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″
STEP 1: REINFORCE the WIND JOINT LINING OF THE CASE WITH THE CARDBOARD TUBE.
STEP 2: WRAP THE WIND JOINT IN A TEA TOWEL
STEP 3: PLACE SPONGE ON TOP OF THE C and D KEYS
STEP 4: PUT IN BOX ON TOP OF PACKING PEAS AND SURROUNDED
STEP 5: PREPARE TO SAY GOOD BYE FOR A BIT
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!
