nplotts1

Ok, I sifted through a couple pages and couldnt find the answers I was looking for, so here goes

I have recently ordered a C trumpet and will be in need of a case or bag that can carry both the C and my Bb around campus. I really like the Protec Deluxe Triple Gig bag and the amount of room it has for accessories, but I have also noticed on a few sites that Bach has a Double and Triple gig bag or maybe I should go with a hard case, However, I have yet to find a hard shell triple that I like.

I am trying to not spend too much money, as I am in college with no job. I have found the three cases listed used on here and other places. I am trying to stay under $150.

samdaman

In my humble opinion... DON'T GET A GIG BAG!!!! Gig bags are great and all (I owned and used one for about a year or two), but go for a hard case. I own a Bb, C, and Flugel which I wanted a case to carry all of them. I picked up a nice one off of Ebay which is pretty much like all major brands. After a few months, dings started showing up on the side of my Bb bell (the one I kept on the outside pocket). It just so happens that, when I ever bumped against a wall or door frame it left a nice little ding in my bell even though the case had some nice padding. Right now I am using a Marcus Bona quad case and I LOVE IT!!!! I highly, highly recommend Marcus Bona cases to anyone! They can be customized to any setup you want (all the padding is removable thanks to industrial strength velcro). Extra, smaller pads help provide a snug fit for different size horns and, the best part, it's a light-weight, HARD case. They are deffinetly by no means inexpensive, but they are deffinetly an amazing investment. I have come to ask myself this question, Why spend 2500-3000 dollars on two horns (a nice Bb and C trumpet) and not spend a tenth of that to protect them??? Riddle me that. The only other case that I would maybe spend my money on is the Pro-Tec triple case. It's the same style triple bag that I had, but the only difference is much denser foam. I still wouldn't trust it, but a few of my friends from college use it and they like it. So there you have it---My two cents.

Grizzle

Agreed--a hard case over a gig bag any day. However, Dolly Wiseman--Dolly Bags-- (not the UK Wiseman cases) makes the only gig bag that has the plastic inserts on all sides. Dolly Bags are what Bach copied to get their design (with the fold down brief case and all), but Bach forgot about the plastic inserts. Hers are really VERY protective, and you won't get dings in your bell because of the plastic. If you jump on it, then you have problems, but among gig bags there is no other like hers.

If you get a gig bag, the only brand that does any real protecting are Dolly Bags. She used to be a bit slow, but then so are my cases sometimes. Keep bugging her, and when she comes through, send her a thank you note for making such a great case. Mine is 13 years old, nothing at all wrong with it, and I've used it a lot without ANY dents of any kind.

bagmangood

I got the protec regular double case, and while i don't think i'd ship anything in it, its useful for going around campus. It also has some space in the pouch to carry around music/other useful stuff.
I'll also second the no-gig-bag. While they can be useful, i don't using it for around campus use is the safest idea for your horns

Pedal C

I haven't used all the ones you asked about, but here's what I do know about...

I have an old Pro-Tec double. I don't know for sure that the current ones are made the same way, but mine is sturdy enough that when I slipped and fell on snowy NY subway stairs, my horns were fine even though I landed directly on the case! It also has a pocket for music.

The Bach or Yamaha hard sided double cases work really well. They're light and sturdy, but horns only...no mutes or music.

I think most gig bags were designed by repair tech's to drum up business, but I used an Altieri double (two big horn and a pic) for years and while I did have two or three dings, it's a backpack style instead of by the hip, so it rarely bangs into stuff (if you're careful). Some gig bags are so large that you can't help but ram into things. The only suggestions I have about the Altieri are not put the pic in it (the other horns can damage it going in and out) and to put some a couple towels or washcloths at the bottom to protect the crook of the bell. It has lots of room for mutes and music.

Jimi Michiel

nplotts-

I have a Bach double hard case in great condition that I am looking to get rid of. It's very compact and doesn't weigh a lot, although it also doesn't have room for anything besides your trumpets and a couple of mouthpieces. It's a great case, but it doesn't work well with big belled Monettes, so I haven't been using it much. If you're interested, drop me a line. I'd like to get somewhere in the ballpark of $100 for it.

Best wishes,
Jimi
jmichiel@msn.com

ebogga

Plotts, my vote would also go for the Bonna cases. Definately wouldn't buy another soft gig bag again. My opinion of them changed dramatically when I was at a wedding gig and from the corner of my eye saw bunch of kids jumping over and around the bag. Nothing happened though, but went for the Bonna quad case shortly after. It's a good case, although with 3 horns and loads of music it get's quite heavy and if you carry it around a lot with the back straps (like me), you'll feel it in your shoulders.

If you don't need to carry music or have a separate bag, I'd go for the Bonna double case, it's light and compact. The new flight case is also nice, but horribly pricey. You won't fit any music in the regular double though. Couple of mutes and other items. The Quad case then again will fit one horn and couple days worth of beers in it.

rowuk

I vote for the hard case. I travel a lot and will only use a gig bag when one single trumpet is needed.
The investment in instruments is too great to take other chances.
We discuss micrometer alignment of valves and gap, reversed tuning slide and other minute alignment issues ad nauseum. Soft cases/bags simply do not protect as well.

Brekelefuw

I will never buy another Protec product again. I bought their triple gig bag and within a year it had fallen to pieces. This was just with regular travel in my car to college.

I talked to my music store about it and they gave me a discount on a Marcus Bonna triple. That was 4 years ago and the case is still in beautiful condition. It holds any combination of horn I need, plus my mutes, although if I have my trumpet and flugel in the triple, I wrap my mutes in a t-shirt so they don't scratch the flugel or dent it.
It really is about getting what you pay for. A Protec is nice and cheap, but it costs that much for a reason.

wiseone2

Before I got this bag I used an Altieri bag, in fact I have several. My Bach Super Triple Bag has survived many rush hour trips on the MTA subways.
Here is a picture of the bag.
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Wilmer