I ASK YOU...HOW TO REMOVE the end pin for safer shipping?

[southernGuild]

I'm ASKING here....ANY advice or experience in removing the endpin from the Guilds to allow for safer shipping? Thing Ive read regarding shipping suggest that the endpin be removed before shipping to protect from a drop onto its bottom. Padding heavily around there may just be the answer as I d like to leave it as original as I can.......But, IS IT GLUED IN? If so will a hard TWIST get that loose?
The dv52 was shipped to me with the endpin IN, no troubles as result, But this is because my mate could not remove it by hand..he threatened to go and get his hammer! :lol: When it arrived, all was fine, but I was able to easily loosen her out! HE MUST have LOOSENED IT FOR me without knowing!
So yea, ANYBODY have any experience on this one?
Maybe we will just pack that area very well, then make a pad of bubblewrap at the bottom to serve as a cushon of air...shock absorber.
ANY imput will be appreciated...as that d25m is set to be packed SOON!
Thanks all! southern :wink:

 

[taabru45]

Hi Southern, there may or may not be some glue on it, still If necessary use some kind of pliers or something to twist it, that should make it move, put some cloth on the pin 1st so as not to leave too many marks on it, put it and any other parts like pins in an envelope then in the storage box then pack a piece of foam rubber into there firmly then tape the top shut and balls of newwspaper on top of the box so it has pressure on it to keep it shut, support the head ot the guitar firmly with balls of newspaper too. No movement of the guitar in the case is what you want, and no pins flying around either. Just not worth chancing anything. End pins can be replaced if necessary. Good luck with your new axe. Maybe some one else has more suggestions. Regards Steffan :wink:

 

[jazzmang]

I've been bitten by this a few times, but in some of my guitars, the end pin is a stubborn mule and refuses to come out.

If I'm shipping the guitar, I always make sure to pad the end pin area excessively. It is because of this that none of the guitars I've shipped have ever sustained damage to that area.

Pad the end pin area inside the case, then of course make sure to adequately pad the guitar case inside of the shipping box you are using as well.

 

[southernGuild]

Thank you Steffan, and thank you Jazzmang ( the photos of YOUR dv72 are clear in my mind and the ongoing saga puts chills down my back! ) I want to avoid all of this of course, so it seems that careful packing is the key here. Pin in or out. your imput will be helpful...as they are all good points, well taken. dadthrash has done this before, and the packing box is sturdy and new...we're in with a fighting chance, unless of course they go out of their way to abuse this box ! :roll: ( like it seems they did YOURS Jazzmang) and if THAT is the case....well, theres no real protection against that. I am going to stay 'positive' on this one.....All we can do is take all due precautions in simple, safe ,packing and allow it all to just "BE". They send LOTS of stuff all around this world every day......the great majority arrives all fine..........It has good mojo! surely it shall be fine! (?) :lol: thanks for your help you two! Cheers, southern :wink:

 

[cjd-player]

Sure, it's still a perfectly good bomb, but they mussed up the finish. :|

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[jp]

Packing is definitely the key. Don't mess with the endpin. Take a stiff piece of foam, and cut a little hole in it for the endpin. Place this in side the case at the end. This should adequately protect it.

Good luck!

 

[taabru45]

Sure, it's still a perfectly good bomb, but they mussed up the finish. :|

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Whats that on the seat? :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[Paddlefoot]

It looks like S&$#, Smells like.... Seriously now. Don't grab the end pin with pliers. Gently first, stick an ice cube on it and see if you can shrink some of the tension off of it. It helps if the rest of the guitar is at a good warm room temp. I have a miniature version of a plumbers strap wrench that I use for such problems. You can improvise such a device with a small vice grip plier and a piece of webbing or doubled up canvas cloth. A piece of leather belt works pretty good too. I find that it works best to twist like you would a screw, left for loose right for tight. Not sure if thats because most people put them in with a twist to the right or not but it does seem to make a little bit of a difference. I'm not going to attempt to describe how the strap wrench works, if you're not sure how to do it go over to the hardware store and ask to see one. It's kind of self explanitory when you see the thing. Last when you have a bit of a twist on the pin tap the body of the guitar with your fingers a little bit. Sometimes that bit of vibration is all it need to coax the pin loose. If that doesnt do it just pack it well and ship it.

 

[chazmo]

Southern,

Definitely get the endpin out of the guitar if you can, and pack with bubble wrap all around the surfaces of the guitar, particularly the headstock, neck, and lower bout, as mentioned. Basically, you want as much cushioning as possible that you can place between the guitar and the interior of the hardshell case.

