Any one confirm this case will work for my '23 Snakehead?

[drooartz]

I've been doing some research here to see if I can find a decent case for my '23 Snakehead A. I've still got the original case, but it's not in the best shape. No money for a custom case, and this one looks like it would do the trick. I *think* this is one that has been mentioned here as fitting the early Gibsons with their shorter neck and wider body. Am I correct?

TKL Zero Gravity

http://www.amazon.com/TKL-Zero-Gravi...=3BIOD88OI9XPE

[Jill McAuley]

Should do the job - a I had a Pomeroy A4 a few years back - shorter neck etc, and it was shipped to me in a Zero Gravity case and fit just fine. My only problem with it was that the case was so bulky so I ended up selling it and getting one of the tweed TKL shaped A cases from Elderly.

Cheers,
Jill

[Fretbear]

Yeah for about the same money you could get a hard A or F style TKL shaped case that would be less bulky and likely more protective of that antique.

[drooartz]

Thanks for the info. I've got a similar (different brand) case for my Morris and it's done good duty for what I need. This one should do for the A until I can afford a nice custom case for it some day in the future.

[Jim Garber]

Why would you need a custom case? Are you talking Calton or Pegasus? I personally would not bother with those unless I either had a super-premium instrument and/or I was traveling a bunch. The best I have is a TKL shaped case with a Small Dog case cover. That is very protective for my purposes. Not too heavy either and the SD case cover allows me to use a shoulder strap to carry.

[drooartz]

The best I have is a TKL shaped case with a Small Dog case cover. That is very protective for my purposes. Not too heavy either and the SD case cover allows me to use a shoulder strap to carry.

May be a direction I go in as well in the future. I've been using the original Gibson case for years and it works okay, it's just disintegrating. I'll try the Zero Gravity for a while and see how it goes.

[Goodin]

May be a direction I go in as well in the future. I've been using the original Gibson case for years and it works okay, it's just disintegrating. I'll try the Zero Gravity for a while and see how it goes.

Check the latches on those old original Gibson cases. I was at a festival and the latches were worn and worked loose on my F-4 case and the mandolin flopped out on the concrete. Luckily it didnt hurt the mandolin, but from now on I tie a bandana around the neck of the case just to be sure it stays shut.

[PJ Doland]

I have one of the fiberglass Eastman cases and it fits my mid 20's snakehead PERFECTLY.

[Jacob]

I use inexpensive adjustable nylon dog collars snapped around the smallest diameter of shaped cases to prevent unexpected opening. This works really well.

[Jill McAuley]

I have one of the fiberglass Eastman cases and it fits my mid 20's snakehead PERFECTLY.

Yeah, my Mike Black A2z is in a fiberglass Eastman case and it fits well and is nice and light too.

Cheers,
Jill

[mtucker]

small dog makes a cover for the orig case... then you maintain the juju..

[drooartz]

I'm very careful with case latches -- never had one open but I pay attention. My original case doesn't have much cushion left inside. Maybe I'll restore it some day, maybe it'll sit in my basement and be someone else's issue when I'm gone.

I ordered one of the zero gravity cases, and will post a picture when it comes in next week.

[drooartz]

Is the Eastman case folks talk about this one?

http://www.eastmancasecompany.com/jw/mandolin.htm

I see references to it all the time, but am not sure specifically what folks are talking about.

[Jill McAuley]

Yeah, that's the one - I've got it in electric blue, very nice indeed!

Cheers,
Jill

[Gerry Cassidy]

Be careful if you are looking for an used Eastman case. I have an older version and my A Jr. doesn't fit. I'm not sure when they made the change, but I have no doubt someone reading this thread knows and can post the info.

I have a similar case made by Saga ( http://www.themandolinstore.com/scri...idproduct=8564 ) that I got in the same time frame and the A Jr. fits like a glove. It also has the storage pocket the Eastman doesn't have.

[drooartz]

Thanks again for the thoughts and suggestions. Wound up going with the TKL Zero Gravity, and it came in today. It's a bit bulky, bit the mandolin fits nicely. The body fits snugly, and the short neck fits in fine. May eventually cut off the backpack straps, we'll see. Decent storage space as well. Mando is a '23 A.



Case came with this loose bit of padding. No idea where it is supposed to go if anywhere.



And the case I'm retiring. It's the original Gibson case, with a bit of foam padding I added 10 years or so ago to keep the mando from rattling around in there as much. There's just no cushion left at all. Might try and restore the case some day, but for now it's down to basement storage for it.