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Richard Jernigan -> RE: How do you pack a guitar for shipping? (Apr. 10 2012 16:48:48)
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At the end of 2009 I shipped my '73 Romanillos and '82 Arcangel Fernandez blanca from Honolulu to Austin via UPS. They were in well fitted Karura cases. A UPS store in Honolulu packed them in bubble wrap and tri-wall cardboard boxes while I watched. They arrived safely, not even a scuff on the boxes.
My 2001 Arturo Huipe cedar/cocbolo traveled from Texas to Kwajalein and back via the U.S. Postal Service in the foam case and cardboard box that Arturo packed them in, and shipped via DHL from Paracho to Houston. My daughter sent it on from there. Much cheaper than UPS, insurance probably works.
In the USA, UPS will pack your guitar, even if you ship it some other way.
A famous luthier told me that UPS and FedEx will take your money for insuring a guitar, but if you make a claim for damage they will not pay. There is a clause in their contract saying they won't insure fragile or custom made musical instruments. If you complain that they took your money, they will say, "Oops, sorry, it was a mistake," and give you a refund.
Furthermore he said that if you paid, there was no damage, but you discovered later that they would not have paid a claim, they won't give your money back!
So check with your shipper about insurance coverage. But be aware that the owner of the UPS store in Honolulu swore to be damned that UPS insurance would cover my fairly expensive guitars. She couldn't produce the insurance policy, though.
I trust the luthier's knowledge more than the UPS store owner's.
RNJ
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