"Almost Zero" cases for Buchla-format instruments
History:
When Don Buchla developed the Music Easel in the early 1970s, he first used a silver aluminum "artist's easel"
The "Almost Zero":
My goal was to modify existing Halliburton suitcases to as closely as possible match the
The process is extensive: the case is completely disassembled, including drilling out the original
A panel is fabricated of bent aluminum and powder coated matte black to house the PSU brick as well as a VU meter,
Boats are mounted using countersunk screws like the original, and a pad in oxblood vinyl fills the gap.
Generally available by preorder only. Lead times are usually up to a year depending on where in the process I am.
If you need PCB/Panel sets for a 208 build, I recommend Papz's. They're the best quality with the most
Standard 8w Easel case, approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches:
10w case which can provide space for a 208/218 plus two more 1w modules, or other combinations; approx. 24 x 18 x 5.5 inches:
8w case in matte black, with black boats, custom for a black Easel; approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches:
8w case in matte Alpine white, with black boats, shown with black Easel panels; approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches:
10w case in matte black, with black boats, shown with black Easel panels and two additional modules;
8w 'mini' case in standard blue. This size case is rarer to find so I'm not able to
Pair of 8w 'mini' cases in matte black and alpine white. This size case is rarer to find so I'm not able to
Special customer-requested NASA orange 8w case with some Synovatron CVGT1 Elements installed on the power panel; approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches.
One-off 24w case which was made with metalwork fabricated by Jason Butcher
One-off two-sided 16w case. Zero-Halliburton made some double-height cases in small quantities, and they rarely come
One-off compact 8w case built for a BEMI Easel owner, with custom cutout for IO panel and royal blue color chosen by the client;
One-off "closer than ever to Zero" 8w case. This was made from a 1940s-era Halliburton suitcase;
One-off 8w case made from what I believe is a transitional-era case. The first Halliburton suitcases were simply
type case as a portable enclosure. For approximately twelve of the later editions of the Easel, he used custom
cases from Zero Manufacturing, with whom he was likely familiar due to his former work in the aerospace industry.
Zero had acquired Halliburton Luggage, and made various cases under both brands. Zero is currently still making
custom equipment enclosures, as well as Halliburton luggage.
original Zero cases, while keeping the price somewhat in the realm of reality, given how
expensive the original cases are.
hinges and feet. The trim around the case edge is removed to reveal a bare aluminum shell. Both the case
bottom and lid are then cut down to make the case thinner and sleeker, and omit the lock. The trim is
re-fitted and the case is re-drilled for hardware, including new detachable hinges which are attached with
aircraft rivets. The case is then sanded to smooth out imperfections before it's bead blasted, primed, and
powder coated a custom-mixed blue, which was matched directly from an original 1970s Easel case.
power switch, BNC connector for a lamp, and binding posts which allow 12V in/out and also give a banana
connection for grounding to other instruments.
Rubber feet are fitted to cushion the case in carrying and playing positions. Available powered or unpowered.
Contact user captnapalm at muffs or mail 
for details and pricing.
fixes addressed, and Papz offers great support on the forums if you have problems during your build.
approx. 24 x 15 x 5.5 inches:
make these as often as I'd like. 18 x 17 x 5.5 inches.
make these as often as I'd like. 18 x 17 x 5.5 inches.
(check out his excellent cases here); approx. 26 x 18 x 9 inches:
up for sale. I built this one special for a customer who requested the format converters in the panel on the top side.
Some Synovatron CVGT Elements were used also, for converting between Euro and Buchla. I hand-made a custom Electric
Music Box emblem to cover the hole left by the lock mechanism, as well as a special box that fits behind the case when
open to keep the whole assembly from tipping over, and also doubles as a cable/accessory carrying case. The wire rope
stays can be detached with a thumb screw, which gives the user the option of using the top half vertically, or beside the
bottom half. An umbilical DIN cable connects the two halves to power the upper section. approx. 21 x 17 x 10 inches.
approx. 18 x 17 x 5.5 inches.
These almost never come up for sale and it took considerably more work than the usual cases, including
the welding of holes and much dent-removal, but the result turned out nicely. approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches:
flat-sided aluminum deep drawn stampings. Later cases had the now-famous two pairs of "ribs" stamped laterally
into the case's sides, which gave them considerable strength. This case is nearly identical to the early 1940s case
above, but it has a single, shallow rib stamped into the upper section of both case halves. I imagine this was an
early attempt at adding strength to the structure. approx. 21 x 17 x 5.5 inches:
