Case covers for guitars & banjos

Subject: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 12:55 PM

The other day I went to a throw-together gig and struggled to carry a guitar, banjo and fiddle, plus a water bottle. The fiddle had a carrying strap - the banjo and guitar did not. I had my hands full and boy did they get tired!

I started looking into finding straps/attachments for the hard shelled cases and its impossible to find a good D-ring anchor. And I'm not sure I want to drill into my Martin case.

Let me say here - I don't want to mess with soft-shell or padded cases - too easy to crush !!

So I started looking for "Case Covers" - nylon or canvas outer skins for hard shell cases that also have sling and pack-back style straps.
I found them, but boy are they expensive - US $140 to $200!!

Does anyone know of any cheaper alternatives, or other ways to carry hard shell cases ? And yes, I've read the thread on golf carts - they don't work well on stairs!

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Amos
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 01:02 PM

Les:

I would suggest that with the right speed and type of bit drilling into the hard-shell can be done neatly and without harm. Talk to a luthier in your area for confirmation, but there's no reason a small hole should compromise it structurally. Be careful not to put a bolt or not where it will scratch the guitar, though!! L:D

A

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 01:37 PM

Les
Two points - Firstly Calton cases do a D ring option for their hard cases , so careful drilling and positioning is NOT a problem
Then I have the same problem eith guitar bamjo and mandolin ! I did
an adaptaton to a shopping trolly (two wheels and throw away the bag)
A length of welding rod and six inches of half inch copper tubing made a handle that came from the original handle up between the head ends of the two cases and a couple of elastics with hooks on to stip[ em falling off . Even stairs were not a problem ,except for the weight of two instruments in calton cases !

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 02:24 PM

I often use a 2 wheel trolley which folds flat when not in use. It's a Godsend. Properly loaded, it'll hold twice what can be carried by hand.

I've never owned a case cover, but I've certainly lusted after them. They appear ideal for stuffing extra books, stands, accessories, and personal items in with the axe.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 05:52 PM

I've got a Small-Dog brand insulated case cover for my hardshell Martin case. It gives a bit more protection from banging around and cold temps. Its got a great big pocket on the front that zippers closed and holds books, capos, strings, etc. I bought this one a few years back for $120 US. It doesn't fit my Calton case though, so I only use it when I don't want to lug the Calton around and its REALLY cold out.

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: bill\sables
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 06:18 PM

About 20 years ago a lady asked me if I could make a rucsack type harness for her hard shell guitar case. I designed one with a strap which fixes round the waist of the case and a strap around the neck of the case, there was also a strap to go under the case. On the front side there were two shoulder straps. She still wears it at festivals. For traveling I made a single shoulder strap with a similar strapping arrangement for my banjo case. I find it very handy when carring a suit case and flight bag.
Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: open mike
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:02 PM

clinton hammond was looking for hardware for a bag he was gpnna make form leather..he might have f0und somd "D" rings and other "notions"
for the hardware...there are 2 companies here that make over coats": for instruments...Blue Heron http://www.blueheroncases.com/
and i have a silver job over my case...used to be made by Climate Case.
now made by Allen Guitars they are one of the ones mentioned here:
http://www.guitarseek.com/getcat.php3?catid=88
http://www.allenguitar.com/case.htm
www.swinggeezers.com/links.htm
i found a way to lash my guitar onto a back pace frame...
there are some back packing packs that have a frame and
various straps, etc, so you can connect things onto them.
i also have be3en know to slip my nyckelharpa into a back
pack and then "wear " it with the straps...i have to be
careful in doorways, though to duck to get thru!!
good luck.

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:03 PM

I stopped by my local music store and chatted with the owner who had D-rings put on a case for a very expensive mandolin ($3000 Gibson with Bill Monroes autograph) -- they failed fairly quickly, leaving an ugly hole in the case!

So the word on metal attachments seems negative, especially given the weight of a D-28 and a resonator banjo.

Bill - I'd like to see your design. I was contemplating something like that, around the waist and the neck, although I have since found listings for Small Dog case covers at Janet Davis Music for just over $100. They seem to have the attaching straps on opposing sides of the case to make it balance.   

Mooh - Christine Laving of "Four Bitchin' Babes" fame recommends packing your clothes in a soft gig bag and your guitar in a hard-shell case, then swapping them when you get to the Festival, etc. for lightness. Of course you've got to be careful not to use the guitar polish for deodorant or the Gorilla Snot for hair gel! :)

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:10 PM

That should be Christine Lavin ?!

