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Post by nkforster on Apr 11, 2017 4:48:50 GMT
I had three different cases in the workshop this week, so I made a short video comparing them: Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 11, 2017 7:19:39 GMT
Interesting Nigel. Thanks for that.
I have a friend that has Bam case for her luthier built classical and while it is very light I have always been suspicious of it.
Why are you not so impressed with the Hiscox Pro range? I've settled on these. I have two guitars in Pro cases and one in a much older case which is the equivalent of the basic Hiscox option these days. The Pro cases have both been our and about a lot and have taken everyday punishment. They look a bit beaten about on the outside but I've never really feared for the instrument.
What amazes me about the Hiscox case material is its ability to absorb shock. On a couple of occasions the case has taken a bit of a fall and you can feel the absorbtion of the shock, if that makes sense.
What worries me about the basic case is the top of it — I think something sharp would easily go through the top.
I've thought about buying an artist range case but I guess I'm happy so long as I am not putting the instrument in a cargo hold!
Just for interest, what would you recommend as a flight case?
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leoroberts
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Post by leoroberts on Apr 11, 2017 7:32:58 GMT
Great video, Nigel. I liked the look of the visesnut - those catches that you have to twist are cool. But I agree with your final assessment - Hiscox all the way
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Apr 11, 2017 10:12:25 GMT
Nice vid, Nige! The only trouble with cases is that you don't really know how good they are until the worst happens..... Always been happy with Hiscox (base version and Pro II) for local day to day and gigging purposes. My oldest one Hiscox is over 20 years old now and, apart from suffering the usual case compartment lid drop off (easily solved with Copydex) has only suffered a spring breakage on a couple of the catches. It was still perfectly functional, but Hiscox sent me a set of replacement catches (plus rivets) and instructions for removing the old ones (drill out the rivets - a few seconds per catch)and fitting the new one. Free of charge. Well I did have to buy a cheap pop-rivet tool (about £5) to fit the new rivets. I have also had various "bumpers" to help fit Fylde's unstandard guitar shapes to standard cases - again free of charge. Did have a Calton once - it stayed in the attic as I wouldn't call it "portable"! Overkill for me as neither my guitars nor I am going anywhere near aeroplanes - the best thing about the latter is jumping out of them! I have no experience of other hard cases except the horrid plywood things that are best got rid of asap. Keith
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Post by gillinghamrover on Apr 11, 2017 11:20:44 GMT
I've a TGI hard case and a hiscox. Both do as it says on the tin, however would prefer the Hiscox to be as roomy as the TGI. Both offer good protection imo, TGI has been thrown around by baggage handlers and passed with flying colours.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Apr 11, 2017 11:49:22 GMT
Enjoyed that, Nigel. Thanks for posting it I like what you pointed out about the headstock support inside the case too - that BAM was pretty sexy looking, though....
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 11, 2017 13:50:33 GMT
Enjoyed that, Nigel. Thanks for posting it I like what you pointed out about the headstock support inside the case too - that BAM was pretty sexy looking, though.... Yes the Bam's are — and they are pretty light as well. They don't convince after a basic inspection though!
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Post by nkforster on Apr 11, 2017 15:13:22 GMT
Just for interest, what would you recommend as a flight case? A flight case. One of them big heavy boxes with metal on the edges and corners. Not even a Calton is a flight case. The Bam is, I'm afraid a classic case of "fur coat and no knickers." There is a lot of it about these days...Fine if the guitar goes from house to car to house and back every now and again. But that's about it. I'm flying to Japan with it in the morning so packed the guitar well inside, then but it back in the box it arrived in and packed inside the box thoroughly. It's too big to go in the overhead and it wouldn't last 5 minutes in the hold. Fingers crossed... Nigel www.nkforsterguitars.com
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Post by andyhowell on Apr 11, 2017 16:23:30 GMT
Let us know how you get on. A i remember being at Berlin airport with seemingly hundreds of luthiers after the Holy Grail show.It all seemed a bit precarious to me!
