Shipping a guitar can feel like sending your kid off to college—you want it to arrive safe, sound, and ready to rock. I’ve shipped a few axes over the years, from beat-up acoustics to a finicky vintage Strat, and I’ve picked up some tricks (and learned from a couple of disasters). Here’s a real-world guide to getting your guitar from point A to point B without it turning into kindling. No fluff, just what works.
Start with the guitar itself. It’s not just about tossing it in a box and hoping for the best. Guitars are fragile—necks snap, finishes crack, and strings can cause all kinds of chaos if you’re not careful. Your goal is to make it bombproof before it leaves your hands.
- Get a hardshell case. Soft gig bags are great for gigs, but for shipping? Forget it. A hardshell case is your first line of defense. If your guitar didn’t come with one, borrow or buy a decent one. It’s worth the hassle to avoid a busted headstock.
- Loosen the strings. Don’t go full noodle, just back off the tension a bit. This takes stress off the neck during transit. I skipped this once, and the neck on my old Epiphone bowed like a bad yoga pose. If it’s an electric, remove any detachable parts like whammy bars and stash them in the case’s pocket.
- Pad inside the case. Your guitar shouldn’t be rattling around like a loose screw. Stuff clean rags, old T-shirts, or bubble wrap around the headstock, neck, and body. Pay extra attention to the headstock—it’s the most likely to break if the box takes a hit. For acoustics, toss some soft material inside the body to dampen string vibration.
Now, let’s talk about the box. This is where a lot of people screw up. A flimsy box or low effort packing is a recipe for regret.
- Use a proper guitar box. Music stores or shipping supply places sell sturdy cardboard boxes designed for guitars. If you’re reusing an old box, make sure it’s not crushed or waterlogged. The box should be a bit bigger than the case to leave room for padding.
- Pad like your life depends on it. Line the bottom with bubble wrap or packing peanuts, set the case in, and fill every gap—sides, top, everywhere. The case should float, not touch the box’s walls. I shipped a Tele once with skimpy padding, and the case arrived cracked because it was banging around inside. Don’t make my mistake.
- Seal it tight. Use heavy-duty packing tape, not that dollar-store junk that splits. Tape every seam and reinforce the corners. Slap on “Fragile” and “This Side Up” stickers, though some handlers treat those like a dare. Still, it’s better than nothing.
Choosing a carrier is where you’ve got to weigh your options. I’ve shipped with UPS and FedEx domestically and had mostly good experiences, but USPS can be a gamble depending on your local post office. For international, DHL’s reliable but costs an arm and a leg.
- Always get tracking and insurance. Tracking lets you stalk the package like an overprotective parent, and insurance is your safety net. Guitars aren’t cheap—don’t risk it. When you drop it off, double-check the address and keep the receipt.
- Think about the weather. Extreme heat or cold can mess with a guitar’s wood or finish. If you’re shipping to a desert in July or a tundra in January, consider waiting for better weather or check if the carrier offers climate-controlled options (though those are rare and pricey).
One final tip: take pictures before you seal the box. Snap a few of the guitar, the case, and how it’s packed. If something goes wrong, you’ll have proof of how it left your hands.
- Document everything. Photos can save your butt if you need to file an insurance claim. Trust me, it’s a lot easier to argue with a carrier when you’ve got evidence.
That’s the game plan. Pack it like it’s going to war, choose a solid carrier, and keep an eye on it until it lands. Your guitar’s got too many riffs left to risk it arriving in pieces.