Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 13)

[KJung]

Really? Ok, I'll take your word for it. I've never had to do this, but I was also thinking about the case where you're actually a touring band, not a hired agency guy. That said, the tour company should probably provide transport like that anyway, so I guess my idea still doesn't make much sense unless it's a small band on a self-supported "tour"... fringe case.

The main issue is trusting a hotel you haven't even checked into yet as a destination source for an instrument. BAD idea all the way around. Been there, done that, although luckily not with an instrument.

 

[svtb15]

Yeah . .I like that idea..
I was talking with paul turner recently and he gig bags his bass when he comes to the states..
I usually let my basses go with the crew on the equipment carne..And carry one.. But nothing is going for this short jump except essentials..
Customs is such a PITA... The clothes cases had wardrobe and Customs seized a pair of the guitar players boots because was on endangered species list.. They made it into the UK but not out...
Its always a gamble...


Anyway. that Roller case look cool. just wondering how the latches are?

I've flown with the SKB bass case. It works great. The rolling wheels are great.

The only downside is that it has barely enough room inside for a regular, thin, nylon gig bag (it uses the gig bag as 'padding'). So, you have to take all the cables, straps, etc. out of the pockets to keep the bass safe and to fit the gig bag. The good news about this case is that once you get to the hotel, you have a gig bag and not a heavy case for the rest of the stay.

Highly recommended. The only other downside I've heard is that everyone in security assumes it is a gun, since it kind of looks like a shotgun case! So, it gets opened a lot during the process of travel and security checks down in the luggage area.

 

[Bernie Connors]

Anyway. that Roller case look cool. just wondering how the latches are?

Doesn't mention them being TSA rated. The case carries an ATA spec but those latches look a little iffy.

 

[svtb15]

Its nice hotel Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.. but i still don't trust anyone.. I had a set of Sony headphones stolen from my hotel in LA. It was the Four Seasons.. not a shabby place!

The main issue is trusting a hotel you haven't even checked into yet as a destination source for an instrument. BAD idea all the way around. Been there, done that, although luckily not with an instrument.

 

[KJung]

Its nice hotel Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.. but i still don't trust anyone.. I had a set of Sony headphones stolen from my hotel in LA. It was the Four Seasons.. not a shabby place!

+1 Four Seasons or not, you are dealing with some schmoe in the mail room

 

[svtb15]

Yes you are right..

You know though.. I like being in a four seasons better than being at home... My home looks like a dungeon compared to the four seasons.

+1 Four Seasons or not, you are dealing with some schmoe in the mail room

 

[KJung]

Yes you are right..

You know though.. I like being in a four seasons better than being at home... My home looks like a dungeon compared to the four seasons.

 

[svtb15]

I heading to the gun store to go look at a Pelican. then to GC to look at the SKB.. see what the day delivers.

 

[funkaholic]

As far as I remember, SKB roller case also has some sort of a warranty that kicks in if the bass gets damaged (up to 2500 USD IIRC), don't quote me on that
I do have the earlier version, which I used a few times with no issues, the only issue with the roller case (AKA basssafe) was with the latches but they have upgraded them since...

I will post the pics when I receive my RA, and the LG5 that I got last year, which instantly became my mainest axe

well here it is in black&white....

 

[svtb15]

By the time i beat my Allevas to pieces. It will be worth just a little under that price..D Chef will attest to that..



Thank you for your time and info.

As far as I remember, SKB roller case also has some sort of a warranty that kicks in if the bass gets damaged (up to 2500 USD IIRC), don't quote me on that
I do have the earlier version, which I used a few times with no issues, the only issue with the roller case (AKA basssafe) was with the latches but they have upgraded them since...

I will post the pics when I receive my RA, and the LG5 that I got last year, which instantly became my mainest axe

well here it is in black&white....

 

[ryanowens]

I would highly recommend NOT putting a gig bag inside a hardshell type case case and checking it. A bass needs the be completely un-moveable in the case to prevent it from getting damaged. It needs to be foamed out to keep the body of the bass from moving around at all in case the case is dropped. The drop is not what usually damages gear, it is the instrument moving in the case and hitting the inside of the case that does the damage.

I think the SKB case would be good, just stuff extra foam or socks around the body of the bass if the stock foam does not properly support the bass.


On anther not, I go back in forth about touring with any bass other than the bass I really want to play. I have decided that to me it is not worth it to be on the road playing a bass I am not in love with while my beloved bass is at home. So now I have everything insured with Clarion Insurance (www.clarionins.com) They really cover everything a musician would encounter and have policies specifically for musical instruments. I highly recommend it, even though I would hate to have to replace my LG5, it is good to know that if it were lost, stolen or damaged, that I would have the cash to do it

and yes, my bass is now safely back at home ........ until friday when we head to DC!

 

[justinkimmel]

What kind of case does an Alleva-Coppolo come with?

 

[Dave Hill]

The case that new Fenders comes in is very nice. An AC or Sad should fit right in.

 

[svtb15]

Yeah.. you are right.. I went to see and feel the SKB 44 today at GC.. The form fitted one..
It is harder that i thought.. Much nicer than my Musicman SKB case.. Its not too heavy for me either... Im goig to orfer it online.. Only thing i wish it had a full length Piano Hinge like my Anvil..
My friend Danny was doing fly dates with Blue oyster cult and he used his Steinberger often for its ease of dealing with the airlines..
Im buying the SKB tonight.

