How are guitars packaged when shipped?

Question

i plan to get an electric guitar soon but i am cautious about ordering on line because i am worried about the guitar being damaged or even slightly warped from the shipping process. I know how those packages are usually treated (thrown around, set upside down, etc.). What kind of packaging is used when shipping guitars? thanks

Answer 1

You're probably safest asking the particular company. It's fairly typical that guitars are shipped in their original manufacturer's shipping box, with no additional packaging. I have bought guitars that way without any damage, but I'll admit I'm nervous seeing that -- it does invite trouble, since some of these boxes are really intended for retail, not shipping.

If you buy a guitar with a hard case, they will almost certainly ship the guitar in the case... and you can certainly request it, even if they're bought as separate items. That's perhaps your best bet -- a good hard case IS designed for a bit of rough handling, far moreso than the usual   packaging.