How to pack a guitar for shipping <br>At Overland Express, we understand that for many people, a guitar isn’t just an instrument. It&#039;s <br>an extension of yourself. From Fenders to Gibson&#039;s, shipping your guitar by courier doesn’t <br>have to be a daunting experience, in fact, we’ve shipped thousands and thousands of acoustic, <br>bass, and electric guitars to over 220 countries around the world. So whether you’re selling an <br>old instrument on eBay, are in the market for a brand-new guitar, or need to send one in for <br>repairs and restoration, you can depend on us to deliver a reliable and stress-free service. <br>When trusting your expensive and sentimental instrument to a courier, the most worrying thing <br>is the thought it may get damaged en route. Luckily for you, we’ve put together this step-by-step <br>comprehensive guide on how to correctly pack your guitar ready for shipping. By spending a <br>little extra time and following our easy instructions, you can be confident your guitar will be safe <br>and sound. <br>What you will need: <br>Hard case/Guitar box/cardboard box <br>Packing materials (packing peanuts, paper, etc.) <br>Cloth to wrap guitar, old T-Shirts can be used for this <br>Bubble wrap <br>Parcel tape <br>Large cardboard box <br>1. Prepare the guitar for packing <br>Your guitar needs a little TLC before being nestled into its case and ready for transit. These <br>extra few steps are vital to ensure your instrument arrives at its destination unscathed, so don’t <br>be tempted to skip them. <br>● Loosen the strings. You should aim to detune the guitar down around two octaves. <br>This is to protect the springs from snapping and damaging/scratching the body. <br>● Protect the strings. Place a cloth or a layer of thick paper between the fret and the <br>strings to reduce the risk of any abrasions on the fretboard. <br>● Secure movable parts. Any parts of the guitar that can move around should be <br>wrapped securely in packing material. <br>● Wrap the headstock. The headstock is one of the most sensitive parts of the <br>instrument, so make sure to wrap it up in packing material to avoid unnecessary <br>damage. <br>● Cloth. Wrap the guitar in cloth, to avoid any contact between the bubble wrap and the <br>lacquered finish. Nitro based lacquers can easily be damaged by the chemical reaction <br>from bubble wrap. <br>● Bubble wrap. Once the guitar is wrapped in cloth, wrap the whole guitar in bubble wrap, <br>this prevents the guitar from chaffing on the sides of the case. <br>1. Place the guitar in a hard case <br>When sending your instrument via courier, we always recommend using a hard case designed <br>for guitars for an optimal experience. However, if you don’t have access to a guitar case, find a <br>suitable size box that fits the guitar comfortably and continue with this step. <br>● Choose the right size. Guitars come in all different shapes and sizes, so it’s important <br>to have the right size guitar case for your make and model. The guitar should fit inside <br>with minimal movement. <br>● Fill in the gaps. Around the body, fill any voids or empty space in the case with foam <br>packaging peanuts, bubble wrap, or other packing material. The body should not move <br>at all during transit. <br>● Neck. Pay special attention to this area, the case should fit snugly around the neck, but <br>any strain on it can potentially cause damage. Make sure there is no pressure on the <br>neck or anything that could obstruct the case on closing. <br>● Headstock. If the headstock rests on the bottom of the case, go ahead and place a <br>piece of balled-up packing material underneath, near the nut, to raise it slightly. <br>Otherwise, keep the area around it clear of material. <br>● More bubble wrap. Place a layer of bubble wrap over the face of the guitar and the <br>tuning keys, then close the case securely. Wrap the case in bubble wrap and secure it in <br>place with parcel tape. <br>● Shake, shake, shake. The goal is to make sure the guitar doesn’t move inside its case. <br>Give the case a few gentle shakes. If you detect movement, open the case and identify <br>which area is the problem and fix it accordingly. <br>1. Box, fill, and seal it up <br>You’ll need a sturdy cardboard shipping box that fits your guitar in its case/box, plus extra <br>packing materials. These can often be acquired for free at guitar or music shops, so it&#039;s worth <br>asking if you have one local instead of buying new. As with the guitar inside the case, you’re <br>looking to pack the case into the box with little to no movement. <br>● Line the box. Add packing material to the bottom of the box, creating a protective layer <br>for the guitar case to sit on. <br>● Place the guitar case in the box. Insert the case carefully inside the box. Make sure it <br>sits evenly on the packing material at the bottom. <br>● Fill in the gaps. As before, our goal here is to make sure the guitar doesn’t move <br>around during its journey. Fill in the surrounding areas of the case with whatever packing <br>material you’re using. <br>● Double check. Take a few seconds to check there are no open spaces you might have <br>missed, even one open space with no packaging protection can put the safety of the <br>guitar at risk. <br>● Seal it up. Using good quality packing tape, seal the box securely shut and give it one <br>last gentle shake to ensure there’s no movement inside. <br>1. Get ready to send <br>Now that your guitar is safely packed and ready for delivery. You can make use of our quick and <br>easy online booking system and arrange the collection and delivery of your instrument at your <br>convenience. <br>● Head to our website. Go to [a]www.overlandexpress.co.uk%2Fguitar-courier[/a] and use our <br>instant quote tool to book your guitar shipment in just a few clicks. <br>● Print shipping label. Once your delivery is booked, you will receive booking <br>confirmation and parcel labels by email. <br>● Attach the label. Secure the label on the outside of the shipping box in an obvious <br>place, so the driver can see it. <br>● Commercial invoice. If the guitar is being shipped outside the UK, you’ll also need to <br>attach a commercial invoice to the package. We provide these for you, free of charge. <br>Make sure it’s placed on the parcel in an area visible to the delivery driver. <br>● Wait for collection. We can collect your parcels from your home, work, hotels, or gig <br>venues and various collection points across the UK. If you have any questions or queries <br>about your booking, our customer service team is available by email, telephone, or live <br>chat. <br>Congratulations! You’ve packed your guitar the right way and can breathe easily knowing it will <br>make its journey safely. For extra peace of mind, we offer additional insurance up to the value of <br>£20.000.00 which can be added at the time of booking. So you’ll be fully covered in the unlikely <br>event that something goes wrong. Plus, all deliveries get access to our online parcel tracking <br>system, so you can follow your instrument&#039;s journey door-to-door. With options to suit every <br>budget, choose Overland Express for exclusive discounts and a fuss-free experience that <br>doesn’t skimp on service. Check out our website today and connect with us on LinkedIn, <br>Facebook, and Instagram. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact <br>one of the Overland Express customer services team at +44 (0) 20 8977 2777 or email us at <br>[email protected]