Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a move in my future and was wondering if anyone had advice/experience on moving guitars?

On my last move I had the guitars in their cases, then the cases wrapped in 'moving blankets', and then in the moving van. I had a 366 that didn't make it too well - headstock snapped...

Not sure there is a better way than just in the van, but I figured if anyone had experience they might share? Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance.

Depends upon the mover I suppose. I moved cross country a couple years ago with a typical major carrier and 10 guitars/basses. I watched them load the guitars so as to have some degree of control over where and how they were packed. Had no problems on this end.

That said, I think the next move will involve simply packing them in shipping boxes (can be found on-line fairly cheap) and packing worms as if I were shipping them to someone. Just to ease my growing paranoia about moving things.

After reading about your misfortune with the 366, John, it would seem like a good idea to pack some foam at the front and back of the headstocks to give some support - If it were going to be a long move.

Man, I'd never let someone else move my guitars, if I was going a long way I think I would insist on taking them with me personally...

When I moved to Texas from Virginia last year, I only let the mover transport my amp and cabs. The basses rode with me!

" it would seem like a good idea to pack some foam at the front and back of the headstocks to give some support"
I kind of did that - there were towels/shirts in the old cases to make everything snug.

"if I was going a long way I think I would insist on taking them with me personally..."
I'd prefer that too, but it just isn't feasible...

Anyone with experience with a 'specialty mover' that deals with art collections and/or pianos?

"Man, I'd never let someone else move my guitars, if I was going a long way I think I would insist on taking them with me personally..."

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Been there, done that. Until one realizes they have two kids, a cat, a wife, and too many other things to fit into the family van that they don't want (or cannot have...plants, etc) the movers touching. Then one comes to the realization something has to give. And since movers frown on boxing up the kids for a week....

Actually, I was less worried about movers than I was UPS or the like shipping things to me in the first place. Reason being that I could control how guitars were loaded. Once loaded, they were not moving until I unloaded them at the other end. And in a packed-tight, air ride trailer designed for not breaking my things, I felt safe. The key is politely removing the "rough loader" factor. And every one of them seemed to understand in return. Especially when we bought lunch and kept the cooler loaded with their favorite Gatorade and the like all day long. As much as it is their job, the little things like that seem to go a long way in treating your stuff right or allowing you to do the guitar loading.

Probably a ridiculous suggestion John, but if you're not travelling half way across the country, why not hire a van, (which has to be a lot cheaper in the US than here in OZ), and deliver them yourself? That way you get to pack them and maybe your amps etc, the way you want with shipping blankets foam rubber etc, and cart them carefully to the destination.

Just a thought.

"...but if you're not travelling half way across the country, why not hire a van"
An option I guess. It's not half way across the country though - more like all the way across. 30+ hours or so of driving...

Joking aside, I think the stumbling block there would be the insurance... Not sure how I'd get covered if my existing policy doesn't cover that. And it would be hard to sleep with the stuff out in the van at night!

John, where are you moving to now? Maybe you can just ship them all to my house and you can visit periodically.....
The kids are almost 6 now and need some more play toys.

"John, where are you moving to now?"
Not quite sure yet - gotta get back east!

"Maybe you can just ship them all to my house and you can visit periodically..... "
Sounds reasonable. We'll use your shipping account right?

Lol.
Seriously now, you may want to rent a truck and drive them yourself.

Bill Mahony just moved from MD to New Orleans and I believe he rented a truck to take his guitars. Let the movers take the amps, drums etc. I'll pester him to comment on the details when he gets settled in.

John's right, just got down here the Big Easy .

I had the movers take some gear, the higher value stuff I took myself in a Uhaul. We were fortunate, we were able to work out a "door-to-door" with the moving van, so we didn't have to screw around with stuff being mover on and off trucks, storage, etc. I think that's where most damage tends to occur.

I took my Rics, acoustics and some other guitars that I was concerned about in their cases, on a cushioned floor (I had 3 4x8 sheets of plywood with foam sound tiles I had used in our old condo, laid them down as a "soft" floor in the 14' Uhaul. I also took my Fender '57twin and reverb unit. I had the movers haul a couple solid state amps, a set of edrums (though I disassembled and packed them in one of those big plastic tubs), and some lower end guitars.

I loaded the cases and harnessed everything to keep them from shifting around.

Only things I was kind of worried about with the Uhaul were the security of the truck during an overnight stay (remedied by deciding to stay at my sis-in-laws), and heat build up inside the truck. We got down to NOL on a Sat, and weren't getting the keys to our house until Monday, so the truck had to sit for a day. I checked it periodically, and while the inside was warm, none of the stuff in the truck felt hot to the touch.

Whether by luck or design, everything arrived in great shape. AC in the new place keeps the humidity in the mid-50s, though it has gotten near 60 once or twice. Just to be on the sage side, I picked up a little 25 pint dehumidifier to help as we move in to the heat of the summer. All things considered, I prefer dealing with a little too much humidity as opposed to the dryness in the winter back in NVA/MD.

Good luck!!

Bill

Sorry my suggestion was not the most helpful... I guess I was just thinking about my own angst if I were to have to move cross-country and take all my babies.... I was married once as well, and I do have a young son, so I understand the difficulties... I guess I could offer to be a Rickenbacker Foster parent! I live in Dallas(which is centrally located in the U.S.) so it would might work for when you get settled in at the new place. Yeah, that's the ticket, send 'em to me!