Shipping guitar with floating bridge - do your secure the bridge base?

**Patrick2** · 05-07-2015, 12:29 AM

I've shipped quite a few guitars . . not nearly as many as Danny W. or a dealer . . but, quite a few. I've had two unfortunate incidents occur. But, both were relatively minor and were guitars that were shipped to me. Never on any that I've shipped out. Coincidently, both occasions were with my Heritage D'Angelicos.

Quite a few people here mentioned putting bubble wrap inside the case and in contact with the guitar. I've never done that due to concerns of nitro reaction to the plastic bubble wrap. That doesn't seem to have been a problem for those of you who have done so.?.? That's surprising, but good news. Can anyone explain why bubble wrap seems to be nitro friendly while other plastics are not?

Any cushining I've ever used inside the case was cheap, but 100% cotton cloth. Most of the time, cheap cotton towels that I'd pick up at a local dollar store. I loosen the strings to the point where they are only tight enough to keep them from falling out of the tail piece. Then, I loosen the truss rod at least 1/2 turn. I take the bridge and base off of the guitar, wrap it in paper towles and put it inside the case pocket. Then I put a cotton towel under the strings from the nut all the way down to the lower rim, under the tail piece. I also take great precaution in putting cushioning inside of the shipping carton before putting the guitar case in it, bubble wrap on the bottom for cushioning to help prevent damage such as Danny mentioned with the end pin on his BK . . as well as after the case is in the box, at the top of the case. I buy four 15" to 18" diameter floor pads (for floor buffing machines). I slide them down the flat sides of the carton, between the carton and the case, to provide cushioning between the case and the carton. I also put an address label taped to the guitar case, just incase the case and the shipping carton get separated from each other. I attach big red FRAGILE labels to the shipping carton on each of its 4 sides . . and I used a thick black marker to draw arrows pointing up, to the top of the case to indicate which is top and which is bottom. It's usually a challenge to get the carton closed to the point where I can tape it. But, I manage to get it closed.

Before I put the case into the carton, I pick it up and shake it pretty good. If I feel or here the guitar move inside the case, I open the case and pack it better. Sometimes, I need to put towels at the upper rims to keep it from sliding back and forth, so I do so.

When the guitar is received by the buyer, it needs a proper set up including bridge base positioning/intonation, as well as truss rod re-adjustment. That was never a big deal to any buyer . . as they were pleased that it arrived without damage.

There were only one or two times I didn't take such extreme precautions . . and I had my heart in my mouth until I heard from the buyer that it arrived safe and sound.

**ColMc** · 05-07-2015, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by Jabberwocky

White-out contains solvent, doesn't it? It can't be good for nitro. A waxy grease pencil is harmless to nitro though and can be cleaned off with naptha.

There you go.

As an aside, in the violin world, the bridge is positioned between the cross points of the F holes.
I do the same with middle of the guit bridge.