| Author | Message | ||
| dwmark
Junior Username: dwmark Post Number: 43 Registered: 1-2005 |
Need to travel with an extra long scale series bass and am thinking i'd like to pick up a flight case (custom, i assume). Would appreciate any directions/recommendations on where club members are getting them. dw | ||
| dfung60
Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 90 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hard to beat the genuine deal - Anvil cases. In fact, it's probably impossible to physically beat them up in any way - really superior materials and construction. Of course, cost reflects the quality (but are insignicant compared to the cost of your Alembic). I have a Series I Exploiter which came in custom-fitted Anvil, probably the case from the factory. It's super strong, beautifully fitted (the internal compartments are custom fitted for the DS-5 power supply), and ridiculously, insanely heavy. Get wheels. I'm not kidding. If your bass is relatively standard, then Anvil probably has a form for it already (neck length would be an easy adjustment). They will build a custom case from a tracing as well. There are lots of dealers; shop around for a break on price. I've had a Calzone flight case (I'm not sure they make instrument cases any more) and the general construction was OK (I believe this was an ATA-approved case, like the Anvil, many "flight cases" are not approved). I haven't used one, but I've read that people like the SKB Vault case. This isn't like their hardshell cases, it's actually very similar to golf club flight cases. It's ATA approved as well. It's a super strong plastic clamshell with wheels. You stick your bass in a gigbag, then stick the gigbag in the case. It seems like it might be worth looking into. For what it's worth, I have a Status bass that came in a Hiscox "lite flight" case. It's noteworthy. It ain't no Anvil, but definitely a lot more protection than a regular hardshell case. It looks like an Ovation or Martin acoustic plastic hardshell case, but is much stronger. However, the interior is customized, and I'm not sure that anything would exist that would accomodate your Alembic. Good luck, David fung | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 292 Registered: 3-2004 |
Try discount distributors in Holbrook Long Island. Good prices, choice of wood thicknesses, color and hardware. www.discount-distributors.com Danno | ||
| dwmark
Junior Username: dwmark Post Number: 44 Registered: 1-2005 |
thanks guys. looks great. i'll post my results. dw | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 209 Registered: 6-2002 |
If you are in the UK then I can personally recommend the Flightcase warehouse in Tamworth England. www.flightcasewarehouse.co.uk I guess they would also ship further afield too. I've had a few cases from them over the past year for the instruments I have been taking on tour around the world. They have more metal on them than most other flight cases i have seen and they are very strong. I have used them on quite a few international trips recently and apart from the usual knocks and scratches they are fine. Other band members cases not survived in the same way. Check them out. | ||
| bassplayer2106
Junior Username: bassplayer2106 Post Number: 47 Registered: 5-2005 |
The flightcase warehouse looks great.I need a new rack case for my amp. It's only about 10 miles from me. I'll have to pop over and have a look. | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 114 Registered: 12-2004 |
It was briefly discussed, but has anyone here tried the Zero Halliburton case? How about the Scott Dixon cases? I know that either will be a sturdy case, obviously, but I'm wondering what the guts are like, and whether it would be supportive enough. Will they protect my bass from a few bumps and bruises? Do they have enough padding to reduce shocks to the instrument? If you do have experience with either of these, I'd like to know what type of instrument that you put in it. I'd really like to buy one of these two cases, but "caveat emptor". Brad | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 432 Registered: 1-2003 |
I ordered Zero Halliburton cases for a couple of instruments. The interior is custom-cut for the instrument. If they don't already have a template for the instrument, you can make a tracing - or they will liaise with Santa Rosa, in the case of a new instrument. These cases are not indestructible. (I guess no case is.) Mine were air freighted to Australia from Santa Rose with new instruments inside. The boxes must have been hit by something heavy in transit, because there were small dings in roughtly the same place on each case. The instruments were fine. I have since chucked the case around a lot with no further damage - so I assume whatever caused the ding would certainly have shattered a regular hard case. Also the cutout in one of the cases and lid padding were such that the instrument could move slightly out of its recess. This was easily cured by putting some more padding inside the lid. Pros: Easily the best looking case I've seen. Great protection. Quality locks & hinges. Cons: "Variable" quality control re internal fittings. I also saw the Scott Dixon cases at NAMM. These also look great and appear to be very rugged. | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2004 |
David, Thanks for the review. That helps, since the inside was what I was worried about, and it sounds like it is okay, or at least easily remediable. Now I just need to figure out how to get a tracing (not too many 6-string balance Ks running around) and we're all set. Thanks again, Brad | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 433 Registered: 1-2003 |
FWIW one of mine was for a 4 string balance K. Santa Rosa may be able to supply a tracing if you don't already have the instrument - otherwise there's instructions on how to make a tracing on the website. |
