 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-07-08 03:16
A recent discussion on basset horn cases made me realize that there really isn't a lot of avaliable options. My basset horn is a 1966 that spent many years in a college music program. The result of this is that the case is in very rough shape. Also the glue used to construct the case causes the nickel to tarnish far too rapidly. I've always wanted to upgrade my case, but have never been able to find anything affordable. The best I could find is the Reed and Squeak case. But personally I don't like the idea of a soft case. I therefore decided to construct my own case:
https://imgur.com/a/fd8KXRy
I've always noticed that the shell of my original case is the same size as an alto sax case. Because of this I decided to start with an alto sax case as my base. I decided on the Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Case that is avaliable from most music websites for $130, but I got mine for $110 thanks to a sale. Next I needed a way to hold my instrument securely. I decided on Application Tough brand gun case foam to make the guts of the case. Lastly I purchased some velvet from China to make the case look more professional. The pieces of foam are removable so that the case can easily be converted back to a sax case, yet they hold the instrument securely. I cut most of the foam with a kitchen knife and I made the holes with a piece of 1" copper pipe sharpened at one end. I glued on the velvet with contact cement for durability, although I imagine other glues would probably work the same. Right now the mouthpiece and bell are held in velvet pouches. The bell just sits loose in the case so I may have to find a way to hold it more securely in the future, but for now it is fine. In total this case cost me $135 with shipping for all of the materials. I wanted to share here so that anybody in need of a cheap case for their instrument can get a good idea of how to make one. Also this should theoretically work with a bass clarinet and a tenor sax case, but I haven't tested it yet.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2018-07-09 06:14
Awesome! What thickness of foam did you purchase?
I now wish I hadn't gotten rid of one of my old alto sax cases!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2018-07-10 06:23
Did you gut the case first, or use the skeleton of the Alto sax?
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-07-10 06:53
I just used the case as it was. The internal sections of the case were very basic so there was plenty of room to fit the basset horn without gutting the case. Fortunately the sections of the case were also rectangular so it was easy to cut foam pieces that fit. Also the section that would normally be used for accessories fit my bell perfectly so that made it a lot easier.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2022-03-03 01:12
I bought a used Noblet alto clarinet that a High School was getting rid of for $300. Then Stephen Fox in the Toronto area extended the range to low D and overhauled it, with some other acoustic mods.
Pelican case dealer Pak-Rite in Wixom, MI made custom case inserts for the extended alto and my Eb for $308 including tax. \\\\\
The only drawback is that it weighs 18 lbs with the clarinets in it.
Oops - the photos didn't come through - see below.
Post Edited (2022-03-03 01:25)
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2022-03-03 01:14
Here's the problem: photos limited to 2GB.
Post Edited (2022-03-03 01:22)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-03-03 11:53
I have a basset horn that will eventually need a case. I saw your case elsewhere and I'm leaning towards making it from an alto sax case but things are not going as smoothly here.
>> The best I could find is the Reed and Squeak case. But personally I don't like the idea of a soft case. <<
I've been using their light bass clarinet case for a while now and wouldn't call it a soft case. I assume the basset horn case is similar. It's a little less solid than a Bam, but not by that much, definitely closer to that than to a gig bag. I have a Wiseman that I kept but only use it now when I need bass and soprano, or if I ever fly with the bass again. For everything else (walking with it a lot, in the back or the boot of cars, along with other stuff thrown there, no problem at all.
>> I decided on the Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Case that is available from most music websites <<
I can't actually find this one for sale anywhere online.
Also, how did you know the Giardinelli would work? Did you just gamble? Or you already had it?
I tried six different rectangle/suitcase alto sax cases that I happened to have here and none worked the same way, in that the upper section is too long to fit from the end to that compartment wall. There was really no way to fit both sections without removing it.
I hope I can find a case that wouldn't require too much work to adapt, so far no luck. For various reasons doing this here is turning out to be a pretty big project that makes the R&S more of an option.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2022-03-03 17:03
So maybe “soft” was not the correct term. I mean I wouldn’t trust a case that doesn’t fully support the joints. The R&S is great for what it is and the quality is nice, but my basset horn can be hard to keep in perfect adjustment and the risk of keys being bent is high.
I believe the case I bought may be the same as the Allied economy case (no. 132). I only knew it would work because they posted pictures of the inside as well as measurements.
The Pelican case idea works and they are very solid, but they are also quite expensive and tend to be bulky. Harbor Freight has cheaper versions but you have to cut your own foam.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2022-03-04 07:04
OK – here are my thoughts.
Nobody makes a case for an alto clarinet to which Stephen Fox has added a low D and adapted to use a standard soprano clarinet bell. Jason Alder is the only other person I know who has a similar instrument; Jared De Leon did his mods, starting with a higher-end instrument. I don't know what he does for a case.
There are cheaper cases to start with, and lighter. But they lose the opportunity factor here. An enterprising business performed all the tasks required to make it for me. The people there were friendly. They were not particularly quick about things, but this is what Covid is doing to businesses. All-in-all, I think the techies who made it for me are awesome.
These photos were also posted on the Facebook "Clarinetists" group, where David Blumberg asked about humidity control, a completely valid concern. To that end, while the more open design of Marcus Bona cases gives the instruments less support, it also offers better air migration for humidity control. These two instruments don't get played every day; there will be less moisture in the case to contend with than if I played them every day. This is a concern I will have to address, which may involve cutting away some of the foam, adding humidification or desiccation. The most important thing for me is that I have a utilitarian case now, and didn't have to spend days running around looking for supplies.
My other homebrew, a 20-year-old triple case for A/Bb/C, cost under $120 to put together then. It uses a more open-cell foam, so humidity control has not been an issue. I looked into doing this now, but the case style used for the first project is not available in the right size, and the local supplier who sold me the foam is out of business.
I spent a few hours traveling to have this thing made for me for $308. It holds $6000 worth of instruments. So I don't think it is at all expensive.
Post Edited (2022-03-04 07:15)
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