If the time has come to have your musical instruments stored away, for whatever reason, then there are a few things to be taken into consideration. It could be that you don’t get to play anymore, or maybe you need temporary storage while you are moving home. Regardless, it is important that your instruments are stored properly.
As you are already likely to be aware, musical instruments can be very expensive, so you would not want any harm coming to them while they are in storage. Even when in what might appear to be a safe place, an instrument can still get damaged if not stored correctly. Follow some straightforward rules, though, and you should experience no problems whatsoever.
Find a Safe Place – Self Storage Norwich
It may be obvious to many, but make sure that your instrument is stored in a place where it is safe from being knocked into. While your instrument may well have a protective case, that does not make it completely safe from harm. There is no safer place than a self storage box or container, with around-the-clock security and a lockable space that only you may access. Self storage Norwich based services are growing in popularity amongst many locals, for many different reasons, including musicians.
Protective Sheets and Casing
If you don’t have a hard case, then you should try to invest in one if you can to help keep your instrument secure. Not only can it help protect your instrument from knocks, it can also help protect against other hazards such as insects and UV rays.
Bear in mind also that while the soft lining of hard cases is intended to provide protection, they can cause harm in the long term. They can allow chemicals to cause damage to instruments, so you should use a protective sheet to helps keep the instrument safe.
Taking Apart
If your instrument is left in one piece for a long time, it could cause unnecessary strain on the individual parts. Joints, in particular, can become damaged through stress, while strings and skins can also cause additional tensions and stretching. Before putting your instrument into storage, separate all parts of the instrument and ensure that each piece is protected individually.
Remove strings and skins and keep those protected when in storage also. If you don’t separate the components then a tight string, for example, could apply enough force on an instrument to cause damage over time. One exception is with pianos as they are designed to be able to withstand the forces over time.
Make sure also that you thoroughly clean the instrument before placing it into storage, and that any potentially harmful cleaning products are completely removed.
Atmospheric Conditions
Damp and mould could cause a great deal of damage to instruments, even if they are in a hard case. Significant changes in temperature can also cause damage as they cause the materials of the instrument to continually expand and contract. Try to ensure that your instrument is located in a place that is dry and that is not exposed to significant fluctuations in temperature and other conditions. Again, a self storage unit will satisfy all those requirements all year round.
Maintenance
Just because your instrument is stored safely away, that does not mean you should just forget about it. From time to time you should take your instrument out of storage and thoroughly inspect it for any type of damage. You should also clean it using any products that will help protect the instrument from decay or fading over time. If you do notice any damage, no matter how small, then consider taking the instrument to an expert to make sure no further harm is done.
Storage Options
One common problem when it comes to storing instruments, especially larger instruments such as pianos and cellos, is space. Fortunately, there are options such as self storage units that will help to overcome the problem. In addition to solving the space issue, self storage units also provide the protection you need to be confident your instruments are safe.