 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tux
Date: 2011-06-01 04:08
Hello, haven't posted here in many years, but I'm hoping to glean some knowledge from you all. So I'm an amateur player with a Buffet E11 Bb in its original hard brown briefcase, which is fine and still in good condition. But I travel a lot, for months at a time, taking buses or trains and carrying a huge backpack, and I've been hesitant to bring my clarinet along. It just takes up too much real estate in my pack, and every square inch and ounce counts. I could carry it separately, but then you have the potential for theft. Don't really want to advertise that I have something that expensive with me.
I did a search on here for light cases and found several that look nice and little, but I've never had a soft case. Is the foam strong enough to protect it from getting squished inside a full backpack? The Protec MAX looks nice, as does the Protec Slimline PRO PAC, but the weight information is different depending on the website. Amazon says MAX is 2 pounds and Slimline is 7 ounces. But musicarts.com says Slimline is 1.75 pounds and doesn't give any information for MAX.
So do you know of a case that is as compact as possible, as light as possible, and won't squish my horn? Does this magic case exist?
Thanks,
Kimberly
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-06-01 08:10
I'd go for the Yamaha-style compact case.
Doesn't get much more compact than these. (They exist also in a "generic" version and cost roughly 30$)
--
Ben
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2011-06-01 13:59
A pouchette case for a single clarinet would fit in a backpack. I'd think the Yamaha case, pictured above, would as well.
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2011-06-01 19:46
I believe it does exist. I bought an ultra compact case from Bass Bags (see http://www.bassbags.co.uk/shop/3_4/woodwind_instrument_cases/clarinet_cases/compact_single_clarinet_case.htm).
It's not much larger than some flute cases, but just takes a Bb part-assembled in 2 parts which are stored side by side (mouthpiece+barrel+upper joint, and lower joint+bell). It's not a hard case, but very well stiffened and padded, with an accessory pouch big enough for the basics. I have had no hesitation in entrusting it with a top quality professional instrument, and have travelled in this way across three continents! It fits easily in hand luggage, and is not even expensive...
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2011-06-01 23:35
The case that Buffet made for their International clarinet is excellent. I'm currently trying to find one so if anyone has one, hit me up!
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Author: Tux
Date: 2011-06-04 06:41
Thanks for the information, everyone! It's been very helpful. The Bass Bags case is so intriguing... can't decide if it's genius or irresponsible. Haha.
Hurstfarm, did you have to add any padding? Wouldn't the clarinet have room to jostle around in there?
I googled Bass Bags to try to find more reviews, and I found an old topic (2003) from this board and a company that sells the bags - which is good, because the Bass Bags website isn't completely explicit about shipping information...
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=127312&t=127312
http://www.howarth.uk.com/products.aspx?id=114&url=clarinetacc.html
(change the drop-down menu to Cases)
I also stumbled upon a thread from just two months ago on this same topic... whoops! Sorry:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=345376&t=345371
So yes, thanks for the advice! I emailed Howarth about the Bass Bags case, just to get some more detailed information before I buy it, but if I chicken out, the Yamaha might be my next choice.
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Author: Tux
Date: 2011-06-04 07:06
Some more food for thought, mainly for my own benefit:
Bass Bags Compact Single Case
L: 15.75 in
W: 4.33 in
H: 5.12 in
Volume: 349.17 cubic inches
Cheapo Yamaha Knock-Off Case
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330344987029&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
L: 11.5 in
W: 3.5 in
H: 7 in
Volume: 281.75 cubic inches
So actually, Yamaha wins the compact-ness contest by 67.42 cubic inches.
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2011-06-04 19:45
The Yamaha is certainly both small and cheap, and looks like a good contender! Having taken a tape measure to the Bass Bags case, it's a smidge more compact than the measurements you quote above: 15x5x4 inches. The almost square profile certainly makes for easy packing options in my experience, and I like the fact that it doesn't look like my first school clarinet case - but it's ultimately down to personal taste!
