hard case

This is a little bit of a long story... but it coul be just what you need.

The case of the unique Cello Case.

Relocating from South Africa to Canada will take me a lifetime. It takes the form of various expeditions, done in stages. Back in 1992, the very first expedition was only for one year. The destination: Flin Flon, in Manitoba!

I had to make decisions what to bring with me: Harmonica -- yes. Cello -- no, too big. And too fragile. "Do they even know about cultured cello music there?" Unlikely, I thought. The same decision making process also might explain why fiddles, banjos and guitars are more the kind of pioneer instruments, taken along on primary expeditions. Heck, these weeds of the instrument world can even survive a trip on horseback.

Subsequent trips to Canada were for longer time periods, and a different destination: Winnipeg, where they did know about, and appreciate cellos. I found this out during a brief stint, where the good Mr. Taubner let me use his spare cello, until his son needed it. So when I packed once more, I chose one of my instruments, a 7/8 German built instrument, that had survived being a school instrument in Usakos, Namibia, and was sold to me by Herr von Seggern, in Windhoek. He had repaired the cracks that this cello had acquired in the Namib dessert, and I knew that since this instrument had seen low humidity before, it was the ideal instrument for Winnipeg's winters!

So I started to look at cases. What a surprise. The cello cases available, cost more than my air ticket from Cape Town to Winnipeg!

I had an uncle that had build a number of fiberglass cases, but time was short, and I did not like a few things about the cases I had seen. So I set out to list my design criteria:
1. Case must be light. Minimum material.
2. Case must protect cello, from ANY external forces. (An air traffic baggage handling person should be able to stand on it.)
3. Case must transmit external impacts EVENLY to the instrument. (No neck and endpin suspension - too great forces on the neck).
4. Case must be cheap.
5. Case must be unique.

After some brainstorming, thinking about the weakness of walnut shells attached with hinges, versus the strength of triangles and full circles, I finally came up with the following design: Imagine an ice cream cone. Instead of ice cream, there is a cello inside. And instead of a crunchy edible cone, it is made out of fiber re-inforced resins. You slide the cello in from the open side of the cone, and then you lock it in place with a flat lid that sort of pushes against the endpin.

How did I make it fit? The manufacturing concept is to mold each ConicCelloCase (C3, for short) on each cello individually. That's why this will never be sold in stores.

Step one: Protect your instrument with a number of layers of Glad Wrap, or Saraan Wrap. This thin plastic wrap seals the instrument against possible resin leaks.
Then cut cardboard strips, and make the cello a cone. Straighten out the c-bouts, shape some space around the neck, and build a base out of thin plywood, so that if you let it stand upright, the instrument should start to look like a pyramid shaped mummy. Now comes a layer of 3/4 inch foam, which is held in place by another few layers of plastic wrap. Remember that the tension of the layers of plastic is cumulative. If you apply too many plastic layers too tight, you can squeeze the foam or the instrument too much. Apply common sense liberally.
Now comes the exciting part. Layer with glass cloth or carbon fiber, if you can afford it. I layered with a sandwich of glass cloth, nylon cloth, then glass again on the outside. And on the very outside some lost sheets of music, or any other decorations, while you are at it. If you don't know how to layer with fibers and resin, read a book from the library. Anyway, do this in a well ventilated area, and give it a day or so to cure. Now I cut the base out with a jigsaw, to make the 'door' for the instrument to take it out. Finish the cut floor hole off with more fiberglass. Then make the door cover. Use hinges, if you wish. I used a system of ropes, tied around the case like a djembe drum, to keep the flap door in place.

Again, use your common sense. Make sure you don't cut into your cello while cutting the door. Come up with an alternatives. Come to think of it, I would not recommend this technique of building a cello case to anybody, except that I have never regretted having build a case for the tenth of the store price. A case that met all my design criteria. The instrument travels safely. And on top of all, it is a unique case.

The cello case was built in 1994, and the story written in 2009. All patentable ideas from this article remain the property of Stefan Harms.

 

Neat.

Pentabass, could you post some photos of your special case?

 

I found these two. I like the second one better but I have never seen them in the flesh, so who knows...

http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/string...hral-hard-bass-case-ultralight/prod_1609.html

http://www.jimlaabsmusic.com/string...al-acrylic-bass-case-3-/4-size/prod_4109.html

 

I owned the first of the two Laabs cases for a while. The stitching was so bad that it became a large, worthless object.

 

sure, here: http://s652.photobucket.com/albums/uu249/pentabass/celloCase/

 

You don't need to build this yourself. Just go to any shop that does boat building or fiberglass work, and tell them what you want. Wrap your instrument up, and they will need it probably no longer than 2 or 3 days to make an external cast. The overall size of the case will be quite a bit smaller than any commercial case out there. To me, however, the biggest advantage is that it will keep the instrument safer than many other cases, because you can not shake the instrument around inside the case: it is a snug fit. And the conical shape is extremely strong -- think of the combination of a triangle and a circle.

good luck
Stefan

 

If your tour does not include flights, then a inexpensive hard foam case (like the Enthral Ultralight case) is sufficient. I own a case identical to this one and can tell you that it will protect your bass very well. However I must also tell you that these cases are built like a cheap piece of luggage. Two plastic bumpers broke off of mine within a week of owning the case and the zipper was the next thing that broke. For the $350 I paid, it served a very brief purpose.

 

I don't tour, nor do I own a hard-case, but I did do some amount of flying with my double bass in college. In my experience, the Gage case is the best. You might see if you can rent one, as that's what I used to do. It was a much more economical alternative. But, if you are serious about protecting your bass from damage, I really don't know of a viable alternative.

 

I don't remember where on here I read it, but I've read several recommendations about painting the case for a DB WHITE so as to help with those times where it gets left in the sun at the air port etc. Helps reduce some of the temp. extremes FWIW and as long as you don't mind it showing dirt immediately. Maybe just paint the top half white/light color?

 

Stevenson cases are best.

 

that's totally sweet! and definitely unique! i like it!

 

Does anyone have any recent experience with the Anthral Acrylic bass case?
Thanks, Tom

 

Just make sure that the entire bass + case = less than 100 lbs. Delta wouldn't even let my bass on the plane last trip to Holland. There are lightweight interior cases to also reduce weight (like a light weight Mooradian). I'm not sure who is making them but I was told they exist.

 

I would call up gage and see if he has any used ones, some of the big names used to rotate through trunks for tax reasons.

 

[/QUOTE]

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