Best case

[bgmando]

Since we're talking cases, and I may have to consider an upgrade this fall, which cases will accept the mandolin with the strap on, and the tone guard on, without damaging the mando?

I've currently got an F in a Travelite with the tone gard on, the foam seems to have dented to accept it, but I still worry that I'm hurting the top somehow in ways that I can't obviously see.
But also, I have to be very exact about where the woven Dude strap goes or it won't shut good.

[mandroid]

No problem with TG on a '22 A4 in its original case . I put some foam on top of the mandolin to keep it off the top.
Arch top wooden cases? shop with numbers , measure the required depth,

I also have a toneGard on the mandolin that I carry in the Pegasus , the foam buttons in the top liner do the same sort of thing, keep the top of the instrument separated from contacting the arched lid of the case.


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To talk about building anything, first you have to do a dimensioned drawing of it.
adverbs and arm-waving is no substitute. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

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[Michael Lewis]

A lot depends on your budget, but the Concord case would fit your needs. It is about half the price of a Calton, has lots of room and will easily accommodate your ToneGard and strap without posing any danger to your instrument. They should be available through any dealer, or you can contact me for one. So far they are only available in maroon interior and black cover, but hopefully they will offer other colors in the future. In the mean time, they are a great value just they way they are.

[Jim Hilburn]

Mine has the tonegard on in the picture I posted of the Stew-Mac in the other thread. I wouldn't use it if it didn't work.
As I recall when I saw a Travelite you could see the imprint of the bridge in the lid material and that's a deal breaker for me.

[D C Blood]

Presto, without a doubt...

[D C Blood]

Presto

[foldedpath]

A lot depends on your budget, but the Concord case would fit your needs. #It is about half the price of a Calton, has lots of room and will easily accommodate your ToneGard and strap without posing any danger to your instrument.
Michael, will a mandolin fit in the Concord case with the ToneGard on, or does it have to be removed? I notice in the case description on Elderly and the manufacturer's site it says it has a "Tone-Gard holder in the lid." That sounds like it has to be removed?

I'd like to get a better case at some point without going all the way to a Calton, and I like the look of that Concord. But I'd like one where I don't have to be constantly taking the ToneGard on and off.

@Bgmando -- I have a Dudette braided strap and yes, it does need to be draped alongside the neck to close the lid of my Travelite too. I think you'll probably have to do that with many cases out there. But I'm not worried about too much pressure on the bridge with the Travelite. A very light impression of the strings on the lid top liner is probably okay, with a foam case and soft liner of this type. I'd rather have a little light contact at the bridge, than a gap where the instrument is free to move inside the case, in response to shocks as the case is jostled around. A deeper impression of the strings in the lid would be something to worry about though, and your mileage may vary according to instrument depth, ToneGard or not, and how high we set our bridge action. Mine is set pretty low.

It's odd that case manufacturers don't include a way of adjusting the depth fit of a case, to allow for things like ToneGards, slightly deeper bodies, and high bridge action. All it would take, would be something like an extra layer or two of rigid foam underneath the bottom or top shell, that could be removed if a little more vertical clearance was needed.

[Jim Hilburn]

I looked into Presto but they were pretty hard to get your hands on when I did. Do they have US distribution now?

[D C Blood]

Not to my knowledge Jim, but I see that Paul Duff down under supplies them with his mandos, and might could work a deal for a fellow builder http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Steve Perry]

The trick to using a Tone-Gard equipped mando with a Travelite is to not use the metal catch to hold the lid down. #I figure with the zipper, velcroed flap, and velcroed handles there's now worry about the lid flying open. #This put less pressure on the bridge but still keeps it snug enough in the case to keep it from flopping around inside. #As far as the braided strap, when I was using one, I would leave it attached to the scroll and then lay the rest of it around the body of the mando on the edge of the case.

[Michael Lewis]

Foldedpath, the Concord case will easily accept a mandolin with the ToneGard installed. The holder in the lid is for those who would rather not leave the ToneGard on the instrument.

[Mandomaiden]

Here's another vote for the Concord. I picked one up from Michael at the Father's Day festival for my Mowry two-point. Can't beat the custom fit.
I've put lots of miles on it since, and am very pleased. Sure lots easier on the shoulder and wallet than my Calton.....:D