The Steel Guitar Forum

I like the idea (that I've read about here) of using a shotgun soft case for pedal rack, legs and rods (with body in a separate bag/case). Online searches of places like Cabelas and other outfitters turn up TOO MANY options. Can some of you provide specific make/model numbers/details of cases that you consider thumbs-up good choices? I want compact, lightweight, inexpensive, durable but not necessarily able to withstand Grizzly mauling. I figure if I'm playing someplace where this is an issue, I've got deeper problems than case durability.
Thanks.

Didja ever get ahold of that $25 gig bag for your steel that I told you about? I've been using mine for a couple years now. I made up a flat hinged wooden box (with fasteners) for my legs, rods, & pedals. Cost me practically nothing.

Yeah, Jay---I got that very one. As per your mention that you did some custom work inside it, I need to do that too and....I haven't gotten around to it. Actually you mentioned that you could send photos of what you did to the bag---I have ideas of what I will do but I'd definitely like a look at your work if you'd be so kind.

lightsteel-AT-earthlink.net

If I can find that shotgun case I'm asking about I think it wold suit me better than a wood construction.

Check Wal-Mart, in the Hunting & Fishing area...I bought a Hard Shell Gun Case for my Lap Steel which works real good for me. I believe it was $7.99 or so. It may be something you can use?

I bought one about 3 months ago. 34" x 11, weighing 5 or 10 lbs. It was about $40 on ebay (1/2 price). My Sho Bud pedal rack, rods and all 4 legs all fit in nicely. It is foam padded so nothing slips around.

I'll try and dig up the info.

http://www.luggage.com/ADG-Sports-31092-ADS1005.html

I found a case in the archery section of a fleet supply.It is used for arrows but works very well and only cost 8.99. It lightened my steel about 18 pounds.
Glenn

Jon,Funny that you should post this...I live up the street from a giant thrift store and yesterday I noticed a shot gun case made out of molded injected plastic,The kind that Gibson used to make for their Les Pauls,It was only three bucks,I thought that a pedal rack would fit nicely inside,Stu

Try to fly with a shotgun case!

Jon, I had one made up for me out of vynyl with vecro to close the flap. I have two now and only need one if you are interested. The one I don't need I used for my D10 Carter (I sold that guitar).

Geo

Thanks everyone---

Tony, that link shows a case that is 32" long....too short. Obviously yours is not too short or else you wouldn't be suggesting it. But no matter---one could argue that there's something backwards about putting my guitar in a soft gigbag and putting the hardware in a hard case. I'm wanting a soft case with a strap that I can sling over my shoulder.

Tom M---in the months after 9-11 my friend walked the Brooklyn Bridge to work daily (once that was allowed again) carrying a couple of golf clubs in a gun bag (rifle or shotgun, I'm not sure) so he could hit the driving range after work. With all the cops doing security, he wasn't stopped, not even once. They probably tackled every girl scout carrying cookies in a backpack. Reminds me of the Monty Python customs guard sketch.

I'm still welcoming a specific recommendation. Otherwise I'll have to go back to browsing the 10,000 makes & models online.

George---do you have a photo? I'd like an idea of what you've got. Maybe it's what I need---just not sure.
If you could post a pic or send one to lightsteel-AT-earthlink.net I'd sure appreciate it.

Yeah Jon but we're steel guitar players, a real threat to the world. Everytime I've flown with my guitar it has been a real nightmare. Actually I have flown with one and they were more concerned about the steel as opposed to what was in the gun case!

I bought a soft gun case to carry the pedal bar and rods in. The guitar in the case weighhs 53 lbs. By putting the rods in the soft case it brings the guitar and case weight below the magical 50 lb airline weight limit.

Anyhow I got the case at Cabela's out of the sale rack. It was only about $10. They've got a lot to choose from. The one I got was a Ruger 10/22 model breakdown case. The fit was a little tight at first but it's loosened up and works just fine now.

