29$ case at musician's friend

[brudford]

Just received my 29$ hard case from Musician's Friend plus
5.95$ shipping. I can't believe the quality of this case at this price ! It fits my Kentucky KM 250-S even with it's
longer neck joined at the 15th fret,it is a A- model.
I almost ordered a TKL case for 79.00$ plus 20.00$ ship fee
from Janet Davis Music ! I have had TKL cases and I would say the quality is about the same. The TKL cases have a really strong glue odor as well,this case does not.

[John Flynn]

Yeah, I bought one of those from MF a couple of years ago and I too was very impressed for the money. I keep my beater in it. I still like the TKL I keep my Old Wave in, though. I never noticed any glue smell and that case has an arched top, which I think probably protects better. But that MF $29 case is a heckuva deal, no question.

[Richard Russell]

I use the $29 MF case for my Mid-Mo. A little large, so I throw in a small cloth on one end and it keeps things snug inside. Nice case, pretty rugged and completely functional. I also have the TKL case and it's great for better mandos as it seems to be built much stronger.

[MikeEdgerton]

The $29.00 case is basically the best A case deal on the market. Jim Garber turned me onto them a few years ago. The shipping is actually free if you order over $99.00 worth of stuff.

[Tim2723]

I have one, and it's a really good case for the money. My new TKL stunk to high heaven from the glue. I left it open for days and days to air out, but it still stinks if it's closed for a few days.

[Steve Williams]

I've bought several of the $29.00 MF cases for various kit mandos that I have built, and have been well pleased with them.

Steve Williams
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jim Garber]

I have about 5 or 6 of them. They are amazing quality for the price and as long as your mandolin fits in it you do fine. The only think it is missing would be an archedtop of the higher priced cases.

Great for those of us who have too many mandolins without cases.

Jim

[mandopaul]

Will it fit an old 20 Gibson A?

[ApK]

I have one of these that I got with my $29 Rogue mando, which it fit like a glove.
The Fullterton Nottingham fits in it, but it seems to "rock" on the neck support more than I think it should, like the neck support is just a tad too high and not enough of the body is touching the bottom.
It's not like I feel it moving when the case is closed or antyhing like that, but it doesn't seem right to me.
Is this ok? #Is it actually better to have the mando sort of 'floating' like this, or should I put something in the body of the body area to pad it up a bit?

ApK

[MikeEdgerton]

You really don't want that body to be able to move a whole lot. A wrong drop might snap the neck. Try adding some soft cotton padding just under the mandolin and see if it seems tighter.

[Jim MacDaniel]

I bought one for a KM-250S I once had, and was very impressed (decent hardshell protection at a gig-bag price!). Were I to buy another inexpensive mandolin without a case, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one of these cases for it.

[John Flynn]

For my $29 case, I took a sheet of 1/2" foam rubber and cut it to friction fit the bottom of the case. Then I cut out a piece of black felt slightly larger than the pad, laid it on a flat surface and sprayed it with spray glue. I pressed the foam down on the felt and since the felt was cut slightly larger, I was able to wrap the edges of the felt around the ends of the foam pad. I let the glue dry and then put the pad in the case. It stays put and functions as a false bottom to prop up the mando body, allowing the neck to fit cleanly on the top of the neck rest. I use other friction fit felt covered pads to pad out some other areas where the case is too large.

[Santiago]

It's a great deal... until you drop it once.

[Jim MacDaniel]

BTW, a Mid-Mo will get lost in this case, so it will definitely require some extra padding.

[MikeEdgerton]

I've dropped mine a few times with no problems. Heck, if you drop a Calton right you can destroy the headstock of an F-5. I haven't dropped my Calton yet, that information is something I got here. I'm going to guess that the MusiciansFriend case is as well built as your typical Canadian built case. Dropping a mandolin in this case is better than dropping one that isn't in a case. Better to not drop it in the first place. The $29.00 case will protect the mandolin as well as any other non-fiberglass case.

