What happened to Walt Johnson cases?

cjdjazztpt

Over a year ago I called them wanting a single trumpet case and a trumpet/flugelhorn case. They told me they were out of stock on the trumpet/flugelhorn case and discontinued the single. Now their website is completely offline... anyone have the scoop?

nieuwguyski · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:32 pm Post subject:

Walt Johnson closed the case business.
_________________
J. Notso Nieuwguyski

Ed Kennedy · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Posts: 3187

A used single was just posted in marketplace.

cjdjazztpt · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:19 pm Post subject:

I have the old style Johnson, and was looking for the new style single...

Those cases were amazing and I would have hoped a bigger company would have bought the business and continued the line. The cases were really expensive but great cases.

grizzle · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:50 pm Post subject:

So...

At the risk of making my live even more complicated...

If someone who knows Walt wants to have him contact me, I'd be interested in seeing what he's got. I was aware that his website never really showed the "line," so I don't know what he really did other than a single, and I think I knew of a multi case and a sax case. But I'd guess he still has the molds, so it might be an easy thing for us to license.

We started making our old Coyote fiberglass boxes in-house a few weeks ago, so we're set up for that kind of dust now.

And if anyone is wondering, yes, the Velox is VERY close and the new Coyote is not far behind. The main battle is finding the time to work (my kids attend 2 different school districts -- it's awful getting them there and home).

But please, someone have Walt contact me. I'd entertain taking this on.
_________________
Steve Kriesel
sales@torpedobags.com
http://www.torpedobags.com
612-849-3574

dstdenis · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:45 pm Post subject:

John Mohan · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:27 pm Post subject:

Gregory Gilmore · Veteran Member Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 128

My Walt Johnson single has seen some heavy duty over the years. It's unusual in that it has five locks. Rivets kept popping out and, luckily, various crew guys on various tours would repair it. There's a little "Walt Johnson Cases" badge on the case with a phone number. I called it once from the road to arrange to have it repaired. A woman with a thick Russian accent answered and told me in no uncertain terms that there was "No Walt! Russian restaurant!" Hahahahah! Walt himself eventually repaired the case remarking that it was a very old case and "Why is the inside so dirty?" I told him that it had been in every little Vaudeville theater in America...some time later, another rivet fell out and I emailed Walt. His response: "Do you want me to send you a rivet?" 😀 Hah!

trpthrld · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4808

I have 4 of Walt's cases (old & new-model single, trpt/flugel combo & trpt/flugel/piccolo combo) & love them all.

I've known Walt for years. Last time I saw him was just over a year ago when I was on the local hire band for Frank, Jr., in Englewood, NJ. Walt was awesome as always on the Lead book, and tons of fun to hang with. He did tell me the cases were no longer being made.

Not sure where they were first made, but the majority of them were made in Corona, CA. There was a move to Mexico, and I think he went back to Corona before calling it quits.

For a while he made a really cool variation with either red, blue or white stripes. He said those were a real bear to make, so not many were made.

And I'm fairly sure my trpt/flugel/piccolo combo is one of only a few that he put out.

At one time, the case web site listed all the cases (a full line of brass, all the saxes, plus guitar & bass) plus his mutes, his "Double High C in Ten Minutes" book and his CDs, but yes, in recent years, only the single was listed.

I know of a few buddies whose cases had issues, but fortunately mine are all still going strong.

Looks like the ultimate travel trumpet case is all in Mr. Kriesel's hands now!
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=146827&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER--

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

Grits Burgh · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:39 pm Post subject:

Maarten van Weverwijk · Heavyweight Member Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3377

Tony Scodwell · Heavyweight Member Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 1961

Before he went to LA we worked together here in Las Vegas for several years. When he started the case (and mutes) business I bought one of his trumpet/flugel cases which serves me well to this day. When I made my six Scodwell USA Harry James-King replicas naturally I wanted them to be sold with a case like Harry's. The case Harry used while I was with him was made for him by King and held two trumpets vertically with a fitted space for a fifth of Smirnoff between them. I really tried to duplicate that case but everyone I talked to needed an order of a hundred or more. Walt was still in the case business having moved from Corona to (close) to the Mexican border and his new workers made six cases for me to my similar HJ design covered in black leather and yes, I sent all six horns out with a fifth of Smirnoff. I went to see Frank Jr. at our performing arts center and had a good visit with Walt. Boy, did he sound good! Sadly, Frank, Jr. died shortly after and even sadder was the fact that his two sisters had denied Frank the opportunity to perform the "official" Frank Sinatra Tribute show wanting another singer in that position. The show I saw was wonderfull with Frank, Jr. having fought off a throat cancer scare a year earlier sounding better than I've ever heard him sound. The show was built around the big band and featured a rear projection of images in his fathers career. I LOVED the very first image that he showed and talked about...Frank Sinatra and Harry James, his first boss in 1939.

Tony Scodwell
www.scodwellusa.com

John Mohan · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Walt Johnson cases...

John Mohan · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 9:51 am Post subject:

homebilly · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 11:14 am Post subject:

I've got two single cases that I bought used a few years ago
_________________
ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com

trpthrld · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4808

homebilly · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 12:37 pm Post subject:

Al Vizzutti had a Zero Haliburton like that back in the early 80s when he was in LA

that was a very hip case back then
_________________
ron meza (deadbeat jazz musician) & (TH 5 post ghost neighborhood watch ringleader)
waiting for Fed-Ex to deliver a $50 trumpet to my door. shipping was prepaid by seller of course!
http://ronmeza.com
http://highdefinitionbigband.com

trpthrld · Heavyweight Member Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 4808

One thing I like about my singles is they are a terrific crowd "mover."

If I'm walking in Times Square or any other tourist-packed area, I find that a little nudge on person's leg with the case will get them to move from in front of me without me having to say a word.

Also a great crowd blocker for getting on subways!
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=146827&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER--

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

LittleRusty · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:16 pm Post subject: