Shipping

1. Enclose your paperwork in the case.
If you are shipping an instrument to us for consignment, please put a receipt inside the guitar case with your name, address, phone and email address. If we are purchasing the instrument from you, please include a bill of sale with the instrument. This doesn't have to be a printed form. All we need is a piece of paper with your name and address, our name, the sales price, and the make, model and serial number of the instrument.

2. Remove and secure all loose parts.
Slacken the strings and remove the bridge, making sure not to reverse the bass and treble sides of the upper and lower bridge pieces. Secure the two halves of the bridge together with a rubber band, and stow it in the accessory compartment of the case, under the lid that lies beneath the neck. If the tailpiece has loose parts (as on an Epiphone Frequensator tailpiece), please stash these in the case pocket too. If the tailpiece is fixed in place, please wrap around it with newspaper to avoid marring the guitar finish beneath it in transit. If a removable pickup like a Dearmond is attached, please remove it and any control assembly and stow in the case. Make sure no other objects are loose in the case, as they could cause serious damage to the finish.

3. Pad the guitar in the case.
Pad the case generously with folded newspaper underneath the neck heel and shoulders of the guitar, so that the guitar neck does not bear all the load on the neck block of the case. Continue to equalize the load by securely padding the area where the peghead sits in the narrow end of the case. Please use wadded newspaper only inside the case. Bubble wrap and packing beads can stick to the finish in hot weather. Finally, wad paper into small balls and place them around the top of the guitar. Once you have padded the guitar, the case lid should exert a gentle pressure when you close it. Latch the case and shake it gently. If the guitar rattles around in the case, add padding until it is completely stabilized. This is very important. No rattles. Needless to say, vintage instruments should never be shipped without a case. If for any reason, the instrument is lacking a case it *must* be double boxed, using an inner box inside the main container. This is not optional. Shippers will not accept or insure instruments without either a case or double boxing. This is very important to the safe transport of your instrument. Taylor shipping boxes are the best for guitars without cases. The ones with the cardboard interior spacers. Try to get one at you local music store if possible. Use a rectangular box only. (Please do *not* try to make your own box, as it can be very detrimental to safe shipment of a delicate instrument.) For details on UPS parcel size guidelines, see:
http://www.ups.com/using/services/packaging/oversize-guide.html

4. Pad the guitar case in the box.
Put an inch or two of padding in the bottom of the box and lower the wide end of the guitar case into it. Before sealing the box, check it by shaking it to make sure the case doesn't rattle around in the box. Add more padding if necessary until the case is firmly stabilized. Once again, no rattles, please.

5. Complete the shipping label online.
Then go to the UPS website at: http://www.ups.com and click the menu icon for "Ship." Complete the online forms with your name and address, and ours. If you can't weigh your parcel easily, 25 lbs. is about average for a guitar in a hard case and guitar box. If your box is no larger than 48" long by 21" wide by 9" deep (or 108" total length plus girth) check "OS1" (oversize one) from the pulldown menu. This will help keep your shipping costs costs to a minimum. We recommend shipping via UPS 3 day Select service as most cost-efficient, and shipping on a Monday or Tuesday so the parcel doesn't languish in a warehouse or truck over the weekend. Make sure to insure the parcel for its full value, and check the box to have UPS send us an automatic confirmation to our email address. UPS will confirm delivery for you on the web.

6. Print the label form and shipping receipt.
If you do not have a printer with your computer, UPS will print the label for you at their customer counter. Using wide, clear packing tape, attach the label to the top lid of the shipping box, with the top of the label facing up toward one of the the narrow ends of the lid. Tape the top and bottom flaps securely with the tape. Make sure to write your name and address, and ours elsewhere on the parcel with a marking pen as well. Finally, draw some long arrows along the four long sides of the box, pointing up toward the top lid, with the words "Fragile: This End Up". (The safest shipping position for the box is sitting on its bottom flap, with the label side up.)

7. Deliver the parcel to your UPS Customer Counter or Service Center. Again, shipping 3 day Select on a Monday or Tuesday will minimize transit time for safer shipment. Bring the shipping receipt, have the agent sign off on it for you, and keep it for your records. Then email us with the tracking # when you get home, and we'll confirm delivery when your parcel arrives.

If you follow these instructions, you will maximize the shipper's ability to deliver your parcel safe and sound, for a minimum cost and transit time. Call if you have any questions,