Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been wondering what peoples favourite acoustic guitar cases are. I'm looking to buy a couple, one for myself, a few for the guitars I'm building for friends, and also to get a feel for what you folks thing are the best deals out there.

I'd be interested in opinions on 'basic' cases, say around the $100 mark or so, mid-priced stuff (what, up to $200?) and top-range. How many of you have custom cases made, and how many simply use 'standard' body shape cases? My guitars are all roughly standard sized, but the outlines sure do differ from guitar to guitar.

I'm looking for quality, hardshell, durable stuff at a fair price; for now, it seems slightly idiotic to buy a case that costs as much as the materials for the guitar did..

Mattia

I always use the Hiscox Liteflite Pro case make in the UK. They come in at about $150. I've had about a dozen of them in various sizes and they do the job just fine. My guitars get carted around clubs and have never come to any harm in transit. Most of the UK luthiers seem to supply their guitars in Hiscox cases.

I've never felt the need for a case with a built in hydration system or hygrometer. Our relative humidity doesn't vary by that much does it.

Colin

Colin S38387.3681944444

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Paul Woolson turned me on to Ameritage cases. I have mostly been scrounging for them (lots of "new old stock" can be found on ebay pretty cheap) and they are very nice. Very well built. And the humidifiers are a very nice touch.

But I am also looking at Cedar Creek cases. I would like to try one of those at some point.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I am with Brock...for the Price the Ameritage case is very good. I remember someone saying that an Ameritage once ruined a finish or something. I have never had that experience. Good quality, well built and wholesales around $159.00. Dave-SKG38390.3950694444

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

What I've been looking for is custom cases at a reasonable price, previously I would go down to Guitar Center and pick them up there but I want something nicer.

I'm going to contact Cedar Creek and see what the turn around for them is...

Anyone else I should be looking at??

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

On defense of Musician's Friend's garbage. I have a half dozen of these cases, two of which went out on my last few guitars, one houses my number one. They cost $39. I got one in black the rest in tweed. Very, very worth the money and not garbage as suggested.

When this came up I declined to comment but after the above remarks feel obliged. The old addage, "You get what you pay for," is for the most part true. If someone wants the best, they can usually find what they are looking for and buy it reasonably priced.

The Musician Friend Deluxe Dreadnaught case is made in China and is a price point item. I've already signed up with Cedar Creek Cases a division of TKL to build all my cases. It was nice to see my company of choice donate a custom case to the OLF guitar project, that was wonderful of them to do so. Price for a minimum of four of the same case from Cedar Creek is $139 each.

So, am I embarassed that my first guitars went out in cheapie cases, no, not at all, those customers got a good case. However, these guys are my closest friends and if they want to pay to upgrade their cases, I want them to do so, and I'll even take their MF cases in trade, why, because they perform a needed function, protecting the guitar.

I've dealt with MF for many years. They are not insensitive people stuck behind computers, they are real people. I sent one case back and they took it for full refund. What was wrong with the case? The lid would not stand open, one out of six. Now I could have fixed that myself, but didn't want to, they sent me another in exchange, and sent a call pickup tag for the "defective" one.

I also recommend a couple other cases Musician's Friend sells if you can't jump up to Cedar Creek, Calton, Ameritage, or other high dollar case. Try the Gator case ABS plastic for $60 bucks, quite nice, or the Gator Airline Transport Rated with twist clasps, $125 or the old SKB's they sell them for around $110.

The one that I'm shipping my latest guitar in I need one too

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Right...interesting stuff. I'm gonna be looking at some websites, I think. A question though: how does one qualify for wholesale pricing? Simply contact 'em and ask for several of the same model case? Because the Ameritage cases (for example), retail, cost a lot 'o' cash. I'd be more or less willing to get 4 of the same case in one go, since I will use them eventually, and I'm fortunate enough to have the cash flow right now.

.Dickey38388.6014351852

[QUOTE=Dickey] Contact Terry Hazelton, Sales/Marketing, Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe.

thazelton (AT) cedarcreekcases.com substitute @ symbol for (AT).

www.cedarcreekcases.com handcrafted n the USA Oilville, Virginia price for four was $138.22, but thats a year out of date now and may have changed Mattia.[/QUOTE]

I assume that is 138.22 ea. at a qty of 4

Thanks Bruce, I'll give 'em a shout next week (bit late, my brain's dead, and I've got some reading to do first.) Funnily enough I'll probably be in Virginia when I'm over, so who knows, I might even get to pick 'em up if I order some. Gonna check out the more local Hiscox Case option as well, since that doesn't involve future transatlantic shipping.

I am thinking that for the vast majority of EU customers, in-case hydration is a tad overkill. The lowest it's been here this year, once, when it was freezing cold (ie, warm by most people-with-real-winters standards) was 38%, and standard 'low' is around 45.

Dave-SKG38390.4040277778

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

$39 bucks. Deluxe Musician's Friend Case for a Dreadnaught, made in China. Arch in the top.



Plush interior, extra padding, soft material.



Three feet on bottom, four on the tail.



Leatherette handle, three sturdy latches front, one rear corner.

