Alembic in a new case/gigbag

[goran]

Ok so here is how I did with my Alembic.

First I decieded that I can't carry original case around, so I got myself a gigbag, Gruvgear...

The bass fits perfectly., here are pics.

But, after few gigs I realized that I would like (If roadie, which usually happens) some kind of case/gigbag so want to share this with you.

I visited the company here in Croatia that do cases for instruments out of carbon, they are very light and sturdy. I really didn't think they do bass guitar case, but they do. What's even better they do every case like some people make basses, they do care about their stuff. When I was choosing for mine, you can decide for so many options, from how it will look inside (straps, holders, compartments, etc.) and you can chose how it will look from outside (color, shape, etc.). Btw. it's only 3.5 kg in weight!!!

So they measured my Alembic and started to build the case for it.

Can't tell you how great cases look in real life, just insanely great, that 3D carbon is great I'm gonna post a few pics in next post so you can see how they look like. Just saw that Stanley Clarke has one for his double bass.

Anyhow, the only thing is the price, I know that Alembic are not cheap instruments, so there is a price tag that usually makes people divert from getting one, price for one case is around 1000 euros. So that's why mostly classical player do tend to buy them, because it's not a lot of money if you have an instrument worth over 20.000 dollars, or euros.

you can check them out here https://www.accordcase.com/

You can also find them on Facebook, there is a post that I did how I visited the company.

So now the waiting time to build me the case, as soon as it's done, I'll post the pictures here so you can see how it looks.

Goran

[goran]

So this is my friends case old 14-15 years. still working and original buckles...

[goran]

And here is factory...

[JimmyJ]

Goran,

There are a couple companies over here making carbon instrument cases too.  Calton - which used to be Canadian but is now in Austin Texas - make great cases for many standard sized instruments.  They're kind of the go-to case for acoustic guitars.  And they've started to make a Fender Bass case but that shell is not large enough to fit a long scale Alembic. They say they're working on a larger model, but of course the issue for these companies is that it's usually not worth laying out a custom shell for only a small number of potential customers.  Same with another company Hoffee, I don't believe their rectangular bass case is large enough.

My Series II with Omega Cut is 4ft (122cm) from end to end and the body is also larger than a "normal" Fender style bass. 

If these folks at Accord are willing to make a shell that would work for us, it would be a wonderful thing!!  I wonder if Alembic HQ might even be interested in offering the case as a deluxe option...  ??

Keep us up to date on this development!  Thanks for the info.

Jimmy J

[lbpesq]

I have a Hoffee carbon fiber case for my Strat-shaped guitars and original Canadian Calton fiberglass cases for my Further and Martin D-28.  Both are amazingly protective, but the Hoffee is significantly lighter.  I just checked out the new Calton site and only saw fiberglass cases.  Noting on the site I could find about carbon fiber.

Bill, tgo

[edwin]

I have a Hoffee carbon fiber case for my Strat-shaped guitars and original Canadian Calton fiberglass cases for my Further and Martin D-28.  Both are amazingly protective, but the Hoffee is significantly lighter.  I just checked out the new Calton site and only saw fiberglass cases.  Noting on the site I could find about carbon fiber.

Bill, tgo

I contacted Hoffee in the past and they wouldn't do a bass case. Maybe things have changed.

I have a Canadian Calton for my Starfire and it's fantastic. However, it's also massive. I'd love to have a carbon fiber version, but at this point, I mostly use a gig bag, so I can't justify the cost for a few flights a year. Calton had been fine with making custom cases of any size back in the day, but I'm not sure of the current policy. Given that they do upright bass and cello cases, etc., they should be willing to do it.

[goran]

Hey Jimmy,

I've never heard of those companies probably because they are in US, but when the guy tried to put my bass in mold (also 122cm, I think we have almost same shape, if not the same shape), it fitted perfectly as the guy said, I was worried that some basses will fit but Alembic won't, but it actually was in perfectly.
There was 3-4 cm more room from each side of the bass and on top of headstock was around 4 cm more room... so I think that will work.

