Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic

I had a requirement for a fume free case that Cedar Creek could never get to “Yes” and a price about making, so I made one myself for the project. Rather than bend any wood, I used poplar planks for the sides and formaldehyde free plywood for the top and back of the coffin styled case. The stainless steel hardware mostly came from Amazon and the organic component fabric from a supplier I don’t remember (the customer ordered the fabric). There was a lot more time in this case than I charged for.

If it weren’t for the special chemical requirements, Cedar Creek would have been worth their price for a case (I think it’s around $700). Normally, I design to fit existing cases.

When I had a Cedar Creek case made, they had two levels of custom cases. The cheaper option (but still expensive) was to have them modify the padding in a larger case to fit your instrument, similar to what Josh mentioned above. The more expensive option was to have a new case made from scratch to fit your instrument.

I had them make a case by the less expensive route to fit one of my guitar designs that is somewhat non-standard. The case is very well made and looks great. The padding looks a bit goofy inside though because it's very thick to fill up space to fit to my guitar design. The guitar is VERY well protected though. The case is heavy (15 lbs). Too heavy for my liking. I don't like hauling it around. It took over three months to get it made and it cost about $300.

I don't remember the quote for a completely custom case, but it was quite a bit more than $300.

You can see how thick the padding came out here:

Attachment:

Cedar Creek case.jpg

I agree with Josh regarding the needs of the average player. If you are not flying or touring (like REAL touring) with a guitar, any type of hard shell case that fits reasonably well will be fine. A lot of these high end cases are like the steamer trunks from the movie Joe vs. The Volcano. Complete overkill for weekend warriors. But if the customer wants one, you’ve gotta have one.

-I can comment on the second part - I have had Cedar Creek built three custom cases for me for guitars that would not fit stock cases. They were very expensive, long delivery and are quite beautiful. Two of the cases were for odd shaped long scale 12 strings, one was for a odd shaped resonator. They did indentations in the top for the cover plate and tailpiece which fits perfectly.

I would rather build to fit available cases (duh) but I would certain order from Cedar Creek again. Are they cost effective, probably cost more than the materials for the guitars.

Freeman wrote:

Interesting. I've got a few cases I'd like to try this with. Pardon my ignorance but what is the material used inside the case and where do you source it?

A friend of mine who has built a few cases uses fake fur. Unless you're really stuck on the look of crushed velvet. Works great according to him. Something like this. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/8390759 ... ol=1&sts=1

Author:	bcombs510 [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Making cases
Hello, I searched a bit in the archives and found some helpful hints, but I’m wondering if any of you have resources you could share, links, tutorials, sellers, etc… for materials needed for making cases? Alternatively, anyone have experience to share with going the route of a cedar creek or similar? Was it cost effective for only a handful of instruments a year? Brad Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Author:	Freeman [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
-I can comment on the second part - I have had Cedar Creek built three custom cases for me for guitars that would not fit stock cases. They were very expensive, long delivery and are quite beautiful. Two of the cases were for odd shaped long scale 12 strings, one was for a odd shaped resonator. They did indentations in the top for the cover plate and tailpiece which fits perfectly. I would rather build to fit available cases (duh) but I would certain order from Cedar Creek again. Are they cost effective, probably cost more than the materials for the guitars.

Author:	joshnothing [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Depending on how big your guitars are there is another option other than having a custom case made or building one yourself - buy a larger off the shelf case, gut the body section and cut new foam to suit your instrument and re-line the fabric. You can buy a hot wire foam cutter cheaply from Amazon and easily get a perfect fit for the body. There’s a lot less work to customise a case in this way compared to scratch building a custom case.

Author:	bobgramann [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:35 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
I had a requirement for a fume free case that Cedar Creek could never get to “Yes” and a price about making, so I made one myself for the project. Rather than bend any wood, I used poplar planks for the sides and formaldehyde free plywood for the top and back of the coffin styled case. The stainless steel hardware mostly came from Amazon and the organic component fabric from a supplier I don’t remember (the customer ordered the fabric). There was a lot more time in this case than I charged for. If it weren’t for the special chemical requirements, Cedar Creek would have been worth their price for a case (I think it’s around $700). Normally, I design to fit existing cases.

Author:	ballbanjos [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Very nice Bob!

