UK Hard Case?

[Seamus B]

Looking on Eagle Music I can see quite a few different hard cases for A-style mandolins. There is a lot of variance in price, and I wondered if there is a good, dependable, hard-wearing case that the UK folks on here could recommend?

[OneChordTrick]

I've got an Ashbury case from Hobgoblin, I only picked it up last week and it hasn't left the house so I can't comment on it's robustness but it looks pretty sturdy. Doubt that I'd trust it to an airline baggage handler but think it would do the job if you're putting it in and out of cars, trains etc. or as hand luggage.

EDIT Please let me know if pictures etc. would help

[Ray(T)]

Can you give us an idea of the make/model of mandolin you have? "A" style mandolins aren't all the same and some won't fit in all cases; e.g. Old Gibsons and Eastmans have slightly larger bodies. The only sure answer is to try one and see but, if you can be more specific, someone may be able to advise. It might also help if we knew your budget.

[Seamus B]

Thanks OneChord - I didn't think to check Hobgoblin for some reason.

Ray - I have an Eastman 305. I'm happy to spend up to or around £100, but would prefer around £50-70.

[OneChordTrick]

It fits both my Hathway (which is smaller than average and needs padding) and my Ozark snugly. If you want an idea of size probably the best bet is to compare yours the dimensions of the Ashbury S model which comes with a similar case. It's dimensions are:

Max body depth: 52mm
Body width: 267mm
No Frets: 19
Overall body length: 620mm

Happy to measure if you need.

[Ray(T)]

You'll need a slightly larger case then - the Eastmans are slightly wider in the body than most modern As. I keep my '24 Snakehead in an Eastman fibreglass case which would fit your's nicely. The downside is that they don't have room to store anything else and they're over your budget. I'm sure Eastman do a cheaper version of some sort. It won't fit in an TKL rectangular case so probably not one of the TKL shaped ones either. How about one of the foam filled fabric ones - something with a bit of give on the inside. Before Ivan chips in - you can't get the Travellite ones in the UK.

[Ivan Kelsall]

You could tray the Hobgoblin 'Gator' style case. My weber "F" style is housed in a Gator case 'proper',but an "A" style will fit ok. Or - you could have a look at one of these,sold by Gear4music in Yorkshire- an SKB "A" style case,
Ivan;)
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[Ray(T)]

You sure Ivan? Those look like cases for "modern" sized As. Eastman As are slightly wider in the body than those - I'm convinced that they are modelled on the vintage Gibson sizes - and cases with relatively solid innards won't stretch to fit them.

Neither of my vintage Gibson As will fit my rectangular TKL (which is going begging and "as-new"). Neither will they fit the eastern European case my Holoubek came in; I think it's a Schuster. The only other hard case I know they'll fit is in one which came with a Fylde Touchstone but that's not much use to Seamus - unless he wants a Fylde as well!

[Darren Bailey]

Hi Ivan, what's your opinion of those Gator cases? I've been looking at them for a while but not encountered one in the flesh.

[Kalasinar]

I had trouble getting a case for my Eastman MD504...tried the lightweight Gator case which didn't fit it. Also asked some suppliers about the TKL before buying and they confirmed that the Eastman wouldn't fit. I don't know about the hard shell Gator or SKB cases above, but might be worth a try.

I contacted Jimmy Moon Guitars in regards to getting an Eastman Fibreglass and it arrived this week. Fits the Eastman mandolin perfectly, and luckily fits my recently acquired (new to me) mandolin. Only downside is there isn't space for anything else in it. That isn't much of a problem for me though, and I wanted something I could carry on my back. Really nicely built but they're beyond your budget. I think Moon Guitars might have some left for sale, they posted a few on their Facebook page.

http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/index.php/news/ea/

[UsuallyPickin]

Well ... Eastman makes a case ... I bought one on this side of the pond no problem. It fits my old Gibson just fine too. The only problem with the case is lack of a storage pocket. See if Trevor Moyle has one at his store. R/

http://www.mandolin.org.uk/interviews/moyle1.php

[Seamus B]

Thanks all for your help! Ray was absolutely tight - I do need a slightly larger case. I am prepared to raise my budget for a fibreglass Eastman case as they look awesome.

I have contacted Jimmy at Moon Guitars (thanks Kalasinar!) to see if he has any in stock.

EDIT: I would like to edit this to also point out how nice it is to see so many UK-based mandolin players on here!

