Case question

[Guhonda98]

When I had my Heiden mandolin made in 2001, it came in a Calton case which at this point in my life is a little heavy. Two questions...

Is there any market for an infrequently used Calton?

Is there any very light weight super strong case available (my daughter has one for her high end violin)?

[Jill McAuley]

Folk sell used/lightly used Caltons in the classifieds quite frequently so you shouldn't have a problem moving it.

As regards lightweight and strong, what about the Hoffee cases? Alternatively if you need a strong case but it doesn't quite have to match the Calton or Hoffee level of strength, what about a Hiscox case? They're certainly lightweight. I have one of their cases for my '69 Martin 00-18 and am really happy with it.

[Ray(T)]

Unless it's a US made Calton and heavier than the original UK ones I should think carefully. The excessive weight of Calton cases is something of a myth. I've posted the following before -

TKL rectangular case (including blanket) weight - 3.915 Kgm
2008 Standard UK Calton case weight - 3.855 Kgm
Ameritage case weight - 3.7 Kgm
Old UK Calton case (circa 198?) weight - 3.460 Kgm
Shuster case weight - 2.920 Kgm

[colorado_al]

I'd checkout a Crossrock fiberglass case. 2.6Kg
https://www.amazon.com/Crossrock-CRF.../dp/B0759P1QS8

[Ryk Loske]

I find it interesting and a bit amusing to hear fellow mandolin players complain about the weight of a case. Walk over to a bandmates dreadnought case and heft that ... then wander over to the banjo players and heft that. A mandolin case is too heavy?!
Ryk

[Mandoplumb]

I find it interesting and a bit amusing to hear fellow mandolin players complain about the weight of a case. Walk over to a bandmates dreadnought case and heft that ... then wander over to the banjo players and heft that. A mandolin case is too heavy?!
Ryk

I agree if I get so feeble that I have to carry my mandolin in styrofoam i'll just quit

[Paul Busman]

Does your daughter's violin case have a maker's label? Maybe they make a mandolin case.

How sturdy does it have to be? I'm not being facetious. Will it go in the baggage compartment of an airplane, vs being hand carried to sessions or gigs? For the latter, a firm shell foam like a Gator might be plenty.I have a similar knockoff and it's surprisingly sturdy.
I just looked at the Gator site, and it turns out that they have a hard shell ABS plastic case that looks pretty nice.

[UsuallyPickin]

IMO your best bet is to keep the Calton for when travel or venue dictates it's use. Purchase a Travelite mandolin case for general use. They offer sufficient protection for "in hand" about town travels. As is often pointed out Mike Marshall uses one for his Gibson Loar period F5 instrument. Another suggestion is to use backpack type straps so the carry weight isn't in one hand. Lastly … look into the comfort of the case grip. Padding it may be an alternative. R/

Travelite
https://www.amazon.com/Travelite-TL-...+Mandolin+case

[pops1]

I have a similar problem with the Calton being heavy. With arthritis in wrists and hands I prefer to save them for playing and while I still use it I would like to get something lighter. All the cases I have looked at have a 10 1/2" lower bout measurement and my mandolin is only 9 3/4" so it flops around in most cases. The Calton keeps it very nice and secure with a perfect fit. I have an A model and cannot find a case that has dimensions to fit my mandolin and a decent neck cradle.

[Roger Adams]

I'd checkout a Crossrock fiberglass case. 2.6Kg
https://www.amazon.com/Crossrock-CRF.../dp/B0759P1QS8

+1 on the Crossrock.

[Guhonda98]

Very much appreciate all the input. I see mixed reviews about whether the Travelite TL-45 will fit A model (Heiden).

[Don Grieser]

I have a Heiden A5 and a Travelite case. There is some resistance closing the case the last little bit, but that's from the very soft pads that touch the neck and tailpiece. It looks like the bridge does not touch the top of the case. I put a small piece of paper across the bridge and saw no indentation in the paper at all. The body is a snug fit--you won't get the mandolin in there with a tonegard.

I rarely use the Travelite case--prefer my Hoffee. Also a snug fit at the body--tonegard won't fit.

How's the Heiden treating you? What top wood does yours have? Love mine. 2010 A54 w red spruce.

