Shipping a Guitar:

We are pleased to report, we receive a lot of positive comments from customer about our shipping procedures.  While we are all worried about shipping instruments, whether to far away places or just across town, this step by step process has served us well.

Much of what we do is just precautionary common sense, however - our experience rivals many for shipping hand-crafted instruments.  Every day we are on the receiving end of shipments coming from our builders, shipping guitars from California, Texas, Virginia, & Maine to us in Nashville.  In all types of different weather, we have seen the best and worst case scenarios from builders who ship more than 2,000 instruments per year.

Here are the procedures we have refined over the years... We hope they will also serve you well:

- Detune the guitar to relieve tension on the neck (not "totally", because if there is no string tension the bridge pins can come loose and find themselves rolling around in the case)

- Secure all "loose items" in the case compartment (usually wadded or crunched paper stuffed on top of items works here, to prevent any case keys or items from coming loose in transit)

Secure all items in the case compartment

- Support the headstock (both over and under) with a cushion of crumpled 40# paper (newspaper will work fine... You are trying to create a wedge shape, front and back, which will "hold or suspend" the headstock inside the case, reducing any "shock" factor)

- Wrap the headstock in tissue & / or bubble wrap (so the 40# paper won't leave any marks)

Support the headstock with crushed paper

Cushion the top of the headstock

- Wrap the entire case inside a full size plastic bag to prevent case burn & contain the environment from temperature / humidity changes (a plastic bag this size is hard to find, so if doing this yourself, you might want to use a couple of large trash bags, the kind you use for yard work)

Wrap the entire case in oversized plastic bag (sealed)

- Attach to the plastic bags with shipping tape, large double-folded sections of bubble wrap on the outside of the lower bout of the case (front, back, and bottom).  If you are using bubble wrap from a roll, these are usually sectioned in 12" lengths.  One 12" square double thick attached to the front & back will usually be sufficient.  Fold one double thick section in half, and tape it long ways across the bottom of the case.

Attach bubble wrap in critical areas

- Create a "cushion" on the  floor or bottom of your box.  Crushed paper will do well here, though it needs to be crushed tightly.  Build up the corners in the bottom of the box where the case will rest, as the case is round on the bottom.

Bottom of the case is round, so insert crushed paper into the bottom corners of the box

- Insert the guitar & case inside the box, while tightly packing crumpled 40# paper around the upright case until full (the idea is to totally suspend the case inside the box, away from the outer container. When done correctly, you can turn the case upside down and notice from "feel" the case has not moved and should be stable in shipping).

Insert the case into the box, support voids inside box with crushed paper

Finish adding packing to top of box

- Place "Wait 24 hours" weather warning label on top of box flap (of course we "wait" a full 8 to 24 hours on most all our instruments, summer or winter - to avoid any rapid change in temperature to the instrument).

Apply "cold / hot" weather warning label

- Mark the box with arrows "THIS END UP", on all 4 sides near the top of the box - add "FRAGILE" labels or write this visibly on the box as well.

"This End Up / Do Not Stack" label

In our experience, your best bet is to ship all instruments via FedEx (FedEx Express service costs more, but offers a higher level of package handling as well).  The final word on shipping?  Make sure you have private insurance to cover the replacement cost of you instrument - don't get caught trying to settle a claim with a shipper who will usually find fault with your packing efforts, regardless of how good they might be...  Good luck!

If you've ordered a guitar from us, you will see an important sticker we place on all of our outgoing packages that states "Do Not Open for 24 Hours."  Depending upon the season and weather conditions, this wait time is strongly recommended due to potential changes in temperature that can occur between the shipping facility, truck and your environment.  Obviously, this change in temperature can be more pronounced at different times of the year, so it is not necessarily a firm rule, although some common sense measures should be taken before unpacking.

First... feel the outside of the shipping box.  Is it cold? Hot?  After allowing the box to acclimate to your interior climate, place your hand on a wooden table in your office or living room for comparison.  Does it feel like it is the same temperature as the shipping box?  If so, open the box and feel the case through the protective plastic bag.  Does it feel cold or hot?   Once again, compare to some wooden furniture in the same room.  If it does not feel like it is the same temperature, wait to open the case.  If the temperature feels the same, it is safe to remove the plastic and open the guitar case.  Feel the guitar itself... if it still feels warm or cold, close the case immediately and let it sit awhile longer, otherwise it is now safe to play!

Sudden changes in temperature can cause devistating damage the lacquer or varnish finish on instruments... With these common sense measures, you can be assured that your new guitar will be unpacked in the same condition that we sent it from our shop.

This is a good time to also mention, we "de-tune" most instruments prior to shipping, to reduce tension on the headstock during transit - so don't be surprised to find your new guitar has arrived out of tune.  It's just a safety precaution.  (Note: This does not apply to resonator instruments, or those with a floating bridge, such as mandolins and some archtops).

We try to simplify our shipping policy, with a priority on minimizing your costs and assuring you the shortest, safest, delivery method and time.Shipments on most orders over $199 to the continental US are shipped free of charge. Please note that this does not include Bose Amplification Systems. Shipments to APO / FPO for citizens on duty in our Armed Forces, here and abroad, receive our free shipment policy.

Orders outside the continental US will incur shipping costs. Please note, our shipping calculator may not include all fees at the time of purchase. You will be sent a separate electronic invoice for actual shipping costs when your order is processed. Your order will be shipped upon receipt of payment for shipping expense.

Most US shipments will be made via FedEx Ground. International shipments will be made via Global Priority Mail or Bax Global, depending upon your location.

Actual charges for guitars and amps vary for shipments to Canada & Mexico. Call or email for a shipping quote to other US territories or international destinations. We are not responsible for any import duties or taxes that may be due upon arrival. Please appreciate we cannot misrepresent the value of your purchase to minimize any duties, as this invalidates any insurance claims for loss or damage.

Our internet shopping cart will not add shipping charges to your order, as most shipments are free of charge. When charges apply to international shipments you will be sent an electronic invoice via PayPal, after your purchase, for any shipping charges that may apply. Once you make payment for the invoice your purchase transaction is complete and your shipment will leave immediately.

You will be provided a tracking number via email the day your purchase is shipped, so that you can monitor its arrival. In most cases FedEx Ground shipments will arrive within 3 to 5 days. International shipments will vary depending on the carrier.