[Ray(T)]

The fibreglass Eastman cases are OK but, as I and others have pointed out, there's no room to store anything else inside. One might take some finding; mine came from the late Music Room in Cleckheaton and your local shop Sheehans is also no longer.

Darren - I bought a Gator case for a parlour guitar a couple of years ago (Amazon). Basic workmanlike case but it doesn't fit my particular parlour that well. Perferct shape but wrong neck angle - i.e. when the body is flat in the case there's a gap between the neck and the furthest support. When the neck rests on both supports, there's a gap below the body. Quite what happens when the lid is closed, I've no idea, but it protects the guitar better than the gig-bag it was supplied in.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Ray - My 'Gator' case - a real one,not the Hobgoblin ''look alike'',houses my Weber "Fern" perfectly. I tried my Ellis "A" style in it,which is what you seem to call a 'modern mandolin' (aren't Eastmans's modern ?) & it's a loose fit,so maybe big enough for an Eastman. That's why it's housed in my Travelite case,a case which seems to fit every mandolin that ever been placed inside it perfectly.

Darren - I chose the Gator case simply because the Travelite cases aren't available in the UK. I bought it 'sight unseen' from Gear4music in Yorkshire - around £70 UK,& my Weber,which i assume is a standard sized mandolin, fits like a glove. Like any other case,used carefully,they're a very good case indeed & have a decent sized pocket for bits & pieces. I chose to store my spare strings in the headstock area - there's room for 2 set of strings.The pocket houses my wire cutters,string winder & Polytune tuner.

Having seen the new Northfield 'Airloom' case on here,maybe an e-mail to Northfield would let you know if you could buy one direct from the German manufacturer - Jakob Winter :- https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?137341-2018-Winter-NAMM-Show&p=1627336&viewfull=1#post1627336,
Ivan;)
PS - I travelled to Eagle Music UK to look at an Eastman 'shaped' F style case, & found that although they do look good,the case was flimsy in construction & with no room at all inside it for 'strings 'n things'. I pressed the top to see how much it flexed,& honestly,any harder & i'd have cracked it !.
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[Shelagh Moore]

All of my mandolins are larger than “standard” but all will fit into Hiscox cases, of which I have two. Bulkier than most cases for sure but at least excellent protection. I doubt my Taran Springwell would fit into anything else except perhaps a Travelite.

[Seamus B]

Turns out the Eastman in black is sold out on Moon Guitars.

Interesting to see mention of Sheehan's in Leicester which is where I got my first crappy mandolin set-up and bought a strap many moons ago. It's such a shame that these places are closing down because they were so helpful to me back in the day.

I'm not sure what case to get now, but will persevere with my softbag until something good comes up that will take an A Eastman.

[Ray(T)]

Forsythe's in Manchester sell Eastman mandolins and perhaps they could get a case for you. As far as I'm aware, they also sell Hiscox cases so they should be able to tell you how good a fit one is for an Eastman. What you don't really want is a badly fitting case. (I brought my Kimble A home in a TKL "F" style case and it didn't fit particularly well so I had Keith Calton build me one - he no longer builds them.) Trevor (at TAMCO) sells Eastman mandolins but, along with strings and other accessories, he tends not to sell separate cases - you could ask, he can always say no.

I'm sure Gator cases are fine but you really need to try your mandolin in one to see how well it fits.

[mandroid]

Pegasus fiberglass cases are made in Scotland. great , rugged checked luggage level . strong..

[Seamus B]

Thanks guys - and Ray I think contacting a shop that sells Eastman mandolins is the best way to go. Thanks. I will check in when I get one!

[Ray(T)]

Pegasus fiberglass cases are made in Scotland. great , rugged checked luggage level . strong..

Probably my choice now Calton has transferred production to the US but you missed off .... "and several times the price that Seamus is looking to spend".

[mandroid]

you can change mandolins inside them over time..

[Ivan Kelsall]

Read my new thread regarding the ''possibility'' of the new Northfield 'Airloom' cases being available in the EU. Worth waiting for i think !!,
Ivan;)
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[HoGo]

I would consider getting Prucha-Schuster ABS case. Well made and strong and good price IMO. Ad within EU

[Ray(T)]

Assuming Seamus can read Czech and manage to order one, he can then send it back 'cos his mandolin won't fit in it - been there, done that, tried the mandolin for size!

