so the case doesn't get marred up too?

With that much weight, isn't there a 'weight limit' for UPS individuals to only lift a certain amount by themselves?

Just wondering as someday I will sell my '71 Emmons, and most likely it will have to be shipped someplace. My original case seemed to hold up okay between gigs, but the handle was weak and so I took it off and put on an Amplifier handle, and that is still holding well.
I also put aluminum angle strips all along all the sides of the case to help prevent the ends/sides from ripping/peeling back from normal wear, sliding it in and out of the van, etc.

Randy

Randall, you'll definitely have to pack your case inside of a box of some kind with a LOT of packing material. The package needs to be able to withstand a 6-foot fall onto concrete... because that's very likely to happen, regardless of which carrier you use.

Greg Cutshaw wrote a nice summary of how to pack a steel. You can see it here:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Shipping%20S ... teels.html

Tucker Jackson wrote:Randall, you'll definitely have to pack your case inside of a box of some kind with a LOT of packing material. The package needs to be able to withstand a 6-foot fall onto concrete... because that's very likely to happen, regardless of which carrier you use.

Greg Cutshaw wrote a nice summary of how to pack a steel. You can see it here:
http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Shipping%20S ... teels.html

Oh great! Guess I should have done a better search first. So since that web site you gave me is really good, might as well close out this thread then.
Thanks for your help Tucker,
Randy

Don't use peanuts; they just settle in one end of the box. Greg's method looks to me like the way to go.

A few years ago I bought a 1962 Fender pedal steel, and the seller shipped it in it's Case only! He just put a label on the case and shipped it via UPS. When I got the guitar I saw the beautiful, clean, white tolex case... smashed on the bottom. A 12" long section smashed in the wood, with splinters of wood sticking out everywhere. This beautiful vintage case was ruined. Fortunately the guitar was not damaged.

When I ship steel guitars, I box them just like Greg does, bubble wrap around the case and enclosed in a sturdy "guitar box". Fortunately I have access to guitar boxes.

You need to tight fit wooden blocks in the ends of the pedal bar compartment to support the weight of the guitar should it be dropped. I have had several partitions broken loose in cases that were not blocked in this manner.
Jerry

Excellent tip from Jerry. I do this too. I double box every weighty item including reg. guitars, fx units and amps.

For steels, after blocking the partition, I make sure the guitar doesn't move around in the case. Use cardboard or sheet foam insulation between all the spaces.
It's a good idea to place bubble wrap or other soft padding between the guitar and the blocks that the keyhead and changer end sit on.
Loosely pad the area between the string side and the case with the foam sheeting or material that won't scratch the finish or alum.

Wrap the KL's and pedal board with bubble wrap or cardboard so they don't get dinged up.

I use the pink 4' X 8' X 1/2" sheets of rigid foam building insulation sheathing available from the home building stores. Cut to size and wrap the entire original case in it. I tape it together, find or make a carton and put the wrapped case inside that.

Next, I wrap that entire packing, carton and all, with the same pink insulation material. I tape that all together and put it in another double wall cardboard carton.

Sometimes the outer carton can be found at music stores or others like appliance or electronics stores. Search the dumpsters for other foam packing.

Sometimes, I have an outer carton made at a local shipping store.

If you have to build the last carton, it's stronger if constructed from a single piece of cardboard.

Make sure everything is tight and there are no voids anywhere.

It costs a little more and it takes me about a half a day to pack a guitar or amp for shipment, but it's worth the extra effort. The insulation will protect the case against punctures and will act as a shock absorber for the drops and mishandling that will inevitably occur.

Shipping is always risky, but since I've been using this overkill method, I haven't had anything damaged.

for handling purposes, i make sure the handle ( of the case) is accessible & easy to use for those who have to handle the horn

make sure NOTHING moves around in the case
use newspaper, cloth rags, wooden blocks

last but not least : instead of putting FRAGILE / HANDLE WITH CARE
i put : THROW ME you bastards !

I disagree with Crowbear. Never leave a handle, or anything exposed. I had a Fender 800 shipped from New Mexico to L.A. and the shipper left the handle of the case exposed for the UPS guys to use. When I got it, all that was left of the handle was sheared metal with the leather covering hanging. And the case had previously been mint condition. NEVER leave anything exposed! If you must, make a handle out of rope or something else sturdy and secure it well.

Sounds like you guys got all this packaging down then with your past experiences. I appreciate all the replies from everyone.
Randy

If you're mailing an old instrument be extra careful with any plastic parts. Plastic gets very brittle with age and shatters very easily. I had two Multi-Kords shipped to me over the last month from different people and both had their plastic machine-head covers and bridge covers smashed to smithereens.