| Author | Message | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 202 Registered: 3-2004 |
I will be looking into getting a flight case made for my Spyder. Anyone have any recommends? Is there an "Alembic authorized" flight case maker? It's obvious that this bass won't fit into any standardized cases so...have to drop some coin into a customized one. Appreciate everyone's feedback. Happy Holidays! Mike Bisch | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 618 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey, Mike- Here are a couple of thoughts for you to consider, if they haven't already occurred to you. While it's probably more expensive than dealing direct, I bet Alembic can have one made for you through their dealer and nail the size/shape dead on. Certainly, quality would be beyond question. I believe there are different grades of flight cases as well, so you probably want to make sure you get something extra protective. You're going to have a lot of surface area on the sides with that big bass, so I wonder if you need some thicker plywood for the strength? Do those cases have any sort of internal support frame to support the sides in this cse, or is it all on the thickness/stiffness of the sides plus the foam? For that monster, you probably also want to consider one of those cases with wheels on the bottom. -Bob | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 204 Registered: 7-2004 |
Mike: I recently bought a new design flight case called "The Clam". It is basically a large sort of coffin-shaped box made of some new corrogated plastic material. The guitar (in my case an acoustic dreadnaught) sits in its regular case, suspended in foam, inside the Clam. I recently flew with it from San Francisco to Key West, Florida, with a plane change in Miami each way. The Clam worked great. No problems whatsoever, and I even packed my dirty clothes in the Clam on the way back to make more room in my suitcase for the presents we bought in Key West. They have Clams for electrics and basses too, though I think you just put the bass/electric in a custom foam pocket, without the regular case. The Clam is relatively inexpensive compared to the other cases I looked at (Calzone, Anvil, etc.) and MUCH lighter. They have a web site where the inventor has videos where he jumps on the Clam and other demos. He travels with his Taylor acoustic in the Clam in a gig bag only! I probably wouldn't use this for constant heavy touring, but for the occasional flight, I think it is a great product. Here is the link: http://casextreme.com Happy Festivus! Bill, tgo | ||
| senmen
Senior Member Username: senmen Post Number: 409 Registered: 7-2003 |
Mike, Guys, happy holidays and a happy new year also from me. Oliver (Spyderman) | ||
| poor_nigel
Senior Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 468 Registered: 7-2003 |
Linda.Tilson@CalZoneCase.com Linda Tilson Pro Tour Division 800-243-5152 ext 127 Hey Mike, Bob is correct on the different grades of cases made. The person listed above can save you about $100 off the price of a new Calzone 1/2" Touring Case (Under $400 working directly with Calzone). You will work with the actual builder of the case (Or Alembic, if your bass is still there - I cannot remember) and the guy I worked with did an exceptional job in how nicely the cases fit my basses. Bill points out a nice alternative. If you want the case just for flights, 'The Clam' sounds very inviting. The Touring case with a heavy bass in it weighs a ton and I use hand trucks to move mine around - I am serious. However, I want premium protection, so that is the price I pay for it. | ||
| dannobasso
Intermediate Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 192 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have used Discount Distributors on Long Island. They make Hybrid and other brands. I found their prices to be excellent. Doomtree vocalist Steve Zing deals directly with Calzone and they have also been outstanding. It never hurts to check out a few sources. I have my cases made in yellow so they can't be lost in a dark venue. Good hunting! Danno | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 101 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mike, I've been very happy with Keal cases (http://www.kealcase.com)out of Austin, TX. They have the Clam Shell case and others. But I've been lucky enough to walk in with my instruments and they make a template. Working with Alembic may be the best route. You won't suffer in quality. Gale | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 717 Registered: 9-2003 |
Mike, I would go with Calzone or another manufacturer outside of Alembic's supplier. No disrespect to Alembic intended, BUT my flight case from ASA (Alembic's supplier) was a min. SIX MONTH lead time item that seriously delayed the delivery of my Alembic. While the case is high quality, you're also looking at a non-discountable $600 or so (I paid $550 incl.shipping) because the thing is so heavy to ship. There is also a problem with lack of neck support for the instrument which has yet to be straightened out with ASA's new owners. | ||
| poor_nigel
Senior Member Username: poor_nigel Post Number: 472 Registered: 7-2003 |
