Ralph Sauer, retired L.A. Philharmonic Principal Trombonist, clinician and inventor of the “travelbone”, has this to say about the TANK:
“I just got back from a round trip to Atlanta with no damage to the horn. That's six flights so far with The Tank. The case is taking a few knocks on the outside, though. I spent a week carrying it around and was surprised that it wasn't that difficult to handle. It weighs about 20 pounds loaded. Definitely worth the slight trade-off in return for not having to schlep it around the airport--going through security lines, trying to order food, visiting the restroom, etc.
Some airlines are charging extra for a 2nd piece of checked baggage, but it is worth it for me not to have to deal with a carry-on trombone. I'm headed to Texas and New York next week and will continue to check The Tank as baggage. Thanks again for a great product.”
David Vining, Professor of Trombone at Northern Arizona University says:
(David even removed one of the memory foam pads - thought it was “extra!” it’s back in, now)
“I love this case!”
“ I checked my horn in this case and forgot about it! It came through with no problem.”
“Traveling is easy with this case – no more worrying about my horn on the flight”
Scott Whitfield, a well-known arranger and performer on trombone, after taking a prototype of the tenor case to Barcelona and back had this to say:
“It’s been 25 years since I last checked my horn at the airport. Now I do, because I know it’s going to be OK.”
Scott Whitfield
Scott now travels with the latest edition of the tenor trombone case and is even happier with the results.
Denis W. Winter, Faculty, Central Arkansas University, Euphonium/Trombone, member of the faculty brass quintet
“The case was great to have last May! It journeyed from Little Rock to Memphis to Vienna to Salzburg to Munich to Beijing to Shanghai to Fuzhou to Hong Kong and back to the USA in fine condition. The turning locks got a bit loose, so I used a strap for extra safety, but that was the only problem, and I always checked it as regular baggage. It has already more than paid for itself!”
Bill Tole (right) shown with M. McGuire of The TANK
Bill’s original case has over 500,000 miles of air travel, and it shows it on the outside. Here he is receiving his new case at the NAMM show where they both performed with Bones West. His old case is going into the archives as a record of just how much protection they give.
Others who are now feeling more secure with the TANK include:
The San Francisco Symphony Trombone Section
John Noxon (Williams Trombones)
The US Navy
Charlie Vernon ( a custom triple case for alto, tenor and bass trombones)
David Gier ( University of Iowa)
Tom Bridges (LA Freelance on Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium)
Jeannine Flores (Golden West Brass Band, Music Teacher)
Robert Smit (Golden West Brass Band, Music Teacher)
Irvin Karan (SlideBone.com)
