Case opened or closed while idle?

[Joe D]

In your opinion, good folks, is it better, during the idle times for your instrument, for the case to be closed or open? Does it make a difference one way or the other? I don't have a wall hanger, so it rests in the case.

[Douglas McMullin]

Closed and latched if it is in the case. I have seen things fall on instruments in open cases, and unlatched cases picked only to up to dump their contents.

[catmandu2]

Is this a trick question?

[SincereCorgi]

I would suggest closed- it keeps the floating bits of dust and hair out and might very slightly slow down the oxidization of the strings.

[Tim2723]

Closed and latched, whether the instrument is in it or not. That way you can never dump the contents. "Lid down, latch closed". If you mean should the instrument be stored with the lid open to let the air in, no. The case provides the buffer between the instrument and changes in the environment. The case makes changes happen slowly, not to mention keeping things from falling on the mandolin.

[F-2 Dave]

closed and latched. That is, unless you're talking about banjos. I used to leave mine on a stand next to my chair totally exposed to all household hazards. Then I traded it for a mandolin. I also have several fiddles scattered around the house on shelves, book cases etc.

[JoeD]

Closed and latched, unless hanging on the wall.

/not submitter

[taterbugman]

In my house, you've got to be stupid to leave the case open.

[Jim]

Latched

[Joe D]

Thanks, all. It wasn't a trick question. I was wondering, with mine being new, would being in the open air help the "curing out" process or if it mattered.

[JEStanek]

Lids down latches fastened. Get a String swing to mount on the wall. If your mandolin is within reach, you're more likely to reach for it.

Jamie

[Michael Richmond]

With my mandolin I found that the case had a persistent smell of solvents that I first attributed to the mandolin finish. It turned out that the smell was from the adhesive used in the case. A few days of leaving the case open did wonders to clean out the smell so that my mandolin didn't smell or irritate my eyes when I got it out to practice.

Got this first mandolin a few months ago and I'm having a blast learning. But MAS has hit hard.... at least pre-MAS. Plenty of mando's on the desired list. I'm only holding myself back because I probably should become a better player before bringing an alternate mandolin into the house. My KM-254 is still more mandolin than my playing would warrant.

[fredfrank]

Ever since I saw the cat pee in my friend's fiddle case, I keep my case closed whether my mando is in it or not.

[journeybear]

Closed and latched, idle or while playing. You don't want someone to knock your case over and all the contents scatter, or someone spill a drink into your case, or a cat to pee in it (if that should happen, you are definitely playing the wrong venue). Much easier to wipe off the outside than clean out the inside. Seems a no-brainer to me. I would be interested to see someone advocate leaving it open and see the reasoning for that.

[Jill McAuley]

With rambunctious dogs in the house it's gotta be closed and latched every time...

Cheers,
Jill

[Philphool]

Closed. This keeps the humidity in the case more constant and ready for the mandolin when it comes back in to rest.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Get into the habit of ALWAYS closing & locking your case.That way there's no chance of you leaving it open,only to forget,pick it up & have your Mandolin falling out. Having done that a couple of times with my briefcase when i was working,i soon got into the habit of always locking up. I've only done it once with a Mandolin case,but my Mandolin wasn't in it anyway,
Ivan

[Bertram Henze]

would being in the open air help the "curing out" process

Why didn't you tell us in the first place that it is a lump of ham you keep in the case?
Hey, that's a whole new way of distressing: smoked mandolin! Gives it that authentic cabin smell...

Sorry, not making fun of persons, just of ideas. Seriously: the only reason for leaving a case open would be to let chemical smells evaporate from a new case (or other smells from a used case, whoever used it for whatever). But then the mandolin should be in another closed case.

[Joe D]

I guess I haven't expressed myself very well. Let me try again. (Please forgive me if it is a foolish question.) I'm not talking about the case itself. I'm talking about the instrument. I was wondering if the instrument is affected one way or the other: staying inside the case, or outside in the open air. Thanks for replies which do not mock me.

[JEStanek]

Joe, the case can provide for more stable humidification than anbient air, especially as we head into winter and home heating (which can really drive down the humidity in your home and lead to neck bows and seam separations if you don't give your mandolin a "drink" from time to time or have a humidity control system. If you keep your instrument out of direct sunlight and have the humidity under control your instrument should be happy out of its case provided there aren't risks of toppling or crunching.

Jamie

[Joe D]

Thank you, Jamie!

[Markus]

if you don't give your mandolin a "drink" from time to time or have a humidity control system.

Jamie, how would you explain giving it a drink? A period of time in-case with humidification, or ???

I've got a lovely 2010 mandolin entering it's first winter. My 6-string [97 make] has had zero issues the last few years out in the house most of the time ... but I'd rather not have `my precious' harmed this winter.

We've got a humidifier tied to the HVAC system, but yet winter does mean drier than normal air and outside temp swings which affect humidity until things catch up. I assume I'll be keeping a close eye on the humidity and using the case when it drops ... and in that case, would want to `give it a drink' as you suggest and let it hang a while in a happy humid place for some days.

[Denny Gies]

Repeat after me, closed and latched.

[Markus]

And on topic ... I keep the case closed, and always latched since hearing the advice here.

My instruments are hung on the wall [string swing for fiddle, hercules for mando and guitar] to keep them out of toddler range - yet keep them in easy reach for the many short periods I can pick them up throughout the day.

[JeffD]

Seriously: the only reason for leaving a case open would be to let chemical smells evaporate from a new case .

or when busking on the street, to allow folks to contribute to your MAS abatement fund.