After months of searching for a suitable case for my National New Yorker lap steel, I today received the aluminium takedown shotgun case I got off eBay for $38.89! If fits the guitar perfectly, and has even got a (removable) suitcase-style wheel system so that it can be rolled around!

Check it our here!

I really recommend getting a gun case for all you out there with vintage steels without cases. The USA seems to be full of gun-cases - quality cases that are much cheaper than instrument cases. And on eBay there are bargains - I think the RRP of mine was $199 or similar, and I got it for less than $40 (of course shipping it to the UK was not cheap, but still cheaper than an instrument case).

This is a modern twist on the 1930s gansters carrying their tommy-guns in violin cases.

I know there are others out there who have modified gun and arrow cases for lap steels, and I have a question:

The interior of my case is interlocking "egg-carton" foam. The first time I shut my New Yorker inside the case, quite a lot of pressure was required to close the case. The second and third time it was easier, but I still had to give it quite a push. Is there any way my guitar could be damaged from the pressure of the foam? My New Yorker is a 1947 model, with plexiglas handrest. Would you recommend that I cut some of the foam "tips" away, to ease the pressure slightly, or do you think my lap steel will do fine enclosed by the foam? Maybe the foam will adjust itself to the shape of the guitar?

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Thanks!

Fred

[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 23 January 2006 at 06:39 AM.]

How would I go about cutting the foam?

Best regards,

I know that bubble wrap leaves an impression (due to out gassing) on finshes and surfaces.
that is why, here at the art museum, we always pack with the bubbles facing out.

so that leads me to thinking ...will your lap steel have impressions from the foam after awhile.
now these impressions are not dents, but a physical reaction on the surface that permanently changes the look of the finish.
I worry about foam and stuiff like that since witnessing the ravages of non acid or non friendly materials on art works. (not just paintings either).

[This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 23 January 2006 at 08:41 AM.]

Thanks for that input! I will not leave the lap steel in the case for long periods of time - it will only be used to transport the guitar. Do you still think the foam might be risky?

If so, maybe I can wrap the guitar in a cloth before putting it inside the case?

knowing what could be dangerous or safe is a guess.
Time does tell though. My advice is to keep an eye on things.

experience has me watchful.
as an example:

a few years ago I had to intervene on my father. his health appeared normal but odd things were happening.
it was dementia.

upon closing out his estate I had to go through his closets and other things.
as an avid golfer he had quite the collection of caps. alot of them had foam liners.
most were old hats. ten years or more. and most of the hats were discolored around the band where the foam was inserted.
some of the foam was pliable. some of the foam turned to dust or near dust.
all had discolored.

so my advice is to watch for discoloration of the foam and anything in contact with it.

outgassing is scary stuff.
sometimes it can be benign and sometimes it will ruin things precious.

Cutting shetts of soft foam with alot of area is most often done with a box cutter with the breakaway blades, with the blade fully extended (note-this is edxtremely dangerous for obvious reasons).
Draw a line and score the foam with the blade, keep scoring instead of sawing or 'cutting"...it is hard to get a smooth even surface this way but that side will be towards the case and unseen anyway...get it as close as you can to even but dont worry too much. If the guitar is only in the case for transport only and not for storage for extended periods you should not have to worry about any marks left by the foam.

edit: I forgot to mention that your blade should be SHARP! trying this with a dull blade will result in torn foam and greatly increase the chance of accidentally cutting yourself...please be VERY careful. It is very easy to injure yourself with a box cutter..always be sure you are not cutting towards your body or other fingers...cause if that blade slips.....

Now I need to find a similar cheap anvil type case for my guitar pedalboard....

I built my own lap steel "case"....it wouldnt survive air travel i dont think but is sturdy enough for transport...I will try and post a pic of it later..its pretty um..."unique'...hehe.

[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 23 January 2006 at 11:28 AM.]

A friend of mine brought a guitar to work to sell to me in a shotgun case one time. By the end of the day, the security guards practically arrested me when I tried to leave with it.

Seems he hadn't told them what was in it, but somebody saw him and reported it. They told me they almost had the I405 freeway shut down looking for a shooter. Took me an hour to get out of work that day. All because he didn't check in with it when he came into the plant.

I sometimes leave an impression due to outgassing too!

Unfortunately, I haven't got any of the abovementioned tools, so I'll get at it with a kitchen knife. It won't be pretty, but it's the back of the foam anyway. Then I'll get a nice piece of cloth to wrap the guitar in to avoid any issues with the foam.

Have a good day!

I still haven't "customized" this case for my New Yorker, as I've got a new idea now: I will fill it with new foam in three layers, with a cut-out that fits around the New Yorker on the middle layer (that will be glued to the bottom layer). Then I will (somehow...) cover this with nice, dark-green velvet-ish cloth, along the lines with the plush pre-war original New Yorker case lining. How about that?! I will post pictures when I'm done (which may take some time).

Cheers,

Could they endure rugged handling as baggage handlers at airports and on airplanes and still protect a valuable guitar?

Seems the aluminum gun cases are lighter than my wooden Magnatone guitar case.

Thanks for any comments.

quote:

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there has to be a Dick Cheney joke here somewhere

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Chuck, there's no "sport" in this because it's way too easy. After all, look what's involved....a lawyer, a case, a shotgun, Quyale, and a Dick......it's like having a D12 with 10 & 9......

[This message was edited by HowardR on 19 February 2006 at 10:46 AM.]

It can be seen in the album here.

It looks much better in reality than in the photo, but I still thought I'd post it. What do you think?

Cheers,

Cheerio mate, mighty fine job.

How much credit do we give your wife on this project idea?

Now my ultimate question - would you permit the airport baggage handlers to load and unload your case with guitar? Do you believe that it has protection with your case?

Well, it was my wife's idea to coat the foam with fabric, and she found the fabric in the shop and fitted it, so I'll give her full credits for making this case so nice!

I would not check this case in on a flight though. It protects the guitar fine for normal transport, but the case is plywood with a thin aluminium coating, so I wouldn't risk it with the baggage handlers. It might be OK, but then it also may not... The case is small enough to take on as carry-on luggage (I hope). I have checked in several acoustic guitars on several flights in the past, and they have always survived inside Hiscox cases, but you can stand on a Hiscox case without damaging the contents.

While on the subject of flying with instruments, I must mention the following (true) anecdote told to me by a friend:

My friend met some members of a Swedish symphony orchestra onboard a flight. The tuba player was carrying his tuba with him. "How on earth did you manage to get that cleared as carry-on luggage?!" my friend asked. "I didn't", the tuba player replied. "I would never check it in, as the baggage handlers would ruin it, and it's way too big to carry onboard, so I had to buy a separate ticket for it". When the tuba player had booked his tickets online, he had to provide a passenger name for the extra ticket. His instrument was travelling as "Mr. Tuba Tubasson"!

Have a nice day!