 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: syncopation
Date: 2008-06-22 18:13
Hi. When I was in high school I purchased the Protec Pro Pac case (http://www.wwbw.com/Protec-Pro-Pac-Clarinet-Carry-All-Case-i16055.music), but now that I am entering my second year of college I want to switch to a small case and a bag for it to go in.
When I bought my Buffet R13 it came with a really junky case, which wasn't a problem because of the Protec case, but now I'm completely lost as to what kind of case I should be looking at. After having an all-in-one case for so long I don't want another one (like the BAM cases), it gets frustrating to never be able to take just my clarinet anywhere and not fit books in the case.
I was thinking of the Altieri bag (http://www.wwbw.com/Altieri-Clarinet-Bags-i79604.music), because it should fit all of my stuff plus the books I need at the moment I'm hoping? Even though my Protec case is big I can't fit music in there, and so I have a bag with books and my protec to lug around currently.
What case would you recommend to buy? I want it to be sturdy and fit my horn well, so I was looking at the Buffet case at wwbw.com (http://www.wwbw.com/Buffet-Attache-Clarinet-Cases-i12764.music) but I really have no idea if this is what I should be going with. I asked my professor and she didn't have much to recommend besides the BAM case (so I don't have to buy a case and a bag), and my fellow clarinetists don't have this problem because their clarinets came with usable cases!
Thank you for any help!
Oh, and on a side note: I was also looking into buying a Dr. Beat, but they are really expensive!!! Does anyone know of a place that sells them cheaper than the wwbw price of 160ish dollars, or is this a purchase that I'm going to have to put off for a while in lieu of buying a case?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2008-06-22 18:38
A friend of mine made a clarinet case (double) out of a small carryone luggage bag, the kind that tows behind on wheels. And the last time I saw Larry Combs, he was dragging along two of those bags which contained his clarinet gear plus a change of clothing for the evening. One of those piecies of luggage could easily carry your single clarinet plus enough books to stock a small library. The Altieri bags (I have two for my double cases) also have a lot of extra storage capacity and are well built. The only disadvantage is that you are still carrying your clarinet case inside which only adds to the weight of everything else. How about a laptop bag large enought for styorfoam inserts shaped to hold your clarinet?? Just a thought if your good with a knife.........
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: weberfan
Date: 2008-06-22 19:29
Hi, syncopation...
If you scroll down a bit on the bulletin board you'll find a current thread on my search for a pochette case. I finally ended up buying a relatively inexpensive compact plastic case from Wichita Band. You won't find it on Wichita Band's web site. As another contributor pointed out Wichita refers to it as the flat case, largely in reference to replacement cases for Buffet clarinets. I ordered it on Monday and am hoping to receive it shortly.
As for a case cover, you can't go wrong with an Altieri bag, but you might also check Olathe and Cavallaro, which make nice bags for a bit less money.
The "keepers" section of this site has plenty of earlier posts on Altieri bags and other approaches -- like William's-- to carting clarinets and gear.
Good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-22 20:24
Big thumbs up on the Altieri bag, thumbs down for the Olathe products.
I destroyed an Olathe bag in two years...my Altieri's look as if they're three months old and have given over five years of service.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-06-22 22:55
Do you just have a single clarinet to carry?
If so, I have an idea for you.
I use, as well as my teacher, a laptop bag to carry my Attache case (although I want a pochette) and quite a bit of music, oh and room for lots of accessories.
I don't know if your the kind of person who only likes to use things for their intended purpose (I'm like that allot) but you should give it a look,
Check out the link (in my signature) to my Flickr page with pictures of my bag. It's a Samsonite portfolio/laptop bag.
btw it only cost $65
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Adrianna
Date: 2008-06-23 01:27
Does anyone know whether a Yamaha clarinet would fit in either a Attache or Pochette case?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-06-23 03:03
The Buffet Attache case is good but a few disadvantages (atl east with the one I have) are that it's slightly big, there is not a lot of space for other stuff inside the case itself (though they could be different now), if you have a rubber thumbrest cover than the lower joint is slightly loose, and there are no straps to carry like a backpack or even a shoulder strap. The only one that was annoying is the last one.
I used this case the whole time I was playing that instrument and what I did most of the time is put it in a backpack and put whatever else I needed in the backpack too. When you only need the clarinet it might be annoying to have to carry it like a suitcase.
I used this case because it came with the clarinet, but I would probably prefer a smaller case with at least a shoulder strap if you put it sometimes in a case bag anyway. All the time I was playing that clarinet it was very rare that I didn't need a lot of sheet music so I almost never had to take just the clarinet. Today I rarely need sheet music and if I do usually just a few pages which fit in my very small clarinet case.
I don't recommend the Buffet Pochette case. Sure some like it, but most of the ones I've seen (including the one I had) broke (had at least one latch not working) and it was a risk of them opening and the clarinet falling out (which actually happened to me once with this case).
The advantage of a case and bag (either backpack or clarinet case bag) is what you said, but OTOH you then need to open both of them every time. But if you need to carry books than that's probably the best option (BTW I would only get a case bag that can be carried as a backpack).
Another option for a case bag, which is probably what I would do, is go to one of the several local case/bag makers who can make just about anything for you, at prices not considerably more than the usual instrument cases/bags.
Post Edited (2008-06-23 03:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: syncopation
Date: 2008-06-23 04:08
Hm. Well, upon further thinking I think I'm going to go for sure with the Altieri bag. I like the laptop bag idea, but live in an area where the winters bring temperatures of -20 degrees F or worse, and need the insulation if I'm ever going to bring my horn outside (only for a little bit, of course!).
I found the thread from janlynn about cases, and think I'm not going to go for a Buffet case after all, there seem to be too many problems with them! I'm still not sure what to look at for cases... clarnibass has a good point about having a shoulder strap on the case. weberfan, I'll be interested to see how you like your new case when you get it!
I'm still researching around, since the Buffets are a no, I'm thinking Yamaha? I don't even have an Attache case with my Buffet, the seller chose to give me a tiny red Protec that I don't think is sold anymore, and that doesn't fit the clarinet well at all, the horn moves around in it. From day one I moved my old plastic horn in there.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
