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Post by alexandre on Nov 6, 2011 16:44:12 GMT
I was so surprised with the reply that I thought I would post our communication on this thread. Thank you for sharing the information Michael. I'm also quite surprised of such an answer, as it seems that they doesn't want to support any responsibility on any problem due to an air travel... ... As I've said before, after testing one High Tech case, I'd be more confident in their cases than in their communication, but once again, I'm not used to travel trough airports with my guitars, so I guess we still have to take care of our backaches and use Calton cases to be secured... ;D Too bad for us !! One of my luthier have sold some of this cases, so that I'll ask him if he ever have some air-travel feedbacks concerning these (he's furnishing some internationally known classical guitarists, so we may have some chances).
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 6, 2011 18:25:49 GMT
Nobody will 'guarantee' their cases are safe for air travel and 'unsupervised handling' by baggage handlers, but I have often talked with Keith Calton about air travel and his cases, and he has NEVER made any kind of disclaimer statement about them. Musicians buy Calton cases for air travel and have been doing so for over thirty years, and Keith knows that. Most of Calton's advertising and publicity on their website, is done with customer's testimonials, many of which talk about regular air travel and unsupervised handling by baggage handlers.
I am now intrigued to see if there are musicians flying regularly with Bam cases.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 7, 2011 13:08:37 GMT
It appears from talking to a friend who bought a Bam case two weeks ago and has forwarded my communications to the UK Bam dealers, that much of the wording about bubble-wrap and a £200 Bam bag for air travel and unsupervised handling, is to protect their case from getting scratched and marked, not to add any extra protection to the guitar inside the case as there is no strength added by bubble-wrapping or gig-bagging the case.
(So you have a case to protect your valuable guitar, and a case to protect your valuable case! This could get silly)
According to the UK dealer, Bam High Tech cases are extremely well-built tough cases that will cope with the rigours of being on the road with professional musicians.
Before I spend the best past of 700 quid to protect my two valuable and precious Fine Resophonic road instruments, I need to know that they are as safe as being in a Calton case, otherwise there is no point.
I will post more when I know more.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by oldnick on Nov 7, 2011 20:06:27 GMT
Hi folks, Does anyone have any experience of kevlar cases, they should be lightweight and very strong. These look good - carbonfibercases.com/Nick
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 21:06:53 GMT
I've seen the 'try and smash a dent in a carbon fibre guitar' test -no bubble wrap required. I bet several $s they are tougher than any non carbon fibre case - couldn't see a price tho'. TT
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 7, 2011 21:16:17 GMT
Hi Nick,
I had not heard of Hoffee Cases until now. They look absolutely beautiful. They have copied a lot of the design features of Caltons, but are made of carbon-fibre, rather than Calton's fibreglass. No question, even from spending only five minutes on their website, I can see how good these cases are. However, at just under £600 and weighing 4.5 kilos for a classical size case, it is only 1.3 kilos lighter than a Calton at 5.8 kilos, and a lot more expensive.
What attracts me to the Bam cases is that the classical size case, which is what we use for Nationals and Dobros, only weighs 2.8 kilos. These days with airlines weight restrictions and me not wanting to carry 10 kilos (my wood-bodied Fine Resophonic in a Calton), the Bam cases, if they are up to the job, are just what we need. A metal-bodied National takes the weight up a lot and that makes Bam cases even more attractive.
Thanks for finding and posting the link to Hoffee Cases. This is becoming a very interesting and useful thread.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 7, 2011 21:40:19 GMT
Further to my last post.....
I have just watched the two promo films showing the strength of Hoffee cases and I have to say that I am very impressed. This has got to be the strongest case being made anywhere. I would like to see similar tests with the Bam case. It is not just about the exterior strength, it is the special foam padding that Hoffee is using. An amazing case!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Nov 7, 2011 21:44:36 GMT
Hi all
Yes indeed this is becoming most interesting, here is a question that MM can maybe answer
In the days before you had your first carlton was there anything you did when you flew with your reso??? i.e did you pad your case with plastic wrap?? i asking this question as some folks maybe waiting for a good case and still have to fly al
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Post by Matt on Nov 7, 2011 22:32:46 GMT
Without really knowing anyhting about these cases, my gut says the Bam cases probably are completely up to scratch, it's just people are far too worried to put their word behind a product to the extent of effectively 'guaranteeing' that they will not break under harsh conditions. It's a shame really.
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 7, 2011 23:35:35 GMT
Hi Al,
I got my first Calton in 1991 and before that I used to use whatever hard case was around....but there is a big difference between then and now, as I used to take my guitar into the cabin and the flight attendants would find somewhere safe to stash the case. Times have changed and the changes happened at around that time. As well as taking my National in the cabin, I sometimes used to fly with three or four guitars which would go in the hold, and they would be carried by hand to and from the plane by the baggage handlers. As I said....times have changed! It is amazing to think that when National Gallery was touring, we would take four Nationals and a mandolin (in hard cases) into the cabin and the flight attendants were happy to find somewhere to put them.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 7, 2011 23:41:22 GMT
Hi Matt,
That is what I am hoping to find out. I understand that none of these case manufacturers can guarantee anything, but seeing a film like the Hoffee test film, or reading testimonials like Calton has, would be very reassuring and I believe would promote their business.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by oldnick on Nov 8, 2011 20:35:46 GMT
Pretty pricey I agree, but if you are playing professionally your guitars are your livelihood so it would seem sensible to give them as much protection as possible. Remember Catfish Keith's squashed El Trov last year? Now, if a top notch case maker like Calton were to get together with someone with experience in carbon fibre like say John Alderson - Hmm . . .
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 8, 2011 20:47:56 GMT
I agree that professional musicians should not skimp on the quality of instrument cases, but I also think that what actually would be £700 + shipping and import duty for a Hoffee case, is a little extreme. Apart from the weight aspect, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Calton cases. They still have a longer and better track record than any other maker, and they are not cheap at approximately £350.
I am still hoping that Bam can prove the strength of their cases is okay for air travel. Bam cases are still the lightest at 2.8 kilos.
I have had similar thoughts Nick.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2011 21:04:24 GMT
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Post by alexandre on Nov 8, 2011 21:41:56 GMT
I've discovered the existence of Hoffee cases last week, while searching for strings online... Impressive is the word, including the price... ... and their communication seems a little pushy, but adapted for a newcomer on this market. Concerning BAM cases, I was really wondering how can they have such a poor advertising activity and make their business work... ... having thought that, I remembered that they seems to be better known on the market of violins & other classical instruments (for which I guess the better advertising is the recommendation between professionals). If the guitar market is just a little part of their selling activity, their discretion could be a little more understandable (and part of a global strategy), but it's simply forgetting that the guitar is maybe the most popular instrument in the world... And the last but not the least, european & north american cultures are quite opposed in terms of communication... Personally, I recognize that the Hoffee videos are really efficient, period. But frankly, I couldn't help thinking : "Do they really need to produce it in such an ostentatious way ?!", or something like that. Could this cultural factor fact explain anything in the BAM communication ?? I'd better stop there tonight... Not enough guitar or musical matters in this post !!! ;D
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