 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-10-04 16:39
I want a triple case for an uncommon set of instruments: A, B flat, and C. I use these all the time and don't want multiple cases.
My current case a reasonable, albeit tacky, solution. I got an industrial case of about the right size from a catalog ($80). A bedding shop cut several layers of high density mattress foam to fit in the case ($15). I layed out the three instruments, marked the foam, then cut out compartments for each piece with an Xacto knife. What I got is versatile, robust, and relatively light weight. It is not at all elegant, however.
There are people who make inexpensive road cases for sound equipment (my mixer case is strong and heavy, and was only $90). There must be someone who can make a lightweight clarinet case.
Does anybody know of a source that will make custom cases for less than it costs to get a new instrument?
Thanks,
Ralph Katz
Ann Arbor, MI
kb8zoy@compuserve.com
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Author: jmcaulay
Date: 2001-10-04 17:17
Ralph, ZERO Halliburton might help you. They manufacture aluminum cases with standard or custom inserts. I have nothing to do with this company except for having respect for what they did for one of my jobs in the past. Their stuff is really tough. Try http://www.zerohalliburton.com/ and go to Customer Service. Good luck,
John
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-10-04 18:48
The Wiseman cases are what I would consider "best-of-breed" cases and can go up to a quad case (bass, Bb, A, and Eb). See the Vendor section for contact info.
They're not cheap, but still meet your requirement of "less than cost of a new instrument", as long as you're thinking in terms of a good intermediate instrument (maybe $500 or so).
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-10-04 18:53
Ditto to the Zero Halliburton idea. I have several of their camera cases, they are practically indestructible and water resistant as long as the o-ring type gasket is kept lubricated and in good condition.
Aside from them, there is a Howard Weisman, in England, whom I contacted some time ago with a very similar request as yours: A quad case for an A, Bb, C, and Eb clarinets.
Here is the important part of his reply:
"The Quad case that you ask after costs £440 (apprx $630). Postage is
free on this case. This includes any three inserts of your choosing. Any
further inserts cost an additional £45 ($65) each. This case can be carried
by the handles, over the shoulder, or as a back pack. All straps, toolbags,
music pocket & accessories included."
I did not buy it, but then again, I did not buy anything else either. However, if you really want to protect valuable clarinets, the good cases are well worth the money you pay for them and I will buy that case as soon as I make up my mind to do so.
The reason good cases are so expensive is that they not only protect the instrument from being banged about, but the way they are designed and the materials they are made out of help to protect the instrument from changes in temperature and other ambient conditions, such as humidity, etc.
Not to say they are 100% effective in this, but they are, at least effective in helping to protect the instruments in those ways, otherwise any hard cover box with padding would work.
One thing you need to think about, both with the Halliburton cases and your home-made one, is that the open-cell foam from the bedding manufacturer that you used to line the case with, which is also what the Halliburton cases use, is literally a sponge and will absorb and retain water from atmospheric humidity. This being the case, it can create a condition you may not want to store or carry your instruments in, depending on the environment in which you use it.
Most camera equipment that is stored in my Halliburton cases is pretty much made of "stainless" materials, but I have had other items that were not stainless develop minor rust in a case lined with open-cell foam. Especially after having had them open in high humidity environments, then kept them closed for any period of time, therefore "trapping" the excess humidity inside the water seal.
If you care to contact him, Weisman is at: HWiseman@aol.com
You should be able to copy and paste the address.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-10-05 01:01
$5 more and you will have a case like my double. I did the exact same thing but then covered the foam and fit it all up nicely with a piece of velour. I used a deep royal blue... looks nice and professional.
The advantage is that the case really looks run of the mill and is less likely to be stolen than a ritzy custom job.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-10-05 01:23
When I'm carrying clarinets I don't just leave them laying around, wheather in a ritzy case or in a gunny sack! I carry them on airplanes and don't set them down on either busses or the subway, but the "ritzy" case does protect them better and from a greater variety of harmful things.
But if there is a worry about theft, they make cases with a metal strip all around it and also the handle, and it has a built-in shocking device, like the pocket "stunners" they sell for self protection.
You should see some would-be thief get frazzled and become disoriented after being nailed by one of those. It's funny as heck! They don't even know where it came from until they finally realize it sometime after the incident!
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-10-05 02:09
I inquired about repping for Wiseman. It's going to be MORE than $500 on a triple case. I would have guessed $900-1,000. The single case is offered @ $335 by IMS, I think. best, mw
ps I was told that Cavallaro (sp?) was doing some custom work. Unconfirmed, but worth a call as they do custom bags all the time.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2001-10-05 16:37
Thanks a lot to all of you for all of the input! Pardon this group reply...
jmcauley, Mark Charette, peter: In the past I have ruled out Wiseman because of cost, but it is still a possibility if I work enough weddings in the next year to pay for one. Their stuff is very well made, but also very expensive. I bought one of their reed cases just because it looks so classy. I am like a lot of clarinetists: CHEAP. The point of comparison is my double case, which looks nice, is light weight, durable, and cost less than $100. It is mass-produced though, and, against my usual modus operandi, I am steeling myself for sticker shock.
peter: Zero Halliburton does make excellent stuff - my favorite local camera store carries has their cases and they are all absolutely top notch. I would prefer something with a canvas cover, though, because I am a klutz and the case will take some knocks over time. On the other hand, the local tent and awning place made a friend a really great looking cover for her home-made bari sax case.
