Make your own euph case?

[ghmerrill]

So I recently acquired this Amati 4-valve oval euphonium (via Ebay from a woman in Bulgaria. I know, you can't make these things up.) I have never played euphonium and got it because I wanted a kind of 4-valve euph to play with, and one that didn't cost much. It's a vintage ~1965 I think and in quite decent shape with just a bunch of very small shallow dings, and most of the finish is still there. After I got the second valve fixed, it seems to work great, and after substantial practice I seem to even be able to play it in tune. It no longer scares the cat and my wife says she likes the sound. To be honest, I got it mostly to play the solo in Second Suite to myself and to take to Tuba Christmas rather than risk my big horn in large crowds. With the Wick mouthpiece I have, I can actually play down in the tuba range with it and it doesn't sound bad there (maybe a little trombony).

I'd like to find a case for it. I'd buy a gig bag if I could find one that wasn't too expensive (which definitely means around $100 or preferably less) and I would be sure this thing would fit into (with its goofy sideward-pointing bell). But I'm not seeing anything that meets those criteria.

So I started to think about making a case for it. I would do this from thin plywood and possibly fiberglass reinforced -- along the lines of the approach used in "stitch and glue" kayaks and canoes. This would yield a strong and light case that could even be shaped appropriately.

My current puzzlement is how to do the padding. I suppose I could carve blocks of foam and glue them in, but that seems a bit tacky (though it would work!). Alternatively, I wonder if I could somehow make use of the self-expanding insulating foam you can get in home supply centers (and is quite easy to use and nowadays not very toxic ).

Does anyone have experience in making your own case, or in adding padding to a case?

Failing that, any completely outrageous or unsupported opinions you care to offer?

[ghmerrill]

That's an idea. There definitely are Chinese clones of this specific instrument. In fact I debated whether I should get a new Chinese clone or a "vintage" Amati/Cerveny. The costs seemed about the same. While I'd seen good things about some of the Chinese stuff, I ultimately decided on the Amati and am not sorry I did. It has a certain amount of "character". I'm afraid it may have a bit too much character for me to play it in local community bands amongst "real" euphonia. We perhaps shall see. Maybe I could pass it off as a "bariton tuba" (the German designation) and sit in the tuba section.

I'm pretty confident that I could build a case for $50-$60 in materials. So I have to weigh that against the cost of a ready-made case. But it's worth checking with some of these importers (or even the Chinese vendors directly) to see what they would want for one of the cases. There are several Chinese oval euphs on eBay now that are direct clones of what I have. And they tend to be all over ebay.de. Certainly worth a try.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Alex F]

I have a used Miraphone oval euphonium hard case that may fit your horn. The case is in good structural shape. There is some edge wear. There are three latches. The two outside work fine but the third with the "lock" is sprung. The inside is green felt and is in decent shape. My oval euph is an older Miraphone Model 46 from the late 1970s or early 1980s. I did buy a new Jakob Winter case direct from Winter in germany but those are rather expensive and, oddly, weigh more than the original.

I'm thinking that $50 plus shipping could get it to you.

Please PM if interested.

[ghmerrill]

PM sent.

[Donn]

Alternatively, I wonder if I could somehow make use of the self-expanding insulating foam you can get in home supply centers

I tried that - spray foam inside a plastic garbage bag, set the bag in the case and push the instrument into it, making a perfect fit. Unfortunately, one can of foam was nowhere near enough to do it, and I abandoned the effort before I found out how many it would take. It would have been pretty crummy even if it worked. Thank heavens it looks like you have a line on a good case.

[Bob Kolada]