Another great set of packing tips is here:
Archtops.com No need for flatop folks to worry about removing the bridge, but the rest is great advice.
My only addition is that I also use about six feet of parachute cord (1/8" braided nylon) in a figure-eight pattern around the neck and the bouts of the case to make sure it doesn't open, accidentally or "accidentally".
The beauty of newspaper in the case (as opposed to peanuts, etc.) is that's really a very flexible cushioning layer and can be mashed into the really small spaces down around the neckblock. Peanuts are good as loose fill for empty space, newspaper is good as compressed packing in tight spaces. AND, it will not mess up the finish.
Yes, headstocks do break off, it's sort of a whiplash effect. Pad 'em up with whatever you've got.
Best guitar shipping/travel tip I've heard was from a very experienced festival player, who travelled with a large padded gig bag and a hardshell case. When he gets on the airplane, he packs his clothes, toiletries, etc., in the gig bag, and packs the guitar (properly, as above) in the hard case for shipping. On arrival, he transfers the personal stuff to the hotel drawers (or to the hard case), and does his gig-to-gig, stage-to-stage local travels with the gig bag. Nifty idea - I plan to try it out next trip to Europe.
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