Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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?
What's the wisdom on loosening string tension etc for shipping guitars in hard cases?
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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.
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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!
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!
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
that's great. i would say a sealed and dehumidified container? idk, but it is definitely a problem.
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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!
Best of luck with the move!
-Jamie
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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.
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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
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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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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.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.
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
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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.blargfromouterspace wrote: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.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.
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.
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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 would not expect it to rain inside the container...
Cheers
L-zr
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
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
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.
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
i did not know the case had a lung. i guess if you don't want to suffocate itLazer 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
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Re: Safe overseas shipping of G&Ls
And move a cloth or so between string's and fretboard.that the way G&L ships to Europeblargfromouterspace 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 dont worry-->As long as sealed G&L#s stand many things
Roland
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Comanche
ASAT Dlx/Special&Classic S
Inavder
Legacy DLX
+3 Strat's,Gretsh,PRS Santana,LP, 2 x HSH
Axe-FX 2,MARK V,JVM410,Mini-REC,Vibro Champ,+Amp's
http://img269.imageshack.us/slideshow/w ... belair.jpg