review of a new horn case
Nov 18, 2022 18:05:50 GMT -7
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Post by Ceorlmann on Nov 18, 2022 18:05:50 GMT -7
This may seem less than conventional, but arguably music instrument cases need to be tested to an even higher standard than a typical firearm case since the slightest dent in the wrong place or structural stress can kill the instrument.
My first case for my current horn was made by Marcus Bonna; a Brazilian-based company that makes cases of respectable durability. My own model 5 lasted for over ten years before any signs of noticeable deterioration. Besides being durable it was also compact enough to more easily take with me as carry-on whenever I flew commercial. Smaller planes however posed problems with this, and almost always the flight attendants were more than a little asinine about making me check the horn (and contrary to most internet stories I've almost never had any problems with TSA workers). It served me fairly well. It could hold anything I needed and more, but it wasn't ever really water-resistant (except for the main compartment for the horn itself), and apparently there's a batch that was made that when deterioration starts to happen releases a chemical that's corrosive enough to wear on the lacquer. The effects aren't immediate, and a lot of hornists learned about that chemical the hard way. I don't know for sure if my former case was among that bad batch, but I don't know how else my horn's lacquer was being affected.
My current case was paid for by my parents as a Christmas present this year. It's a Wiseman brand; based on London, UK. Both the outside and the inside of the case was clearly thought with the utmost care, and to prepare for as much Chaos Theory as possible. First thing to note is it's oval-shaped. What this does is allow it to fit easily in the compartments of all but the smallest commercial planes. I don't understand the physics behind it, but apparently that also increases its durability multi-fold. The case looks like a wood finish; thus the "wooden" in its name. It's slightly shorter and somewhat slimmer than my MB5. One can also notice the seal going around the entire perimeter of the case; which makes it extremely water-resistant. It's water-resistant enough that the company owner openly submerged the case in a pool with a horn inside, and when he pulled it out and opened it up not a drop had seeped through.
Speaking of which: the inside is where you can tell that everything one typically can think of regarding protecting the horn was thought about in the padding's configuration and design. I have no idea what the foam padding is made out of, but it's very modular. Every part where the horn can make contact is adjustable by switching out foam pads of different designs and sizes. They show an understanding that horns of different makes and models can have different angles and sizes which can easily affect the case's ability to properly protect the instrument. The goal was/is to suspend the instrument and demonstrate similar physics in effect to that of a trampoline.
Again the case, with a horn inside, was submerged, two people stood with their full weight on it, it's been kicked down the stairs multiple times, dropped on purpose, etc. The horn was fine the entire time.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvbs8WQy1fg
My first case for my current horn was made by Marcus Bonna; a Brazilian-based company that makes cases of respectable durability. My own model 5 lasted for over ten years before any signs of noticeable deterioration. Besides being durable it was also compact enough to more easily take with me as carry-on whenever I flew commercial. Smaller planes however posed problems with this, and almost always the flight attendants were more than a little asinine about making me check the horn (and contrary to most internet stories I've almost never had any problems with TSA workers). It served me fairly well. It could hold anything I needed and more, but it wasn't ever really water-resistant (except for the main compartment for the horn itself), and apparently there's a batch that was made that when deterioration starts to happen releases a chemical that's corrosive enough to wear on the lacquer. The effects aren't immediate, and a lot of hornists learned about that chemical the hard way. I don't know for sure if my former case was among that bad batch, but I don't know how else my horn's lacquer was being affected.
My current case was paid for by my parents as a Christmas present this year. It's a Wiseman brand; based on London, UK. Both the outside and the inside of the case was clearly thought with the utmost care, and to prepare for as much Chaos Theory as possible. First thing to note is it's oval-shaped. What this does is allow it to fit easily in the compartments of all but the smallest commercial planes. I don't understand the physics behind it, but apparently that also increases its durability multi-fold. The case looks like a wood finish; thus the "wooden" in its name. It's slightly shorter and somewhat slimmer than my MB5. One can also notice the seal going around the entire perimeter of the case; which makes it extremely water-resistant. It's water-resistant enough that the company owner openly submerged the case in a pool with a horn inside, and when he pulled it out and opened it up not a drop had seeped through.
Speaking of which: the inside is where you can tell that everything one typically can think of regarding protecting the horn was thought about in the padding's configuration and design. I have no idea what the foam padding is made out of, but it's very modular. Every part where the horn can make contact is adjustable by switching out foam pads of different designs and sizes. They show an understanding that horns of different makes and models can have different angles and sizes which can easily affect the case's ability to properly protect the instrument. The goal was/is to suspend the instrument and demonstrate similar physics in effect to that of a trampoline.
Again the case, with a horn inside, was submerged, two people stood with their full weight on it, it's been kicked down the stairs multiple times, dropped on purpose, etc. The horn was fine the entire time.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvbs8WQy1fg
