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New Image - Medium Weight (22mm) Cover with Wheels The New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels looks fabulous. Can you tell me more about it please? Yes indeed we can - and the first thing that you will notice is that it has a thoroughly upbeat, modern styling, lots and lots of appeal and of course the incorporation of a fixed wheel system into the bottom of the cover. There are plenty of good strong handles for lifting, there are plenty of pockets for one's music, rosin and bits and bobs and then there is the really tough cordura fabric that besides having a cool space-age feel and look - is really tough, reliable and durable. The satin-finish of the cordura fabric does look good. Is it shower proof? In one word - yes. How well is the cover padded? The cover is well padded with 22mm of foam. In our opinion this "medium-weight" cover offers the perfect amount of protection and manageability. Is the fixed wheel system intended to provide another option when it comes to manageability? Yes - that fact that this cover incorporates a really neat- compact and reliable wheel system really is an added bonus. Can you tell me more about the wheels? I think that it is best to describe the wheels - not as wheels but as small barrels. Because they are slightly higher in the middle and taper towards the ends they allow you to steer your instrument along with complete accuracy. How do I steer my double bass exactly? It really is sooo... simple. With your double bass held in front of you just tilt your bass slightly to either the right or left as necessary. Over a suitable surface your bass will just guide along completely effortlessly. Can I drag my bass behind me? Yes - should you so wish - although obviously you won't have quite so much control over its direction. What are the wheels made from? The two wheels are made from a durable plastic laminate. Each is mounted on to a strong plastic wheel-housing which in turn is attached onto the cover bottom by means of three steel rivets. A thin-flexible plate secures the rivets internally and ensures that the whole system is strong and trouble free. Is there any extra padding at the bottom of the cover to protect my bass? Yes indeed. Both internally and externally there is an additional layer of foam. In addition the whole of the bottom of the cover is protected by a waterproof layer designed to stop any possible water damage soaking the cover and instrument should you happen to be wheeling your bass along when it is wet or raining. I notice that you said "suitable" surfaces. I presume that this means smooth surfaces only? Yes - the wheels really are perfect for use on smooth pavements and internal flooring. Obviously - they are not pneumatic or sprung in any way so common sense is required to evaluate when it is safe to use them. What does the Medium Weight New Image Cover with Wheels weigh? The 3/4 size cover weighs 4.50kg (average). The 4/4 size cover weighs 4.80kg (average). Does the wheel system add much weight to the New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels in comparison to the standard New Image Medium Weight Cover? No - it adds relatively little weight. We calculated that its approximately a matter of only 0.15kg more that the standard cover. I presume that as soon as I start wheeling my bass along the marginal weight gain in the cover won't be noticeable anyway. Yes - that's correct. In fact once you start using the wheels - you won't be lifting any instrument weight either. You'll just be "floating" along with your bass. Approximately how much weight do you think the wheels can save me lifting? We calculated that the wheels should save you lifting something between 14-20kg in gross weight!
Do you think that this cover will appeal to me? The New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels really will be of enormous benefit to a great many players who are struggling with the weight and manageability issues of their instrument. It may be that you are a younger member of the bass playing community, a student at college or perhaps you are not quite as young, strong or fit as you once were. Whatever your circumstances - the New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels is certainly a versatile and convenient transportation aid. I must say that the wheel benefit is most attractive. It's also good to see so many handles on a cover. Yes - you really can't have enough handles on a bass cover - so we are delighted to tell you that there are no less the 10 on this classy looking medium-weight cover. Phew! - 10 that is impressive. The handles look strong too. Yes - the carrying handles are made from woven industrial webbing. Handles don't come much stronger or more reliable than these. The stitching is made from good strong stuff too. I can see that all the body handles are positioned perfectly to carry my bass easily or for sliding the bass into and out of my car without buggering up my lower back - but do the three webbing straps at the top of the cover have any real use at all. Yes the three handles that you mention are very useful indeed. The first two - positioned on either side of the cover opposite the upper-neck, pegbox area make lifting the bass safely into the upright position incredibly effortless. The third strap - which you see positioned across the front of the cover - just opposite the scroll is just perfect for "hoicking" the whole cover up and cleanly over the very top of the scroll with the minimal of effort. Is there a shoulder strap with the cover? Yes. As if the 10 handles weren't quite enough to help carry one's pride and joy about - the manufactures of this cover have included a "half-length" heavy-duty webbing shoulder strap which can be used to carry the bass on its side - as you would a violin or cello case. Alternatively the strap can be lengthened and slotted through the back-button handle to form a ruck-sack style strap that will enable you to carry the bass on your back. How does the shoulder strap attach to the cover? Four chrome rings are positioned slightly above the central side handles of the cover. The clasp at the end of the