I bought a Henry 3K Classic X from a guy off eBay a few months ago. I paid several thousand dollars on a buy it now after discussing with him on getting it shipped from CA to Arkansas. The deal was he would have it professionally packed & crated for an additional $50 and the shipping by freight would be (I forget exactly) around $325 unloaded and put in my shack.
Point is; the crating and shipping costs were worth it to me due to what I paid to buy the amp. It came in perfect condition, and I even kept the crate since it was constructed so beautifully. A lot better than I could have done for $50, and every part of it was made to fit the amp in a manner where the internal padding was like a glove. If you buy a Valiant for $400, or even a Ranger for $300, see if the seller can have it crated by a pro. If they can crate a Henry 3K (200 lbs) for $50 like they did mine, a Valiant should be even less, if not, and I wanted a Valiant bad enough, I'd still pay an extra $50. Cardboard boxes just don't cut it for things of that mass. If a shipper destroys a well made wooden crate and its contents, they won't have a leg to stand on with a damage claim. Brian - w5ami -- "There is nothing more uncommon than common sense." -- Frank Lloyd Wright
