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You ship a musical instrument in its case, inside a larger box, with the empty space packed tight so nothing moves. LetterAgent shipping labels cover Canada-only Canada Post Xpresspost parcels up to 5 kg, so a small instrument like a violin may qualify, while a guitar or cello needs a carrier service booked directly. Pack for drops, not gentle handling.
| Instrument | Key packing move | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Violin or viola | Loosen the bow, secure the bridge area, case inside a box | Shipping the bow loose beside the instrument |
| Acoustic or electric guitar | Detune the strings, support the neck, fill the case's empty space | Shipping at full tension, which stresses the neck on impact |
| Trumpet or trombone | Empty all water, oil the valves, wrap the mouthpiece separately | Leaving the mouthpiece in the receiver, where it dents the leadpipe |
| Clarinet or flute | Disassemble, swab dry, wrap each joint | Shipping assembled, which bends keys and rods |
| Cello or double bass | Use a flight case or a crate, never a soft gig bag alone | Trusting a soft bag to survive a sorting belt |
Start inside the case. Detune the strings a step or two: full tension pulls the neck forward, and one sharp knock can crack the headstock at its weakest point, the angled joint behind the nut. Support the neck with a rolled cloth or foam so it cannot bounce, and fill every gap in the case with crumpled paper or soft cloth. A case that rattles is a case that will damage the instrument, because movement turns every bump into a collision.
Then put the closed case in a box with at least a few inches of cushioning on all sides. Bubble wrap or foam works; loose peanuts shift and leave gaps, so use them only with a plastic bag liner holding them in place. Tape the box with the H method: one strip down the center seam and one across each end. Before sealing, shake the box. If anything moves, open it and pack more.
Wood moves with temperature and moisture, and a parcel can sit in a hot truck or a cold warehouse for hours. For varnished wood, a sudden swing can crack the finish, a fault called checking, which looks like a web of fine lines. Shipping in mild weather helps, but you cannot control the route, so wrap the case in a plastic bag to slow moisture changes and avoid shipping over a weekend, when parcels sit still in unheated buildings.
Brass and woodwind instruments have their own worries. Empty all water from brass before packing, since trapped water corrodes valves and slides from the inside. Swab woodwinds dry, because a damp pad left in a sealed case grows mould and sticks to the tone hole. These are small steps, but repair shops see the damage from skipped ones regularly.
Yes to both, for anything you could not afford to replace. Carrier default coverage is limited and often excludes instruments or caps the payout well below their value. Declare the full value, photograph the instrument and the packing before sealing the box, and keep the photos with the tracking number. If the buyer claims damage, those photos are what turn a denied claim into a paid one.
A signature requirement stops the box being left on a porch, which matters for an item that is both valuable and easy to resell. Tell the recipient the parcel needs a signature so they plan to be home or redirect it to a pickup point. For a very valuable instrument, consider a carrier service with a declared-value option and a pickup point rather than home delivery.
A note on LetterAgent: shipping labels are Canada-only Canada Post Xpresspost, flat-rate, for parcels up to 5 kg, quoted up front. You describe the parcel to your AI assistant, approve the exact price, pay once, and receive a label PDF. If your instrument is over 5 kg or leaving Canada, that label cannot cover it, and you will need a carrier service booked directly.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
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