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Thread: Calhoun case?

  1. #1
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    Default Calhoun case?

    Has anyone found a decent case that fits the Northfield Calhoun yet? I think I’ve read most of the previous threads on this subject but don’t recall seeing any substantiated solutions. Unfortunately a gig bag just isn’t going to cut it for my needs.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Ask Northfield. They are very open to customer or potential customer questions.
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by Pittsburgh Bill View Post
    Ask Northfield. They are very open to customer or potential customer questions.
    Looks like I’m going to have to.

    Bit of a head scratcher that they don’t stock any hard cases for the Calhoun, or at least list a compatible hard case on their website that can be sourced from an external vendor. Specs on the Recurve would seem to indicate it’s a no go for the Calhoun.

    I’ll shoot them an email.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    You could also put a call into Elderly Instruments. They seem to have a Calhoun in stock, as well as a variety of cases. I'm sure they'd be willing to check the fit on a few different options for you.

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    Registered User Ed McGarrigle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    If you find one, please post. I’m sure there are many of us who would prefer a hard case.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I certainly will Ed.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I struck out at The Music Emporium and so far no reply from Northfield.

    Does anyone have a recent Superior fiberglass case they’d be willing to measure the interior bout width on? I am having difficulty finding the specs on-line - curiously the saga site doesn’t list them. I’d be interested to know that internal width on both the A and F style cases. Also wondering how deep the case is in the bridge area.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quick Update:

    Peter B. from Northfield got back to me today. He was kind enough to call around to some of their dealers that he knew typically have a lot of different cases on hand. Unfortunately all reported that none of the hard cases they had in stock were a perfect fit for the Calhoun. Peter did mention a case on Amazon that they are going to buy in hopes that it will be a good fit, but until they (or someone else) tries the case out, we won’t know for sure. I’d be the Guinea pig, except I happened to find a Superior Fiberglass case at Amazon Warehouse for a steeply discounted price just prior to getting Peter’s email and I pulled the trigger.

    I expect the Superior will be too large to be ideal, but my main priority for now is keeping the mando humidified at home. I’m less concerned about impact damage due to the Calhoun flopping around loosely inside the case because I don’t expect this Mando to leave the house in the foreseeable future. I’ll report back on the fit once the case arrives next week.

    Thanks to Peter at Northfield for doing the legwork of calling around to dealers, many instrument companies would have just said “sorry, don’t know which cases might fit”.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Update #2:

    The Superior Fiberglass F case arrived today and it’s a complete no-go - The Calhoun headstock won’t even clear the built in accessory box.

    Going to try a TKL Collings MT case tomorrow.

    BTW, the adhesive stink coming out of the Superior case is crazy strong and smells like a combination of acetone and stale beer. Or maybe someone just spilled stale beer and acetone in the case. Either way, serious downside.

  12. #10

    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I bought a Calhoun from the MandolinStore a couple of years ago and they gave me an Eastman case that fits great. Not sure what model it was for, but I bet they know. Give them a call. Great folks.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by bbowdendds View Post
    I bought a Calhoun from the MandolinStore a couple of years ago and they gave me an Eastman case that fits great. Not sure what model it was for, but I bet they know. Give them a call. Great folks.
    A hard case or a gig bag? I know they have included Eastman gig-bags with their Calhouns, but I am looking for a hard case.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Guessing if there was enough demand for them that NF would consider selling one themselves. I haven't played a Calhoun yet but they're very intriguing
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Egerton View Post
    Guessing if there was enough demand for them that NF would consider selling one themselves. I haven't played a Calhoun yet but they're very intriguing
    Northfield did have an interesting gig bag they used to offer as an option, but their supplier stopped producing them. I don’t know what “enough” demand would constitute, but it’s hard to imagine that they currently produce and sell enough Calhoun’s to make it cost effective enough for a custom spec’d case, produced just for this one particular model. As I mentioned previously, Peter did say there is a commercially available case they are looking into, but they hadn’t yet gotten one to test the fit.

    Certainly there is some demand though, as this topic has come up a few times in past. Considering the base price of a Calhoun is now $995., I’m guessing more people are going to feel the need for a hard case.

    Also, trying to keep a mando properly humidified in a gig bag is a losing proposition if you live somewhere dry, and a dried out flat top mando is a recipe for disaster, IME.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I wonder if it might fit in the same hard TKL case that the flat backed Waterloo mandolins come with.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by Zmando85 View Post
    I wonder if it might fit in the same hard TKL case that the flat backed Waterloo mandolins come with.
    Hey now, that’s a good question…..

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    A hard case.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I contacted TDK about making cases and there is a 25 case minimum. Shouldn't be too much for Northfield to make a case for the Calhoun.
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by bbowdendds View Post
    A hard case.
    Great, thanks.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    I contacted TDK about making cases and there is a 25 case minimum. Shouldn't be too much for Northfield to make a case for the Calhoun.
    With numbers like that, you wouldn’t think so.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    My Calhoun fits nicely in an SKB 80A case.

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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    OK, a little follow-up FWIW:

    One can make a Travelite work, but the fit is right up against the bottom two tuners at the bottom of the headstock, so you’re likely to have to return every time you remove the Calhoun from the case. Otherwise the fit is quite good.

    Collings (TKL) A and F cases will work, though not really an economical solution unless you can find a good deal on one used. The fit of both cases is pretty good, though the Calhoun has a shallower body than carved Collings mandos, but I’d be perfectly comfortable using either Collings case for typical usage.

    Seems like any standard case made for a carved top mando should work for the Calhoun, but I found several to be either too big in the body width/length, too deep causing the Calhoun’s to sit at an awkward angle to the neck rest, or too long below the neck, like the travelite. Maybe TKL makes an unbranded case with dimensions very close to that of the Collings case, those needing a case might call TKL to ask.

    I’m all set for now, hope this thread has been helpful to someone, cheers.

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    Registered User Wayne Bagley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I just got my Calhoun the other day. Going through the same dilemma. Hopefully I can find something here in Canada that will fit.
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  27. #23

    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    A COLLINGS MT case is good bet .

  28. #24

    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    I wonder if a Hiscox would work?
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    Default Re: Calhoun case?

    Hi everyone! We have done a lot of searching and the very best case we have found for this instrument is one made by SKB. From time to time we have them but mostly we send people to Sweetwater. our friends in Fort Wayne. Here’s a link to it. Hope everyone is having a great summer!! …and if you’re one of the 100+ people that have emailed us inquiring about all the new instruments Thank you! and please know that we’re trying to get back to each and every one of you and make more updates to our website as things roll along.

    https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-mandolin-case

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