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I bought some very sensitive scientific gear for the lab in my last job, it came from Germany, which is quite a trip. There were these little self adhesive tell-tale thingies stuck on the outside of the box that went red if the box had suffered a shock like being dropped. The label said "do not accept shipment if tell-tale thingies show red" or words to that effect.

I wonder if they'd be any help when it comes to claiming insurance?

Might at least make some bozo think twice before practicing his wresling holds on your shipment.PaulB39051.027974537

OMG!! Thats just sickening. Keep us updated. I know Robbie O'Brien just went through a similar situation, although not as catastrophic as this. You may ask him about how he got through it. I'm pretty sure he ended up with some sort of compensation from them.
May the force be with you on this one.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Michael....

I feel your pain, but I refuse to ship with any of the carriers anymore. We have been using DHL for our bigger stuff but they still scare me, however I think I have a solution....

When I got my CNC it came in a wooden crate, it had actually taken some damage but the CNC was totally safe. On my next one I ship out I'm going to make a crate to ship them in, it means that the carriers have to handle it differently but that's a good thing. It will be built with a full frame like they ship artifacts in, the guitar case will sit in the center with full padding on all sides.

The goal is that to wreck one of these you have to actually violate the structure of the crate, and trust me I'm building it to be bullet proof. For clients who want guitars where I can't reach them I'll include return shipping with the crate, it's worth the extra cost for the extra piece of mind.

It's a shame that things like this happen, what makes me so mad about is that when you see things like truck tires on a box, you just know that cannot be a simple accident...

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

That just boggles the mind that the guitar is so damaged but the case is intact?! What gives?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Michael, what more can be said. Somehow even a fair insurance pay out can't compensate for the effort that went into that guitar.

I am with Alain -- truly mind boggling that the case is intact despite the damage to the guitar. Could someone have been mean spirited enough to have done a number on the guitar and put it back in the case?

This really makes me upset! Sorry man.

I think we really need to start a new discussion and take a good hard look at how instruments should best be packed to ship.

I ship a lot of violins, violas, cellos and double basses and have yet (knock on wood) to experience that kind of problem.

It seems to me the heft of the case and the way it is suspended in it's case is causing more harm than it is worth during shipping. I could be totally wrong though. It seems if we were to plop a guitar into a big box filled with peanuts it would be much safer. You could throw the box across the truck and the instrument would just shift and not bang around as hard as if it was in a case.

Again sorry to hear about it, but maybe we can all benifit somehow from this. KenMcKay39051.1537037037

yeah like all the above I'm sorry to hear this for all your hard work thats gone into such a beautiful instrument, michael....and i feel for the owner who missed out on such a beauty....

But along the lines of the case scenario.....I'd hate to buy cases if they have so much flexibility that an instrument can be damaged like this and the case springs back intact......defeats the purpose of the case ....supposed to protect the instrument not the case...

Michael,

Art destroyed is always tragic, I loved that guitar, it real was a fine piece of craftsmanship. Lets all just be thankful that you possess the skill, patience and passion to recreate such an amazing efforts.

Cheers to you M8

Kim

Michael,

Got to this late but that is so sad. There's nothing worse (apart from messing one up yourself) than for a "baby" to get trashed in transit. I've been lucky in that all of my UK commissions have been picked up or delivered by me, but I've shipped to the US 5 times and each time it has been nerve wracking.

I think Brock is right and that Heritage is the way to go. I'd also consider offering the customer the option to upgrade to a Calton case. More money and heavier for the shipping but these things are VERY strong. But if some bozo decides to open it for inspection then all the careful packing goes out the window! As for the packing, I came across this on another forum of what Stefan Sobell does which may be of interest.

I suspect you are in for a long process here as every man and his dog from the shipper will want to inspect at their leisure and what you will get - apart from a lot of angst, frustration, time wasting tactics and bureaucracy, and wasted time when you could be building - will be uncertain.

The sides could be replaced if you can get a matching set of wood and the top and back are intact (thus keeping the great sound). Bill Cumpiano had this repair on his website that was fascinating and could be fun. Lots of time involved though.

