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[Diesel]

I've just sold my Les Paul (the neck-repaired one that was advertised on here) and am about to ship it.

I have the hardcase, original carton and plenty bubblewrap, but my question is ...

Do I de-string it for shipping or not?

Ta

[neepheid]

I've sent basses tuned up before and I've been told they've been in tune when they got where they were going. I don't think you need to remove the strings - indeed if you do and it gets "lost" in your chosen postal system for any length of time then you've got a truss rod tightened against a string tension which isn't there - not a good idea methinks. Just my opinion, mind.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by neepheid

I've sent basses tuned up before and I've been told they've been in tune when they got where they were going. I don't think you need to remove the strings - indeed if you do and it gets "lost" in your chosen postal system for any length of time then you've got a truss rod tightened against a string tension which isn't there - not a good idea methinks. Just my opinion, mind.

Thanks - all opinions welcome!

[Ross.]

I'm pretty sure you're meant to loosen the strings before shipping (possibly to relieve tension) rather than remove them. I've shipped several guitars in the past and I've done that to all of them- been no problems thus far.

[Bigsby]

Aye, I wouldn't bother taking the strings off. You could maybe detune to D, which relieves about 25% of the pressure on the neck anyway if you were bothered. Just make sure you've got plenty of padding in that bit in the Les Paul case behind the headstock.

[John W]

De-tuning it would have been my chosen option, more to relive tension on the strings and a little bit on the neck to try prevent any warping 'cause it's probably going to reach some funny temperatures during it's shipping.

[Starless]

Leave it tuned. A guitar is designed to be tuned up to pitch with the truss rod compensating for the resultant pull. De-tuning could introduce over-compensation and bow the neck back (unless the rod is loosened off as well). Why introduce that kind of grief?

Is it going by air? If so, not sure how bubble-wrap would behave (ever had an un-opened bag of crisps on a plane? - it really likes to puff out).

The important thing is to make sure the headstock can't shift. Plenty packing between it and the void at the top of the case, and if necessary, plenty packing between the neck and any void underneath it. In fact, just make sure the whole guitar can't move at all inside the case. I use scrunched up newspaper (plenty of it) with the guitar wrapped in something non-marking (big clear poly bags etc) to protect the finish from the newsprint.

Best to pack it, close the lid, pick it up, shake it around a bit (not TOO violently) and then open it up and check for movement.

Similarly, make sure the case is well packed (again newspaper) inside the carton.

I've done this for several basses and they have managed to get where they're going (internationally) with no ill effects.

[GraemeC]

Once upon a time it was a good idea to detune if the guitar was being air freighted because the cargo hold got very cold at high altitude, but these days Im led to beleive that cargo holds are pressurised and heated, if your shipping in the uk leave the guitar in tune.

G...

[Original Spies]

I bought a guitar from GAK last year, and it arrived in tune. Almost perfectly in tune. Like, I could strum a chord right out of the box. Pretty great that.



I'm no help. I'm just waiting for it to be 5pm.

[John W]

6 mins left by my clock.