[HoGo]

Assuming Seamus can read Czech and manage to order one, he can then send it back 'cos his mandolin won't fit in it - been there, done that, tried the mandolin for size!

What mandolin are we talking about? Someone mentioned vintage Gibson A?
Certanly Schuster can customize the padding but I believe he is not good at english so perhaps he can ask Prucha if he can get one made for short-necked A...

[almeriastrings]

Pegasus fiberglass cases are made in Scotland. great , rugged checked luggage level . strong..

Expensive...... I suspect somewhat out of budget in this case (ouch!).

[Beanzy]

Thanks OneChord - I didn't think to check Hobgoblin for some reason.

Ray - I have an Eastman 305. I'm happy to spend up to or around £100, but would prefer around £50-70.

If you want to measure your widest part on the Eastman and any other parts you reckon I’ll measure up their equivalent in the Goldengate/gator case Ivan mentions that Hobgoblin sell.

They do the job for most normal situations. I use mine for the KM150 since 2010. I’ve put some straps on it.
They’re nothing special, just a fibreglass shell with a foam insert stuck in. But they’re very popular and cope with my trips to jams or on the trains & rail replacement busses. Not too heavy or bulky either. My Hiscox is a bit of a beast but that’s a different league for looking after the expensive mandolin. If I know I’ll be walking alot like at festivals, with it I swap to the golden gate, definitely looking to those new Northfields from Germany if they hit a reasonable price for that role.

Anyway those cases in I’vans post 11 are good options in the low price bracket. Happy to check the internal dimensions for you.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Eoin - The 'Gator' style moulded ABS cases are fine,but my Weber "Fern" is a fairly tight fit ( i'm pleased that it's not a 'loose fit'). A mandolin with a much wider body might struggle,unless the internal padding is crushed to the point where it's no longer 'padding' & protecting. That's one reason why the new Northfield cases look good to me - roomy internally, without the bulk of the Hiscox cases (one of which i used to own),
Ivan

[Ray(T)]

What mandolin are we talking about? Someone mentioned vintage Gibson A?
Certanly Schuster can customize the padding but I believe he is not good at english so perhaps he can ask Prucha if he can get one made for short-necked A...

If you read back in this thread, you'll discover that Seamus has an Eastman. I don't have an Eastman but my previous investigations have revealed that they have the same, or very similar, body size to old Gibson As - of which I have two.

I had much same problem whilst looking for a modern case for these and, eventually, settled on the Eastman case for the occasions I take one of them out of the house (I normally play a Kimble which lives in a custom Calton). Over the years I have acquired quite a collection of mandolins and a similar variety of cases. As such I can confirm that old Gibson and modern Eastman mandolins don't fit in the cases I have which were made by, or for, TKL, Breedlove, Ameritage or Schuster. The only other case they will fit in is the unbranded ones sold to accommodate Fylde Touchstones.

Shuster cases are fine but, looking at their website, I don't envy anyone, who doesn't speak Czech, trying to order a custom case from them.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

A Hiscox ProII should work quite well. They are UK made, very sturdy and, being rectangular, roomy too.

:)
Daniel

[Seamus B]

Assuming Seamus can read Czech and manage to order one, he can then send it back 'cos his mandolin won't fit in it - been there, done that, tried the mandolin for size!

As it happens, I go to Prague regularly (in fact, I was just there a couple of weeks ago!). I think I might call in and see what I think when I go over in the summer.

[Posterboy]

I'm also in the market for a sturdier case than my Eastman Md315 came with available in the EU. I'd like to get one that will adhere to the cabin luggage which is 100cm x 30cm x30cm. This discounts the Gator Molded case.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Ray - " I don't envy anyone, who doesn't speak Czech, trying to order a custom case from them." Exactly why i haven't tried to order one from them. Lebeda mandolins used to come in a Schuster case marketed by Streicholtz Schachtel Music in Germany, under their name ''Matchbox''. I tried several times to contact them without any success,hence my enthusiasm for the new Northfield cases,
Ivan;)
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[HoGo]

From Ray - " I don't envy anyone, who doesn't speak Czech, trying to order a custom case from them." Exactly why i haven't tried to order one from them. Lebeda mandolins used to come in a Schuster case marketed by Streicholtz Schachtel Music in Germany, under their name ''Matchbox''. I tried several times to contact them without any success,hence my enthusiasm for the new Northfield cases,
Ivan;)
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That's why I suggested trying it through Prucha... He has been in business with US customers for long time a I believe he responds potential customers really well....
He is reseller of the Schuster cases (usually branded with Prucha logo).
But if OP has an Eastman then the Eastman case would be easiest possibility.