To answer your question on padding, in fact a Bb instrument fits extremely snugly, with no room for movement. Each section is surrounded by an inch or so of soft padding, with the padded accessory pouch providing similar protection on top. Zipping the lid shut compresses everything slightly, so there's no chance of movement inside the case. The sides are well protected with hard stiffening. I definitely wouldn't recommend jumping on it with the clarinet inside, but packed properly inside your luggage, your instrument should be safe from even the roughest baggage handler.
In terms of ordering, I bought mine online direct from the manufacturer, which was trouble free.
Whatever your choice, I hope it works out well. Meanwhile, hopefully this thread may inspire others who'd like to take a clarinet on their travels!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-06-04 20:19
The problem I see with transporting assembled instruments is physics, mainly the tensions around the center tenon when the instrument (alongside its rotational axis) is irregularly pressed, as might happen in a backpack or a tote. I sympathise with the oblong form, but would rather see some rigid shell (even if it's only a cardboard blueprint tube) around the instrument. But perhaps I'm over-cautious.
From own experience I know that the footprint of the Yamaha case fits bottom area of a standard backpack, and the rigidity of the shell prevents any possible and unruly pressure.
--
Ben
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Author: Tux
Date: 2011-06-05 18:39
The response I got from Howarth:
The case you are asking after is more like a gig bag for clarinet, but it does have two sides protected by wooden boards. These have been incredibly popular with many of the pit players and teachers who have many instruments to carry! The case is a little snug for the instrument, but we have not had any come back with any bent keys.
Many of the people working here have them, and love them!
Regards
Donny McKenzie M.Mus L.T.C.L
Manager
Clarinet Department
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Author: dansil
Date: 2011-06-06 14:21
I carted my precious Leblanc Opus II all around Europe last year in the little Bass bag during a concert tour (as a guitarist!) and then on holidays. The case was bounced around, dropped, squeezed inside a tightly packed backpack or shoved into an even more tightly packed suitcase and generally mal-treated without any harm to my instrument after 5 weeks - thank goodness. The case itself took just about everything I needed for routine care, spare Forestone reeds, cork grease, spare MP and barrel, tissues, swabs and several fine screwdrivers.
I recommend the Bass case to anybody. For comparison I also have a Wiseman single Bb case which weighs 5-6 times as much, is built like a fortress and stores far less AND costs several times that of the Bass bag. You could probably run over it with a truck and have no damage to your horn but in the long run it's expensive overkill!
Cheers, Danny Silver
a family doctor in Castlemaine, rural Victoria, Australia for the past 30+ years, also a plucked string musician (mandolin, classical guitar) for far too long before discovering the clarinet - what a missed opportunity!
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2011-06-16 15:01
I've decided I'm going to take the plunge and purchase a Bass Bags compact case for my R13. I have friends going to London next week and I've received excellent feedback from a gentleman named David from Bass Bags who responded rather promptly to my e-mail questions.
To have one of these cases/gigbags shipped to the U.S. from the U.K. would be like paying for two cases...almost.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2011-06-16 15:06
The Yamaha student case cannot be beat. It is a great case and unbelievable compact.
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Author: Morrie Backun
Date: 2011-06-16 16:25
I have seen the case at Howarth's that Donny describes. It is downright tiny but does really seem to hold the instrument well. If you can get smaller than this one....I don't know how! Howarth's is a very good company to do business with.
Morrie
Morrie Backun
Backun Musical Services
604-205-5770
morrie@backunmusical.com
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2011-06-17 12:45
I had a dream about the case last night.
I was in Howarth's with my friends (who I've asked to pick up the case for me while in London) and the sales clerk brought out a TINY case, smaller than a cell phone. He assured me my clarinet would fit! Then, instead of the case being 39.50 pounds, it was 350.50 pounds. I fainted, then awoke.
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