An alternative case for Exploiter owners

[smuprof]

I have an '84 Exploiter, my first Alembic and still a blast to play.  I have the original case, rugged, one broken latch, but still functional.  
 
The challenge has always been transporting it.  I drove a Mustang rag top for a long time, and the only way to get that case in the car was either drive with the top down, or rest it across the passenger rear seat and the passenger headrest.  Of course its not secure there, and I dang near killed myself turning right and having the bass and case smash into my right temple!
 
The body shape and overall length prevents you from getting a smaller case, and a new case is typically $400 plus because of the size.  So what's a player to do?
 
Well, Dean has out a series of low end basses (Metalman) that have Z and X shapes, and they offer a large gig bag that fits those shapes for about $65.
 
Let me stop here and say I am the first to advocate the use of hard shell cases, and gig bags are not a substitute for a good case, BUT sometimes someting smaller and more convenient for local transportation in your car is helpful.
 
I recently bought one and it fits well.  I haven't had it long, but the quality seems decent for the price and its definitely made it easier to take along for local sessions.  
 
I'm sure it's not for everyone, (and you are putting your Alembic in a bag marked Dean - makes it less likely to get stolen  ), but if you're an Exploiter owner and you've ever wished there were an easier way to shuttle your baby around, you might want to check it out.

[keavin]

Dont leave even a loaf of bread in yo ride.....if a M#%@thf &%#@ can get atleast 5 bucks for it he'll go for it.  
 
(Message edited by keavin on April 09, 2007)

[bigredbass]

Geez, keavin . . . .
 
J o e y

[bsee]

That was a bit out there, wasn't it?  
 
Fact is that so many, veteran bass players included, don't know anything about Alembic.  I doubt there's much advantage when it comes to tempting thieves, but if it makes you feel better...

[hankster]

I'm with Keavin.  I left my Hofner verithin in my car for one afternoon, 30 years ago, and that's the last I saw of it.  I'd paid 50 bucks for it, and it was in a cardboard case, so neither the value (then) or the case was any attraction.  Gone anyway.
 
Of course, now it would be worth a he## of a lot more than fifty bucks...
 
Rick

[2400wattman]

Two things I go by when opting to leave something in my car, the first in a small script I made up involving driver & passenger.
The two pull up to a store and get out of the car.
driver- well lets go  
passenger- are'nt you going to put the top up?
driver- nah, there's nothing in this thing to steal.
passenger- (apprehensively) well alright
the two go into the store only to return to an empty parking space. Ouch!
 
The second thing I keep in mind is when my brother told me that somebody bashed in his windshield to get his cigs off his dash.

[keavin]

These days a muther-f***er will steal your ass stains out of the drivers seat if he could!

[bsee]

You never know what someone with a marginal personality will do, especially if they're drunk or high...

[hieronymous]

Smuprof, I appreciate the lead. I have never had a car that could handle the original hard case that came with my Exploiter. Now if only I could find a smaller case for my double-neck...

[lbpesq]

I'm looking for a smaller protective gig bag or case for my Series I 12 string.  The original case stretches across two time zones!
 
Bill, tgo

[tbrannon]

Bill,
 
The headstock on that thing will stretch across two time zones- good luck w/ that!

[olieoliver]

I like my Bodyglove gig bag.

[bsee]

I once looked at buying a used Exploiter bass.  They didn't have the original case of it and had it stuffed in a keyboard gig bag.  
 
If you could acquire the right foam, keyboard bags can typically be found to fit any single-necked bass or guitar.  I wonder if there's some way to conveniently create a mold to build some structure out of that blow-in foam that shippers use for custom packaging?

[lbpesq]

Olie:
 
I tried my Bodyglove guitar gig bag, but it's too short.  How long is the bass version?  That just might work for the 12 stringer.
 
Bill, tgo

[olieoliver]

I'll measure it when I get home, but my 34 Balance K fite in it just fine.