Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

The place to discuss, post photos, video, and audio of the G&L products (US instruments, stomp boxes, etc.) produced after 1991, including the amps & gear we use with them.
crfowler
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Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by crfowler »

I'd be less concerned if I were carrying them on a plane, but as I'm emmigrating, all our belongings are making their way by sea from LA to Auckland...it's roughly a five-week trip.

What's the wisdom on loosening string tension etc for shipping guitars in hard cases?
louis cyfer
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by louis cyfer »

emmigrating from usa to nz? why? may want to check with some guitar importers. that long at see can be hell on your guitars. a huge % of containers fall in the ocean from the cargo ships. i would not be comfortable shipping my guitars that way. other things sure, but take the guitars on the plane.
crfowler
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by crfowler »

Thanks - but there are 17 of 'em!

The goods are insured, so I'm not so concerned about containers overboard (in which case we lose the piano too!) as climatic damage that I can minimize.

Have a job to go to over there that gives us the chance to reunite family - probably a once in a lifetime chance...we're very lucky!
louis cyfer
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by louis cyfer »

that's great. i would say a sealed and dehumidified container? idk, but it is definitely a problem.
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blargfromouterspace
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by blargfromouterspace »

Leave them tuned up and in their cases. Some of that silica desiccant that comes in the case when you get a new guitar should eat up any moisture from that sea air, and if you gaffer tape the case shut right the way around it should be essentially airtight. I've had a bunch of guitars sent through FedEx to Australia (by air/van, and I reckon its a joltier ride in a van than a ship) and they've arrived intact and in tune.

Best of luck with the move!
-Jamie
louis cyfer
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by louis cyfer »

air/van is a much better way to go, it's not the bumpy ride, it is the humidity for many weeks that is the problem. i would actually put the guitar in a plastic bag inside the case, and put the case inside a plastic trash bag. the silica desiccant is a good idea. but the gaffers tape is not enough. there is a reason guitars are in plastic bags inside the boxes when being shipped by ship. the gaffers tape works when shipping by air with the pressure difference of the cargo container.
Lazer
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Location: Stockholm Sweden

Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by Lazer »

Been there done that, from LA to Stockholm, 6 weeks totally, also by sea.
A sea trip is not bumpy at all, it's loading/unloadiding that could be rough.
With a tight case the humidity is no problem at all. Make sure You are there
when they pack and seal the container.

Cheers
L-zr
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blargfromouterspace
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by blargfromouterspace »

louis cyfer wrote:air/van is a much better way to go, it's not the bumpy ride, it is the humidity for many weeks that is the problem. i would actually put the guitar in a plastic bag inside the case, and put the case inside a plastic trash bag. the silica desiccant is a good idea. but the gaffers tape is not enough. there is a reason guitars are in plastic bags inside the boxes when being shipped by ship. the gaffers tape works when shipping by air with the pressure difference of the cargo container.
Nah, the humidity is fine, its the handlers - like Lazer points out - that are the problem. I lived about 40 meters from the beach for several years, the windows were constantly open about 9 months of the year and I never had a humidifier or any of that other bollocks and my guitars are fine. They're solid pieces of wood covered in a thick coat of polyurethane, not the dead sea scrolls.

I can see problems with the guitar in a plastic bag thing. The way I see it, changes in temperature of the guitar would most likely cause a build up of moisture which would condense in the bag which would certainly cause problems. JMO.
-Jamie
louis cyfer
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by louis cyfer »

blargfromouterspace wrote:
louis cyfer wrote:air/van is a much better way to go, it's not the bumpy ride, it is the humidity for many weeks that is the problem. i would actually put the guitar in a plastic bag inside the case, and put the case inside a plastic trash bag. the silica desiccant is a good idea. but the gaffers tape is not enough. there is a reason guitars are in plastic bags inside the boxes when being shipped by ship. the gaffers tape works when shipping by air with the pressure difference of the cargo container.
Nah, the humidity is fine, its the handlers - like Lazer points out - that are the problem. I lived about 40 meters from the beach for several years, the windows were constantly open about 9 months of the year and I never had a humidifier or any of that other bollocks and my guitars are fine. They're solid pieces of wood covered in a thick coat of polyurethane, not the dead sea scrolls.

I can see problems with the guitar in a plastic bag thing. The way I see it, changes in temperature of the guitar would most likely cause a build up of moisture which would condense in the bag which would certainly cause problems. JMO.
living at the beach is very different from shipping on the sea. and of course you would not need any humidifiers. the plastic bag wouldn't cause a build up of moisture and condensation anymore than the case sealed with gaffers tape. it would however keep the higher moisture out of there, and unless you packed it at a very high heat, that would not be an issue, and of course those little dehumidifier baggies would help as well. a lot of guitars are shipped in plastic bags.
Lazer
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Location: Stockholm Sweden

Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by Lazer »

I'm. with Blarg on the plastic bags, I would like my case to be tight but not totally air tight so it can breathe.
I would not expect it to rain inside the container...

Cheers
L-zr
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helle-man
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by helle-man »

How do you guys think all the guitars from Japan, Korea, and China get here?

Shipping by sea is fine. I wouldn't even bother to loosen the strings unless you're using heavy gauges.

My 2¢
WR
Will Ray says - Less War, More Guitars.
louis cyfer
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by louis cyfer »

Lazer wrote:I'm. with Blarg on the plastic bags, I would like my case to be tight but not totally air tight so it can breathe.
I would not expect it to rain inside the container...

Cheers
L-zr
i did not know the case had a lung. i guess if you don't want to suffocate it :mrgreen:
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thunder100
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls

Post by thunder100 »

blargfromouterspace wrote:Leave them tuned up and in their cases. Some of that silica desiccant that comes in the case when you get a new guitar should eat up any moisture from that sea air, and if you gaffer tape the case shut right the way around it should be essentially airtight. I've had a bunch of guitars sent through FedEx to Australia (by air/van, and I reckon its a joltier ride in a van than a ship) and they've arrived intact and in tune.

Best of luck with the move!
And move a cloth or so between string's and fretboard.that the way G&L ships to Europe

And dont worry-->As long as sealed G&L#s stand many things

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