shoulder strap - can simply be clipped onto which ever rings you find the most practical for your particular carrying method. I see that on the bass side front there is a pouch for my bow. Is it big enough to take my bow case? Yes - a single or double bow case can be slotted into the pouch with the utmost of ease. All you need to do is give the sides of the pouch a few quick tugs in order to release a couple of folds in the material from short lengths of Velcro. How many accessory pockets are there? There are two. One is positioned on the top of the treble side cover - the other is positioned on the bottom of the treble side. I seem to have a rather large amount of bass players "stuff". How big are the pockets? Ahh yes - bass players "stuff". We know all about those vital"necessities" that help carry you through a particularly tedious rehearsal or session. So you'll be well pleased to know that the upper pocket measures approximately 20cm x 20cm x 6cm. The lower pocket measures approximately 23cm x 23cm x 7cm. With these stats - the boffins at The Contrabass Shoppe calculated that you could easily carry 7 large cans of Guinness or Budweiser around with you. Not that you'd want to of course - but at least you get the idea! On the central lower-front of the cover I can see a long thin pocket. Is this a spike or endpin pocket? Yes - exactly right. The manufacturers just seem to have thought of everything with this cover. If you're moving your bass about with a wheel - simply slot your end-pin into the pocket. The pocket measures approximately 41.5 x 6.0cm and has a closing flap that is held in place by Velcro. Is there is a music holder on the back of the cover? Yes. Positioned on the lower back there is an absolutely huge pocket. It measures 42cm x 42cm. Tell me about the zips. They are just so important to putting a cover onto a bass easily and then when required taking it off again. Yes - agreed. So you'll be well pleased to hear that the zip department consists of two, two-way heavy duty zips that both start from the endpin hole. The first - a full length zip extends right along the bass side of the instrument all the way up to the top of the scroll. The second - on the treble side of the cover is a quarter-length zip that extends approximately up to the top of the lower bout. Used in combination they make putting the New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels on and taking it off incredibly easy. On my previous cover the zips used to creep open as I was carrying my bass along. It was so annoying. The bass even started to slip out of the cover. Have the manufactures of this cover done anything to prevent this problem happening on the New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels? Yes - believe it or not the manufactures have come up with a simple and very effective solution to eliminate "zip-creep" entirely. On either side of the endpin unit they've sewn in strips of Velcro that can be stretched across the zip-line. Problem solved. Is the inside of the cover as well made as the outside? Yes - the internal lining compliments the outside of the cover really well. It is well-cut, well-stitched in place and of good durable quality. In addition there is a generous - 3.3mm wide - fine-woven webbing tongue to protect the varnish of your instrument from the two zips. What colours are available? Black with black lining. What sizes are available? Only 3/4 and 4/4. How do I work out what size I need? We reckon that the easiest way to work out what size cover is perfect for your instrument is to measure the length of its back (LOB). To find out what this figure is - measure in centimetres from the base of the back button to the lowest extremity (mid-point of the bottom edge) of the back. We consider that a "perfect" fit is one that does not cause any stretching of the material or stress placement on the seams or zips. I think that I've got a 3/4 size instrument can you help me decide if the 3/4 size New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels is indeed what I need? Yes certainly. The 3/4 size cover really is the
right size for French "Lamy" or "Jacquet" type instruments
and smallish Germanic instruments of violin or viol outline, with
either flat or swell back. I've measured my bass and now have the LOB measurement to hand. Can you give me an idea of how the 3/4 size cover will fit my bass? Yes - but because there are so many variables in
bass models and dimensions - only on the understanding that the
stats provided are intended as a guide. I think that I've got a 4/4 size instrument can you help me decide if the 4/4 size New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels is indeed what I need? Yes certainly. The 4/4 size cover is perfect for all Classic English instruments with large rib-depth (22cm plus) and full width upper and lower bouts. On instruments such as the Hawkes Professor, Hawkes Concert, Hawkes Panormo the cover will be a comfortably-loose fit. Large Italian, French Lamy and German instruments that are violin or viol shaped, flat or swell backed - even those equipped with a mechanical or "finger" extension - fit in easily too. I've measured my bass and now have the LOB measurement to hand. Can you give me an idea of how the 4/4 size cover will fit my bass? Yes - but because there are so many variables in
bass models and dimensions - only on the understanding that the
stats provided are intended as a guide. Excellent - it must have taken you quite a bit of time - trying the covers on lots of different basses to work out all those measurements. How about a final summary? This well designed medium-weight cover incorporates a very durable fixed wheel system that will assist greatly in the transportation and manoeuvrability of one's pride and joy. The cover has been made with strong durable modern fabrics and manufactured with a great attention to detail. Strong materials, handles, zips and seams provide the cover with a perfect amount of rigidity and make it reliable and easy to use. How about a final conclusion? The New Image Medium Weight Cover with Wheels really is a delight to use and handle. Stats:
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