Breaking down and setting up M55

I completely understand the reluctance to buy cases until you know you're gigging more. The simple solution is to trade off owning cases for making more trips back and forth to your vehicle. The gold Provibe is a beautiful instrument and you don't want to scratch it up by trying to carry too many pieces in one trip.

Wrap up the resonators in some type of blankets, and I recommend rolling up the bars inside a couple of bath towels. You can re-evaluate your situation in six months and decide of the case investment is worth it for your needs. Remember that owning cases will allow your instrument to hold its value if you ever decide to sell it.

I echo John's comments. Blankets work well for resonators. You might also want to put them in the back seat of the vehicle, in the space behind the front seats. This keeps them from moving around too much. For the bars, you could utilize a small rolling-type piece of luggage to put the wrapped towels in. I think the frame is probably the sturdiest piece of the instrument and needs the least care/protection. Just make sure it's lying securely in the car. For the crossbar, I like to leave the pedal attached. I also use velcro ties to attach the pedal and the 'W' braces to the bar, so the whole thing is easier to manipulate and carry around.

You might want to seek out a video for set up/tear down. For myself, I always remove the bars first, starting from the high register. Then I take the resonators off and put them somewhere safe. Then I put the frame on its side. To remove the crossbar, I start with the left side, fold in the leg, then remove the other side. I think this helps reduce stress on the frame. Fold up the legs and make sure the velcro straps are secure. You can probably manage this all in 3 trips to/from the car. First, bars with the crossbar, then resonators, and frame.

Hope that helps!

A few random thoughts (These are obvious to many but they weren't to me --I am a slow learner):

Moving blankets that work great. Harbor Freight has some on sale. http://www.harborfreight.com/40-inch-x-72-inch-movers-blanket-47262.html. You may have to double check the size. Although it's a pain to carry resonators with a blanket flopping around.

Setting up your vibe next to your vehicle except for the bars can be real time saver. It's lighter to move and it's a breeze if you have someone help. The downside is a really long push on pavement can chew up the wheels some (but not as much as if the bars were on). I wipe them with a towel before I roll it across a floor or stage. Put the bars on when you are near where you're going to play.

Push the wide end of the vibe through the door first. It will fit through most standard doorways if you angle the vibe back and forth to get the first long side in.

Take down Per below this order

1) Bars in towels,
2) Towel/Bars in a rolling suitcase (I got one at a garage sale).
3) Lift out and protect resonators (get 'em out of the way). If you prop them up on a wall, make sure the pulleys are UP
4) Remove the crossbar
5) Take care of the rest of the frame.

Setup is reverse.

It's amazing how much time you can save if you have a choreographed process for setup and break down. Some drummers I know have every move down to a science. Of course it makes more sense if you have to do it 100 times a year vs 10. One needs to make sure stuff doesn't get damaged. Stuff lying on stage can get stepped on, or worse tripped over. IMHO the most fragile parts are the resonators. Pretty easy to scratch or dent them. It's easy to bend the butterfly pulley on the ends of the resonators. Finally spend some time with the optimal way to put them in your vehicle. Not something you want to be doing while running late for a gig

Ok finally, I use a Rock N Roller multi-Cart for my drums, but I've never found a good way to make it work for my vibes but it does have potential.

Wrap the keys in blankets, a rolling or over shoulder bag then works well.
Pipes blanket wrap and put into a large Gator keyboard bag. Note that the pedal can go here as well.
So. One handle piece, one strap to roller, and the gator bag goes well over shoulder.
Been lugging mine for 30 plus years..... Still alive and sort of kicking.

Sort of related to this topic - has anyone removed the unneeded accidental resonators on an M55...as well as cut of the extra metal before the stops? This could reduce the weight and size of the resonators by quite a bit. Thinking there would probably need some additional reinforcement added to do this. Just curious - I know it would be kind of a major operation...