Let's wait until they finish it and then well see the whole thing, I'm actually exited about it.

Btw. Jimmy how do you travel with our bass?

Do you check it in the plane, or have it just in gigbag? Also if you go somewhere do roadies take care of bass? Whats the procedure?

I know probably when you play locally ( foe example Baked Potato), you carry bass by yourself in gigbag, right?

Thanks you all for comments.... 

[hammer]

I'd love something that light! At 1,000 euros, however, it's out of my league. I wonder if there would be any discount if multiple players with the same Alembics placed an order together?

For it to actually work for me I'd need one highly customized case that could be configured and reconfigured to fit medium and long scaled series Is, short scale Stanley, and a Europa 6er. Now if they could do that, I'd have one extremely light case I could use for all my basses which I typically travel with as singles and I'd quickly drop the 1,000.  Highly unlikely, but a guy can dream right...

[JimmyJ]

Goran,

Wow, cool!  Is their shell a rectangle shape or more like a guitar case?  I'm exited to see what they come up with.

Yes, around LA I use some ancient Reunion Blues gig bags.  I'm waiting to see if I can outlast them, and I actually might.   

When I fly I check the bass in these odd cases pictured below.  They were made by Zero Halliburton, probably originally for some type of military ordinance (I don't want to know), and were sold by Gibson as guitar cases for a short time in the mid-70's.  As you can see, the bass barely fits.  I've been through a few of these over the years as they get bent up and eventually won't close properly.  But I still have a couple unused ones so I should be able to continue this way for some years. 

When I have the luxury of a crew I put two basses in these aluminum cases in a trunk with a small rack and miscellaneous strings and spare parts, and that gets shipped off for touring.


But I am definitely interested to see what Accord has to offer us, so post pics when you can.  These Halliburtons are about as small a rectangular footprint as there can be, but they still are large and awkward cases and sometimes the airlines get out their tape measures and start shaking their heads... 


Thanks!
Jimmy J

[jazzyvee]

I'd be interested in checking out one that fits my Europa basses so will be watching this thread especially if here is some way of carrying the case as a back pack.

[goran]

Jazzyvee, they do have that, too carry it on the back.

[Picure]

Check this out. A sepcialized strap for hard cases that enable you to carry it on your back.

http://www.backaxe.com

[goran]

Jimmy thanks a lot for kind answer, we all have those problems for traveling with our basses, I really do hope that Accord is the way to go.

Not sure if I said this, but you can also choose how robust carbon is (the thickness), of course it gets heavier case if is thicker. The owner in front my eyes was throwing one case around so we can see how robust it is.... ha!

Thanks all, as soon as I have a sample, I'll keep you posted on everything that's going on.

Btw. my wife is a violin playing in local symphony orchestra, and she will also try the Accord.

We'll see, I'm keeping fingers crossed!

Goran

[goran]

Hey guys I just got picture when they put my Alembic in the mold to see if it fits

Also here is a pic of my friends two guitar cases and one pic of my other bass that Ill make the case (Fodera), they said they could easily make a case that I can fit both Fodera and Alembic in one case, but I wanted two cases for them.

[JimmyJ]

Wow!  Great news that our large instruments can fit in that shell.  And I like the shape.  It took me a minute to figure out that the curvy side is where the feet go and the slow arc is where the handle goes.  Nice! 

I would recommend getting the locking latches (I believe I see one on the cello cases above).  In fact, I would ask for all the latches to be key-lockable if they can do that because when handled as checked baggage they would be prone to popping open.

I am definitely interested in getting (at least) one of these but will hold off a bit to hear more about your experience with the company and the product.  On their website the "Web Store" link is not yet functional but I wonder if they would be able to sell directly to US customers?  I know they have a couple distributors over here on the East coast - violin stores - so maybe we'd need to go through them...

Anyway, thanks again for the great find.  Keep us up to date on the progress.  There's a good chance you have directed some business to this company!

Jimmy J