The #1 rule of safe shipping: everything must be immobilized – the sax inside the case, and the case inside the box. Effectively think of it as if you are “double boxing” your saxophone, with your case being box # 1. Shipping damage usually comes from the sax’s own inertia during a drop, not the drop itself.
Photos shown are of a vintage tenor saxophone – the same method applies to alto (scale padding to fit). In modern cases, less bubble wrap/padding is usually needed, but the principles are the same – immobilization of the saxophone in the case.
What you’ll need
- Internal Packing Materials (i.e. Bubble wrap), for neck, mouthpiece, and padding “blocks”
- Packing tape
- A strong outer box with 2″ or more clearance on all sides of the case
- Box fill packing material (foam / dense packing) to immobilize the case inside the box
Do
- Immobilize the sax inside the case.
- Immobilize the case inside the box with at least 2″ padding on all sides.
- Wrap the neck and mouthpiece separately and secure them so they cannot move.
- Include your contact info in the case!
Don’t
- Don’t assume that your case will protect your horn!
- Don’t let the neck float loose inside the case.
Step-by-step – packing the sax inside the case
Support the bow/bell and the back of the body
The first goal is to prevent the sax from rocking in any direction. Vintage cases are notoriously bad for shipping as they did not build these for modern day shipping. As a result, vintage cases have a high risk for damage in shipping, so you have to really be strategic in your packing. Modern manufacturer specific cases (i.e. the “stock case” for many modern horns) are usually much better – and modern “universal” cases are somewhere in between.
Regardless of the case, you have to find the areas where movement can happen and eliminate it. Build firm support under the bow/bell area and the back of the body so the instrument cannot shift deeper into the case or move side-to-side.
Quick check: With the case still open, gently try to move the sax in every direction. If you feel movement, add padding until it’s immobilized.
Prevent the top of the body from shifting forward
Add firm padding so the upper body cannot slide forward during a drop or sudden stop.
Do Not Skip This Step! This is actually one of the most commonly missed steps and has the risk of allowing your body tube to BEND in shipping!
Prevent the bell from contacting the case molding
Pad the bell area so it cannot strike the molded edges of the case. However, make sure that this is just there for support should something come loose – make sure that you are not allowing pressure against the bell rim itself.
Wrap the neck and mouthpiece separately
Wrap the neck and mouthpiece in bubble wrap and secure them inside the case accessory compartment so they cannot move. Specifically, make sure that nothing can hit the neck inside this compartment.
If your case does not have an accessory compartment, or it only has a “neck slot”, make sure that the neck is secure in that spot and if needed, add padding on top to make sure that it cannot come out of the slot in shipping.
Add top padding so the sax is pressed down when the case closes
Add additional padding on top of the body/bell area so that when the lid closes, the sax is gently held down and cannot “bounce” inside the case.
After closing the case, lightly shake it. You should feel zero movement.
Boxing the case (this matters just as much)
Goal: the case must be immobilized inside the box with 2″ or more padding on every surface. If the case can shift, the sax can still be damaged.
Use a strong outer box with at least 2″ of padding clearance on all sides of the case. Pack tightly with foam or firm fill so the case cannot move in any direction.
Final test: gently shake the closed case, then gently shake the sealed box. If you feel movement at either stage, add padding until everything is immobilized.
Next step – request a shipping label or pickup
If you’d like us to arrange inbound UPS shipping on our discounted rates, use the form below. After you submit, you’ll receive a copy of your request by email for your records.