Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a handful of acoustics that are almost finished. Looking for some nice cases.

What cases do you like? And why?

Thanks!

Ameritage, they're heavy but Ameritage will give you a big break on price if you're a maker. Custom sizes are available but cost more. Good quality and nice people.

I bought the ones that fit my guitars, Guardian, TKL, Canadian Case. I've had a few built by Cedar Creek (TKL) for custom shape guitars. I don't like to put a lot of bucks into a case unless the customer wants it. Cedar Creek, Guardian and Canadian Case have been very nice...TKL is TKL, good to VG. Cedar Creek is expensive but you get a very nice old time case. Guardian is fairly cheap, but you do get a case very close to Cedar Creek and they are lovely.

I agree with Haans - TKL if it will fit, Cedar Creek if it won't. Cedar Creek are beautiful, fit perfectly, expensive and long delivery. A good reason to build to fit standard cases but sometimes you need something special for that deep bodied tricone or long scale 000 12 string

How big of a deal is a 0.5" difference in the lower bout with the TKL Cases? Is there enough padding to accommodate? Also is that the model that goes for ~$270?

Guardian cases are also sold by Musician's Friend under the name Silver Creek. MF frequently has sales and that's when I buy them for under $70. BTW - The classical case fits L-OO size quite well. I will say that sometimes the quality control is not so great, but defective cases have been easily replaced by MF. I think they are pretty decent and hard to beat for the money.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... chtop-case

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I’m a cheap case dude and buy those MF cases also. They work just fine for me, a place to store my gits on the floor. I’ve caught them on sale for as little as $59

Ameritage treats me like a big builder. Relatively low price considering guitar cost. Cedar Creek would not return my calls. And I tried!! So, I’m Ameritage all the way. Never had a customer complain.

The two things people remark about Ameritage: higher cost and heavy. All of that is true. But u will never worry about a guitar in one of those cases.

I've been buying Superior cases for my OM builds and really like them. I buy the tan colored ones because black cases just don't make sense to me if there is any chance if them getting in the sun. Around $100, so reasonable. And solid.

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Tony Thatcher
Bozeman, Montana

I used a couple of Ameritage cases early on but it almost seemed like the worst of all worlds. Big and heavy so tough for gigging. (client complained), but not really strong enough for a true flight case checking the instrument through and too big for an overhead.

Nitch seemed to be a mostly stay at home guitar that needed a fancy case.

I pretty much use the TKL progressional model as a standard, especially since they got rid of that ugly figure eight handle. Cedar Creek for a fancier one or a custom size which I use for my size 2 model.

Builder pricing is not too bad for the TKL’s.

Tamarkin CO handles what are essentially TKL factory cases but without the logo and have great builder pricing. Last time I checked theirs still had the old figure of eight handle but it’s been a while since I ordered from them.

Those Superior cases look pretty good. Ever tried that plastic one that looks like a Carlton?

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I've switched to Hiscox cases for my classical guitars. Light weight and sturdy at the same time. You can actually stand on it just fine. Will discount to builders if you buy 4 at a time. Ships out of Canada for US and Canadian market.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I also switched to Hiscox cases. Great fit for standard sizes. I use their dred cases for anything up to 16.25" lower bout.

I use TKL when one of their stock cases works for me. They are nice cases. For custom cases (need for one of my models), I use Ameritage. They are very nice. Both offer builder discounts.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

We've been supplying Hiscox Pro II cases (usually in ivory) on new guitars, although their Artist model is our recommended case for touring use if a Hoffee or Calton is not in the budget (the separate TSA-compliant locking latches on the Hoffee and the Calton cases would seem to be a desirable feature for a case which will spend a portion of its life in the hold of an airliner). Stronger, lighter, and much wider range of fitment than with conventional plywood cases.

The two issues we have with Hiscox are general cosmetics and latch security. The semblance of both Pro II and Artist to Martin and SKB thermoplastic cases is unfortunate, given the mediocre performance of other ABS/foam cases. We believe that the performance difference with Hiscox cases is enough to offset that unfortunate association, and to date, several of our guitar customers have re-cased their other instruments with Hiscox after seeing the weight and heat/cold resistance differences.

On the latch issue, Hiscox should move to a standard 6th mid-spine located latch on the GAD sized Pro II (we see slight gaps - 1/16" or less - on about 1/4 of Pro II cases we receive), and feel that all latches on a $300 case that is otherwise a very adequate flight case should lock. For the Artist model at $579, having all latches lock would seem to be a major issue, given that with the sort of thermal stability we see in both the mid-line Pro II and the Artist, most owners fly them without a cover.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

I really like the Hiscox cases - light & very strong.

BTW their large classical case will fit a deep body L-00 Nick Lucas type of thing.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Did you just contact the U.K. number or is there a specific Canadian number to call to get set up?

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Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Hiscox used to be handled by MUSIQUIP in Canada. Apparently they have been absorbed by SFMMI, whoever that is(big music equipment distributer I suppose). Here is the info I have for contact.

Claudine Lascelle - Customer Service Representative.
Phone: 866.832.8679 x 2295
email: Claudine.Lascelle@sfm.ca

Their website is http://sfmmi.com

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I met the designer of these cases at the GAL convention this past summer and was very impressed with their strength, lightweight, and ingenious interior form-fitting adjustment:

http://www.visesnutcase.com/

The Visenut case is really excellent. It is however an $800+ case at retail, and aboout $400 + after shipping for dealers and builders. Also, I'm not sure it would accommodate a steel string, sizewise. "Jeep" Visenut is also an excellent builder of classical guitars.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

All of this input has been really helpful. Thanks everyone!

Visesnut are incredibly light and strong, although very minimally padded, which gives me pause. I’ve sworn off of Ameritage due to abysmal customer service. Lately I’ve been using Karura, which are amazing — lightweight, strong, custom-fit, with a keyed rubber seal and flight-grade latches. Unfortunately, they’re pretty expensive and have that Calton fiberglass odor that takes a long time to dissipate and can be absorbed into the instrument.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

We recently ordered four cases from a Chinese manufacturer (http://www.east-start.com/products/guit ... -case.html). They cost $100 each with a minimum of 4 cases per order and take months for shipping. We were happy to find them to be a good fit for our classic/flamenco guitars. They are very light, very stiff and have straps for carrying on your back. The latches are nothing special but work. Padding is good and there is no chemical smell. A second batch of four is on the way. These will be our standard case from now on with upgrades to Ameritage by customer request.

SKB cases for me

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/