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I'm in the midst of trying to find the right case for a classical guitar, and I'm wondering which cases you all prefer.

I'd love to do business with Access, and Kevin even sent me a Stage 5 small body case for inspection, but the padded back near the neck heel causes difficulty. My steel string (basically Frank Finocchio's Prima body) fits in this case like they were made for each other, but the classical, with virtually no taper in body width in the upper bout, rests on this pad and rocks in either direction. The added lower bout pad that Access supplies levels the padding under the back and eliminates the rocking, but then the neck doesn't rest on the neck support.

Does the Stage 3 have this tapered padding in the upper bout area? Or do I need to look elsewhere? (If they could be talked into building Stage 5's without that particular piece of padding, that would be cool too.)

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Sorry, subject was truncated

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

THE only problem with Access is that they can't do anything custom at all. When Keith was there I even asked if they could just ship me shells and I'd do the interior work. But he said there was no way to do that. I wish they would start a custom branch because I really like their cases.
But on to your question: does that pad not lift out? I was thinking that my stage 5 had lots of pads that pulled out.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson]
But on to your question: does that pad not lift out? I was thinking that my stage 5 had lots of pads that pulled out. [/QUOTE]

No, the extra pad to give a flat back cushion lifts out, as does the padding at the heel, but the main back cushion with the taper to account for steel string body depth taper is in there to stay. I'll have to ask them whether the Stage 3 has that taper or if it stays full depth everywhere.

But info about other brands would be welcome.

JK

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Jim,

I've been using the TKL model 8800. It is a mid-line case, but still quite well built. Classicals fit snugly in the case, but I think it will have plenty of room for the situation you describe.

If you contact TKL and tell them you're a builder, they will sell to you wholesale -- but in lots of 12. Jones-Fletcher Music is a wholesale distributer of TKL, however, and will sell them in lots of four. The per-case price difference between TKL and Jones-Fletcher is small, so I just order from them. Their number is 800.510.0605 and email is jonesfletcher@comcast.net.

Best,

Michael

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