How do you treat your calton case?

[Wesley]

I'm curious. Just about every used Carlton case ad I've seen in the classified says that they have some scratchs on it. Do they scratch easily? Or do owners abuse them knowing that they are very well built and can stand some abuse? In other words are you harder on your Carlton case than you would be on any other type of case because they are built to take it?

[MikeEdgerton]

Caltons scratch, at least the ones I've seen. Maybe a white one won't show the scratches, my black one does. I put my mandolin in a Calton case to protect the mandolin. If I was worried about the case scratching I would get a case cover. If I was worried about the case cover being scratched I would put it in a cardboard box. If I was worried about the cardboard box I'd build a wooden crate around it....

I'm sure that if you're very careful you can keep from scratching any case, not just a Calton. To me the Calton is a tool and I don't worry about the scratches.

[Denny Gies]

I agree with Mike. Who cares what the case looks like as long as the mandolin is properly protected.

[sunburst]

A Calton case is an expensive case. That fact alone seems to make it desirable for some people, sort of like a flashy car, so some people get them for "show" rather than utility.

On the other hand, traveling musicians need good protection for their instruments and the expense of a Calton is an investment in preserving the instrument.

A Calton belonging to the first guy will probably not scratch, a Calton belonging to the second guy probably will.

The structure of a Calton case is fiberglass, but the surface is a "finish" or resin with the color mixed into it. Like any finish, it will scratch if handled roughly, but light scratches don't remove the color because the surface layer of resin has color all the way through.

[chip]

It's a case. They scratch. They protect the instrument so that the instrument doesn't get scratched or marked. If you don't take the case out of the house, most likely it will remain pretty for you. They make cases out of durable products for one one reason. Geez.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Doug Edwards]

Scratches?

[Tim2723]

That's one reason I don't bother with Caltons or the other very expensive cases. To me, a case is just the box I carry something important in. As long as the level of protection I need is there, I never worry about scuffing up a case. Actually, with less expensive cases, it's kind of fun to have a new one every couple of years. I really do like the look and feel of a shiny new case, and with a really expensive case I'd end up keeping it around til it looks like Tobbacco Road just to get my money's worth.

[mandroid]

With my AC-60 and the Cal on one shoulder I'm invariably banging into the door with the Cal Case, on the way out, no problems, still seems fine.

Mando stays dry inside Cal, traveling on the bike trailer , too.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I've often thought that the Calton cases would be better if they had a final layer of what i know as 'chopped-strand' glasscloth similar to my old Mark leaf Banjo case (now sold) below. They'd still look great & you wouldn't notice any scratch - unless it was made by a landmine,
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Saska

[Don Christy]

I have several different cases. I always seem to bang into walls and door frames with the Calton and never with the travelite or others. I don't know if it's because it's bigger or so heavy that I don't control it as well or what.

But yes it scratches ... it scratches my walls, my door, my car door, ... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Don

[Clyde Clevenger]

My Calton it a boat anchor, spose to clang around. I would use my Travelite more if my mandolin thief son hadn't stole it too.

[Salty Dog]

I own two Caltons (they make my BRWs happy!). #I use one for travel and one for simple protection at home. #I protect my mandolins like a mama bear but the Caltons do scratch rather easily when you are hauling around band equipment. #That is why I purchased an expensive case - to protect the mandolin. #The scratches are, as they say, the cost of doing business. #Mine seem to show white when scratched so I would suggest white for those who do not want the scratches to show, as it is apparently the base color.

[Tom Sanderson]

Small dog case cover

[Glassweb]

i try not to mess it up, but i'm not obsessive about keeping it "pristine". i'm much more concerned about what's INSIDE the case...

[Ivan Kelsall]

Just as a point,the Mark Leaf case in the pic.that i posted was 18 years old & had been hauled around a LOT in that time. As testimony to how durable it's finish was,there was not a mark (no pun intended) on it when i sold it last year.If Calton ever produce a case
with such a finish (& a bit more room around the headstock scroll),i'll be the first in line - that would be a 'dream'case, at least for me at any rate,
Saska

[Ray(T)]

What could be worse than turning up somewhere with a pristine shiny Calton case? A bit like turning up with a new electric guitar - that's why people are prepared to pay ridiculous amounts for pre-aged "relic" instruments. I went over my Calton guitar case with a pan scrub just to get the muck off it. Made a right mess but at least its clean, over 30 years old and still a damned good case. I haven't done the same with the mandolin case but that's not so old but still scratched. A case is to protect the instrument as Mike says.
Ray