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Post by PistolPete on Apr 12, 2017 9:08:24 GMT
The only trouble with cases is that you don't really know how good they are until the worst happens..... This is true - I'd be interested in seeing a test where you put one of them in the back of a van with a Fender twin & a couple of PA cabs & then practiced your emergency stop a few times...
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Post by littlemart on Apr 12, 2017 10:06:51 GMT
The only trouble with cases is that you don't really know how good they are until the worst happens..... This is true - I'd be interested in seeing a test where you put one of them in the back of a van with a Fender twin & a couple of PA cabs & then practiced your emergency stop a few times... For some interesting reading, take a look at the Hiscox 'Testimonials' page - some of those stories are the stuff of nightmares!! Have a read of the one titled 'Patrick Eggle Berin Pro Survives Motorway Accident' !!
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Post by jonnymosco on Apr 12, 2017 12:53:03 GMT
Great vid Nigel.
I've owned two BAMs and only used them for light use, A-B in the car or walking around town (as you do) as they weigh virtually nothing. I wouldn't expect them to be sturdy enough for flying - I'd compare a BAM to an MX-5 and wouldn't criticise that it's not capable of going off road, I don't think it was designed for that.
Having said that, I have a friend who carries his Smallman in a BAM on international flights regularly, a bit crazy, especially as it's his profession and only guitar.
Hiscox Artist I've also owned, best value and strength for money, but not the slickest styling.
I'd happily buy a Visesnut next time.
Jonny
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Post by bellyshere on Apr 12, 2017 16:27:05 GMT
TGI and Hiscox have all stood the drunk after a gig test for me.
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Post by Amit on Apr 15, 2017 22:19:56 GMT
I've been using a BAM case for a couple of years, have gigged with it loads, used it on a couple of tours through Germany and had it with me at festivals. It comes with extra bits of foam which I've popped under the headstock, and I've gotta say, it's been knocked around a bunch and I've never had an issue with the guitar. Biggest plus has been - its light as a feather! Such a pleasure to cart around. Would I jump on it, or take it on an aeroplane? Nope! But for relatively heavy gigging it's worked a charm for me
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Post by creamburmese on Apr 17, 2017 20:03:08 GMT
I've had a regular Hiscox for several years, but for me it was too heavy to cart around and no backpack straps, so I was using one of those expanded polystyrene cases which although it was light and easy to carry was a poor choice given the investment in the guitar. So I bit the bullet and got a Visesnut for Christmas - the big attraction was the lightness combined with support and backpack straps. At the time I was carting my guitar (plus music stand, music, gear) around several times a week and it is really great to just put it on my back and go. And the adjustable straps do work - the 2 guitars I use regularly are different sizes and both sit snugly in there. I don't really see a downside to the soft cover inside - it doesn't move with the guitar neck on top of it and i've never had anything escape. However there is a downside - due to the shape of the case, there isn't room for my only moderately bulky guitar support in that little compartment... The visesnut also has a case cover, which points up the other minor annoyances. The case I have is the "silvery" version and it scratches up quite readily - probably if I had got a plain one it would not have been an issue. And of course a true musician does not have a pristine case (!) However to alleviate this and prevent too much battering you can get a lightly padded case cover. It fits pretty tight and has to be unzipped all the way round before you can open up the case which is a bit of a pain, and it's not that easy to take on and off if you're using the backpack straps because the straps have to be unhooked and threaded through the cover and then attached using those little rings where you have to screw a piece over the joint. Very tedious. I fixed that problem by buying some heavy duty snap clips from the hardware store, but I would still only be inclined to use the case cover if I'm taking it on an airplane and it might be checked. Those concerns aside I'm still very happy with the case and would buy it again (though I would get a solid dark color for the aforementioned reasons). I have had the same problem with the latches on my Hiscox case as Keith - they seem to bend very easily so even though they look substantial they don't hold up too well. Maybe they are better on the Artist though - mine is only a lightflight. Strength test visesnut
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