JuanCarlosVejar Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 I was just wondering how you guys go about walking or carrying a heavy case(or any case) ... The TV line has some very heavy cases and for me at least it gets kinda tired at some point because I'm a skinny guy and have boney fingers/hands and carrying something like those cases can hurt after some time . how do you guys approach this matter ? I've seen pictures of guys who own super jumbos and they carry it with the largest bout facing front. thanks JC
EuroAussie Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 My J-150 is in a hardshell and i never felt it was an issue and take it with me to gigs. Never felt the case to be an issue.
Buc McMaster Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Gee. How far are you toting your guitar? Hiking with it? Indeed the brown cases that come with the TV model Gibsons are very heavy with a lot of hardware on them......the black/blue interior case that came with my H'Bird is much lighter (the same case fits both guitars!). Really doesn't matter which end you carry forward, it's the same weight balanced the same way at the handle.
retrorod Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Hey JC....Most of these guys and gals are "rockstars" and have roadies to handle their gear....
JuanCarlosVejar Posted February 19, 2012 Author Posted February 19, 2012 Gee. How far are you toting your guitar? Hiking with it? Indeed the brown cases that come with the TV model Gibsons are very heavy with a lot of hardware on them......the black/blue interior case that came with my H'Bird is much lighter (the same case fits both guitars!). Really doesn't matter which end you carry forward, it's the same weight balanced the same way at the handle. Well I once carried my Yamaha in it's case a few streets away to play at a friends birthday and my hands hurt so I had to stop and take a rest . it hurt quite a bit JC
L5Larry Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Well I once carried my Yamaha in it's case a few streets away to play at a friends birthday and my hands hurt so I had to stop and take a rest . it hurt quite a bit JC This is where a gig bag with shoulder straps comes in handy. I keep a couple around.
blindboygrunt Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 Well I once carried my Yamaha in it's case a few streets away to play at a friends birthday and my hands hurt so I had to stop and take a rest . it hurt quite a bit JC think yourself lucky you dont play the cello!! ya big jessie :-D
Gibson101 Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 Wow seriously? You must be a tiny little guy, you should eat more. Back pack type gig bags sound like they will help you. I just have a hard time putting a $2000 guitar in a gig bag.
JuanCarlosVejar Posted February 20, 2012 Author Posted February 20, 2012 Wow seriously? You must be a tiny little guy, you should eat more. Back pack type gig bags sound like they will help you. I just have a hard time putting a $2000 guitar in a gig bag. mm height is average ... but I might be skinner than most people lol . JC
jt Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 JC, I'm with you on this one. I've done a fair bit of international traveling with a vintage Gibson in a Calton case. Schlepping that thing through airports can get really tiring. The same thing at large music festivals. My solution is a case cover with backpack straps. I also like these for gigs, where I almost always take 3 guitars (standard 6 string, resonator, and harp guitar). So, one goes on the back and one in each hand. Here's one at Elderly Music that looks perfect for the job and inexpensive. Colorado Case makes very nice covers with backpack straps.
Deadgrateful Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 My J45 in a Calton Case is no lightweight. If it's standard walking whilst carrying that is giving you issues, can I suggest some bicep curls and some shoulder presses? Might sound silly but you can add 30% to your strength in a month or so which would really help.
shadowster Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 my sj100 and case is like carring a wardrobe compared to my mates tak an case
TommyK Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 If you have modest upper body strength, you could have some "D" rings installed on the carry handle side of the case, one between the butt strap button and waist, the other up towards the head stock. Then clip an over-the-shoulder strap to help 'shoulder' the weight. If you carry the case on your right, run the strap over your head to the opposite shoulder. This allows you to better distribute the weight and walk up right. Otherwise you have to raise your carry side shoulder to keep the strap from sliding off. Doing this gets your back all out of alignment. I can only do this for a few minutes at a time. For long hauls, like at the airport, I've had two bags strapped over the opposite shoulder on both sides. the two bags' straps make an "X" across my chest and back. I've even added a fair sized Back pack to the mix. I can walk for hours like this. It has the added advantage of keeping your hands free for ID checks or concession stand buys without having set anything down and either forget it or have it swiped. Some heavier cases have roller skate wheels installed on the butt end with a tow strap attached to the top. Maybe you could have your heavy case similarly customized so you can push it ahead of your or tow it behind. There are some cases which are fabric on the outside, but with rather thick Styrofoam padding on the inside, form fitted to the instrument. The brand name escapes me. 'Featherweight' something? These should be fairly protective and lighter in weight. One other thing you could do is do some daily, modest work outs with calisthenics and some free weights to get your strength up. You don't have to become a Jack Lalanne, just make your muscles earn their keep, so to speak.
