I have decided to make my own case of sorts…and so far each time I try something it isn’t quite right. Since I want this to last awhile (without having to add or remove something because I’ve changed my mind)…I come to you all for what you would like in a case, or what you’d change about the one you are currently using…hey, maybe I’ll even market it if I can do it.
I’ve found that my preferences would be for it to hold multiple whistles, plus sheet music and books…PLUS look beautiful. I can see how some marketed nowadays aren’t for me, because they don’t offer all of these, or there is an inconvenience, such as having to unroll it to get at stuff. Kind of reminds me of the Roly Kit I just had to have to get rid of clutter…but I needed an entire countertop empty to unroll the thing!
So, can you help me out?? Give me some ideas…and I’ll create the case of my dreams. Thanks!
Sounds like you are describing a briefcase. You can get a hardshell type that has a small comartment in the lid for music etc. There are also usually pen holders that work nicely for holding a swab or two. There is often other small compartments (intended for cell phones etc.) that work nicely for oil (if you play any wooden whistles). In the main compartment you can put a block of foam that can be cut to receive your whistles.
My small back pack - or “day pack” - has a sheet of removable foam rubber (like the sleeping mat stuff) in a flap on the inside back. This does 2 jobs … (1) it stops the contents of the pack digging into me, (2) you can pull it out of the pack and use it as a cushion.
If this pack also had lots of long, skinny, whistle-sized pockets on the inside I’d consider it a pretty cool whistle carrying device! It could sit it on the floor between my feet at sessions and easily pull out any music I needed and my whistle of choice.
I got a cheap “Anvil” type case at a music store. I then went to a furniture upholstery shop and had a piece of foam rubber cut to fit the bottom of the case and another to fit the lid. I then cut troughs into the foam with a surgical scalpel (an exacto knife or razor blade works just as well) and placed the whistles in the case. Works out beautifully. And protects the instruments against falls and knocks since the outside case is metal and the whistles are surrounded with foam. BUT, Mike Burke (www.burkewhistles.com) has been sending out some DYNAMITE cases with some of his whistles.
I saw a briefcase at Office Max that was covered in a floral tapestry material. Looked very female to me. I was looking for a briefcase for my wife, but she hates flowery fufu stuff so I didn’t notice the price.
I use a basic black paintball pistol case (comes with eggcrate foam inserts). Lay your whistles down and they won’t go anywhere. 'Course it doesn’t really work for music. For that I resorted to a small airline pilot’s rolling case (yep, I’ve that much music). It also holds my music stand, violin stand, and cabasa. I strap the whistle case to the telescoping handle (bungee cords) and I’m all set!
For some attractive cases (although made for, gasp, recorders, check out the Early Music Shop in Bradford, England: http://www.e-m-s.com/ They have several configurations. I have one of theirs, covered in hunter green fabric, for my SATB recorder set, and it works great. Maybe it would give you ideas for a similar whistle case.
The perfect case, I wonder if that’s like trying to find the perfect whistle. My answer, for now, is it depends. I am currently using 5 different types of cases.
Cloth or other fabric cases. Most of my whistles have simple cloth tubes that I stitched up for them. I used fake fleese, flannel, cotton jersey, or what ever soft, thick, scrap of material I could get at the local fabric shop, cheap. I call these sock cases.
PVC tube case to protect a soprano D whistle that I put in my back pack. At first I put the whistle directly into the tube, when I discover some wear marks from the whistle and PVC rubbing, I started puting the whistle in a sock case first.
Pool cue hard case with 3 channels. This is my travel case, sturdy enough to check through with bagage. Since I added some nylon straps. It will handle 5 of my whistles including my one piece Overton Low-D
Adapted Soft Pool cue case with sholder strap. This is a case that I installed 4 golf club tubes and some spacers that slide part of the way down the tubes; the spacers are suspended by ribbons attached to the top of the tubes. I can put 6-8 whisltes in this case. Its great for hiking around the woods when I want to take a large number of whistles.
Custome made large wooden case: this case was hand made by my son and measures 28" x 5" x 12". He added some Celtic gold knotwork decals that make it look pretty cool. It will fit all of my whistle, my music stand, a couple of one piece flutes, tuner and music books. I used it to take all my stuff to a Music camp weekend and it worked great. I use normal terry dishtowels to pad the layers of whistles.
Leather gig cases: I have started to design and make gig cases out of leather for my whistles. I have a case that holds soprano 1 D & 1 C whistle. Another case that holds my Overton Low-D and a Soprano-D. I think these will end up my carry around cases. I can put belt clips, sholder straps, carry handles, or other stuff as needed. I can also carve designs in the leather to personalize them.
So My Dream case is actually a number of cases. Whatever the case just remember to …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2001-08-03 11:29 ]
I’m not sure this is a DREAM case, but it appears to be a pretty good deal. At Lowe’s Home Improvement, I found a product called Task Force Aluminum Tool Case. This looks more like a small aluminum suitcase rather than a tool case. The inside dimensions are about 17 3/8" L, 11 3/4" wide and about 5 1/2" deep. One side has foam that you can cut to fit in whistles. The other side has egg shell carton foam. It will easily hold all whistles down to an A and maybe even a G. Best of all, the price is only $20. It looks more utilitarian than beautiful, but I guess it could be gussied up.
[ This Message was edited by: BobP on 2001-08-06 19:34 ]
For a quickie case that’s cheap, yet has a zipper and is the perfect size for a “D” or “C” whistle, go to your local music store. Buy a recorder with case for about $10 or $12 (USA currency).
Keep the case, toss the recorder. Cases of this type are of a man-made fabric. For strength, insert a piece of cut plastic tubing.
Get a durable, adhesive, cloth name tag and slap it over the “recorder” logo and presto, your whistle is protected.
