Shipping amps... what do?

[Fuzzy Picklez]

What's the standard protocall for shipping amps?
I've never shipped one before, but it looks like I might have to since no one in Toronto wants my old Fender Concert II head.
For anyone who's shipped an amp before, what do?

[MEC]

I know that here in the US you can take an amp into UPS or Fed Ex and they will pack it for you. Maybe check with the Canadian equivalent and they'll do the same.

[Gunner Recall]

Whatever you do, don't let a store pack it for you!
If something happens to the amp they will deny your claim because you did not pack it yourself.

Also, most postage stores know jack about properly shipping an amp.

Plenty of bubble wrap and double box it (wrap > box > wrap > box), those styrofoam corners are nice if you can find ones that fit.
Ask around your local music shops to find the boxes, they'll usually have a few laying around for garbage.

[Achtane]

Take the tubes out and wrap them individually.

[morange]

Is it a combo? You should consider packing the inside with bubble wrap or something, too - like, in the space between the back of the cabinet and the back of the speaker. The weight of the speaker being jerked around might tear it from the baffle if it's not being held in place with a little support from behind.

I ordered a silvertone 1472 from ebay, and the speaker ripped off the baffle in shipping. It was wrapped up nice, except no support on the inside. The baffle in this is super cheap, almost cardboard, so you might not need to worry so much about this on a well built amp, but never hurts to be safe.

[nad]

Put in box, pack nice and squishy, ship.

I know some people say wrap the tubes, detune the strings, unplug the battery, sacrifice a small Malaysian child, etc. but stores and manufacturers never do these things. They put in box, pack nice and squishy (maybe), and ship.

[skip]

Take the tubes out and wrap them individually.

this^^^
and pack it like a baby-- and then pray

[Jero]

Take the tubes out and wrap them individually.

this^^^
and pack it like a baby-- and then pray

Another option, depending on the amp/amounts of tubes...stuff bubble wrap into the cab/chassis around the tubes. Maybe a piece of cardboard over that (covering the opening in the back) to be safe. That's how my sunn was sent to me (plus several layers of wrap around it, then surrounded by packing peanuts). I could have hugged the guy

[Achtane]

Take the tubes out and wrap them individually.

this^^^
and pack it like a baby-- and then pray

Another option, depending on the amp/amounts of tubes...stuff bubble wrap into the cab/chassis around the tubes. Maybe a piece of cardboard over that (covering the opening in the back) to be safe. That's how my sunn was sent to me (plus several layers of wrap around it, then surrounded by packing peanuts). I could have hugged the guy

Yeah, this is how my VB-2 came and it was in perfect condition on arrival. I'm sure it's fine most of the time, but wrapping the tubes couldn't hurt.