i bought my bass guitar and was starting to learn bass, and my bass guitar only had a soft case, so i figured that if i transporting it so much i would need a hard case..... so i got building

Step 1: Things You Will Need

it was a fun and interesting project, but i didn't plan it all that well and pretty much just made it up as i went along!!

the overall size of the case was 1200mm long by 450mm wide by 100mm high

so the basic things you will need are

- of sheet of 2400mm x 1200mm, 9mm ply-wood - found that i was able to make my whole case with this....... but this was costly and made the case a bit heavier than i had planned so maybe a thinner ply would be better...... or if anyone has any suggestions that would be great!!

- 3 Case clips - got these from bunnings - i used some really funky looking screws for the clips and the handle..... but these were ones i found in my workshop..... so i'm sorry but i can't tell you what size..... but the case clips come with split pins anyway..... i just thought that screws would look really cool

https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-45-x-80mm-nicke...

- 2 packets of corner covers - got these from bunnings

https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-nickel-plated-s...

- handle - i just got a cheap one off ebay

- hinges - bunnings - these are not the hinges that are usually used on guitar cases but i was wanting a retro, industrial look,

https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-50-x-40-x-1-2mm...

- foam block - for guitar cut out - this was a 50mm thick piece of foam that i purchased from clark rubber

- 12mm foam sheet for lid and - i also purchased this from clark rubber

- 6mm foam for lining the compartment sections, as the 12mm was too thick for certain areas

- 2m of denim for the outside - i got a denim, but any durable fabric would work, and i found that i could cover the whole case in just 2m of fabric, but it was 1.5 metres wide.......

https://www.spotlightstores.com/sewing-fabrics/dre...

- 2 - 3 metres of velvet fabric for the inside - i got this from spotlight, it was a silver velvet, this was a cheap option and worked quite well, this was also 1.5 metres wide...... i purchased 2m and then ran out so i had to make another trip down to spotlight

https://www.spotlightstores.com/by-the-metre/panne...

- vinyl for the ends of the case - i also purchased a strip of vinyl for the ends from spotlight.... to add to the aesthetics, and then put a hem on one side and then just a stitch on the other side to add to the looks,

but i couldn't find it on the spotlight website...... sorry everyone

- 20mm countersunk screws - to screw the feet on - i got these from bunnings

- feet - these are very easy to purchase, but i thought i could get creative and make them myself..... so i found some old pen blank offcuts, and turn up some feet on the lathe

tools

- an industrial stapler - and some 6mm staples - as the 12mm staples i had were going , these were hard to find, but lucky i have a resourceful father!!!

- i also used 3 cans of the glue pictured, i purchased this from my father's business but i'm not sure where else it can be purchased..... most likely can be purchased online, but i'm not sure

Step 2: Foam Guitar Cut- Out

These were the templates that I created in order to get the
cut- out perfect. Each one being close but was not perfect. Finally, I managed to get ultimate precision with the last template. I was aiming for perfection in this area!!

i then traced the cut- out onto the foam block, and took it back to clark rubber and they cut it for me...... for all you confident people if you have an electric serrated bread knife that cuts it really well.... but i wasn't to confident in my own skill level....so....... it fitted really well!!! which i was really happy with.

Step 3: Making the Actual Box

I Cut the timber to the required size according to the cutting list, I had planned to make the lid and the bottom separate hence the thin pieces of wood shown in the picture, and then I realised it would be easier to make the case as a solid box and then cut the lid away from the box using some kind of saw.....

i cut mitres on the edge of all the pieces, to add strength to the case (this was instead of butting the pieces together)

i then glued the sides together and then glued them to the bottom of the case..... i let that dry and then glued the lid on top of that..... and then let that dry

i ended up cutting the box in half with a circular saw.... but a track saw, or a table saw would be a great option if you are confident enough

i then made sure everything fitted.......and it was game on.....

Step 4: Covering in Fabric

I cut a sheet of fabric to line the bottom of the case,
marked centres lay the case on and started to apply glue, and carefully started to cover the case.

I found that stapling the fabric to the inside was the easiest way to hold the fabric there while the glue dried.

And I put a lot of effort into making sure that the corners were neat and looked “good” even though the corners were going to be covered by the vinyl..... i'm not sure why..... i just like things to be 'semi' perfect

I just repeated this procedure for the lid as well…..

Step 5: Compartments

then i cut the timber for the neck support, and cut the foam to cover it.....

I cut notches in the foam of the neck braces for the other pieces of timber to fit into and the covered half of the neck brace, and the screwed through the back of the neck brace into the pieces that were parallel to the neck, in order to secure this in place and hold the compartments together, and then covered the rest of the neck brace which effectively covered up the screws I used.

i then covered the lid and realised that i would need some smaller pieces inside the compartment for the lid to hinge and rest on.......so i got some measurements and made these pieces and covered them...... put them in place and all was well

i got two left over pieces of denim and made straps for the inside of the compartments so that the lids wouldn't fold too far back

With it all covered I checked that it did fit in the case.

Step 6: Neck Support

using the cut- out of foam i had left from the main block i cut- out a neck support and covered it and placed it in the section between the compartments......

Step 7: Hardware

I then took the vinyl, and sewed a hem on one side and then

just a stitch on the other to add to the aesthetics. And glued them on to each end, lid and bottom using carefully placed tape as a guide (as you can see in the pictures)

And then marked out the corner covers, I drilled the holes and attached them using the split pins provided.

I then taped the lid and the base together, to hold it in place.

And then marked out where I wanted the hinges, marked and drilled the holes, and screwed the hinges on.

I also attached the clips with some funky button head screws i found in my workshop instead of using the split pins provided, again to add to the industrial look, i marked out the holes drilled them and then attached the clips… but sadly I forgot to take pictures of this

then i attached the wooden feet i had made, by screwing them on with the 20mm countersunk screws i bought.....

then i had to try and find the middle or (the balance point) (with the guitar in the case) so that when i carried the case it would stay balanced which would make it easier to carry

Step 8: Lining the Inside With Foam

I then cut a piece of 12mm foam to fit the bottom section where the head of the guitar was going to sit, and then

another piece to cover the sides, (as shown in the pictures), and covered them in fabric and glued them in.

then cut the piece for the lid glued the fabric on..... and all that was left was the hardest part

Step 9: The Main Body Block

i then cut a piece of 12mm foam the size of the cut- out as this was the padding in the bottom of the cut- out, I glued it down and then covered it in fabric, , and then covered the main block separately, this was a challenge, but the way i did it was pulled the block, out and then got a piece of fabric and covered the top and then tucked all the excess underneath as this was not going to be seen once i glued it in..... i let the glue dry, checked it once more and then glued the block in......