Duff F5 in a Hoffee?

[108 Mile]

Hi guys, please help. I tried an Airloom case and the lower point was so far off, my Duff didn't fit. They obviously designed the case to fit their mando. Does the Hoffee fit the Duff??
Many thanks
Charlie Gillingham

[sblock]

Something sounds very off to me, here. The Airloom case was built to accommodate both a standard Northfield F5 and also the Northfield "Big Mon" shape, which is only about 5% larger. A Duff F5 (unless it's some weird custom modification) is a "standard" F5 design shape, and it has the same position for its points and scroll as a Gibson F5 ... or Northfield F5.

A Hoffee will definitely fit a standard F5 mando design -- that much, I can say with confidence. I own several different F5's and they ALL fit inside my Hoffee case. But there is no reason why the Northfield Airloom should not fit an F5, too! Did you ask the Northfield people about this issue? Maybe you somehow got an improperly lined (i.e., bad) case?

[108 Mile]

You would think Northfields were direct copies of the Loar, but I don't think they are....My lower point was barely hitting the high side of the case cutout

[108 Mile]

[Ivan Kelsall]

IMHO - That's a pretty typical fit for a non-custom case. My Weber "Fern" sits pretty much the same in my Gator mandolin case,but,it is held in such a way that it's well supported & doesn't move around inside the case,so it's good enough,
Ivan

[AlanN]

My Gilchrist Model 5 fits perfectly in my NF Airloom, with no mis-fit at the pictured area.

[Timbofood]

Now I know who has the right cases to nick! I could have some pretty tasty mandolins if I'm quick! I'm sorry for the poorly constructed poem

But, seriously super cases for super instruments are almost billboards if thieves are about. Granted "WE" (at this honorable forum) would not dream of it and would clearly pounce on a thief and staple tongue to his wrist if we saw any bad intentions. But, there is a certain element who would see the very fine HD, super protective, expensive case and deduce there is an equally high dollar instrument being ensconced in this costly "handy" carrying case.
The very thought turns my stomach but, there are still the worthless scum of the bottom of Clydesdale hooves who would see opportunity.
No offense to the Clydesdale.
Just observation.

[sblock]

Now I know who has the right cases to nick! I could have some pretty tasty mandolins if I'm quick! I'm sorry for the poorly constructed poem

But, seriously super cases for super instruments are almost billboards if thieves are about. Granted "WE" (at this honorable forum) would not dream of it and would clearly pounce on a thief and staple tongue to his wrist if we saw any bad intentions. But, there is a certain element who would see the very fine HD, super protective, expensive case and deduce there is an equally high dollar instrument being ensconced in this costly "handy" carrying case.
The very thought turns my stomach but, there are still the worthless scum of the bottom of Clydesdale hooves who would see opportunity.
No offense to the Clydesdale.
Just observation.

At some point, this observation may hold a bit of truth, but it gets a bit silly when you think more deeply about it. It's not a very good idea when traveling with a $10,000 instrument, especially by air, to house it in an inferior case! Of course, you can take always some small steps to make the case you choose less conspicuous, but in the final analysis, you are FAR better served by having a really good case protecting your instrument than by the comparatively MUCH smaller chance that this really good case will somehow attract thieves to a greater degree than a lesser case. In fact, the vast majority of instrument thieves are opportunists, and they are fairly clueless and unsophisticated, especially when it comes to mandolins. They're just grabbing anything that seems to be a musical instrument! They ask the questions about what they managed to get later. So NO, don't buy a cheap case for a top-end mandolin simply because you think it might deter a rare, sophisticated thief. Get a good case, I say. But maybe not in the most garish color?

[jasona]

Or get a really protective, nice, expensive case for your expensive toys, then go camo by putting it into a tennis racket bag.

[FLATROCK HILL]

...But, seriously super cases for super instruments are almost billboards if thieves are about. Granted "WE" (at this honorable forum) would not dream of it and would clearly pounce on a thief and staple tongue to his wrist if we saw any bad intentions. But, there is a certain element who would see the very fine HD, super protective, expensive case and deduce there is an equally high dollar instrument being ensconced in this costly "handy" carrying case...

For road trips, many of us with Harleys cover them with Honda tarps for worry-free sleep.

To the OP. I do not have access to both mandolins at the moment, but when I can, I will make detailed measurements of my Northfield F5 MM and my Duff F5. Something doesn't seem right about your Airloom case. From your picture, I can't imagine that a Northfield would fit any better than the Duff.

Edit: Added smiley face so as not to offend anyone who may not appreciate the motorcycle comparison.

[Mike Stewart]

For road trips, many of us with Harleys cover them with Honda tarps for worry-free sleep.

I assume it must work, since I've ridden Hondas all over the country, stayed in some pretty sketchy areas, haven't had one walk off yet.

But everyone knows what a Harley is, and what a Harley isn't. Instrument thieves, OTOH, probably wouldn't know a Rogue from a Gilchrist, so I don't know that covering your case in "Morgan Monroe" or "Michael Kelly" stickers would make a difference.

[Timbofood]

Or get a case in the most striking color combination so it draws a ton of attention and them "Everybody knows who owns it"! A case registry!?
Surely, I jest!




And don't call me Shirley!

[John Soper]

My two preferred cases are bright canary yellow. Easy to pick out in a sea of black instrument cases.

And my Duff F5 fits in a new Calton and an older Eastman FB case with no issues. I'd check with Northfield about the misaligned lining in your case.

