How do I ship a guitar safely?

During colder months, we let boxes sit for at least 24 hours before opening to avoid temperature shock and potential damage.

How to Ship Your Guitar (the Right Way)

Packing a guitar isn’t rocket science — but it does matter. Here’s how to do it like a pro so your gear gets to us safely and ready to rock.

What You’ll Need:

• A solid box. New or like-new. Not oversized. Not falling apart.

• Bubble wrap. The good kind.

• Craft paper. Clean, ink-free, and soft. No newspaper — ink stains finishes.

• Heavy-duty packing tape. Not scotch. Not masking. Real packing tape that holds up.

Step 1: Prep the Guitar
Loosen the strings to reduce neck tension. Remove loose parts (whammy bar, switch tip, etc.) and stash them in the case compartment. Cover the fretboard with clean scrap paper to avoid scratches.

Step 2: Pack the Case
Set the guitar in the case. Use craft paper to pad around the body so it’s snug but not stressed. Make sure the neck and headstock are fully supported — no wiggle room. Fill any gaps with more paper until the guitar feels locked in.

Give it a shake. Hear anything? Feel anything move? If not, you’re good to go.

Step 3: Box It Up
Wrap the case in bubble wrap or firm packing paper and slide it into your shipping box. Fill any empty space with more paper — no packing peanuts. Seriously, nobody likes them.

Seal the box tight, cover or remove old labels, slap on your shipping label, and give it one last shake. No movement? You nailed it.