Flute Cases Again

Irish Flute
1

A quick search didn’t find anything completely relevant to my current needs, so…

I am currently looking for a case for a 6 key R&R style flute, the longest section, including keywork, is just under 12". Here is what I am NOT looking for:

Standard pistol case - typically too big, particularly with the solid integrated handle: I need something more compact to fit in my backpack.

Custom Northwind or other wood case - More than I want to spend and typically not protective enough for my needs. I need a case that will protect the flute if the case is dropped onto solid ground. (E.G., I crash my mountain bike, while avoiding traffic, with the flute in my backpack)

What I have seen that I like, but can’t yet find the correct size:

Camera cases like Sam Murray uses for his flutes these days - These are a smaller than pistol cases and provide awesome protection. Just haven’t found the right size locally or on-line yet. Interior dimensions would need to be 12"x5.5-6"x3-3.5"

Not sure what these are called, but they are cordora covered semi hard cases - Foam padded inside with semi-rigid panels just under the cordura exterior. Nice and light, very compact, come with a shoulder strap. Not as much protection as I’d like, but might do, if I could find the right one.

Still, I keep thinking there must be a better option out there, something with all the protection of the camera cases, but without being quite so oversized.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated…


Loren

2

I ordered one of these last week, hard case for pratten style flute.
http://www.johnnyroadhouse.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=747&category_id=144&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=5&vmcchk=1&Itemid=5

Not sure if its what your looking for but when it arrives I can post better pictures and dimensions.

3

What about gutting a flute-piccolo combo case (a hard-shell one) and putting foam in? That’s basically what John Gallagher did for my Bb flute case, and it works a treat – plus it’s small! Then if you want extra cushioning you could get a Cavallaro cover for it like us classical types do … Don’t want all that itty-bitty silver getting cold :smiley:

Here’s mine:

http://www.flutesonline.com/flutestore/product.php?productid=16238&cat=266&page=1

Here’s another (no pic): http://www.wwbw.com/Gemeinhardt-Flute---Piccolo-Combo-Cases-464218-i1411706.wwbw?source=TWFRWXX&mr:trackingCode=B0CA5271-0319-DE11-9BD3-0019B9C2BEFD&mr:referralID=NA

There may be cheaper ones out there if you hunt.

Pro-Tec makes fine cases with the cordura cover, but me, I’d have trouble gutting the more expensive ones.

4

I haven’t found anything better than the pistol cases so far…

Can you modify a “silver” flute case ??

Jack

5

Oooh, I just checked out iainbeag’s link and that one looks grand. Cheap, too! Would you mind letting us know how that works for you, ib?

I might be after replacing my pistol case with one of those. The pistol case is so … so … so pistol-ey. :smiley:

6

Yes I’ll post photos and sizes plus my thoughts on it.
I ordered it last Thursday so hopefully its not too far away.

7

Hey Loren -

I realize this is not quite as deep as you’d like but might be worth a look anyway. I think it may be crush proof too.

http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1090CC

8

As mentioned here and by myself in past posts on this subject I just use a Pro Tec flute case that has a thick rigid foam interior.

Its VERY strong and VERY secure.

It is designed to fit a silverflute but I just took a pair of pliers and lightly crushed in the foam dividers to fit the form of my 8 key Wylde/Rudall.

Took all of one minute to do and it left the black fuzzy velour intact.

Perfect fit.

So snug and warm it goes… and it goes everywhere with me. Straps, side and black pouches, nice velcro flap lock over the zippers and for the handle.

It will not come open by and can be messed with when you aren’t looking without some serious effort




I highly recommend it.

45 bucks too.

http://www.amazon.com/ProTec-Classic-Flute-Green-Music/dp/B0025SZC0S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1243374392&sr=8-1

9

Don’t want to pour cold water, iain beag/Cat, and I may be wrong - time and iain’s report will tell… but that one looks very suspiciously similar to the ones that some of the Pakistani and Indian eBay flutes come in - not disastrously cruddy or useless, but not really strong or good quality.

10

Thanks to all, a bunch of good suggestions so far! Keep them coming, please. I’ll be taking a close look at each of the options mentioned.

Loren

11

Sure, pistol cases aren’t a problem up there in NH, but I am in MA. I assume you know what the gun laws are like here? :open_mouth: Can you imagine me walking to work past Boston cops on the Common carrying a pistol case??? I am likely to get shot on sight.

Yeah, I can modify a flute case.

Oh, you mean and have it still be usable for something? Probably not, you should see how my Damascus steel turned out :frowning:


Loren

12

Yah…the only problem up here is grabbing the wrong case when leaving the bar…

13

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Hmm, what’s in which case: Grinter or Glock??

14

Star …when I’ve grabbed the wrong one leaving home …(only happened once…honest!)

15

Yes, you can modify a Boehm flute case. I had an old one which I gutted and then rebuilt the innards of using cut up bits of karrimat stuck together in layers and then covered with a velvet-like fabric.

In retrospect, I would probably use a slightly more breathable foam than the closed cell sleeping mat that I used - not really a problem since I keep the flute in fairly constant use, but I could imagine mould forming if I put the flute away wet and left it in the case for a long time. But then you shouldn’t do that anyway!

Here’re some piccies - it still looks a bit homemade, but it does the job. If I did 2 or 3 more of them then the finish would be a lot more professional. The home-made case cover is useful as an extra layer of protection and to make sure the case cannot fall open on its own. The padding in the lid of the case is what was already there when it held a boehm flute.

http://www.box.net/shared/ijd1hit6nt

http://www.box.net/shared/2fng1lo0ud

http://www.box.net/shared/9hyocymx1r

http://www.box.net/shared/gcr1ekj7vm

http://www.box.net/shared/s98lr00j7e

16

if you are quick maybe this GEMEINHARDT FLUTE CASE might suit

Or this Hardshell flute case

This seller Wausau Music Centerhas a few second hand flute cases - I liked the look of the French flute case.

David

17

The bottom dollar in a compact hard-shell case has to be a rollup stuffed into a piece of PVC pipe w/ end caps…

18

What a great idea! :smiley:

BY THE WAY, we’re all missing the biggest news here … LOREN’S GOT A FLUTE AT LAST! Congratulations, Loren! :party:

19

wot? this 'un?

I wasn’t sure he wanted us to notice :wink:

20

Loren - I’ll be interested to see if you come up with something better than I’m using…which is a pistol case. The integrated handle, and thickness, make it bulky, but it allows for 2 D whistles, my cork grease, and the small electric tuner to travel with my flute.

Your gun laws probably don’t even come close to working in a Federal Building…with armed, uniformed guards, x-rayed machines, and Dept. of Homeland Security (they’re in black with M-16s and guard dogs).

The old guards know what’s in the pistol case, and they seem to take great joy in watching the new guards freak when they see the gun case going through the scanner…or when we don’t have to go through x-ray the newer guards tend to run after me shouting “hey, sir, I need you to stop right now and show me what’s in that case…because it looks like a pistol case”. Without my Federal ID badge, I’m pretty sure they’d tackle me to check the case…

Who knew playing flute could be so dangerous?

Eric