[Andrew B. Carlson]

Wow, I'd love to have that problem. I'd love a Duff.

[FLATROCK HILL]

Sorry...it took a little longer than I'd hoped to take those measurements.

There is no appreciable difference between the Northfield F5 MM and the Duff F5 in overall length, neck angle, body size or placement/shape of the body points. They both fit identically into my (old-style cheesy) Northfield rectangular case as far as I can tell.

Judging by the picture you posted, it looks like the body of the mandolin, including that lower point would fit if the mandolin were to be rotated just a bit clockwise. If that is not possible, maybe the issue is not with the point placement of the case, but how the neck rests in its spot.

I would contact Northfield, advise them of your predicament along with detailed measurement of the interior dimensions of your Airloom case. I suspect the problem is there somewhere.

[mandroid]

Is that All?
unless the padding has no give to it It seems close enough..

(I thought posts on bike forum let the OCD types Have a vent, for complaints on consumer product imperfection)

CZ Made Lebeda, Scotland Made Pegasus fits close enough.

though thr lap point is not centered in the lining blocks with perfection,

It's close enough.


Now go play some music on your very nice mandolin. OK?

[108 Mile]

You are correct about rotation. I needed to swing the neck out of it's "groove" about 6 inches to the right, then it would fall into place.

[sblock]

It seems that the lining and associated padding in your Airloom case was glued in, on the right side, just a tad too low inside the framework of the outer case. This is no big deal. I suppose you could ask the Northfield folks if they would consider taking back the case and fixing it. Or, you could just pull off the lining/padding on the lower right side from the outer frame, move it all up about 1/2", and then reglue it to the frame yourself. Easy peasy.

But if the interior padding is already soft enough to accommodate the small -- and it is small -- misalignment of the notch for the point, which it seems to be, then you could just consider leaving it alone. It's not a big deal, and it's not happening because your Duff F5 and a Northfield F5 have different dimensions: they don't. Leaving it alone won't affect your mandolin and it won't hurt the case.

[108 Mile]

It seems that the lining and associated padding in your Airloom case was glued in, on the right side, just a tad too low inside the framework of the outer case. This is no big deal. I suppose you could ask the Northfield folks if they would consider taking back the case and fixing it. Or, you could just pull off the lining/padding on the lower right side from the outer frame, move it all up about 1/2", and then reglue it to the frame yourself. Easy peasy.

But if the interior padding is already soft enough to accommodate the small -- and it is small -- misalignment of the notch for the point, which it seems to be, then you could just consider leaving it alone. It's not a big deal, and it's not happening because your Duff F5 and a Northfield F5 have different dimensions: they don't. Leaving it alone won't affect your mandolin and it won't hurt the case.

To those of you that say it doesn't matter, or it's "close enough", I'd have to disagree. I live in Canada so to get it here and send it back cost me almost 200 USD.
A case that doesn't even support one whole side of an instrument (please refer to picture) isn't close enough at all...... it isn't good enough

[sblock]

To those of you that say it doesn't matter, or it's "close enough", I'd have to disagree. I live in Canada so to get it here and send it back cost me almost 200 USD.
A case that doesn't even support one whole side of an instrument (please refer to picture) isn't close enough at all...... it isn't good enough

Methinks thou doth protest too much. The problem with that case is inconsequential enough to be ignored altogether. But if you don't wish to ignore it, then it's easily enough remedied -- on your own, and with only a little effort. But repeating all your complaints about the cost of the case, and of shipping, and with no serious attempt at a resolution, gets tiresome for the rest of us.

Finally, you could sell that Airloom case here on the MC and spend some additional money on a Hoffee or Calton case. It's your money.

Mandroid's advice, although a trifle rude, may have been the best, after all: "Now go play some music on your very nice mandolin. OK?" I propose to take his advice immediately, and I suggest you do the same.

[lenf12]

Never mind...

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[Phil Goodson]

My two preferred cases are bright canary yellow. Easy to pick out in a sea of black instrument cases.
And my Duff F5 fits in a new Calton and an older Eastman FB case with no issues. I'd check with Northfield about the misaligned lining in your case.

I put bright colored gaffers tape on my white cases to give them distinctive stripes that are easy to recognize.

My Duff F fits perfectly into a Hoffee case meant for a two point mandolin. The treble point pushes easily into the foam even when there's not a space in the foam for the tailward point.

[dschonbrun]

We're all very particular about our instruments and their care, so I don't begrudge the OP's concerns one bit. We all want to feel like our instruments are perfectly cradled when we travel wth them.

Hoffee and Calton both offer custom interiors based off a tracing of your instrument. That's why they achieve a perfect fit.

The Airloom to Duff fit is close, but not perfect. Could have been a manufacturing variation... could be that Paul's design is slightly different than other Loar inspired patterns.

The padding issue is easily adjustable as others have mentioned. If you're not fully comfortable doing that work yourself, then someone local with experience in upholstery can help you out, and I expect it would be very cheap.

Best of luck getting just the right fit for your baby.

Regards,
David

[Andrew B. Carlson]

To those of you that say it doesn't matter, or it's "close enough", I'd have to disagree. I live in Canada so to get it here and send it back cost me almost 200 USD.
A case that doesn't even support one whole side of an instrument (please refer to picture) isn't close enough at all...... it isn't good enough

Another Canadian picker! Yes!

[bradlaird]

I miss the chipboard case era.