Shipping an Expensive Fragile Guitar

I can use some advice.

I will be shipping a very expensive and fragile musical instrument over to a cousin's house in the UK to coinside around the time of my own arrival there.  I could use some tips on with whom and/or how to ship this item in the safest, most secure, but least expensive manner.

I went online and FedEx quoted me $239 just for ordinary shipping.  I thought that was a little high just for a 24 lb. guitar and case, but then again maybe I didn't maneuver around their website the correct way either.

Any suggestions?

PS.  I would also like to ship some very important books and papers via a safe and quick method, but again, price matters too.

Thanks!

My husband brought his guitar on the plane, it went in the hold and arrived in perfect condition.

I would bubble wrap the heck out of it or pack it in peanuts. Be sure to take out insurance on it if possible and mark the package as fragile. Or check with some music stores to see how they ship their guitars, I would think they could provide some input.

I would also agree to take with you on the plane if possible.

Actually, considering I paid a third more than that just to have my pc shipped, that price isn't so bad however, taking it on the plane is the best choice. I did that. Bands do that all the time. It's easier and obviously cheaper

I travel with my fiddle often, and I would NEVER ship it, I'd always carry it on.  Most Irish trad musos carry their instruments on.  For a guitar, I'd recommend getting a well padded soft gig bag for the plane -- and don't let them put it in the hold.  If you want the musician's union letter to get the instrument through security, PM me and I'll email you a pdf of the thing.

My boyfriend has a guitar he wants to move with too. I was going to  bring his bass back with me on Sunday, but we read that it has to fit in the overhead compartment and we thought it would be too long, but they are typical length... Should he be ok? He doesn't want to ship them but wants to bring at least his electric with him. What about amps?

Probably better to buy amps here.

I've travelled to and from the UK with an Acoustic guitar, an Electric guitar and my mandolin on different trips. No more than 2 instruments at a time and have had no problems. My cases have suffered some surface wear and tear, but the instrument has been fine. I've check the guitars into the hold and made sure to loosen the strings first. Did have to get an adjustment on the truss rod on one trip over with the acoustic. The mandolin I put in the overhead compartment.

I would suggest a really nice case for your guitar, do a google search for flight cases, if it is a more form fitted case you will have a lower chance of it getting  tagged for oversized bagage fees.

If you are bringing one insturment this would be my suggestion. As for Amps if you have some special hand built boutique amp ship it over and get a power converter. If you have some mass produced something or other, sell it and buy a new one in the UK. The power is different. When comparing the same model amp for US and for UK you will notice a difference.

I would like to hear some input on shipping companies to get my stuff over there.
I plan on moving in January, and have about 6 guitars, 3 mandolins, and a bass. I would spend 3 or 4 times the money to replace these instruments in the UK because you just don't find quality instruments at the kind of deals I was able to obtain mine. Plus I'll have a couple boxes of other stuff like clothes. books, and leatherwork tools.

Shipped my bass usps air mail in a hard case inside a box with a bit of bubble wrap. Took about 7 days and arrived in perfect condition. 105 bucks.  watch for the 108" length and girth combined restriction, though - I had to take mine back and cut the box down a tad.
Your experience may vary.

Yeah, I've been looking into this, too. and my harp will exceed USPS' size limitation.  It's going to cost hundreds to do it via any other way, I think...I'm thinking of bubblewrapping the heck out of it and just chancing it through the checked luggage--it doesn't exceed BA's size or weight restrictions and my smaller harp made it through beautifully that way.  It  is a *big* risk though...

can you have a shipping crate built for it along with the excessive bublewrap? That would be the only way I would allow an instrument that didn't already have a hardshell case go through checked bagage. Good Luck, I can understand the difficulties of living without your instruments.

I could possibly have a close fitting crate made for it and it still would be just under the size restrictions.  I don't know anyone who could make it for me though.  The case it's got right now is a soft case but very well padded....I may look into purchasing a flight case for it.

Andee, do you know Mike Dugger?  He used to make custom flight cases.  If you don't have his contact info, email me and I'll get it to you.

i'd advise taking it onboard if at all possible.

the temperature changes in the cargo hold of the plane can damage strings, not to mention old/fragile wood.

wich is one of the reasons I always loosen my strings when I fly over with it. So far I have not had a problem with electric or acoustic guitars that way. The only problem I had was Security not packing my extra strings back into my case when they check out my guitar.

Good luck with the Harp!!