hard case

[Ike Harris]

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

Didn't I see this in To Kill A Mockingbird?[/quote]

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

Didn't I see see this in To Kill A Mockingbird?

Tell me more... I never saw that one.

[bribass]

How did you get the hatch/lid to fit snugly against the bottom edge of the case to seal it from the elements?

Thnx, BG

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by bribass

How did you get the hatch/lid to fit snugly against the bottom edge of the case to seal it from the elements?

Thnx, BG

This particular incarnation was made in great haste - yet it works quite well: two pieces of cardboard were riveted together to form the base as you see it, sandwiching the nylon straps that offer the plastic rings through which the rope glides. The colourful rope is tightened in the same way as a djembe drum would be tightened -- with the bottom of this hard cello case being the drumhead, if you will.

Here is a picture http://s652.photobucket.com/albums/u...t=IMG_0196.jpg

Of course you could make a more conventional door, with a weatherproof seal, if you wanted.

Let me know if you copy or improve this design.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Pentabass

This particular incarnation was made in great haste - yet it works quite well: two pieces of cardboard were riveted together to form the base as you see it, sandwiching the nylon straps that offer the plastic rings through which the rope glides. The colourful rope is tightened in the same way as a djembe drum would be tightened -- with the bottom of this hard cello case being the drumhead, if you will.

Here is a picture http://s652.photobucket.com/albums/u...t=IMG_0196.jpg

Of course you could make a more conventional door, with a weatherproof seal, if you wanted.

Let me know if you copy or improve this design.

Thnx for the response. I get that about how it's attached, but isn't there some daylight between the cardboard hatch and the rough edge of the "drum"?

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by bribass

Thnx for the response. I get that about how it's attached, but isn't there some daylight between the cardboard hatch and the rough edge of the "drum"?

Oh, yes, I am not too worried about the case being able to 'breathe' somewhere. (have you ever tried to open a Pelican camera case after a flight between different altitudes?). If you are concerned about moisture, or such, I would presume it is quite easy to put a strip of closed cell foam, and you are dealing with a hermetically sealed hard case.

Are you going to build or commission one?

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Pentabass

Oh, yes, I am not too worried about the case being able to 'breathe' somewhere. (have you ever tried to open a Pelican camera case after a flight between different altitudes?). If you are concerned about moisture, or such, I would presume it is quite easy to put a strip of closed cell foam, and you are dealing with a hermetically sealed hard case.

Are you going to build or commission one?

I was thinking the same thing. A strip of foam around the edge.

I'm exploring case options for a removable neck double bass. If I were to build one or have it done by a boat maker etc. the removable neck would have to fit inside w/ the bass body and be secured and shielded from banging against the bass body. Ideas?

[CellarDweller]

We have a saying at my day job: Hard cases make bad law.

[Pentabass]

Originally Posted by bribass

I was thinking the same thing. A strip of foam around the edge.

I'm exploring case options for a removable neck double bass. If I were to build one or have it done by a boat maker etc. the removable neck would have to fit inside w/ the bass body and be secured and shielded from banging against the bass body. Ideas?

My vote would go to a separate case for the neck/fingerboard.
Something more along a traditional gun case -- maybe also accommodating the bows and the tailpiece.

However, for the body of the bass, my method of custom 'cloaking' the instrument in a composite (fibreglass or carbon fibre with epoxy) cone, padded on the inside of course, will give you the best individual case per instrument - especially since double basses are all so different in dimensions. On top of that, most bases have bigger lower bouts, so the conical shape, with the instrument coming out the bottom, is extremely strong for it's weight, plus the bass comes easily out of this shell.

In my opinion, this is a much better design than all the hinge-and-lock based attempts to try and make a super big suitcase.

On top of that, the materials for my case were a tiny fraction of what a commercial case costs. The skills required are modest, and I think it took me all of 4 days.

Let me know if you need further details. The only two 'gothchas' that I think might be a little tricky, is the step where all the curves of the bass get obliterated, to make it a nice cone. This is of course very easy once the neck is off. Secondly it would seem critical to me how tight the padding gets compressed, prior to the overlay of the final composite layer. Don't forget the saran wrapping between padding and final composite layers.

good luck
Stefan