I did a search and looked back over threads going back to around 2001 I think, and I found these suggestions for Low Whistle bags, followed by what I found:
Altieribags.com (no whistle bags)
Joan Hackie (nothing quite suitable, so I sent her an email about custom work)
Nyghtshayde (Googling found nothing whistle-related)
NancyF (I don’t know who this is or how to contact her)
North Art Heritage Music (nothing really suitable) Lollysmith.com (nothing suitable) Flutecase.com (a bag to hold six 33-inch-long flutes for $33) Tuffbaggs.com AKA RachelTreasures (nothing quite suitable)
Jean Cavallaro AKA Colorado Case Co (closest thing is a SATB recorder roll, $125) Sassafrassgrove.com (not currently in production, per email)
Annie (don’t know who this is or how to contact) Tonydixonmusic.co.uk (nothing suitable)
None of these places had what I’m after, a bag that can hold Low D, Eb, E, in each key up to high D and Eb, 12 slots in all preferably.
there is a C&Fer named NancyF but I don’t see where she made bags, just that she had to unroll one at an airport once
there is a C&Fer named anniemcu she is Sarah @ Sassafrassgrove. I think her name is Sarah Ann McUmber-House. She did very nice work, custom work, but she took a real job…
It might be worth your while talking to one or more of the makers you list for a custom bag. Kate Lozier of Tuffbaggs made my whistle bags. I probably have close to a dozen of her bags to meet various needs. This was before Annie started offering Sassafrass Grove bags (which are the nicest bags I have seen). My first several Tuffbaggs were off-the-shelf models but eventually I got to a place where I wanted something more like what you are describing. She made a bag for me which holds my Burkes from high E down to low E. I carry the lower whistles (Eb, three low D’s and low C) in a separate Tuffbagg. I have no idea whether custom bags are still on offer but it may be worth a shot.
Or you could look to other custom gig-bag makers. I don’t have a particular suggestion at the moment but I know from playing a few out of the norm instruments that there are bag makers out there which are ready to do your bidding for a price. You send them your measurements and they’ll quote a price. Blue Heron cases come to mind. And I think Reunion Blues once did this. Glenn Cronkhite started Reunion Blues and he offers custom cases now.
Oh, my wife and I have made whistle rolls as well. It’s not radically difficult if you know someone that is handy with a sewing machine. We used a layer of polar fleece for the inside and Supplex nylon for the exterior with Velcro to keep things closed. And you can add straps and hardware as you like.
These people http://stores.ebay.ca/North-Art-Heritage-Music “custom sew woodwind bags - if you need a different size let us know and we will email you with a quote” … just somebody I’ve seen on eBay … the bags look nice, if that’s what you want.
I had just given up and decided to make one myself.
I wonder, from folks who have used them, what does
one desire in such a bag? I assume bare minimum, I’m
going to have to use some quilting material for padding
between layers of something soft that won’t scratch
up the metal. But is there anything else that matters
for a good, simple roll?
It depends on what your requirements are for protection and such, I think. The simplest rolls I have seen are made from a soft, thick terry-cloth towel folded roughly in thirds and using a couple ribbons to tie it closed. Two thirds are foled over on themselves to be used for making the front and back of the pockets and the other third (well less than a third) becomes a flap to hold the whistles in their pockets. The ribbons are sewn to the edges and are long enough to go around the rolled bag and be tied to hold everything together. Beyond that you can do what ever you can imagine - handles, straps, belt loops, hanging loops, CPVC tubes (for crush protection), extra pockets, etc.. Take a look at the pictures on Annie McU’s Sassafrass Grove site for inspiration.
Coon Hollow Canvas http://www.coonhollowcanvas.com/ will work with you to design the bag you want the way you want it. My bag opens like a fairly narrow book, has 5 “slots” in one side and 4 in the other (I sometimes carry a Re***der or two). There’s a nice piece of covered material between the sides and the whole thing is very substantial. I think I may have paid around $100, and perhaps less. Helen is very good to work with and will take back anything you don’t like. Quality work at low prices. I highly recommend her work. (And I don’t have any connection except that my cousin has an archetecture business in the area… .)
I know that this is probably not what you’re looking for, and I’m not even sure if the maker is going to do anymore like this anyway
but I just really wanted to show off my brand new custom High/Low whistle roll pack, and this thread looked like a pretty good place to do that.
She just ask me to say that if you wanted to contact her regarding cases it’s best to do so by email hackiepacks@highspeedcrow.ca and also that she has quite a waiting list at the moment.
I’m not going to write a full review of it here cause this thread really isn’t the place for it and besides I just don’t feel like it right now anyhow although I may do one later and post it over by her other review.
However if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.
Go to a music store that has a great selection of supplies for drummers and buy a drum stick bag. Drummers have lots of sticks and therefore lots of compartments to put whistles in. I got one and it’s the best.
Yes that Joan Hackie case looks perfect. Many thanks for posting those great photos. (I mentioned her on the list in my Original Post; I have emailed her; she says she is taking a hiatus but will let me know when she’s making again.)
That Colin Goldie case looks great too.
What I’ve decided to do, however, is have a local woman do a custom case for me.
I went down to a fabric store and bought some quilted fabric: two layers of cotton with batting in between, and quilted.
It’s soft, protective, and still relatively thin.
I like the two-tier design see above with the Hackie case (and on the Goldie case).
It will have loops so that it can be suspended from a music stand, an idea I got from drumstick bags.
That’s where I was heading. The design is nice and doesn’t look overly labor intensive as opposed to other fancier but less utilitarian bags I’ve seen.
.)