[ApK]

It's a great deal... until you drop it once.
I can't say I've dropped mine yet, but my 4 year old has sat on it, my one year old has knocked it down and walked on it, and it's been tossed in and out of the back of a car along with other luggage and a guitar case, and the mandolin has been fine.
Have you had a bad experience with one or are you just prejudiced?

[uncle ken]

Could someone please measure the internal width at the widest part of the body of their case for me. I have a wide body A that won't fit the average A style case.

[MikeEdgerton]

From a previous posting where I measured mine, here are the dimensions:

"Inside length is 27 3/4" between the fuzz, width at the widest part is a little over 10 1/4" between the fuzz. The distance from the pick box to the bottom of the case is 15" (again fuzz to fuzz)). The length from the other end of the pick box to the top of the case is 7 1/2". The depth of the case is almost 3 inches plus the depth of the top is another inch or so. The padding will compress some if you're slightly over those dimensions."

[ApK]

In the interest of accuracy, it was recently pointed out to me that what I have is the Durafoam case:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=540613 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Gear-Durafoam-Shaped-AStyle-Mandolin-Case?sku=540613)
which regularly sells for $39, though does go on sale now and then (like when I got mine) for $29.
I didn't realize there was another regular hard case that sells for $29...

[Caleb]

I just ordered one for my KM380S. Hard to beat that deal.

[Jim MacDaniel]

In the interest of accuracy, it was recently pointed out to me that what I have is the Durafoam case:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=540613 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Gear-Durafoam-Shaped-AStyle-Mandolin-Case?sku=540613)
which regularly sells for $39, though does go on sale now and then (like when I got mine) for $29.
I didn't realize there was another regular hard case that sells for $29...
I once had one of those as well. It's much bulkier than the hardshell case, but lighter and with more padding.

[Tig]

Slacker,

Have you received your case? I ordered one on 7/13 and it's been on back order.

Tig

[Caleb]

Slacker,

Have you received your case? #I ordered one on 7/13 and it's been on back order.

Tig
Nope. #I called them today and they said that they're in the process of moving lots of their stock to a new warehouse and the A-style cases are in-transit to the new facility and cannot be shipped out to customers till they arrive. #

I guess they forgot to mention that when they advertised that the item will arrive in 2-5 business days. #

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

I really hated to do business with them, but that's a great deal. #Will by my last dealings with them though.

[Walter]

I had the same experience. -Ordered the same case 3 weeks ago, they told me it was in stock and would ship within a few days. A week later they said they are moving into a new warehouse and it would ship within the "next couple" days. A week later, I called, it had not shipped yet, and the told me it was on back order.

I really would not have minded this run-around, but I could not take the bad attitude that I got from their customer service everytime I called, so I cancelled the order. (Their customer service guys reminded me of the idiots that work at the Guitar Center Stores)...

[Caleb]

Well, there's a good reason that the Musician's fiends reminded you of the flunkies at Guitar Center: They're under the same ownership.

I'll not cancel the order, but I also won't buy anything from them again. Like I said earlier, I hated to in the first place...and my gut warned me, but I didn't listen. Guess I'll get the case someday.

[MikeEdgerton]

Generally everything I order from Musicians Friend arrives within a day or so. I'm going to make the assumption that they really are moving the warehouse. I order from them several times a year and haven't had the need in the last month or so. That doesn't excuse bad behavior, this just isn't their normal modus operandi.

[JeffS]

I ordered a guitar from them a couple weeks ago. During the checkout process they said that due to their warehouse move my order would not be shipped until 8/1. It ended up shipping Sunday. To me it is worth the wait. I got free shipping and no sales tax. The really cool thing is I'll get the guitar right after Scott announces that I won the Weber. My fingers are going to be so sore next week!

[ApK]

Over on the acousticguitar.com forums, there's several complaints of bad service during this period (the warehouse move and aquisition of music123.com). A shame. They could have handled it better.
I've dealt with them often in the past and never had a bad experience with the service or the people (or the merchandise. for that matter). Hope they get back to the old BAU quickly.

