I am taking a final look at cases at the moment with an upcoming trip to France in mind
I need a case for a 3/4 set internal measurements not smaller (and preferably not much larger) than 60(l)x20(d)x16(h) cm.
I thought I’d go with a bagpiper semi soft highland pipes case but am getting some last minute worries about the semi soft part of them. You’d be worried what would happen if some eejit would step on them when you leave them in some corner.
I am aware of custom flight cases (have been using one since 1986) and I haven’t ruled them out yet but not sure I want a 5-6 kg of case to carry (as some of the ready mades on ebay are).
So, anyone with experience with (converting) oblong fiddle or viola cases? These seem to come without internal measurements in the on-line shops so it’s hard to know how to progress there (yes, I did enquire but haven’t heard back from any yet).
I have been particularly looking at the Jacob Winter/Eastman fibreglass fiddle and viola cases and similar oblong cases so to hear any experiences with those would be great.
Peter, I use a second hand oblong violin case for my 3/4 set. I can also get a flute inside. however I can’t fit my bellows in so I carry the bellows in my small backpack together with camera and other stuff. The only modification I did was to remove the violin neck support from the case. The case has straps so I can carry it on my back if I want or in my hand. PS congratulations and give my regards.
I only have to slide off the bass drone crook with puck otherwise the pipes are not broken down. The case is the one I use when in Miltown, cost 20 euros
Hm, yes you do. I remember now. I need the bellows in there though.
We’e having our summer early this year. It’s great here at the moment. Will you be over for Willie? Liam Flynn does the opening and Mitchell is doing the Willie talk again. And Banjo, Harp and Harmonica recitals have been added. So there will be a few novelties there.
May be possible to get a bellows in depending on how much you can compress them. My bellows are a recent D. Williams bellows and they don’t compress as much as my old bellows. I hope to get over for Willie Week, but Helena will give Miltown a rest this year and go next year instead. We’ll both be going to Tocane de Apres 22-25 July though.
I have no trouble fittting a 3/4 set in C into a Pro-Tec viola case (including bellows); the bass drone needs to be removed from its slide and the tenor drone pushed all the way in. I had to remove all the blocks that form-fit a viola but was able to do that without ripping or disfiguring the velvet lining (the blocks are typically stapled in with wood staples rather than glued), with the exception of one piece on the top inside of the case that was glued as well as stapled. I’m very happy with it.
Peter, I use a soft case that i had made to the exact size of one of those luggage sizers at the gate (at airports). In all the years I’ve been traveling with one (which contains a concertina & flute) I’ve never had an incident. (Great to hear about those new instrument additions to the concerts!)
I use a Hiscox Viola case which is just the right size for pipes and bellows, but it does need a lot of work internally. I ended up routing all the injection moulded foam out, leaving about 1/2 inch all round as some protection - it is also an intrinsic part of the cases’ original strength - and then recovering with velvet.
I use the black case that Andreas Rogge has on his website http://www.uilleann-pipes.de/english/koffer.html
84 x 27,5 x 12 cm, suitable for Uilleann Pipe half set, full set
Surface: plastic coated, black, Hardware: Aluminium, steel (nickel plated) Extra wide and comfortable shoulder strap.
The only change to this case is that it has green Velvet Lining now from Kingham MTM Cases http://kingham.merion.co.uk/
What is the full size inside of a Hiscox Viola case
I purchased a soft ‘striker’ case and lined it with egg box style foam. I was able to fit a full set of D’s plus two sets of Northumbrians in the case. I had to split the bass drone but otherwise all was fine.
We travelled by Eurostar from London to Dijon without incident or damage to pipes.
Various other bow case options but I needed a light case.
I vote ProTec Viola. For me it safely totes a full set & bellows, plus 3 whistles, an english horn, many reeds & emerg kit. Every single highland case Ive tried ( & theres been many) does not satisfactorily hold an Uilleann pipe. I dont feel a compromise in structural integrity with the viola shape removed, because the top half is a very hard stable (& i believe) a one piece thing that zips down onto the bottom piece on 3 sides.
lets face it, it’s serving a higher purpose as an uilleann pipe case. Viola cases should be lined up 9 deep for the opprotunity to better themselves
Cormac Cannon was fitting a B set into a fiddle case when he came up here a few years back.
At the time he was flying regularly between Edinburgh and Dublin.
Last fall I saw Fiachra O’Regan fitting everything but bellows into a bright blue, hard-side, fiberglass, fiddle-shaped violin case. He had an extra flat chanter in there too. I know folks who use secondhand fiddle or viola cases, too; they are often slimmer than modern cases.
I have used a soft-sided, sax-shaped tenor sax bag for travel without trouble, including internationally; I can fit a 3/4 set with bellows in there, only having to take off the bass drone slide. If I am really worried about jostling, I wrap things in bubble wrap and stuff a sweater in there.
Fiddle case is interesting, I am looking at an oblong fibreglass Eastman at the minute, the fiddle version given me the 60 cm internal length I need, the viola one comes at 78.5 cm length. And they ship for only €6 from Germany. Only question now is whether or not the fiddle one is deep enough to take the bellows.
I was just thinking of Fiachra’s case. That was astounding, wasn’t it!?
I have a Protec viola case I gutted, and it feels very safe but it gets kind of heavy. The last couple of years I’ve been using a Protec tenor sax gig bag and it’s been fine, even on flights; it fits into the overhead compartments on even the “lawn-chair air” or commuter-hop jets. It’s very well-padded, and the sax shape kind of fits the general pipe layout. I do have to take the bass drone slide off, though.
I only have a half set. But I think a couple of regs would fit no problem. If it is, just put your bellows in your suitcase and you’ll be fine.
Edited to say: oh, look, KAD’s already answered that.
tommykleen is a master at pipe packing, IIRC … I think he gets two sets in a Protec viola case?
with the viola shape removed, because the top half is a very hard stable (& i believe) a one piece thing that zips down onto the bottom piece on 3 sides.