It took Calzone two weeks to deliver my cases and shipping was $35 a piece. I probably spend 15 minutes going over measurements on the phone with the builder and sent in tracings of both basses I had cases made for. I went through Cases 2 Go (Some name like that) and them I had problems with. So I called the factory and dealt with them. I had no problems with Calzone at all, and I was given the contact info I listed in the above post as a direct person to do business with next time. This is all FYI. Good luck on which ever road you go down, and do have fun on the way. | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 105 Registered: 6-2002 |
My last case, made by Keal for an Azola Bug Bass, was only $400! It was 7 years ago though. Gale | ||
| dfung60
Junior Username: dfung60 Post Number: 50 Registered: 5-2002 |
My Series I Exploiter has what appears to be what was a factory Anvil. It is crazy large and insanely heavy because of the long length of the body and pointy headstock. It's the only instrument case that I have that has (and needs) wheels. For what it's worth, it's hard to beat the quality of Anvil. Don't forget to have them cut covered storage for the power supply, cords, etc. David Fung | ||
| jazzyvee
Intermediate Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 182 Registered: 6-2002 |
If you think the spider needs a specific flight case for it, then how about getting one for this Russian bass. I took this photo of the bass player in a Russian band called Terem Quartet when I was at Womad, Gran Canaria recently. It only has 3 strings and sounds very much like a double bass. It is played with a large leather plectrum about the diameter of a big mac. http://www.jazzyvee.freeserve.co.uk/WOMAD2004/pages/Dscf0079_jpg.htm | ||
| dfung60
Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 51 Registered: 5-2002 |
What is that Russian thing? A bass balalaika? It would have fit in the top of the flight case for their grand piano, except that their piano is round, right? :-) One of the few guys around for whom an Alembic Classico would be a radical improvement in portability. David Fung | ||
| lothartu
Member Username: lothartu Post Number: 85 Registered: 8-2003 |
Actually I don't think you have to have a flight case for that Russian bass. I'm pretty sure that if you have an amateur pilots license that you can just strap yourself in and fly the bass to wherever you're gigging. btw, why doesn't Alembic include jet engines and landing gear like those Russian bass makers do? - Jim | ||
| dgcarbu
Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2004 |
jazzyvee, Yeah man, I kinda go with Jim's interpretation of that Flying 3-string bass-like instrument. Seriously, that is a very interesting picture of a distant relative of the bass. Thanks for that. Darrell | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 1849 Registered: 9-2002 |
Yep ...they call it indeed a bass-ballalaika. I met a player here in Leuven who played it on the street in a trio together with a violin and an accordeon. They were playing the beautiful Allegro (Hmmm ..is it the allegro???) from " The Winter" by Vivaldi in an absolutely brillant way. To be honest: it is on my wishlist together with an upright. When I'll be a grown up of course! And a fretless six-string ...AND an acoustic bass-guitar 5 string ... Mmmmm ...I still have a lot growing up to do HA! Paul the bad one | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 204 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks everyone, these are all good suggestions for different case manufacturers. I did a little research on my own and came up with a company in North Hollywood called A&S Cases - they make ATA-quality flight cases for a local refurbisher of vintage Ampeg basses. I'd like to get one where the interior is custom-cut to my Spyder, so that would mean someplace local (I'm sure there's plenty other than this place in LA). I'm sure it will be a humongoid case but will be worth it (I'd probably put some small casters on it). I'm out of room in my truck as it is when I'm hauling my full rig around - this'll be fun! The Clam is also a viable option - Would be nice to just take the regular case around once the bass gets to where it's going. I may be on the road with The Who Show later in the year, so I'm looking to get this done when my tax refund comes in. Thanks again everyone! Mike | ||
| richbass939
Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 87 Registered: 11-2004 |
Mike, Does it look like the tour will include Colorado? Rich | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 205 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hey Rich, A few people have asked if we are playing Denver, as there is a strong Who contingent there. We may have to add this to the itinerary once it comes together! I'll let everyone know. Cheers, Mike | ||
| apdavis
Junior Username: apdavis Post Number: 27 Registered: 5-2004 |
Has anyone had any experience with Z Cases. http://www.z-cases.com/ http://www.rootinternational.com/shopexd.asp?id=12349 It's a company out of Florida, that might be an option for a heavy duty case. | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 229 Registered: 7-2004 |
