how closely a case must be

[Banjo]

I bought my first mandolin (the loar a-style) and an epiphone a-style case.
when I close the lid, I have to press it a little bit down (approximate a half inch).
is that ok?
I have some fear that something warp.

[terzinator]

does it feel like it's "foam" that's pressing down on the mandolin? Or does it feel harder, like the rigid top of the case?

[grassrootphilosopher]

I bought my first mandolin (the loar a-style) and an epiphone a-style case.
when I close the lid, I have to press it a little bit down (approximate a half inch).
is that ok?
I have some fear that something warp.

Assuming you have a banjo as your username seems to imply you may ask yourself if you have to push down the lid of your banjo-case. I am pretty certain you don´t have to. The same rule applies to mandolin cases.

All cases (starting from your average case) have padding. But the padding of the lid pushes into the instrument with the weight of the case alone. The padding does not prevent a lid to close.

So something´s rotten in the state of Denmark.

Check out the depth of the case. Check out the depth of the instrument. Note: Not all instruments are created equal. This might or might not lead to an explanation.

Otherwise good luck and don´t force the case closed.

[Banjo]

[QUOTE=grassrootphilosopher;1346576]Assuming you have a banjo as your username seems to imply you may ask yourself if you have to push down the lid of your banjo-case. I am pretty certain you don´t have to. The same rule applies to mandolin cases.

For my banjo I have only a bag. this is my first instrument case.

Yes there is the plush and then I have to press down (only a little bit) in the foam.
I think the problem is this:
The neck is a little bit to high, the bridge is not the problem.

[Banjo]

Sorry my english is not perfect

[Banjo]

[terzinator]

if it's just the plush/foam that's keeping it raised, I don't know how worried I'd be.

But you have a better sense of how firmly you need to push down.

Do you have a music store near you to bring it to, or can you see how it fits in other cases?

[avaldes]

If it is pressing at the neck, it may be that the Loar neck is thicker than the Epi neck for which the case was designed. Be sure nothing else is obstructing (does the accessory compartment lid completely close). But I think you should replace the case. The fit should be snug enough that the instrument does not move freely in the closed case, but more pressure is probably bad.

[Banjo]

you're right
on Friday I will show it my teacher.

[mandroid]

Styrofoam peanuts work great in judging how much squeeze there may be,

they crush & dont rebound like foam rubber,
so you can see deformation when you open the case again.


Analogy:
back when Engines were DIY repairable We used a Plastic piece* that crushed to a specific width

that told you the information you could not see, otherwise.
* http://www.plastigaugeusa.com/how.html

[Banjo]

It is never too late to learn

[almeriastrings]

It looks like the point of contact is towards the headstock (tuner end). This can be caused by the mandolin being too thin for the case.. the body end sinks too far down, and causes a pivot/lever effect on the neck end... raising that part up too high.

Try placing some temporary padding under the back of the mandolin so the neck lies flat.

The case should then close easily. If it does not, then you need to find a case with a better fit. You should not have to force a case lid down. A very small amount, possibly... but nothing like you describe.

[Barry Wilson]

you could vacuum the top of the case to fluff it up and close lid to see where it is hitting

[Banjo]

So
Yesterday I called the Dealer and asked him.
He said that its ok.
Today I asked my teacher and compared it with her mandolin and guitar case,
and it is similar.
Now i am reassured.
Thank you very much for your ideas and opinions.

[JeffD]

take a piece of paper and put it on top of the mandolin and close the case. Then look at the paper and see if it is punctured, severely dented, or mildly dented.

[J.Albert]

almeriastrings wrote above:
[[ It looks like the point of contact is towards the headstock (tuner end). This can be caused by the mandolin being too thin for the case.. the body end sinks too far down, and causes a pivot/lever effect on the neck end... raising that part up too high.
Try placing some temporary padding under the back of the mandolin so the neck lies flat. ]]

I agree with this approach.

It looks like the body of the mandolin is "laying too low" in the case, and that the neck rest is serving as a "pivot point" to tilt the peghead end of the mandolin far enough upwards so that the case top can't close without pushing it down -- and thus, it may be pushing the peghead down and raising the body up as a result of the pressure. Sort of like two kids on a seesaw.

Lay the mandolin in the case and hold the case up horizontally and examine it.
Does the peghead look "too far up"?

If so, get a small towel and put it under the body of the mandolin.
Re-examine as above -- does it change things?

Keeping the towel in the bottom of the case would be the quick-n-easy fix.

If you're adventurous, you might examine the case neck rest with an eye on removing it from the case, "trimming the bottom down" a little, and then re-installing it.

But then (because the body may be too thin for the case dimensions, you may end up with the mandolin "flopping around" inside the case when you carry it.

All in all, the "towel solution" might be the best approach...