Did you know that more than 40 million people move every year?
If you’re one of the 40 million people that’s moving this year, packing up all of your precious belongings so that they’re safe during transportation can be overwhelming.
Are you interested in learning how to pack your guitar for a safe move? We’ve created a guide for you here. Keep reading to learn more!
Prepare the Guitar
First, prep your guitar for the move. Remove all loose pieces and things that can be detached, like the strap, bridge cover, tuner, capo, or any other accessory that you have attached to your guitar. Place those items in a labeled plastic bag or box.
Next, loosen the strings of the instrument. Loosen them enough so that they’re almost lying on the fingerboard. Tight strings put too much pressure on the neck of the instrument which may result in cracks in the guitar, broken strings, or snapping the neck of the guitar altogether.
By de-tuning the guitar down two octaves, you’ll be able to relieve enough tension off of the neck to prevent any damage from occurring.
Use the Right Guitar Case and Box
It’s best to move your guitar in a hardcover case within a cardboard shipping box. Though they are sturdy, hardcover guitar cases don’t provide enough protection for a move in which it will be jostled about in transit. A specially sized shipping box is an excellent way to help protect your instrument further.
Measure your hardcover case, then check with your moving company, your local music store, or postal facility to obtain the right-sized shipping/moving box for your guitar case. The box should be several inches longer and wider than the case to allow for the necessary padding inside.
Pack the Guitar
With the strings loosened, place the guitar inside the hardcover case. Use packing paper to add support under the headstock, around it, and on top of it. Make sure the headstock is padded well and the guitar fits snugly into the case.
Place slide several sheets of soft packing paper between the strings and the fretboard to separate the two. Prevent fret damage from the strings, be sure that the strings aren’t touching the fretboard during shipping. Also, check to see if there is a space underneath the heel of the guitar. If there is, support it with some tightly wadded packing paper.
Close the case, and do a gentle shake test. Make sure nothing is loose and shifting inside the case.
Now prep the shipping box. Place several sheets of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap on the bottom of the box. Place the guitar case centered in the box. Add wads of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap all around the guitar case to keep it from moving around inside the cardboard box. Nothing should be able to shift inside the shipping box.
Before sealing the box shut, lift it and give it a shake. Make sure nothing can shift around on the inside to prevent damage during transit.
Finishing Up
Close the shipping box with packing tape. Label the package fragile and indicate “this end up,” so the movers know to handle the box with extra care.
By finding the right guitar boxes for your guitars, you’ll be sure to keep your guitar safe while you’re moving. Are you interested in hiring a professional team to help you successfully move? We’ve got more moving tips on our blog! Click here to learn more.