Why a trombone case is an absolute ‘must-have’?
Owning a trombone case is important because of the following reasons:
Storage purposes – this is probably the main reason for you to purchase a trombone case. With a case, you will be able to store your trombone when you are not using it.
Extra protection of your trombone – a case will protect your trombone from damage by external forces. If it drops, the trombone will be safe. The case is also a protection from the general wear and tear caused by environmental factors as well as preventing your instrument from dust which may cause damage to the parts.
Easy transport – if you travel more often with your trombone, a case will help you to transport it easy especially if you are using air or train. You just need to buy one with a lock for security reasons.
Extra storage – most trombone cases have compartments which can be used as extra storage. You can store your personal belongings in the compartments such as phone, tablet, wallet, sheet music and other trombone accessories.
Choose the best trombone cases by the following features
The following features will help you in purchasing the best trombone cases;
Soft or hard
Before deciding whether to buy yourself a soft or hard case, you need to ask yourself the following questions; how often will you be moving your trombone from one place to another? Will you ever use the train or air to travel? How will you store your instrument?
If you travel short distances a few times a month, you will need a softshell gig bag to carry your trombone. However, if you will be travelling across the country consistently maybe for a marching band competition, a heavy-duty hard case will give you the extra protection.
Although these hard cases are heavier, more expensive and larger, most experts recommend it because it lasts longer. After all, investing extra dollars will save you more in the future.
Materials
The frames of trombone cases are made of different materials. The frames can be made of nylon, polyester, jacquard, molded ABS or even wood shell. The materials used in trombone cases should be shock absorbent and lightweight to be able to protect the instrument from any external damage and easy to carry.
Padding
Most of the trombone cases reviewed above are either padded by EPS or high-density foam with some having plush linings. The main purpose of the padding is to protect the trombone from external forces for example if the trombone drops to the ground and is in the padded case, it is unlikely to break.
Locks
When you have found a case of your choice, examine its latches and hardware. The trombone case that you buy should have reliable latches to prevent the trombone from tumbling out during storage or transport. This is something that you wouldn’t want to happen to you because you can incur more repair costs.
The next thing that you need to do is check the case for flexing. You can do this by pressing down the different parts of the case to see whether there is any movement. If there is movement, your trombone is likely to be damaged.
The case should be rigid at all times for you to protect your trombone. Finally, you need to decide whether you need a lock or not. If you are concerned about theft or plan to travel with your trombone, consider purchasing a case with built-in locks and most will be approved by the TSA.
Compartments
Having compartments in your trombone case will help you in storing the extra accessories that you may have. Some trombone cases come with zippered variants and slide pockets that will help you organize all your accessories in a better manner. This way you can retrieve anything that you want from the case easily without causing a mess.
Backpack straps
In addition to the waist and chest belts, most trombone cases such as the Fusion FB-PB-15BK will come with backpack strap. This will enable you to carry the trombone as a rucksack. The straps should be easily adjustable to fit your desired needs. The backpack straps will help in reducing the back pains that may be caused by straps that are shoulder-based.
Consider the wheels
Some trombonists like wheels, while others don’t like. In as much as this is a more personal preference, wheels just make sense. Referred to as wheelie cases, trombone cases with wheels are suitable for students who are not able to carry the trombone on their own.
If you do not like wheelie cases, but still need extra help, looks for a trombone case that has padded and thick straps. If you choose a traditional trombone case and later on you want one with wheels, you can carry the instrument using a small furniture dolly but make sure that it is securely fastened.
Design
Sometimes cases can be a real fashion statement, especially if you having to regularly travel with the trombone. If you want a case that blends in go for a neutral black soft case design. If you fancy showing off your instrument, bright colored cases are also available.
Money sound
Consider buying a trombone case that is within your budget. Note that the amount of money does not affect the quality of the case as you can find a cheaper but good quality trombone case. The trombone cases that come will extra features such as good quality padding, waterproof and backpack straps will be more expensive than the ones that do not have these features.
Therefore, choose one that is suitable needs and within your budget. The trombone cases reviewed above range from around $50 to $300.
Water resistance
Some trombone cases such as the Protec IP309CT are made of soft materials which are waterproof. If you travel a lot or often move from one place to another, it will be wise to invest in a waterproof trombone case that will protect your instrument whenever it rains. You may need to pay a little extra money, but it is worthwhile in the end. You do not want your trombone to be rained on as you may spend more on the repair.
Warranty
This is a very important feature in every purchase that you make. You need to have a guarantee for the purchase of a trombone case. Before purchasing the case, it is important to read the terms and conditions of the warranty so that you understand the parts covered by the warranty. The products reviewed above have warranty ranging from one year, two-years and even a lifetime warranty seen with the Gator Cases GL-TROMBONE-F.