[Caleb]

I ordered my case on 7-23 and still do not have it. They offer no explanation other than the lame warehouse story. If I ever do get the case, it'll surely be the last thing I buy from these pukes. Just beware if you're thinking of doing business with them.

[Tig]

Slacker,

Got a notice from them Saturday, Aug. 4. Said they hoped to be able to ship the case in 30 days.

[Walter]

I canceled my order for this case 2 weeks ago, and they are still sending me order status information!

[MikeEdgerton]

Actually I'm glad I haven't needed anything in the last few months.

[Caleb]

FINALLY got my case today. I must say it was a very good deal and the case is superb. My KM380 is a bit loose in there on the headstock end, but I can live with it.

While I cannot recomment doing business with Musicians Fiend, I can recommend the case. Is that possible?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Octavemando]

After reading the posted reviews and having an older Kentucky 250S in need of a hardshell case, I ordered one 3 or 4 days ago. I called today to check the status and was told it won't ship for at least 8-10 days due to their warehouse move. I also ordered a couple of sets of D'Addario J75 strings. They are on backorder with no available ETA. The CS rep suggested I call back next week if I don't get a shipping confirmation via email. I only hope the waiting really is the hardest part.

[Caleb]

I woke up in a bad mood the other day and sent them a belly-aching session via email about the shipping delay and I actaully got a reply. They said they put a disclaimer up and that it should have appeared in a message box after I paid for my order. I didn't get the message about the whse situation and the delay until I called after about a week. All I saw was the "ships within 2-5 days". If the disclaimer is there, that's good. It is entirely possible that just didn't work in my case. But I can't help but find it lame to give it only AFTER the purchase is made. That doens't seem very fair to the customer, though I'm sure a indefinite delay would cause many to take thier business elsewhere, but I also find this the most honest approach. But that's the way corporate thugs do business. I realize that's harsh language, but customer service has taken a serious backseat in our day and I'm SICK OF IT personally.

[MikeEdgerton]

While I cannot recomment doing business with Musicians Fiend, I can recommend the case. Is that possible?
Yeah, it is. Honestly they used to be a company that provided fast shipping and good products. The $29.00 case is a great deal, it's a shame it took so long for it to ship. I generally bought them two or three at a time and had them within three days.

[ApK]

A coworker recently ordered a case a stand from them. He says he did see the delay notice, but I agree, it would have generated a lot less ill will if they made it a little more obvious earlier in the shopping process. He got the stand already and the case is in UPS's tracking system enroute, so he just about a week late overall.

The best case (no pun intended)scenario is that this was a one time screw up during the Music123 acquisition and warehouse move, some marketing manager will get chastised and once they are settled in, things will go back to the way they were, which from my experience was decent service and really fast order processing.
Worst case is that the changes in the company have screwed them up royaly and new people in charge have much lower standards. I sure hope not. I'll give them a chance after a few weeks and see what happens.

[ApK]

Quick update...my coworker got his guitar case yesterday. Only one additional glitch: he also ordered one of those $1.99 string winders, but was sent a square of DJ lighting acetate instead by mistake! Hehe. Anyway, MF is sending him the winder and told him to just keep the acetate. Good. We'll see how long the winder takes now.

[Octavemando]

Ok. I just rec'vd my $29.00 case from Musician's Friend. Not bad - a couple of imperfections - but ....$29.00. It does fit my Kentucky 250S fine.

I have not yet rec'vd my (J75) strings however. I've used D'Addario J74 for years and loved'em, but even they feel a bit light on my newly acquired Gold Tone GM70 F-Style. Anxious to try'em out on the new-ee.

[lovethemf5s]

I ordered this case for $29.99 from amazon.com and got it in a few days. But get this, they had their "shipping partner" Musician's Friend ship it to me. The shipping charge was actually a couple of dollars less than if I had ordered it directly from Musician's Friend.