Tom,In Alaska people are flying in and out all of the time to hunt,and fish.Stu

I'd like to see the look on the face of the guy staring down an Alaska grizzly who reaches into his rifle bag and pulls out a Sho-Bud pedal rack.

Now we're talking, Tom. I don't have any local Cabela shops but I'm heading back to the website now. Thanks.

Well if you have time to put the steel together you could play a tearjerker and make him cry!

Stu I guess its the luck of the draw who you get as a TSA agent and what kind of day they've had. I've faced facts, they've profiled me as a steel player and I'm just gonna have to deal with it. Hey weren't you the guy who had the great time taking your steel to Texas?

After the last post I sent an e-mail to Tom Palmer at D2F asking him to consider making some soft bags for carrying this stuff. Maybe if some others are interested he'll make some.

Jon, Cabela's is on my way home from work. I planned to stop this week so I'll browse around and see if they have anything that might work and send you the info.

Ha try flying with anything. An associate and I, flew from Birmingham to Dallas. He had a set of samlll wire cutters with him. we made it there no problem. We left Dallas for Houston and made it there. When we left Houston, they conficated the darn things.

Tom,Yep that's me I had that charming TSA agent who ripped my Bill Lawrence pickup out of my guitar...I still remember her last words "So You Think You Special"?
That's me.It's like "Deadliest Catch" with a steel guitar.

Jon, here's the pix. The tan one I use for my D10 Willy.
Geo

Thanks for the pics, George. I'll pass. Looking for something with handles & straps and I think the rifle case is just the ticket.

Here's something I found at Cabela's
Item #226471

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/commo ... &noImage=0

Tom and Stu, are you sure that Stu has no recourse if TSA agent destroyed his property? I mean, it's not as if a guitar pickup is that unusual in the 21st century. Is there no surpervisor with whom you can follow up and start teh ball rolling to get some compensation? Sure hope so.
steve t

I got my case at GI Joes (similar to a cabelas). having lived in Brooklyn for a few years I cannot recall a plethora of outdoor sporting goods stores but I am sure there are MANY gun stores around

anyway, the case was $9.99. it is soft shelled like a guitar "gig bag". It is made by "Allen" Co. and has "Ruger 10/22" embroidered on one side. Zipper and handle but no strap. sorry dont have any pics.

edit: found a picture onnline.
Be advised this was a bit of a tight fit for mmy pedal bar. It fits well but JUST fits if ya know what i mean? My pedal bar is 32 3/4 long, but has little posts that stick up on each end to enter the hollow legs, i think this is a somewhat unusual design for a pedal bar and its the little poles sticking up that cause the close fit for me. The length is actually fine. It works great tho.

I've been having some back problems lately so to lighten things up I needed to come up with a quick solution. The gig bag from my Martin Backpacker is the perfect size.

Steve,Thanks for the concern,I know a young man up here who is a TSA agent and a friend of mine,he told me that he would get me claim papers to fill out but it was going to be a long ugly battle.What eventually happened was,I sent the broken pickup to Bill Lawrence to see if he could fix it,and Becky "Bill's Wife" was so cool about it they either fixed it or sent me a new one and didn't charge me,I in turn bought a new pickup from Bill,It can't hurt to have an extra I found out.I leave for an Alaskan tour tonight it will be all on Alaska Airlines and I'm hoping that I can have a quick meeting with the TSA agents to show them how to lift my steel out of the case without breaking it.I have taken a red marking pen and covered the two cross shafts that I lift the guitar out of the case with so as long as they stay away from the pickup wires,which are now protected by heat shrink and are under the rods and close to the body I think that I'll be allright,I hope so,Regards Stu

Hey Ben---that's the exact case that Tom Mossburg posted about last Sunday (with the same comment about the tight fit). It's an option, for sure. i've found another zillion options including some slightly larger cases---and Tom's most recent find yesterday. Thanks. I've just got to stop wavering and choose one and go for it.
Hey Stu---if you had a pickup that looked like this you would have gone right thru the gates, no problem---

www.hattoncases.com
For those of you who prefer a matched case set.