I've recently completed a mod to a very inexpensive headless guitar that's resulted in a very satisfactory instrument. Now I have to do something about a case. It's supplied with a gig bag that, even given the modest price, is barely a token. Naturally buying a stock decent third party gig bag is well-nigh impossible. Instead, I've bought a gig bag for a 49-key synthesiser that has the right dimensions.
I now need to source a block or blocks of firm but workable foam in which I can cut a cavity for the instrument to sit within.
My question to the forum is how firm/malleable/heavy (those seem to be the variants to be considered) should the foam be and where am I recommended to buy it? It's about 900x350x100mm internal.
Many thanks in advance.
Comments
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The instrument actually comes in a lightly padded gig bag cut to size; my objective now is to find a rectangular case/bag into which I can fit a couple of slabs of high-density foam with the guitar shape cut out of one of them so the instrument is better protected than merely by padding.
Assuming that works (and I'm waiting on a response from e-foam), I think I shall end up with an inexpensive but effective solution to my original need.
My present concern is whether the foam stuff I've ordered from eFoam will be strong enough to hold the shape - there's not a huge space around the extremities of the instrument. I'm hoping that the fluffy lining (I don't have a caveman costume to hand) will help hold the structure. If it needs help I'm planning to buy some strips of lightweight plastic and insert them in the sides of the bag to improved the structure. As you observed weight is a serious concern.
If I'd made it tapered rather than rectangular I could have saved even more weight (in fact I keep thinking about modifying it but haven't been bothered yet because of the hassle of having to remove and refit the lining - it's all staple-gunned to the wood).
But I reckon for a lightweight solution you'll probably be fine with your keyboard bag and foam. I have heard of people making fitted case linings by wrapping the instrument in cling film or polythene, putting it in the empty case, and filling the gaps with expanding insulation foam. Usually for more complicated-shaped instruments like saxophones rather than guitars, but it might be worth a go if the foam you've got isn't protective enough.