If you're moving in the near future, certain items will require extra care and attention when packing. Musical instruments tend to be particularly fragile, so you need to consider the unique needs of the instrument to provide the safest and most supportive packaging. Fortunately, with some planning and the right supplies, you can pack musical instruments with ease.

How to Pack Musical Instruments

1. Disassemble the Instrument

If you don't have the hard case for the instrument, disassemble it into its smallest parts. For brasses and woodwinds, dismantle the instrument and wrap each piece securely in bubble wrap. For stringed instruments, loosen the strings and turn the tuning pegs parallel with the headstock. Enclose the entire instrument in a large garbage bag, seal it with tape, then wrap it in layers of bubble wrap. For drums, remove rims, heads, and any hardware. The drums themselves should be placed in a box with at least two inches of room all around in which to stuff packing paper. Bubble wrap rims and heads, and put hardware in plastic baggies.

2. Use New Packing Supplies

Don't reuse old packing supplies or newspapers to pack musical instruments. Boxes can weaken with age, bubble wrap can pop, and crumpled newspaper and packing paper will wear out. It's much cheaper to purchase new supplies than it is to replace a broken instrument.

3. Be Mindful of the Temperature

As much as possible, keep track of the boxes in which you've packed your musical instruments. When moving, boxes will sometimes sit in the sun while waiting to be loaded or get packed into a hot truck. Instruments are delicate and shouldn't be subjected to temperature extremes. Aim to keep them at room temperature. If you need to store them, choose a climate-controlled facility.

When you need dependable moving services for your precious instruments and other fragile belongings, trust M. Dyer & Sons. For over 50 years, they’ve moved homes and businesses throughout the Pearl City, Honolulu, Kaneohe, Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Kapolei, and Pearl Harbor, HI, areas. The fully licensed and insured company also offers packing and crating services as well as climate-controlled storage. Call (808) 456-4200 or visit them online to request a free moving quote.