 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-09-02 15:45
It's almost my birthday and I am thinking of asking my husband to get me a BAM case for my oboe, one of the Trekking ones.
Does anyone have experience with these? I've had some awful experience in the past with badly made case covers and cases, which is why I am willing to invest the money on something good - assuming that it is. For my purposes, I teach, I throw a lot of stuff in the case (needs to have storage room and be strong enough to cope with the extra weight) and I just want good protection for my 901.
Does anyone know if they are one of those companies that the prices are set and cannot be discounted? Everyone seems to have the exact same price (US$238 in the US, AU$250 in Oz, which strangely, is cheaper right now).
I also need to purchase a new double case for my orchestra's cor. Their budget won't stretch to a BAM case, but does anyone have experience with the ProTec double cases? My old Cabart was in a ProTec case that seemed pretty good quality, but this will have more weight in it.
Thanks,
Rachel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tita
Date: 2014-09-03 19:01
Hi,
I've had a BAM Trekking case for about a year now, in quite rough student use. Here are some pros and cons I've experienced:
Pros:
+ it holds the instrument very securely in place and the interior seems to keep its shape very well
+ good insulation. I'm a poor student who has to go to school by bike or foot every time of the year, and the case seems to keep the instrument in nice room temperature even after 40 minutes in -20 C. I don't have a humidity meter so I can't comment on that, but my rosewood oboe seems to be pretty happy and healthy with this case.
+ thick walls absorbing impacts
+ you can carry it either as a backpack or with the shoulder strap
+ well made and durable
Cons:
- it's quite big and bulky, doesn't fit easily inside another bag
- I find the accessory pocket a bit too small, a music folder doesn't fit there. There is a strange inner lining with a zipper that you can use to make the pocket bigger, but it's quite awkward and the lining gets quite easily caught in the outer zipper.
- it doesn't resist rain very well, I've used a separate backpack raincoat on it (size xs)
- There is only one zipper closing the case, so there's no backup if the zipper fails.
Generally I've been quite happy with it, the only thing that really bugs me is the accessory pocket design. I hope this was helpful
Post Edited (2014-09-03 19:24)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2014-09-03 20:08
I don't have personal experience with the BAM cases, but have heard good things about the "Trekking" version (and if your orchestra wants an ob/Eh double, there's a good used one available at RDG right now). The Pro Tec cases seem poorly designed, to me (too soft). I have students who use them and have had issues with bent keys -- of course, these instances may also have involved hockey sticks, for all I know! My favorite case is the one I currently own, made by Marcus Bonna, for two oboes. It's a bit pricier than the BAM, but I love its combination of light weight and durability/protection. The one thing it doesn't offer is enough insulation for cold weather, but I don't have to worry about that here in Southern California. I use a traditional hard case and wooly cover when I travel north.
Good luck, and Happy Birthday!
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-09-04 16:49
Thanks guys. Tita, your negatives don't really affect me too much, which is good! I am a peripatetic teacher who lives in my car in a state with very similar climate to California - not much rain! And I never put my case inside another bag anyway. I like the flexibility of shoulder strap vs backpack of the BAM - lots of cases do either but not both.
Jonathan, thanks for the info about the case at RDG. Unfortunately, by the time I figured exchange rate and shipping into the cost, it would be better to buy one brand new here. $275 used seems a little expensive to me! I had a Protec with my first oboe and quite liked it, but the double case will obviously hold more weight, hence my concern about the construction!
The cor needs an overhaul, so maybe I will just tell the orchestra how much it is all going to cost in total and include a BAM case in that...hehe.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Oboehotty
Date: 2014-09-06 16:37
I bought one of the Protec combo cases almost two years ago. I did much research and while I really want a wiseman oboe/eh combo case, they are entirely too expensive for my budget.
I HATE my Protec case. It's bulky, the straps don't conveniently lie when it is sitting flat....it doesn't fit through doors easily while on your back and carrying an additional bag for music/tools, etc. whatever you buy, the Protec should NOT be on your list. A few months after I got it, the anchor screws on the one side (corners) came out of the inner material. Protec and the company where I purchased refused to do anything about it. Stay away from the Protec.
I have heard great things about the Bonna case (as Jonathan mentioned). Good luck!
Shawn
Professor of Oboe - Youngstown State University
Howland Local Schools - MS Dir. Of Bands/HS Asst. Dir (Marching, Symphonic)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-09-06 18:02
Thanks Shawn. Good to know.
I currently have a case cover (eBay job) with the original Loree case. I want to replace it because a) the latches on the case are starting to come loose and b) the case cover has the shoulder strap in the wrong place (from basically the middle of the long side, rather than having a D ring on either side of the cover) which is causing the seams to pull apart. I am going to attempt to find someone to sew a new set of D rings on and then I will avert the need for a new case yet. The information about the wear and tear is exactly what I wanted to know about the Protec, so thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Oboehotty
Date: 2014-09-06 22:23
I am having the same problem with my loree double case, which is why I also bought a new one.
Shawn
Professor of Oboe - Youngstown State University
Howland Local Schools - MS Dir. Of Bands/HS Asst. Dir (Marching, Symphonic)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2014-09-07 20:48
You can easily fix your loose latches, if you choose:
1. Remove the latches.
2. Jam the pointy end of a wooden toothpick into each screw hole on the case, and cut them off flush with the case exterior (you can use sandpaper if your cutting job is less than ideal).
3. Add a generous drop of wood glue to each toothpick-filled hole.
4. Replace the latches while the wood glue is still wet, and clean up any excess glue right away.
5. Be sure to close the case while the glue dries, in order to ensure the latches are properly aligned. Allow several hours of dry time before you mess with it.
The toothpick wood is soft enough to accept the screw and expand in the process, thereby filling the gap that was causing your looseness issue. The glue will then dry and harden, in and around the repair, making your latches more solid than new!
When I do oboe repair work, I so often find this latch issue that I have begun repairing them for free as a matter of course, without mentioning it to the owner until after they've discovered it themselves. They're often more surprised and impressed with the "new" latches than they are with the actual instrument repairs!
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-09-08 05:50
I've heard of that trick before Jonathan, thanks for the clear instructions!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
