Packing and moving from one home to another requires a certain level of finesse—especially with fragile items. Among some of the most fragile belongings: musical instruments. Of course, every instrument is different. But, one thing musicians all have in common is a shared protectiveness over their instruments. So, before the Woodbridge, ON movers arrive, the professionals at ABS Movers & Storage want to provide some general guidelines and best practices to effectively protect your musical belongings during a move.   

Proper Packing   

Packing musical instruments in sound, safe boxes seems like a given, but it has to be said: proper boxes are the greatest resource you have to keep your expensive or heirloom musical pieces protected in transit to the new home. Options:  

• Cases. Carrying cases are usually perfect for transporting instruments—unless they’re soft sided. The hard cases (as in a guitar, saxophone, clarinet cases, etc.) typically have excellent padding and interior shapes to hold the instrument in place.  
• Original box. If you still have the original box the instrument came in, use it. These were specifically designed to keep the instrument protected in transit.  
• Instrument store. Some music stores will have boxes for purchase.  
• Local movers. Professional moving and storage companies should have some helpful suggestions and, perhaps, the exact packaging you need to protect your instruments.  

The Right Amount of Padding   

A good rule to follow is to pack your musical instrument with even more padding than you would use to pack a box of drinking glasses. Even if the instrument will be transported in a hard case, add padding inside the case and around it. Note: there’s no need to add exterior padding around a case if you’ll be physically carrying the case, but if the instrument is to be loaded on a moving truck or shipped: padding, padding, padding. Things to remember:  

• Put an emphasis on padding extra around the corners and sharper edges of the instrument.  
• Clothes, pillowcases, and dish towels are excellent materials for added padding.  
• Blankets and rugs are great to wrap around the case or box holding an instrument to soften impacts from hard stops on the roadways, turbulences on a flight, loads shifting in the moving truck, etc.  

Flying with a Stringed Instrument  

Stringed instruments are particularly delicate. If you’re flying with one to the new city you’re to live in, follow these two rules to ensure your guitar, violin, or bass guitar are safeguarded:  

• Loosen the strings before a flight. Atmospheric changes, temperature, and air pressure can tighten the strings or swell the instrument enough to cause string breakage.  
• Let the instrument rest. For at least twenty-four hours after a flight with your instrument, refrain from playing it. It needs time to acclimate to the atmosphere and temperatures of the new home before it’s a good idea to play it.  

As always, planning is the most important part of any move. Here at ABS Movers & Storage, our team would be thrilled to help you. Whether you need Woodbridge, ON movers for a small move, long distance move, or last minute one, we’re equipped to make sure it goes smoothly. Call us at (416) 588-1499 or visit us to plan your pending move at 17 Dora Avenue, Toronto, ON M6H 1J5.