The harmonica, also called mouth organ, French harp or blues harp, is one of the most popular wind musical instruments around. Simple and elegant in its design, the harmonica is often given as a gift to kids because it is easy to play by simply blowing air into and out of one or more holes along with its mouthpiece. However, it is difficult to master.
This musical instrument is very versatile and used in a variety of musical genres including blues, country, bluegrass, rock n roll, funk, jazz, gospel, and folk. It originated in France in the late 19th century and comes in different types such as diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, octave, orchestral, and bass versions. It is usually made from brass or bronze. While the harmonica comes in different sizes, they are usually small enough to be placed in the pocket.
Being small, a harmonica can be easily boxed for shipping. However, proper packing precautions must be observed to prevent any damage such as dents and scratches caused by impact during transit. Here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a harmonica to ensure that it arrives safely and in good condition.
Clean the harmonica with a soft cloth. Place it in its carrying case. The case should be lined with a soft material or even padded for optimum protection and the harmonica should snugly fit inside without space for movement. Use pieces of bubble wrap to fill any space to keep the harmonica in place. Close the case and secure.
Wrap the harmonica case in a couple of layers of bubble wrap, making sure that all parts are well covered. Use tape to secure the wrap in place.
Get a sturdy shipping box that is large enough to accommodate the cased and wrapped harmonica, with extra 2 inches of space on all sides, top, and bottom. Fill the bottom of the box with a 2-inch layer of packing peanuts and lay the harmonica on top. Fill the remaining spaces on the sides and top with more packing peanuts. The idea is to make the box well packed so that there will be no space for the harmonica to move around.
Close the box and seal with packaging tape. Address and label the box and take it to your local post office or shipping company.