| Author | Message | ||
| garth4664
Intermediate Member Username: garth4664 Post Number: 129 Registered: 10-2008 |
I have just finished bringing my second Series bass to Beijing from Hong Kong in its Anvil case. It's insanely heavy with the case alone in excess of 17kg (without bass). It barely fitted in the taxi and I had to bribe the guy with additional fare in order to get him to take me. Why is no one making a real flight/gig case (light and protective and strong). There have been good attempts by SKB (their new roller design) and Hiscox, England, but I have still heard horror stories about basses being damaged in these due to internal fasteners if the foam inside moves. The criteria as I see it is pretty simple: 1. build a case from plastic composites with fibres in them so that they are not prone to cracking. 2. make the opening on the end of the case instead of splitting it in the traditional way. The usual way of opening a case looks good for presenting the instrument but makes the case very weak. 3. Make sure that there are no protruding fasteners or stress raisers in the case that could damage a bass if the foam inside happens to move. 4. Make it the shape of a bigish bass (like a series 1 long scale), not the shape of a rectangle (why do case makers do this???) 5. Put many latches on it, so if one opens by accident it does not matter, and you have to really want to open the case to open it. 6. fit a comfortable handle where the bass balances. 7. make it as small as possible on the outside. 8. make it as light as possible. 9. make it water resistant/seal it up properly. We are in a world where you can buy a fully functional bicycle that weighs 4.2kg - why do we put up with these lame excuses for cases? Quick question. If I start a company here in China that can build carbon fibre and kevlar cases to suit your Alembic, and it costs about $400 US upon arrival in America or your home country how many of you would be interested in buying one? I want to solve my problem, but if others have the same issues then it makes sense to solve the problem for everyone. Thoughts, ideas, questions? Does anyone know of a good case builder? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4529 Registered: 7-2004 |
Check out Calton Cases in Canada. They meet most of your criteria, though I don't know if they have a mold long enough for a long scale Alembic. They're not cheap. I have one for my Further. As for a carbon fiber or kevlar case for $400? Sign me up, I'll probably take half a dozen! Bill, tgo | ||
| tbrannon
Senior Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 1216 Registered: 11-2004 |
Garth, I'd buy one if you could meet the criteria above. I'd be curious to see the design you have in your head. I don't see how opening the case at the end and then sliding the bass out would be as functional, but perhaps I'm not thinking what you're thinking. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2075 Registered: 6-2002 |
There was a company in the UK called Scott Dixon cases who made cases from aircraft grade aluminium for fender and other usa guitar makers. They are very light and strong. here is a link: http://www.myspace.com/dixoncasesltd Jazzyvee | ||
| gregduboc
Senior Member Username: gregduboc Post Number: 456 Registered: 11-2008 |
Count me in! Greg | ||
| afrobeat_fool
Advanced Member Username: afrobeat_fool Post Number: 231 Registered: 7-2009 |
I would take 2, maybe 3. Bring it. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2669 Registered: 10-2002 |
I'd take 2. Would they be custom built to fit each instrument? Graeme | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 758 Registered: 10-2006 |
Martin offers a carbon fiber case; it costs a hair under $3K. If you could do it for $400, I imagine you could sell them. As to the shape, flight/road cases aren't designed for carrying, they're designed for shipping; having spent way too much of my life loading and unloading trucks, I can assure you that rectangular is better - it can easily be fit into a load in a stable position, while guitar-shaped can't be, and thus is likely to move, and movement is where damage comes from. Your idea about an end-opening case is interesting, and you make good points in favor, but it seems to me that sliding the istrument in lengthwise has some drawbacks: you would, of neccesity, be inserting it head first, thus leading with the weakest part of the instrument; it seems to me that a space loose enough to accept the instrument in this way would be looser than the traditional clamshell opening, thus allowing the dreaded movement; the tuning machines & string ends sliding against the foam would soon destroy it. If you can get it going, it would definitely be a worthwhile project - close to flightcase proctection with close to gigbag weight, at that price? What more could you ask? Peter | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 2670 Registered: 10-2002 |
regarding the end-opening, I envisage some sort of drawer arrangement where a padded insert can be slid in and out on rails. Graeme | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1206 Registered: 5-2009 |
I will concur with Peter ( cozmik cowboy ) i too have spent have spent too much time in the logistics of equipment and material handling and what Peter wrote makes 100 % sense to me as far as maintaining an unshifting compact load. Regarding the end-opening case ; I think that a traditional clamshell is the way to go. This basic design will have the least amount of mechanical complications. The last thing that you want on a LARGE multi - million $ tour world is for the road crew/instrument tech not to able to get the instrument out of the case because of a "jammed /stuck"mechanisim. Anything that can go wrong on these ordeals will_____ at the worst possible time . Last minute frenzies are NO FUN, I have seen too many. All in all ___ I think that this case idea is awesome . Like stated before in this thread; "close to flight-case protection At close to gigbag weight" I think that a good target would be too surpass ATA 300 specs; http://www.anvilcase.com/info/ataspecs.html Wolf . | ||
| toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 144 Registered: 9-2009 |
I use Guardian Featherweight Electric Guitar Case for local travel (Like when it's my turn to walk across the street) over to my guitar friend's house... (under $80.00) I love this case, for it only weighs about 4-lbs of fish, and yet it's a hard case without all that metal.   I also like this GUARDIAN Hard shell cases (shown below) for major travel situation, and when someone else might be required to handle my basses. Emphasis on "required" and thus the normal protocol ensues: Insurance; Tag Number; Chains of Custody; and everything else, to assure all liabilities are to my complete satisfaction.   (Under $160.00) Peace and Love, Hal- | ||
| toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 145 Registered: 9-2009 |
Here's an option that still put's you under 40-lbs. This option is clever, if you happen to be stuck at the gate, and can't "carry-on" your guitar on a commercial airline. If you're stopped, and you have the hard shell case with you, just put the soft case (bass encapsulated) into the reinforced hard-shell case and everything is cool. Peace and Love, Hal-  (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 11, 2010) | ||
| toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 146 Registered: 9-2009 |
The best solution I could think of, is to enclose your bass in a case object, and while the bass is inside, it's held by tension straps which suspends the bass completely from its own weight, working almost like a hammock, thus preventing the bass from touching the inner walls of the case. The tension could be adjusted for a variety of sizes and shapes. If the case is knocked around, the impact is absorbed and released evenly (lessening the impact...). Where can I buy such a case? I remember a school project, we were assigned to build a supportive structure for a raw chicken egg, that would withstand the shock dropping it above 5 floors. I seen some wonderful unconventional ideas that worked successfully. Peace and Love, Hal- (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 11, 2010) | ||
| masterofmanystrings
New Username: masterofmanystrings Post Number: 9 Registered: 5-2010 |
... Since this is a good idea, and clearly many people are interested, I'll share a brief idea here. I agree with the concerns about the concept of opening a case "the long way"; but howz about this thought: what about a case opening IN THE MIDDLE... to either side? Let me clarify, in case this isn't clear. You sit down & put the case in front of you, lengthwise going side-to-side; you undo let's say two latchs (which run from side to side on the short side) and then probably 2 more latches on each side (10 latches total) and then lift up the left side and lift up the right side, and lift up the instrument. Obviously there would be pro's and cons, but this seems like a way to achieve your objective while also circumventing the concerns others voiced here. The downside would be that more hinges & latches would be required. But, structurally, it would be very sound. This would also allow you to open up just one side at a time... though it's not clear what advantage if any that would offer. But it would make it impossible for the case to open unless BOTH the middle/center latches were released, and also both sides of latches on both sides... if you get the thought. Under such a system, a lock would probably logically belong either between the two center latches or on both of them. It would probably be fairly simple to create something to deal with that. Anyway, perhaps this idea may be of value. | ||
| toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 147 Registered: 9-2009 |
I don't know, but I like the idea of opening my case like one does; when they open up a treasure chest... I smile every time I opens my case. Aesthetics play a major part too, I guess. Peace and Love, Hal- | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1209 Registered: 5-2009 |
Me too Hal ! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4530 Registered: 7-2004 |
Wolf & Hal: Check out casextreme.com, and their product: The Clam. It's quite inexpensive and supports your instrument suspended in air with foam C clamps. It really works quite well, check out the videos on the web site. I used to have one for my acoustic before I got my Calton case. The only downside to the Clam Is it's size. I don't know for sure, but it used to be that it was oversize for the airlines requiring a $100 fee. I used to check it curbside, slip the guy $20, and I was never charged the fee. One good thing is that even though the Clam itself is big and cumbersome, once you get to your destination, you have your regular case or even gig bag to tote you instrument around. Bill, tgo | ||
| garth4664
Intermediate Member Username: garth4664 Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2008 |
Thanks for all the posts. These are all good suggestions but I think we deserve better from our case makers. I have a few ideas now on how to get the job done right. I'm going to see what can be done here manufacturing wise and I'll keep you posted. Our Alembics deserve better. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1210 Registered: 5-2009 |
Bill , cool videos! Reminds me of this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_fKppH8B0g&feature=related | ||
| s_wood
