| Author | Message | ||
| tomhug
New Username: tomhug Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2008 |
I have an Alembic Series I from 1977. I bought it with what must have been the original (huge, heavy) flight case. The case is still structually sound, but the form-fitting foam has degraded to the point where it's just crumbling to pieces. My plan is to remove and scrape out the foam and install new foam, cut it to fit, and then cover it with some velvet material similar to what was originally installed. Has anyone done this kind of resuscitation to their case? I googled this and didn't find any promising links. Does anyone know of a good source for the best type of foam for this application in the USA? Is there a particular density or chemical composition that I should look for or avoid? Any tips about cutting out the cavity for the bass? Obviously I can use the existing foam as a guide, but I want to make sure I get a snug fit without creating any stresses on this bass. After searching, I did find a thread on TalkBass.com [http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222507] I'd appreciate any tips, links, advice, or snickers. Thanks, Tom | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 450 Registered: 6-2002 |
this might help Tom, Do you have any pictures?...love looking at the classic alembics. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1420 Registered: 10-2003 |
Many years ago when I toured Europe with a bass, I replaced the crappy foam in my behemoth Humes & Berg road case with foam from a mattress store. Laid the instrument on top and traced with a magic marker. Cut it out with a razor blade. My intent was to glue velvet cloth onto the resultant form-fitted slab, but I never got around to it. It worked quite well, was locally sourced and unbelieveably inexpensive. If I build a case for the Alembic (it's due), that's probably how I'll do the interior. John | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6773 Registered: 5-2002 |
There have been previous threads on this subject, so you may want to do a search of this site, maybe on the word "foam". While doing a google search of this domain is faster, I have found using this site's search tool, in the upper right hand corner of each page, to give more complete results. And let us know how you make out. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 6774 Registered: 5-2002 |
The thread that Elwoodblue cited above should be very helpful. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3157 Registered: 7-2004 |
If you want to make the insert yourself, the secret to cutting the foam is ... are you ready for this ... an electric carving knife! A new one is only around $20 bucks or so (you can get a cheapo, you don't need anything fancy) and often at flea markets for almost nothing. (A foam guy gave me this advice. I've tried it. IT WORKS GREAT!) Good luck Tom, and welcome to the club. Let us know how your project turns out. Bill, the guitar one | ||
| tomhug
New Username: tomhug Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2008 |
Thanks for the link, ElwoodBlue, and thanks for asking to see pix. I finally got some up on the showcase forum: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/53445.html | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 523 Registered: 11-2004 |
A furniture upholsterer may help you, they are very skilled at foam cutting and would replace the velvet liner too. May cost a lot but worth it in the long term. | ||
| dfung60
Advanced Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 344 Registered: 5-2002 |
The stuff that's disintegrating in your current case is probably polyester foam, which is the "normal" stuff for cases (and your furniture too). There are many densities - you want a fairly dense one for something like this. But it's pretty generic stuff. There's a different kind of very stiff foam which you see in newer hardshell cases - it's a "closed cell" type. Polyester is "open cell" - what you see when you look at it is a lattice structure but no walls for each "bubble". The closed cell stuff has the cell walls. It's usually firmer and I don't think I care for it as much. One good thing about this for the actively gigging musician is that this sort of foam should be less likely to pick up odors like cigarette smoke. There are more and less scratchy kinds of velvet. You may start to see changes in the appearance of the finish where the case touches the instrument with a scratchier velvet- this is just the normal abrasive/polishing effect of contact, but you probably will want to minimize this if you can. You don't need to worry about the specific materials too much. The catalyzed polyester finish on your Alembic isn't very chemically reactive. If you had a nitrocellulose finish (pre-CBS Fender or any better Les Paul since the start), you need to be very careful as these finishes are delicate. The gases released from certain types of foam can soften a nitro finish to the point that it will come off the instrument and stick to the case. I'm sure some of you remember when the tripod guitar stands first came out. Initially they had surgical rubber tubing on the support rods, but then a number of them changed to some sort of plastic tubing. If you set a Les Paul on one of these stands and left it overnight, the finish where it touched would be so soft that if you made the mistake of trying to wipe it, you'd see the raw wood underneath. I still regularly see those same melt marks on headstocks where they where hung on hooks in the store, destroying the finish! David Fung (Message edited by dfung60 on July 08, 2008) | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 526 Registered: 11-2004 |
Dfung...I want to know where you get all this knowledge!! are you the Wikipedia of the guitar world?? Having said that we all find your posts very useful..keep sending them in(maybe you should have your own forum in the Alembic Club AskDFung60.com | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 474 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm sure no one has noticed that the name David and the word 'Advice' are similar if you average the C and E to get D. ...I guess that's what too much acid and a little DySLexia will do. ...keep it up David, you are one of a Kind! kris |
