Flying with tuba in Bubble Wrap!

[Wyvern]

We have often heard of tubas getting damaged flying as checked luggage, so I thought you would be interested that I have just flown out to China with an old Amati F tuba (similar to Cerveny CFB 651-4) wrapped up in just a substantial layer (4-6 inches) of bubble-wrap to create a sort of cocoon to protect. As it is an old tuba, not worth a great deal, I was willing to take the risk - this making for a very light parcel of only 8kg avoiding excess luggage charges.

I am pleased to say that despite it passing through the hands of British Airways , Finair and Air China it has arrived safely undamaged

Jonathan "currently enjoying China"

[Timswisstuba]

wrapped up in just a substantial layer (4-6 inches) of bubble-wrap
Jonathan "currently enjoying China"

I have had tubas shipped to me in only bubble-wrap up that have arrived unharmed. Perhaps this is because the people who handle the package can see what it is and therefore pay closer attention.

[The Big Ben]

I have had success shipping a tuba (King 2340 recording bell) in the factory cases. I wrapped the tuba body itself in small bubble wrap and then stuffed the rest of the case with large bubble wrap. Did the same for the bell. Then, I taped the locks shut and wrapped the case in plastic tape so it didn't have a chance to flop open. The receiver said it arrived just fine.

Bubble wrap is great stuff and I'm glad to see Neptune got his horn where he wanted it without damage. Personally, I would go with a hard case prepared as above but the sans case option seems to be fine, too.

[roweenie]

Jonathan,

Did you put the bubble-wrapped horn in some sort of box (cardboard or otherwise)?

[Wyvern]

Did you put the bubble-wrapped horn in some sort of box (cardboard or otherwise)?

No! Just inside a clear plastic bag

[Donn]

Perhaps this is because the people who handle the package can see what it is and therefore pay closer attention.

I'd guess so. Anecdote from the other end - I bought a new case for an instrument of mine last fall, so it would have a deluxe padded enclosure for its flight to Boston. On arrival, the case was mangled as though dropped from a great height or hurled by someone with extraordinary physical strength (and weak mind, to be sure.)

In retrospect, the case looked sort of like it might contain golf clubs, for miniature golf. It didn't say "musical instrument", just "fat, heavy awkward thing made in China", and so it was treated. Had I just added a little bubble wrap to my old case, it might be playing today, instead of gathering dust in the repair shop. (Or, of course, if I had avoided flying with it, as I have resolved to in the future, though I suppose it's hard to get to China without flying.)

Since most tubas are reasonably sturdy instruments, maybe the weight and bulk of a case outweighs the advantages, if you suppose that baggage handlers won't be malicious criminals. I'm not sure where I stand on that.

[Bill Troiano]

This gives me something to think about, as we'll be flying to Texas in early Feb., so my euph son can audition at UT and at North Texas. He presently plays on a Yammy 321 and we'll have to fly with it in it's hard case. I didn't want to buy a flight case for it because he'll probably end up buying another comp. euph pretty soon. (Taking him with me to the Army Band Conf. will be like taking a kid to Toys R Us.)

So, maybe I should wrap the hard Yammy case in layers of bubble wrap? Or, maybe just use the gig bag and wrap all of that in bubble wrap?

[TubaRay]

(Taking him with me to the Army Band Conf. will be like taking a kid to Toys R Us.)

I know it is for me!

[sailn2ba]

If you DO take the hard case route, it is very important that the horn be locked in, stabilized so that it can't shift or move around in the case.
My old 681 had (and still has) a bell crease when I bought it 15 years ago. I recently got out the hard case that came with it to see how it would fit a 686 (same wrap, bigger bell). The 3" larger bell did "fit", but I noticed that the angle was slightly wrong and that there's 3" or so play top to bottom. . . AND, THE ANGLE AT WHICH THE BELL OF THE 681 MEETS THE TOP OF THE CASE EXACTLY MATCHES THE CREASE. I'm betting that the 681 bell was creased in the hard case. g

[Wyvern]

Some further points I did not mention earlier, which might be worth considering if you use this method of carrying a tuba.

The bubble wrap package was well covered with "Fragile - Handle with Care" tape, although if baggage handlers take any notice of that I do not know?

Secondly, I put a strap around at the smallest point between bell and top bow to make the package easy to lift - I think that may reduce the chance of it getting dropped.

Thirdly, the inside of the bell had plenty of bubble wrap to add to its rigidity.

I still question if I would risk transporting a newish tuba with no further protection, but would be well sure that it was well padded inside a hard case to prevent movement and would probable bubble wrap the outside of the case to cushion any blows.

[sloan]

Naked bubble-wrap should work as well as a hard case. As someone pointed out, above, most of the design of a "case" is involved with protecting the case itself, so that it is re-usable. Bubble-wrap is disposable - you don't really care if the bubble-wrap is shredded, or dirty, as long as the instrument survives.

What you pay for in a hard case is multiple use, and the convenience of just popping the latches and
lifting out the horn, ready to play.

Comments on the interior fit are spot on - if your tuba can move about inside the case, there's not much point in having the case. A superior, fitted case will hold on tightly (at the right places) and keep the tuba immobile with respect to the rest of the case. A block of styrofoam that firmly attaches to the large tubing is perfect for protection - the rest of the case is to protect the styrofoam - not the tuba!

Horns are shipped as blobs of bubble-wrap, with a nice rectangular cardboard box surrounding everything. The main feature of the cardboard box is that it can be stacked neatly. When shipping (as luggage) it can be an advantage to NOT stack neatly. Odd-shaped pieces often get placed in a bin, and are usually at the top of the pile. A large duffel plus a ready supply of bubble-wrap sounds like a perfectly safe way to ship - as long as you don't mind replacing the bubble-wrap (and perhaps the ripped duffel) after every trip.