Official Luthiers Forum! http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Making cases http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=54776	Page 1 of 1

Author:	J De Rocher [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
When I had a Cedar Creek case made, they had two levels of custom cases. The cheaper option (but still expensive) was to have them modify the padding in a larger case to fit your instrument, similar to what Josh mentioned above. The more expensive option was to have a new case made from scratch to fit your instrument. I had them make a case by the less expensive route to fit one of my guitar designs that is somewhat non-standard. The case is very well made and looks great. The padding looks a bit goofy inside though because it's very thick to fill up space to fit to my guitar design. The guitar is VERY well protected though. The case is heavy (15 lbs). Too heavy for my liking. I don't like hauling it around. It took over three months to get it made and it cost about $300. I don't remember the quote for a completely custom case, but it was quite a bit more than $300. You can see how thick the padding came out here: Attachment: Cedar Creek case.jpg

Author:	doncaparker [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
bobgramann wrote: I had a requirement for a fume free case that Cedar Creek could never get to “Yes” and a price about making, so I made one myself for the project. Rather than bend any wood, I used poplar planks for the sides and formaldehyde free plywood for the top and back of the coffin styled case. The stainless steel hardware mostly came from Amazon and the organic component fabric from a supplier I don’t remember (the customer ordered the fabric). There was a lot more time in this case than I charged for. If it weren’t for the special chemical requirements, Cedar Creek would have been worth their price for a case (I think it’s around $700). Normally, I design to fit existing cases. You can only play that guitar at night, and it doesn't show up in a mirror. Beautiful work, though.

Author:	joshnothing [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
J De Rocher wrote: When I had a Cedar Creek case made, they had two levels of custom cases. The cheaper option (but still expensive) was to have them modify the padding in a larger case to fit your instrument, similar to what Josh mentioned above. The more expensive option was to have a new case made from scratch to fit your instrument. I had them make a case by the less expensive route to fit one of my guitar designs that is somewhat non-standard. The case is very well made and looks great. The padding looks a bit goofy inside though because it's very thick to fill up space to fit to my guitar design. The guitar is VERY well protected though. The case is heavy (15 lbs). Too heavy for my liking. I don't like hauling it around. It took over three months to get it made and it cost about $300. I don't remember the quote for a completely custom case, but it was quite a bit more than $300. You can see how thick the padding came out here: Attachment: Cedar Creek case.jpg I think the wide padding looks cool man! Kinda “luxe” as they say these days. Yes, agree some of the high-end plywood cases are excessively heavy … when I customised my own internal padding I used lighter weight moulded ABS cases from SKB, Gator etc around $150 price point. I used to haul my gear from gig to gig in proper steel reinforced road cases, both guitars and amps. You could back over them with the van and the gear would survive, but the weight was insane. Most players who aren’t out playing on the road for a living do just fine with a well-padded ABS hard shell case - it’s more than enough protection against the kind of bumps and dings the guitar might suffer in the trunk of the car, on the train, from rambunctious pets etc

Author:	ballbanjos [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 6:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
A person could cut out top and back panels out of plywood, either freehand or CNC or whatever, and fit kerf cut plywood as sides, if a shaped case is the goal. I've seen it done and it works fine. Taking foam panels and CNC'ing them to shape, and then laminating with fiberglass is another. There were many different variants of coffin cases in the 19th century used for high end instruments. Lots of options out there. Dave

Author:	James Orr [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 6:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Brad, I think my sample cases from Ameritage were quite a bit less than Cedar Creek. I don't remember the price specifically, but email Ameritage, let them know you're a luthier, and ask for the luthier's price list. They also have options like embroidering your branding, which is a super classy touch.

Author:	doncaparker [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
I agree with Josh regarding the needs of the average player. If you are not flying or touring (like REAL touring) with a guitar, any type of hard shell case that fits reasonably well will be fine. A lot of these high end cases are like the steamer trunks from the movie Joe vs. The Volcano. Complete overkill for weekend warriors. But if the customer wants one, you’ve gotta have one.

