Shipping Amps
Skip,
Can you give us a list of suggestions for packing and shipping amps safely? Particularly the larger/heavier amps @60+lbs?
Thanks in Advance.
Thanks for the tips Skip, I appreciated it!
Loren, my only experience is with a 6x10 Harp King that was shipped to me (central Illinois) from California. The amp was shipped upside down because John Kinder found out from experience that there would be less chance of chasis damage that way. Of course you have to trust that everyone will read and obey the THIS SIDE UP label. The amp was in perfect condition. John had some bad experiences with tubes falling out and the chasis coming loose when he first started shipping amps rightside up.
Bob,
Thanks for that: Good idea that hadn't occurred to me. Don't think I can use it in this case however as the amp in question is a Wezo-45 and I don't think the unique cabinet design would support the weight of the amp upside down. Still for many traditional large amps I can see the benefit of upside down shipping. Certainly will help someone else who sees this thread down the line, thanks!
So how do you like that harpking 6x10? Supposed to be killer amps! Shame they are so hard to come by these days.
Loren, when it comes to hearing yourself, I doubt that the Harp King has much competition. It can be daunting to get the settings where you are happy with everything, but you can easily rid yourself of any feedback issues with the King (or for that matter Kinder's Blue Box). I have been fortunate enough to get to know Rod Piazza by way of Dennis Gruenling and Rod actually marked his favorite settings on my amp ( he often uses it in the midwest) in permanent marker. It is unfortunate that they are no longer made and I treat mine like it is one of my kids.
Bob, at 100W, with 6 speakers and the built in Anti-Feedback, I don't doubt it is the volume king, lol. Dennis and Rod certainly sound great through those amps, or any others for that matter, but the HK does have a unique sound. I did just pick up the Kinder Anti-Feedback box, but still figuring out to dial the thing in properly, so I have some idea what you mean about settings. Nice of Rod to make the process permanently fool proof for you, lol. Really is too bad John Kinder isn't doing the amps any more. I don't have any real need for the HK 6x10, but I still want one, lol. I'd love to find a 2x10 "Soulful" as well, but I'm not holding my breath. Thanks for the reply!
Hello Loren- Thanks for writing. This topic deserves an entire article, but here is a start. No matter what, packing and shipping an amp over 60 pounds is challenging, and poor packing is the cause of most shipping damage.
My first suggestion is to not pack the amp at all. "Local sale only" will eliminate many potential buyers, but it will also eliminate some major headaches.
My next suggestion is to pay a professional, but insist on the seeing the finished job; some places will just put it in a box full of peanuts, which is a disaster waiting to happen.
If you are a DIY kinda guy, first you will need a heavy doublewall carton. Ask nicely at a music store for a box that an amp was shipped in. Next you need to cruise down to your local Home Depot etc. and buy a 4' X 8' sheet of 2"-thick styrofoam. They sell it as insulation for garage doors. If you carefully and accurately line the box with it, you will be well on your way to an amp-worthy shipping box.
Always be sure to eliminate ANY movement of the amp inside the box. Imagine the amp being dropped onto a concrete floor....... Ouch.
Insure it. UPS charges $19 for $2000 worth of insurance.
Skip Simmons
Skip Simmons Amps