Now for my current case:



Cedar Creek Saddlebrook Series, really a step up, no doubt.

Custom designed to set the standard in custom case building.

AVS Series® cases include the following features:

5-Ply, Hand-Laminated Wood Shell
Arch-Top Reinforcement System™
Top-Grade Durahyde™ Covering
Providence Forge® Steel-Plated Hardware
Genuine Leather, Comfort-Grip™ Handle
Thickly-Padded, Crushed Velvet Interior
Spacious Accessory Compartment & Head Stock Area
Dual Neck Support System™
Custom Options
24/7 Protection®

Dickey38387.8462962963

For typical instruments I have used Humidicase because I build classical guitars and people recognize the name from various classical dealers as their standard case. For better guitars, it warrants better cases and the higher end cases from Hiscox or Carlton again have the name recognition that is expected to protect finer instruments.

There are lots of good cases in a range of materials and prices but always try to match the case to the price range of the instrument. The same is true of tuning machines...I would not put a set of Rodgers machines on a student guitar but likewise would not put cheap tuners on a better one.

The key is to buy the best quality and value materials and components in the range that is appropriate to the instrument and customer.

Oh, I'll be taking three Musician's Friend Deluxe Dreadnaught cases, like the one pictured above, to the TV interview on KATV. I'm not ashamed or embarassed by my cheapie cases. One of my customers returned a week after picking his Dred up in one and said, "You need to double your prices on your guitars." He never mentioned his cheapie, thirty-nine dollar case.

WOW!!!!!
That's what I call a HOT THREAD!!!
I loved it!!
Don't stop now....
WalterK

Mattia, As I said in my posting, and you confirm, humidity is really not a problem over the vast majoity of Europe, certainly not in the north where we both live. I haven't even had the need to switch on my hunidifier or dehumidifier in my shop for the last couple of years so climate controlled cases would be a luxury too far. The vast majority of the UK professional luthiers supply in Hiscox cases, they've done the R&D for me, I'll just go with them. Plus as you say no transatlantic shipping.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I've never seen a custom guitar cased in anything of lower quality than a TKL. I saw what looked like the MF cases in a low budget guitar shop recently. The sales rep stated that they sell them with the cheap imported laminated and heavily lacquered guitars.

I saw both the $50 case and the $125 case and the quality difference was dramatic...thinner gauge vinyl...way cheaper looking hardware...poor stitching...thinner padding and less dense velour innards.

Bruce, with all due respect, your quitars are too good for such cases.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Colin, do you get your cases direct from Hiscox (got a number? Their website seems to be entirely unhelpful) or do you have a favoured supplier for them over there? I'll look into local sellers, maybe the importer, but let's just say prices ain't what I'd call 'great' over here, and choice is limited at best.

Mattia,

I've bought my cases from a number of people over the years.

Have a look at this guy, David Ballard. He ships to Europe. price about 136 Euros plus shipping.

Dave Ballard Hiscox cases

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Let's shake hands and burry the hatched (not in each other by the way).

I have used the cheepie cases too but I have moved up to TKL plywood cases. I still have a few of the cheepies left. As Bruce mentioned, they do offer protection for the instrument but there are cases out there that offer more protection. Bruce, I learned a valuable lesson recently. I shipped two guitars, one to Texas and one the Washington state and both were damaged in transit. Yes they had the 2" of padding all the way around the case but I can't help to think that the 1" padding in the cheepie case had some bearing on the damage too. It just doesn't have the foam density that the TKL has. Granted the cheepies are good enough protection for around town but NOT for air travel.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Thanks JJ, I think so too, but I'm not ashamed that I underpriced my guitars and put them in cheap cases to start out. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was a professional luthier. For someone to trash someone's product without regard is an absolute travesty. Just shouldn't happen, even with the good ol' boys on the OLF. Many eyes are watching and I doubt it's the pros of yesterday, more likely the pros of tomorrow that are affected.

A quick question about Cedar Creek/TKL multi-ply cases: what kinds of weights are we talking about here? In the region of 10 lbs per case or so? I'm trying to work out the economics of transatlantic shipping vs. EU shipping and the like, but I can't seem to find weights for the cases in question.

.Dickey38388.6003587963

[QUOTE=Dickey] Thanks JJ, I think so too, but I'm not ashamed that I underpriced my guitars and put them in cheap cases to start out. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was a professional luthier. For someone to trash someone's product without regard is an absolute travesty. Just shouldn't happen, even with the good ol' boys on the OLF. Many eyes are watching and I doubt it's the pros of yesterday, more likely the pros of tomorrow that are affected.[/QUOTE]

Let's put things into perspective...Mattia asked for advice "what do you use" I responded with "what I use" as well as "What I wouldn't use". That's my opinion...I am entitled to it wether you agree or not.

I NEVER said you were, or ought to be, "ashamed of under pricing your guitars or putting them in cheap cases"? I could care less what you do.

I never said that you use them or like them or made any reference to you! I never mentioned your name. You some how feel offended and rush to defend Musicians Friend. That too is your perogative.

I somehow don't have the same rights...o.k...I will just sit back and listen.

Dave-SKG38390.4082291667

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"