Anyone tried these cases?

[Rick Cadger]

i just bought one of these:

http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/bigpic.php?ID=GR3173

http://www.hobgoblin.com/bigpicswebsite/gr3173.jpg

I have to say I'm impressed. looks like it's just polystyrene with plush, covered in a canvassy nylon fabric. it's very light and seems very resistant to impact and compression. i am a big guy and i sat on it with no significant deformation and no damage. the only thing i think it may be vulnerable to is gouging, but anything that did make contact in that manner would have to penetrate a long way to reach the mando.

i'm particularly pleased with the shaping of the recess where the mando lies. everything is nicely supported - headstock, neck, body.

£29 can't be bad.

i have to take a coach trip to Ireland, but i didn't trust my cheap hardshell case to keep any of my mandos safe in the baggage compartment. i love playing in Irish sessions, so no way am i leaving it at home!

[Tim2723]

That style is gaining a lot of ground in popularity. I've used one for almost a year and it still looks nearly new. I like the light wieght and the huge outside pocket especially.

[foldedpath]

I bought a Travelite case recently, which is probably a similar design using rigid foam:

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/TLC-F-MANDO.htm

It has a big enough accessory compartment to hold my Stroboflip tuner, which was too big to fit in the plastic hardshell case that came with the mando. The only thing I don't like about the Travelite is that it doesn't have that nice outside pocket like the one shown above, so I end up folding sheet music under the mandolin in the case. Seems a bit cheapskate to make a case that size and not have an outside pocket. I'll have to find something that will work as a pocket and glue it on the outside.

[seanonabutton]

i got a gator case recently and it is very similar. backpack straps are always brilliant

[Mark Walker]

Ditto all the accolades and positive comments. #The only problem encountered with mine is the stitching on one end where the zipper wraps around has frayed a bit and looks like it might pull loose from the nylon above. #Nothing serious, and easily repaired. #It certainly has protected my Silver Angel very well thus far! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Paul Hostetter]

I use one from Musician's Friend which has stood the test of time very well. They're up to a whopping $39.99 now.


http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/0/3/0/375030.jpg

<span style='font-size:13pt;line-height:100%'>The good part about these cases: <span style='color:blue'>they float!</span></span>

[sunburst]

The only down side I've found so far: mud!

[mandopaul]

Paul, do you know if the case you show from M.Friend would fit an old Gibson Teens A style?

I think it would, but not too sure...

[Paul Hostetter]

Not very well. The string pocket and neck cradle don't fit it very well, but it wouldn't be a huge project to amend that. Before I did, I'd look around for another similar case that I knew fit better. I *think* Travelite has an A case that's right. But I think this MF thing is a better product.

[acousticphd]

do you know if the case you show from M.Friend would fit an old Gibson Teens A style?

I think it would, but not too sure...

Mandopaul, it will - I use it for my Gibsons and all my A-styles. These cases (I have 2) are oversized in the body cavity for every A-style mandolin I have. I use a couple of foam shims around the sides to make it snug. Also I find that you have mold the the depression deeper into the foam block supporting the neck to make the mando sit down nicely.

[Paul Hostetter]

I certainly don't see how. Maybe a photo will help. Here's a photo of mine with a Gibson A really not fitting.

http://www.lutherie.net/gibson.dont.fit.jpg

Because the string pocket is so long, the tuners rest on it and the neck won't go down far enough. So the lid only shuts when you exert way too much pressure on the neck. Amending the neck block isn't enough: the string pocket is the problem.

This case fits those flatback Vietnamese mandolins with the longer necks quite well. But not Gibsons. You must be getting a different case.

[Celtic-Grass]

thanks Paul.
you may have saved a lot of people some grief (and 40 bucks!)

[Paul Hostetter]

If you got one of these things and wanted it to fit your A-4, it would take a matter of minutes and some glue to to make it all work. I'm curious to know what Jeff was using for his Gibsons - it can't be this case. The one in the photo above is about 3 years old, but I've ordered a few very recently and they're identical.

[mandopaul]

Thanks for the pictures, Paul. I was afraid that was the case...no pun intended http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

I guess one can cut out the pick box, save the parts, and make it shorter. But knowing me, I would probably just make a mess out of it.

How about the $29 special hard case from M. Friend? Wonder if that will work.

[Paul Hostetter]

Here are all the MF offerings (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/mandolin-cases?N=100001+306307). The $29 sale item is about as rudimentary as a case can get: the top and back are flat rather than arched, which means it's not very strong. If I were you looking for a true hard case, I'd look for an arched top mandolin case like a TKL or similar Canadian, and expect to pay more for it. It's worth it to have the arch.

[acousticphd]

I'm curious to know what Jeff was using for his Gibsons - it can't be this case.

I think you're probably right -I got mine online but not from MF. They had a "Johnson" label or tag - I assume the same as the big, low-priced instrument company. Then again, they look nearly identical comparing pictures, and at least several gear and instrument companies make special "Musician's Friend" model stuff.

The design of my cases looks very much the same, but my Gibsons seem not to rest on the back of the tuners like you showed above - maybe the foam neckrests don't all come out with such a deep depression.

[EdSherry]

Paul H -- I have several of the hardshell MF $29 A-style mando cases (not the MF foam/Cordura cases you pictured). #

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product....=544411 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Gear-Hardshell-AStyle-Mandolin-Case?sku=544411)

The early ones that I bought a couple of years ago had a flat top and back, but the newer ones I've received in the last year DO have an arched top (though a flat back). #They're clearly not quite as nice as the TKL cases (which are also flat-back), but they are MUCH less expensive.

UPDATE: #Looks like I blew it. #I was thinking of the F-style cases that they sell, which ARE arched-top, flat-back. #I just checked, and the A-style cases are flat-top, flat-back. #My mistake.

The photo in Paul's post is of the older case they used to sell under this model number. The newer ones look different (no stitching) and (IMHO) are better-made than the older ones shown in the photo.

[Paul Hostetter]

Interesting that they still show a flat-topped case in their images you just linked to. But that's good info. $30 is a very attractive price!

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/0/6/6/279066.jpg

[JeffD]

The important question - how well do those cases hold on to the stickers I put on them.

[Tim2723]

I'm sure you're half kidding Jeff, but the answer is, not especially well.