Author Topic: Flight Case Recos? (Read 389 times)

palembic · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2004, 09:26:29 PM »

Yep ...they call it indeed a bass-ballalaika.
I met a player here in Leuven who played it on the street in a trio together with a violin and an accordeon. They were playing the beautiful Allegro (Hmmm ..is it the allegro???) from The Winter by Vivaldi in an absolutely brillant way.
To be honest: it is on my wishlist together with an upright.
When I'll be a grown up of course!
And a fretless six-string ...AND an acoustic bass-guitar 5 string ...

Mmmmm ...I still have a lot growing up to do HA!

Paul the bad one

ox_junior · « **Reply #16 on:** January 01, 2005, 10:36:46 PM »

Thanks everyone, these are all good suggestions for different case manufacturers.

I did a little research on my own and came up with a company in North Hollywood called A&S Cases - they make ATA-quality flight cases for a local refurbisher of vintage Ampeg basses. I'd like to get one where the interior is custom-cut to my Spyder, so that would mean someplace local (I'm sure there's plenty other than this place in LA). I'm sure it will be a humongoid case but will be worth it (I'd probably put some small casters on it). I'm out of room in my truck as it is when I'm hauling my full rig around - this'll be fun!

The Clam is also a viable option - Would be nice to just take the regular case around once the bass gets to where it's going.

I may be on the road with The Who Show later in the year, so I'm looking to get this done when my tax refund comes in.

Thanks again everyone!

Mike

richbass939 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2005, 08:28:40 AM »

Mike,
Does it look like the tour will include Colorado?
Rich

ox_junior · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2005, 05:04:21 PM »

Hey Rich,

A few people have asked if we are playing Denver, as there is a strong Who contingent there. We may have to add this to the itinerary once it comes together! I'll let everyone know.

Cheers, Mike

apdavis · « **Reply #19 on:** January 04, 2005, 09:58:49 AM »

Has anyone had any experience with Z Cases.
http://www.z-cases.com/

http://www.rootinternational.com/shopexd.asp?id=12349

It's a company out of Florida, that might be an option for a heavy duty case.

lbpesq · « **Reply #20 on:** January 04, 2005, 10:53:12 AM »

omigod! I laughed out loud when I clicked on the z-case link and was sent to Zero Halliburton! I admit I am not familiar with their bass cases, but their attache cases were the drug dealer case of choice back in the 70's and 80's! I'm sure most will remember from some movie or TV show the image of the big time drug dealer walking through the airport with an aluminum attache case - that's Zero Halliburton. (I don't know if there is any connection with the Halliburton Corp. and co-president Dick Cheney).

I have a large size Zero Halliburton attache case that was used in an experiment by the lawyer I worked for when I first got out of law school. He had a case where a plane crashed in a lagoon and shortly thereafter the locals found bags of quaaludes washing up on the beach. There was a Zero Halliburton case found in the water and the question arose as to the effect of the water on the case and potential fingerprints.

The guy I worked for bought a similar case, put some rocks and stuff in it, and placed it underwater in the lagoon for several months. When the legal case was over, he gave it to me, a little scratched on the outside, but otherwise no worse for the wear. It was watertight and undamaged.

I still use it today for my P.A. cables and other band-related stuff. If their bass cases are built anything like their brief cases, they are very solid.

Bill, tgo

dgcarbu · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2005, 11:00:31 AM »

Bill,

That's a interesting / funny story, and testiment to the z-case, I was checking out that link as well.

Darrell

dnburgess · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2005, 03:28:24 PM »

The Z case is essentially an oversize Zero Halliburton attache case - as made famous in movies for transporting drugs (where the watertightness might be handy) or cash.

The manufacturer is Zero. They are known as Zero Halliburton cases because Zero originally manufactured them for Halliburton to protect geological survey equipment and back in those days the Hallburton brand was seen as a positive.

Since then the cases have been used in every hostile environment imaginable, including outer space.

I recently bought two Z-cases and had them custom fitted for a couple of basses being built at Santa Rosa. Both arrived with small dings received during air freighting to Australia. This didn't worry me or my customer, who thought they added some street credibility and expected to give them more dings in due course. It could have been a problem with a picky customer who wanted them for show rather than go.

Pros: Looks way cool, custom fitting, great protection, vendor responded professionally to concerns re internal finish on first case.

Cons: Only one shell size - so bad luck Spydermen, inconsistent internal finish, shouts steal me - everyone has seen those films and will do the mental arithmetic on how much drugs, cash or WMDs might be inside.

David B.

dnburgess · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2005, 03:33:56 PM »

Also check out www.scottdixoninc.com

I saw these cases at the last NAMM and was very impressed. Seemed pretty indestructible - look almost as good as Zero - and the dimpled finish will probably wear well.

David B.

David Houck · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2005, 04:34:56 PM »

(Message edited by davehouck on January 04, 2005)

ox_junior · « **Reply #25 on:** January 06, 2005, 03:32:27 PM »

Hm. More interesting options. Those Zero Halliburton cases look cool, too bad they don't have a standard size that would accommodate my Spyder.

I just got a pass to the upcoming NAMM show, so I will be hitting up some case folks there as well.

Thanks! Mike

dean_m · « **Reply #26 on:** January 06, 2005, 05:47:41 PM »

Hey Mike,

If you get a chance, stop by the Ampeg (St. Louis Music) booth while your at the show and say hello. I'm there Thur-Sun doing my thing. In fact anyone going to the show, come on by.

Peace,
Dino

lbpesq · « **Reply #27 on:** January 06, 2005, 06:49:51 PM »

Mike:

I recently spoke with Bruce Lamb, the Clam guy. I think he mentioned that he's going to have a booth at the NAMM show. By the way, he is a very nice guy and provides EXCELLENT customer service. I wrote him with a suggestion about the velcro seal on the end of the case and he called, said they had redesigned it to get rid of the velcro seal (a definite improvement) and sent me a new case and a call tag to send back the old one - NO CHARGE, not even shipping costs!!!!! You might want to check it out if he's there.

Bill, tgo

ox_junior · « **Reply #28 on:** January 11, 2005, 01:24:52 PM »

Dino and Bill TGO:

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll be there on Saturday, so Dino, I will definitely stop by and say hello. I have to say that I played through a full SVT the other day...pretty rumbling stuff although I still like my Trace. And Bill, I will stop by and talk to Bruce Lamb The Clam Man.

And of course I will be spending PLENTY of time at the Alembic booth!

Thanks! Mike