Home brew cut bell bass trombone case (revisited)

heldenbone · 2023-04-18 1:25 p.m.

Started with a Pelican Vault V700 rifle box and some choice material from Walmart. The result is a flight-worthy case for my bass trombone. Not shown are the wheels added to make transport easier ($12 from Amazon). Total cost of the project is about $200.

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2023-04-18 5:22 p.m.

Beautiful!

I’m still looking for one just a little shorter, I want a 36” overall on the exterior, but I may be out of luck there.

Love the interior,

Andy

Neo_Bri · by **Neo_Bri** » 2023-04-18 5:46 p.m.

This is amazing! Love it. I'd love to do this too. You didn't cut the bell yourself, did you?

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2023-04-18 7:30 p.m.

That is really cool but I would want to squeeze it into a smaller case. Like, that type of case but viola sized.

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2023-04-18 7:35 p.m.

[quote="harrisonreed"]That is really cool but I would want to squeeze it into a smaller case. Like, that type of case but viola sized.[/quote]

Yeah, it looks pretty big to me.

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2023-04-18 11:14 p.m.

This is amazing! Love it. I'd love to do this too. You didn't cut the bell yourself, did you?

Oh no. Gary Dafler did that for me. Size was secondary to airline imperviousness. It's still smaller than a guitar case, and thinner, so it should still frequently qualify as carry on, but stand up to checking if required.

JohnL · by **JohnL** » 2023-04-19 12:47 a.m.

[quote="Burgerbob"]Yeah, it looks pretty big to me.[/quote]

Aidan, have you seen the case John Sandhagen made for his bass trombone? Pretty darned small.

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2023-04-19 12:48 a.m.

[quote="JohnL"]<QUOTE author="Burgerbob" post_id="207840" time="1681860913" user_id="3131">Yeah, it looks pretty big to me.[/quote]

Aidan, have you seen the case John Sandhagen made for his bass trombone? Pretty darned small.
</QUOTE>

Yes it is!

CharlieB · by **CharlieB** » 2023-04-19 11:14 a.m.

Nice work. Beautiful.

An excellent compromise of protection, size, durability and cost.

:good: :good:

Druidman · by **Druidman** » 2023-04-19 4:21 p.m.

[quote="Burgerbob"]<QUOTE author="JohnL" post_id="207850" time="1681879670" user_id="119">

Aidan, have you seen the case John Sandhagen made for his bass trombone? Pretty darned small.[/quote]

Yes it is!
</QUOTE>

Are there pictures of this anywhere?

Burgerbob · by **Burgerbob** » 2023-04-19 5:24 p.m.

[quote="Druidman"]<QUOTE author="Burgerbob" post_id="207851" time="1681879696" user_id="3131">

Yes it is![/quote]

Are there pictures of this anywhere?
</QUOTE>

Not sure. I might be able to take one next week.

BigBadandBass · by **BigBadandBass** » 2023-04-20 9:44 a.m.

I want a bonna case with that interior

heldenbone · 2023-04-21 1:20 a.m.

[quote="elmsandr"]I’m still looking for one just a little shorter, I want a 36” overall on the exterior, but I may be out of luck there.[/quote]

Thanks for the kind words. The closest to a 36-inch flight case suitable for repurposing that I found was a 37-note keyboard case. I didn't explore them too exhaustively because they looked like they were built like Anvil cases and weighed as much.

Perhaps that will be what someone is looking for. :idk:

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2023-04-21 1:36 a.m.

<QUOTE>
That is really cool but I would want to squeeze it into a smaller case. Like, that type of case but viola sized.

Yeah, it looks pretty big to me.
</QUOTE>

Doing a search on Ebay with "violin gun case" brings up some interesting items.

elmsandr · by **elmsandr** » 2023-04-21 4:21 a.m.

[quote="heldenbone"]<QUOTE author="elmsandr" post_id="207827" time="1681852944" user_id="147">
I’m still looking for one just a little shorter, I want a 36” overall on the exterior, but I may be out of luck there.[/quote]

Thanks for the kind words. The closest to a 36-inch flight case suitable for repurposing that I found was a 37-note keyboard case. I didn't explore them too exhaustively because they looked like they were built like Anvil cases and weighed as much.

Perhaps that will be what someone is looking for. :idk:
</QUOTE>
The problem is we all want everything with no trade-offs. Yours is a beautiful adaptation of a very robust Pelican. There are a few keyboard and pedal board cases, but like you say, they are built like Anvil cases.

