Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yup, the boxes are a big thing. If I have an oversize one I do a little "surgery" on them before they go out.

I had a horrible experience once....UPS damaged a 1971 bound headstock 370 I bought from someone. Their policy is to
pay the claim to the sender....and he kept my money, and the insurance money.

i have shipped 6 basses via UPS and have never had one problem.

Well Fed EX came though for me! Wired money to Rumbleseat (NY-USA) on Tuesday, they shipped Wednesday and the guitar arrived this morning (London - UK) ! Now that's what I call a fast turn around!!

A couple of years ago, my shipment of a 325v63 JG from the U.S.A. (California) to the U.K. by FedEx 3-day Priority went without a hitch, too.

The one time I had to make a claim to UPS was with a set of Klipsch Forte speakers that they had literally dropped, as well as stabbed the edge of one of the boxes with a forklift. I contacted the seller (from eBay), who contacted UPS, UPS came out and took pictures, UPS fairly quickly reimbursed the seller $300, and then the seller sent me the money. All happy!

The one bad time with USPS was when they cracked the lower oickguard on my 381JK, but part of the blame goes to the seller, who just bubble- and kraft-paper-wrapped the case and had no "This end up" or "Fragile" notation on the parcel.

I am getting ready to ship a 4003 in it's case here in the US and am wondering what a good procedure would be?

I read in another thread that someone was able to get a box from a music store (who gave him an opened bass shipping box).

I thought I might wrap the HSC in a bubble wrap condom and then somehow construct a corrugated cardboard shipping box from whatever large cardboard boxes the local Mailboxes Etc might have.

Try a shipping materials house like PAC WEST. They have surfboard boxes which can easily be cut down to any sized guitar or bass, for a few bucks each. Also try local smaller guitar stores. GC has been hit or miss for me.

OK, thanks. I have "my" music store downtown here that I'll try to hit up.

Plus all the surf shops here...

If you have a UPS store nearby they have a "guitar box" available but it is about $10.

I also always wrap the guitar in small bubble wrap, as well as fill empty spaces inside the case with it to cushion any internal movement. Helps prevent damage to the guitar and the inside of the case as well. Never had a problem on the receiving end.

Same setup as Lindsay Hahn used to send me my 4001. My daughter had a blast with the bubble wrap, and he even let me keep the towels!

One other thing I do is to wrap the case in poly film (I bought a roll ages ago and am still using it up), that way when I bubble-wrap the case I can tape the bubble wrap onto the film and not the tolex of the case.

I've used fedex on both occasions that i've purchased my Rickenbackers! No problems whatsoever,in fact E.T.A was earlier than forecasted! 1st ,my 320 arrived in Melbourne (Australia) from L.A. 3 days early! My 360 arrived from Washington 2 days early.Both had a 6 working day E.T.A.
Both sellers packaged these guitars brilliantly, both inside and outside the case!
Fedex is a bit steep on the price side of things though! US$350 approx! I'm not complaining as i still bought these guitars cheaper than from a dealer!(fedex shipping included)

I have a deal going with my local guitar store. Each week they dispose of a reasonable number of guitar and bass cardboard boxes when customers buy a guitar and hard case or gig bag. The store owner supplies me with boxes whenever I need them and I supply him with a steady supply of beer!