"Until recently, we've never recommended a flight case because we never found one that could adequately protect the guitar during airline travel, and they were both heavy and very expensive. At the last NAMM show we met a gentleman from a company Casextreme (www.casextreme.com) who sells The Clam, a lightweight case made of corrugated plastic that incorporates C-shaped foam pads that go over the original case to protect it for air travel.  The owner of Casextreme,  Bruce Lamb actually suggest using a gig bag within the Clam.

The substantially reduced weight of the gig bag verses the heaver hard shell case reduces the weight and the overall force of momentum and impact if the

Clam is tossed by unruly baggage handlers.  So far he has received no reports of damaged guitars, and the price is quite reasonable. We've been referring customers to him and have heard nothing but positive responses."

What really caught the eye of Costa Mesa singer-song­writer Walter Clevenger was a new type of guitar case, The Clam, made by San Diego-based Caseextreme Fly It Safe Case Co.

"The Clam is unique be­cause you put your gig bag or hard-shell case inside this case - a case inside a case. Your gig bag or hard-shell case is floating inside this case with foam pads.... Your guitar is inside a corrugated plastic container that can support hundreds of pounds without .crushing," said Clevenger, who travels frequently with his band, the Dairy Kings.

"I think it's a neat idea be­cause you can leave this case in your hotel room and just take the gig bag with you to the club. A much' lighter al­ternative than lugging around those heavy Anvil-type cases." Information, www.casextreme.com.