Advanced Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 315 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here's another vote for The Clam. I use The Clam when I fly with my ABG. I put the bass in its hardshell case, and the case goes inside of The Clam. I routinely ship The Clam via checked baggage both to and from Philadelphia International Airport, which many seasoned travelers know has taken baggage abuse to an amazingly high level. I've never had a problem One good thing about The Clam is that it doesn't weigh very much. It is, however, huge as it it meant to hold an instrument inside of a hardshell case. Another bad thing: it looks weird, and I often draw nervous looks from airport security people when I pull it out of the car at curbside. I suppose the weird look is also a a good thing as it doesn't scream "Musical Instrument - Steal Me." | ||
| toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member Username: toma_hawk01 Post Number: 148 Registered: 9-2009 |
That's a great case Bill... I wonder why they have not built a great case with "Space-Age" memory foam, like the kind people use for beds. Man, that thing is really soft and it contour's any sold object shape, then it reshapes to its original static shape, after the object is removed. I can imagine a case with just two flat thick slabs of foam within the interior of the case (on the top, and the bottom half's) just sandwiches the bass or guitar's shape (contouring) to a "T". Theoretically, the case could be large enough to hold a bass, but the memory foam could encapsulate any size guitar too. Yeah, if I was in the case game, I would think deeply on something of a thick memory foam solution. Peace and Love, Hal- (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 12, 2010) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4531 Registered: 7-2004 |
Wolf: The Timex video sure brought back memories. Especially of 1974. I remember when the SLA was cornered in that house in L.A. in the shootout with the police. It ended with the house burning down. I was living in the L.A. area at the time. The next day on the local news, they showed the charred remains of the SLA house. The reporter bent over, picked a watch up out of the ashes, and showed it still working! I thought at the time it would make a great Timex commercial: "Hi, I'm John Cameron Swayze. We strapped this Timex watch to the wrist of this radical revolutionary. Now we're putting the revolutionary in this house, surrounding it with cops, shooting through it, lighting it on fire ... now it's 8 hours later, everyone's dead, BUT THE TIMEX TAKES A LICKING AND KEEPS ON TICKING!" hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1211 Registered: 5-2009 |
Bill. I remember when the SLA hit the Hibernia bank on Noriega St. with Patty Hearst in San Francisco. I was walking home from school carrying a huge Euphonium in it's case (tenor tuba). The police had closed down several blocks and I had to take a huge detour to get home. The case for the Euphonium really looked like a Giant Clam Shell !! (Message edited by sonicus on August 12, 2010) (Message edited by sonicus on August 12, 2010) | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 703 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'd be interested. There are some good options out there already, like the aforementioned Calton, but they tend to be pricey. Also check out http://www.carbonfibercases.com/, but they don't make bass cases yet. I do prefer a traditionally opening case. I would also like room in the case to store an extra set of strings (my only complaint about my Calton) as well as the strap, some picks, etc. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2079 Registered: 6-2002 |
The carbon fibre cases look pretty tough. Shame the demo's didn't show an electric guitar. The extra weight would have been interesting to see how it would stand up. But i guess carbon fibre is pretty strong stuff. http://www.compositesengineering.com/pages/case_studies/celtic_bass/bass_guitar.html Jazzyvee | ||
| ttc
Junior Username: ttc Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2009 |
I had a beautiful, reasonably light case made for my medium scale Series I by Calton Cases in Canada. Their molds are too small to make one for a long scale series I. The Calton case is much nicer and sturdier than the standard issue wood & vinyl case, and far lighter and smaller than an anvil. I am very happy with it so far. Hope this helps. TTC | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1470 Registered: 9-2002 |
I wandered into a local music store, and happened to walk past the cases. I'm tired of the big hardshell cases, but bags are too nerve wracking to carry, trying to make sure I don't bump into anything. The 'in-between', zipper cases have caught my eye, just never found the right one for me. I was very interested to see these guys had one of the new Reunion Blues 'RB Continental' zipper cases, and I was very impressed. Will have to take my axe back over there to see if it fits. I've always been a big RB fan (they used to make the BEST strap for heavy instruments ever!). Check one out if you run across one. They have quite an amazing video about them on their website(www.reunionblues.com). J o e y | ||
| garth4664
Intermediate Member Username: garth4664 Post Number: 134 Registered: 10-2008 |
Strange twist of fate for me. My flat in Hong Kong flooded last week due to a burst pipe while we were in Beijing. Fortunately I had just the week before moved the Alembics to Beijing. My wife's black mint 77 telecaster deluxe was damaged along with her 335  The guitar cases practically disintegrated after being exposed to water for a few days and obviously let the water into the guitar in the first place. I'm preparing designs that I think will achieve everything from my first post. Someone needs to fix this for the sake of our instruments. |
