Unless you are lucky enough to live near a GREAT Bassoon Repair Specialist- at some point you will need to ship your instruments for repair or oiling. Knowing how to do it so the instrument isn’t damaged IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. (Punny!) I just sent my Heckel to Marcus Weiler in Toronto. Here’s how I did it!

TO DO LIST: 

GET GREAT INSURANCE (if you don’t already have it)

Clarion is great because it covers instruments when you ship. No need to pay any extra fees to your shipping service (UPS, MAIL, or FED EX. Be careful, most home owner’s insurance do not cover instruments when they ship.

Here’s a link: http://www.clarionins.com

CALL REPAIR SERVICES: Be sure they are accepting instruments, know to expect yours, and follow their instructions

PROOF OF OWNERSHIP: Make sure you know your instrument’s serial number and have documents demonstrating your ownership. You will need this for Customs if you send it abroad, especially.

SHOPPING LIST: 

TEA TOWEL, SPONGE, PACKING PEAS, SHIPPING TAPE, STRONG PAPER TUBE- needed for the original case my bassoon arrived in, and a BOX MEASURING 31″x10″x15″

I choose this cute tea towel! Made me feel good because my bassoon is traveling to COLD CANADA. Awhh- Bassoon Love.
I choose this cute tea towel! Made me feel good because my bassoon is traveling to COLD CANADA. Awhh- Bassoon Love.

 

STEP 1: REINFORCE the WIND JOINT LINING OF THE CASE WITH THE CARDBOARD TUBE.

You can see that the blocking of the case holds the wind joint. But if that broke off in shipping the wind joint would be damaged. Best to place a cardboard tube to hold it in place to protect from damage.
You can see that the blocking of the case holds the wind joint. But if that broke off in shipping the wind joint would be damaged. Best to place a cardboard tube to hold it in place to protect from damage. 

STEP 2: WRAP THE WIND JOINT IN A TEA TOWEL

By wrapping the joint with a tea towel it keeps the Long Joint and the Wind Joint from bonking into one another in shipping, which can create scratches and damage.
By wrapping the joint with a tea towel it keeps the Long Joint and the Wind Joint from bonking into one another in shipping, which can create scratches and damage.

 

STEP 3: PLACE SPONGE ON TOP OF THE C and D KEYS

The sponge removes excess room at the top of the case to keep it from possibly shifting. It is also squishy so it will compact as the case closes!
The sponge removes excess room at the top of the case to keep it from possibly shifting. It is also squishy so it will compact as the case closes!

STEP 4: PUT IN BOX ON TOP OF PACKING PEAS AND SURROUNDED

I Placed Packing Peas on Top, too. But I wanted to get this photo so you could see it inside the box!
I Placed Packing Peas on Top, too. But I wanted to get this photo so you could see it inside the box!

STEP 5: PREPARE TO SAY GOOD BYE FOR A BIT

This is Coco Bean and me saying Good Bye. It's so HARD… You can see she's worried. Sometimes I think we are the same person. It's a good thing I packed so well.
This is Coco Bean and me saying Good Bye. It’s so HARD… You can see she’s worried. Sometimes I think we are the same person. It’s a good thing I packed so well.

STEP 6: SEAL BOX and PREPARE TO SHIP

STEP 7: PAY THE EXTRA FOR SUPER FAST SHIPPING. FAST SHIPPING MEANS LESS HANDLING. AND FOR SHIPPING ABROAD IT SAVES MONEY AT CUSTOMS. DON’T SKIMP HERE. IT’S WORTH IT!

IT ALSO SAVED MY BASSOON FROM EXTREME WEATHER. WHEN IT LEFT ALABAMA IT WAS 45 DEGREES. IT TRAVELED TO -45 DEGREES (WITH THE WINDCHILL FACTOR). LESS TIME IN CRAZY WEATHER!

STEP 8: WAIT FOR RETURN. SIGH.

Please note, all of these instructions were for the case I currently have for this instrument a PROTEC INTEGRAL CASE AND COVER which I will be replacing. Each case differs slightly but the GOAL is the Same. You want to be sure that no portions of the instrument touch another, the case is adequately reinforced and there is minimal chance of movement.

UPDATE: I just heard from Marcus Weiler Bassoon Company- She’s Arrived Safely. Phew! Good Packing!

Hope you enjoyed this! HAPPY BASSOONS MAKE FOR HAPPY BASSOON-ING! 

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