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Thread: Calton Case Fit

  1. #1
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Calton Case Fit

    Is a Calton supposed to fit like this (see attachement)? Both of my F5s' headstock scrolls are surprisingly close to the edge of the case. Thanks!

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  2. #2
    Registered User Roger Moss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Oooh. That doesn't look good. Is the neck cradle centered? As long as the scroll doesn't actually touch the side, and you don't batter the case, you might be okay. It still doesn't look right, and I wouldn't be comfortable about it.
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  3. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Mine is that close, it's been dropped and bumped since 2005 and never been a problem. It moves several dozen times a year to shows and jams. The earlier Calton cases had a misplaced rivet that caused issues. If you're not familiar with the case you won't know how well the neck is cradled.
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    Registered User mtucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    jr. thinks he has ample head room on this texas made calton.
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  5. #5
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote Originally Posted by mtucker View Post
    jr. thinks he has ample head room on this texas made calton.

    Way, way better than the pics above. I, too, would not like my mandolin in one of those cases. But, to each his own.

  6. #6
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Mine was made in Austin. I just want to make sure my instruments are safe. I'm uneasy, but if the case was designed to fit this way I'm fine. Canton's email support has been unresponsive....

  7. #7

    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Brian, check the neck cradle. It might be skewed a bit. That said, I have my F5s in Collings cases now.
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  8. #8
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    I've tried to manually adjust the neck cradle but it always comes back to the pictured position.

  9. #9
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    The original Caltons had the rivet problem,that was solved in later designs,but 'some' Calton owners have never been happy with the fairly restricted headstock room. Over several incarnations of the Calton case,there's been plenty of time to modify the design slightly to give the extra room - but it was never done. That an otherwise superb case should still have this slight problem,is a tad disappointing. Compare that with the headstock room inside the new Northfield case for example - no contest,& my all time favourite case,the Travelite,is pretty much the same.

    I do have a similar problem with my Gator case,so i use my wrist sweat band as a bit of extra padding near the scroll,
    Ivan
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  10. #10

    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    If you bought the case new, or you know which dealer it came from, I would contact them. There is obviously some issue with the neck cradle. You might also try contacting Calton via their FB page. https://www.facebook.com/caltoncases/

    Every case I have tried has some downside. While I like the weight and interior of the new Northfield Recurve case I never like the Jacob Winter hinges. They are a bit tricky. Among violin cases I think my favorite is BAM, who has just started to expand their guitar case offerings. I’m hoping they venture into making some mandolin cases soon.
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  11. #11
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Mandobar is correct. We are all diff and have specific case needs/desires/wants. All cases have their + and - characteristics. Mark Leaf cases are close to the ideal, except the weight is an issue for festival toting around. The NF Airloom is also close to perfect (for moi), yet the lid is a bit flimsy and with its case cover is a bit unwieldy to whip out the mandolin on a moment's notice. The Travelite - the pillow cushions deflate over time and the closure mechanisms (clasp, zipper, velcro handle) are a bit cheap and prone to failure. Hoffee - big and bulky and the F-5 moves a bit inside. A fave of mine is a somewhat simple, shaped, tweed Guardian (pictured) that is covered with a Small Dog (sadly, no longer being made). All said, we are in a case options embarrassment-of-riches time, n'est-ce pas?

    And for the OP, return the case if it's faulty.
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  13. #12
    Registered User Eric Hanson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Bummer on the fit. I know from experience that their email support is a little slow. I needed to find out about a replacement key for my case. It took at least a week for them to respond.
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    Registered User MissingString's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    I’ll add that while perhaps a little slow, my recent experience with Calton support was exceptional. They went above and beyond to be sure I was satisfied and my instrument was well protected.
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  15. #14
    Registered User 108 Mile's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

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    Hoffee case has clearance....

  16. #15
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Hey Allen, I actually had a meatball sandwich for lunch today.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  17. #16
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote - " Hoffee case has clearance.... ". Not as much as i'd personally like !!.