There's a good review of cases and case covers at Frets.com

I'd love to have a Calton, but I'm not in the league to fly to gigs yet, and they sure look heavy. We had an upright bass player bring a Calton type case to our theater a few years ago and it was like moving a refrigerator around.

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:23 PM

Fort EPP Cases come with 'covers' that have straps and such on them

http://www.thinmanmusic.com/Fort2b.jpg

And they're under a hundred bucks....

http://www.seagullguitars.com/fortepp.htm

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 09:53 PM

Les B...Yeah, I've heard that advice and it's good. I've used guitar cases to carry lots of non-guitar stuff over the years, including fishing rods.

Re: Fort case...I had one of the first generation and it quickly punctured (I think a mic stand did it) and seemed to reseal but it didn't make me confident, and the velcro latched failed often or tore open. The current ones like Clinton mentioned seem much much better with zipper and pockets etc...a friend swears by his. Light too!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 11:51 PM

big military surplus stores are always useful for all sorts of
misc straps, webbing, bags, n' stuff..

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 12:38 AM

To prevent 'puncture' Fort EPP cases now also include a metal pale inside the material of the 'body' of the case, that adds very little to weight, but MUCH to protection...

Having put them side by side, I think Carlton cases are a total rip-off at half the price... unless maybe you need your case to survive orbital re-entry....

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: open mike
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:25 AM

yes, check out thin man music

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:11 PM

"I think Carlton cases are a total rip-off"

Sorry... that should read "Calton"... not Carlton...

And well, sure... if I had some multi-thousand buck guitar that I was on the road with 300+ days a year, I supposed I could justify 5-8 hundred bucks for a case for it... But I don't... and I can't... And I don't suspect that any of us here are... So it is my opinion (And only that) that the Calton cases are, for 98% of players, way more case than is necessary...

"Fort EPP cases now also include a metal pale"
PLATE... dang... the top and bottom pieces of the 'body' of the case is now EPP material cast around a thin metal sheet... it provides way more protection against puncture' and also the curve of the metal plate serves to 'arch' and 'crush' to the sides of the case, protecting the instrument....

To refer more directly to the original post... someone suggested 'webbing'... make your own... with a little black-nylon webbing, 2 plastic 'buckles', 2 strips of velcro (to make it adjustable) and 15 min at the sewing machine I was able to knock together a VERY passable rig to hold my tubular alluminum speaker stands together, and provide myself with an over-one-shoulder sling for carrying them... materials cost may have been 10 bucks... and I bought enough for 2...

I have also added "D" ring attacments to standard wood-covered-in-black-pastic 'hardshell' cases to great sucess... it's all in the washers and such, to ensure that screws/bolts never pull out when bearing the full weight of the case and the instrument...

Or unless yer parked a mile away, you could just make 2 trips...

:-)

"I could make a rucsack type harness"
Elderly Music sells 'em... But I can't seem to lay hands on a catalogue right now...

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 02:13 PM

ARCH ANY CRUSH....

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:37 PM

Adding backpack straps to a case

The BackAxe!

http://www.backaxe.com/page2.html

:-)

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:50 PM

Alaska Airlines trashed my Martin hardshell case. I was able to get my custom fit, canary yellow Calton case from the Acoustic Store in Calgary for $455 US. As much as I fly around for gigs, I wouldn't have anything else. It is a bit heavy, but the protection is worth it.

Mike

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 04:03 PM

I would have agreed with you at one time, Clinton, until I had my beloved Seagull destroyed. For me, the Calton was the only option I could trust. I used to make these judgements based on the cost of the instrument. But these days the value of the instrument is measured, for me, by the sound and action. That little Seagul only cost me about $225.00 US, but I have never played a guitar since that had its sweetness and playability. If I could go back and put it in a $550.00 Calton and still have it, I would do it gladly. I simply will not travel with any guitar that I cherish in anything less than a Calton.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 04:14 PM

You'll note I mentioned "unless maybe you need your case to survive orbital re-entry" Mick... Your 'case' was fresh in my mind...

:-)

Subject: RE: Case covers for guitars & banjos
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 04:37 PM

yeah, it still breaks my heart, buddy. I miss that sweet little hunk of wood everyday.

Mick