Re: Alternate cases for bowlbacks?
I've built cases for a bowl-back mandola, a National Triolian resonator mandolin, a bowed psaltery, and a Polk-A-Lay-Lee (don't ask). They're crude, unprofessional-looking, thinly padded, and I'm not proud of them. They do work. The Washburn mandola went to Phoenix and back in the luggage compartments of airplanes, and emerged unscathed.
So: a plywood box, with foam inside, some kind of hinged lid, and a handle. That's basically an instrument case. Keep your standards low-to-reasonable, buy some plywood and some foam, and give it a try. It will be a learning experience, and you don't need all the specialized tools of a luthiery shop to do it. Saws, drills, screwdrivers, and some Elmer's glue suffice.
And, fringe benefit is that no one will be tempted to steal your mandolin, in that crude, wood-butchered case -- which still protects it adequately.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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