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How do you transport your instrument to gigs?

My new 1923 York helicon is nearly ready to use. A fair amount of the work was bringing the bell back into shape and I'd like to keep it that way. Suggestions?

26" fixed bells are a real PITA. :\

Be careful. There are gig bags available but they're hard to find. There is a shop in Poland that sells them, probably others around too.
I've heard of people having them made by tent companies. I haven't seen anyone in the US selling them, but I hope I'm wrong.

eupher61 wrote:Be careful. There are gig bags available but they're hard to find. There is a shop in Poland that sells them, probably others around too.
I've heard of people having them made by tent companies. I haven't seen anyone in the US selling them, but I hope I'm wrong.

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Nice collection! I have a #1 Silver Bell but most of my banjos are five speeds. I covet that Amati/Cerveny BBb heli!

bloke wrote:back seat w/seat belts

Thanks! I've been thinking that way - well middle seat in the Caravan, leaving room in the back for PA gear, guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like.

Circular sheet of light plywood or hard plastic of a diameter slightly larger than the bell.

Styrofoam cone emulating the mandrel the bell was made on. If you cannot make a smoothly curved profile, ‘pyramidal’ steps of 5mm or ¼" still should be helpful.

Glue the cone to the sheet.

Make a corduroy drawstring purse that will hold the cone/sheet combination tightly inside/in-front of the bell.

Should be helpful against bell damage from passing doorways.

Klaus

I've had mine since the mid '80's and it's been to somewhere between 50-75 gigs each year since - so it's probably seen over 2000 gigs at all kinds and sizes of venues. I couldn't imagine hauling a great big hard case around for it and honestly I think a bag creates as many problems as it solves. Transporting it safely for me hasn't been as big an issue as much as venue issues. Sometimes you're stuck in a tight playing space and well stuff happens. Set breaks are when the inevitable clown will bump into it -even if it is on a stand - which is one more thing to haul if you decide to use one for set breaks.

So you just have to try to do the best you can to avoid damage -but I can guarantee stuff will happen. Stuff you can't even imagine -like several years ago we're playing at a NHL game - taking a break - horn on the floor and we are a good distance from the rink and a puck takes an unbelievable trajectory over the glass - takes a couple of ricochet bounces and manages to hit my helicon squarely in the bell! So I got two souvenirs - a puck and puck size dent in the bell.

I had it overhauled a couple years ago so it so it looks great again but it's only a matter of time before it acquires a little more character.

I've got an Amati (50cm bell, so smaller than 26 inches).

I have a Cerveny 'gig bag' which is more of 'cover' and I also have one of the gigbags from Poland, which is great, but won't fit your instrument.

As well as getting new valves made, I'm getting the bell made removable, so it will fit in an SKB style sousa hard case. This could be an option for you or a custom gigbag.

I have a Buescher Eb and use a Dolly Bag that I saw hanging on the wall in Lee Stofer's shop when he was still in Atlanta. As a wise man once said - it's a "handle", not a "case". I've been toying with the idea of flying it to my annual gig on ice and *almost* pulled the trigger on a custom-built flight case, but I dawdled and now I don't need it for another 12.5 months - so I'll settle for the usual borrowed Sousa.

So...let me expand the inquiry. Who does the best job of building custom flight cases? Ideally, I'd like a firm that will do a custom foam interior - but in a pinch I'll order a simple "foot-locker" (about 2'x2'x3') lined with an inch of firm foam and then figure out the rest myself (project!) The goal is best protection, smallest size, and lightest weight (I know - pick any two). *recessed* wheels might be nice (or...how about removable wheels) - but perhaps the best bet would be a separate cart?

I have a Buescher Eb and use an Altieri bag that I saw hanging on the wall in Lee Stofer's shop when he was still in Atlanta. As a wise man once said - it's a "handle", not a "case". I've been toying with the idea of flying it to my annual gig on ice and *almost* pulled the trigger on a custom-built flight case, but I dawdled and now I don't need it for another 12.5 months - so I'll settle for the usual borrowed Sousa.

So...let me expand the inquiry. Who does the best job of building custom flight cases? Ideally, I'd like a firm that will do a custom foam interior - but in a pinch I'll order a simple "foot-locker" (about 2'x2'x3') lined with an inch of firm foam and then figure out the rest myself (project!) The goal is best protection, smallest size, and lightest weight (I know - pick any two). *recessed* wheels might be nice (or...how about removable wheels) - but perhaps the best bet would be a separate cart?

bloke wrote:back seat w/seat belts

^ +1

Mine's in a "custom" made Altieri dent-bag. A couple pages of drawings and measurements ......and it turned out very well. (not quick turn-around on construction, but well worth the wait.). I've been using ~10 years. The bag helps with "safer" navigation to and from gigs. The horn-in-bag fits safe & snug & nicely in the back seat of a old 2-door e30 BMW......it's gonna take a while to warm-up for rehearsal after sitting there all day whilst I'm at work.

make the bell removable, put it in a hard case and strap it to your floorboards!

I've often wondered why a helicon does not have a removable bell like their American cousins, the sousaphone. Any reason besides "because they don't"?

Tradition. The souzie is more like a grandchild, anyway.

Yeah, I had my lead pipe customized so it was more solid and I wouldn't find myself "chasing" it while playing, but it also makes it more prone to getting hit. The added fourth valve makes it easier to run into things, too. Sometimes I feel like I need the little red flags you see attached to lumber hanging out the back of pickup trucks. I put a sleeping bag over it in the back of the van or SUV while traveling to gigs.

williamp wrote:Yeah, I had my lead pipe customized so it was more solid and I wouldn't find myself "chasing" it while playing, but it also makes it more prone to getting hit. The added fourth valve makes it easier to run into things, too. Sometimes I feel like I need the little red flags you see attached to lumber hanging out the back of pickup trucks. I put a sleeping bag over it in the back of the van or SUV while traveling to gigs.

Beautiful horn! Is the 4th valve thumb operated?

Yes, I've considered making a receiver, tenon and removable brace for it but I always lean toward keeping old horns original.

This bell seems more vulnerable than usual with a fairly narrow throat and wide almost flat rim. It was "inside out" when I got it but luckily not badly kinked so no cracks.

I'll see how it goes and will probably continue to use my ugly old King 1240.5 for those Blues Brothers chicken wire bar gigs.

(and I agree with Tubajug about that Holton!)

Yes, it's a thumb operated 4th valve on the Holton.