TromboneChat

Hi everyone!

I am looking for recommendations for a slim, low-profile trombone case that can accommodate a 8.5 inch bell. Especially interested in hardshell cases and gig bags. Storage space is not a priority.

I often find myself in small jazz clubs with my horn, and I'm looking for a case that takes up as little space as possible. I'll use it mostly for a Conn 78h, but every once in awhile I'll need it for a Bach 42 (closed wrap). I'm having trouble finding an option that can accommodate a 8.5 inch bell that isn't overly bulky and doesn't include storage space that I don't need. Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!

I’ve been eye-ing up the Crossrock fiberglass case…seems to check all the boxes but I have not yet seen one in the wild.

https://crossrockcase.com/product/fiber ... ttachment/

I used the Thomann equivalent to the Crossrock case for a Conn 88H. It was a small case, rather lightweight, and was really functional.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_fi ... silver.htm

There are a few Yamaha Xeno cases that come up used that may also fit the bill…they have the size profile I think you are looking for.

Soulbrass wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 5:52 am I’ve been eye-ing up the Crossrock fiberglass case…seems to check all the boxes but I have not yet seen one in the wild.

https://crossrockcase.com/product/fiber ... ttachment/

That one looks similar in size to the new-ish King 3b fiberglass cases. They are ok, but a little bigger than I'd want it to be.

atopper333 wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 6:05 am I used the Thomann equivalent to the Crossrock case for a Conn 88H. It was a small case, rather lightweight, and was really functional.

https://www.thomannmusic.com/thomann_fi ... silver.htm

I don't think I've seen this before. Very intriguing. I may have to remember this one when I'm in the market for another case.

I'm not too familiar with slim cases that fit 8.5" bells, but I'm always a fan of the BAM classic case. They're light and pretty slim. I would also think the Marcus Bonna Tenor trombone baby case would be good too, but I don't have experience with that one specifically.

BAM Classic - https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/tro ... -style.php

MB Baby - https://mbcases.com/portfolio/cases/tro ... mbone-baby

MB Baby for large tenor is it

I did a gig with a lad who had a bags of Spain case with alto and tenor in. It was smaller than my 88h case. I'm assuming their single horn ones are even leaner.

mikerspencer wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:14 am I did a gig with a lad who had a bags of Spain case with alto and tenor in. It was smaller than my 88h case. I'm assuming their single horn ones are even leaner.

I have one of their cases for my Bass - really good case, and fairly compact and light. The outside shape reminds me of the old French-style Bach cases, but lighter and better protection.

JS

Dug up an old pic with the Thomann case just for reference.

It’s a gig bag, but the Cronkhite two piece travel/flight gig bag is the only thing I've seen that can fit in the trunk my my ND Miata

Aidan, is the MB Baby a smaller profile than the MB LW? It looks to be longer than the LW but thinner overall?

It's wayyy smaller.

For those purposes, I like my Tom&Will gig bag. It's smaller than any other trombone bags I've seen, and the big plus is that you load/unload it in standing position. Don't have to lay it flat on the floor or a table. That's super convenient for small venues like jazz clubs etc...

I know this is not what you are asking for, but somewhere I saw a plastic hard case that fit a bach 36. Somebody was selling a used 36 in one. I think it was from the 80s or 90s.
The modern plastic cases (SKB, Gator, MTS) are all too narrow to fit the bell section so they offer larger cases for F-attachments.
Can't figure out what this plastic case was. Maybe something for a slightly larger student horn from the 80s? Anybody know?

jacobgarchik wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 7:45 am I know this is not what you are asking for, but somewhere I saw a plastic hard case that fit a bach 36. Somebody was selling a used 36 in one. I think it was from the 80s or 90s.
The modern plastic cases (SKB, Gator, MTS) are all too narrow to fit the bell section so they offer larger cases for F-attachments.
Can't figure out what this plastic case was. Maybe something for a slightly larger student horn from the 80s? Anybody know?

I think I've seen the cases that you're referring to, although they're pretty rare nowadays. Bach used them in the 60's for their Intermediate horns, the ones that evolved into the TB200/F. I imagine a 36B or maybe even a 42B would fit just fine.

The old Wolf Pack case (later Torpedo) was pretty compact. I have a similar case for my G-bass (but it's from the 1930s). Is Torpedo still making that case?

I wonder about one of these "aristocrat" cases (is this the same as the "soloist" case? looks to be). Maybe with the foam for the bell section recut it would fit a 36?
We really need a big music store to solve this mystery by trying every student model case with a 36. C'mon, it would be a public service.

Speaking of weird case geometry.
I got this unlabelled French style case with a horn on ebay about 18 years ago. Somebody suggested these used to be sold by Allied Supply.
Fits a Bach 36.
plywood with tolex.

jacobgarchik wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:38 am I wonder about one of these "aristocrat" cases (is this the same as the "soloist" case? looks to be). Maybe with the foam for the bell section recut it would fit a 36?
We really need a big music store to solve this mystery by trying every student model case with a 36. C'mon, it would be a public service.

FWIW the (early 90s?) era of Yamaha student case pictured here is most often seen with 354s but also fits an 8" bell w/ large bore tuning slide chassis, like the 455 pictured. On the slide side, the foam cutout will take small bore and 36/88H-width crooks, but not 42-width. Pretty basic, only two latches, slide under twist hold-downs but no flap dividing bell and slide.

ithinknot wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 12:10 pm

jacobgarchik wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 6:38 am I wonder about one of these "aristocrat" cases (is this the same as the "soloist" case? looks to be). Maybe with the foam for the bell section recut it would fit a 36?
We really need a big music store to solve this mystery by trying every student model case with a 36. C'mon, it would be a public service.

FWIW the (early 90s?) era of Yamaha student case pictured here is most often seen with 354s but also fits an 8" bell w/ large bore tuning slide chassis, like the 455 pictured. On the slide side, the foam cutout will take small bore and 36/88H-width crooks, but not 42-width. Pretty basic, only two latches, slide under twist hold-downs but no flap dividing bell and slide.

Aha, fascinating. So it seems that, to find more of these matches, we need to look for any student/intermediate 525 bore straight trombone which would have been sold with a case like this. There are/were not many of those made, right?

kind of curious about this one
https://www.hickeys.com/music/brass/tro ... e-case.php

says it's for medium bore straight horns up to 8.5 bell.
so...maybe a 36? maaaaybe a 42?
somebody has to try this for us.