[Seamus B]

I speak some Czech and would certainly be able to have a discussion about this when I visit Prague. I will report back on what I find out, and if I find a suitable case!

[Seamus B]

Sorry to bounce the thread but, I contacted a shop selling the TKL Prestige Arch-Top case, and enquired as to whether it would take my 305. Here is the case:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/tkl-prestige-arch-top-a-style-mandolin-case

Here is the response:
"Thank you for your email inquiry about the TKL Case and if it'll work for the Eastman MD305. Per the specs of the two, it should fit without too much of an issue, but likely will be a very tight fit. To help explain this, here are the Dimensions between the unit and the case.

MD305 - 26 11/16" x 10" x 1 7/8"
TKL - 27.5" x 10" x 3.5"

What do folks think? Will this work?

[almeriastrings]

The only way to know for sure is to try.....I'd find someone who has both and check. There can be sample variation in cases, too.... I certainly would not special order one without knowing for certain.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Seamus - From the dimensions that you give,it seems as though the TKL will work. The 10" dimension,presumably the width,isn't absolutely 'critical,as the inner padding will compress.

I just got out the case that my Ellis "A" style was shipped up in - it's similar to the TKL,but it simply states ''Made in Canada'' on the compartment tag inside. My Ellis was a bit of a loose fit inside it,so its now in a Travelite case,
Ivan

[sportsnapper]

Thanks to everybody for the info here - I'm in the process of searching for a low coast hard case. One that I have just come across is this one from Germany https://www.musik-steinbach.de/Zupfinstrumente/Zubehoer-Zupfinstrumente/Gitarrenkoffer-Mandolinenkoffer-Ukulelenkoffer/Koffer-sonstige-Zupfinstrument/Steinbach-ABS-Mandolinenkoffer-fuer-Flachmandoline-schwarz-updn.html#.WoWoDracZGE - also available on ebay (though more expensive there! It has detailed dimensions so you can see if your instrument would fit. And Germans isn't as hard as Czech - at least for me!

[OneChordTrick]

If you’re in the UK it’s worth a look at Hobgoblin as well. I bought a supposedly used case from them for £30. Apart from some dust it was as new

[sportsnapper]

Was that the London branch??

[OneChordTrick]

Not sure where it came from as I bought it online.

[Seamus B]

Thanks folks, most appreciated advice. I think I will ask them to confirm for sure that it will take my instrument.

OneChord - I check in to Hobgoblin regularly (Birmingham, London and Manchester branches mainly) but I haven't seen anything in my price range that has the size to take my Eastman.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Seamus - What's your price range ?. 'Whatever' it is,if you can't find a case at the price you want,you'll just have to save up some more cash. There are cases available to suit your mandolin,& maybe you'll have to do what the rest of us have done - shell out for one,it's as brutal as that ,especially in the UK / EU.

I just measured my Ellis & the length / width are L = 26 3/4" & W = 10" respectively. It fits the TKL "A" style case that it came up in ''loosely''. Width wise - the inner padding will compress to an extent,so that shouldn't be a problem. As for depth,it would be unusual to find a case that was too shallow - in 13 years,i've never seen one.

If you can't afford the case you'd like right now,save up & buy it - don't scrimp on a good case,
Ivan;)

[Seamus B]

HI Ivan - £80-100 is what I was thinking so the TKL would be perfect. I think it is going to be fine and I can see that the padding makes a difference here. If it is super-thick I could consider shaving away at it to help the mandolin get into it (as long as it did not make it vulnerable. It is only for bringing to lessons and sessions, and not going on a flight or anything like that.

At the moment I transport it in a soft case, which is far from ideal.

[Shelagh Moore]

I have a TKL Prestige that my Old Wave A4 lives in when not being played. Your’re welcome to try your Eastman in it if you’re up my way.

[Seamus B]

Hey Richard - I am in no rush so would be happy to give it a try for fit. Thanks!

[mandroid]

Mentioned earlier, here..
These are , apparently, shipping world wide , out of HK, maybe a dealer in UK?... http://www.musiccompo.com/index.php?route=common/home
In Carbon Fiber.. :whistling:


I have found a preference for the Rubber gasket edges that is part of the Fiberglass cases ,
in a Wet Climate ..Oregon Coast in my 'case' ..

