{"id":10012,"date":"2015-02-02T11:31:31","date_gmt":"2015-02-02T17:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/storagecom-blog.local\/?p=10012"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:27:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:27:12","slug":"storing-trombone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stg-httpsblogstoragecom-staging.kinsta.cloud\/blog\/storing-trombone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store a Trombone in Self Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Patrick Galvan, Storage.com<\/p>\n

As a trombonist,\u00a0you\u2019ll rarely need to take your prized horn\u00a0out of your home or the studio. However, if you’re renovating your home, moving to a new home, or traveling for a performance, you might have to use a storage unit to temporarily\u00a0store your trombone. No matter how long you intend to store your trombone, be sure to clean it, put it in its case, and find the right storage conditions before moving it to storage.<\/p>\n

Cleaning Your Trombone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cleaning the\u00a0moving parts of a musical instrument\u00a0is important when maintaining its quality, and a trombone is no exception. If a trombone’s\u00a0slides, valves, or receivers get stiff due to lack of cleaning, the instrument won’t play as it should. In a worst-case scenario, the trombone’s parts\u00a0may even require significant repairs.<\/p>\n

\"Clean\u201cThe one area that\u2019s probably most important to thoroughly clean for extended storage would be the hand slide and tuning slide,” says\u00a0Kurt Witt, Director of Marketing for Woodwind & Brasswind<\/a> in Westlake, Calif.\u00a0\u201cA simple wipedown with a towel or polishing cloth should suffice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even if you’re only storing your trombone for a few days or weeks, it’s a good idea to clean the instrument. That way, when you take it out of self storage, it will be in the same condition you left it in.<\/p>\n

Storing Your Trombone in Its Case<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keeping a trombone clean is essential, but preserving its physical condition is imperative. If the instrument gets dented or deformed, it won’t play correctly\u2014and the only way to get it back into playing\u00a0shape is to repair or replace it, both of which are expensive options.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Rachel Rzymek, Marketing Coordinator for Compass Self Storage<\/a>, an instrument should always be stored in a\u00a0case to avoid damages.\u00a0“Brass instruments are more durable than string instruments,” she says. “But like [string instruments], they must also be moved and stored in their proper cases.”<\/p>\n

Each case is designed to hold its particular trombone model\u00a0and will ensure it remains safe.\u00a0\u201cTrombone cases tend to be catch-all places to store mouthpieces, mutes, cleaning supplies, etc.,” Witt adds.<\/p>\n

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“Nothing is worse than opening up your case only to find your mouthpiece has become dislodged from the holder and is now falling around inside the case and even damaging the instrument.”<\/p>\n

Kurt Witt, Director of Marketing for Woodwind & Brasswind<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You should also disassemble your trombone before storing it, as leaving parts\u00a0assembled and jammed into a case could lead to permanent damage. \u201cNothing is worse than opening up your case only to find your mouthpiece has become dislodged from the holder and is now falling around inside the case and even damaging the instrument,\u201d says Witt. For this reason, he advises making sure these pieces are \u201csecure inside the case before moving the trombone into long-term storage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding the Right Storage Environment for Your Trombone<\/strong><\/p>\n

Something\u00a0to remember when storing your trombone is how the climate affects the instrument. Obviously, as a musician, you know that heat and cold will\u00a0change the tuning of your\u00a0instrument. But what about the instrument’s metal? Though trombones are more resilient compared to most instruments\u2014especially wind instruments\u2014the brass components can still be damaged by heat and humidity over time, which leads to rust. Because of this, you may want to rent a climate-controlled storage<\/a> unit.<\/p>\n

\"Protect<\/a>A unit equipped with climate control keeps humidity levels low and temperatures in a safe range of\u00a055-85\u00b0F, protecting your instrument (and other sensitive storage items) from weather-related damage. Since rust is a concern with long-term instrument storage, it’s a good self storage\u00a0feature to have.<\/p>\n

Another reason why climate-controlled storage is smart with trombone storage is because you won’t have to wait for the instrument to warm up or cool down before playing it (Witt recommends this to anyone not using climate control).\u00a0In situations where you have a practice session<\/a> or performance right after grabbing\u00a0the instrument from self storage, climate control will ensure it’s ready to play.<\/p>\n

Also, when it comes to storing your trombone, unit size shouldn’t be a major concern, as a trombone can easily fit in a 5×5 unit or be stored with other items in a larger unit. “The area of the [storage space] isn’t so much an issue as stacking is,”\u00a0Rzymek says. “We highly recommend not stacking the instruments.”<\/p>\n

When you stack items in self storage, there’s always the possibility that they may fall and get damaged. Even if your trombone is in its case, a hard enough\u00a0fall could still damage it. If you need to organize your storage unit to get more space, consider setting up shelves\u00a0instead of stacking items. That way, you save room and reduce the risk of accidentally knocking your trombone over.<\/p>\n

If\u00a0you invest the time and care needed to keep your trombone\u00a0in good condition, whether it’s in short-term storage or long-term storage, you can maintain its quality for years.<\/p>\n

Watch the Video:<\/h2>\n
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