vinnieL wrote:The Meinl case seems to be the best bet shells and hardware in separate compartments but 1 case to carry around $99.00 at musiciansfriend.com
I've seen it at $85 elsewhere on the web. One just has to keep Googling.
What I especially like about the Meinl is that it comes with a built-in side compartment which can accommodate the whole length of the timbale stand. This can only be achieved if the bag is designed such that the drums are bagged side-to-side rather than one on top of the other, such as with LP, Humes & Berg and JP Cases (now defunct). With others, you'll have to buy a separate bag for the stand if you want one.
Probably not too many people know about this, but another possibility, if one prefers a hard case, is the Impact Compact Timbale Case. The only place where I've seen it is at Cascio Interstatemusic (
http://www.interstatemusic.com). Do a search using the key phrase "timbale case". It has an interesting coffin-like design and costs a rather hefty $152.98. And being constructed, I suppose, of plywood covered by felt, the weight, too, can be hefty. But, as most of us realize, a hefty price can be a relative thing. It depends on how much we value the instrument(s) that we're going to house.
Like the Meinl, the Impact case has a side-to-side timbales configuration. Based only from looking at the supplied picture, though, I'm not sure if it also features a compartment for the timbale stand. But, it may.
Me personally? I have a Humes & Berg Enduro timbale hard case (with foam). Sam Ash (
http://www.samash.com) advertises it at an even more hefty $199.99. I was lucky in having bought one (a customer order which wasn't picked up) from a Midwest-based drum store which advertised it for "only" $99. I love it despite the fact that it doesn't come with a built-in compartment for the stand. It's light, being made of ABC plastic, I think.
I just found out about 2 other timbale hardcases made of ABC plastic:
- XL Specialty Timbale Case with Divider at $75.60 (
http://www.fermatamusic.com/shop/produc ... _id=200468)
- Gator Cases GP-PC317 - Rotationally Molded Timbales Case w/Divider at $78.99(?) and $112.99 (
http://www.casesandmore.com/asp/show_de ... FR5-GC1682).
They're identical cases. Gator Cases recently bought the company that makes XL Specialty cases.
I hope someone can benefit from the above information,