I have seen very few rifle cases as nice as the Pelicans and none that come in at 36" overall. I may go a modular route eventually and make a slide case out of an arrow quiver case and something else for the bell section... but I don't see how doubling up on flanges and latches will save me weight or space yet.

Cheers,

Andy

boneagain · by **boneagain** » 2023-04-21 6:54 a.m.

Heldenbone,

There are a couple things I really like about your case (apart from the fabric :) )

1) It would actually be HARD for a luggage inspector to accidentally put anything back incorrectly

and cause damage to the horn.

2) It has more travel room inside than any other case I've seen,

so no matter HOW it gets dropped, there is foam to take up shock

before ANY part gets to the edge of the case.

Nice work!

Molefsky · by **Molefsky** » 2023-08-20 9:48 p.m.

Did you use pluckable foam etc? Did you use an adhesive for the lining material?

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2023-08-24 12:43 a.m.

The case came with multiple single large sheets of non-perforated foam. I fitted it especially to that instrument by tracing its outline on the top layer, then cutting carefully with a sharp modelling knife. At the tuning slide end, the layers are cut so the valve slide is supported. The multiple layers made this easier. The cutout for the bell is deep enough to allow cushion above and below. The fabric is secured to the foam using E-6000 cement sparingly, and the foam is secured to the inside of the shell with double-sided adhesive film. I added a pair of luggage rollers from Amazon for $12, and later a set of opposing rubber feet so it would stand upright. Total cost was just under $200.

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2024-10-27 9:30 a.m.

Version 2.0 is still undergoing some testing, but the results so far are encouraging. Starting with a Gator 16-16.5" viola case, I've made it this far. Leadpipe sock in the lid, closed storage in the large end (hidden under bell), compression pillow rather than straps to restrain movement. Added d-rings for backpack straps and wheels/feet/handle for easy drag carrying, extra latch under handle for security. Interior is velveteen over compressible foam fitted especially to this trombone. Outer dimensions of case are 34" x 12" x 7", narrowing toward top.

harrisonreed · by **harrisonreed** » 2024-10-27 9:51 a.m.

Now THAT is cool

BGuttman · by **BGuttman** » 2024-10-27 2:43 p.m.

I hope the viola made a nice warm fire :evil:

Posaunus · by **Posaunus** » 2024-10-27 3:27 p.m.

[quote="BGuttman"]I hope the viola made a nice warm fire :evil:[/quote]

Watch out for the toxic smoke! :horror:

UATrombone · by **UATrombone** » 2024-10-28 7:14 a.m.

[quote="heldenbone"]Interior is velveteen over compressible foam fitted especially to this trombone.[/quote]
Could you explain what kind of foam and how did you cut it to fit trombone?

BTW, nice looking case, I thought to do the same thing, but, unfortunately, I can't find Gator viola case, dealers in my country only have Gator 4/4 violin case, which is much smaller than viola's one.

bassbone1993 · by **bassbone1993** » 2024-10-28 12:26 p.m.

I'd be really curious as well! Nice side project.

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2024-10-29 11:36 a.m.

I bought foam rubber as a 1" thick sheet, 2' x 4' at a craft store. It cuts pretty easily with a razor knife, although if you prefer, aforementioned hobby store also sells a hot knife especially for cutting and sculpting foam rubber and styrofoam. It was really just a process of tracing and cutting the trace - first the case interior, next layer with an outline of the instrument body. I started out using E-6000 cement, but it smelled so bad I changed to hot-melt glue. The most fiddling went into getting the material to conform to all the odd contours. I ended up making cuts in the material once it was partially in place, and putting in odd size/shape patches to make things work gracefully. I'm stilling mulling over how the bell flare goes in. It may end up secured to the lid.

UATrombone · by **UATrombone** » 2024-10-29 1:00 p.m.

Thank you for the explanation.

My thoughts were the same. Multi-layered foam insert.

I found foam in different thickness and even thought to laser cut it (there are a lot of companies which offer this service). But, price for one insert is quite high.

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2024-10-29 1:33 p.m.

With purchase of the viola case, foam, and some hardware bits, I'm into it for $200 (us) or a bit more. The material was a remnant in my wife's sewing stores. Plus a ridiculous amount of time, of course. :amazed:

heldenbone · by **heldenbone** » 2024-11-02 2:00 p.m.

Wrapping up "revisited" for now after a couple suggested revisions:

o blocks to keep the slide in its own lane

o better bell flare stowage

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Home brew cut bell bass trombone case (revisited)