I used to avoid bringing trombone mutes to rehearsals, because they are so bulky. Not any more, since I got this beautiful case. I’ve managed to store and carry as much as four mutes in it: a cup, bucket, pixie and plunger mute. The first two are quite large, but there is room left for smaller mutes. Both the cup and the pixie may double as straight mute. It would probably fit a harmon mute if I remove either the cup or the bucket mute. I find that carrying a third mute, especially a plunger, helps to keep everything secured in place.
The case is sturdy but surprisingly light and soft. It is a wonderful in-between of a bag and a case. At first the strap seemed a bit short, but like this it carries easily above hand bag and laptop case that I also carry with a shoulder band.
There is no interior division. It is a rectangular floor plan, you decide how to put stuff in. I like to put a cloth between the two largest mutes to prevent them from banging into each other.
It has a plate with holes in it that you can put on top of the open case, to have your mutes within reach during play. A fold and two straps can be used to attach the case as a trombone holder to a chair. Very thoughtful, a testament to the loving design of Marcus Bonna cases. I prefer to keep the case on the floor.
The cover has a storage compartment for small stuff, for instance the straps for the flap, a pencil, earplugs, slide oil, grease. This usually fits in a good trombone case but is still very practical if you have a badly designed trombone case or if you do not always take the same trombone case with you.
The only things perhaps lacking: there is no manual with ideas how to use the case, how to maintain and clean it, how to safely store mutes in it, how to use the holes in the plate. There are two small holes which perhaps are intended for a pencil, but I’m not sure.
The case seems rather small to carry my European size ring binder with sheet music on A4. That binder also does not fit in the sheet music attachment on my MB trombone case, so that usually is the only object I have to carry separately.
All in all wonderful case. Not cheap but worth every cent.
For bass trombonists: I think the case will also hold those larger mutes, but probably not as much as three or four.