dhanners623 Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 For a couple of my guitars -- including my J-45 -- I have Gator lightweight cases in addition to the factory-supplied case. They're this one: http://www.gatorcases.com/p/16117-1116/gl-dread The cases are only 6.4 lbs. and in the grand scheme of things, they're not that expensive. You can get them from Sweetwater for $80US. With a shoulder strap, you can just throw it over your shoulder and go. They offer much better protection than a gig bag; to me, gig bags have always seemed an invitation to disaster. If you spend any time going to bluegrass festivals or things of that nature, you quickly discover that a hardshell guitar case gets very heavy very quickly, and the lightweight cases are a great alternative. Your shoulders and arms and wrists will thank you. In the winter (I live in Minnesota, where we actually do have winter...) I stick the guitars back in their hardshell cases because they seem to retain moisture better than the lightweight cases.
E-minor7 Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 In my younger days I recorded demo's in an up'n'comin' studio on the edge of town – just me and an engineer. Getting there, I had to take the train 1 stop (I lived just across the station) and get in the line for the buss. Drive half an hour, then walk a slight uphill distance, pass rows and rows of houses and village-lake before finally reaching the old merchants mansion. Some Hells Angels guy spooked around on the ground-floor. I tried to avoid him. Never was a muscle-man so with a Telecaster in one hand and the D-35 in the other, I was totally zapped when I arrived. My arms were literally paralyzed and I had to wait an hour before they relaxed and was able come under control. That first hour I usually spent programming the rhythm-box and sipping tea. We would work approx 10 to 14 hours on nothing but tea, coffee and cigarettes – that means to the break of day or further. Sometimes if we got hungry in the middle of the night, maybe a glass of herring or a bag of potatoes would be in the fridge. With some bread that was what we needed besides the hot drinks with sugar and straight ziggies. Good Lords we were happy. . . . Today I prefer the same sparse treat f.x. when the band is together. No 'luxury' – or as little as possible. Theory is that it makes the members slip through to their former selves – the time before grown-up comfort sat in. The ideal state of being for focus and for making the music represent something important. Carry All Ages ~ and your guitars with strength and pride
blindboygrunt Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 In my younger days I recorded demo's in an up'n'comin' studio on the edge of town – just me and an engineer. Getting there, I had to take the train 1 stop (I lived just across the station) and get in the line for the buss. Drive half an hour, then walk a slight uphill distance, pass rows and rows of houses and village-lake before finally reaching the old merchants mansion. Some Hells Angels guy spooked around on the ground-floor. I tried to avoid him. Never was a muscle-man so with a Telecaster in one hand and the D-35 in the other, I was totally zapped when I arrived. My arms were literally paralyzed and I had to wait an hour before they relaxed and was able come under control. That first hour I usually spent programming the rhythm-box and sipping tea. We would work approx 10 to 14 hours on nothing but tea, coffee and cigarettes – that means to the break of day or further. Sometimes if we got hungry in the middle of the night, maybe a glass of herring or a bag of potatoes would be in the fridge. With some bread that was what we needed besides the hot drinks with sugar and straight ziggies. Good Lords we were happy. . . . Today I prefer the same sparse treat f.x. when the band is together. No 'luxury' – or as little as possible. Theory is that it makes the members slip through to their former selves – the time before grown-up comfort sat in. The ideal state of being for focus and for making the music represent something important. Carry All Ages ~ and your guitars with strength and pride rock n roll :-) or withnail and i springs to mind
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.