    It seems that the cradle for the neck close to the headstock can be a tad too wide in some case makes,allowing the mandolin neck to slide from side to side. That should also be put right (IMHO).

    A previously owned case of mine - ''Eastman Oblong Violin style Mandolin Case'', had a strip of velvet fastened at one end,that passed over the neck close to the headstock, & which was held in place at the loose end by a piece of Velcro,to keep the neck in place - a good idea for most cases i think.

    My own opinion is that the headstock area should provide 1" of clearance on either side of the headstock scrolls,& that the neck should be held in place by some means,to prevent any movement at all,
    Ivan
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  18. #17
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Hey Allen, I actually had a meatball sandwich for lunch today.
    If this is meant for me (can't tell), I hope it was good?

    Back on track: Ivan - I, too, like that velcro strip. A mandolin that moves inside a case is a no-no, for me.

  19. #18
    Registered User grassrootphilosopher's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote Originally Posted by AlanN View Post
    ...A mandolin that moves inside a case is a no-no, for me.
    There are topics, that come up ever so often. And sometimes they plant the seed of thought.

    AlanN, how do you determine when an instrument moves inside a case? There may be obvious cases (no pun intended), when the neck hold (cradle for a lack of a better word?) is just loose (or the body of the instrument does not sit properly in the case) and you hear your instrument bumping around in the closed case. But that is an extreme situation.

    Bottom line: I share your outspoken opinion/concern about headstock room in instrument cases to the word.

    (Has anyone touched the problem of the endpin with respect to the case fit and the possible problem of an endblock crack?)
    Olaf

  20. #19
    Registered User Tom Sanderson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobar View Post
    I have my F5s in Collings cases now.
    +1 for the Collings case. I have an F style and an A style. Love them both.

  21. #20
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Quote Originally Posted by grassrootphilosopher View Post

    AlanN, how do you determine when an instrument moves inside a case? There may be obvious cases (no pun intended), when the neck hold (cradle for a lack of a better word?) is just loose (or the body of the instrument does not sit properly in the case) and you hear your instrument bumping around in the closed case. But that is an extreme situation.
    With the case closed and latched, I will grasp it in both hands and gently shake it, listening/feeling for movement. My old Loar case, a Paganoni case and some others display(ed) obvious movement. Calton, Leaf, Travelite, my little Guardian exhibit(ed) no movement.

    The Hoffee doesn't hardly move in this (ahem) case, but with the case open and the mandolin sitting inside, I can move the instrument to and fro a bit (not side to side). No big deal, there is ample headstock room so nothing touches (a requirement, for me).


    Bottom line: I share your outspoken opinion/concern about headstock room in instrument cases to the word.
    Oh, yes. And we are not alone.

  22. #21
    Registered User 108 Mile's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    I have a toneguard on my instrument. This helps it lock down. Absolutely no movement, but there was before, as AlanN says......a little north to south

  23. #22
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    FYI Calton's Facebook contact was very responsive. Fingers crossed.

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  25. #23
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    IMHO - For headstock room,& non-movement inside the case,you can't get better than a good TKL rect. case (or similar). My Lebeda mandolin is held securely in place in my TKL 'American Vintage' case, because the neck 'cradle' fits the neck contour 100% accurately & the body is also a very nice 'push fit'. Once in the case,it doesn't move an inch !.

    This pics. a few years old now,but the mandolin is still in that case. The only downside of course is the weight & it's bulk. The weight isn't too bad,but as a non-driver who uses UK public transport,it's a tad bulky to haul around,
    Ivan
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  26. #24
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    I have a Crossrock fiberglass case that I recently bought and it has good clearance around the headstock
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  27. #25
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calton Case Fit

    Al - The headstock certainly seems to have plenty of room around it . I think that the more 'squarish' shape of the case halps greatly in that respect. The more 'rounded' case shape makes the case 'taper' too much.

    I'm still waiting to hear when the new Northfield cases will be available in the UK / EU ?,
    Ivan
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