 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tara
Date: 2008-07-10 20:32
After lugging my heavy double case around ClarinetFest, I'm thinking about upgrading. I am interested in the bam cases, but unfortunately didn't look at any up close while at the Fest. It looks like the "trekking" case definitely has more room in the outside for music and accessories, but I am curious if anyone here has the "extra light". Can you fit any music in that pocket? Or a small metronome and tuner? I am leaning toward the "extra light" as long as I'm convinced the storage will be sufficient.
Any and all opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Tara
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Author: xarkon
Date: 2008-07-10 21:36
Well, I just got back from ClarinetFest, where I carried around my Bam Trekking double case.
I got the case because both my new Selmer Bb and A's came in single cases. Weird, but that's what happened. When the Bam case arrived, my reaction was "well, that's much bulkier than I thought it would be". As in - I wasn't sure that the Bam case was going to be the solution. (My old clarinets are in a double pochette case inside an Altieri bag, so that's my reference.)
But there is a lot behind that bulk. In particular, the foam padding inside is dense and deep, and hold the pieces pretty securely. (I say "pretty securely" because tightness of barrel fit in the case will depend on barrel length and design.)
There is room for two barrels per instrument. Only one mouthpiece slot but the storage tray can fit extras. As it is, I have a 2nd mouthpiece, reed cases, swab, cork grease tub, and pencils in the tray without a problem.
The external sheet music pocket (on top) is plenty large. I had a few books in there plus music folder for the clarinet choir, and was able to fit in other books I bought at fest, plus the program guide, without any problem.
The back pocket has a double-zip arrangement. That is, there is an external zipper which yields an expanding nylon pocket (full size of the case) with a 2nd zipper. Threw more stuff in the back when it was needed, carried my metronome back there, and so on.
The case has top and side handles and a single shoulder strap, plus backpack straps that tuck away hidden into another pocket when not needed. I used the shoulder strap in moving through airports but switched to the backpack straps in walking back and forth from the hotel to the university at ClarinetFest. It's pretty comfortable on the back; this would be affected if you had odd-shaped pieces inside the back pocket, though.
Overall, I like the case better than I thought I would. It's really not heavy at all. Certainly lighter than my computer briefcase. A couple of additional pros and cons:
Pros
1. No worries about damage to the instrument inside this case. Bam did an excellent job of surrounding the instrument with foam and velvet.
2. I got caught in the rain walking back to the hotel. Everything inside the case remained dry.
3. The case allows complete disassembly of the instrument, i.e. bells do not stay attached to the lower joint.
Cons
1. The double case doesn't balance quite so nicely in an open position on one's lap while assembling or disassembling an instrument. This is pretty annoying, really, but I don't think I would ditch the case on this factor.
2. There are a couple pieces of thin nylon (taffeta or similar) that are used in the case. One is in the back pocket mentioned above. Another is in a short internal strap that keeps the case lid from opening more than 90 degrees from the bottom. Both have been snagged by the zippers, and it required some irritating fiddling to get the zippers unstuck. This can be avoided just by being careful not to rush when zipping or unzipping the case or pockets.
While I sniffed around ClarinetFest for a potential pochette case (to use with my Altieri bag), I really didn't see anything useful - and some of the alternatives are really expensive - just as much as the Bam case or more Also, the pouchettes usually have more limited storage - you HAVE to have a bag - and require that the bell stay on the lower joint, which is not as nice in terms of helping that joint to dry out.
I remarked to a friend that it would be interesting to see the camera bag manufacturers - LowePro, Tamrac, etc. - get into this business. They're used to designing flexible solutions to carrying precision instruments, so it would be nice to see what they cooked up for the musical instrument world. (For what it's worth, the search for the perfect bag drives photographers nuts - most have several.)
Hope this helps.
Dave
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Author: William
Date: 2008-07-10 22:00
A friend of mine who plays second with the Wi Chamber Orchestra has a Bam extra light and is able to carry all of his orchestral music plus other essentials that we clarinetists have need for. My experiance, after having Leblanc double case with an Altieria cover is that the larger the case, the more "junk" I seemed to carry with me. I now use a Yamaha soft-side double case that makes me carry only what I REALLY need for the gig. If I didn't have this compact, lightweight case, I would probably get a Bam extra light as it seems to do the job for my Chamber Orchestra friend. Fits on your back just like a backpack for hiking which is neat if you travel by bicycle or Harly Hog. Hope this helps a bit.
Btw, I share the same opinions regarding the Bam "trekking" model. Many of my other clarinetist friends have them and they all seem bulky, awkward to open on your lap and just plain, "too much". But, they are well built and will protect your clarinets through most natural diasters that may occure. For me, as regards clarinet cases, I go by the old rule, *less is more*.
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Author: Tara
Date: 2008-07-10 22:33
Thank you both for the info. I also currently have the double pochette in an altieri bag. I foolishly ordered it without backpack straps several years ago, so that's part of the problem. I thought my shoulder was going to fall off in KC! I agree with William about the carrying too much stuff around just because I can. I don't really need all the stuff I'm lugging around. I'm glad to hear your friend can fit music and things in the extra light... That may be the way to go since I can always go back to my "big" case and bag if I need a ton of stuff on a special occasion. Sounds like the extra light will work for my everyday needs.
Tara
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2008-07-11 09:53
I've just bought a BAM trekking a couple of weeks ago and I am very pleased with it. If necessary, I can even get a music stand in the expanding pocket and I would much rather have all my gear in one package, albeit a fairly large one, than have to carry another bag for this. I was previously using a "backpack only" type case (not sure of make and model) and I found that, as I travel mostly by public transport and the case was a bit of a nuisance to take off, I tended to stand around with it on my back which is definitely not good for the back whereas with the BAM I can just put it down if I carry it by the handle or shoulder strap but I still have the option of back-pack too.
Vanessa.
PS - one other advantage that nobody has mentioned yet, these cases come in a great range of colours - mine is red!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-11 18:15
I solved my problem years ago by buying the smallest, lightest case I could find and an Altieri bag with back straps, it’s great. I can put whatever I need into it and carry it on my back that distributes the weight evenly. I often carry my double case as well as my bass, that’s a Wiseman case, and I have very little problems carrying them. My double case is an inexpensive Pro Tech case. It needed a little tweaking to keep my clarinets tight so I used a piece of Chamois and thumbtacks to keep it in place. Well worth the small trouble. I not only saved hundreds of dollars, but I also have a small, light case with plenty of room for accessories but also have a bag I keep it in to carry a ton of stuff, if I need to. I like to carry a lot of equipment when I teach so it’s really the only way to go for me. Also, the straps have never broke or torn. The Pro Tech came with a shoulder strap but I took that off since I carry it in my Altieri bag. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
(Listen to a little Mozart, live recording)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-07-12 18:50
I've had both types and recommend the trekking because the extra-light version was not flat on the bottom and tended to roll in my lap. Also, when you unzipped it there was a danger of dumping the clarinet out. That actually happened to me while opening it on the chair next to me and it was a very costly repair. The tech guy didn't ever get the keys back the way they were to begin with, so I ended up selling it and buying a new clarinet. Now I stick to the ones that are flat on the bottom.
Also, as mentioned, you can carry a lot more things in the trekking style. The ultra-light allowed enough room for a couple of extra barrels and a tuner, along with a few extra reeds, but the little pocket is just that...little.
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