Author:	Clay S. [ Mon Feb 14, 2022 11:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
I've made a few guitar cases similar to the cases used in the 1800's. I make them from 1X pine off cuts planed to approximately an half inch thickness for the sides and 3mm plywood for the top and bottom. I line them with cloth covered corrugated cardboard to provide some cushioning without taking up too much space. Building them like the old cases keeps the weight down and provides a modicum of protection against the occasional bump or ding. They are easy to construct and can be knocked together in a few hours with some Elmer's and a pin gun. I don't have pictures in the "archive" of one I made but here are some pictures of one of the old cases I have and a case for a travel guitar I made some time back.

Author:	jfmckenna [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 8:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
I made a case once and promised my self I would never do it again

Author:	James Orr [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
doncaparker wrote: I agree with Josh regarding the needs of the average player. If you are not flying or touring (like REAL touring) with a guitar, any type of hard shell case that fits reasonably well will be fine. A lot of these high end cases are like the steamer trunks from the movie Joe vs. The Volcano. Complete overkill for weekend warriors. But if the customer wants one, you’ve gotta have one. Although if doing this commercially, it's important to recognize that individually built ("bespoke," as they're marketed by TNAG) guitars are luxury items, and a high-end case is as much an expectation as excellency in fit and finish.

Author:	Brad Goodman [ Fri Feb 18, 2022 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Todd Cambio/Fraulini Guitars has some info on the cases he makes on his blog at his website

Author:	TimAllen [ Sat Feb 19, 2022 1:34 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
People interested in old-style coffin cases should take a look at Robert Corwin's site, specifically http://www.earlymartin.com/coffincases.html. While, unfortunately for our purposes, there aren't as many dimensions or construction details as we might like, there are lots of great pictures of coffin cases with useful information. For example: "Many old Martins are found today in coffin cases that are assumed to be Martin cases, but are not. As often as not, these cases have thinner handles that look more like a thick bent wire. You will never find these handles on cases supplied by Martin." "Martin coffin cases always have heavy [cast] brass handles which are beautifully contoured. These are consistently of the type of 'bail handle' known as 'lifting handles,' originally designed for British blanket chests, with a built in stop that allows the handle to be lifted to 90 or 105 degrees, and no further, and secured not by built in posts, as a standard bail handle, but by screws passing through the face of each of the two brass plates or rosettes." These heavier handles look much stronger than wire handles, and clearly would be more comfortable in use.

Page 1 of 1	All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/

Author:	doncaparker [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
I agree, James, which is why I say that, if the customer wants one, you've got to offer one. I just think it is worthy of a conversation with the buyer about what they really need before they spend money on that particular accessory. Some of the offerings are outlandish.

Author:	fingerstyle1978 [ Tue Feb 15, 2022 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Freeman wrote: -I can comment on the second part - I have had Cedar Creek built three custom cases for me for guitars that would not fit stock cases. They were very expensive, long delivery and are quite beautiful. Two of the cases were for odd shaped long scale 12 strings, one was for a odd shaped resonator. They did indentations in the top for the cover plate and tailpiece which fits perfectly. I would rather build to fit available cases (duh) but I would certain order from Cedar Creek again. Are they cost effective, probably cost more than the materials for the guitars. Interesting. I've got a few cases I'd like to try this with. Pardon my ignorance but what is the material used inside the case and where do you source it?

Author:	Darrel Friesen [ Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
fingerstyle1978 wrote: Freeman wrote: -I can comment on the second part - I have had Cedar Creek built three custom cases for me for guitars that would not fit stock cases. They were very expensive, long delivery and are quite beautiful. Two of the cases were for odd shaped long scale 12 strings, one was for a odd shaped resonator. They did indentations in the top for the cover plate and tailpiece which fits perfectly. I would rather build to fit available cases (duh) but I would certain order from Cedar Creek again. Are they cost effective, probably cost more than the materials for the guitars. Interesting. I've got a few cases I'd like to try this with. Pardon my ignorance but what is the material used inside the case and where do you source it? A friend of mine who has built a few cases uses fake fur. Unless you're really stuck on the look of crushed velvet. Works great according to him. Something like this. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/8390759 ... ol=1&sts=1

Author:	Clay S. [ Fri Feb 18, 2022 8:11 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Making cases
Darrel Friesen wrote: A friend of mine who has built a few cases uses fake fur. Unless you're really stuck on the look of crushed velvet. Works great according to him. Something like this. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/8390759 ... ol=1&sts=1 I like the various colors of crushed velvet or mohair, but the tiger fur might offer a unique look!