Protec C245X bass gig bag enhancements
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 12:05 pm
I just got one of these -- intended purely for rather restricted use in getting the horn to/from rehearsals in my car. When I received it my immediate reaction was "Yup -- about the same degree of protection as my Protec euph gig bag was." -- which means the emphasis is definitely on "bag" and not "protection". But adequate for the goals I had. Better than carrying the horn around in a nylon gym bag -- but not much. Still, for $90, it was a satisfactory convenience though I knew I'd be a bit nervous about carrying it anywhere, particularly in close quarters of any sort.
After using it once, I thought "This might be substantially improved with just a little more protection for the slide and something that would make the bell section better aligned and less loosey-goosey in its compartment." Grubbing around in some drawers and one of my sheds I came up with this ...
The blue slab-like object is a length of 1/2" thick dense/stiff-ish foam. It will bend, but is what I'd call "semi-rigid". Not soft or "spongy". I don't remember where I got this stuff or what I got it for, but I have a vague recollection of getting it, and I'm pretty sure that what I have left is remnants from a 4'x8' (maybe 4'x4') panel. I just cut a piece of it that fits nicely into the slide sleeve of the Protec case and provides extra support and protection.
The gray and white "pillow"-ish object is one of those socks the hospitals make you wear when you check in for anything -- even if it's just a test that requires taking off your shoes. Size 3xx -- which isn't close to my foot size, but seems to the the size they were handing out to men that day. It contains a layer of several other old socks (previously washed!), tied off with a zip tie and the end then folded back over the body. It's just thick enough to align the bell evenly against the protective end of the case, and it also results in the sides of the horn being more firmly gripped when that compartment is zipped closed. It also seems to stay nicely in place all by itself.
My nomial cost for this improvement was $0 -- if you ignore the prorated cost of the foam piece, the old socks, the zip tie, and whatever my insurance didn't pay for that clinic test (I think it was completely covered). But even if you were to go out and buy that stuff, it's still not much at all, and I think it adds substantial protection. I think of it as a kind of "poor man's mid-suspension gig bag" (to borrow a term from Gard). It makes me significantly less nervous in carrying the bag around, especially in close quarters.
I thought other Protec bag owners might be interested in the result.
After using it once, I thought "This might be substantially improved with just a little more protection for the slide and something that would make the bell section better aligned and less loosey-goosey in its compartment." Grubbing around in some drawers and one of my sheds I came up with this ...
The blue slab-like object is a length of 1/2" thick dense/stiff-ish foam. It will bend, but is what I'd call "semi-rigid". Not soft or "spongy". I don't remember where I got this stuff or what I got it for, but I have a vague recollection of getting it, and I'm pretty sure that what I have left is remnants from a 4'x8' (maybe 4'x4') panel. I just cut a piece of it that fits nicely into the slide sleeve of the Protec case and provides extra support and protection.
The gray and white "pillow"-ish object is one of those socks the hospitals make you wear when you check in for anything -- even if it's just a test that requires taking off your shoes. Size 3xx -- which isn't close to my foot size, but seems to the the size they were handing out to men that day. It contains a layer of several other old socks (previously washed!), tied off with a zip tie and the end then folded back over the body. It's just thick enough to align the bell evenly against the protective end of the case, and it also results in the sides of the horn being more firmly gripped when that compartment is zipped closed. It also seems to stay nicely in place all by itself.
My nomial cost for this improvement was $0 -- if you ignore the prorated cost of the foam piece, the old socks, the zip tie, and whatever my insurance didn't pay for that clinic test (I think it was completely covered). But even if you were to go out and buy that stuff, it's still not much at all, and I think it adds substantial protection. I think of it as a kind of "poor man's mid-suspension gig bag" (to borrow a term from Gard). It makes me significantly less nervous in carrying the bag around, especially in close quarters.
I thought other Protec bag owners might be interested in the result.