I would highly recommend NOT putting a gig bag inside a hardshell type case case and checking it. A bass needs the be completely un-moveable in the case to prevent it from getting damaged. It needs to be foamed out to keep the body of the bass from moving around at all in case the case is dropped. The drop is not what usually damages gear, it is the instrument moving in the case and hitting the inside of the case that does the damage.

I think the SKB case would be good, just stuff extra foam or socks around the body of the bass if the stock foam does not properly support the bass.


On anther not, I go back in forth about touring with any bass other than the bass I really want to play. I have decided that to me it is not worth it to be on the road playing a bass I am not in love with while my beloved bass is at home. So now I have everything insured with Clarion Insurance (www.clarionins.com) They really cover everything a musician would encounter and have policies specifically for musical instruments. I highly recommend it, even though I would hate to have to replace my LG5, it is good to know that if it were lost, stolen or damaged, that I would have the cash to do it

and yes, my bass is now safely back at home ........ until friday when we head to DC!

 

[svtb15]

I get mine in Gig bags.. I dont know what everyone else gets.. I think they are normally shipped in gig bag.. I have not used a hard case in 25 years if i don't have to... NYC is not a hard case city if you are running from gig to gig on the subway.. and i am used to it. plus it keeps my hands free to carry other stuff. When doing a bigger gig i toss my gig bag or fender cases into a trunk case with slots... so the gig bag is fine...

What kind of case does an Alleva-Coppolo come with?

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Nice gig bag when I got mine....

Since I don't tour the gig bag is my best option. I do have a couple of hard-shell cases I could use with my basses when needed.

Dan K.

 

[MixBass]

I've used the SKB Basssafe several times, including once where my axe stayed a few extra weeks in Spain (borrowed bass for festival) w/o me. The latches are a bit supect but I never had a problem. The gigbag inside concept is great, store the SKB on the bus or in hotel rooms and bag it to most of the gigs. I stuff some cables and a few T's etc. to keep things from moving in the SKB. The wheels are VERY welcome at the Heathrow type airports.
I've gone back n forth on taking my preferred bass or a "I won't cry too much if s%*t happens" bass out with me. Getting my bass back from Spain was a shocker, a knock at my door at 10pm a few weeks after my return, and there it was!
For me the bass/plane part is the single most stressful part of touring. I watched the baggage gorillas drop my rack from a jumbo jet and had zero recourse. Shockmount doesn't do much good from that high.

 

[KJung]

What kind of case does an Alleva-Coppolo come with?

I believe Jimmy is using the iGig bags now. VERY high quality. When I got my two, he was using a 'run of the mill' thin gig bag. Kind of freaked me out to get an expensive bass in a gig bag just kind of dropped in a box and sent, but no damage done.

The iGigs are nice.... kind of halfway between a standard bag and a hybrid, and lots of storage space. VERY nice case for luthier to use as an OEM case.

 

[KJung]

I would highly recommend NOT putting a gig bag inside a hardshell type case case and checking it. A bass needs the be completely un-moveable in the case to prevent it from getting damaged. It needs to be foamed out to keep the body of the bass from moving around at all in case the case is dropped. The drop is not what usually damages gear, it is the instrument moving in the case and hitting the inside of the case that does the damage.

I think the SKB case would be good, just stuff extra foam or socks around the body of the bass if the stock foam does not properly support the bass.


On anther not, I go back in forth about touring with any bass other than the bass I really want to play. I have decided that to me it is not worth it to be on the road playing a bass I am not in love with while my beloved bass is at home. So now I have everything insured with Clarion Insurance (www.clarionins.com) They really cover everything a musician would encounter and have policies specifically for musical instruments. I highly recommend it, even though I would hate to have to replace my LG5, it is good to know that if it were lost, stolen or damaged, that I would have the cash to do it

and yes, my bass is now safely back at home ........ until friday when we head to DC!

FYI, even with a standard gig bag, the fit is very tight with the SKB bass safe. You can hardly cram the bag in there, much less fit anything else, and no way would it move around. That's the good news and bad news, since you have to take everything out of the cable pocket to fit it in there.

 

[Saluki]

On anther note, I go back in forth about touring with any bass other than the bass I really want to play. I have decided that to me it is not worth it to be on the road playing a bass I am not in love with while my beloved bass is at home. So now I have everything insured with Clarion Insurance (www.clarionins.com) They really cover everything a musician would encounter and have policies specifically for musical instruments. I highly recommend it, even though I would hate to have to replace my LG5, it is good to know that if it were lost, stolen or damaged, that I would have the cash to do it

and yes, my bass is now safely back at home ........ until friday when we head to DC!

Good point Ryan. I do gig, but since I am not a professional I am able to cover each bass for the same coverage as above on my homeowners insurance. Costs me about $30 a year for 3 nice basses and my amp/cabs. If something gets traded or added I just shoot my insurance man an email. It is nice knowing that if my boys jump on gig bag or my wife throws it down the stairs I am covered. Hypothetically speaking of course.