One thing I recommend is that you seek out a Taylor box. In particular, Taylor has plastic spacers on the top and bottom which provide cushioning to the case and keep it centered in the box. These are quite good. I supplement the spacers with bubble wrap and popcorn to fill up all the airspace and also above and below the spacers. Nothing should be jiggling around in there.

Oh, also, make sure nothing is in the compartment that could come loose and mar the guitar. Put everything in a stuffed baggie so it can't exit the compartment.

 

[JerryR]

I'm reading all this with interest as I'm padding the case well in case American Airlines check-in won't let me take the D35 as hand luggage when I fly from heathrow to DFW for the Arlington week-end and it ends up in the hold. My endpin is actually the jack for the lead to the pick up so I'm not touching it - I will add lots of extra packing probably in the form of dusters and put a strap round the case to avoid accidental opening when the baggage handlers play catch (see 'United break guitars' video) and hope for the best :roll:

 

[Tunes]

Jerry,

I can tell you right now - there is no way they are going to allow this on the plane, so don't even hope for this. I recently packed my D6 across Canada through two different airports (from where I live to Toronto, and from Toronto to Saskatchewan) and it got there and back no problem.

Three important things I did -

1. Loosened the strings. The AC baggage person told me they can actually break - it gets pretty cold at 30,000 feet.
2. Put several FRAGILE stickers all over the case.
3. I happened to have a large webbing type strap with those big plastic snap-together dohickies - and I put this around the smaller waist of the case for added protection in case snaps snapped open.

That's about all you can do.

 

[southernGuild]

THANK YOU GUYS.all of you, for your imput here. it has been very helpful..and as always "enlightening" :lol: . The endpin has been successfully removed with no damage to the guitar! She is going in a Taylor box, padded well for her great migration SOUTH for the winter. I will TRY not to worry, FRETTING on my guitar instead Thanks again all......Ill keep ye posted. :wink: Southern

 

[chazmo]

Aren't you supposed to go north for the winter down under?

Safe journeys, southern.

 

[Paddlefoot]

How did you finally get the end pin out? Just so we all get to share the knowledge.

 

[southernGuild]

Well..........now ,THAT , is yet a mystery unto ME. :shock: Seems dadthrash took it to a qualified Luthier to perform to delicate matter! ONLY He illuminate us all on the inner workings of these matters of GLUE and WOOD. I do think it was a knowing and confident "twist" that served the cause! alas, She is pinless, but well packed and ready. I myself could not be MORE ready to recieve her 'singular self'. the postmaster here has said he will call me upon her arrival. Dadthrash has excelled supremely in her packing and preperation . setting a worried mind to ease!!! :roll: I have vowed NOT to worry! .........but I will surely and vigorously FRET FRET FRET instead. That always seems to do at least SOME good! :lol: cheers Southern :wink:

 

[dadthrash]

The Certified Guild Luthier (Portland Fretworks) used one of these.

He just sat the Guitar up on his padded work table, secured it with one hand, grabbed ahold of the End Pin (in the recessed area) with the end nip pliers, gave a couple of small twist while keeping pulling pressure on it at all times. It came out very, very easily. I was shocked. He made it look so easy...maybe it was...but I was way to afraid to try to pull the end pin on a 32 year old Guitar.

This procedure only left two very small marks in the recess area of the End Pin....you would have to be looking for them to see them. Other than that, the End Pin is in Perfect Condition, and now resides comfortably in the Case compartment (Bagged and Padded of course) and is ready to make the trip (with the Guitar too) "WAY DOWN SOUTH FOR THE WINTER"...ACTUALLY..ALOT OF WINTERS I AM SURE!!!

Best,
Michael

 

[southernGuild]

ALAS............NOW WE ALL KNOW!!! .........again THANK YOU ALL. Southern :wink:

 

[wileypickett]

I pull mine out with my teeth, like the pin of a grenade. Then I run like hell from the guitar before it goes off.

 

[chazmo]

I pull mine out with my teeth, like the pin of a grenade. Then I run like hell from the guitar before it goes off.

Bwahahahahaha!!!! Nice, Glenn. Do you accompany that with a few strains of "War, what is it good for?"

southern, I know I've heard of some folks gluing in an endpin, but I've never actually run into it. It's usually just a matter of some elbow grease as these things need to be in tight. I would've wrapped some cloth around the jaws of that pliers that the fellow at Portland Fretworks used, but that's pretty much what was needed. If it were glued in, you'd hope that someone wouldn't use cyanoacrylate or else you'd run the risk of damaging the tail block when you pull the pin.

Tallyho!