As you say it's bad enough for you but has it's "learning process" but for your poor customer it's a real bummer which ever way you look at it.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Hi Michael.

Putting a dollar value on a guitar is just token.
Its not possible to put a dollar value on blood, sweat, tears, and the love and care you put into building an insrument.
And surely, when you build an instrument you secretly hope it will be still being enjoyed by someone in fifty years time.
Maybe even more.

Not to mention that you feel that you've let the customer down.

Its something you've created and its a beutiful thing and I really feel for you.

I'm sorry this has happened.

hugs,
Claire

[QUOTE=MichaelP] It looks to me like the crate took a long hard fall.

[/QUOTE]

Like, air mail delivery, without bothering to land.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Michael, from the post title I had no idea what the subject was...so I'm arriving late also.
Groan!---other than burning the shop down, your experience is my worst nightmare. We all feel for you!
Are you going to be able to salvage anything?
If the top were usable, or the rosette, or even those beautiful snakewood bindings, you could start over and have something of the first in the second. It would be like God making Eve from Adam's rib.
Well, ok, not exactly, but perhaps as close as any of US might get?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Michael, sorry to hear about this. I recommend you ride FedEx every day about this. Remember your bridges that they lost a few months ago? Still waiting....

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I'm another one that got in on this late. So sorry you had this happen.

I have some guitars that I will have to ship to Scotland in the next few months and so I'm trying to figure out the best way to get them there in one piece. I figured I would do a variation on the wooden crate idea.

Do you ship the the guitar under full string tension?

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

John the never showed up.

[QUOTE=Josh H] I'm another one that got in on this late. So sorry you had this happen.

I have some guitars that I will have to ship to Scotland in the next few months and so I'm trying to figure out the best way to get them there in one piece. I figured I would do a variation on the wooden crate idea.

Do you ship the the guitar under full string tension?[/QUOTE]


Crate them then crate the crate

Josh ...Never send a guitar tuned up .. any shock gets transmitted down the strings to the headstock. Loosen them up for sure. For Michael's guitar to have broken the way it did there was some sort of whiplash effect at the headstock .. but as can been seen from the cracked sides, it was pretty violent

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Yeah, I know. FedEx knows it, too. I was referring to their slow claims handling.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Since I ship my guitars back and forth to Tony F. for finishing I am going to
switch to a "shipping case"
Since my necks are removable, I was going to get a case where both the
neck and body sit in a custom foam insert next to one another.
Considering a case like this




Has anyone tried this. azimmer139051.4283333333

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Michael, sorry just got to this. That's what's known as a BUMMER! We have lived that guitar as you built it and to see it have such a sad ending is terrible. Can the top and back be saved? The top is where a luthiers skill is really made real, and that rosette!

Really sorry, I just hate to see a work of art destroyed. If it is at all repairable maybe it could be a keeper as I bet you could get the sound back, and that is after all the critical part.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

What a shame such a great guitar trashed this way!!
I hope they take care of it for you and your customer Michael.   

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Michael, I cant add to what has been said, other than to agree, this is sickening.

It reinforces the need for specialized insurance, and drives home my commitment to get my own Heritage policy before next summer and HGF.

Sorry bro..

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hey Tony,

I was not thinking about shipping guitars tuned up. Seeing those pictures just made me wonder if that guitar was. But you are right, that must have been on violent shock to crack the sides like that.

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

As much as we all know how fragile our instruments are, it still hurts to see this!
Is there no way to fix this instrument?
So sorry Michael!
I am hoping for a speedy resolve for you Bro!

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Wow, Michael...my stomach has been churning from the start of this thread. When I looked at the pics, I almost hurled!

That was one of the most beautiful guitars ever posted and your rosette really inspired me in expanding my own horizons.

Stay on top of those FEDEX "fatherless children" until they pay for the damage and then some. If you go the route of a petition, I'll be at the top of the list. It's frustrating to see this and not be able to help. Rest assurred, your brethern are feelng your pain and all wish you well.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com