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Gig Bag to cover Stage 73

Started by absent, December 05, 2008, 04:10:45 PM

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absent

Hey there.

We need a source for a gig bag to cover our 73. The tolex is getting trashed; no amount of wheedling, screaming, or polite discussion can get the band to be careful enough with it (they do pretty  good on everything but the sliding).

Second to that would maybe be a slip-cover instead; but that would still leave part of the cabinet exposed.
Help!

William Price
My roommate, a fellow Hawkwind fan aware of Wilhelm Reich, frequently jokes that I left the "Organ Accumulator" turned on.
I am on my 3d Rhodes (a 1980 MK II Stage 73), which I am restoring to sell. I am about to inherit (sadly) a restored Wurli of unknown origin. My house is awash with Hammond Spinets (and an H series console), 4 Farfisa items in various stages of disrepair, and I sold the remains of my Vox Super-Continental to get my working Yamaha dual-manual combo organ. I have from 2-3 Moogs, depending on what you call a Moog.
My girlfreind says I am like a cat lady, but with keyboards. The punchline: I am a guitarist.

dnarkosis

You can try to pick up one of these (for a Stage; or two if you have a Suitcase) on eBay:

I believe tnelson on this group (and probably others as well) simply use movers' blankets (just search online):

I have thought of having a professional seamstress (or someone with a heavy-duty sewing machine) make a custom-fit slip cover like the original Rhodes covers, but made out of a movers' blanket.

You might also check out my article on Ozite covering:
http://kosis.blog4ever.com/blog/lirarticle-42357-123851.html
1979 Suitcase 73
1980 Stage 54

james

Quote from: "dnarkosis"You can try to pick up one of these (for a Stage; or two if you have a Suitcase) on eBay:
The one thing that bugs me about these after buying one sight-unseen for my Stage 73 is that they don't slip over the top of the piano when it's assembled (either on legs or on top of the amp).  Instead it's designed for covering everything with the case closed, standing on end with the logo side on the floor, so it's obviously for transport use only.  Which is what you need, but the fact that it leaves the stage-facing side exposed to the elements isn't a great "feature"!
Web Designer/Developer, Webmaster & Co-Creator
The Rhodes Super Site since 1996
1977 Mark I Stage 73 + Vintage Vibe Stereo Vibe

dnarkosis

Quoteit's obviously for transport use only. Which is what you need, but the fact that it leaves the stage-facing side exposed to the elements isn't a great "feature

Yes, since it slips down over the handles on the top part, it does indeed leave the stage side exposed during transport, exposing the logo, the most fragile part of the entire keyboard.

Quotethey don't slip over the top of the piano when it's assembled (either on legs or on top of the amp).

My wonderful (very wonderful) wife made a single-piece cover out of black muslin for the studio:

It should not be hard to make such a cover for a Stage only.
1979 Suitcase 73
1980 Stage 54

Spaceduck

I was about to cast my vote for moving blankets, but... dnark, yours has class! Any chance your wife would ever go into business making those??

If not, moving blankets work really well. I wrapped my 88 in one and basically rolled it down the steps (moving a piano by yourself, ya gotta do what ya gotta do), and there wasn't a single scuff.

dnarkosis

Spaceduck:

you may have misunderstood:

The custom Suitcase top-and-bottom cover (it's all one piece) my wife made is for the studio only, and I need to correct myself ("Yes, dear") about the material: it's made out of a cotton/polyester twill, and she just informed me that the piece over the speaker is a simple kind of broadcloth. She said muslin would be too thin.

This material is not nearly strong enough for cartage. For cartage I use the vinyl covers in the first photo that Rhodes originally made and which I got off eBay. The problem to which James is referring is with the top piece (the actual keyboard, not the speaker cabinet): those factory covers slip down over the handle side of the unit, so the unit has to be standing on its glides, which is why it won't work in the studio (it's also why the logo is exposed).

The factory cover fits down over the top of the Suitcase speaker cabinet; the bottom, with the glides, is still exposed.

I really think the ideal cartage cover would be made out of the movers'-blanket material and have a flap that also covers the side with the glides, since it is precisely that side that gets set on the floor during cartage (tearing tolex and scratching the logo).

The Suitcase speaker cabinet could have the same kind of flap for the bottom as well.

For the studio, almost any fairly stout fabric could be sewn into a shape that is simply lowered down over the piano and pulled off by pulling it up. I think that's what James was looking for.

BTW: I have seen two different kinds of material used on the factory covers: I thinner vinyl (as in my photo), and a thicker, much higher quality vinyl that also has facing on the inside.
1979 Suitcase 73
1980 Stage 54

BJT3

Just did a little Googling for "custom gig bags"


http://studioslips.com/

I did a quick estimate. Looks like it run about $200 or so
1978 Mark I Stage Piano 88
1970 Wurlitzer 200
Hohner D6 Clavinet
1961 Hammond A100 Organ
1977 Fender Twin Reverb (Blackfaced)

Spaceduck

Ah, I see the problem now. Yes, the ideal solution would be if we could get Mrs. dnark to make a cover out of a thick fabric (black padded canvas or velour would be sweet) that fits over the top and folds under the bottom maybe with some straps. Maybe the studioslips BJT3 mentioned can be ordered that way.

I strongly agree with james about the Rhodes slipcovers "the fact that it leaves the stage-facing side exposed to the elements isn't a great 'feature'!" which would explain why there are so many demolished Rhodes logos in the world.

But what do you guys think of this... an aluminum frame that somehow clamps around all the exposed edges? This is one of my upcoming projects. I bought a Rhodes that looked like this



I've taken the aluminum frame off so I can re-tolex the thing. Now I just have to figure out a way of re-attaching the frame in a manner that can be easily removed. The original frame was riveted into the case, which I didn't like. But I think the general idea is worth exploring. And unless the roadies come running at your piano with a sword, it's pretty well protected from being dropped or knocked into a wall.

dnarkosis

BJT3:

Nice idea; thanks for posting this.
I just added the link to my blog under the article Sources for Generic Parts and Maintenance Materials.
1979 Suitcase 73
1980 Stage 54

dnarkosis

Spaceduck:

The first really nasty gash I had on my original Rhodes was precisely on the edge. Broke my heart.

I've been so tempted by this design that I downloaded some pix so I could remember how it was done.
http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=thzjn1ynji4&thumb=5" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/6db833a780e30656ad4bb6dd2fc66e6c2g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire">http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=cmidyjcmmmc&thumb=5" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/6b690a2e31722d1c5d0831980137d1102g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire">http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=tmndwjnznhy&thumb=5" target="_blank">http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/6da83cb81146906b216762b420c86b2f2g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire">
1979 Suitcase 73
1980 Stage 54

james

Now that the living room is finally sorted out a little I took a couple of pics of my NOS slip cover for the Stage 73 in use. The first shows how it goes over the piano in its closed-up position, and the second gives a closeup of the opening for the handles (which feature flaps to cover the grips when not in use):


Web Designer/Developer, Webmaster & Co-Creator
The Rhodes Super Site since 1996
1977 Mark I Stage 73 + Vintage Vibe Stereo Vibe