Terry Horlick: Thanks for the idea, it is one that I thought about, but haven't been able to find any plush. The chain fabric shops in my area don't seem to carry stuff with except with a really low napp. Specialty shops want me to order too much fabric. Any idea where I can get some (blue preferably) by mail?
peter, mw: I am not sure what would be stolen less, although I would guess this would not be an issue. Even on gigs, I keep the case with me if I am not using all three instruments. I did leave my double case in a restaurant once, but my favorite waitress held on to my "briefcase" for me. Some times you gets lucky. Theft is an emotional and financial issue. I have all-risk professional (inland marine) insurance. The C is special, but replacable with a 1 year waitl the B-flat is 10 years old and definitely replaceable; the A is a really special instrument. I don't leave the case with instruments in it anywhere out of my control.
mw: That's a good idea. My wife has a Cavallaro flute case that she really likes a lot.
Thanks again and Best Regards,
Ralph
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-06-02 01:26
Attachment: Case30.jpg (121k)
Here is an update to an old thread. Another web search came up with some more choices, and responses are not yet complete.
This company can makes guitar cases, but can also make cases for other instruments:
Walt Johnson
JOHNSON CASES, Inc.
921 Auburndale St.
Corona, CA 92880
(909) 736-1127
fax: (909) 736-8862
cell: (909) 821-2454
email: fibercases@aol.com
www.johnsoncases.com
A photo of my bare-bones home-brew case is attached.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-06-02 02:43
FWIW, most Balkan musicians carry whatever instrument they have in a plastic shopping bag.
I met an Albanian clarinetist who had an entirely (I think??) hand-made metal C clarinet (Boehm syst.) which he carried in a plastic shopping bag. Well at least he reportedly did the year before I met him when he had a cheap student-model Bb case for it...LOL
Katrina
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Author: Kalakos
Date: 2004-06-02 03:22
I was glad to see this thread. I made a couple of cases for myself over the years. A brief case with foam rubber interior, covered with velvet cloth (this is available as velvet or velveteen in most all sewing/material stores and I've also used it to make a couple of pistol cases). I also made a three clarinet case and one zournas out of a medium sized gun case.
But I'm tired of "home made" cases, even if they do look good. I'm currently carrying my A and C Buffet Alberts in a Buffet double case, and the Bb Albert Buffet in a separate A case (fits the Albert system better). I would like to find a case for three (but not pay $500 plus for it; could buy another klarino for that). I am checking out the site mentioned above. Thanks for the information.
By the way Katrina, a lot of the old Greek klaritzides used those old leather, lawyer style, brief cases; you know the kind you open from the top; kind of like a satchel. They just dump them in. Another Epirote guy I played with has a regular brief case; he dumps the parts in, including his cord and electronic pick up thing; all just mixed together! Terrible way to treat a clarinet! LOL.
Kalakos
John
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-02 13:43
BTW: I haven't seen a photo of anyone who made a case using Zero Halliburton? Would love to see a photo & would be interested to hear total cost.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-06-02 15:23
This case could be done in a Zero Halliburton the same way. No problem, except that the Zero costs 3 or 4 times what the Platt case cost. See www.zerohalliburton.com, although I couldn't find any unfinished cases during my brief search.
The Philadelphia Ballet toured to Ann Arbor with an orchestra for the last time in about 1982, and one of their clarinetists had his instruments in a Zero Halliburton case. I don't know his name, nor did I see the inside of his case.
Stewart Mennin, an Balkan player in Albuquerque, gave me the idea. He adapted a double case for his Albert Bb and G instruments with cut foam. Somebody told me that the best way to cut foam is with an electric carving knife, so I picked one up for $5 at a garage sale. Saving it for the next iteration of this case, should there be one.
An aside:
What I remember of the ballet is Swan Lake, Act II, with a 27-piece orchestra in the pit at Power Center. Not the grand, sweeping sound everyone expects. Instead a small, live, and immensely responsive orchestra, which I thought was just wonderful.
Regards
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-02 18:33
YES, the ZERO Halliburton is very pricey. It would seem that because of cost, one might be better off using a professional case company to finish inside. Like all things, DSFDF.
I think I would want things done as BAM does it - - - utilizing the full cushioning power of both sides (lid & lower part of case).
Post Edited (2004-06-02 21:01)
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-06-03 07:17
We have contacted BAM already in the past (I really like BAM Cases..) , they didn’t think that there was enough demand for Bb/A/Eb cases or Bb/Eb cases.
How wrong can they be??
I think that there are many Eb clarinetist over the whole world with the same problem. Maybe we just have to write a petition?
Eddy
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-03 11:52
Opus, I wasn't suggesting contacting BAM.
I was discussing how BAM cuts their INSIDE foam (on both sides), as opposed to using just 1-side of the foam to house the clarinet parts.
On BAM's newest Leblanc custom soprano case - the clarinst parts rest DEAD MIDDLE between top & bottom -- allowing a great deal of cushion. I will try & upload some photos of the new Soprano Case tonight. This is a brand new design
Post Edited (2004-06-03 11:55)
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-06-03 12:37
mw,
I know you wasn't suggesting to contact BAM mw, I just wanted to mention their reply. But maybe it is a start to let them know there is a demand for the cases.
I would like to see that photo of the newest Leblanc Custom soprano case..
Eddy
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