thor363 - Posted - 07/13/2023:  09:08:16

What is the safest way to properly pack (or have packed) and ship a Dobro insured in the continental U.S.?

If there's a good thread here on that, please advise as I didn't find one.

Thanks very much, David.

thor363 - Posted - 07/13/2023:  11:28:34

Any information would be greatly appreciated. I had enough time I'd drive it, alas I am time broke...

SlimPickins - Posted - 07/13/2023:  11:52:18

Being “time broke”, I don’t know exactly how much time you have to spare. You can have UPS or FedEx pack it for you, but that tends to be very costly and you’re relying on someone else to pack it correctly that may not have much experience shipping guitars, especially resos. Personally, I think that for someone who is not completely comfortable packing it the conventional way (newspapers, bubble wrap, etc.), the shipping kit from StewMac is the way to go. It includes everything you need to ship a guitar, even without a case. I have packed and shipped guitars both ways; bubble wrap and newspaper, and the StewMac shipping system. The StewMac system is the way to go. There are step by step instructions with all of the materials, including the shipping box. Again, not knowing how much time you have to work with, this may or may not work for you, having to wait for the system to be mailed to you. Hopefully you can find the info you’re looking for!

SlimPickins - Posted - 07/13/2023:  11:54:40

Here’s a link to StewMac for the shipping products:

stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-...shipping/

thor363 - Posted - 07/13/2023:  12:34:55

Thanks. I had no idea these existed.

Is there anything to do relating to backing off string tension, partial disassembly etc?

SlimPickins - Posted - 07/13/2023:  12:41:44

You can loosen your strings a bit, but not completely. If you have a little piece of foam or rubber, or even a spare pack of strings, you can slide them under between the strings and coverplate. I have had a reso of mine come back from Bobby Wright, one of the reso set up masters, with some of of the spider legs zip tied to the coverplate. You may not have to go that far, but just throwing that option there if you’re really concerned about any parts moving. If there’s even the slightest bit of movement of the guitar inside the case, I would stuff old T-shirts or cloths between the sides of the guitar and the inside of the case as well as around the neck until there is no wiggle. The blow up caps that come with the shipping system ensures that you have no wiggle of the guitar/case inside the box.

LukeL - Posted - 07/13/2023:  21:09:54

Reverb sells a guitar sized shipping box that’s nice. I’ve had good success shipping dobros in my Reunion Blues gig bag. The thick padding and flexibility of the bag seems to be more forgiving of bumps and drops than a hard case. I also pack in and around the bag and get insurance of course.

Tom Jr. - Posted - 07/14/2023:  05:46:05

I bought a Beard guitar 20 years ago from Paul at IBMA and he was going to take it back to his shop to make some minor modifications for me. He then casually mentioned that he would ship it to me and I was horrified. The crown jewels being shipped! It was a 12 hour drive to his shop which I fully expected to do but he reassured me and everything turned out fine. I still love that guitar. Insurance can't really compensate for "THE ONE" being damaged in shipping but people ship them everyday with very few problems.

Ron Lacey - Posted - 07/14/2023:  08:02:31

My solution is to buy a guitar then use the shipping material to send out the sold guitar. If you plan ahead you can have it on hand before you sell :-). 

Edited by - Ron Lacey on 07/14/2023 08:03:17

Lounge Primate - Posted - 07/14/2023:  08:33:21

I worry most about shipping my guitars in peak summer and peak winter.

This time of year many of those trucks, vans, and containers are like ovens, especially in the lower half of the U.S. right now.

And in winter, sub-zero days going from moderate to freezing and back, worries me big time also.