My David Hodson D'Jangolin came From UK with a hard Thermoplastic case , in a red metalflake..

Got a used A5 specific Eastman fiberglass case .. It has 3 D rings for backpack straps , so
it too goes out in any weather , me on my Push-bike..

I use the underside of the lid, inside, for storage, that overcomes the oft mentioned lack of storage..

It is a simple solution a bag from around a pint sized whiskey bottle is good for those spare strings..


...

[Ivan Kelsall]

Seamus - The padding in most cases will compress quite a bit, & none that i've seen have 'super thick' padding. Richard made you a good offer,so at least you'll get an idea regarding how your mandolin will fit inside a case similar to the one you're thinking of buying,
Ivan

[Shelagh Moore]

Hi Seamus... drop me a line when it might be convenient for you. Best wishes, Richard

[Ron McMillan]

I'm astounded nobody in the U.K. has mentioned Ross Kemp yet. He certainly presents himself as a British hard case.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!,
Ivan:crying:

[Seamus B]

Hi Seamus... drop me a line when it might be convenient for you. Best wishes, Richard

That's great - I'll pop up when you'e ready and try it out!

[OneChordTrick]

For Seamus and sportsnapper just saw this on the Hobgoblin website https://www.hobgoblin.com/local/sales/products/SHCT26454/f-style-mandolin-hard-case-would-take-a-style-too/

Don't know if it's any use for either of you?

[Ray(T)]

My first thought was that it might be a TKL but it seems to be the same photo as they've used in their Ashbury advert. Trouble is that the external piccy. of the Ashbury case isn't the same case as the piccy. of it open! I'd have thought that, if you're selling a used item, the photo you post of it should be the actual item and not one of your stock photos.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Ron -You forgot about the other Brit.tough nut - Ruddy 'ard Kipling - it's all in the name !,
Ivan

[OneChordTrick]

My first thought was that it might be a TKL but it seems to be the same photo as they've used in their Ashbury advert. Trouble is that the external piccy. of the Ashbury case isn't the same case as the piccy. of it open! I'd have thought that, if you're selling a used item, the photo you post of it should be the actual item and not one of your stock photos.

Yes, Hobgoblin can be a bit haphazard with photos on their second hand stuff.

[sportsnapper]

Thanks - I'll give them a call and ask about it. As you say, the image isn't helpful - in fact Hobgoblins website is pretty poor IMHO - no case interiors - which you really want to see if you're buying a case.

[OneChordTrick]

Definitely call them - I haven't had much luck with emailing them :whistling: Think that you said that you have a Kentucky from another thread? If so they may even be able to check if one of their stock ones fits?

[sportsnapper]

@onechordtrick - I looked at this again and it's for an F - though it might fit an A. I've also seen this TGI A style case at Normans https://www.normans.co.uk/product/tgi-wooden-a-style-mandolin-hardcase - which seems to be a reasnoble fit. It's cheaper then the hobgoblin version, and they do free returns - so I've taken a chance and ordered this today - so let you know how it goes.

[sportsnapper]

My case arrived on Friday. Very pleased, it's a good, not perfect fit for my Kentucky. The one issue I have is that the neck support is a little high - but at least there is one. And the case only has two catches - but do you need more? It's certainly robust, and will be fine for protecting the instrument around the house and in the car. A couple of images - if anyone wants more please ask.
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[Ray(T)]

If the neck support is too high, you might be able to take it out, chop a bit off the bottom and screw it back in lower down. Does the back of the instrument sit on the bottom of the case? If you chop a bit off the neck support, would it make it sit better and/or would closing the lid not hold it securely in place?

You could always introduce soma additional padding underneath the mandolin. The problem I have with an ill-fitting, el-chealpo, parlour guitar case is that it has two neck supports so resting the neck on them lifts the back of the guitar up.

[sportsnapper]

Ray - I looked at making the next support smaller - but it also involves messing with the little box as well. I'll have a better look when I have more time. Still very impressed at the quality for the price :-)

[Mike Thomas]

Read my new thread regarding the ''possibility'' of the new Northfield 'Airloom' cases being available in the EU. Worth waiting for i think !!,
Ivan;)
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Are these Recurve cases still available?
Thanks

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi Mike - No word at all has been heard from Northfield regarding the new cases being made available to us in the EU/UK = Forget it & look elsewhere - sad to say !,
Ivan