Carbon Fibre Bass case for my Europa

[lbpesq]

I was about to post United Breaks Guitars, but the Cozmik one beat me to it.  Great (and twisted) minds think alike!

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

That song and video went viral even crossing over on to the tv news a number of times. here in the UK.

[lbpesq]

Watching it again, I just noticed for the first time that the broken guitar in the video is NOT a Taylor!

Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

Maybe the Taylor was too badly broken to use for the video and they 'found' a broken one they could use.
Surely they wouldn't have deliberately broken one just for the video.

[keith_h]

When I use to fly with instruments I found being able to carry it on with me had a few variables. The size of the plane and season frequently made a difference as the larger planes tended to have more space in their closets and in warmer months the closets were usually empty. I would sometimes use the overhead bins but a Jazz Bass in a hardshell case takes up a lot room so that was usually reserved for red eye or other low occupancy flights. When I couldn't carry my instrument on the plane I would gate check it. This meant at the other end it would be delivered to the gate for me to pick up and not go to an unsupervised luggage area. It has been years since I've flown anywhere so some of this might have changed but I would still look into gate checking since I can monitor/assist the TSA agents as the instrument goes through the checkpoint. 

[Glynn]

Hi Jazzy,
Would Hiscox in Cannock help? They adapted one of theirs in 2000 to fit my Orion 4 and it is still going (very) strong.
Glynn

[jazzyvee]

I think one of my electric guitars (Patrick Eggle, Berlin Pro) came with a Hiscox case and I think my Yamaha acoustic could be a hiscox one too. I will give them a call and see what they can do.

[rraymond]

That United Beaks Guitars video is fabulous! Sucks that it was based on actual events. Hopefully, the artist made a few bucks from the tune and video.

The only time I had a chance for a fly-away gig came two months after I received my custom Mark King back in 2004. I sweated bullets about taking it, bought a flight case, and was totally relieved when the gig fell through! I never got another opportunity. But, when I recently sold the bass, it was in “excellent” condition.

[jazzyvee]

Hi Jazzy,
Would Hiscox in Cannock help? They adapted one of theirs in 2000 to fit my Orion 4 and it is still going (very) strong.
Glynn

Just watched a video on their site and they look really sturdy cases.

[jazzyvee]

I recently talked to Wiseman Cases and the echo'd Jimmy J's thoughts that the custom carbon based cases are expensive due to the mould so he has offered an alternative of lightweight aircraft grade plywood as a strong enough alternative if made into a curved rather than flat style. Any views/experience?

[cozmik_cowboy]

I lugged instruments in regular, flat, plywood fight cases in and out of trucks for years, with no damage - but they do pack a few more pounds that carbon fiber.

Peter

[gearhed289]

The case company that I run sometimes uses 1/4'' thick polypropylene panels instead of the 3/8'' Baltic birch with outer laminate that the majority of our cases are made of. This cuts about 30% off the weight, but it's still got all the same flight case recessed hardware, aluminum edges, etc. We don't do a ton of guitar cases. Our bread and butter is pro audio/video/lighting, plus they're just really expensive. I'm doing 3 right now for 2 Dingwalls and a Mayones at $1100 each. Weight is 30-35 pounds.

[jazzyvee]

I do have a traditional heavy plywood and aluminium and steel fittings but it weighs a ton with a heavy alembic in it. I do have a coffin style case that only fits my black europe and i use it for gigs in the UK when it’s going in tje back of the van but it is a really tight fit so may not have enough space between the sides or the headstock to divert impact away from the bass.

[jazzyvee]

Hi Jazzy,
Would Hiscox in Cannock help? They adapted one of theirs in 2000 to fit my Orion 4 and it is still going (very) strong.
Glynn

Hi Glynn, i took two basses up to Hiscox yesterday and they sorted me out. I bought one of their peardrop cases which will hold my a series Europa. They fitted some extra padding in key places to keep the bass firmly in the case plus a load of spare pads so that I can use it for a different bass.

I also took an existing case that came with my Orion 5 string recently and they fitted additional padding to the inside of the case, and replaced the latches.
On both cases I had D-rings fitted and shoulder straps so I can carry either like a gig bag. They are really sturdy cases so I doubt if I will look any further into a carbon fibre case for my series bass as i doubt if I would ever take it overseas unless it was on a cruise ship.


Really nice people.  Oh and they loved the basses and took some shots of the Series II for their social media.

[rv_bass]

Hiscox cases look nice.  Are they light weight?  What do you think about the latches that they use?

https://hiscoxcases.com/products/large-peardrop-bass-guitar-hard-case-pro-ii-spec