For what it's worth I purchased a DEG C Melody replacement case; fits Conn (Wonder and New Wonder), King, and Buescher C melodies by my personal testing and would presumably fit virtually all.
The case was poorly written up at the DEG site but, after a bit of correspondence, they cleaned up the specs on line. Again, the case does indeed fit vintage C Melodies.
As delivered it seems fairly sturdy with an end handle, reinforced corners, and good secure latches.
I did some whickering in the case but it would have been fine for most folk as is. I'm a bit fussy about having the horn absolutely immobilized with the main hold on the front of the bell close to the bow so that a bump is less likely to transfer to the body via the bell stay.
The old cases, even when not held together by copious quantities of glue and duct tape as a result of time's ravages, just beg to have RH thumb pieces and low Eb guards driven into the body and frequently don't even offer accomodations for the neck beyond forcing it into the little lidded compartment or using the time honored "sock on the neck in the bell" method.
The case was poorly written up at the DEG site but, after a bit of correspondence, they cleaned up the specs on line. Again, the case does indeed fit vintage C Melodies.
As delivered it seems fairly sturdy with an end handle, reinforced corners, and good secure latches.
I did some whickering in the case but it would have been fine for most folk as is. I'm a bit fussy about having the horn absolutely immobilized with the main hold on the front of the bell close to the bow so that a bump is less likely to transfer to the body via the bell stay.
The old cases, even when not held together by copious quantities of glue and duct tape as a result of time's ravages, just beg to have RH thumb pieces and low Eb guards driven into the body and frequently don't even offer accomodations for the neck beyond forcing it into the little lidded compartment or using the time honored "sock on the neck in the bell" method.
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