Ok - after a couple bad experiences I thought I would start a thread for people looking to sell a guitar - specifically, how to describe it and how to properly package it for shipment - with more emphasis on the shipment side of things. Hopefully other members will chime in with their advice as well.
First - Describing the guitar for sale / trade.
Frets:
List the amount of fretwear. Give pics of the frets if they are not in perfect condition. Are there any gouges inthe frets? Are they rough? Any buzzing anywhere on the neck. How high is the action? What strings is the guitar set up with? Has it ever had a setup or a fret job done?
Body / general:
Any dings / dents / scratches?
List any dings that are larger than 1/16 of an inch. Give pics if possible. If the guitar is "well worn" state it and list areas where it shows this with pics.
Any scratches through the finish should be listed and photographed. Swirl marks are acceptable, but should be referenced as such.
NIB means no swirl marks. Used in Excellent condition means no dents / dings / scratches / corrosion / fretwear, but swirls are present.
I'll leave others to fill in other grades - but this always frustrates me. Don't list the guitar as "perfect" or NIB or whatever if it has even one little mark on it... You can say Perfect except, and list things within reason.
Electronics that are not stock should have EVERY replaced component listed. Stock componentry should be listed as to whether or not it is perfectly functional (no scratchy pots, etc), or to what degree it is worn - tarnished jacks / corroded leads, etc..
Modified guitars should have all mods clearly listed and photographed. Preferably with a reference to who did the work. If you did it yourself, that is fine, just make sure to state that.
Repaired guitars should have every repair referenced along with the builder / repairman's name. If you did the repair yourself, same applies - reference it anyway.
I know this sounds like a lot of effort - but you WILL avoid headaches later. If you aren't willing to list this info, then you probably don;t really want to sell the guitar.
If you don't know the history - say that and give an honest rating of each area.
Packaging and shipping the guitar
I have now received a couple of guitars with headstock breaks / fretboard separation which could have been avoided with a little bit of planning and thought given prior to shipping.
Bottom line - DO NOT JUST THROW IT IN A CASE AND TAPE THE CASE CLOSED AND SLAP A TAG ON THE CASE!
It is also not acceptable to put a guitar in a case, and then in a box with no padding around the case.
Here is the proper way to package a guitar for shipping:
1) Guitar in an APPROPRIATE case, which has been filled with material to restrict movement. *More details below*
2) Case in a larger box (2 inches or so larger on a side) with cushioning material around the entire case
If you are not shipping in a case then you should plan to double box.
1) Guitar inside a box that is 2 inches larger on each side filled with material to restrict movement
2) Same as above inside a larger box.
Now - some detail on the guitar inside the case.
If possible - first put the guitar in a soft wrapping like a pillow case or a foam bag.
Then, take up ALL slack between the body and the case - do NOT allow the body to shift toward the headstock, or the guitar will shift during shipment and the headstock will hit the side of the case - causing a fretboard split.
Put styrofoam, or padding of some sort on the top strap lock area and horn area to take up this space.
Put bubble wrap on top of the body to take up any space between the body and the case - when the case is closed the body should be sandwiched into the case with the bubble wrap.
Now - the headstock....
The headstock should NOT TOUCH ANYTHING when the case is closed... It should sit freely - or have very very little pressure on the case when the case is closed. If it does touch the case - place something UNDER the body to lift it off the case bottom. If you skip this step you are likely to have a fretboard pop loose ot the headstock crack.
Once the headstock is sitting freely in the case, pad the very top of the headstock with 2-3 inches of bubble wrap. I usually wrap the headstock 3-4 times in small celled bubble wrap so that it is completely protected. That way - if you didnt do a good enough job taking up the slack between the body and the case, the headstock will still have some protection.
Once you have the guitar in the case sorted out - fill the larger box with 2-3 inches of peanuts or wadded up bubble wrap. I would avoid wadded up paper as it has a tendency to settle and leave voids.
Now put the case in the larger box tail end first... now fill the box with peanuts all around the case and pack them down around it so that the case will stand upright. There should be a couple of inches left above the top of the case to fill with peanuts before closing the case.
As an added precaution - I will sometimes put a 2 inch bubble wrap pad on the top of the case, after the peanuts, just as an added cushion if the guitar gets dropped on the headstock side.
Close up the box and use GOOD quality packaging tape to tape ALL seams. Tape is cheap - use a whole roll. Seriously... Tape over any rips or tears in the box if you are re-using a box.
Shipping
Most carriers offer insurance... take it... but be advised - most will not honor the insurance UNLESS they lose the package or you can PROVE they destroyed it. Most claims I have heard of are denied on the grounds that "UPS / FEDEX / ETC didn't pack the item" and the box arrived in tact.
That being said - you want it in their hands for as short a time as possible. If you can afford it, use second day or overnight. Yes its expensive... But is that $1500 guitar worth taking a risk on? If your buyer insists on using a slower method, you had better be darn sure you packed well and let them know you take no responsibility for damage in transit.
Take photographs of the packaging prior to shipment - I must admit I'm lazy about this... but it can save you if the guitar gets damaged. you can prove the steps you went through to ensure it would be safe.
....
...
Some final notes - I'm putting this up in the hopes that some of the newer members will take heed before jumping in and selling or trading. Take it seriously. Nothing is more disappointing than opening up the case to find a broken guitar.
Please feel free to add your thoughts... My notes here may seem a bit extreme - but I go on the premise that I want to ship the way I would want the guitar shipped to me. I take every precaution I can. Its fine to improvise, but use your head. Shipping a guitar in a single box with no padding is a disaster waiting to happen...
