The best talaga to put your guitar purchase in a hard case. I ordered a Les Paul through Sweetwater last month and had it sent to my hotel ahead of my arrival. As soon as I got into my hotel in Orlando, Florida, the guitar was waiting for me. I had the hard shell case wrapped in bubble paper and brought some with me from Manila. Definitely, I had to open it in Orlando to check. Ok siya, walang problema. Balot ulit ng bubble paper. Going home I had to pass through Denver and Los Angeles. Anything can happen in between - baka ibato (carriers are known to do that) or something. And sometimes TSA opens luggages they deemed questionable. As I had an overnight stay in Los Angeles, binuksan ko ulit yung gitara (tugtog ng kunti). Ok siya. Wrap ulit ng bubble paper. From LA to Manila via Narita, Japan, as soon as I got to Manila, opened it and the guitar was intact. Passing through Customs - I just had one luggage and the guitar - when the Customs man asked me if I had anything to declare, sabi ko "wala." They just let me go - no problem. BTW. make sure to put bubble paper support in the neck of the guitar. So, if you want to buy a guitar at Tom Lee, hard shell case lang and look as if you are a seasoned musician from Hongkong going home for the holidays. Kung nakabalot yung instrumento, they cannot tell if it is brand new or used. Just play the part and be confident with your actions and moves. 'Yun lang.