[mandroid]

Not "super strong", but my Eastman fiberglass case is quite practical in weight..

And the 3 D rings offer a hands free backpack carry option..

Keep the Calton for your multi city touring schedule, where it's not in your possession 24/7.. ?





...

[Guhonda98]

Same great top. I do keep a tone guard on it. No problem with Calton. Maybe just need more gym time and keep Calton.

[Guhonda98]

Wonder if tone guard will fit in Crossrock?

[Jim Garber]

What about the Airloom Recurve from Northfield? They say "Approximate weight (unpacked) 5.25 lbs."

[B381]

Sometimes it pays to check the classifieds...

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/127616#127616

[Louise NM]

Keep the case and get a neoprene strap for it---$20 at Shar Music. They're easy on the shoulder, and make the case feel lighter.

[colorado_al]

Wonder if tone guard will fit in Crossrock?

Yes. Fits an A or F with Tone-gard

[Ivan Kelsall]

My Ellis "A" style resides inside a Travelite case. It fits easily with no problems at all. It's only due to the fact that Travelite cases are unavailable in the UK,that all 3 of my mandolin aren't in one. For everyday use & lightness, nothing touches them,
Ivan

[Mark Seale]

I have a Heiden A5 and a Travelite case. There is some resistance closing the case the last little bit, but that's from the very soft pads that touch the neck and tailpiece. It looks like the bridge does not touch the top of the case. I put a small piece of paper across the bridge and saw no indentation in the paper at all. The body is a snug fit--you won't get the mandolin in there with a tonegard.

I rarely use the Travelite case--prefer my Hoffee. Also a snug fit at the body--tonegard won't fit.

How's the Heiden treating you? What top wood does yours have? Love mine. 2010 A54 w red spruce.

Hoffee doesn't work with a Toneguard?

Only one Heiden?

[sblock]

Well, the mandolin is among the lightest of the stringed instruments. Even in a fiberglass Calton case, it weighs significantly less than a guitar or banjo inside a case. Among the bluegrass instruments, only the fiddle weighs a bit less. Switching to a Hoffee case (carbon fiber composite) or a Travelite case (hard foam) from the Calton will only save you a few pounds! Mandolin cases range from a low of about 3.5 lbs (foam) up to 9.5 lbs (fiberglass; carbon fiber composite), with most 'regular' cases (Weber, Collings, Superior, Northfield, Geib, etc.) coming in around 4.5-6.5 lbs. Incidentally, when I last weighed them, the Calton and Hoffee mandolin cases came in close to the same value: 9.4 lbs!

You will save AT MOST about 5 or 6 lbs. That's not a lot. Unless you are carrying the mandolin a very long way, it should not make much of a difference.

What would make a much bigger difference, IMO, would be to use a broad, over-the-shoulder carrying strap, rather than the handle, or -- better yet! -- backpack straps. Take the weight off your hand. Look for cases with D-rings that accept straps (or get a case cover that does)!

[JeffD]

I am a huge fan of the Reunion Blues Continental. I have two of them. A mandolin sized one for my larger mandolin, and a large ukulele one for my smaller mandolin.

They seem to weigh almost nothing, and are ideal for the normal bumps and grinds of carrying a mandolin around in cars and trains and buses.

I might want the hard case if I HAD to check it or gate check it on plane. But for carry on, the reunion blues continental is great.

And they seem to be made of helium or something. So much lighter than you expect for their ruggedness. I would think the case would protect your instrument for anything except blunt force trauma or deliberate puncture with a sword.

Oh, and plenty of room for a tone guard as it is not a fitted case.

[J.Albert]

Travelite or the lightweight version of the Gator case.

[MikeEdgerton]

I hire trained Sherpa guides to carry my mandolin case for me. I may hire a few more to carry my banjo and guitar cases. Those things are heavier and as I age it's not happening gracefully.

I'd keep the Calton and buy myself a gig bag with a shoulder strap for the times I needed to carry it (walking around festivals, etc). Then I'd go home (or back to the car) and put it back in the Calton. One makes it easier to carry around. The other will actually keep it safe. Never step on a Travelite case with a mandolin in it. You can however step on your Calton case with your mandolin in it. It only has to happen to you one time.