Shipping companies—FedEx, UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and any of the many smaller courier companies—deal with millions of parcels a day, and few of those who handle the packages bother to check for labels saying "Fragile." Because musical instruments are particularly delicate, great care must be used when shipping them. The cost of shipping such instruments is often high, but the cost of replacing them can be even higher.

Loosen strings slightly on all string instruments and align the tuning knobs with the headstock. Remove anything attached to the instrument. Wrap these in bubble wrap, fasten the bubble wrap with tape, then place them in the compartment under the headstock. If the case has no compartment, pack these items separately. For large brass instruments, remove the mouthpiece and pack separately. Disassemble woodwinds before packing.

Pack all large instruments (large brass such as tubas; strings such as cellos and basses; keyboards; and so on) in a hard case designed specifically for the instrument—anything less will likely result in damage to the instrument. Smaller instruments may be packed in soft cases if necessary.

Crumple paper and stuff it around the instrument if it does not fit snugly into the hard case, until it does not move within the case. The case should close without your having to force it shut. If using a soft case, pack extra paper into the case for added protection. Close the case and lock it if possible.

Stand the shipping box on end so that it stands as high as possible. Spill enough shipping peanuts into the box to cover the bottom at least four inches thick.

Place the case into the shipping box on end and center it so that it doesn’t touch any sides. Fill the box with shipping peanuts on all sides of the hard case. Close the box (do not seal it) and shake it gently. If you feel the case shifting within the box, add more peanuts until this stops with repeated tests. Secure the box with crate tape.

Contact a courier service in your area for shipping rates, or take your package to the regional shipping depot. In general, the U.S. Postal Service charges the most and takes the longest to deliver parcels; UPS charges slightly less but can deliver the package in two days. Federal Express also delivers in two days and usually costs less than UPS. For all three, the cost of delivery depends on the size, weight, and destination of the parcel.

Tip

  • Hard cases cost considerably more than soft cases, but provide far more protection. The extra cost is worth not having to replace a broken instrument.

About the Author

Tom Wagner began writing for newspapers and magazines in the L.A. area in 2001. With articles appearing in "California Examiner," "World Reporter," the "Philippine Nurses Monitor" and "Famegate Global News," he currently writes for all three Philippine Media publications in Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. His articles focus on food, social issues, travel, sight-seeing, humor, general information, politics and medical matters.

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