 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mike S.
Date: 2007-01-29 01:11
Attachment: cl case 001.jpg (497k)
Attachment: cl case 002.jpg (498k)
Attachment: cl case.jpg (526k)
I went to my local fabric store and got some foam, and fabric. This was the results FOR UNDER $10! I got a briefcase, and thought a combo case would be great since highschool can be a pain to carry up to 3 cases a day for band/orchestra practices. So, I decided to make this case and share it to see what everyone thought. I also have a foam cutout for clarinet,flute,and picc, but didn't have enough fabric to cover it with!
-Mike
Recorders(SSAT), piccolo/flute/alto flute, oboe, clarinets(Eb/Bb/bass), saxophones(SATB)
Post Edited (2007-01-29 01:16)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-01-29 02:08
Mike,
Nice work!
There are some other interesting threads on this topic. Do a quick search for you more background on what others have experienced. There are a few things to watch out for with silver-plated keys and the foam as I recall.
I'm a great believer in this kind of thing. I'm a jazz doubler and have a nice toolbox with wheels and a pull-out handle in which I put:
1. drummer's folding throne to use on long gigs,
2. a stand that hold any 4 of a tenor, alto, soprano, flute, or clarinet
3. my clarinet case
4. my flute case
5. a couple of fake books
6. an extra reed and mouthpiece kit
7. odds and ends.
I have two large rings on top and use bungees to lash a sax case on top and carry the other sax in my free hand. About $30 at Home Depot and a few parts that were around the basement.
HRL
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-01-29 05:38
Looks good, although I think one of the most important things on a clarinet case is back straps, or at least a shoulder strap.
Post Edited (2007-01-29 05:48)
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-01-29 10:03
Looks pretty nice. I've been thinking of the same project to hold 2 or 3 Bb clarinets. When I go out sometimes I don't know whether I need one instrument or another to fit in on certain gigs. And I've always wanted to bring a couple just in case (I also usually have 2 or 3 saxes with me too).
I don't use back straps on it as I normally put my instruments on one of those foldable luggage carriers.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-01-29 10:22
I've got my old Selmer double case shell which I'm thinking of turning into a combination case for a flute, oboe and clarinet. The flute will have to go at the front as that's too shallow there for an oboe or a clarinet.
But it's still in the thinking stage - I've got the materials to make the inserts from and the fabric covering, but it's just getting round to the 'doing' bit that's taking a long time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-01-29 11:20
Good job, Mike S.! I've relined several old cases that were so raggedy and stinky that washing them out wasn't good enough. I've done a couple of cases "from scratch," too, and think it's well worth the trouble. I think those fine professional cases are worth what they cost; I just don't have the money--but I do have the scratch for the yard sale briefcase and the fabric and other materials. Also, new pro cases don't work too well for old Albert system clarinets that often come "naked" because their original cases died and went to the dump, I guess--the old clarinets often came in saddle-leather pouchettes that deteriorated and didn't protect the instruments well in the first place (no hard sides). Well, you've inspired me to get to work on the recorder case I'd intended to make from an old briefcase. Right now, I've got tenor, alto, soprano and sopranino recorders in padded bags in an old trumpet case with the original guts pulled out. (I got the trumpet case for free, out of the dumpster after a flea market.) A fitted case would be much better and the briefcase has been sitting out in the shed for about a year. Time to get to work....
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-01-29 12:42
"Well, you've inspired me to get to work on the recorder case I'd intended to make from an old briefcase."
What's wrong with rolling them all up in some bubble wrap and then bunging the lot in a carrier bag? That's what I carry my Baroque oboes around in!
Only kidding! Though I do need a case for my Baroque oboes. I do know a bassoonist that carried her Baroque bassoon around just wrapped up in bubble wrap - but even a gig bag such as a Ritter can be bought relatively inexpensively off eBay that will take any type of basoon - French, German and Baroque, has a board for the crooks and loads of pockets for storage of everything else a bassoonist needs to lug around with them - except for the stands.
As brief cases are pretty cheap to buy (or for free if found or donated), even with combination locks, they're a good start to make a case from - and with recorders there's hardly any mechanism to account for when making the inserts for each of the joints. Fill the lid with sponge covered in velvet (or stick it onto the inside flap so you can store music in behind it), but make the compartments out of higher density foam cutting a very narrow slot at the ends of each section so the velvet can be pushed down into these so there aren't any creases, and glue the fabric down with spray adhesive - then use hot glue (with a glue gun) to stick the lot into the case.
I'd also take the metal stay out and put a piece (or two) of ribbon there instead to stop the lid from opening back too far as the metal stays do take up room inside the case, and the instrument compartment will need some cut-aways either side so the metal stays will fit once the lid is closed. And replace the rivets with new ones (or domed metal studs) to fill the holes left at the sides when the stays have been taken out.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-29 21:36
Yes, nice job, Mike. I've always felt that the old cases that had a handle loop on the bottom as well as the top half made a lot of sense since they helped prevent accidental spilling of the contents.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Mike S.
Date: 2007-01-30 01:04
Yeah, thanks. It has actually made me decide to go to goodwill or others stores like that and make more combo cases with various inst. combos for different settings(flute,picc. and cl. for band and pepband/clarinet and oboe for orchestra,etc.)! I also added a removable piece of foam that goes between the top lid and above the clarinets to hold them in place better(the clarinet in front tend to have the upper joint hit the lower joint next to it. The foam solved the problem!
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2007-02-02 02:21
If you could explain a little more about the basics of how to do this, Mike, I might be able to do it. I have a suitable briefcase, and think it's a great idea.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-02-02 12:08
Do a search for Terry Horlick on this BB and his work with case conversions. Some of the links may be dead but he is the master!
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Author: Mike S.
Date: 2007-02-03 01:37
Basically, I went to Joann Fabric(spelling?) and first got a foam piece measuring 2"x15"x17", and put it entirely into the briefcase. I also made sure to put as much of it in as possibly. Then, I took out the foam, measured the parts of my clarinets(they are both Bbs) and then used an exacto knife to sculpt out where the parts would go. I made the 'sections' that held each part a tad bit bigger than the actual joints(and bells). That way I could easily insert the fabric I later got without the fabric being too tight and not letting the parts "sink in" to their designated slots. At the same time, I made the clarinet slots in the front half accomodating to my oboe, as well(It's my school's but it works for now). Originally, the front "pouch" that holds my cleaning cloth and LaVoz reed holder wasn't suppose to be there. It just "formed" it's way in. In the back section, I cut out another slot to hold more reeds( the ones that I adjusted to my likings) that holds about 9 of them. And in front, I cut yet another notch to hold my mouthpiece. Hopefully this doesn't sound too confusing. It was(to me) very economical to make and thought it would be of great use in my next couple of years in high school since I never know ahead of time which horns to bring when! I ended up getting the briefcase from my dad, and the foam was $4 apiece( I bought 2) and I got 1.5 yards of the fabric for around $5. That's pretty much the basics of how I made it!
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