First - Describing the guitar for sale / trade.
Frets:
List the amount of fretwear. Give pics of the frets if they are not in perfect condition. Are there any gouges inthe frets? Are they rough? Any buzzing anywhere on the neck. How high is the action? What strings is the guitar set up with? Has it ever had a setup or a fret job done?
Body / general:
Any dings / dents / scratches?
List any dings that are larger than 1/16 of an inch. Give pics if possible. If the guitar is "well worn" state it and list areas where it shows this with pics.
Any scratches through the finish should be listed and photographed. Swirl marks are acceptable, but should be referenced as such.
NIB means no swirl marks. Used in Excellent condition means no dents / dings / scratches / corrosion / fretwear, but swirls are present.
I'll leave others to fill in other grades - but this always frustrates me. Don't list the guitar as "perfect" or NIB or whatever if it has even one little mark on it... You can say Perfect except, and list things within reason.
Electronics that are not stock should have EVERY replaced component listed. Stock componentry should be listed as to whether or not it is perfectly functional (no scratchy pots, etc), or to what degree it is worn - tarnished jacks / corroded leads, etc..
Modified guitars should have all mods clearly listed and photographed. Preferably with a reference to who did the work. If you did it yourself, that is fine, just make sure to state that.
Repaired guitars should have every repair referenced along with the builder / repairman's name. If you did the repair yourself, same applies - reference it anyway.
I know this sounds like a lot of effort - but you WILL avoid headaches later. If you aren't willing to list this info, then you probably don;t really want to sell the guitar.
If you don't know the history - say that and give an honest rating of each area.
Packaging and shipping the guitar
I have now received a couple of guitars with headstock breaks / fretboard separation which could have been avoided with a little bit of planning and thought given prior to shipping.
Bottom line - DO NOT JUST THROW IT IN A CASE AND TAPE THE CASE CLOSED AND SLAP A TAG ON THE CASE!
It is also not acceptable to put a guitar in a case, and then in a box with no padding around the case.
Here is the proper way to package a guitar for shipping:
1) Guitar in an APPROPRIATE case, which has been filled with material to restrict movement. *More details below*
2) Case in a larger box (2 inches or so larger on a side) with cushioning material around the entire case
If you are not shipping in a case then you should plan to double box.
1) Guitar inside a box that is 2 inches larger on each side filled with material to restrict movement
2) Same as above inside a larger box.
Now - some detail on the guitar inside the case.
If possible - first put the guitar in a soft wrapping like a pillow case or a foam bag.
Then, take up ALL slack between the body and the case - do NOT allow the body to shift toward the headstock, or the guitar will shift during shipment and the headstock will hit the side of the case - causing a fretboard split.
Put styrofoam, or padding of some sort on the top strap lock area and horn area to take up this space.
Put bubble wrap on top of the body to take up any space between the body and the case - when the case is closed the body should be sandwiched into the case with the bubble wrap.
Now - the headstock....
The headstock should NOT TOUCH ANYTHING when the case is closed... It should sit freely - or have very very little pressure on the case when the case is closed. If it does touch the case - place something UNDER the body to lift it off the case bottom. If you skip this step you are likely to have a fretboard pop loose ot the headstock crack.
Once the headstock is sitting freely in the case, pad the very top of the headstock with 2-3 inches of bubble wrap. I usually wrap the headstock 3-4 times in small celled bubble wrap so that it is completely protected. That way - if you didnt do a good enough job taking up the slack between the body and the case, the headstock will still have some protection.
Once you have the guitar in the case sorted out - fill the larger box with 2-3 inches of peanuts or wadded up bubble wrap. I would avoid wadded up paper as it has a tendency to settle and leave voids.
Now put the case in the larger box tail end first... now fill the box with peanuts all around the case and pack them down around it so that the case will stand upright. There should be a couple of inches left above the top of the case to fill with peanuts before closing the case.
As an added precaution - I will sometimes put a 2 inch bubble wrap pad on the top of the case, after the peanuts, just as an added cushion if the guitar gets dropped on the headstock side.
Close up the box and use GOOD quality packaging tape to tape ALL seams. Tape is cheap - use a whole roll. Seriously... Tape over any rips or tears in the box if you are re-using a box.
Shipping
Most carriers offer insurance... take it... but be advised - most will not honor the insurance UNLESS they lose the package or you can PROVE they destroyed it. Most claims I have heard of are denied on the grounds that "UPS / FEDEX / ETC didn't pack the item" and the box arrived in tact.
That being said - you want it in their hands for as short a time as possible. If you can afford it, use second day or overnight. Yes its expensive... But is that $1500 guitar worth taking a risk on? If your buyer insists on using a slower method, you had better be darn sure you packed well and let them know you take no responsibility for damage in transit.
Take photographs of the packaging prior to shipment - I must admit I'm lazy about this... but it can save you if the guitar gets damaged. you can prove the steps you went through to ensure it would be safe.
....
...
Some final notes - I'm putting this up in the hopes that some of the newer members will take heed before jumping in and selling or trading. Take it seriously. Nothing is more disappointing than opening up the case to find a broken guitar.
Please feel free to add your thoughts... My notes here may seem a bit extreme - but I go on the premise that I want to ship the way I would want the guitar shipped to me. I take every precaution I can. Its fine to improvise, but use your head. Shipping a guitar in a single box with no padding is a disaster waiting to happen...