omigod! I laughed out loud when I clicked on the "z-case" link and was sent to Zero Halliburton! I admit I am not familiar with their bass cases, but their attache cases were the drug dealer case of choice back in the 70's and 80's! I'm sure most will remember from some movie or TV show the image of the big time drug dealer walking through the airport with an aluminum attache case - that's Zero Halliburton. (I don't know if there is any connection with the Halliburton Corp. and co-president Dick Cheney). I have a large size Zero Halliburton attache case that was used in an experiment by the lawyer I worked for when I first got out of law school. He had a case where a plane crashed in a lagoon and shortly thereafter the locals found bags of quaaludes washing up on the beach. There was a Zero Halliburton case found in the water and the question arose as to the effect of the water on the case and potential fingerprints. The guy I worked for bought a similar case, put some rocks and stuff in it, and placed it underwater in the lagoon for several months. When the legal case was over, he gave it to me, a little scratched on the outside, but otherwise no worse for the wear. It was watertight and undamaged. I still use it today for my P.A. cables and other band-related stuff. If their bass cases are built anything like their brief cases, they are very solid. Bill, tgo | ||
| dgcarbu
Member Username: dgcarbu Post Number: 100 Registered: 6-2004 |
Bill, That's a interesting / funny story, and testiment to the "z-case", I was checking out that link as well. Darrell | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 365 Registered: 1-2003 |
The Z case is essentially an oversize Zero Halliburton attache case - as made famous in movies for transporting drugs (where the watertightness might be handy) or cash. The manufacturer is Zero. They are known as Zero Halliburton cases because Zero originally manufactured them for Halliburton to protect geological survey equipment and back in those days the Hallburton brand was seen as a positive. Since then the cases have been used in every hostile environment imaginable, including outer space. I recently bought two Z-cases and had them custom fitted for a couple of basses being built at Santa Rosa. Both arrived with small dings received during air freighting to Australia. This didn't worry me or my customer, who thought they added some street credibility and expected to give them more dings in due course. It could have been a problem with a picky customer who wanted them for show rather than go. Pros: Looks way cool, custom fitting, great protection, vendor responded professionally to concerns re internal finish on first case. Cons: Only one shell size - so bad luck Spydermen, inconsistent internal finish, shouts "steal me" - everyone has seen those films and will do the mental arithmetic on how much drugs, cash or WMDs might be inside. David B. | ||
| dnburgess
Advanced Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 366 Registered: 1-2003 |
Also check out www.scottdixoninc.com I saw these cases at the last NAMM and was very impressed. Seemed pretty indestructible - look almost as good as Zero - and the dimpled finish will probably wear well. David B. | ||
| davehouck
Senior Member Username: davehouck Post Number: 1150 Registered: 5-2002 |
(Message edited by davehouck on January 04, 2005) | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 206 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hm. More interesting options. Those Zero Halliburton cases look cool, too bad they don't have a standard size that would accommodate my Spyder. I just got a pass to the upcoming NAMM show, so I will be hitting up some case folks there as well. Thanks! Mike | ||
| dean_m
Advanced Member Username: dean_m Post Number: 375 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hey Mike, If you get a chance, stop by the Ampeg (St. Louis Music) booth while your at the show and say hello. I'm there Thur-Sun doing my thing. In fact anyone going to the show, come on by. Peace, Dino | ||
| lbpesq
Advanced Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 235 Registered: 7-2004 |
Mike: I recently spoke with Bruce Lamb, the "Clam" guy. I think he mentioned that he's going to have a booth at the NAMM show. By the way, he is a very nice guy and provides EXCELLENT customer service. I wrote him with a suggestion about the velcro seal on the end of the case and he called, said they had redesigned it to get rid of the velcro seal (a definite improvement) and sent me a new case and a call tag to send back the old one - NO CHARGE, not even shipping costs!!!!! You might want to check it out if he's there. Bill, tgo | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 207 Registered: 3-2004 |
Dino and Bill TGO: Thanks for your suggestions. I'll be there on Saturday, so Dino, I will definitely stop by and say hello. I have to say that I played through a full SVT the other day...pretty rumbling stuff although I still like my Trace. And Bill, I will stop by and talk to Bruce Lamb The Clam Man. And of course I will be spending PLENTY of time at the Alembic booth! Thanks! Mike |
