French bow case

[Bob Gollihur]

Now that the guy who rehaired my 1960's student French bow told me it's worth $4-500, I am paranoid about it (after 35+ yrs of semi-carelessness). So I guess a case is in order.

I still would rather go cheap, and be able to stick bow and case into the bow pocket in my kaces case. Seems like the ones I've seen so far are pretty large, with one exception. Also heard someone mention a pool cue case as being a compact and inexpensive alternative.

Any suggestions, gentlemen/ladies?

[Mark Steel]

Bob_- I picked up one of these cases, and stuck a plain old cardboard mailing tube with plastic caps inside. Works perfectly--has a zipper top for easy access and a shoulder strap for those one-trip-from-the-car gigs. Don't have a yardstick handy but it looks to be about three feet tall and there's plenty of room to spare.

http://www.studiopack.com/cases.htm

[Sam Sherry]

Bob -- The only thing I dislike about my Mooradian bass-bag is that the bow-pouch is unpadded Cordura. My bow-case-latches stick out just enough to rip the bow-pouch. I finally got around to repairing it this summer, after living with the holes for a decade. It's probably something to bear in mind as you're shopping around.

[anonymous0726]

I carried a bow in a case for a long time, but a few subway trips and the stairs involved gave me a real quick lesson on leverage and how much less-than-a-pound turns into a ton-and-a-half on about your third contiguous flight of stairs. I studied the problem and decided that the bow, in the pocket and unprotected, is about as safe as the front of the bass. Which is looked after with paranoid fervor in my case. Bad pun. Anyhow, I have a Kolstein bag, and the pocket at first look would seem to be unfriendly to an unprotected bow, but in practice over the last year or so I've found that in being careful inserting and removing my bow from the pocket that I've suffered almost no casualties in hair and no scratches. If you make taking the bow out of the bag the first thing you doing when unwrapping The Bass, then you'll not snap it when you fold up the bag and stow it. I only use the bow case to store extra bows around the house now.

The middle ground that I'd like to find is a case that I saw one time, and have been unable to find, that was a soft leatherette sleeve (Corynthian Leather?) with a rod to give it a spine along one edge. If anyone sees one of these, please give me a shout!

[Don Higdon]

My bow case fits easily in the Mooradian.
Over time, I've noticed players with costly bows using the soft sleeve that Mooradian includes, just slipping them in the bow pocket. Ray is right on - anything that would hurt your bow would be doing far more damage to your bridge and top. Just keep your zipper closed (that's a guy thing, anyway).

P.S. International Violin 1-800-542-3538 has violin-cello bow cases for $55; measure your bow and call them to see what might work.

[Bob Gollihur]

Originally posted by Don Higdon
P.S. International Violin 1-800-542-3538 has violin-cello bow cases for $55; measure your bow and call them to see what might work.

Thanks, I'm friends with them and they originally sent me a bass bow case which they don't list, but it was large, and had its own handle and strap, so I returned it. The other cases aren't long enough for my bow.

I may just slice up some wood, add a little light hardware and padding, and make my own, so I'll be sure it fits both bow and bass case.

[Don Higdon]

I've seen your work. Make two

[Gideon]

The thing I worry about is forgetting that my bow is in the front pocket. Put the bag down (minus the bass) or toss it in a chair or in the corner,budda-bing-budda-boom someone steps or sits on it. So, knowing my own forgetful nature I need the case.

[anonymous0726]

Any of the Luthiers carry them as well. And Lemur?

[Phil Smith]

I personally would be very afraid of putting my bow into the front bow pocket without having the bow in some type of case. I'm using the Reunion Blues leather case. I have no idea what my bow is worth but my teacher is always saying that he's next in line for it, so I guess it's worth something!

[anonymous0726]

I carry my $1,500 bow around like that every day

[Tim Ludlam]

I have a Kolstein Bow Case and it fits nicely into the front of my Mooradian. I do play german style, but I carry >$3,000 worth of bows in the case and it works just fine.